Nature Notes from Hilltop News

Nature Notes

If you enjoy living or visiting the Chilterns you cannot fail to be impressed with the variety of landscape, wildlife and the particular weather it offers be it over the seasons of the year or just on a single day. What's more on any given day, the countryside in which the hilltop villages nestle is often characterised by having its own micro-climate compared to the neighbouring towns and countryside beneath it. This in turn has influenced the composition of local habitats and the occurrence of wildlife.

No one set of eyes, ears and sense of smell can capture the essence of the natural history of the hilltop villages. The following nature notes first published in the Hilltop News are just a simple attempt to reflect on the flora and fauna we enjoy through the seasons.

These articles were previously published in "Hilltop News".

Chris Brown
January 2004

Nature Notes for Hilltop News December 2005
White Christmas?

The Hilltop Villages lived up to their reputation of providing us a wet autumn once again, with 71mm - just shy of 3 inches - of rain during October 28mm of which (1.1 inches) fell in one day, the 24th, the largest amount since October last year. At the time of writing, November has continued this trend with already over a couple of inches in the first two weeks. Meanwhile daily temperatures have held up well and provided a warm, even at times, balmy October. Once again we escaped a frost in October and anticipate subzero temperatures not arriving until the end of November or even December. The trees reflecting this retain their leaves the oaks and beeches, in particular, providing a feast of colour this autumn.

Looking ahead, the Met Office is advising that there are strong indications of a significantly colder but dry winter season especially in southern Britain. There is no suggestion that we are facing one as bad as 1947 or 1961/2 but one colder than any winter since 1995/6. Snow fell on Boxing Day last year but the odds have apparently shortened considerably already on their being a white Christmas this year.

One of the great unsung heroes of the plant world are lichens. A happy symbiotic partnership between one or more algae and a fungus. They are at their most splendid in December and January, with every colour you can imagine represented. Despite this, sadly they are at best overlooked and at worst often despised and condemned for encrusting garden trees and stonework. In severe cases they have been known even to 'dissolve' granite. In the past lichens were valued for providing dyes for cloth and even as an antiseptic for wounds, with reports of them being used during the first world war in the trenches as a poultice to prevent gangrene. We should celebrate their abundance in these parts as perhaps the best indication of how clear the air is and also indicating how old some of our woodland trees are. Many animals make good use of them from long-tailed tits furnishing their nests to snails grazing them and mites and other microscopic creatures making their home within a lichen 'forest'. There are over 1700 species in the UK and probably only 6 or so botanists who can distinguish between them. However, help is at hand with an excellent interactive guide for all ages on the National History Museum website (www.nhm.ac.uk) search for lichens and follow the links. Try a trip armed with digital camera to one of the three graveyards in our midst and then compare what you find with those displayed on fallen logs or encrustations on older trees.

Owls are very vocal this time of year and due to prolonged periods of rain or snow become more frequent daytime flyers. We have five native species more often heard rather than seen. Barn owls which emit various sounds from a series of eerie screeches, to 'wheezing and gurgling' can be seen though at dusk hunting for small mammals or birds and have been spotted several times recently in Hawridge. The other owls, are the Little 'keew-keew', Long-eared 'oo-oo-oo', Short-eared, more usually silent and the Tawny 'hooo-hoo-hooo'.

Other birds making their presence known all too well at this time of year are the Rooks, congregating in large numbers on the bare tops of trees. Their signature tune, a 'kaah-kaah-kaah' greets the early morning or evening walker who disturbs their roost with such a cacophony of sound which seems to increase in volume even long after you pass by. Meanwhile their larger relatives, the Carrion crow distinguished by their larger size and seen usually in ones, twos or threes become frequent visitors to the garden, squabbling over scraps. Like the Rooks they also descend on fields to feast on earthworms and insects foolhardy enough to emerge on the bare soil after rain.

Both these birds figured low-down in the top twenty garden visitors in the BBC Today programme / RSPB Garden Birdwatch survey last January when, in one weekend, 6.8 million bird sightings were recorded in 200 thousand, 1 hour observations. The top five nationally though were:- House sparrow; Starling; Blackbird; Blue tit; Blackbird and Greenfinch. This year's survey is taking place on the weekend of 28th/ 29th January, further details on the BBC and RSPB websites. Compared to national statisitcs my own ratings each year consistently elevates the Robin, Dunnock and Collared dove and relegates the Starling and Greenfinch. Others comments on their own observations would be much appreciated.

