Despite a flurry of bumblebees around 20th March, including several early bumblebees Bombus pratorum, since then spring seems largely to have stalled.
That this year flowering is much later than last year is evident from the fact that in early April 2009, 32 flower species were in flower in the garden, while on the same date this year the total was a mere 13. And this is not simply due to flowers dying off in the winter. Also, of those flowering, lungwort (Pulmonaria) was all but finished in early April last year, whereas this year it has only just got going. However, in the news today is that average flowering times of many flowers are earlier in the last 25 years than they have been over the last 250 years! The importance of catkins of willows, particularly pussy willow Salix caprea cannot be understated at this time of year. There are few, if any, other native flowers just now, hence most bumblebees are visiting ornamental species in parks and gardens.
Still, we are seeing the occasional bumblebee, including a first nest-searching queen buff-tailed the other day. None seen collecting pollen yet. And there are other signs of spring, with a trickle of black-headed gulls and meadow pipits northwards, and a highlight last night was a pair of frogs and some fresh spawn in the pond. There is great activity from our dunnock 'pair', while the blackbird eggs must be due to hatch soon, all being well. A pair of robins were indulged in courtship, for which (robins being robins) the postures involved are indistinguishable from threat displays! For courtship, however, it seems that male threatens female, male retreats, female advances, and so on.
The Sunday Times Scottish University of the Year 2009/2010
The University of Stirling is a charity registered in Scotland, number SC 011159.
