Spring is almost with us at Stover and it won’t be long before many of the animals that have hibernated over the winter will start to emerge. The abnormally mild weather during most of February has triggered the spring-like activity of many of Stover’s birds and plants.

The alder and pussy willow catkins are now open, along with the hazel which has been open since last month, and are shedding their pollen before the leaves unfurl and get in the way. The pollen attracts the blue-tits and provides an early source of nectar for many insects. Peacock and small tortoishell butterflies along with bees make use of the pussy willow catkins especially, so keep an eye out for these species. Elder and hawthorn leaves are just starting to emerge along with nettle leaves. The spring blooms lure the early insects too, coltsfoot is in flower along with celandines, primroses, violets and wild daffodils. The marsh marigold should flower this month. Ivy berries are ripening now rather than in the autumn providing food for fruit-eating birds such as the thrushes.

Marsh Marigold flowers in March

The tufted duck and pochard numbers will start to decrease during March, marking the end of winter, as they start to head back north to Russia. The highest counts for February were 15 pochard and 18 tufted on the 13^th. Upto 5 cormorants were recorded during February and most are now displaying their white thigh breeding patches. An individual with a white head was spotted on 11^th February and has been identified as coming from a race (sinesis) which nests in trees from the Baltic and south through the continent. This is probably the same individual that was recorded at Stover on 25^th February last year. A pair of teal remained on the lake for most of last month. Many of the black-headed gulls now have their summer plumage (black heads); their numbers will start to decrease during March. Our pair of mute swans will start to get more territorial this month as preparations for nest building commence. The cob swan can be seen swimming about with his wings raised. Another great-crested grebe arrived on the lake on 21^st February bringing the total to 4. Both pairs have been checking out suitable nest sites and have been displaying during the latter half of the month. Their elaborate courtship display is worth witnessing – they raise their crests, collect waterweed and tread water whilst rising beak-to-beak.

Blackthorn Blooms

Our local blackbirds and starlings are already entering their breeding season, but those that are just winter visitors to Stover have first to migrate back to their breeding grounds. You can see the difference between visitors and residents by looking at their beaks. Our resident male blackbirds already have their bright golden yellow bills, but continental birds have beaks which are mostly brown. The starlings which are about to migrate have dull bills whereas those of residents are a brighter yellow. The smaller birds such as the tit family will start nest building this month. Tawny owls will soon be sitting on eggs if they’re not already doing so. If the weather continues to be mild then the first of the resident birds will soon have young in their nests.

Most of our resident song birds joined in the dawn chorus during February. Great-spotted woodpeckers were first heard ‘drumming’ on 6^th February. Look out for the aerial displays of sparrowhawks as they set up their territories over woodlands. Male woodcocks also start their territorial flights in March – at dusk they fly in circles within the woodland holding their beaks down and emitting strange whistles and croaks. Redpoll were recorded on 14^th and 15^th February.

Keep an eye out for the early migrant birds returning from Africa during March. Chiffchaffs, the earliest bird of passage and the bringer of Spring, will be returning from the Mediterranean and West Africa this month. However, a few overwinter in Britain so don’t automatically assume you’ve heard your first summer migrant ! Sand martins and swallows are due in any day now so keep an eye out over the Lake where they will soon be feasting on the insects!

Warm sunny days during March should bring the small tortoishell butterflies out of hibernation and should also activate the wood ants. March is a time of great activity for male weasels as they set out in search of mates. Their territorial system breaks down as the dominant males begin to range more widely. At the same time they become much more diurnal, and they are, therefore, more likely to be visible now. Pregnant vixens will be sorting out suitable earths for rearing their cubs which will be born this month. Not only will they select one in which to give birth, but also others to which they can move their cubs if disturbed. Squirrels start the year early, mating in January and February, so by now the females are ready to give birth and make special nursery dreys in the trees. The dreys are easy to see at this time of year, when the trees are still bare. A daubenton’s bat was found grounded by the aerial walkway on 12^th February - bats come out of hibernation whenever there is a warm spell in the winter weather and midges and other insects are about.

March sees the start of the newt breeding season and the males should now be showing off their brightest colours. Now should be the time when reptiles generally emerge from hibernation and, as they need to warm their bodies to obtain the energy to hunt and mate, they spend a lot of time basking in the sunshine. Keep an eye out for grass-snakes in the marsh and adders on the heathland. The latter emerge from underground holes around tree roots where they’ve spent the winter. It should also be peak frog-spawning time now so again keep an eye out for toads and frogs returning to their breeding ponds this month. The first frog spawn was spotted on 26^th February in one of the ponds. During March the pike in the lake lay their eggs amongst the weeds in shallow water.

The biggest tree in the Country Park fell down last night during the gales. It was a turkey oak and one of the few still remaining that were planted along the carriage drive in the early 1800’s.

Turkey Oak—fell down in the gales

It won’t be long before bluebells, marsh marigold, cuckoo pint and cuckoo flower (also known as ladies smock) are in flower splashing Stover with colour once more. Look out for the white blooms of blackthorn (blackthorn flowers before it comes into leaf) which is vital for quite a few early insects.

February’s volunteer day was spent working in the woods near to the car park thinning out the trees to allow more light in to encourage a shrub layer to develop for nesting birds and dormice. This month’s volunteers day (Sunday 30^th March) will involve clearing birch and pine which was shading out the heather on one of Stover’s heaths. This will benefit our nightjars, heathland reptiles and invertebrates which make use of this important habitat in the summer. Chat to the rangers if you’re interested in joining us – everyone is welcome.