With some parts of the country under a blanket of snow, and others seeing a nightly visit from Jack Frost, winter is very much here. Our resident wildlife expert, Geoff, has some top tips for wildlife to look out for at this time of year.
Winter visitors
Whilst we may not be able to travel at the moment due to lockdown restrictions, it doesn’t stop some of our feathered friends coming to visit. Large numbers of waterfowl have come to spend the winter months with us including Pink Footed Geese which can be seen in places like Norfolk and Yorkshire and these Brent Geese who are in Sussex.
Garden Birds
If you have plants or bushes still laden with berries (especially Rowan) – keep an eye out for Waxwings.
Other smaller birds who can often be seen in flocks at this time of the year include Long Tailed Tits, Goldfinches, Siskins and Redpolls.
Courting Season
If you here a cry from outside in the middle of the night – it might be your local foxes. If you’re unfamiliar with the sound they make – it can be quite disconcerting as it can sound like a person in distress.
Like foxes, badgers also don’t hibernate during the winter months – although they will be less active than at other times of the year. The sows will be giving birth from mid-February onwards and the boars are likely to be defensive.
Get ready for Spring
If you haven’t already – now is the time to get your nest boxes up ready for the spring. Not only will birds be grateful for a roosting site during the cold nights, it’ll soon be time for them to start prospecting nest sites for the Spring.
Taking care of garden wildlife
Make sure your garden birds (and any other wildlife visiting) have access to fresh water during these colder days. Leaving a ping pong ball in any water you leave out can sometimes help prevent the water from icing up – but always check! You should also make sure that your bird feeders are topped up as food can be hard to find on colder days.
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