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Just as winter is at its dreariest the wildflowers are starting to pop up.  The winter so far has been very mild and the snowdrops and celandines have been in flower for some time now. In sheltered spots dog’s mercury and primrose are also in flower. However, the Siberian chill that has just descended is forecast to remain with us for a couple of weeks at least, which will halt any other early flowerings. Coltsfoot and sweet violet are ready to appear, once the temperatures rise, to attract the emerging insects. Coltsfoot flowers before its leaves appear giving rise to its common name of ‘son-before-father’. Hemlock water-dropwort leaves have started to emerge around the lake path. They are soon to be joined by dandelion and yellow flag leaves, which usually start to appear in February. Marsh marigold, also known as kingcup, is one of the earliest blooming wetland flowers. In mild years it is often in flower by the end of February giving the marsh a welcome splash of colour. The pussy willow, alder and hazel catkins will open and shed their pollen this month. Unlike other early flowering trees, the pussy willow (also known as goat willow or sallow) doesn’t use the wind for pollination. It secretes nectar which attracts early flies, bees and butterflies which then inadvertently carry the pollen from plant to plant as they feed. Keep an eye out for the buds of hazel and elder which will soon begin to burst after this cold snap has ended.

Violets should be in flower by the end of the month

A rare fungus was discovered on the heath last month. It is the barometer earthstar, so called because it opens up during damp weather and closes when dry. There are only 14 records of it in Devon, most dating back to the 1800’s. This is a different genus from the usual earthstars we find at Stover.

Barrometer Earthstar Fungus

During February the dawn chorus will get louder every day. In particular listen out for Britain’s largest thrush, the mistle thrush, which was first heard singing on 9 January. A song thrush was heard on the 24th which is an early record. Great tits have also joined in, adding to the robins already singing at the end of December. Great-spotted woodpeckers start to ‘drum’ on old dead trees in February to mark out their territories, along with the smaller lesser-spotted woodpecker which has a longer, fainter ‘drum’. If February’s weather is mild and the food supply is good then some birds will start to breed. In mild years robins, blackbirds, dunnocks and song thrushes lay their first clutch of eggs by the end of February. Tawny owls will produce eggs before the end of February also.

The bird activity at the walkway is excellent at the moment so it’s well worth a visit to view the woodland birds such as nuthatches, great-spotted woodpeckers and the tit family. Goldcrests can be seen in the conifer at this time of year. They are the smallest birds in Britain so subsequently, when the weather is very severe, their populations take a tumble. They soon recover however after a few mild winters. Separate roosts of greenfinch, chaffinch and redwing have been recorded, albeit in reduced numbers,  in the rhododendron overnight this winter, the temperature in these bushes being a few degrees warmer than the outside air. A sparrowhawk has become wise to the activities of the finches and can often be seen hunting just before dusk as they come in to roost.

On the lake up to 6 cormorant have been recorded during the last month. Some are already displaying their white thigh breeding patches. An individual with a white head was spotted on 16 January 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 February in 2007, from 11 February in 2008, from 5 February in 2009, and from 9 February in 2010, and from 13 February last year. The highest counts of pochard and tufted duck for January were 14 and 11 respectively (9 January). The male mallards are now looking their best for the coming breeding season.

The heron and up to 3 kingfishers have  been visiting the Lake often. A few herring gulls have been present on the lake throughout January, joining the larger numbers of black-headed gulls. Up to 3 lesser black-backed gulls have also frequented the lake during last month. Goosanders have been recorded on the lake since 4 January; up to 4 males and 4 females. Goosanders are the largest of the three British sawbills. It is a freshwater diving duck that is a winter visitor to the south.

A Male Goosander

The three great-crested grebes which were present at the beginning of January have now reduced to one. The grebes spend the colder snaps of the winter on the coast where they can find ice-free water. Once the grebes return you may be lucky enough to witness their elaborate and graceful courtship display. The swans’ courting season is just about to start too – the male seems to be leaving it a bit fine to find himself another mate. A black swan arrived on 11 January but only stayed for a day. The shelduck left the lake on 17 January after spending the autumn and first part of the winter at Stover. 7 male teal were recorded on the lake on 31 January. The marsh is a very important habitat for roosting waders such as snipe during the winter months.

Black Swan photographed by Ann Milford

This is the time of year when the vegetation tends to be at its lowest. Most plants have been beaten down by the rain and frost, leaving fewer and fewer hiding places, which makes this an excellent time to be out spotting mammals. Foxes are very active at this time of year so you will almost certainly get a whiff of one somewhere in the Park. The vixens will start to move into their dens this month. You will be less likely to see badgers in February as they are at present giving birth to their cubs underground, so will only leave their setts infrequently. Look out for evidence of a good clear out around setts such as fresh soil and old bedding. Moles construct a multi-layered tunnel system which acts as a trap for invertebrates such as earthworms, instead of continually digging to catch their prey. In cold weather, however, the invertebrates burrow deeper into the earth to escape the cold surface soil, and the mole is obliged to dig new, deeper tunnel traps, throwing up new mole-hills as it does so. Therefore, it is quite common at this time of year to spot fresh mole-hills. Frogs will return to their breeding ponds to spawn this month. On sunny days keep an eye out for Brimstone butterflies which are normally the earliest butterfly of the year to be on the wing. This year one was spotted on 8 January which is one of the earliest records. Wood ants were active on 23 January which is also one of the earliest records.

Brimstone Butterfly

January’s volunteers’ day went very well – 12 volunteers spent the day burning up cut rhododendron in the lower wood along with clearing out the ditch. This month we will be back on the heath (26 February) – chat to the rangers if you’re interested in joining us - everyone is welcome.