Heralding spring!

I went for a quick trip to the South Downs today, and stopping in a layby to get some shots of the landscape I found this Hazel bush, catkins in full bloom! 
When I was a little girl we used to call them 'Lambs tails' for obvious reasons and they have always been a firm favorite of mine, not least because their appearance means spring is on it's way!
On my way home I accidentally hit (and killed) a beautiful female blackbird. poor Mr U & L, I made a five mile detour to check it was actually dead and not just mortally injured, he got out and checked for me bless him :-)