A busy week 1: spring comes early

First I went to Lytham Hall for snowdrops and siskins. This is a place I've heard about for years, but had never visited. It's a country house with expansive grounds, just north of Lytham, a lovely little town on the north side of the Ribble estuary. Actually, you only have to walk a couple of hundred metres out of the station and you're on the edge of the countryside, with woods and fields, the house itself further up a long drive, surrounded by mature trees.

 A honeybee with pollen on its face.

But before that, I stopped to photograph crocuses in a patch of park just in front of the station. There were lots of bees making the most of the good conditions, and the light was good - if a little contrasty.

I stopped to watch lots of small birds in a patch of alders by the drive up to the big house, but they all seemed to be chaffinches. The sun was warm, and there was little breeze, and there was song all around. But no siskins.

Contrast this with a similar view further down this article.

 A very fine house. The snowdrops were off to the left.

I got to the snowdrops just in time. Some had already faded, but enough looked okay to get some shots. The springlike sunshine didn't last, although the cooler, plainer light that replaced it was probably better for photographing white flowers against a dark background. I tried various combinations of lenses and positions, but I have to say most of the results were disappointing.

It rained quite heavily as I left, but only for a couple of minutes. Spring showers blew through for the rest of the afternoon, so I didn't feel like exploring the rest of the grounds. Still, it was a nice place and I'll go back if I can.

 The first globular springtail I've seen this year - the very common Dicyrtomina saundersi.

The shower had already passed by the time I took this - but you can see how moody it was.

Another shower and another rainbow - a full one this time.

You can still see the wispy rain here.