Sat & listened to my 1st skylarks off the year here in South Derbyshire, the earliest I’ve ever heard them.. usually mid March?
That's great! I was walking over the hills around us today and there was noticeably more birdsong. Signs of a new start
Weird that..never see them until spring approaches, yet chiff chaff are ten to a dozen here.Skylarks can be heard year-round - they're UK residents.
I remember hearing one on a frosty Winter day and it took me by surprise just because it's a sound one normally associates with Summer.
But here (in the south east, at least) they are year round residents and can be heard any time of the year. Maybe in the far north they may migrate south, but I wouldn't have thought Derbyshire counts as northern enough.
I always feel that Spring has begun when I hear the first Chiff Chaff. Not heard one yet, but I would expect to by the end of the month.