January-March Nature Notes
Download version of these notes as Pdf.
Download version as MS Word.doc.
LAPWG NEWS:
Outline Programme of Events for 2010. We have created a table of events showing the kind of activity and parish to give everyone a general picture of what is planned for the year. Once dates and other details are fixed, the event will be listed on the home page. Please let us know if you have any ideas for other events or training.
New style recording forms have been designed to give more space~
The Special Events Diary has changed shape but asks for the same kind of information. Use this for the more uncommon species or wildlife spots and for giving one full record of any species highlighted on the check list.
The Diary Checklist is now on two sides. We can supply double sided printouts to save on paper; please ask your parish coordinator. For the first time, we are asking for just one date, relating to each species; this could be the date that you see the greatest number at anyone time. Giving a date also validates your record.
Parish Maps. All the parish tetrads (2x2km squares) are now available from the web-site. If you look at your parish maps and select parish tetrads, an outline map of your parish shows the tetrad names. They are also listed above the map and for details, just click on the tetrad.
Other wildlife interest:
- Plans for a Cornwall mammal Atlas which is why we are asking for full details of any mammal sighting.
- Nut hunting ~ please continue to look for hazel nuts opened by dormice to support the Great Nut Hunt.
- RSPB Garden Bird Watch in January. We hope to be able to support this; watch Home Page for details.
What to look for in the first quarter: Birds, Butterflies and Moths and other insects, Mammals, Amphibians, Plants
This quarter sees us move from the depths of winter into spring and the timing of wildife activities will reflect the changes in weather over the period.
Birds. Cornwall should expect influxes of birds seeking out our relatively milder climate and also birds from the moor often move down into the valleys during bad weather. The numbers of birds in our gardens will increase as birds come in for food; even common birds like blackbirds fly across from the east of Britain. It is worth travelling over to Davidstow Moor and the carpark below Rough Tor to see huge flocks of Starlings coming into roost. On moorland areas, and along our estuaries, look out for larger flocks of Lapwings and Golden Plover. Please record details of any large flocks of Golden Plover. Ravens breed in January so look out for the aerobatic flight of a pair of Ravens in courtship over the moors & coast. The Red Kite has been reported from Polson & North Hill parish ~ details should be kept so that we can monitor their spread into the county.
Learn to recognise the call of Tawny Owls; if you can recognise male and female, you will know if you have a pair possible nesting nearby. Little Owls are now very rarely recorded in Cornwall so if you do see one, please let others know. Grey Partridge is another species that ERCCIS would like to know about, now very local.
Watch out for interesting waders & water fowl on any sizable stretch of inland water.
On our bird tables, look out for the Siskin and possibly the Brambling & Lesser Redpoll in addition to the normal visitors.
In the hedgerows look out for mixed flocks of Tits. They stay together for safety and are sometimes joined by other small species such as the Goldcrest. Woodpeckers particularly are more visible while the leaves are off the trees but the Lesser Spotted Woodpecker has not been recorded in our area for some time. They are about the size of a Chaffinch and if you do see one, take a photo!
Birdsong. This is a great time to get to identify birds from their call and song as there are not too many. The Song Thrush sings its song thrice over but the Mistle Thrush or Storm Cock will sing a loud & rich song from the top of a tree; each phrase ends on an upward note. If you are awake early in the morning, you will start to hear more birds joining the Dawn Chorus. The RSPB web-site contains an index of birds including their songs.
Nesting may start as early as February for some of our resident birds but during March, the winter visitors will leave us, moving north. Sand Martins & Chiffchaff start to arrive in the middle of March. Yellow Hammers will increase in numbers and become more vocal.
Insects, Butterflies and Moths. Butterflies & queen wasps may wake from hibernation if we have a sunny warm spell. Small Tortoiseshell, Peacock, Brimstone and Comma, all hibernate as adults; look out for other early fliers in March such as the Small White (usually the first butterfly to emerge from a chrysalis), Large White, Holly Blue & Speckled Wood. Bumble Bees, especially the Buff-tailed, are frequently feeding through the winter where winter flowers are available~ please record any dates seen.
And a few moths will be flying; might be worth setting moth traps on fine evenings to see what is out there?
Mammals. Keep an eye out for Foxes hunting in daylight for food, when it is scarce. The Mole is still active and it is worth recording the extent of new mole hills over this period. February is probably the busiest time around the badger set. Sows, impregnated the previous February, give birth to their cubs in a special breeding chamber. Within a couple of weeks of giving birth, she will be ready to mate again. The blind cubs (1 to 5) are about 12cms long, and grey in colour at birth, but already have the distinctive dark eye-strap. Hedgehogs will be waking up from Hibernation. Squirrels seem to be active most months, especially in the milder winters. Water Shrews also remain active.
In March, Otters make a meal on frogs, literally and metaphorically, so they move away from main rivers and push up into streams, boggy/marshy places and ponds where the amphibians are congregating to breed. So, look out for piles of frogspawn in the grass where a bird or an otter has eaten a frog, and squashed out the spawn.
Keep records of any Bats seen flying around; this can be in the afternoon if the weather is mild.
Take advantage of any snow to look for and identify mammal tracks. Do this early before the snow starts to melt.
Amphibians Lots of Frog spawn and Toad spawn should be found in stagnant ponds from January onwards Check on the maps available in the Phenology newsletter. Common toads breed a few weeks later than common frogs in most parts of the UK, and produce somewhat different spawn. Toad spawn is a string of jelly with eggs embedded in it, usually wrapped around vegetation
Reptiles: March is the time for the Adder, Common Lizard and Slow-worm to appear after hibernation.
Plants. Try learning to identify some trees from their twigs and shapes against the sky. Use your Common Species booklets to build up knowledge of the distribution of winter & early spring flowers in the 4 x 1 Km squares near your home. Ask your Parish Coordinator if you would like your own booklet printed.
Gardening for Wildlife. It is now recognised that gardens, both urban & rural, can really help to promote bio-diversity by providing a variety of habitats in a small area. Many garden shrubs flower over the winter and provide food for bees and small flies & in turn, the flies become food for small birds and even bats flying on afternoons when the temperature gets above 5C. Especially useful are varieties of Oregon Grape Mahonia, Winterflowering Honeysuckle Lonicera x purpusii (lovely scent), the Witchhazels Hamamelis and The Cornelian Cherry Cornus mas. These shrubs will bridge the gap until the first bulbs start to flower. Lenten Roses Helleborus, also attract bees. Don't be in too much of a hurry to tidy up heaps of leaves and seedheads where insects & other creatures could still be sheltering. And make sure that any ponds have a small area that stays ice-free.