It may seem that Spring is a long way off for the moment (we’re crossing our fingers against a repeat of last year’s March blizzards!), but there have been signs of new life springing up (sorry, couldn’t resist) all over the reserve the past couple of weeks.
Probably the most noticeable difference is the joyous sound of birdsong in the air! Walking through the woods along the riverbank trail lately, visitors have been greeted by a riotous chorus of territorial melodies – this is the time when birds are establishing their territories ready for the breeding season when spring-proper kicks off. It’s hard to believe that the chirpy see-sawing tune of the great tits or the beautifully bubbling trill of the robins is a stark warning to ‘get off my patch!’, but a warning it is; those males in the best condition will be able to sing the longest and the loudest, and best defend their chosen area.
Robin image by Ray Kennedy (rspb-images.com)
A variation on the traditional tuneful territory-marker of the songbirds will probably be familiar to everybody, although the real meaning of it could well have been lost on many people. I always assumed that the loud and persistent drumming of a woodpecker meant they were busy making a hole in an old tree to nest in, but no! Woodpeckers are really drumming to mark their territory, and although they will make drumming-like noises when making nest holes or excavating for insects in rotting logs, their true and distinctive drumming sound is meant specifically to warn other woodpeckers away from their patch. Different birds are even known to have favourite trees which make just the right volume and quality of sound when drummed on. Amazing!
Great Spotted Woodpecker image by Ray Kennedy (rspb-images.com)
You’ll be able to hear Great Spotted Woodpeckers drumming around the reserve – the green woodpeckers rarely drum, instead making their wonderfully bizarre ‘yaffling’ noise, which to me always sounds like a gull gone wrong!
An easy sign for everyone to spot is the pairing-up of the ducks – even if they’re in big groups, you should be able to pick out pairs already, and see couples circling each other in an unexpectedly elegant courtship dance!
Although they’re not inhabited yet, our nest boxes have become the subject of frequent visits by several garden birds. This behaviour has been noticed by the rangers over the past few weeks, with birds such as tree sparrows and blue tits flying up to the boxes and having a peek inside to ‘check them out’ as it were, ready for the breeding season.
Snowdrops image by Andy Hay (rspb-images.com)
Our signs of spring aren’t just limited to birds however; the plants have taken notice of the lengthening daylight hours too, and new growth is bursting forth from the soil and the branches. Delicately beautiful snowdrops have started to come up around the visitor centre, and the wooded areas are getting their first real colour injection from the vibrant-green of the hazel catkins.
Why not pay us a visit this February and pop in to learn more about the signs of spring with the family? Our ‘Spring into Life’ quiz trail starts on the 15th of Feb, and carries on right through March. See you soon!