Värlebo

Phenology, Migration Patterns, Gardening, Nature

[werlebo]

21.04.07

The last few days have been cold with temperatures reaching -° in the night. Yesterday, it snowed.

More birds have arrived but they are elusive and I have not been able to spot them all. The neighbor saw and owl by the barn. Two different birds of prey, Röd glador / Red kite, have been flying too close for comfort to the chicken coop. Last week, a Duvhök / Northern Goshawk attempted to get inside the run.

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The Påskliljor / Wild Daffodil / Narcissus (Narcissus pseudonarcissus) are about to bloom and the Primula / Primrose (Primula vulgaris) are now out.

[werlebo]

Snapshots of Värlebo

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[werlebo]

2021.04.01

The krokus have now wilted and the second round of spring flower are blooming. The purple Hyacinth (Hyacinthus orientalis) is beginning to bloom and the Lupins / Lupiner (Lupinus polyphyllus) leaves are now out.

[werlebo]

21.03.30

The female Brimstone Butterflies / Citronfjäril are awake. I spotted a pair of Long-Tailed Tits / Sjärtmes using feathers from my (taken) hen, and carrying them to what I assume is their nest.

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The Rysk Blåsjärna (Scilla siberica) and Vårlök / Star-of-Bethlehem (Gagea lutea) have awakened. The first large green leaves of Uppländsk Vallört / Russian Comfrey (Symphytum x uplandicum) have opened.

[werlebo]

21.03.29

As they say, "April showers bring May flowers"... and apparently, also all the little birds to the yard. It's not quite April yet, but the rains have started. When I opened the front door this morning, a flutter of small bird wings filled the front yard as I disturbed them during their worm pickings.

Also, chubby bumblebees are buzzing around, enjoying the small Krokus as well as the newly bloomed Pilewort / Svälort (Ficaria verna). The Peacock Butterflies also visited the young blooms this weekend.

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The greenhouse went up and the front porch got a new DIY flowerbed made of repurposed terracotta roof shingles. I saw a number of happy earthworms dancing around and some less desirable beetle caterpillars. I gathered some Dandelion / Maskross (Taraxacum officinale) roots in the process of digging and refilling with soil.

* I believe that the green bird I saw last week was actually a Gulhämpling. I saw it again just now. The unidentified evening songbird is a variety of Blackbird / Koltrast

[werlebo]

21.03.25

Found a budding Pussy Willow / Sälg (Salix caprea) along the road. All the Hazelnut / Hassel (Corylus avellana) shrubs have their catkins. The purple Crocus / Krokus (C. vernus) have bloomed.

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I saw what I believe was a Grönfink. I noticed that a few new birds have returned. The Herons / Hägrar are back, there was a Dove (not sure if Turkduva or Ringduva) in the trees and a new songbird that I have not yet seen or identified.