This Month: British Wildlife in February
Temperatures are staying low across the UK and many of us have been lucky enough to see some snow, although there are some hints of spring on the horizon. In the latest instalment of my monthly series for Bloom in Doom, I’m sharing some of the British wildlife highlights that you can look out for in February.
Great spotted woodpecker. Photo: Rebecca Gibson
Birds
Winter is a great time to learn birdsong as there are fewer voices in the air and it’s easier to hear each one. The robin is one of the best birds to start with as they defend their territories all year round so are always singing somewhere!
This month you could also listen out for great spotted woodpeckers drumming on trees as part of their breeding display. Woodpeckers are highly adapted for their drumming lifestyle: they have strong muscles in their necks, a specific type of bone in the skull that protects the brain and an extra eyelid that acts like a seatbelt for the eyes! Males have a red patch on the back of the head while females don’t so they’re easy to tell apart.
As well as more common species, keep an eye out for special overwintering birds such as fieldfares and redwings that are only here until spring. These members of the thrush family can be seen feeding on berries, fruit and invertebrates. Fieldfares have striking brown and grey plumage while redwings have cream eyebrows and, as their name suggests, a red patch beneath each wing.
Redwing. Photo: Rebecca Gibson
Mammals
Roe deer are often active during February. Mostly solitary unlike red and fallow deer, roe deer are now gathering in small groups out in the open, often at the edges of fields and woodlands. At this time of year the males (bucks) are regrowing their antlers, which are currently fragile and covered in velvet. Once they’re fully formed, bucks will scrape off the velvet ready for the rut in summer. To find out more about roe deer, check out the British Deer Society.
Despite their size, wood mice remain active throughout the winter, making full use of the caches of food they stored in the autumn. Also called field mice, wood mice can be found in a range of different habitats, including our homes! You can tell them apart from house mice by their much larger ears.
Wood mouse. Photo: Rebecca Gibson
Amphibians
Take a look in nearby ponds this month and you might see frog spawn if the temperature is warm enough. If you have a pond, don’t bring in frog spawn from elsewhere – it’s best to wait for frogs to find your pond themselves and lay fresh spawn there. Ponds are fantastic resources for a range of wildlife – for tips on how to make your own, check out this guide from the Wildlife Trust.
Flora
Snowdrops are one of the first signs of spring, bravely battling the last cold snaps and brightening up a grey day. In many spots they grow in abundance, covering the ground in blankets of green and white. Look for them in woodland, orchards and even along the roadside in some places. A pretty but hardy little wildflower.
Another of the spring pioneers is the crocus, which pops up all over Britain but didn’t actually originate here. Depending on the species, they are native in North Africa, China, the Middle East and elsewhere in Europe. Ranging in colour from deep violet to mustard yellow, crocuses bring a touch of colour and warmth to the winter landscape.
Hazel catkins, also called ‘lamb’s tails’ for their obvious resemblance, can be seen from January. Hazel trees are known as ‘monoecious’, which means they have both male and female flowers on a single tree. The yellow catkins – looking a little like skinny pinecones – are male while the tiny pink flowers beside them are female.
Illustration: Paige Blake