The first spring like day here with warm sun shining on the snow – and at last the two feet of snow around the house has really started to melt. Tom has at last gone on a fly-about over the Cairngorms, but came back the next day – it’s interesting how different his behaviour has been to Alma. She has been staying in Glen Tanar among the old Caledonian forest of Scots pines for the last ten days or so. The ospreys are all in the same wintering sites and with the same routines, but they will be getting ready for the northward migrations next month. It was lovely hearing mistle thrush, robin and great tit singing this morning, and seeing snowdrops poking out of the disappearing snow.