Lambs tail catkinsNature's wake up call arrives this month. The early migratory birds will already be in the country. Swaines Green could offer a stopping off point, so keep an eye out for Wheatear, Sand Martin, etc. Swaines Green resident birds will be setting out their territories, while our winter visitors from Scandinavia, the Fieldfare and Redwing will be thinking of returning to their summer breeding grounds.
Lesser Celandine will be one of the first flowers to bloom. This will be a good place to look for the first of Swaines Green insects of the year, such as the Bee-fly with its distinctive long proboscis. The attractive blossom of the Blackthorn should be well to the fore by the end of the month attracting a whole host of other insects.
Butterflies to look out for during the first warm days of the month are Brimstone, Small Tortoiseshell, Peacock and Comma all of whom will have hibernated during the winter period.
The first signs of Swaines Green awakening from its winter slumber will be on show this month. Pussy Willow catkins, along with the conspicuous lambs tail catkins of Hazel will be a magnet for the early insects such as the first Honey bee workers. Lords and ladies will be sending up their first shoots. Look for them along Swaines Green hedgerows.
Lambs tail catkins
The birds will be turning their thoughts to Spring this month - Great Tit, Blue Tit, Song Thrush and Dunnock were heard tuning up for the dawn chorus already during the last few days of January. See how many you can recognise
With the vegetation having now died back, now is as good a time as any to see some of the Swaines Green small mammals, such as mice and voles.
Field Vole Mistle Thrush
Listen out for the wild song of the Mistle Thrush (also known as the Storm Cock), these birds are early nesters and will be packing up by the end of the month.
On warm days the insects you see dancing in the shafts fo sunlight are most likely to be winter gnats. Over wintering butterflies such as Peacock and Tortoiseshell can be seen to
With the trees having shed their leaves this is a good time to spot Swaines Green's smaller birds. A favourite of mine is the Lesser Spotted Woodpecker, about the size of a House Sparrow. Look for it among the upper branches of Swaines Green trees. The fields adjacent to Swaines Green have been playing host to a large flock of Lapwings during October. Hopefully they will spend the winter in this area and maybe we will be lucky enough to be witness to their wonderful spring flight and calls.
Lapwing
Now is the time to enjoy the amazing acrobatics of the Grey Squirrel as the males chase the females from branch to branch and tree to tree at break-neck speed during their courtship ritual.
Another species pairing up this month are the tiny Muntjac deer. You may well hear their coarse barking as you walk round Swaines Green. These small deer originated in China and are also known as Chinese or Barking Deer.
Most of the colour will have now faded from Swaines Green, however with luck you may still find some Michaelmas Daisies, Hogweed, yellow and Red and White Deadnettle.
Fungus forays can be fun. Swaines Green in October will offer a number of species for the Fungi hunter to get their teeth into - but not literally please, as many of our mushrooms and toadstools are highly poisonous, including probably the best known fungus of all: the Fly Agaric, archetypal toadstool of countless children's books.
Fly Agaric
For the insect enthusiast, Ivy is the place to look this month as this late flowering plant provides the all-important nectar for the insects to feed on. The Ivy berries will become an important source of food for birds as winter draws to a close.
Two members of the thrush family will be arriving this month. The Fieldfare, much the bigger of the two, is identified by its grey head, grey rump and reddish back. In flight it shows a distinctive white underwing. The other, the Redwing is the smallest of the thrushes to be seen at Swaines Green, unmistakeable with its white stripe above the eye and its rusty red flanks.
Enjoying a blackberry or two, a walk along Swaines Green hedgerows is to be recommended for September (don't forget to pick them before Michaelmas day, after which it is said the Devil throws a cloak over them and they become watery and insipid). With many of the trees and bushes now fruiting, see how many different ones you can find amongst the seven hundred year old ancient hedgerows.
Sepetember is the best month to catch sight of the Migrant Hawker. Look out for it as it flies along the hedgerows. Other dragonflies you may see are the Southern Hawker, Brown Hawker, Common and Ruddy Darters.
Ruddy Darter
With the bird migration season getting into full swing, areas such as Swaines Green become very important as refuelling and resting stops, so keep an eye out during the next few weeks and who knows what might turn up.
During the recent Swaines Green Festival, John Ismay and Barbara Schulten who led the wildlife walks and bug hunts found a number of new species; in particular John came across a Long Winged Conehead normally found only in coastal areas of southern England, whilst Barbara's keen eyes spotted an Elephant Hawkmoth caterpiullar.