This month star creepy-crawly is the woodlouse. Yet another unassuming hero squashed underfoot far too often. The primitive land invertebrates which crawled out of the sea would have looked much like woodlice which are in fact related to crabs and lobsters. Unlike insects with three pairs of legs, woodlice have seven pairs. There are at least 40 species in Britain. Around these parts the Pill bug is common which can roll into a ball when danger threatens. All woodlice are recyclers of one kind or another, breaking down organic matter. They are active all year but prefer the dark and require damp conditions such as leaf cover or under the compost heap. Young woodlice replicas of their parents take up to 2 years to grown into adults.

As always, no doubt, a considerable amount of mistletoe will be again hung above doorways this Christmas. Strange how comfortable we are mixing Pagan with Christian rituals. In medieval times mistletoe was burnt to enhance the fertility of the soil, used as a herbal cure-all and worn by women who believed it possessed aphrodisiac qualities. These customs all but died out during puritan times but were rekindled by the rise in the 17th century of the modern druidic cults and their dubious associated practices. Charles Dickens in Pickwick Papers encouraged Victorians to adopt a wholly more acceptable custom of hanging sprigs around their houses and stealing no more than a kiss beneath one. The demise of orchards in the country means that most mistletoe is nowadays imported from France. In Herefordshire, where it still flourishes on apples, hawthorn and lime trees, locals now propagate it but as is the case generally most occurrences are still down to the unconscious endeavours of the eponymous Mistle-thrush and other birds, which having fed on the berries uses rough bark to scrape the surplus gelatinous glue stuck to its beak and in so doing deposits the seed in a crevice.

Finally, I promised last time some suggestions of some more books for Christmas. David Attenborough is in his 50th year of broadcasting. His latest book to accompany the TV programme 'Life in the Undergrowth' is in the shops now. For those interested in Birds a treasure-trove of information and folklore is to be found in Birds Britannica by Mark Cocker and Rickard Mabey. That's all for this time. Looking forward to comments, questions and observations as always.

chrisbrown@rayshill.com

Nature Notes for Hilltop News October-November 2005
The Good, the Bad and the Ugly

What is it about the month of August? Far from being the height of summer it seems to be the month when rain also falls freely. Last year August was rain-soaked month, the wettest for the whole year, when over 6 inches fell. This time it provided a more modest but still surprising 2.5 inches of rain. September started with balmy days and warm nights but by mid-month the mood changed with heavy bursts of rain fall. Despite this we still managed enough dry and sunny days in both months to ensure victory over the Aussies and so for reasons not entirely unconnected to the weather it will go done in our memories as a glorious summer! Looking ahead to October and November we can expect more unsettled weather than usual for the time of year, with bursts of heavy rain and strong winds at times. Despite this temperatures will be upon averages for this time of year. Our well finally ran dry in September indicating the water table has fallen below 120ft. As I mentioned last time this confirms with the wind we expect this month and next some casualties can be expected amongst the trees in the area which are already under some stress. Better check that your insurance cover is up to date!

I think its fair to say that on balance most people don't have a particular affection for our native invertebrate animals such as insects, spiders, centipedes, woodlice, worms, slugs and the like. The term 'creepy-crawlies' which I grew up reinforces this general distaste. Not that I am in favour of the modern equivalent of 'mini-beast' which does nothing to reassure the squeamish. So borrowing from the film world, I suggest 'The Good, The Bad and The Ugly' which might at least generate a cult following. For me as a youngster discovering a hitherto unknown (to me) bug or the like had the effect of stimulating insatiable curiosity whilst at the same time it drove my mother up the wall when my latest prize find escaped from the jar or matchbox to be discovered exploring the living room ceiling or carpet or settee! It's not surprising why for most of us humans the reaction on sighting one of these creatures is only marginally less disturbing than finding yourself in close proximity to a politician or perhaps renegade from Big Brother. Unfortunately for the creepy crawly their appearance more often can be remedied by the rolled-up newspaper or purposely placed shoe. (Shame I hear you say that my other examples cannot be dispatched in similar fashion).

Whilst television documentaries by David Attenborough have helped improve the appreciation and wonder of the life and times of such wildlife its fair to say that but for one or two exceptions, few have broken through to achieve celebrity status. I suspect even for insects welcomed into our gardens under the heading of 'beneficial' such as ladybirds and butterflies their larva which are a slimy looking maggot or ravenous caterpillar respectively are more than often mistaken for just another pest and receive summary execution. So starting with this Autumn report I will be including a reference to an invertebrate which I think should be viewed in a different light. Its my attempt at a Max Clifford style image makeover and hopefully a few of the younger and not so younger generation reading HTN might develop an interest in this mistakenly denigrated and underrated group of animals. Clint Eastwood may have been 'The Good' but he was also to me at least always 'The Ugly'.

