Flyladyphotography By Wendy Cooper

  Well after a drive untroubled by traffic issues and a very pleasant lunch, we decided to have a little wander at Dunwich Heath as our first stop.   It was bright but incredibly windy, so we set off on a clockwise stroll, heading along the bottom of the heath and up alongside the woods. At the start of the path we were greeted by a Stonechat, however along the path by the woods, although it was sheltered from the wind, we could hear birds singing but not see them.   From time to time we could hear Chiff Chaffs and as we walked along the top path, I began to look for one in the trees ahead that I could hear. There was no sign, however as I looked out across the heather, I could see a small familiar bird perched atop one of the bushes.  It was another Stonechat, so I watched awhile to see if another heath dweller would also appear, usually if there is a Stonechat, nearby there may very well be a Dartford Warbler!   The Stonechat stayed up for a while...

  Well over the past few weeks, the season has changed and spring really is in evidence all over my local patch.   Inside the woodland areas, the Bluebells have rapidly gone from being little green shoots, to buds and are just about bursting into bloom.  Just before the Bluebells began to open, the floor of the woodland was and still is covered in tiny white stars - the Wood Anemones are in flower.  If I walk early on in the day, they are all closed, but as the sun gradually filters into the woods, they open their little heads and shine. Here and there are little pools of bright shiny yellow as the Aconites open - this little clump, which grows in the bole of a tree is nearly always the first to open.  There are still more to bloom as across the woodland floor there is a carpet of their new leaves. Where it has been relatively dry, none of the Wood Violets have appeared, although there are plenty of young Garlic Mustard plants, Wild Garlic and in places, Stitc...