In like a lion......not quite

The old maxim regarding March is that it comes in like a lion and goes out like a lamb. Today, you could be forgiven thinking that the opposite applies. For those who do not know the metaphorical reference, the animals represent the wind - roaring in early March and becoming gentler at the end of the month.

There were a few more faces in the parkland today. And, once again, a bit of noise. I was determined to learn more about birds and was lucky to have pointed out birds such as treecreeper and greater spotted woodpecker, two birds who patently demonstrate their name in their behaviour. The very range of size was represented by the tiny wren, both heard and seen, and the heron seen in flight and standing.

Today, was simply a lamb of a spring afternoon. There were even the presence of those harbingers - lambs bleating away for their mothers and lambs pushing away at udders of milk and being neither caring whose udders they belonged to. Such was the vibrancy of new life.
As these lambs sported newly daubed badges of identity, this, too, was the first patrol on which we wore our new identity; not a painted number but a scarlet red sweatshirt and volunteer badge.

It was a good day for birds. Ian, my birding colleague, is building his Stainborough list. Birders like lists. Birders build lists on many levels. Levels is not the word I want. Geographers study at different scales, from global to local, and I guess birders do the same. Ian has his world list, a life list, a British list, a garden list and, each year, a year list. He now has a Stainborough list. He is attacking the list with zeal. Today was a good day for his Stainborough list.

Towards the end of the patrol, we walked over some tussocky grasses on a plantation between Queen Anne monument and the Serpentine bridge. As we walked, with me slightly in front, ahead, by only feet, in the with a loud whirring of wings, a brownish bird took flight, both figuratively and literally.

Not having a clear sight, due to the suddenness, what is was was up for discussion. The agreed most likely suspect was a woodcock. Its a bit like detective work. Gradually from a few clues, a likely range of suspects is built up. The current crimewatch favourite is a biggish, brown bird, remaining hidden from view, that rears up suddenly, flies a short distance and disappears again in the not too short grassy parkland. The woodcock's face will be on all the posters, unless it comes forward to clear its name. Next week,we hope to reconstruct the crime, where I will walk the same walk in the same place, but with Ian waiting to see what will be flushed out. Make sure to check our birdwatch update.

The new fence line next to the Rotunda is providing a much better view over the lower parkland. The fence, now sweeping along lower down the slope, achieves the effect of a ha-ha.