My choice deserving a second look is the Harvestman which can still be found this time of the year in hedgerows. Its more likely thought that you have found one in your kitchen or bathroom or lurking under the windowsill. They're long-living with a lifespan of up to 9 months. One of their alternative names, 'bunspider' most accurately describes their appearance as although they are related to spiders they have a distinctive sphere-shaped body suspended on long spindly legs which could have provided the inspiration for the Martian invaders in HG Well's 'War of the Worlds'. Their lifestyle is very different from spiders too. I guess you would say that they like to 'live on the edge' compared to the cautious spider, with a eclectic diet to match, including a particular craving for bird droppings (yummy!). When attacked, they think nothing of shedding a leg or two to escape. Even when detached from the body the leg continues to jump and flick about. This distracts the predator while the harvestman makes its escape. They are able to shed up to four legs in this way, (presumably evenly distributed) and they need to retain at least one of their sensory legs to survive, presumably so they can sniff out their next meal casually left by a generous bird!

Talking of birds, October and early November will provide the last chance for birds to stock up on their fatty food reserves for the long hard winter. As hedgerows and trees shed their leaves they once again appear more abundant, having hidden during the summer whilst they complete the moult and development of winter plumage. Look out for mixed flocks of small birds feasting on the fruits and berries. Compared to last year when there was a bountiful supply of such food the hedgerows are not so heavily laden which means birds such as goldfinches, blackbirds as well as winter visitors such as redwings will chance a foray into our gardens. Providing a varied mixture of seeds ( including those left after shrubs and plants have flowered), nuts and fruit such as overripe apples, will ensure you encourage a bit of autumn colour into the 'backyard'. A chance conversation with two other local birdwatchers the other week confirmed I may not have been mistaken in seeing some waxwings last winter. These are infrequent visitors from the sub-artic region on Finland and in some years, known as 'waxwing winters', can arrive in large numbers. They have a penchant for rowan and hawthorn berries, both common around here so look out for their fawn/rust coloured plumage with a crest, red wing tips and tail tipped with bright yellow like a paint brush. NB not to be mistaken for Jays common all year round residents, which are similar in size but have pink and blue plumage.

Bracken tends not to get to good press these days -in cowboy film shorthand, aka 'The Bad'. Although appreciated for adding to Autumn colour which is at its best in November, turning yellow and then brown after the first frosts have got to it. As I said it has a bad reputation and I hear frequently about the ongoing battle by those who look after the Commons to contain the spread of bracken which if left to its own devices would stifle and drive out less dominant heathland flora which is a rarity in the Chilterns. These days it is viewed more as villain than hero. But deserves it place as part of the local ecology of the Commons given the economic importance it once had for local people. Until the early part of the 20th century it was a highly valuable commodity in these parts and would have been protected by those with commoners who held rights enabling it to be cut and sold on. Why? Well because it was the bubble-rap of its time. Essential as a packaging material in ensuring fruit, which in these parts would have included apples and cherries, could be transported to market undamaged. Used as a manure, bedding for animals, covering potato beds or stuffed up the chimney and set alight to clear it of soot! We may have to resort to this ourselves given the difficulty in getting the chimney sweep to do our chimney this year!

As the Christmas cards will be in Woolworth's this month I think it appropriate to mention a couple of ideas for children's books. First for younger children, 'Where Does The Rubbish Go' published by Usborne Books and for older children, 'Changing Climate' published by Earthwatch. A couple of books for the slightly more grown up in December. That's all for this time. Please keep sending your comments and questions.

chris.brown@rayshill.com tel:- 758890.

Nature Notes for Hilltop News August 2005
Sunny Spells, Summer Smells

"The air came laden with the fragrance it caught upon its way, and the bees, upborne upon its scented breath, hummed forth their drowsy satisfaction as they floated by". - Charles Dickens

We have to go back to 1976 to find average temperatures for June / July that were higher than this year and the last seven months have also seen less rain than every similar period since 1976. If the weather in these two months was an indication of what to expect over August and September we would be looking forward to another summer like '76. But despite temperatures in the thirties during July we can look forward to periods of cooler, but dryer weather in August. When we do get rain it will be in short but heavy downpours, the ones that produce that distinctive smell difficult to describe and unlike any other smell I know. The lack of ground water will take its toll. As trees give up the struggle and shed their leaves sooner than we have come to expect in recent years. it will bring an autumnal feel to September. Sadly I think for some trees, more often than not the younger ones, the falling water table will be too much for them and they will become casualties of the first storm or even a strong gust of wind in September. Meanwhile older trees such as horse chestnut survive by shedding a bough or two so take care and look out for fallen branches when driving on the lanes around here especially after hours.

