The spring-like days of early March have sparked hedgerow activity with resident birds building up reserves for the nesting season to come, among them long-tailed tits (pictured above) and robins and sparrows (pictured below). Encouragingly, kingfishers have been seen along the canal between Brunthwaite bridge and Kildwick. In a generally good year so far for bird-watchers, winter visitors have again included waxwings, redwings and fieldfares. A lone parakeet has survived the winter in the Sykes Lane-canal vicinity.