February 1st, 1999
Relatively mild weather
has continued throughout the past week and this has led
to further activity from animals preparing for their
breeding seasons.
The greater spotted woodpeckers have been drumming again
and I have heard the yaffle of the green woodpecker
several times. Both of these sounds should be heard more
and more frequently in the weeks ahead.
On the 21st, I saw a pair of stock doves high in a beech
tree, sitting on a dead branch. They were too far away
for me to hear any sounds from them but, through
binoculars, I could see the male displaying to the female
by leaning forwards and fanning his tail. He held this
position for about a second each time. On the same day, I
saw three grey squirrels chasing along the path at the
bottom of Great Garden. They darted into the trees and
continued the chase, at high speed, along some very thin
branches and twigs, making a variety of noises as they
went. This behaviour is quite common at this time of year
as males pursue females and challenge their
rivals.
On the last day of
January, bluetits were investigating a nestbox in a
sycamore which grows alongside Back Lane. This box is one
which was used successfully last year. One bird peered in
through the hole at the front of the box whilst another
called from a nearby branch.
Large patches of snowdrops are now appearing beneath
trees in the shrubbery and along the Went. The ones
illustrated have simple flowers but many of those in the
grounds have double flowers. As well as being very
attractive, the snowdrops are also a valuable source of
pollen for honeybees at this time of year as there are
very few other flowers around. The bees can be seen
collecting the pale yellow pollen on mild days.
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