By the way from this month you can check out the local weather live in the Hilltop Villages by visiting www.cholesbury.com and following the weather link. I hope you find it useful.

Last time I mentioned that one animal to look out for in your garden was the hedgehog. Since writing this, the Mammal Society has reported on its mammal population survey (undertaken by counting of road kills!) there has been a dramatic fall in hedgehog numbers in recent years. The main causes - that is apart from highway fatalities - are thought to be the obsession of tidying up gardens, replacing grass with decking and applying copious quantities of chemicals and in particular, slug pellets. The average hedgehog with its expert sense of smell, can sniff out and consume half a pound of slugs, snails etc per night. So instead of toxic slug pellets why not try protecting the hostas and other delicate plants with some bran scattered around them (as recommended by Monty Don on Gardeners World recently) and provide a pile of logs and leaves in an unkempt corner of the garden. Reports of sightings of hedgehogs or even their ink black 'signatures' on the lawn would be welcomed.

The lack or rain has had one small advantage though. It has restricted the growth of grass in our lawn and has given a chance for a whole variety of floral opportunists to make it their home. At last count we had 17 different flowering plants many of which are in full bloom. The perfume from summer flowers, in this case margaret daisies, yellow toadflax and self heal has to be profuse to compete with all the other aromas around at this time of year in order to attract the prime pollinators - bees - of which there over 250 species in Britain. Bees can hone in on the perfume of newly emergent flowers several kilometres away although the average garden will also have at least on small underground colony of bees.

A mild winter suggests the summer butterflies might be more numerous this year so August should be a good month to spot a few of the ones perhaps less familiar to you, such as the small or large skippers (deep orange/ochre) that scurry low down but at great speed from flower to flower like a miniature Harrier jump-jet. In contrast, the marbled whites (mottled brown/white) and a feature of this part of the Chilterns, have a chaotic meandering flight often retracing their steps again and again. They used to be known as the half-mourner a reference to fashion in Victorian times of wearing black and white as a mark of respect for the not so recently departed.

For a walk out and about this month choose a route with mature hedgerows. During August hedgerows are full of life. The hedge with its ripening fruits (berries) and seeds provides a vital larder ahead of a harsh winter for the smaller birds ( see below) as well as bank voles, harvest and wood mice. Dragonflies often patrol hedges in search of prey while speckled wood butterflies can be seen tangling with each other as they vigorously defend their territories from their neighbours. Whereas along with some patience, a keen ear or eye is what is needed with the foregoing even with a blocked nose its almost impossible to ignore the scent of the Stinkhorn (Phallus impudicus) a fungi which can frequently be located by its musty smell within the undergrowth of hedges in both August and September. Although somewhat malodorous to the human, the stinkhorn's stench is irresistible to blow-flies which mistake it for carrion but it is so pungent it should enable you to locate its source and which will give me an excuse to omit an indelicate description embarrassing the fainthearted and probably giving the Editor palpitations.

If you watch the birds in your garden regularly you could not have failed to notice that the number visiting has fallen suddenly over the past month. Although you might suspect a visiting cat (one without a bell) such as the ones I referred to last time this disappearing act is not unusual at this time of year. The majority of younger birds have joined up in unofficial flocks comprising a variety of species, (e.g. tits, nuthatches and the like) and are hanging out in nearby hedgerows and woodland. Similarly older birds have also adopted a survival strategy at a time when they undergo a summer moulting and can be vulnerable to attack from not just cats but sparrow hawks which are more active at this time than any other. Not all birds are undercover. Swifts and swallows will be seen and heard above stocking up on the bounty of airborne insects until late August and mid September respectively when they depart for sub-Saharan Africa. Two of our more colourful birds, goldfinches and yellowhammers are more frequent visitors to our gardens these days. Until recently both birds have been in decline, but are beginning to make a comeback in this area with more sympathetic management of hedges and field margins. Both can be encouraged into gardens by providing wild birdseed and in the case of goldfinches allowing seed-heads such as thistle or teasel to remain until the seed heads develop.

