11/03/19 - Sights of spring

With the warm weather of recent weeks, it has felt a bit more spring like, reinforced by the sights and sounds echoing over the Ings. One of our favourites is the haunting, bubbling calls of displaying Curlew which have been heard recently, and which will build up in numbers as more birds return to their breeding sites. We’ll be looking forward to seeing the results of our hard work on the Ings since last summer, and the positive impacts this could have on their breeding success.

We’ve also heard the first ‘chipping’ displays from Snipe – this is a vocal call given in the breeding season, which is followed by the drumming noise made by their stiffened tail feathers as they vibrate in the air, as the birds rise and fall in their display flights. If you’re planning a visit over the coming months then make sure you visit the hides at Bank Island, Wheldrake and North Duffield Carrs towards dawn or dusk to enjoy the experience.

During the warm weather we have also enjoyed seeing our first Common Lizards of the year on Skipwith Common NNR. Lizards can often be found sunning themselves on the walls of the old bomb bays, or along the various sections of boardwalk around the site. They can also be heard scurrying through the dried bracken and heather – so keep your eyes and ears open when visiting. Adults emerge from hibernation in spring, with mating occurring during April and May, followed by three to eleven young appearing in July. If threatened by a predator, lizards can shed its still-moving tail in order to distract its attacker, and make a quick getaway. This leaves a scar behind, but it can regrow its tail, although it is usually shorter than the original. If you get good views of them on the Common you can often see individuals which have new, slightly different, coloured tails where this has occurred – something to look out for!