Spring has sprung.

February thought it was March - we had a very cold snap when temperatures hovered around freezing here in North Cornwall.  Then there was a very cold easterly wind when eventually backed southerly and became warm, but just as strong, eye-wateringly strong.

My pond was frozen for almost a week but Water Boatman and Diving beetles survived the ice and could be seen foraging in the warm weather.

Then, Spring arrived.  In the last few days of February temperatures rose to double figures.

Wild and garden daffodils began to flower.  A large queen Buff-tailed Bumblebee disappeared into one of their trumpets.  Honey bees massed on my neighbours flowering Heather.

The first invertebrates had awakened from their winter sleep.

Gorse Shieldbug

After a couple of months of checking on local Gorse bushes, we saw our first Gorse Shieldbug on the 25th and every day since.  7-spot Ladybirds are about too whilst overhead, a Buzzard mewled and a Great-spotted Woodpecker drummed in a nearby copse.

7-spot Ladybird

Along the hedgerows, it seemed that every tall twig held, alternately, a Robin or a Dunnock each spaced about 100 metres apart and proclaiming his territory.

And on the 25th the first butterfly roused from hibernation; a Peacock and a Small Tortoiseshell on the 28th.

Spring has most definitely sprung.

Blogs I follow

https://downgatebatman.blogspot.com/

https://maryatkinsonwildonline.blogspot.com/

Signs of Spring?

Well officially, it has been the wettest January in 10 years.  I can confirm that from experience!  On the North Cornish coast, we rarely get snow and are too high above sea level to suffer from flooding.  But there certainly has been lots of rain.  Our streams are surging and high and the ditches are overflowing onto the roads.

When it is wet, we experience very low cloud which means we have to walk through a miasma of damp, drizzly all enveloping rain drops.

Despite all this, nature is beginning her regeneration.

New lambs

Mammals, such as deer and squirrels are becoming more obvious, out looking for mates and visible through the leafless branches.  We have new lambs gambolling in the fields. Birds too are becoming apparent with Nuthatch, Pheasant, Goldcrest appearing and a territorial Robin singing every 100 yards or so.

Invertebrates are beginning to appear too.  During late January I have recorded a Ruby Tiger Moth caterpillar trying to get run over on the road; it was safely returned to the verge.  

Garden Tiger Moth caterpillar

One sunny day there was a Queen German Wasp investigating Ivy and I have rescued two other species from the cold wet weather.  

Queen German Wasp

Queen German Wasp

I found a Common Earwig on our coal bunker and a 7-spot Ladybird on the house wall.  Both are now ensconced on my pop-up butterfly cage which is now serving as a hibernaculum for them and an overwintering chrysalis that I hope will prove to be a Red Admiral when it emerges.

Common Earwig and 7-spot Ladybird

Flowers are also pushing out of the verges, with buds and flowers showing.  Honeysuckle is in bud and in the last days of January a number of plants were in flower; Dandelion, Lesser Celandine, Barren Strawberry, Primrose, Snowdrop, Dog’s Mercury, Alexanders and Daffodils almost ready to pop.

Snowdrops

Honeysuckle buds

Dog's Merucry

Alexanders

There are certainly signs of Spring in North Cornwall

Blogs I follow

https://downgatebatman.blogspot.com/

https://maryatkinsonwildonline.blogspot.com/