February in the Valley

February is one of those awkward month. Officially it is still winter, so the weather can be cold and bitter, with frost, ice and snow or it can be very mild and sunny. This winter has been one of the coldest in recent years so far with bitterly cold weather predicted for the first week.

One result of this colder weather has been the later flowering of more plants. Snowbells, which have been coming into flower earlier and earlier because of the successive mild winters, have returned to their more traditional flowering time this year of late January. Apparently records show that January this year has been 3°F  (1.67°C) colder than usual. So there you go.

That’s good news for our spring flowers. Icy conditions and overnight frosts are an essential part of nature as many seeds and plants need sub-zero temperatures to help their germination. One possible legacy of global warming is warmer milder winter and fewer frosts, which could affect seed germination of some of our most popular spring flowers such as Primroses, Cowslips and Violets...

Make the most of the
leafless trees, which greatly
aids birdspotting. The trees
and shrubs found along the Valley are essential to many birds. Siskin and Redpoll can often be seen in flocks feeding on the Birch and Alder trees that form thickets around many of the lakes.

Another birds worth looking for is the Goldcrest our smallest British bird, which weighs between 5-6 grams (that’s five birds to the ounce!). Winter is a very difficult time for these birds as they need to feed all day to lay down enough fat reserves to combat the long and potentially freezing night ahead. Goldcrests favour conifers, but at this time of year can be found in deciduous woodland and scrub throughout the Valley.

The Long-tailed Tit is another species worth looking out for at this time of year. In summer it is very quiet and secretive, but in winter it forms noisy flocks frequently mixing with other species such as Great Tit and Blue Tit. These flocks move continuously from tree to tree through a wood or along a hedgerow. Individual birds pause momentarily to feed before moving on. The noise comes from the constant calls of the birds to each other that keep the flock together, preventing any one bird from being left out.

Have you noticed any strange activity by Woodpigeons flapping around ivy-clad trees and wondered what they are doing? Well it’s all because ivy berries are one of the few fruits now left to eat, but the problem is that the Woodpigeons - being rather large and heavy – find it difficult to get a firm foothold as the Ivy doesn’t offer much support, so they spend their time flapping around looking for a secure spot to perch before they can feast.

MAKE A DATE...

• Come out and join our walk around Tongham on Saturday21st. More details >>>
• For details of these and and other events taking place this month look at February events  >>> .

 Bird of Month: Robin >>>

 February sightings >>>

 February events  >>>

 BV Walkers’ Link >>>

 Snow in the Valley >>>

 After the snow...
    

Hiding places

Over the winter, hiding
under stones and crevices,
 in hollow trees and stems, behind loose bark and under roots have been all kinds of minibeasts and creeply crawlies. They’ve been
trying to avoid predators
and the worst of the winter weather. This month, if it starts to warm up, many
will be emerging from their hiding places. So what might you see and where should you be looking to see them?

  Buff-tailed Bumblebees:  
Last autumn young females
will have burrowed into soft earth often under tree roots and now could be emerging
to seek out a suitable place to establish a new colony.

Common wasp:
The queen will have hibernated in crevices,
hollow trees or in dense ivy thickets and like Bumblebees will be emerging to seek
out a suitable new home.

Earwigs
Females often spend their winter under loose bark on rotting logs tending eggs
that will hatch in spring.

Smooth Woodlouse
These gather in large numbers in damp crevices under bark and stones.
Did you know:
The flaps on the legs of the Woodlice act as gills and must stay damp?