This has to be the best time of the year, with all the wildlife activity that is taking place. And seeing the first wildflowers in bloom is enough to lift the spirits. Probably the first to be seen in flower are the Butterbur, whose flowers come out long before the leaves, and who are so-named as their large leaves were once used as wrapping for pats of butter. They are usually found in fairy damp areas.
Lesser celandine and Wood anenome are next – the celandine have bright, shiny yellow flowers and the Wood anenome have white and yellow flowers. These pretty nectar sources are a life-saver for the bumblebee queens just out of hibernation and extremely hungry. They mated before going into hibernation in the autumn, and all the males and workers in their colonies died, so it’s very important that these bees survive the first few lean weeks to be able to establish a new colony and keep their species going!
The ospreys at the Loch of the Lowes arrived back in the last 10 days and have been busy tidying the nest and mating, so fingers crossed they do as well this year as they did last year. Here’s a video of the pair that we recorded last weekend. Enjoy spring!
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