Nature Notes, Feb 12 2008

Now I don't know when Spring really starts. Certainly, there are now signs of trees budding in anger, and we can't hear any cuckoos (but then we don't up here at any other time either). But the crows have started heavy lifting (twigs, crisp bags, small dogs etc) so they must be starting to build something. The Brewery's Guard Robin has got himself a potential nest site (away from us, so we are getting less taunting). The Reed Buntings have found the reed bed, and appear to making themselves comfortable. Golden Plover in their hundreds (literally) have been circling overhead. Fieldfares have been flocking, and the occasional gaggle of Lapwings may have been spotted.

The Pheasants have started fighting - males of course, and no doubt some State Nanny will say this is due to the presence of alcohol nearby. The Partridges are, well, being Partridges (not that they can do that well, bless them). The Great Tits are getting very vocal (especially on the BBC Parliament channel...). The ever tuneful Birds Of Significant Colour are all mated up, and the Doves & Pigeons are getting boisterous (and shot). The Hares are getting nervous (they are already numerous).

So some of the above seem to be thinking about Spring starting, and others may well feel it has already started. Either way, in the last week or so the outside world has erupted into life, there is unquestionably far more activity all round, and a lot more noise. Of course not all of it is good - there is after all only so much owl your ears can take. We have the constant screeching of the Barn Owls (last years pair, plus at least one more we think), coupled with the constant hooting of the newly arrived Tawny (who is now getting a reply it seems, so maybe there is pair in the offing?), and the occasional chipping in from the Little Owl who lives down the lane (no, really). Still, as irritations go, it does make you feel all nice and warm inside. Unless of course you are a mouse, in which it must at least make you feel wanted.

We have even seen our first lizard of the year, although given that he was frozen to the cellar steps just after New Year, the siting may not count for much evidence of an early spring.

The Buzzards have been mostly absent of late, but then I guess there aren't many good thermals for them to play on at the moment. The Kestrels are ever present, and there are signs of sparrowhawk activity - mostly abandoned Pigeon wings, but one was seen playing chicken on the local highway, trying desperately to remove some roadkill rabbit, succeeding at the last minute, just avoiding being hit by a car.

To round off, here are some interesting facts - Barn Owls hunting by listening, they can apparently hear a mouse's heart beat from over 200 yards. I can't even hear my own, but then maybe I don't have a heart? Kestrels meanwhile, can see ultra-violet light, which is handy because their favourite prey (voles) leaves a trail of urine that reflects ultra-violet light. We think we have it bad, but your little vole? Well, not only does he appear to have a permanent bladder disorder, but as a result is forever telling his enemy where he is. Now that is a bummer.