Feature Photo Q2

Spring, according to the weathermen, begins 1st March, and 20th March according to my calendar, but I don't think so. Three species of moorland visitors sum up spring for me; lapwing, curlew and snipe. Lapwings are early returners, flying over moors as soon as winter snows melt away. Curlews usually arrive next. Their unique call gives them away and they are most often heard before being seen, as was the case at the beginning of March. It was another week or so before small brown darts, flying faster than a speeding bullet, were noticed and the trio were complete. Then - and only then - would I proclaim with any certainty that spring had at last begun.