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Breeding is now
well under way for many resident species of birds. For
example, jackdaws are occupying a nesting hole in the oak
tree which overlooks the cricket field, displacing the
stock doves which normally use this site. A second pair
has been investigating a hole in the battered ash tree
which stands in what was the old cricket pitch. Jackdaws
used to nest on the chimney pots on some of the school
buildings until several years ago but disappeared when
tree-felling in the shrubbery caused the rooks, the
favourite companions of the jackdaws, to abandon their
rookery in what I believe to have been its 98th year, so
it is good to see them returning as a breeding species. This is the time of year when insects which have spent the winter in hibernation begin to become active again. The two-spot ladybird pictured on this page was found wandering around on the windowsill of my laboratory. This species appears in the laboratory every spring. There are obviously many inviting nooks and crannies in the stonework just outside the window, and around the old window frames, inside as well as outside. The windows face south, so they allow hibernating insects to feel the full benefit of weak autumn and spring sunshine. |
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year was in the shrubbery. It sang for
only a brief period, probably not feeling very encouraged
by the wet, windy weather that we are experiencing at the
moment. The songs of both the blackcap and willow warbler
should become familiar sounds at Ackworth within the next
week or two. I also expect to hear the first whitethroats
singing from the bramble 
patches along
the Went before long.