Crop Corner

Traditionally, the month of April should herald the opening of new leaves, gradually filling out the canopy of the woodlands but still allowing shafts of sunlight through them. As it is, with huge shifts in weather patterns and unseasonal changes, I doubt the plants and flowers have any more idea than we do of what is coming next. As I write, the South East of England is going through the coldest week in a decade and there is a foot of snow outside the door! The summer migration is now in full swing, with many of our summer visitors arriving this month. Our native birds are already nesting and some will even have young in the nest. Down at the marshes, the resonant boom of the elusive Bittern can be heard over long distances. Though not loud, the male's song can be heard up to 4 kilometres away and it's more persistent nature as dusk approaches, along with the ventriloquial quality makes it very difficult to locate. Rookeries will also be a cacophony of noise as these are one of the early breeders. Another bird to look out for as they arrive from below the Sahara is the Turtle Dove whose trilling is unique amongst the pigeon breeds.