I'm afraid our spring over here in the states is also confused with summer. I'm curious to see how this shift shapes our (read: nature's) experiences each year... Thankful for the comfort I found in your beautiful words!
Thank you Niquelle, I’m glad you could rest here awhile. Nature is nothing if not adaptable, but I wish we could give her a little more room to adjust.
A joy to read as ever Michela, I find your playful use of language compelling and then you throw in some vital willow warbler facts too. They’ve recently turned up here and I had no idea how far they’d travelled. The swallows have also arrived this week. My book came with them, well kind of, and that is a thing of beauty in itself. Thank you so much for producing a little package of pleasure every Thursday.
You’re welcome Dave, I’m pleased you enjoy it. It did occur to me that it was a nice coincidence that your book arrived on the day that you finished lambing! I never realised we had so many migrant birds either, or the extent of their journeys. I had a better listen to a willow warbler yesterday morning, and swear I heard a first cuckoo—also, I think, an early arrival.
Always love being transported by your words, images and of course this week the dawn chorus ..
We continue our slow migration south and I’ve been making a note (via the Merlin sound ID) to which birds I hear and if any are specific to location ..
Thank you Nigel. It’s cold, grey and wet here (the definition of dreich in my book) so I think you’re heading in the right direction. Yes, Merlin is a great asset to have.
Beautiful, Michela! I love imagining those tiny warblers on their journey south. It is mind blowing that such small creatures can travel so far! I love your experimentation with the blackbird lines too, so effective to read and to listen to.
Beautifully written article Michela, the blackbirds song is one of the best calls to wake to, so much more welcoming than a clock! Your photo of the feathers has such gorgeous colours.
Here on my little corner on the south coast we've not had rain for nearly four weeks...our wetland valley is drying rapidly and unusually early, The first swallow was seen flying in from Africa last week but no sign of the swifts or the cuckoo yet - it never ceases to amaze me the journey these birds make every year!
Oh yes the smell of the earth after rain, petrichor, is so uplifting. I think when it does finally rain here I'll be going straight outside to soak it up myself!😊
Hello Rannsy, it’s so good to hear from you. We have been spoiled with good weather these last two weeks: I hope the loon, and Spring, is with you soon.
Lots of feathered visitors have returned here as well (also on the garden cam we had a male roe deer, a fox and a badger all through the garden in a matter of a couple of nights). And so many big, wonderful bumblebees. I have been worried because they seemed to have emerged prior to most flowers. The trees are close to leafing out but I think they are waiting for some rain which we need here. We also have been hitting freezing at night and climbing to high temps on the sunny days here. Spring comes earlier these past couple of years. Scary.
Thank you! Yes, it’s so dry isn’t it? I sometimes think our gardens serve as a buffet for our visitors. This morning a female roe deer was right outside the door, browsing a rose that we inherited from the previous owner. Each year they get bolder.
After an absence of a couple of years, we once again have Blackbirds singing in our street. In previous years they sang from chimney tops, this year, they've chosen the Cherry trees. Such beautiful songs.
I wonder, where did they go? I listen to the sparrows too, and remember how we hardly noticed them as they sang from every hedge along the street. And then the hedges went…
I think blackbirds coming and going in our street is due to population change over the wider area. There were probably a few poor years for blackbirds locally then last year was a great breeding season and now there are more Blackbirds in my part of Edinburgh than ever. We have several areas where there are still hedges with good numbers of House Sparrows (long may it stay like that.)
Such wonderful words Michela. The blackbird singing at dawn is pure joy. Love “that gold mascara’d ebony eye.”
I was astonished to see myself mentioned further down! I am overwhelmed by your kind words. I lurked in the background of Substack for so long wondering if there was a place for me among such amazing people- not a writer or photographer- just passionate about nature. I decided to start posting a few notes- and I seem to have a following! I am so happy people enjoy my bees, birds and butterflies. 🦋 Thank you!
Oh there is definitely a place for you! Your passion shows in your writing and your photographs (you are both!). Your Notes always brighten my day. If I had written this a day later I might have included your squirrel—that last, intoxicated, photo stays with me!
I'm afraid our spring over here in the states is also confused with summer. I'm curious to see how this shift shapes our (read: nature's) experiences each year... Thankful for the comfort I found in your beautiful words!
Thank you Niquelle, I’m glad you could rest here awhile. Nature is nothing if not adaptable, but I wish we could give her a little more room to adjust.
Agreed!
A joy to read as ever Michela, I find your playful use of language compelling and then you throw in some vital willow warbler facts too. They’ve recently turned up here and I had no idea how far they’d travelled. The swallows have also arrived this week. My book came with them, well kind of, and that is a thing of beauty in itself. Thank you so much for producing a little package of pleasure every Thursday.
You’re welcome Dave, I’m pleased you enjoy it. It did occur to me that it was a nice coincidence that your book arrived on the day that you finished lambing! I never realised we had so many migrant birds either, or the extent of their journeys. I had a better listen to a willow warbler yesterday morning, and swear I heard a first cuckoo—also, I think, an early arrival.
Our neighbour told us yesterday that he was sure he heard a cuckoo. That is considered an important milestone in the year in these parts.
Like the birdsong you write about, these posts are always a heart-lift.