This month's house visitor is the black garden ant, the only native ant which regularly invades our houses. The kitchen or larder is their usual Mecca. They have a remarkable ability to detect by 'smell' or more correctly sense the chemical odours given of by any sugary substance vital for fattening up the young larvae. Often the first sign you have been invaded though is the emergence of the virgin queens in late August. As this swarming often coincides with the arrival of a thunderstorm, there is a belief in folklore that they are supposed to be able to foretell such weather. I think they are a damn sight better at it than I anyway!

As usual please do get in touch with any news or questions or let me know what else you would like to see on the weather page. chrisbrown@rayshill.com 758890

Nature Notes for Hilltop News June 2005
Bum barrels, bells and whistles

The weather in April and May has meant a cooler and dryer Spring than usual. Daytime temperatures were on average lower than in the past two years. Meanwhile despite the heavy downpours in Mid May neither month managed to contribute more than around three-quarters as much rainfall (about 4ins) compared to Spring last year. With only 10ins of rain over the past 6 months its no surprise that our well has only 6 foot of water. Compared to 14 feet last year so the water table is desperately low with no chance or recovery until next winter.

Looking ahead neither weather lore nor meteorology are optimistic when it comes to rainfall either. With the oak out before the ash this year the trees are predicting 'a splash' rather than 'a soak' and some long-range forecasters are suggesting we will be in for a scorcher this summer it looks like being a tougher season with uncertain results for farmers and gardeners alike. Its time to take action to avoid your lawn turning into the prairie lands of Illinois. Raise the blades on your mower and maybe leave the cuttings to act as a mulch to conserve moisture. Order a rain barrel or two from the water companies who have them on offer. We are getting close to having acquired almost as many barrels as George Galloway (allegedly!) And don't forget the wildlife. The lack of 'casual water' around as golfers call it presents a problem to birds and other animals so leave a bowl or two for them too.

For astronomers and for insomniacs in search of a bit of night-time walking the Full Moon falls on June 22nd and July 21st.

First some good news! The Brown's have several new additions to the family! Well to be honest the long-tailed tits I mentioned last time who took up residence in the nearby hawthorn hedge have a large brood of chicks and have been working from dawn to dusk to provide a steady stream of caterpillars and the like. Obsessed with finding out more about this bird I have discovered that it is not related to the other tits we are familiar with. The powers that be in the bird world are looking to correct this anomaly and are deciding on a new name. More precisely they are trying to choose which of the many traditional regional old English names to use. The trouble is they have a good few to choose from including: long-tailed chittering; poke pudding; hedge jug; mumruffin and last but not least my favourite bum barrel!

So what's about over the next two months? June is one of the best months for the larger insects with the second broods of peacock and small tortoiseshell butterflies emerging, marbled whites in the meadows and red admirals arriving from the continent. Just time to invest in one or two flowering shrubs with butterfly appeal to your garden. If butterflies represent the light aircraft of the natural world the hoverflies are the helicopters removing those unwanted garden pests and meanwhile the 'jumbos' must be the dragonflies which patrol the hedgerows and pond edges in search of insect prey. Many of the larger species are migrants from southern France. Cleaner waterways and lakes and warmer winters are improving the conditions for these larger varieties resulting in more sightings year on year.

We tend to think that autumn is the only time to see fungi but a chance meeting with fellow HN contributor and 'mycological gourmond', Clive Carey put me right. Despite the warmer and drier conditions there are plenty of every-day and more exotic fungi to be seen both in woodland and the commons at this time of year. Of all species I think fungi have some of the most imaginative and descriptive of names. Just as well. There's no mistaking what might happen if you choose to take a bite from a death cap, satanic boletus or the destroying angel. Clive reeled off a long list of the safely edible ones. Personally without such expert supervision I think I will stick to looking rather than eating and have always been a fan of those large bracket fungi that which often look as old as the tree they are on and put on a spurt of activity with new growth in fresh shades of purples, yellows and greens at around this time. So for this month's outing try the woodland and commons and see how many different species you encounter. But take advice from the likes of Clive and co before indulging or it may be the last walk in the woods you take.

From the end of May and into June it is the mating season for hedgehogs. So if you hear grunting and snorting during the evening coming from the undergrowth or a hedgerow this may be the reason. Unsurprisingly it can be a somewhat noisy and prolonged affair lasting several hours. The amorous male has to perform a nifty dance as he encircles his mate to encourage the reluctant female to flatten her spines. ( I am tempted to add a comment at this point but the Editor would no doubt censor it!)

We tend to associate owls with the night-time. Hearing an owl hoot during the day is unusual but especially at this time of year tawny owls are out and about almost as much during the daylight as at night. Their nest of owlets become increasingly ravenous and at least one if not both adults will be out after their prey typically fledgling birds and the young of small rodents both being as yet unfamiliar with the hazards their parents have had to learn about to survive.

