Spring Catkins

The sun was out today so I decided to do a bird count for birdtrack (see link right). But I also spotted this year's trembling yellow catkin crop on one of the few coppiced hazel stools at the side of the track. They look so delicate but are robust enough to survive the fierce winds we've had lately.

I had a rummage in the leaf litter and found plenty of last year's nuts and shells, including this one.

I'm pretty sure it's a bird that's been at this nut. There were many other half shells around with no sign of rodent tooth marks. Would be great to find a wood or dormouse in this patch, but magpies are much more likely nutters....