Nature Notes

• First cuckoo heard in these parts on Wednesday 9 April. Rather late.
• Rape fields only just starting to turn yellow. Again, late this year.
• Insolent behaviour on the part of crows. For several years, of course, they have shown scant respect for motorists, no longer bothering to move from their roadside positions as one speeds by. But there has been a disturbing development of late: now they can scarcely be bothered to get out of the way when I approach them on my BICYCLE.

Where will it all end? In tears and recrimination, as usual.