April’s here and spring is really showing up around Melrose and mornings are full of bird song. Watch young male blackbirds carrying twigs, ready to hand them over to their mates as nests near completion. Robins are back to their dawn duet and both males and females are calling and chasing off rivals, while Skylarks sing above and lambs romp in the fields.
Birds at work
Not everything goes smoothly and the dippers, who nest low on the riverbank, may lose their first attempt when late winter floods wash it away. They’ll rebuild however because a bit of bad luck won’t stop them. We’re also waiting for the sand martins to return from south of the Sahara. They always come back to the same sandbank at Millmount Haugh, usually in the first week of April. It never feels like spring until we see them checking out the old holes.
Warblers are starting to arrive too. Telling chiffchaffs from willow warblers is mostly about the song. The chiffchaff goes “chiff-chaff, chiff-chaff,” while the willow warbler has a softer, more musical warble. It’s a nice little game to learn if we’re out with binoculars.
Riverside flowers
On the riverbank the daffodils, which have been especially bright this year along the Melrose bypass, are finishing. Primroses, sweet violets and celandines are taking over the sunny banks. The grass is greening and the whole place feels livelier. It’s the kind of weather that makes us want to get out on the paths and walk the riverside.
Sights and sounds
There are small things we might not notice at first that add up to the feeling of spring. If we stand quietly for a few minutes by the water, we’ll hear the change in the chorus. There are more confident calls, brief pauses as birds check each other out,. There’s the scolding sounds when one bird says “this is mine.” Sometimes we catch sight of a blackbird balancing on a twig pile, or a pair of robins flitting through hedgerows, feathers flashing in the low sun. Those bold little divers, the dippers, are often busy shuffling along the stones. They look for food and test out new nest sites. Even after losing a nest, they don’t hang around worrying; they get on with the next step.
The sand martins are always worth keeping an eye on. They have a way of arriving that feels like a little celebration. There’ll be a few scouts at first, skimming the river and dropping into old holes, and then gradually the bank fills up again. We remember the exact spots where they nest each year. Watching them return feels like seeing old friends come back after a long trip. If they’re a day or two late it’s no drama as they have their own timetable, but when they do show up, there’s a definite lift in the place.
Speaking of arrivals, the warblers bring fresh energy. They’re thin, busy birds—always moving through the top branches, flicking wings, looking for insects. Learning their songs is a simple pleasure. People often get them mixed up at first, but once we learn the chiffchaff’s steady “chiff-chaff” and the willow warbler’s flowing notes, we start picking them out more easily. It’s the sort of thing that makes walks feel like a small treasure hunt.
Everyday signs of spring
The flowers along the riverside are part of the show, too. The daffodils have been brilliant this year, and as they fade we notice primroses, violets and celandines taking their places on the sunny banks. Those little carpets of colour seem to attract everyone—walkers, bees, and even a few curious birds looking for shelter. The scent of the violets on a warm day is subtle but lovely. It’s one of those small, almost private pleasures that feels like it belongs to the river.
Fields are filling with lambs, and their energy is catching. You can watch them bounce and leap, sometimes stopping to stare with big, curious eyes before running off again. Overhead the skylarks’ song rises and falls while they hover above, almost as if they’re pointing out how good the day is. It’s simple, unforced joy—no fuss, just doing what they do.
There are practical little things too, that remind us it’s spring. Paths get busier with people out for a longer walk. Dogs enjoy the fresher air. Gardeners start to tidy beds and plant early seeds. Farmers check fences and gates, and you can see small repairs happening along hedgerows. It’s all part of the feeling—everyone doing their bit as the season turns.
What to watch for
If you want something simple to look for on your next spring walk around Melrose, keep an eye out for these:
- Blackbirds carrying nest material.
- Robins singing at dawn and chasing off rivals.
- Chiffchaffs (“chiff-chaff”) and willow warblers (a softer warble).
- Sand martins returning to Millmount Haugh and checking old nest holes.
- Dippers rebuilding their riverbank nests after flooding.
- Primroses, violets, celandines, and the last of the daffodils.
- Lambs playing in fields with the skylarks overhead.
Spring in Melrose isn’t sudden fireworks; it’s lots of small things and everyday scenes adding up. The sun is out, the riverside is waking up, and the paths are ready. Let’s get out there and take it all in.