Sun March 1st
The long-awaited day of lifting and lightening, as spring pushed winter away on a blustery west wind, the sky brightened, and the cloud layer lifted and broke. Ragged sunshine all day, with a scatter of heavy showers, some with rainbows, even double rainbows. 9C max but with a distinct wind chill, and a big temperature dip during showers. 3mm in my rain gauge.
National Rookery Lift-off Day, at last! They kicked off big time, including my village rookery (one pair built 2/3rds of a nest in the oaks above the little green chapel today). Visited a daughter in Moreton in Marsh, Cotswods. Mrs O drove, so I could look at the rooks. We passed at least a dozen rookeries, all kicking off splendidly, even building late into the afternoon (usually they stop around lunchtime). I also saw five hares in cereal fields, which is mega for Glos. No fieldfares or redwings, I think they’ve gone again.