Winter Aconite (Eranthis hyemalis)

 I found a fairly large patch of WInter Aconite this morning near Weatherhill. I thought it was Lesser Celandine at first, but on closer inspection it was much more interesting.

Flowering Winter Aconite

A smashing little wild flower

 

 

Don't go picking them though as all parts of the plant are poisonous in large quantities and can make you ill in small doses. 

 

I heard two singing Treecreepers this morning, one either side of the track through Wassand. Not often I hear these birds singing so it was a nice treat as part of the ever-growing dawn chorus. Not particularly good photos but they weren't close you know 🤣

Treecreeper

Singing Treecreeper

In the wood Primroses and Bluebells are showing through the leaf litter, adding to the greening of the wood. I tell you, Spring is almost here!

Everything's coming up primroses

Bluebells are coming through

Also in the wood Great Spotted Woodpeckers are drumming now (two this morning) out of four seen on my walk and Jays are active (two seen this morning).

GSW

Rooks are growing in numbers at the Weatherhill rookery (43 this morning) and LInnet are back in the set aside (c. 40 this morning) along with 14 Chaffinch and 7 Reed Bunting. Three singing Song Thrush were the soloists in the chorus. A grand total of 10 singing Cetti's Warblers set the seal on my affirmation of Spring's imminent arrival.

Views from the hide were of water, water and muddy, cloudy water - with the odd Mute Swan coming and going to relieve the boredom.

Goldeneye almost eclipsed by an incoming Mute Swan