Along with magpies and other members of the crow family perhaps the other major predator of garden birds is the domestic cat. In rural areas a typical two year old cat, allowed the freedom to roam, will kill on average 18 birds per year. Mainly our familiar garden visitors although some have even leant how to pounce on swallows swooping over ponds. Their diets are also enriched by around 5 mice 2 voles, 2 harvest mice, 2 rabbits and one shrew plus a smattering or frogs, toads newts, lizards and even grass snakes. Cats don't kill that many rats apparently, - only one between every four cats). Cats wearing a bell kill less birds but more mice than those without a bell so it might be worth a small investment next time you pass the pet shop. The warmer evenings bring our first sight of bats. One of our most widespread examples of bat is the Pipistrelle. Recent studies with bat detecting devices that pick up the sonar the bat uses to catch insects has discovered that there is in fact a new species using a distinctly higher frequency (the bat equivalent of whistling to its pals which has consequently been nicknamed the 'soprano pipistrelle'.

Just space to mention the house guest for this month. Probably one of the most intimidating and least endearing of all fellow inhabitants, the Devil's Coach Horse. These are the large black elongated armour-plated beetles that emerge without warning and scurry across the carpet or along the skirting. In fact they do you a favour by feasting on many of the other unwelcome insect house guests. Despite this as they look like a creation out of the 'Hammer House of Horrors' its hard to feel any great affection for them, I'm afraid. As always do get in touch with any observations. chrisbrown@rayshill.com

Nature Notes for Hilltop News April 2005
Now Appearing In The Countryside Near You

The weather at the end of February and March sprung some surprises with a dozen or so consecutive days when snow fell. Rainfall for the first three months of 2005 was down on the average for the time of year and was only half of last year's unusually wet quarter when 6.5 ins (169mm) of rain fell. Looking ahead the last throws of winter at the end of March will not unsurprisingly give way to more showery outbursts in the early part of April with temperatures slightly above the norm for this time of year. May looks like being warmer overall and drier than average, however the downside of this is that clearer skies will bring night-time temperatures below freezing, with sheltered areas in the Chilterns experiencing snap frosts during the first week of the month. The next two full moons are on the 24th April and 23rd May.

So what can you expect to see out and about for the next month or two?

The cold snap at the end of February has delayed bud burst for a week or two. As I write I am yet to spot a brimstone butterfly, usually one of the first to break cover and brave the elements in March. As often is the case the first sight of butterflies emerging from hibernation may have more to do with them being disturbed than of any meteorological significance. A far better indicator of climate change is the orange-tip (white wings with an orange tip!) which if not seen already should make an appearance in the next few weeks. It is an important 'indicator species' and is now appearing weeks earlier compared to 30 years ago. It has become more common in those parts of the Chilterns which have been seen improved conservation and more sympathetic land management. Meanwhile sightings in low-lying areas have fallen due to more extensive drainage and 'tidying up' of its traditional habitats. For this reason its all the more crucial that our gardens, paddocks and hedgerows which developed from the enclosure of fields as well as important habitats such as roadside verges, greens and commons retain sufficient unkempt areas. We should resist the suburban obsession to make open spaces neat and tidy and turn them into sterile parkland with reconstructed vistas of an imaginary and false countryside. Its ironic that at a time when agricultural policy is now, at long last, recognising the contribution farmers make through the sensible management and conservation of the rural landscape, it is fashionable to turn gardens into unnecessarily floodlit, so-called 'living spaces' from which everything natural is either discouraged or has been extinguished.

Cuckoo-pint no doubt one of those 'nasty weeds' not welcome in such gardens seems to appear fully grown in just a day or two regular as clockwork in April. The characteristic hooded leaf or spathe protects the cylindrical flowerhead or spadix. Look out for whether the flowerhead is either yellow or purple or if the green leaves are plain or spotted. All variations occur locally and the spotted version is said to have given rise to the alternative name of Lords and Ladies due to its 'resemblance' to the beauty spots that adorned the fops and courtesans of 300 years ago.

Although about all year, from late March onwards brown hares are more visible than usual. Mornings and evenings are the best time to see them although the excessive amounts of energy they possess during spring means they abandon reason as they play out their annual rituals of boxing and 'haring' about open grassland. Perhaps this year the exuberance of their celebrations will have all the more meaning given the extra protection they along with foxes and deer have in the law from this year!

