Birds: Goldfinch, Pheasant, Robin, Dunnock, Chiffchaff, Jackdaw, Carrion Crow, Blackbird, Blackcap, Buzzard (seen harassing 2 Carrion Crows on 26th - usually the other way round), Wren, Greenfinch (family party 8th), Chaffinch, Blue Tit, Herring Gull, Rook, Wood Pigeon, Swallow, House Martin (22nd) Swift (also 22nd); Great Tit, Mistle Thrush (4 on 26th, probably family party).

Plants coming into flower: Fuchsia, Beech, Creeping Buttercup (5th); Foxglove (8th); Herb Bennet, Lesser Trefoil, Guelder Rose, Greater Birdsfoot Trefoil (12th); Star-of-Bethlehem (14th); Saxifraga rosacea (19th); Lesser Quaking-grass, Cat’s-ear (22nd); Rose (garden hybrid) (26th).

Plants continuing to flower: Primrose, Primula, Dandelion, Red Campion, Scentless Mayweed, Common Dog-violet, Lesser Celandine, Ivy-leaved Toadflax, Hairy Bittercress, Groundsel, Common Field Speedwell, Three-cornered Garlic, Herb Robert, Potentilla sp. possibly Yellow-flowered Strawberry, Navelwort, Bluebell, Greater Stitchwort, Honesty, Ribwort Plantain, Wild Strawberry, Blackthorn, Wild Carrot/Queen Anne’s Lace, Field Wood-rush, Lady’s Smock/Cuckooflower, Common Sorrel, Weigelia, Sweet Vernal-grass, Cocksfoot, Meadow Foxtail, Annual Meadow-grass, Selfheal, Common Vetch, Hedge Bedstraw.

Insects: Silverfish (3rd); Orange Tip, small black beetle (possibly Nebria brevicollis), Large White, Buff-tailed Bumblebee, Mining Bee (Andrena sp) (5th); Common Sun Beetle (Amara aenea), Yellow Meadow Ant (12th); Yellow Dung-fly and Cocksfoot Moth (both on Star-of-Bethlehem flowers), Speckled Wood, White-tailed Bumblebee, Common Carder Bee (14th); Red Admiral (19th); Garden Chafer (22nd); Pearly Underwing, Meadow Brown, Holly Blue (26th).

Other “creepy-crawlies”: Springtail (not identified); Woodlouse.

Ferns: Maidenhair Spleenwort, Hart’s-tongue, Common Polypody, Bracken