Throughout April Spring showed little sign of arriving. Cold northerly winds persisted for most of the month, holding back plant growth by a couple of weeks or more. Migrant birds arrived back in a mere trickle. Bumblebees and butterflies were slow to emerge on cold Spring days. On one of the few warm mornings a couple of Common Lizards were active in a sheltered corner of the garden.

The garden Sloworms preferred to remain in the warmth generated in the compost bins only occasionally emerging to bask in the heat of the sun.

In recent years large numbers of Pinkfooted Geese have been using the Moray Firth area as a migration stop off in autumn and again in spring on their journey northward. Smaller numbers also now overwinter around the firths. Sheltered sandy bays are used for roosting. After spending time feeding out in the fields part of their routine is to return several times during the day to places where fresh water runs out onto the shore to rest, drink and wash.