Elephant Hawkmoth
Probably the quietest month of the year for seeing and hearing birds with their courting adventures and parental duties behind them, August tends to be time of rest.
Insects however will "hopefully" be revelling in warm summer sunshine. Identification of bees, flies and wasps can prove something of a challenge, with up to forty species of hoverfly alone to be found at Swaines Green.
Good news for butterfly enthusiasts. Thanks ot the sharp eyes of Jeremy Dagely from Eppign Forest, a new species, the Ringlet, was seen recently at Swaines Green. keep an eye out this month also for the migratory species such as Painted Lady, Red Admiral and Clouded Yellow.
Painted Lady
Sitting quietly in Swaines Green during the long warm days of July watching the amazing ariel acrobatics of Swifts, House Martins and Swallows while the gentle purring of a Turtle Dove smoothes away the day's cares is something I always look forward to.
Housemartin
Swallow
The tiny blue flowers of Tare are competing for space with the large round faces of Ox-eye Daisy; while members of the Vetch family add various hues of mauve and blues. The Grass family is much to the fore this year, with the wet weather encouraging its growth. Not easy to identify, however see if you can find Cocks-Foot, its name derives from the fact that its flowering head resembles a Cocks-Foot. While looking through the grasses you should come across the yellow pea-shaped flower of Meadow Vetchling.
Meadow Vetchling
New butterflies to look out for this month are Small Copper, Purple Hairstreak, Meadow Brown, Gatekeeper, Small and Essex Skippers which can be separated by the tip of the antennae - orange underneath on Small, while it is black on Essex
With the arrival of June, many of Swaines Green birds will have nested; for some, such as the Chiffchaff, Greenfinch, Linnet, Chaffinch, Wren and Song Thrush there will be second and third broods. The perpetrator of that monotonous "United, United" call, the collared Dove, has been known to attempt five broods in one year.
Swaines Green is probably at its most colourful this month, from tiny flowers of the Sorrels and Docks to the attractive scented blooms of Field and Dog Rose. Take your wildflower book with you and see how many you can identify.
The keen-eyed naturalist will now spot the newly emerged Grasshoppers in their first instar, of which they will have several before becoming full grown. The early Dragon and Damselflies are now on the wing - my favourite, the Broad-bodied Chaser, with luck, will be seen near the pond.
One of the brightly coloured day moths, the six-spot Burnet, can be seen this month, which leads me nicely into reminding you that we are holding a moth night at Swaines Green on the 29th June. Please book by calling the Countrycare office on 01992 788203
May is the best month for the dawn chorus. Treat yourself to an early morning stroll. Our native songsters are the first performers, followed by Swaines Green summer visitors. Keep an eye out for the occasional rarities - Buzzards can be seen with luck over Swaines Green.
As Blackthorn flowers fade and drift away with the wind, the flowers of Hawthorn, also known as May Blossom, emerge. One of May's prettiest flowers, the Bluebell can be enjoyed, along with the Primroses and Cowslips. See if you can spot the tiny flowers of the Spindle tree.
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Holly Blue
Speckled Wood |
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Butterflies to keep an eye out for are the Orange Tip, Green-veined White, Brimstone, Holly Blue, Small Tortoiseshell, Comma, Peacock, Speckled Wood, and Large and Small White
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As March draws to a close and April dawns, Swaines Green's summer visitors arrive. Swallows and Martins hawk for insects overhead, while the songs of the Willow Warbler, Blackcap, Lesser Whitethroat and Whitethroat will once more be a part of Swaines Green. Other notable calls and songs to listen for are the yaffle of the Green Woodpecker, the drumming of the Great and Lesser Spotted Woodpecker, and everyone's favourite - the Cuckoo.
The first of the Spring flowers are now blooming - Celandine with its yellow flowers attracting the early insects, as does the blossom of Blackthorn, appearing from a distance as if it is covered in snow. By the middle of March Coltsfoot and the blues of Ground Ivy and Dog Violet are adding more colour. Dogs Mercury and Lords and Ladies are in good number along the hedgerow. Hazel catkins have been on display for some weeks now. Field Maple, Ash and Oak buds will begin to appear in April. Hawthorn already has some leaf, as does Elder. When you hear the cuckoo, then look for the Cuckoo Flower with its pale lilac flowers. Primrose and Bluebell will be with us by April.
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