|
Nature in
Winter
Get the pdf here
 As
December gets under way and the run up to
Christmas begins, nature brings a new season of wildlife and magical
landscapes all of its own.
Birds may have
migrated, wildflowers and butterflies disappeared, but winter
is by
no means a dismal time of year.
Even
as the temperatures plummet, and the wind, rain, ice and snow all cause
havoc, there are still many reasons to go outdoors and plenty to
observe.
Twelve
wildlife species to spot this winter in The Worthys:
1. Bats,
waking
from hibernation some bats may be seen taking a short flight before
returning to slumber. See the new bat shelter created from an old
pillbox at Worthy Down.
2. Birds,
my favourite time of year for birds with so many winter visitors to our
gardens, such as brambling, bullfinch, fieldfare, goldfinch, redwing,
…, and of course not forgetting the much-loved red-breasted Christmas
robin.
3. Common Shrew,
has a pointed snout and tiny eyes, this cute little brown mammal (2-3in
long) is active all year, although will mostly spend winter
underground.
4. Deer,
fallow and roe deer are found in the area; shy animals they mostly live
in woodlands, the males (bucks) have antlers (much broader on fallow).
5.
Fox,
with its new winter red coat and bushy tail (or brush), the fox is a
great scavenger of food, found both in the countryside and urban areas.
 6. Holly & Ivy,
loved by birds and insects, and a favourite Christmas decoration too!
Found in hedgerows and wooded areas; the red berries and prickly
evergreen leaves of holly are unmistakable.
7. Mistletoe,
another favourite decoration at Christmas, clearly visible hanging high
up on tree branches. See mistletoe on the lime at Avington Park.
8. Mute Swan,
this
large elegant bird with its orange-reddish bill and wholly white
plumage is iconic on the river Itchen, although tends to fly to
estuaries in winter.
9. Pheasant,
a long-tailed gamebird, popping out from long grass or scrub when you
least expect, the male has beautiful iridescent copper-coloured
plumage.
10. Tawny Owl,
our
most common woodland owl, is particularly vocal in winter with a very
distinctive “ke-wick” (female) and “hoo-hoo-oooo” (male), and often
seen or heard in the garden.
11. Trees,
with no more leaves, trees take on a different beauty standing tall on
the landscape. Fruit from trees such as Hawthorn, Blackthorn (sloe
berry) and Hazel provides a banquet of berries and nuts for birds and
animals to feed on in winter.
12. Water Vole,
this
flat nosed, short eared, chestnut-brown, furry creature is a great
rummager amongst the vegetation of the river banks. Numbers are
growing along the Itchen.
And,
although it may seem quieter in winter, there are still plenty of
things to do …
As
well as spotting birds and other creatures, you could try identify some
of the various trees in the area. Why not keep a record of, or even
photograph, what you find, and compare to future years?
 Keeping your birdfeeders topped up will ensure plenty of visitors to
the garden. Don’t forget that birds need water too, so keep your bird
baths topped up and ice-free.
And if
the weather is too atrocious, you could build nest boxes ready for the
spring.
By joining a local
conservation group you can get involved in all sorts of winter
activities – improving habitats, learning new skills, and gaining
knowledge – through which you will directly help our local
biodiversity.
So remember,
wildlife needs all our help, especially in long and hard winters!
Bruce Graham
Please
help WCV create a nature picture of our local parishes by recording
your sightings
using our
Nature Recording Form.
|
