'First Cuckoo' in Stratford heard on 23 April

Richard Death has shared news that he was awoken this morning, 23 April, by the call of a cuckoo, the first call that he's heard in 2025 in Stratford sub Castle.

The Common Cuckoo (Cuculus canorus) is famously heard but rarely seen.

News from 7 April

Two swallows were spotted on a wire near Castle Keep this morning but I was driving past, so cannot provide any photographic evidence!

This magnificent magnolia can be viewed from the pathway between Stratford Road and Five Rivers Centre.

If you have any spring sightings that could be added to this post, please send them in. Birds, animals, or flowers, they all provide seasonal news to share with our readers.