Ditton Quarry Nature Reserve
in February
 

Have a go at identifying trees by their buds The pale grey twigs of the ash tree bear black conical buds. They are set in opposite pairs and the tip of each twig ends in a single flattened bud, which is much larger than the rest. The ash tree does not open its leaves until late April.        Beech trees don't always lose all their leaves in winter, so you can usually identify them from the dead rusty-brown foliage still clinging to their branches. Their slender twigs bear long (2cm), narrow brown buds, which taper to a sharp point.     In winter all three species of lime can be identified by their shiny red twigs. The twigs are zigzag-shaped and the buds are arranged alternately. Each bud has two protective scales, one of which is larger than the other.     Oak trees can be identified from the clusters of buds growing towards the tips of each twig. As the buds are tightly grouped, the leaves are bunched closely together in summer.       The bright green buds of the sycamore tree are set in opposite pairs on smooth grey twigs. The buds are hard and remain tightly closed until early April. Sycamores were introduced to the British Isles from France.

Siskin                                                           Brambling

Look out for the catkins of Pussywillow (Salix discolor), Alder (Alnus glutinosa) and Silverbirch (Betula pendula) on the site. Catkins are the slim, cylindrical flower clusters of wind-pollinated plants (although Salix may be insect pollinated). The catkins appear long before the sallow leaves, and are one of the earliest signs of Spring.

(L to R) Pussywillow, Alder and Silverbirch
 

Early emerging bumblebees; Bombus terrestris, the Buff-tailed bumblebee, and Bombus lucorum, the White-tailed bumblebee, are among the commonest bumblebees to be flying in February. Queens of B. lucorum have two yellow bands and a white tail, while queens of the closely related B. terrestris have two yellow bands and a brownish tail. The workers of both species are almost identical, having two yellow bands and a white tail, although the yellow bands of B. lucorum tend to be clearer and more of a lemon-yellow.

(L to R) Bombus lucorum and Bombus terrestris

Birds; Winter visitors still around in numbers are Redwing, Fieldfare, Siskin (Carduelis spinus) and Redpoll, all recorded in the quarry; the latter two species found most often feeding on the Alders in the SW corner of the Quarry. Another wintering species to look out for is Brambling (Fringilla montifringilla), the Scandinavian equivalent of our own Chaffinches. Good numbers have been seen on the neighbouring Research Station site in January. The males are very striking and can be picked out from Chaffinches by their dark heads, straw-yellow bills and orange breasts.  Another clue is the prominent flash of a white rump as they take flight (not unlike the Bullfinches that are resident in the Quarry).  Birds are coming into song as the days begin to get longer. The first and last bird to be heard in the day is usually the blackbird. Other bird song to be heard this month is that of the finches and thrushes, Great Tit, Wren and Robin. Birds may also start pairing, especially Blue Tits, a sure sign that Spring is on it's way! 

¬¬¬¬¬¬¬¬¬¬¬¬¬¬¬¬¬¬¬¬¬¬¬¬¬¬¬¬¬¬¬¬¬¬¬¬¬¬¬¬¬¬¬¬¬¬¬

Information and pictures with acknowledgements, from BBC Wildlife and Nature website plus... www.gardenaction.co.uk  www.glaucus.org.uk  www.rspb.org.uk www.wildlife-gardening.org.uk   www.david.element.ukgateway.net and Adam Whitehouse.