 |
Ancient woodlands offer great opportunities for wildlife watching in spring.
So why not join us on a nature safari and take a few tips from the Nature's Calendar's
team.
Get out and about for some wild woodland fun. | Outstanding woodland
nature watching.
Photo c/o Forestry Commission |
Here
are four activities which you can take part in ancient woodlands across the UK:
*
Bird of prey spotting in Scotland.
* Wild Boar safari.
* Badger watching.
*
Heron watching in Kent.
Osprey
spotting in Scotland  A
good place to watch Osprey is at he Queen Elizabeth Forest in Scotland.
They're
some of the most difficult birds to identify because they often up on high and
fly alone. Ospreys have white and slightly mottled underparts and long wings
that are bent at the 'wrist' which has a black patch. It is difficult to
work out their size without scale - they are often just a silhouette. At
a distance they can be mistaken for a large gull so
look at the bird's silhouette
against a grey sky - you will see the bend in its wings. Bird watchers should
focus on wing shape, wing position, head size, tail shape and length. Late
in spring is a good time to try and look for birds of prey because so many will
have chicks they're feeding so they are more active. The forest produces
a leaflet with silhouettes of different species to illustrate the size and shape
of the birds. Birds of prey  Also
at the Queen Elizabeth Forest, head for the viewpoint over Loch Katrine where's
there's a good chance of spotting Kestrel, Sparrowhawk, Peregrine and even Golden
Eagle.
Scan the hill tops for birds of prey. Golden Eagles fly low
over the hill tops when hunting, trying to take their prey by surprise. They
try and fly with the minimum of effort so use thermals at every opportunity -
these are found above the hills as when the air strikes the hills it rises. Another
tip is to find a high vantage point and keep an eye out for other birds such as
crows - birds of prey will take their young so they will mob and bother birds
of prey. The crows make a special 'throaty' warning noise which can alert
you that a bird of prey is about. Badger watching
 Look
out for the Badgers' home - the unmistakable sett with its huge entrance - they
are much bigger than rabbit holes.
Look for signs that the sett is still
active such as leaves strewn outside the entrance. This is leaf litter
and the badgers use it to line their home. They're very clean animals and regularly
chuck out the old bedding and renew. Also look to see if the grass is worn
away just outside the sett - that may indicate where the young cubs come out to
play near the sett. Having found the sett, plan where you are going to sit
to observe - if you're slightly raised up, the Badgers are less likely to pick
up your scent. Check the prevailing wind as these creatures have a superb
sense - sit downwind of them or they'll catch your scent. Wear neutral clothes
and don't make a sound. Badgers tend to come out later in the evening so
choose your time carefully. Boar watching  Spring
and summer are good times to look for the Wild Boar in southern England.
During
the longer daylight hours they're forced to do some foraging when it's still quite
light so it's easier to spot them. The boars' daylight hours are spent lying
hidden in dense vegetation, and they only emerge at dusk to begin their nightly
foraging activities. Fortunately their nocturnal behaviour leaves behind
an array of field signs to betray their presence. There are plenty of signs
which you can find that will show you that Wild Boar are about: The
biggest and most dramatic clues are their wallows. These
oval shaped impressions in mud are where these animals like to clean themselves
especially when the weather is getting warm. You
might also be lucky enough to see their prints in the mud - these are very different
from other hoofed animal prints. The boars
have large claws which are set low down and to the side of their limbs, wider
than the cleaves (the main print). Their tracks
are wider than those of badgers which are much narrower animals. Another
tell-tale sign is thick boar hair which has been caught on tree trunks - they
often rub themselves on trees to get rid of parasites and insects.
Boar-ish
behaviour  As
with Badgers, the key thing is to make sure the Boars don't catch your scent,
and to keep absolutely still and silent.
Also look out for changes in spring
flower patterns. Wild Boars love to eat Bluebell bulbs but they only take
the bulbs in small patches which opens up those areas and allows other smaller
flowers a chance to grow.
Look for areas of Bluebells with patches where
other flowers like Yellow Archangel are emerging Get a high vantage point
to minimise the chance of the Boars detecting your scent. Early evening
is a good time to see these animals - around 7pm. Juveniles often appear
first, feeding shoulder to shoulder in a tight knit group which acts as an anti-predator
defence. The mature animals of the group usually appear later, like including
the male Boar. Good places to find Wild Boars in the UK are:
*
The Forest of Dean
* Sussex
* Kent
* Dorset
Heron
watching in Kent  Northward
Hill in Kent is one for the best places in the UK to watch Herons - here's our
top tips for making of your most of your visit:
Don't
stand underneath the nests because Heron droppings are very unpleasant - they
are a bit like Owl pellets but you can get hit by half digested bits of fish or
eel! The nests look ramshackle, but they can
support two young birds and an adult. The
Heron Trail is a three mile walk providing views across the heronry, with the
extra attraction of 50 pairs of Egrets. A free
leaflet is available from the RSPB or from the Marshland and Woodland car parks. Alternatively
contact the North Kent Marshes team on 01634 222480 or 01634 222489 to be sent
a copy. The Herons are most active in the tree
tops between February and August.
Photo
credits Osprey chick images copyright of
Forestry Commission and Tom Marshall. Golden
Eagle courtesy of RSPB Images and Chris Gomersall. Bluebells
courtesy of Natural England and Peter Wakely. | 
