Hazel catkins have been out for some weeks already, but one of the key indicators of spring to look out for each year is the re-emergence of wood ants. They spend the winter underground, but on the first day that warm sunshine strikes their domed nests, up they come. This year I saw the first ones on 8th February, a small cluster of black bodies on top of the nest, basking in the warmth.
Winter tends to be pretty quiet for birds at Blean, but there are quite a few woodcock sheltering in the wood at the moment. They feed mainly by night, but may be flushed from the ground during the day.
Blean Woods site manager since 1982.