The year before last I had the pleasure of going to America, visiting Bobert near Harpers Ferry and seeing bright red cardinal birds for the first time. Well,` we have nothing quite as vivid here in more understated Stoke-on-Trent, England. But we do have bull-finches.They provide the finest colour display I know of in our part of the world, and it's happening right now as I look out of the window. We have a couple of damson trees, and another tree that produces small yellow plums. Very small numbers of plums, and I believe the reason the number is so small is bullfinches who destroy the buds.
   They are at it now,the trees are a mass of gleaming white blossom glowing in the sun, and here and there are the brilliant colours of the breasts of the bullfinches as they chomp away. I cant think what is a good word for the colour, its not really a pink and its not really a crimson. Anyway, it's bullfinch colour, and I am glad to forego a few plums for this wonderful sight.
    So, how is spring developing where you are?