In a sure sign, that despite all the doom, gloom and 'end is nigh-ing', the world is functioning as normal, the toads have decided it must be spring.  So, ever ready to go and poke my nose in, I have some pictures of toads doing what they do this time of year - have a look in the 'Nature Watch' folder.

Last year (2008) we could here them from the brewery, and on at least one evening, it was quite a racket.  This year they have been quieter, but we do seem to have a lot more of them. 

In other news, the Buzzards are starting to congregate overhead, and the Skylarks have seemingly gone off on holiday.  Something is really startling the other birds as well, so it may be we have a passaging aggressor on the farm at the moment - Peregrines, Hen/Montagu's Harriers and even Goshawks are not unheard here, so we may have something of note hanging around.  Sadly (or thankfully, depending on your position in the food chain), such birds are but brief visitors, if they stop at all.

Oh, and no Swallows yet...