March 2022 in Bicknor Wood

March weather was gorgeously warm for the second half of the month, and then caught us all by surprise with freezing temperatures as it passed the baton to April. The wood has been roused by the fine spring weather and the buds of many trees are already swelling. Oak trees have shown their first leaves, as have Silver Birches by Mar 25th.

While the trees may be earlier than last year, Red Campions have been seen flowering (03/03/22) on last year's growth, so can be thought of as very late. A Bluebell in flower was reported on 27/03/22.

A leaf from a Wood Anemome was first noticed on March 17th . Since then its flowers have been springing up in clumps and mats across the woodland floor.

A Coal Tit was heard and seen singing from the northeast corner of the wood and a Song Thrush repeated its refrain from deep cover on on Mar 3rd.

A Mistle Thrush and a Blackbird were both seen carrying nesting material on 23rd

Magpies have been moving homes. They part-built their first nest using materials from last year's nest. Then in a fit of recycling fervour, dismantled it and repositioned it elsewhere. It is difficult to keep track as the nest appears to move at each visit. 

The Chiffchaff has returned from Africa, where it prefers to over-winter. It was first seen on March 12th and has been singing ever since.

On Mar 16th, Blue Tits were seen carrying building material into No 6.

They are also paying close attention to boxes 7, 27 and 28.

A new woodpecker hole drilled into a bough coincided with consistent sightings of a male Green Woodpecker. It has been heard calling, "yaffling", throughout the wood and seen loitering around the hole on a couple of occasions. 

The female Great Spotted Woodpecker has been bolder, and was seen actually inspecting the hole.

A quick bat walk on March 25th established that a few Noctule Bat and Common Pipistrelles were flying. I wonder if they have checked out the new bat boxes yet?

A few insects have been seen, notably the Buff-tailed Bumblebee in good numbers. These will be Queens looking for a suitable nesting place.

The first Speckled Wood butterfly was seen on Mar 25th

A Small Tortoiseshell was seen in close proximity to the wood on the 15th.