...does not a summer make

Last year, we saw our first swallow of the summer in Brittany - a group of maybe 8 or 9 obviously fresh in from Africa looking tired and bit skinny.

The first harbinger of spring the dear little chiff-chaff has been with us for a while now, but we like to think (as do so many) that the swallow means summer can't be far behind.

Yesterday as Nicky and I walked to Cremyll, she saw some flitting shapes swooping over the lake - a group of house martins has arrived; then at Lower Anderton, we saw 2007's first swallow perched on the telegraph wires.

It's always a nice moment when we spot the first one, and yesterday was the moment for this year. Black Prince day is nearly with us as well - summer really isn't far off.