Balanced on the cusp of spring

 In fits and starts spring is trying to break through. Its limited yet and the storm forecast for tonight won't help. The first few Blackthorn flowers have not been joined by any others as yet and there is very little display of note among the Lapwings and Shelduck at Dowlais.

Winter visitors such as Goosander are still around but ranging more widely from the Blind Yeo and sometimes in better light these mornings

warm light if not warm air as yet

A Blackcap has appeared by the Strode Road bridge and for once allowed a picture, though whether its a very early migrant, or more likely a local winter visitor is hard to say

This bridge is also a good place to watch both Dunnocks

 and occasionally, Grey Wagtails

More and more often the sound of Skylarks singing greets me as I get to the corner of Strode Road and start down the track to the seawall but any videos I've tried so far are too full of wind noise. So here is another still pic

One lunchtime I arrived at Blackstone Rocks, by the pill, just in time to see a flock of Pale-bellied Brent geese depart rapidly down the estuary. Brent geese are occasional visitors here but this race is the rarer of the two that we see.

Unfortunately I missed out on the major, rare bird, highlight: arriving just 10 minutes too late to see the Glossy Ibis that spent a while on the scrape. ( It's way too painful to go into more detail !! )

That afternoon though I had a walk in the Gordano Valley with my wife and was delighted to see this Barn Owl in a suitable nest hole near a public footpath.

Hopefully it will be successful in finding a mate and rearing a brood and I plan to visit occasionally, much later in the year, to check .