Another sight often seen scurrying at full tilt across the road is the stoat which by late May is also more active than any other time. Both parents are preoccupied with hunting out prey, ranging over a territory of over 20 acres. Usually mice or young rabbits and on the estates around here, to the gamekeepers displeasure, pheasant eggs no doubt, to feed their offspring or 'kits'. Closely related to the weasel but distinguished by their deeper reddish-brown colouring and with tail held out horizontally and tipped in black as though it had been used as a paint brush.

Glancing out of the window as I write this in mid March, with mounting fear of the imminent arrival of the always polite but direct email from the editor asking where this month's contribution is, I have spotted a pair of long-tailed tits nest-making in the recently pruned hawthorn hedge. The nest started as a small cup of moss in the crotch of tangled and thorny branches. A quick swot with the reference books advises this is all glued together by confiscated spider's web. The foundation built, they then begin to weave more moss with grass stalks and an outer crust of lichen. By the time this article hits the streets and assuming unwelcome magpies or our cheerful postman have not inadvertently interrupted their work we should have sight of a dome-shaped and fully enclosed nest lined with over two thousand feathers. For this reason their old rural name is 'bottle-tit'. Apparently the nest being elastic can be home to a brood of 10 to 12 and surprisingly up to four adult birds, two of which having lost their own nest to predation join the family as house-guests and will help with rearing the chicks.

If you find yourself walking across the open ground listen out above for skylarks. One of my regular correspondents has already reported a flurry of skylark activity so maybe this will be a good year for them! Birds provide an excellent starting point for youngsters to enjoy nature. They are readily visible and can be easily identified from their sounds and plumage. Having heard from one dad and son who have started compiling a list of local bird sightings I would be happy to pass on a list of local birds based on our combined local knowledge to anyone else interested.

Choice of uninvited house visitor of the month must be the Cockchafer (May Bug) which noisily announces its arrival on warm evenings in May as it clumsily collides with windows and outside lights. Many of these are actually migrants from the Continent swelling the numbers significantly in some years. Although it hatches out in October the adult stays underground until the Spring. Eggs are laid some two feet underground and the large cream-coloured larva remains beneath the surface for up to three years feeding on the roots of roses and cereal crops and can be a serious pest. They are known also as rookworms providing a nutritious meal for such birds when unearthed during ploughing.

Elsewhere you will read about the threats to our native bluebell. Surprisingly though such illicit trade is not just a modern phenomenon. Bookbinders from Elizabethan times used a 'gum' made from the bulbs whilst long before the discovery of starch's stiffening qualities bluebell glue was used by courtiers to revitalise their ruffs. In the seventieth century the famous herbalist John Gerard advised that "the root is bulbous full of slimie glewish juice, which will serve to set feathers on arrows." So finally, I make no excuse for again this year recommending a morning or early evening visit to see this shimmering burst of woodland colour, made all the more spectacular by the lime green of the newly emerging beech leaves overhead.

Do keep the questions and comments coming in as its good to hear from others what they have seen 'appearing in the countryside near them!'

chrisbrown@rayshill.com tel: - 758890

Nature Notes for Hilltop News February 2005
The Birds and the Bees!

Well OK it was not quite a "White Christmas" in the Chiltern Hills this year as I had predicted but it was a near run thing and the hard frosts around Christmas Eve provided a festive picture for early risers!

As has become the custom this time of the year I will start with a summary of the meteorological extremes of the previous 12 months. Coldest day in 2004, March 2nd at -6.9°C (for 2003 -8.5°C). Warmest days were on June 8th and August 7th, both a modest 30.6°C compared to the 36.3°C in August 2003. Last year we had 29.5" of rain which is slightly above the average. Wettest day October 14th at 29mm (1.25") and wettest month incredibly was August with 142mm (5.75"). If you are looking for anecdotal evidence of our changing climate last year did not disappoint. Despite August temperatures failing to top those in 2003, last year was still the fifth warmest year since records began. The warmest 10 years have all been since 1990.

Looking ahead for February and March, overall temperatures will be as low as -6° and as high as 19°C. In contrast to a mild, if grey-skied January, these fluctuating temperatures will be the product of some particularly icy-cold and windswept days as February moves into March. Look out for an excessive use of the phrase "wind chill factor" by the weathermen! February will see plenty of drizzle whilst March will be noted for some very heavy downpours.

