Wet, wet, wet! And muddy!! At times, it was wellies only, with a stream flowing from the central swamp across the riverbank path and into the main river. But at the same time, it’s been mostly very mild (apart from the day we woke to an inch of snow). So leaves stay green, flowers bloom and remarkably the birds are singing a spring song. From about 20th, Song Thrushes could be heard in the early morning, joined later by Great Tits, Blue Tits and on 21st – the shortest day – a breakfast time special: the first drumming of a Great Spotted Woodpecker. In my garden, the resident Blackbird had been murmuring and muttering for a while, but then in full song, brief but wonderful. In the back garden, a Dunnock has got used to the fact that I am there for breakfast, with cat on knee, and comes to feed at the seed feeder. Flocks of mixed Tits cruise through, Long Tailed and Blue Tits, with a Coal Tit on one occasion.
One of the Friends of Paradise, in gratitude for the pleasure the reserve has given her throughout 2020, has donated a Black Poplar tree – to be planted near the Owlstone Rd entrance in the Snowdrop area. Black Poplars are rare, but they become magnificent trees and grow quickly.
Also at that end, is evidence of even rarer wildlife – an Elvery. Eight little front doors have appeared in a grotto just off the main path – mainly at toddler height – thanks to David and Stella Tranah for this seasonal treat.
Tawny Owls are about – one night I heard both female (Toowit) and male (Twhoo). Andrew and Janet, at the far end of Grantchester Meadows, found one roosting on their window sill.
On 21st, the Conjunction of the bright planets Jupiter and Saturn could be seen, low in the evening sky in the south-west as twilight descends in the evening. I did not manage to get a clear view, sadly, but this picture was taken in Soham by a friend.
Although the planets appear very close together, the distance between them is actually over four times the distance between the Earth and the Sun. This is a rare event!
Olwen Williams olwenw@gmail.com
Friends of Paradise Nature Reserve 
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