Thank you Mary, that’s lovely to hear.
Always love being transported by your words, images and of course this week the dawn chorus ..
We continue our slow migration south and I’ve been making a note (via the Merlin sound ID) to which birds I hear and if any are specific to location ..
Thank you Nigel. It’s cold, grey and wet here (the definition of dreich in my book) so I think you’re heading in the right direction. Yes, Merlin is a great asset to have.
“5.45am
The blackbird’s song pulls me from sleep early
The blackbird’s song pulls me early from sleep
The blackbird’s song, early, pulls me from sleep
The blackbird’s early song pulls me from sleep
Early, the blackbird’s song pulls me from sleep.
Each day, a little earlier.”
Wonderful!
Thanks Manuela. I wondered if this was a little OTT as my mind works in strange ways that early, so I’m reassured that you enjoyed it.
Love, love, love this! Such beautiful observations.
💛
Beautiful, Michela! I love imagining those tiny warblers on their journey south. It is mind blowing that such small creatures can travel so far! I love your experimentation with the blackbird lines too, so effective to read and to listen to.
Thanks Rebecca. Mind-blowing is the right word. I was gobsmacked that they weigh so little.
Beautifully written article Michela, the blackbirds song is one of the best calls to wake to, so much more welcoming than a clock! Your photo of the feathers has such gorgeous colours.
Here on my little corner on the south coast we've not had rain for nearly four weeks...our wetland valley is drying rapidly and unusually early, The first swallow was seen flying in from Africa last week but no sign of the swifts or the cuckoo yet - it never ceases to amaze me the journey these birds make every year!
Hi Lin, how are you? Yes, give me birdsong any day. I found another place full of pheasant feathers today; sad but so beautiful to see them close.
Yes, we badly need rain. We have in and watered some new plants the other night; the smell of wet earth was divine.
Oh yes the smell of the earth after rain, petrichor, is so uplifting. I think when it does finally rain here I'll be going straight outside to soak it up myself!😊
So lovely words and pictures Michela, poetic. Loved the birdsong in between, meditative 🙏
We always wait for too long time for the spring in Iceland. We know it gets closer when the Loon appears in the country.
Hello Rannsy, it’s so good to hear from you. We have been spoiled with good weather these last two weeks: I hope the loon, and Spring, is with you soon.
Wonderful! 😍
Lots of feathered visitors have returned here as well (also on the garden cam we had a male roe deer, a fox and a badger all through the garden in a matter of a couple of nights). And so many big, wonderful bumblebees. I have been worried because they seemed to have emerged prior to most flowers. The trees are close to leafing out but I think they are waiting for some rain which we need here. We also have been hitting freezing at night and climbing to high temps on the sunny days here. Spring comes earlier these past couple of years. Scary.
Enjoy your birdsong. 💜
Thank you! Yes, it’s so dry isn’t it? I sometimes think our gardens serve as a buffet for our visitors. This morning a female roe deer was right outside the door, browsing a rose that we inherited from the previous owner. Each year they get bolder.
Sounds like some fine dining your visitor had! 💜
the birds have been so cheery and busy here too -- at the coast last week the songs were transporting and in the forest too.
They are a source of wonder, and a degree of comfort—close your eyes and the rest disappears. As you say it so well, they transport you.
After an absence of a couple of years, we once again have Blackbirds singing in our street. In previous years they sang from chimney tops, this year, they've chosen the Cherry trees. Such beautiful songs.
I wonder, where did they go? I listen to the sparrows too, and remember how we hardly noticed them as they sang from every hedge along the street. And then the hedges went…
I think blackbirds coming and going in our street is due to population change over the wider area. There were probably a few poor years for blackbirds locally then last year was a great breeding season and now there are more Blackbirds in my part of Edinburgh than ever. We have several areas where there are still hedges with good numbers of House Sparrows (long may it stay like that.)
Thank you for this. I do love black and white so. And I also appreciate seeing the other photo in color.
I was going to share a photo, but somehow I can't.
Thanks Geoffrey. You should be able to add a photo in Notes, though there isn’t this option for comments within the post itself.
I’ve actually continued working in monochrome, to see if it strengthens my compositions on the moss.
Such wonderful words Michela. The blackbird singing at dawn is pure joy. Love “that gold mascara’d ebony eye.”
I was astonished to see myself mentioned further down! I am overwhelmed by your kind words. I lurked in the background of Substack for so long wondering if there was a place for me among such amazing people- not a writer or photographer- just passionate about nature. I decided to start posting a few notes- and I seem to have a following! I am so happy people enjoy my bees, birds and butterflies. 🦋 Thank you!
Really glad you enjoyed this Linda, thank you.
Oh there is definitely a place for you! Your passion shows in your writing and your photographs (you are both!). Your Notes always brighten my day. If I had written this a day later I might have included your squirrel—that last, intoxicated, photo stays with me!
Yes that squirrel was hilarious!
A wonderful article Michela. I particularly love your ode to the blackbird. Thank you.
Thanks Ralph, much appreciated.
The utter joy of the blackbird singing at this time of year - I love how you amplify the wonder of it Michela.
Thanks Margaret, very kind of you to say so ☺️ I love listening to the variety of calls and whistles they make.