Reblogged from matthugo:

Well the phrase “In like a lion, out like a lamb” could well sum up February by the looks.  Clearly the first half of the month or the opening week or two experience a far different spell of weather than experience so far through the winter given a continental feed of cold or very cold air across the UK.  The difference between earlier in the month and the coming week will be significant!… The latest FAX chart for Thursday helps to highlight the reason why; The synoptic evolution through this week will …

Click on the reblogged from Matt Hugo link above for the rest of the post.

The effect this upcoming spell of weather will have on Phenology events will be most interesting. Some potentially record-breaking Temperatures could occur in the South of the United Kingdom. Given some sunshine, Bees, Butterflies and Blooms will be the most likely candidates, alongside the early migrant birds brought in by the Southwesterly flow.

Fascinating times ahead.

Regards, Tony Powell

Anyway, onto other more interesting topics as yesterday I ventured down to Hayling Island to do some birding, alongside a bit of dog walking. The highlight of a reasonable list of species was a Shore Lark (Eremophila alpestris). The view achieved was merely of its backside disappearing over a gravelly bank and lasted for what seemed like “half” a second. Moreover, an addition to my birding life list and a tick nonetheless. The weather was also fine with a light cloud covering at times with Temperatures, slightly above normal for the time of year.

• Now onto the Phenological happenings locally, albeit achieved in two parts. The first appearance of a Yellowhammer (Emberiza citrinella) back in its breeding territory was a good sighting. Not only that though, I heard several birds in song for the first time this year.  No doubt, the warmer Temperatures and some brief sunshine triggered this activity.
• My evidence for a Yellowhammer’s first visit back to their breeding territory returns an average date of 13th February, based on a sample of 8 records. Whereas, for a first heard singing Yellowhammer, the current evidence points to an average date of 19th February, based on a larger sample of 11 records. However, I wonder whether once the birds return, they are quick to sing despite my records indicating a gap of 6 days between the associated phenomenons. If this is the case, perhaps more research is required. Nonetheless, these iconic farmland birds breed well in this location and hopefully in high densities too.

Right then, after a briefly colder snap, warmer weather is forecast to be on its way for late February. With the anticipated rise in Air Temperatures next week, butterflies are likely to be on the wing and all manner of events could well be taking place.

Watch this space!

A Male Yellowhammer

*The above image is from a fellow blogger’s wonderful website – The Naturephile

Kind Regards

Tony Powell

For my locality, this February’s weather has brought 3 days where snow was seen falling. The 5th February produced a day of snow lying. However, the main story is that of the cold and frosty nights. Unusually for my location, I even recorded an ICE day (yesterday) and it is just possible that today will be yet another. By definition, an ICE day is a day whereby the temperature never exceeds ZERO Celcius (32 F). Although it is a rare event, it did happen 10 times during the record-breaking December of 2010. This was the coldest December in the UK for over 100 years and I must say at this stage, February 2012 looks like joining this elite band.

Check out below for some evidence, courtesy of my Davis weather station.

Davis February 2012 daily data to 1216 090212

Davis annual data up to 1216 090212

Please look closely at the figures enclosed in blue or red ink as these show the figures in question. I am a very keen amateur meteorologist as will have become obvious by now. More of my insights into the UK weather can found at netweather.tv where I post as gottolovethisweather

Now that the secret is out, all I can hope is that this spell does not become too detrimental for our wildlife and as humans; we all take care out there.

Best Wishes

Tony Powell

Reblogged from Met Office News Blog:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XWvrg6EdMSU This weekend will see a marked change in the weather as the dry spell makes way for snow and ice in many parts. Over the past few days we have seen the coldest spell of winter so far, as very cold air has flooded across the UK from the continent. Temperatures have dropped as low as -9.4 °C in Shap, Cumbria, and -10 °C is possible in places tonight. Snow showers are expected along parts of the eastern coastline today and tomorrow, but most places will continue to …

So the UK’s winter is finally set to bite. Will I be getting snow or cold rain, come the weekend? Some answers to this being above, courtesy of the professionals.

• My latest phenological event was yesterday, 27th January, in the form of a First heard drumming Great Spotted Woodpecker – Dendrocopos major. This event matches closely to the mean date of 28th January, based on 12 individual records.

Great Spotted Woodpecker, courtesy of BWPi

However, alongside this, there have been other odd sightings. From various sources, I have heard of early/late Barn Swallows – Hirundo rustica, Honeybees on the wing and nesting Eurasian Blackbirds – Turdus merula to name but some. So, what of the weather hinted at earlier? To find out the latest, click on the attached link below.

Cold weather brings risk of snow to the UK.

Kind Regards

Tony Powell

• Great Tit (Parus major) has been a joy to hear with its “tit-su, tit-su, tit-su” lilt.
• Song Thrush (Turdus philomelos) with its repetitive three or four noted phrases rendered by myself as “did you do it, did you do it, did you, did you, did you” is a species which has been singing for many a week now.
• European Robin (Erithacus rubecula) whose sweet notes delivered at an effortless pace something like “too de le, to de lu, swee, swee” is another species to have defending its territory since October or even before that.
• Eurasian Collared Dove (Streptopelia decaocto) with the monotonous undertones of a weary football fan singing “united, united, united, united” has been singing since about late November.

Please notice that I have now given up on my pathetic renditions of the songs, which you access via places such as the Archival Sound Recordings  link at the British Library. However, I do also possess many semi-professional standard sound recordings myself, which are a joy to listen to.

