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/