Early Signs of Spring in Perthshire

There’s something special about this time of year in Perthshire, when the first small signs of spring begin to appear. It’s easy to miss them if you’re rushing past, but if you slow down and really look, you’ll start to notice the season changing all around you. Taking a moment to notice these little changes can be a real mood boost after the long winter. Days are already longer and lighter, so this is a lovely way to reconnect with the outdoors. Here are a few suggestions for specific things to watch for:

Birdsong

How delightful it is to hear the birds singing again! They are most active in early morning, and often again towards dusk, but there’s a good chance of hearing them at any time really, especially on a mild, calm day somewhere quiet with plenty of trees. Whenever and wherever you go, be sure to stop and really listen to these uplifting sounds, and perhaps see if you can identify the different birds making them.

Buds

While it’s too early for spotting delicate new waxy leaves in that amazing zingy green, you may be able to see some buds. Try to find a tree or shrub near you that you can go and inspect regularly to watch progress, as this is great for keeping you in tune with the tiny changes of the season. Slightly different but along the same lines, hazel catkins, or lambs tails, are another charming early sign of spring to keep an eye out for.

Lambs

Who doesn’t love seeing the lambs in spring? There’s usually some early ones in March, the beginning of the lambing season, and although some farms and parks offer lamb experiences, you can also very often just spot them from the roadside during a drive or walk. Take the time to stop and watch for a bit if it’s safe to do so, or how about offering a family prize for the first lamb and the most lambs seen on a trip?

Crocuses

After the snowdrops, the next bulbs I usually spot are pale purple and bright yellow crocuses, and very happy I am to see them! Look for sheltered areas in parks or at the edges of woodland for a good chance of spotting them, or take yourself to the Black Spout walk in Pitlochry, where you can sometimes find them flowering alongside the last of the snowdrops.

Insects

One sign of early spring we may easily take for granted is seeing insects reappear on mild, sunny days. You might spot a big bumblebee queen flying low over the grass, a hoverfly resting on a sunny fence, or a ladybird waking up from its winter hiding place, or even a butterfly spreading its wings. The best time to look is the warmest part of the day in a sunny, sheltered spot. Even seeing just one bee or butterfly is often a sure sign that spring is on the way.

Buzzards

As I was outside today listening to the birdsong while musing on this article, the more tuneful tweeting and chirping noises were suddenly drowned out by the squawking of many jackdaws. Vaguely annoyed at this, I looked up, only to see that the cause of the disturbance in the jackdaw community was two buzzards circling above me. This too was a sign of the season, since birds of prey become more are more active and visible as they take advantage of the thermals formed by spring sunshine.

I do really think one of the nicest things about early spring is that it unfolds slowly, with something new to spot each week. The more you pay attention, the more you notice, which gives you the opportunity to feel connected to nature. Perhaps you could even keep a journal or sketchbook to record the little changes, until we reach April and spring fully bursts out upon us in its full glory.