www.ukbutterflies.co.uk

I found this website of the countdown to spring hope you like it.

Thanks,

Felix

http://kaypoe.the-webplace.com/special3 ... ring.shtml

Nice, but according to some things I have seen, isn't that date not the start of British Summetime? which I have always felt was way early for that.

According to my calander the 20th of march is the first day of spring and british summer time bigins on the 28th of march but I can see It can be confusing and still It does fell too early.

Thanks for the reply,

Felix

One convention for the start of spring is the date of the equinox. The spring equinox, the date when the sun moves north of the equator, falls on 20th March this year (it is on 21st some years).

However purely for administrative convenience, the Met Office designates 1st March as the beginning of spring.

British Summer Time is used according to this rule:
"In force from the last Sunday in March until the last Sunday in October."

Other European counties used the same dates for adjusting their clocks.

Jack

The vernal equinox falls on 20th March, which is why that date was chosen. From that day onwards (actually, from 1732 GMT on that day this year), the northern hemisphere will be inclined towards the sun and we will enjoy longer days than nights.

The beginning of BST is now by convention 0200hrs GMT = 0300hrs BST on the last Sunday in March, which is always shortly after the equinox.

Guy

EDIT - ... as Jack has just pointed out...

I regret to inform you that you're all wrong... spring in fact begins when you first see a butterfly that didn't hibernate as an adult - last year's mouldy oldies don't count. Sorry about that, but it just needed clearing up.

Spring for me started on 1st April 2009, 3rd April 2008, 1st April 2007 and 9th April 2006, so by my reckoning (for most people) there's still a while left for spring to start

I recall a lovely conversation on the Air Traffic Control radio.

A pilot was told that his slot time was "on the hour".
“Is that on the hour GMT or BST?”

Think about it.

And before we get into trouble with the thought police, I hasten to add that the pilot was not from a certain island country in the far west of Europe!

Mind you, there was a joke about an examination question for professional pilots’ licences in a certain western European country.
“You are planning a flight from A to B. On the sheet provided, draw the shortest route from A to B. Extra paper is available if required”

Jack

Interesting definition, galathea! That means my Swiss spring started on 28th Feb last year, when this QoS innocently supped speedwell nectar in the Rhône Valley:



I'm really hoping for something similar this coming Saturday, because I haven't seen a butterfly of any sort for three months now and it hurts.

Guy

Jack - your jokes remind me of the day I explained to my students how birds coped with the time change. To my shame, they believed everything I said.

Hi all,
I prefer Alexander's 'take' on the seasons. To me the first day of spring is when I see the Orange Tip. The first day of summer is when I see the Meadow Brown. Late summer is marked by the appearance of Brown Hairstreaks, and autumn is here when the Comma starts to feast in earnest on ripe blackberries. Now that's a proper calendar!
Neil

Wow! I didn't expect that much comments (personal best ) and I'm very grateful that you took the time to do it.


It is amazing how we all interpret spring. The ones you gave me were all pretty much different.


Thanks for the replies,

Felix

Ps I'm jealous of your knowledge.

Another interpretation - Aconites (Cambridgeshire).

Jack

So, going on that theorie, Spring officially began during the first week of February here in southern Brittany - a very fresh-looking Speckled Wood was found on my doorstep.

You lucky thing.

Felix