Early Butterbur.

 Butterbur. Photo. John Elliott. Click to enlarge.       

The Butterbur that grows on the bankside by the sewage pumping station is flowering very early again this year, a few days after Christmas instead of a few days before as it was last year.   Climate change or the nutritious overflow from the pumping station when it can't cope? Or perhaps both. The purplish flowers  appear well before the large leaves which were used in pre-plastic days to wrap butter, hence the name. All our plants are 'male', the 'female' occuring mainly in the north of England.

Local Dorset names include 'Early Mushroom' as they look like small button mushrooms as they push through the soil, and 'Snake's Rhubarb'. 

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My Cuckoo Arthur.

Here is the latest bulletin from BTO. Jim, Ashok and Arthur in Gabon Furthest north we find Sussex Cuckoo Jim and our two Suffolk Cuckoos Ashok and Arthur, all in Gabon. Jim and Ashok are in Ivindo National Park, a World Heritage Site for its outstanding biodviersity. Arthur is further east towards the border with Congo. It'll be interesting to see whether these three birds remain in Gabon or move further south and/or east over the coming weeks. The Cuckoos will likely remain in their wintering areas until February, when we will hope to see some movement as they commence their long flights back to Europe for the 2026 breeding season. For some of this Cuckoo cohort, it will be the first time that we get to follow their remarkable journeys north. We will, as always, keep an eye on the Cuckoos and as soon as we see signs that they’re starting to head back we will post updates and track their incredible progress once more! Visit our website for all the latest Cuckoo updates and to track their movements in real time with our live Cuckoo migration map!