Nature Notes - March 2011
Although cold frosty and sometimes snowy days still occur, the advent of March and the longer daylight hours leads to optimism that Spring is on its way.
After yet another quite hard and this time, long winter, it is a relief to see the first flowers in the hedgerows. As I write this, snowdrops are showing well but will have come and gone by March to be replaced by celandines and the first primroses. Early morning birdsong is another reminder of imminent Spring; mistle and song thrushes have been chorusing the morning for some weeks but are now joined by blackbird, robin and dunnock.
If you are lucky, you may also hear a few snatches of redwing song before they head back north and east, eventually crossing the North Sea back to their breeding grounds in Scandinavia and Russia. Our resident birds will soon be joined by the first summer migrants, typically sand martin, chiffchaff and wheatear early in the month and the vanguard of many other species such as swallow and willow warbler at the end. Those well known almost charismatic summer visitors, ospreys, will be gearing up to start their long trek north from their West African wintering grounds.
An insight of how far and how quickly they travel can be gauged from the satellite tracking of individuals on Roy Dennis’ excellent website, www.roydennis.org.
On arable land such as around Soar Farm near Salcombe, skylarks will be rising high in the sky singing as they go before looping and gliding back to ground. This is probably one of the best places in South Devon to look for hares, a mammal I have always found difficulty in locating in South Hams.
Another harbinger of spring is seeing the first butterfly of the year. Bright yellow brimstones are the first to actually emerge from pupae and can often be seen along woodland rides and country verges. These can be joined by other species such as peacock and small tortoiseshell that have successfully overwintered. Despite the cold, some will have made it and a faded red admiral was enjoying the sun at Exminster marshes on 12th!
What to look for in March
Look for the first sand martins or swallows skimming low over lakes, ponds or marshes where they can find insects. Slapton Ley will be a good place to look. Also look for our only duck that is a summer visitor, the garganey at similar locations.
Garganey
Garganey
Slightly bigger than a teal, the handsome male is a mixture of brown and bluish grey plumage but with a striking large white crescent over the eye to the side of the nape. Another early arrival, they can be quite numerous with an incredible 65 being seen at Thurlestone in 2005.
Frogs will have emerged from hibernation and can often be found at traditional locations such as ponds in fields and also making their way across gardens to go to a neighbours’ pond to breed. The first spawn should be evident.
First Published March 2011 By The Dart