To sum up - February has certainly been a month of contrasts with sudden changes in the weather when wildlife has had to adjust to harsh conditions after such a temperate winter.
26th February - under the oak, Ransoms appear (wild garlic), the first sign of new green growth under the trees.
The same day - a frosty start but sunny and very warm later - hazel catkins mean spring is on the way.
These are on a branch overhanging the water on one of the beautiful Hazel trees on the river bank
Footprints in the snow on the river bank. The double prints on the right are those of a Roe deer and the others probably a Red fox.
After a very cold start to the month with freezing easterly winds and extremely dry air when our winter migrants, redwing and fieldfare were still foraging along the river in large numbers, the river started to freeze at the edges but the middle remained unfrozen with running water. Fieldfare moved right down to the water's edge and were seen drinking and bathing. All birds used the river as the ground was so dry and hard. On Sunday 5th there had been a heavy snowfall overnight with a slight thaw that morning.
7th February - snow remained on the fields and river banks
Tuesday 7th February - a frosty, misty start gave way to sunshine with snow still lying in places after the heavy snowfall on the night of 4th/5th onto frozen ground. The going was noisy, with ice crunching underfoot but plenty of birds were singing along the river.
Robins (17) were out in full force, many of them singing and a great view of one catching a bumblebee which had emerged from its winter quarters in the undergrowth. Today a huge increase in the numbers of silent blackbirds (37), taking over from the fieldfare (1) just one was spotted, and redwing (7) just a few remaining in their favourite thickets. Most of the blackbirds were probably migrants as well, seeking easier pickings along the river on the warmer banks. Chaffinches (8) were more numerous today and easily heard calling and singing loudly but I saw only 2 greenfinches, one trying to sing. A great-spotted woodpecker (2) was calling from an oak and another flew over to investigate whilst nuthatches (4) were also calling loudly to each other and a noisy jay argued with a squirrel (who stole my cache of food?)
Like the blackbirds, song thrushes (3) were quiet and wrens (4) were hiding very close to the waters edge, also silent, many more remained hidden. A fine view of a dunnock perched on the Blackthorn (2) and another close by - soon all these birds will be singing.
It was good to see several colonies of house sparrows (44) in the hedges and brambles, they too will be chattering loudly as soon as it warms up. There were large numbers of blue tits (48) and great tits (21) the latter busy foraging for insects hidden in the fallen leaf mulch and the former very active above, hanging upside down to reach insects on twigs.
Crows (7) were chasing in the treetops, around woodpigeons lazing in the sun and starlings whistled nonchalantly, in no hurry to leave their roost perches in the treetops, undisturbed by the comings and goings of noisy magpies (4).
A peaceful scene further along the river - a pair of bullfinches sitting together on a willow branch in the sun overhanging the river and a beautiful mistle thrush preening in the sun on a high branch looked as if it had just had a bath in the snow or the river. A small group of long-tailed tits (4) flew out from the protection of brambles across the river and several groups of goldfinch (17) posed in the sun, singing, whilst others were collecting the remaining seeds from thistles.
In the blue sky overhead, noisy jackdaws (5), black-headed gulls (8) and herring gulls headed for the less snow-covered fields already occupied by very lively pied wagtails, numbers unknown whilst a buzzard glided in circles, the sun sharply catching its pale markings, a fine view.
Tuesday 7th February - a frosty, misty start gave way to sunshine with snow still lying in places after the heavy snowfall on the night of 4th/5th onto frozen ground. The going was noisy, with ice crunching underfoot but plenty of birds were singing along the river.
Robins (17) were out in full force, many of them singing and a great view of one catching a bumblebee which had emerged from its winter quarters in the undergrowth. Today a huge increase in the numbers of silent blackbirds (37), taking over from the fieldfare (1) just one was spotted, and redwing (7) just a few remaining in their favourite thickets. Most of the blackbirds were probably migrants as well, seeking easier pickings along the river on the warmer banks. Chaffinches (8) were more numerous today and easily heard calling and singing loudly but I saw only 2 greenfinches, one trying to sing. A great-spotted woodpecker (2) was calling from an oak and another flew over to investigate whilst nuthatches (4) were also calling loudly to each other and a noisy jay argued with a squirrel (who stole my cache of food?)
Like the blackbirds, song thrushes (3) were quiet and wrens (4) were hiding very close to the waters edge, also silent, many more remained hidden. A fine view of a dunnock perched on the Blackthorn (2) and another close by - soon all these birds will be singing.
It was good to see several colonies of house sparrows (44) in the hedges and brambles, they too will be chattering loudly as soon as it warms up. There were large numbers of blue tits (48) and great tits (21) the latter busy foraging for insects hidden in the fallen leaf mulch and the former very active above, hanging upside down to reach insects on twigs.
Crows (7) were chasing in the treetops, around woodpigeons lazing in the sun and starlings whistled nonchalantly, in no hurry to leave their roost perches in the treetops, undisturbed by the comings and goings of noisy magpies (4).
A peaceful scene further along the river - a pair of bullfinches sitting together on a willow branch in the sun overhanging the river and a beautiful mistle thrush preening in the sun on a high branch looked as if it had just had a bath in the snow or the river. A small group of long-tailed tits (4) flew out from the protection of brambles across the river and several groups of goldfinch (17) posed in the sun, singing, whilst others were collecting the remaining seeds from thistles.
In the blue sky overhead, noisy jackdaws (5), black-headed gulls (8) and herring gulls headed for the less snow-covered fields already occupied by very lively pied wagtails, numbers unknown whilst a buzzard glided in circles, the sun sharply catching its pale markings, a fine view.
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