Spring is in the air...

This morning I decided Gemma was sufficiently recovered for us all to go for a walk along the river. Her lameness seems to have been mostly caused by an abraded paw, and while I'm sure she probably does have slight arthritis, we've decided not to go for the x-ray at the moment, as this involves a general anaesthetic. We shall have a go at treating her slight stiffness through dietary supplements and a bit of a diet, before resorting to anything more drastic.

After a succession of grey days, we were treated to brilliant sunshine and blue sky all day today. And the sun was definitely warm! Since we were last at the river all the hazel catkins have emerged. Everyone is familiar with the soft yellow lamb's-tails, a sure harbinger of spring, but most people overlook the small female flowers, which are like tiny red stars. You can just see two of them at the end of the branch on the left side of the photograph, if you view in large.

As well as the warmth of the sunshine, there has been a definite increase in bird activity. There were great-tits in almost every tree and bush, and most of them were calling with their characteristic repetitive two-tone ti-ta, ti-ta. There were also a set of cormorants roosting on the electricity pylon, and a single female goldeneye on the Rowing Lake, the first time I've ever seen one there.

And when we arrived home I noticed the first primrose flower in the front garden and a single white crocus bloom. Spring's certainly on the way!