Signs of Spring

The swifts (not swallows) are back, four days later than their return last year! I regret to report that I didn't note their departure last autumn, so I can't say how long they were away this winter.

Walking home from my downtown shopping yesterday afternoon, I saw a pair of crows chasing an eagle out of their territory, which I guess means that the 2008 nesting season has begun in earnest.

I've had a mild but very persistent migraine for some 20 hours, from early last night until this afternoon, and the echoes are still ringing. I stayed in bed most of the day, dressing only when I went for a walk an hour ago, and shall be in bed early this evening again.

[Updated] not a migraine, but Föhn fever, because half a dozen other people also had the same symptoms at the same time.

On having second thoughts

I took down a post which I'd written this morning, because the first two comments (Savtadotty and Antonia) proved that it was badly written: unclear, off-topic, not thought out, factually wrong. My bad. Sorry.

I shall rewrite it and post it again, probably tomorrow.

In other news the swallows are back! I saw the first of them circling above the rooftops this evening, as I was walking around the Feuersee with an ice-cream cone, taking the long way home. They left around July 28th; this is a week earlier than their return last year.

In other, other news courtesy of the great Neil Gaiman or rather his Web Elf, the fascinating and heartwarming tale of the rat tickler.