Queen bumble bees will be warming up now, either by sunning themselves on a leaf in direct sunshine or by burrowing deep into a dandelion. Dandelion flowers can be up to 10C warmer than the surrounding air, which is why they are so popular with pollinating insects: and why you should allow them to flower in your garden! Their warmth is an active part of plant metabolism, not just sunlight induced warming.

Pine ladybirds may also be venturing out - I often seen them on my apple trees. These small red and black critters (up to 4mm long) overwinter in leaf litter and crawl into trees as temperatures climb. They eat scale insects, among other pests.

You might see more goldfinches too, as they seek out food. Feeding only on seeds, these brightly coloured finches have changed behaviours considerably in the past 20 years. Previously a farmland species, they're now one of the UK's top 10 garden birds. This change is thought to be due to a decrease in stubble fields, increased hedge flailing and more effective herbicides, so there are fewer seedheads for them to feed on.

Another species moving in (from woodland this time) - and one of my favourite birds - is the long-tailed tit or bottle tit, which start nest building around now. They're sometimes called 'flying teaspoons' by birdwatchers!

They make beautifully camouflaged round to oval nests from hair, moss and cobweb, which expand like balloons to accommodate the mother and up to eight young. But recent examinations of urban bottle tits nests showed increased amounts of plastic fibres (and pet pesticides) as well.

Like many small birds, longtail tit numbers are hit badly by wet springs, so let's hope it's a dryer season this year. We deserve a less rainy spell!