It must be spring

A few signs of spring spotted this week...

Mute swans working really hard together building their nest.  It was lovely to watch them pulling the twigs into place and pushing them down.

A moorhen...

             ... and a coot.  They all seem to think that spring is coming, it must be a good sign.  And finally a single magnolia bud that has lost its furry cover.  The first one on a big tree to show its purple petals - surely, surely, spring must be close.

I'm spending this weekend on a photography course that I won at a promises auction.  Today was an overload of information; apparently tomorrow it will all become crystal clear.  I'm really looking forward to getting out and taking some pictures.  Today was wet, with driving rain, and no good at all for budding photographers.  Am really hoping for an improvement in my picture taking skills!