It’s hard to believe that it’s May already, the months are certainly rolling on quickly. I feel like I have only just left winter behind. The weather continues to be mixed with many heavy rain showers combined with thunder passing through. Temperatures have increased though with warmer sunny days reaching 18 degrees celsius, encouraging Tree (Bombus hypnorum) and Buff-tailed bumblebees (Bombus terrestris) to buzz about. I also noticed three Peacock (Aglais io) butterflies dancing around a couple of weeks ago; perhaps two males trying to attract a female? Plus I saw the first Holly blue (Celastrina argiolus) butterfly of the season as well.
Cherry blossom is blooming at the moment and Bluebells (Hyacinthoides non-scripta) are out in force too; it’s the height of their season which is quite a contrast from the beginning of the month when a few were slowly unfurling.
Birds are prominent at the moment as the dawn chorus is reaching its crescendo. Birdsong can be heard clearly throughout the day as I work in gardens. I have seen several House martins (Delichon urbicum) swoop past me. These summer visitors from Africa return to the same nests (made of mud) under ledges such as the eaves of houses or cliffs. I am very privileged to have seen so many lately as they are categorised red under the Birds of Conservation Concern 5: the Red List for Birds (2021) and therefore protected by the Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981. They eat flying insects so living in a rural area no doubt helps. House martins can be distinguished from similar birds using the Wildlife Trusts information here. There is a call to help reverse the decline of House martins; advice on ways to help them can be found on the RSPB website.
Another bird I came across recently which I haven’t observed before is the Rook (Corvus frugilegu). Not as common as some other Corvids their UK conservation status is amber. Similar to Carrion crows (Corvus corone) they are identifiable by their off white beaks. Their diet varies from fruit, nuts and grain to invertebrates and worms. Rooks are sociable birds. Unlike Crows which are seen by themselves or in pairs, Rooks are often seen in groups, just like Jackdaws (Corvus monedula). Infact groups of Rooks and Jackdaws can be seen together; this is how I saw the Rooks, alongside Jackdaws in a busy carpark where humans often dropped scraps of food.
Several Robin (Erithacus rubecula) couples and even one bold male Blackbird (Turdus merula) have come inches away from me to feed and collect food for their young as I work in gardens over the past few weeks. I like to think of their broods back in the nests as I see them fly away with the unearthed bounty towards hedges and trees nearby.
On the 28th March I got to see an amazing spectacle. Two Buzzards (Buteo buteo) were being faught off by a couple of Red kites (Milvus milvus). The thermals aided one Buzzard to appear to briefly hover over some fir trees. I was working in an area with a woodland where Red kites nest. The buzzards (which I often see at the other end of the wood) had ventured over the the Kite territory. Maybe the Red kites were protecting some young or eggs? This I was unable to determin, however the kites were clearly concerned about having the Buzzards near their territory. It was unusual to witness the Red kites attack another bird usually they are the ones being warned away. I frequently see birds attacking kites when they venture too near a nest (even though they don’t predate young but scavange for food). It was lovely to hear the Buzzards calling to one another, an example of which can be heard on the RSPB website along with a picture for identification.
Buzzards are now the most common birds of prey in the UK, and widespread across the land inhabiting woodland, moorland and farmland areas (after a comeback from years of persecution). They are brown in colour and they are 51-57cm in length with a wingspan between 113-128cm. Along with being predators they will also scavenge; their diet consists of birds as well as small mammals and invertebrates. Hardly surprising then that the Red Kites didn’t want them in their territory if they had a brood.
Since then, I have seen other Buzzards in a few areas near roads along with a male Sparrowhawk (Accipiter nisus) by the road side (near to where I had already witnessed a female (see previous post- Daffodils in Snow).
These are not the only large birds that feature prominently in my life at the moment. I have also been keeping an eye on the Peregrine falcon (Falco peregrinus) nest at St Albans abbey. So far Alban and Boudica have three eggs yet to hatch. Incubation usually takes about a month (29-32 days) for each egg, so they are due to hatch beginning of May and fledge by the start of July. This is the pairs second breeding season. Peregrines pair for life and return to the same nest site each year. Alban mostly hunts (birds or rodents) but does incubate the eggs too, enabling boudica to hunt occasionally. The live cam to watch them is here.
Tag: Jackdaws
Too hot to handle
Last Friday was a scorcher. Anything above 22 degrees celsius and I start to wilt, so the 37 degrees endured that day was certainly too much for me. According to the Met Office the warmest temperature on Friday was 37.8°C, the third hottest day on record in the UK. I am fairly sure the top two hottest days on record were also recorded in recent years, which make me wonder about their impact on wildlife.
On Friday I tried to work in the shade as much as possible, while remaining hydrated (cooling techniques also used by mammals and birds). Like humans a few animals perspire to cool their bodies, namely primates and horses. These mammals also pant to keep cool (enabling cooler air to replace the expelled hotter air). Other mammals and birds use this method as well. In fact on extremely hot days I have often observed Magpies (Pica Pica) and Corvids walk around with their beaks open.
In the past, I have even witnessed Magpies lie forwards on the ground wings spread out, allowing colder temperatures to reach a greater surface area. Having access to water, especially on hot days, is also important. Along with drinking the water, it allows them to have a dip; fluffing up wet feathers to enable a breeze to cool them down.
It is important to leave fresh drinking water out for hedgehogs (Erinaceinae) too. Of course hedgehogs also wonder about in the evenings and night time when it’s generally cooler.
Unfortunately last week some negative news about hedgehogs was reported; they have been added to the Vulnerable to Extinction Red List of British mammals produced by the Mammal society (please read the report on their website).
These snuffling garden helpers need our help, whatever the weather. For information on how to help them check out the websites below
– The British Hedgehog Preservation Society.
Lastly, I went to check on the European gypsy moth (Lymantria dispar) on the allotment at the weekend but there was no sign of it. Therefore I will assume it was a male moth and had flown away safely into the night.
‘March’ing into Spring
As with the first of March, this week ended with sunshine; although there have been moments of heavy rain as well. Meteorological Spring has begun and things are certainly waking up in the gardens. My Scilla have started to bloom and the Anemone blanda are looking magestic too.
Wild flowers are starting to grow now as well; particularly Hairy bittercress (Cardamine hirsuta) and Common chickweed (Stellaria media).
When the sun was out, I noticed bees foraging. I have seen an Early bumblebee (Bombus pratorum) and a few Buff-tailed bumblebees (Bombus terrestris) visiting flowers. Early bumblebees are one of the smallest in the uk and emerge from hibernation in March, before many other species are seen.
Spring crocus (Crocus vernus)
I managed to spend Saturday at the allotment. It’s only the second week on a new plot. After an initial viewing the previous Saturday, my partner and I spent five productive hours this weekend; pruning the apple tree, removing grass from the weedsheet covered beds and sorting the compost bins. No Robins (Erithacus rubecula) visited as earth was disturbed but we did have some friendly Jackdaws (Corvus monedula).
I also treated myself, and pollinators, to a Fuji cherry (Prunus incisa) ‘Kojo-no-mai’. It is the only thing flowering on the allotment at the moment (until we start growing cut flowers, fruit, herbs and vegetables) so it looked wonderful blooming in the sun.
Bee in the Moment 