Sitting in the Information Centre on a quiet day here at Coombes Valley, people aren’t the only visitors we get passing our arrival area. A welcome break from the drizzle and rain saw the lovely sight of blue sky as the clouds parted. Making the most of the lull, a kestrel came to hover over the field opposite the car park; a small flock of long tailed tits flitted in and out of the shrubs.
Long tailed tit by Simon Gray
You may think January is a quiet time for wildlife with little to see. However, taking a walk through the cold, crisp air, there is an array of sights you might miss in the warmer months. When the trees reawaken and new leaves begin to emerge, some of their secrets are ‘lost’ in the leaf cover. Carpets of moss and patches of lichen cover the gnarled trunks of older trees.
Lichen covered tree by Elizabeth Ingram
Witches brooms can also be seen in some parts of the wood. This is actually a type of disease that causes the tree to produce many shoots from a single point of a branch. However, it’s always fun to imagine a witch flying around on her broomstick leaving a trail of debris amongst the trees, giving the place that magical feel.
Witch’s broom by Rachel Edwards
January is also a busy time in the RSPB calendar, as we are all preparing for the Big Garden Birdwatch, the largest wildlife survey in the country. Every year, we invite as many people as possible to get involved in the survey in order to discover the amazing wildlife in their very own back gardens. You may be surprised by what you find.
Birds are great indicator species. Their numbers can show us how healthy the different parts of the country are, not just in birdie terms but also how food supplies such as insects and plants are also fairing.
High bird numbers might mean there is a good food supply which might benefit the local wildlife population such as these guelder rose berries, by Jarrod Sneyd.
This year Big Garden Birdwatch is happening on the weekend of the 25th and 26th January. It is easy to get involved and only takes an hour of your time. You can even do it from your cosy chair with a nice cup of tea and a biscuit. Why not get the whole family involved and see who visits your garden? For more information visit: https://www.rspb.org.uk/birdwatch/
On Saturday and Sunday 18th and 19th of January, the team will once again be at Severn Trent’s Carsington Water, outside the RSPB shop. We will be helping you to make natural feeders to hang in your garden to encourage visitors of a feathered variety to your garden, ready for your survey. Pop along, get involved and help give nature a home.