Spring Full On!

Common Lizard

The dramatic change in the weather during the second week in April, from a cold, dry, north-easterly airflow to a relatively warm, moist south- westerly, has had an equally dramatic effect on our wildlife. There has been a surge in plant and animal activity.........even the grass is growing once again! Migrant bird species have been arriving on cue; on the 15th April (18th last year ) the unmistakable song of the Chiff-Chaff could be heard from local woodland. Swooping over the water of Llyn Mair, Swallows made their appearance on the same day. In Coombe Abbey Country Park near Coventry, Swallows were seen on the 14th. For me, the migrant bird I always look forward to seeing is the Pied Flycatcher (PFC). This beautiful little bird flies all the way from sub-Saharan Africa to nest in the woodlands of western Britain, including those around Dol y Moch. There is evidence that individual birds return to the same nest site that they occupied the previous year.  I was very pleased to see a male PFC arrive on the 16th April (15th last year) and immediately begin to investigate the nest box that was used by PFCs last year. Could this individual be last year's occupant......? On the 20th, this male was joined by a female and preliminary courtship began with both birds entering the box. As I watched and reflected on how incredible and wonderful it was that these little birds had returned, I was suddenly aware of a female Sparrowhawk overhead in characteristic hunting mode. In an instant my dilemma was obvious.......do I let nature take its course or do I intervene and prevent this predator from taking one of the PFCs? I felt very protective towards these little birds; after all, they had flown all that way from Africa...................There then followed some very tense moments as I watched the hawk quartering the hedgerow trees in long looping guides. Fortunately, the hunter continued on her way either unable to spot the prey or detecting my presence near-by. What would I have done if the Sparrowhawk had attacked the PFCs? What would you have done?
Two other migrants arrived on the 22nd, the Willow Warbler (15th last year) and the Blackcap (3rd last year). I am pleased to report that our local Ospreys are now incubating eggs.

Flowers in bloom include Wood Sorrel, Wood Anemone, Golden Leaved Saxifrage, Primroses and Bluebells.......just! I spotted two in flower on the 15th April (17th March last year ).
I visited our ponds last week armed with a torch as it was 10 pm! Peering into the water, I discovered a hive of activity. (Beats watching telly!). There were Water Crickets skimming over the surface, and lots of Water Beetles swimming 'purposefully' between the surface and the bottom. However, most fascinating was the writhing masses of  Nematode Worms amongst the sediment and vegetation. A solitary Palmate Newt was floating near the surface but immediately sank motionless to the bottom when it detected my torch light. A newt has a passing resemblance to a lizard, but of course they are very different creatures.The newt is an Amphibian and the lizard is a Reptile. The Common Lizard also called the Viviparous Lizard (Scientific name : Larcerta vivipara ) is found in a range of habitats including woodland, grassland, sand dunes and gardens. I think the specimen shown in the picture is a female which I discovered under an old piece of sacking lying on the roadside (to which I returned the lizard after photographing it). In springtime you may see a Common Lizard basking in the sun in order to raise it's body temperature; lizards are 'cold blooded'. In April and May the lizards mate and live young are born in July. During the winter months they hibernate underground or in piles of logs or stones.

Still not seen any butterflies locally but dare say there are a few about in the Midlands.
Lastly we wait for the Cuckoo to arrive. The dates it  appeared in previous Aprils were as follows: 27th, 2008; 19th, 2009; 22nd, 2010; 19th, 2011; 26th, 2012.
My prediction for this year is 25th April.........tell you in my next blog if I was right!