Spring?

Walking round the lakes of Straw's Bridge this morning, you could have been forgiven for thinking that Spring had sprung.  The birds were all singing in the trees, the Alder and Hazel trees were opening their catkins, the Mallards were pairing off and the Coots were fighting (no change there).  At 'Swan Lake' there was a large congregation of Black-headed Gulls and they were all either squabbling among themselves, preening on the shore or dipping for food in the water.

Some were showing signs of regaining their black (actually chocolate brown) heads, another sure sign that Spring was closer than you might think.

Among the ducks, swans, geese and gulls, a few, delicate-looking Moorhens were to be found picking their way through the shingle of the lake shore, in search of morsels of food.

All very Spring-like.  The very mild temperature is most welcome, not least for the reduction in Winter gas bills, but one cannot help thinking that we might yet be in for a very cold shock to the system.  But for the moment, we're enjoying the nice weather and the birds seem grateful too.