Some Expected and Unexpected Visitors

It seems that I spoke too soon. In my last diary entry,  I spoke about how mild it was and how loud the birds were singing. Indeed, since I last wrote, Snowdrops have made an appearance in the garden although the daffs have still to show. But in my last diary entry I did mention that, from experience, February is often one of the coldest months.

These past few weeks have been extremely mild here at Sycamore Hill. There is no doubting that there is a real feeling of spring in the air. A Birch tree in the garden has already started to show its first leaf or two, and the first spring flowers are pushing up through the soil. In truth, it feels more like March than late January.

Having lived in an urban setting all of my life, there are so many joys I am rediscovering as I begin life in the country. Again, don’t get me wrong…as a birder, I have actually ventured beyond The Pale. In fact, since I was old enough to get a bus by myself, I have been getting out of Dublin in search of birds. In fact, I have spent most of my spare time away from the city but actually living outside of Dublin really is something new.