Three weeks to go...

March 01, 2012 • Leave a Comment

Do you consider the first day of spring to be March 1st? (i.e. winter is Dec,Jan,Feb - spring is Mar,Apr,May - summer is Jun,Jul,Aug - autumn is Sep,Oct,Nov?)
You'd not be alone - meteorologists have packaged the seasons into four three-monthly equal-sized quarters of the year - and it seems to fit, right?
Strictly speaking though, the temperate spring does not "spring" until after the vernal equinox (March 21st), so we're three weeks away yet, even though we've been basking in very spring-like temperatures for a fortnight now.
Spring falls between March 21st and June 21st (strictly speaking) - although I don't know too many people who consider themselves in spring time on June 19th!
Summer falls between June 21st (summer solstice) and the 22nd September (the autumnal equinox).
Autumn (strictly-speaking) lies between 23rd September and 21st December (the winter solstice)
We're in winter between 22nd December and 21st March.
So.... no. We're not in spring for three weeks yet (no matter how much people bleat on about the daffodils coming up early yadda yadda yadda...*) - and during the latter part of the weekend coming and into next week - we'll be reminded of that (you heard it here first.)

Right now though, it certainly feels like winter is on the way out. The sun is out yet again, queen bees are thick with crocus pollen (see photo above), queen wasps are out and about, buzzards are (as I type) soaring in the blue sky above, calling to each other, kestrels are mating, the toads are still moving en masse (we rescued another half dozen the other night), we have our first proper daisies of the year in the lawn, the magpies are building nests in bare trees (you can just about make out their buds), supermarket car parks and woodland paths are carpeted with dropped catkins, ladybirds are emerging from their suspended animation and I've seen (and identified) the first three moths* of the year at our gaff.
The first *moth of the year (here) was a lone male "Grey shoulder knot", followed by a lone male "Dotted border" (see photo below) and a lone male "pale brindled beauty". I've reclaimed my moth trap for a spring and summer of new discoveries I hope.
Yet, I was down at the south coast this week (working) and with a thick blanket of dark cloud and a biting sea breeze - it certainly felt like mid winter down there as I watched the winter-coloured sanderling pick their way in and out of the flotsam and cormorants mate on the groyne markers off Bognor beach.
So - as I've suggested already - make the most of this afternoon and tomorrow - because by Sunday and certainly by Monday, it will feel far more like winter again - breezy, much colder, rainy - even sleety!

* For the record - toads and frogs start to breed in the winter (always have), many daffodils bloom in the winter (always have), the first moths of the year always emerge in the winter, hares box in winter, blackbirds, pigeons and many water birds breed and nest-build during the winter (always have), the first queen bees and wasps always appear before the spring - you know... this list could go on and on. Most of us have been culturally led up the garden path by being taught to associate these events with "spring" - but in reality these events are all winter events and only mean winter has not long to go. That's all!

Keywords: dotted border, first moths of year, grey shoulder knot, pale brindled beauty

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