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Every year is different and this one will be remembered for the cold winter and slow start to spring. Over the past three months these articles, written without prior knowledge of the weather, have been rather optimistic and in reality most frogs spawned in early March, toads later in the month and only now are sweet violets in full bloom.
Our returning favourites
Nevertheless, all five overwintering butterflies, including red admirals and peacocks, have appeared on the occasional sunny days, many thousands of chiffchaffs are singing throughout Dorset and new flowers appear each day.
Migrant birds at the coast
In April, a visit to the coast is always rewarding. Locations with cliffs, such as Durlston and Portland bring the prospect of seeing a variety of spring migrants together with views of sea birds such as fulmars and guillemots.
Fulmars are oceanic birds and glide on stiff straight wings between rapid shallow wing beats as they prospect the cliffs for nest sites. Notice the short deep bill with tube-shaped nostrils above from which it secretes the excess salt in its food.
Swallows back from Africa
By mid-April, we should witness the main arrival of swallows from their wintering quarters in South Africa. Their northward journey started in February and most fly over the Sahara before continuing through Spain and France to seek nest sites at or close to where they hatched. Apparently, swallows are also faithful to their winter roosts in South Africa.
Underfoot at the coast
At the coast look for danish scurvygrass underfoot, a short plant with small white flowers and a high tolerance to sea-spray. The gritting of major roads in winter has provided ideal conditions for the progressive spread of this plant on many road verges and in April it reveals itself as a long strip of white flowers along the verge.
On banks and in woods
As lesser celandine blooms in greater abundance on wayside banks and in woodlands, look for a larger member of the buttercup family, the marsh-marigold in damp meadows, commons and by rivers. This early-flowering plant, with glossy green leaves set against large bright yellow flowers is well able to tolerate harsh conditions and can also be found at over 7000ft in the Alps.
Pussy willow burst their buds
By streams, in wet woodland and along roadsides, the male catkins (‘pussy willow’) of both grey and goat willow have burst their buds and flaunt their yellow pollen to attract insects. The female catkins, which grow on separate trees, are grey-green and much less conspicuous. Roadside hedges will also catch the eye this month as blackthorn bushes turn white with blossom before their leaves appear.
Bumblebees are buzzing
On sunny days look for bumblebees collecting pollen and nectar from pussy willow and garden plants. The queen bumblebees have overwintered underground and are now busy searching for a suitable site, such as a mousehole, in which to prepare a nest and provision it before laying eggs which will eventually develop into workers. Bumblebees, together with honey bees and many flies perform a very important task in pollinating flowers, including some of our major crops.
Chattering Long-tailed tits
Despite the harsh winter, there are ample signs that Dorset escaped the worst of the weather. For example, there are plenty of restless and vocal pairs of long-tailed tits carefully completing their feather-lined and domed nests with grey lichens in gorse and other bushes. Sometimes their eggs or young are sometimes taken by predators and if this happens they will link up with a more successful pair to help raise their young.
Linnets & yellowhammers on commons and heaths
On commons and heathland, linnets have now joined the yellowhammers and stonechats as the breeding season gets underway. Linnets, unlike the other two species tend to form loose nesting colonies and after two or three broods through the summer the flocks leave in autumn to search for food on nearby arable land or beyond.
Watch out for hedgehogs!
And finally, the recent sight of a squashed hedgehog on the road near home reminded me that those that survived the winter still face an uncertain future. However, urban and suburban gardens do appear to be hotspots for hedgehogs and not only provide sheltered habitats for breeding but also a good supply of food in the form of slugs, caterpillars, beetles and earthworms.
Written by John Wright
Dorset Wildlife Trust Member & Volunteer
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