Natural wonders this February

While February’s weather tends to keep us in our wintery reality, the month also offers up some wildlife delights that can keep us ticking towards the coming spring. In his blog, Sam Finnegan-Dehn encourages us to stop and notice nature as you walk, trek and wander around your local patch.

The great spotted woodpecker
The classic woodpecker. While it can be seen at other times in the year, February is a great month to be on the listen and look-out for this wonderful bird. For an extra chance at spotting it, put a bird feeder outside your home and the woodpecker will be happy to eat any nuts and berries you leave!

Care for birds

Hazel catkins
Hazel is one of the earliest trees in winter to produce catkins, which are male flowers that appear in long, thin bunches. They’re really common at this time of year so look out for them!

Common frog spawning
February is an important month in the life cycle of frogs as it is a time when they usually emerge from hibernation and move into water to begin their breeding. If you have a pond or merely happen to stumble across one, look out for these amphibians and the spawn they produce. Even better, why not create a pond this February and marvel at nature as it colonises its new home.

Build a pond

Goldfinch
Another fantastic bird to look out for this coming month. The collective noun for the goldfinch is ‘charm’, which is quite fitting when we see the beauty and colour of its feathers. Again, why not have a go at installing a bird feeder in your garden to entice the goldfinch to your outdoor spaces.

Care for Birds

Snowdrops
Our final entry on this blog post is the beautiful snowdrop. With the scientific name Galanthus nivalis meaning ‘milk’ and ‘snow’, the snowdrop can bring some much-needed cheer to a bleak winter landscape. Thankfully, the flower has long been viewed as a symbol of hope for better times ahead and so we welcome its arrival with open arms!