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Believe it or not, summer is around the corner,
heralded by the arrival of the swallows. These were sighted over Metheringham on
22nd April, having returned from their wintering quarters in South
Africa and now heading for their breeding territories in Europe.
Swallow sightings have been very sporadic this year, probably
due to the cold east winds holding back the migration.
The wheatears, another early migrant, can be seen standing on
molehills in grass meadows displaying to passing females en route to northern
Britain and Europe to breed. These distinctive attractive birds are recognised
by their white rumps, noticeable as they flit from prominence to prominence.
Chiffchaff are singing in station Wood, joined by blackcaps,
a warbler which now winters in southern Britain.
Resident greater spotted woodpeckers are setting up breeding
boundaries and can be heard drumming on dead branches in Station Wood. Listen
out for them.
The majority of blackbirds seen around the village,
especially the churchyard, will have returned to their breeding areas in Central
Europe having spent the winter here with us.
This is an exciting time of year for birding, with an
occasional rarity turning up for us all to enjoy.
(Report compiled 1st May)
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At Metheringham Library we are still as busy as ever! If you happen to peer
through the window on a Thursday morning (and, believe me, people do!), you will
see the latest batch of recruits mastering the wonders of new technology on the
second of the highly popular CLAIT computer courses, which are being run by the
Library in conjunction with North Lincs College.
Everyone on the initial course,
which finished recently, passed with flying colours and we already have a
waiting list for our next course, which is due to start in September. If you
would like to know more, or add your name to the list, call in and we will be
happy to answer your queries.
The Easter holidays saw a number of
children busy making Easter boxes and chicks, and listening to seasonal stories
during our popular holiday activity sessions. The next one will be during
half-term on Tuesday 29 May at 10.30am. Places are limited but tickets will be
available from the Library.
Computerisation of the Library is
still progressing with more Readers being added to the Database on a regular
basis, although we still do not have a final date for the completion of this.
At the beginning of May, the Reader’s Group had just
finished reading “The Beach”, and set about reading “Chocolat” by Joanne
Harris. It was expected that a few KitKats would be needed to aid the discussion
of that one! The group meets on the first Wednesday of the month at 7.30 and we
usually enjoy a very light-hearted and entertaining evening. If you would like
to join us, we would be very pleased to see you. |
