A peculiar spring

A late start for blooming bluebells, fewer insects and sluggish swallows. These are just a few anecdotes you’ve shared with us this spring. They reflect the strange effects the extreme weather has had on wildlife timings over the past few months.

So, before us Woodland Trust folk delve into the science with our detailed analysis (which, incidentally, we will be starting in the next few weeks), I thought I’d share some of the fascinating footnotes that came with your records.

Butterflies

“The weather this winter, remember was remarkably mild, until almost the end of February.  Then, everything was set back by the two episodes of really cold weather. Now the common hawthorn is only just about to open – my date for it this year is 28 April, which is late by modern standards. But, all of a sudden, butterflies are appearing: orange tip, peacock, the whites, small tortoiseshell, blue and I saw a speckled wood on 4 May.” Greg Tingey.

“This was seen in my garden and this year I have only seen four butterflies of any variety of which this was one. In fact I have seen very few insects except bees at all this spring so far. As with the flowers I suspect the 2 cold spells are the cause.” Peter Barnes, comment with a first brimstone record.

 “This is a good example of how much Lady Luck enters into your record collecting - working in my front garden when a neighbour stopped to chat, otherwise I would have been bent over a seed bed and flutterby would have fluttered by unseen behind my back!!! Orange tips to wings clearly visible in morning sun.” Peter Gordon Smith, comment with a first orange-tip record.

Bluebells

We have noticed that bluebell records have not been coming in as early as last year, however it seems they are making up for it now.

“This year it is different.  Usually bluebells seem to hide and there are set places where they can be seen.  Usually in the woodland as the grasses start to grow, bluebells appear.  In the past they have been very discreet.  This year the bluebells are not hiding.  They are abundant along the hedgerows, main roads, lanes and they are in great quantities.  On Tuesday 24 April, 2018, in central Warwickshire at dusk they appeared to glow with a blue hue under the hawthorn hedges, in the ditches, just everywhere and growing in large clumps, great swathes of colour and a very distinct colour. There was no need to go to the wood itself to see the bluebells as they were apparent in their full colour and bloom, in very open display. Blossom is also in profusion particularly the pear and the apple and cherry, following the hard winter.” Valerie I Hurst

“Spanish and hybrids in garden have been out for at least a couple of weeks; native bluebell flowering in shady verge opposite garden finally opened today, observed nearly every day, so not a missed observation. Bluebell wood with solid carpet of plants at west end of village still has no open flowers.” Sarah Mason, comment with a first bluebell flower record.

Temperature differences between woodland and non-woodland may influence the timing of records. This means it is preferable to monitor the same habitat consistently.

Migratory birds

“At Watchet harbour in Somerset on Sunday 22 April, 2018 one lone, bedraggled looking swallow appeared, dipping and diving.  It felt like going to see an Air Show but there being just one Red Arrow.  The swallow was difficult to watch on its own as it flew in and out of eye sight range, dipping low over the water for insects.  The swallow was not particularly fast, in fact it looked rather battered and not as sleek as swallows are usually.  The swallow seemed to lack vigour.  It was a bright day with scattered cloud and some sunshine which the swallows have thrived on in the past in mid-April at this location.” Valerie I Hurst

“On Sunday 22 April, 2018 at Blue Anchor Bay in Somerset, which is usually heaving with swallows and house martins at this date of the year, they were not apparent at all.  There are fields just next to the sea where the swallows and house martins usually feed on an abundance of insects, but there was no sign of any insects and no sign of any swallows or house martins.  Suddenly, late in the afternoon four house martins lumbered by, but with no zest or vigour and no height or change of height to their flight.  It was a very disappointing, desultory fly past.” Valerie I Hurst

“A handful of birds flew overhead swooping and diving as they headed north during a break in the clouds.” Peter Terry, comment with a first swallow record.

“About a dozen martins were swooping low over the ploughed field along with many more swallows than there were a couple of days ago. This is a favourite field for all these birds. There are quite a few muddy puddles here.” Valerie Hill, comment with a first house martin record.

“Three adults screaming and chasing each other along Narrowgate.  Great to see them back at last!  Summer has definitely arrived now!” Gillian Osborne, comment with a first swift record.

“4 birds low above trees between golf course and the river. They're back!” Simon Cunningham, comment with a first swift record.

Cuckoo

“Didn't see it, hard to do, but heard it. Have heard them in this location every year but this was the first I'd heard this year. Also once heard one in Panorama woods in Ilkley a few years ago, but don't go there often enough.” Dr Chris Inglehearn, comment with a first cuckoo record.

“We have been listening daily and haven’t heard a cuckoo until now.” Dr Sarah Aitken, comment with a first cuckoo record.

What can you do to help

We love reading your comments and sharing in the excitement of your first sightings. Keep sending them in with your photos to give us an even better picture of what is happening to nature in your neighbourhood.