April 2010

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After the coldest and most prolonged winter for decades everyone is hoping for some real spring weather in April. Of course the low temperatures and often cold winds and squalls have retarded a good deal of growth and flowering plants but into the month bluebells, wood anemones, yellow archangel and other woodland beauties will be showing bloom with a burgeoning at the end of the month and into May.

Bluebells must take star rating and one the best sites for a dazzling display is the Woodland Trust's Hillhouse Wood, West Bergholt. I am one of the naturalists helping the Trust with conservation management as a member of The friends of Hillhouse Wood and we are justly proud of our spring flowers display.

Some dates for your diary: Philip Smith and myself will lead an early spring nature walk in (and near) Hillhouse Wood on Friday, April 18, meet at the old church, West Bergholt 10am. A chance to see and hear returning migrant birds which nest in the wood, especially chiffchaffs; whitethroats; blackcaps and possibly a nightingale. There should also be some spring butterflies, if it’s a fine day, including green-veined whites, orange tips and speckled woods as well as some others out of hibernation including peacock, comma and small tortoiseshell.

The other special Hillhouse date is Saturday, April 24, the Bluebell and feature Walks Afternoon from 2pm. There will be a special display of photos and information by the old church and Philip Smith and myself will be there to lead walks in the wood to see the flowers, butterflies and spring birds. We look forward to welcoming you.

Above: The spectacular display of bluebells that greets visitors to Hillhouse Wood. Photo. Darren Tansley

By the end of the month nightingales will be back in our local woods and spinney from their wintering quarters in Africa. Sadly the Hillhouse Wood nightin-gales have all but gone due to increasing disturbance from visitors but at least one pair is nesting in a privately owned area of undisturbed woodland adjoining Hillhouse. Less than a decade ago up to 10 pairs were present at Hillhouse and nearby woods. We still hope we will see the return of some more nightingales and the wood's work parties are ensuring there's an appropriate amount of ground cover for them and for warblers which also nest on or near the ground. You can be sure to hear lots of singing nightingales at Essex Wildlife Trust's Fingringhoe Wick nature reserve as well as in the woods along the Roman River Valley south of Colchester.

Towards the end of the month swallows and house martins will be back from wintering in Africa. Both species continue to suffer from a scarcity of suitable nesting places. The old name for the swallow-barn swallow indicates its preferred nest site on roof beams, but traditional farm barns or cart lodges are few and far between as are open garages. House martins like older houses with walls under roof shelter and find lots of modern houses not only uncongenial for building their mud-cup nests but also many of today's householders don't welcome their presence because of mess and erect deterrents which is really a shame bearing in mind the martins' beneficial role as flying insect eaters.

Another returning spring bird is the willow warbler which, at one time, we could claim as a reasonably common nesting species in our local woods. But in recent years willow warblers have become much scarcer giving way to their much commoner warbler cousin the chiffchaff. Willow warblers appear to be moving northward and maybe climatic warming with an increase in insects during the breeding season has a bearing.

The rarity of the lesser-spotted woodpecker continues to give concern. This delightful little bird almost sparrow-size is still to be found in the Friday Wood and Donyland Wood areas south of Colchester but nowhere can you be sure of catching a glimpse of this scarce little beauty. Its larger cousin, the great-spotted woodpecker, is widespread in north Essex and you can hear the male's courtship "drumming" on bare branches in April. Green woodpeckers are encouragingly common still and one of the best places to see (and hear) the green woodpecker's laughing "yaffle" call is the Woodland Trust's Fordham Hall estate which can boast several pairs.

Above: Regrettably now considered a rarity in Essex is the lesser-spotted woodpecker which is not much bigger than a sparrow. Most recent sightings in Friday Wood, south of Colchester.

April brings the emergence from overwintered pupae of many more moths and one of the most spectacular of these is the emperor moth. The males with their "peacock" eye-spot markings on warm brown and yellow wings, dash madly about in the daytime trying to detect the drifting pheremones emitted by the large females before mating. The emperor is almost an exotic member of our native moths and its larvae is a wonderful green, yellow and black creature when full grown. Here we find it more on bramble than heather which is also one of the main foodplants.

Reports of muntjac and roe deer in north Essex are on the increase. At Hillhouse Wood, West Bergholt, both species are regularly seen and there is browsing damage to woodland plants. As many as 11 roe deer are seen in fields near the wood and muntjac, an alien introduced species, is commonly seen in local gardens where it damages garden plants and bulbs. In woodland nature reserves it is necessary to protect vulnerable plants and coppice stools from browsing damage.

Roe deer are increasingly reported from North Essex fields and woods. Pictured is a buck.

Probably the most spectacular moth of the month is the emperor (female pictured). Males dash to and fro in the spring sunshine seeking the females which emit powerful pheromone scents.

Willow warblers, once common summer nesters, are much scarcer and seem to be moving north. But you can still hear their lilting cadence in some of our local woods.

Before the end of April nightingales will be back in the local woods and the pulsating songs of the males will delight again.

Now is the time to look for the first of the returning swallows which have flown from south Africa.

By the third week of April, house martins will be back from wintering in Africa. They are now suffering from a shortage of nest sites and some people don’t welcome them back.

Among spring butterflies to be seen at the end of April is the orange tip. Pictured is a male nectaring on cuckoo flower (Lady’s Smock) which is the plant on which its larvae feed. Photo Ian Rose.

Another woodland and garden butterfly appearing in April’s spring sunshine is the speckled wood.

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