131. All things bright and bee-autiful!

At last flowers have put in an appearance. The first I noticed were some winter aconites on the edge of a woodland, a wildflower without equal, providing colour for us and nectar for any emerging insects.

132. Rural Reading – identify birds by their songs

I can't complain about the weather, I like it when it does interesting things. And it certainly has been interesting, if not challenging, over the last two weeks.

133. It’s all white to follow trail of Brock badger

Despite the difficulty and chaos brought about by the snow and ice, I am in my element. I simply love it.

134. Rural Reading: New super tidy mentality bad for birds

Soon the great spring migration will begin, and birds will be heading north to spend the summer here. The epic journeys of birds, which may actually have begun already, are one of the great features of the life on our planet.

135. Rural Reading - Bird Bonanza

My walks are not the same without my dog Jez who, as I wrote last week, recently passed away and I am really grateful for all the kind support I have had since.

136. Rural Reading - farewell Jez, my loyal companion

My trips into the countryside are either on foot or by bike. If on foot I have with me my dogs, a motley pack rescued from The Dogs Trust.

137. Rural Reading: Feather magic helps wren survive

If you have felt the cold this week spare a thought for a wren. Beneath its fluffy feathers is a body smaller than a thumb.

138. Close up view of a hunting sparrowhawk

I was just sitting at my window writing an article about a lovely walk in the countryside and I looked up to see a sparrowhawk perched in the plum tree 20 feet away.

139. Bird watching is taking up my work time

If you have been putting food out for the birds they will have reason to thank you over the last few days.

140. The mystery of the nesting mistle thrush