Ben Thomas

First bird today: a Robin manoeuvring through the dense vegetation of the hedgerow on a cool, misty morning. #Firstbirdofmyday

First bird seen today was a Jay perched in a wind sculpted hawthorn tree and the first bird heard was a Robin somewhere in the hedgerow on a calm, misty morning. #Firstbirdofmyday

First birds today were two Crows making their way across the valley on a calm morning with a pink sky. #Firstbirdofmyday

First bird today was a Blue Tit preening itself in the early morning sun. #Firstbirdofmyday

First bird today was a Dunnock working its way along the hedgerow on a calm, bright morning. #Firstbirdofmyday

First bird of my day: a Chaffinch at the feeder on a bright and blustery morning. #Firstbirdofmyday

“In the first week of March the wind blows hard, swaying the reeds and bushes and bending the big trees beyond the lake to its cold breath.”

The first page of ‘What to Look for in Spring”
Artist: CF Tunnicliffe
Writer: EL Grant Watson

Colt's-foot - Tussilago farfara yellow flowers popping through the wet grassland in the sunshine. #Wildflowerhour

First bird of my day: a Red Kite gliding back and forth over the fields, searching for food on a blustery but bright morning. #Firstbirdofmyday

First bird of my day: a Nuthatch and Song Thrush competing for the first bird heard and a Blue Tit flying from the hedgerow is in first place for first seen on a calm, bright morning. #Firstbirdofmyday

First bird of my day: a pair of Blackbirds perched in a damson tree just above the pond creating a perfect reflection on a calm, misty morning. #Firstbirdofmyday

First bird of my day: a Dunnock on a fence post surveying its surroundings on a breezy, dry morning. #Firstbirdofmyday

Other work by the Ladybird artists
‘Curlews And Turnstones’
Artist: CF Tunnicliffe

First bird today: a Great Tit visiting the feeder on an otherwise quiet, breezy and sunny morning. #Firstbirdofmyday

First bird today: a Red Kite riding the wind over the fields, making small adjustments to keep focus on the ground below. #Firstbirdofmyday

Two birds on an ivy covered tree stump on a dank winter day. I believe this was a design for an RSPB greetings card

Other work by the Ladybird artists
‘Nuthatch’
Artist: CF Tunnicliffe

First bird today: a Greenfinch at the feeder and a Red Kite soaring above the valley on a mild, dry morning. #Firstbirdofmyday

Lesser celandine - a little ray of sunshine on a steep, wet bank, caught between showers. #Wildflowerhour

Two partridges are visible on the rough hillside. Overhead a sparrow flies holding a feather to line its nest.

“After the snow has melted, western winds have brought mild weather, and when the sun shines many signs of springtime appear”

Writer: EL Grant Watson
Artist: CF Tunnicliffe
‘What to Look for in Winter, 1959’

First bird today: a Robin singing from the top of an apple tree and a pair of Wood Pigeons perched on the telephone pole. #Firstbirdofmyday

First bird today: a Red Kite soaring over the garden and Robins singing from the trees on a mild, calm morning. #Firstbirdofmyday

First birds today: a gathering of Crows in the leafless trees, calling and shuffling for position on a calm, cloudy morning. #Firstbirdofmyday

Love that sound echoing through the woods!

First bird of my day: a Song Thrush singing in the rain, sheltering in the relative comfort of a yew tree. #Firstbirdofmyday

First bird of my day: a Song Thrush singing in the rain, sheltering in the relative comfort of a yew tree. #Firstbirdofmyday

An engraving looking up at a song thrush in full voice as it perches on a twig against a white sky in early spring

Other work of the Ladybird artists.
‘Missel Thrush’, 1937
Artist: CF Tunnicliffe

First bird today, a Jay deep in the woods showing off it’s vertical takeoff skills on a breezy, cool morning. #Firstbirdofmyday

First bird today is a Robin singing from its perch in the elder tree on a calm, bright and cool morning. #Firstbirdofmyday

First bird today, a Wood Pigeon calling from the hedgerow trees on a bright and breezy morning. #Firstbirdofmyday

Yew - Taxus baccata pollen laden flowers just starting to open on what seems to be a very rare sunny day. #Wildflowerhour