The mild winter so far has given a kick-start to the wildlife, with all sorts of signs of new life around us such as the first flowering of hazel, primroses, rooks nesting and thrushes singing. Snowdrops (the wild varieties that is) traditionally flowered around Candlemas Day (2nd Feb) but their white flowers have been progressively emerging earlier over the past 10 years. The tips of their spear-like leaves are reinforced with armour-plate to enable them to shear through frozen soil. Frogspawn has already been reported in Cornwall, as I write this in early January, so I would be interested to hear of anyone with a pond full of amorous amphibians emerging from hibernation followed by dollops of the jelly during February. The jury is still out as to whether this early spawning is very successful with these early tadpoles often failing to make it through to the "froglet" stage, compared to later broods, due to lack of food-supply (pond algae and plant life). But gradually there may be a shift in favour of these amphibian pioneers.

By the time February arrives the bird-breeding season will have started. The trigger for the hormones to start pumping around their bodies was the change in day-length at the turn of the year. Birds are unique in growing and "shrinking" with the seasons. In the autumn their metabolism switches to creating fat reserves. Whilst at this time of year its all about looking the part to attract a mate. Size matters in the bird world as does having the right gear. Despite all that is written about the habits of birds, comparatively little is properly understood about how they seek out members of the opposite sex. Mind you perhaps the same can be said of we humans! The phenomenon of speed-dating, which the urban unattached and desperate "twenty-somethings" spend their evenings doing these days - I am reliably informed - is suspected as being how some bachelor birds select their partner for the season. How many they "go steady with" no one has a clue, although the female dunnock (the erstwhile hedge sparrow) is the champion "swinger" of the garden scene keeping a harem of males.

On warmer days in late February bumble bees can bee seen on the wing. These are all females who have hibernated. The males having died after a frantic period of mating which takes place in the Autumn. These males are said to go out on mating patrols. Successive generations of bee visiting the same favoured sites in search of females. The females will have taken advantage of late flowering plants such as ivy to produce sufficient sugar reserves. On emerging from overwintering they are very active, searching out - and pollen-rich flowers already in bloom. This ready-made energy supply will fuel them in their efforts to search out a suitable nest site, usually in the soil, often an old mouse hole to build their honeycomb nest. Only when they have found sufficient pollen will they be stimulated to lay their eggs.

A test of your powers of observation now when you are out on a walk. Trees in winter can be tough to recognise if one normally relies on the leaves. Some can be identified with greater ease, such as the sticky-buds and flaky bark of horse chestnut. For ash look out for black buds and dark bark which on older trees becomes disfigured. Beech has light grey smooth bark and thin pointed reddish-brown buds and usually retains the dead leaves from last season. Oak has distinctive furrowed bark and its buds are clustered around the tip of the twig. Lastly sycamore has distinctive green buds. I have left off the previously mentioned hazel as by the time you read this those yellow catkins or "lamb's tails" will be dangling about in reckless gay abandon no doubt.

Apart from bats, hedgehogs and dormice (including our resident glis glis), no other mammals in the UK actually hibernate. In fact the smaller the animal the more frenetic they are in winter as the need to obtain energy to offset losing body heat often means they remain active most of the day as well as the night time. To prove this point the bear (no there have not been any sightings around here) is known to hibernate for up to six months of the year. Mice and voles will burrow under the snow where it is that bit warmer and continue to seek seeds, insects and other small animals in the surface litter. Being creatures of habit they take the same route each day so if you peer into the ground inside a hedge you can see these tracks created by the patter of little feet travelling back and forth as they search out a juicy earthworm.

An unlikely fellow gastronome when it comes to worms at this time of year is the buzzard, which can be seen and heard (mew-mew) overhead, although this scouting is more likely to be for rabbits than any invertebrate! Whilst on the subject of worms and specifically the answer to the question: which is the early bird that catches the worm? The answer is the blackbird, 13 minutes ahead of the robin, at least according to the recent "Early Bird" survey carried out at the winter solstice by British Trust for Ornithology and Radio 4's Today programme.

Concluding with the theme of "whose house is it anyway?" started a couple of articles back, February and March sees the emergence of overwintering butterflies such as small tortoiseshells and brimstones. The chances are in the next few weeks you will be spooked by a battered peacock butterfly that has been clinging to the curtains in the spare bedroom, it is flapping its wings in the vein hope that the "eyes" will scare off a would be predator. Next year we are trying out a butterfly hibernating box which Santa brought me this year. It comes complete with aromatherapy treatment to tune the senses. Whether it turns out that we end up with a tribe of super fit, oversexed butterflies chasing each other about having had a workout at the insect equivalent of Champneys we will have to see.

As always keep sending me your reports and questions. chrisbrown@rayshill.com 758890