Nature Notes April 2025
Date Published: 04-05-2025
SIGHTINGS
Birds (seen or heard): Carrion Crows, Jackdaws, Magpies, Jays, Buzzards, Black-headed Gulls, Herring Gulls, Tawny Owls, Great-Spotted Woodpeckers, Stonechats, Wood Pigeons, Stock Doves, Nuthatches, Tree Creepers, Chiffchaffs, Blackcaps, Siskins, Goldcrests, Firecrests, Wrens, Robins, Blackbirds, Song Thrushes, Dunnocks, Chaffinches, Bullfinch, Goldfinches, Greenfinches, Cole/Blue/Great/Long-tailed Tits.
Insects: Buff-tailed Bees, Midges, Wood Lice, Ants, Flies.
Mammals: Grey Squirrels, Mole activity, Fox, Hedghogs.
Plants in flower/berry: Common Gorse, Rowan, Wild Cherry, Amelanchier, Laurel, Ribes, Broom.
Butterflies/Moths: Peacock, Brimstone, Holly Blue, Orange Tip, Red Admiral, Large White.
Reptiles/Amphibians: Grass Snake.
Pond Life: Pond Skaters, Whirlygig Beetles, Common Newts.
Many species of birds constructed nests during April
A pair of Great Tits were observed gathering food, returning to the nest box frequently to feed their young.
A dead Nuthatch of a pair was found, cause unknown. The remaining mate deserted the nesting box and after calling for a number of days relocated to a different location.
Chiffchaffs and Blackcaps arrived and could be heard throughout the site.
The warm weather encouraged reptiles to emerge from their winter quarters.
NATURE FACT
In spring Snakes, Lizards, Frogs, Newts and Toads emerge from the various hiding places into which they retreated five or six months before, sometimes in mixed groups, to survive the winter cold. Emergence is a gradual process, initially confined to the middle of the day when the sun is hottest. At first Reptiles and Amphibians do not stray far from their winter retreat.
Chiffchaff Image by K Wilcox
