A FEW SPRINGY BITS

 It's a sure sign of Spring when the male Long-tailed Tits start sporting impressive moustaches to try and attract a mate.
 

 The Brimstone butterfly above and the Speckled Wood below are two species that are on the wing in early Spring and right through until Autumn. Brimstones overwinter in the adult form but the Speckled Wood will survive the cold months as either caterpillar or chrysalis. The first ones seen in early Spring are usually from chrysalis I think.

The Bee-fly, or Dark-edged Bee-fly, is another harbinger of Spring, appearing usually in March when temperatures begin to rise. I'm always pleased to see these fascinating and slightly fearsome little beasts. They're harmless to us, but their larvae are parasitoids to mining bee larvae.

I know foxes aren't a sign of Spring but I do like to see them and their cubs are born in the Spring. This one was in Bucket Wood at New Hythe and was unperturbed by my close proximity. I expect urban foxes to be a bit fearless of humans but this one i'm sure is more of a country fox.

Sedge Warblers have arrived back from their migration and can be heard and seen in many areas now, although I've not seen one at New Hythe yet this Spring. This one was one of many at RSPB Dungeness this week. 

Also at Dungeness were the resident Cetti's Warblers who were in fine song and were, unusually, happy to pose briefly.

Finally, this Great Crested Grebe was feeding on one of the smaller lakes at Dungeness where a shoal of fish had sought refuge under the overhanging branches and submerged roots of trees on a small island. It was so preoccupied with this food bonanza that it didn't seem to notice me. Once again, this isn't a sign of Spring, but looking so spectacular at this time of year in their breeding plumage and so often overlooked I thought it deserved a mention.