Now, in January, one can add a whole multitude of other bird species to be heard singing. If you are an early riser, only the early mornings will likely provide you with a Blackbird (Turdus Merula). My first recorded date for Blackbird, being the 9th January is my earliest date on record, based on a series of 14 individual dates. The only thing I will say, is that along with the aforementioned Robin, they can be fooled to sing by the street lighting and may well be heard singing, even on a mild Christmas day. I did actually hear the Blackbird on one day in December, however now that it has started, it will sing every day right through to late June.

Another bird, which I keep records for, is the Chaffinch (Fringilla coelebs) and again, the date on which I heard it, the 13th January is my earliest on record based on a series of 9 individual dates. My two most amazing records this year must however be the Chiffchaff (Phylloscopus collybita) and Blackcap (Sylvia atricapilla). Both of which I heard on the 15th January during a WEBS count at a local gravel pit. Needless to say, the first heard singing Chiffchaff is again, my earliest date on record, this time, by nearly two months. My average date of 11th March for a singing Chiffchaff and based on 18 individual records shows the oddity of this date. As for the Blackcap, I do not keep individual records as we often get these winter visitors come to our feeders in the garden.

As you can see from the above, I do not note every bird species that I hear singing for the first time, but from memory, you can additionally add the following species, as having been in song since January 1st.

I have also heard three good woodland dwelling species in form of Coal Tit (Periparus ater), Eurasian Nuthatch (Sitta europaea) and Treecreeper (Certhia familiaris) on occasions since early January. In addition, today – 18th January, I was surprised to hear the Greenfinch (Carduelis chloris) in song, for the first time since last summer.

The above is not exhaustive and there may well be others to add to the avian songsters list as upon browsing the internet, other folk have reported the following.

• Wrens (Troglodytes troglodytes), Dunnocks (Prunella modularis) and even Great-Spotted Woodpeckers (Dendrocopos major) drumming and of course, there are always those darn Wood Pigeons (Columba palumbus).

Kind Regards

Tony Powell

Butterflies move faster than birds in response to climate change

Kind Regards

Tony Powell

I first witnessed a truly wild Primrose (Primula vulgaris) in flower on 7th January but as on other occasions, I have seen other varieties elsewhere, even in November and December this year just gone. However, if taking my 7th January date as gospel, my list of dates range from the certain Novembers or Decembers through to 2^nd March. The adjusted mean date for all 16 records being 23^rd January.

Primrose (Primula Vulgaris) in flower

Primrose with its vernacular name of “spinkie” or more appropriately “prima rosa” meaning first flower/first rose is always a welcome sight early in the season. In the past there were a very common sight and were picked profusely. However, numbers in the wild have dwindled a little but remain in good numbers in the right habitats. Having a scattered distribution, Primroses are seen in ancient woodlands or adorning hedge banks, and are often planted in gardens as they can be widely purchased. They also have a habit of colonising motorway embankments. They are able to self-pollinate, however bees and certain Lepidoptera will also help in this process.

In addition, Lesser Celandine (Ranunculus ficaria) was flowering locally for the first time on 7^th January. The current range of dates extends from 21^st December through to 13^th March, this being based on 16 records. The adjusted mean date works out at 7^th February, a full two weeks earlier than in Gilbert White’s day.

Lesser Celandine (Ranuncula ficaria) in flower

Gilbert White, the 18^th Century naturalist quoted these delightful little yellow star-like flowers as blooming on average around 21^st February. Like many other phenological indicators however, the current climate as per my figures above denotes otherwise. Lesser Celandines have possessed various names over the years. Known names have included “spring messengers” or “pilewort” and a Greek derivation of “chelidonia” meaning a “swallow” you can see the fondness associating with them. The swallow connection being especially bizarre as this migrant species arrives well after the Lesser Celandine has started flowering. Moreover, folk now believe this was misquoted as it were more likely associated with the unrelated Greater Celandine. Being another member of the Ranunculaceae – buttercup family, they are sometimes looked upon as weeds, which, can soon carpet many a meadow and field. Some farmers believe the plants to be responsible for poisoning cattle and sheep.

Kind Regards

Tony Powell

I have recorded the first emergence of Hazel Catkins Flowering on 8 occasions and this year’s flowering is one of the earlier dates, having witnessed a variety in flower on 7th January 2012. Alongside this, two other events regarded as potential phenological indicators also occurred. My range of dates for Hazel Catkins Flowering covers the 6th January through to the 20th February and the mean date is now 26th January.

Common Hazel Catkins Flowering – Corylus avellana

The superb video above this post shows the aforementioned process in action. It happens even before the leaves have had a chance to develop. The male flowering catkins as in my example are pale yellow in colouration and are 5 to 12cm long. The female flowers are barely visible with only their red styles showing are 1 to 3mm long. With an estimated 14 to 18 species in the genus, Hazel is described sometimes as a shrub and not a true tree. However, Hazels can grow to 10 metres tall. As an important component of hedgerows, they once marked boundaries and are still coppiced to this day. We have a genus of Hazel in our garden called the Harry Lauder’s Walking Stick (Corylus avellana ‘Contorta’) and many admire it. Common Hazel and other types such as filbert (Corylus maxima) are grown specifically for their Hazelnuts, also known as cobs. The tree is closely linked to certain animals such as Dormice – Hazel Mouse, Grey and Red Squirrels and many species of birds, fungi, lichens and moths.

Kind Regards

Tony Powell

Wild Daffodil (Narcissus pseudonarcissus) courtesy of Natural History Museum

Daffodil – Narcissus (plant)

Daffodils come in a variety of shapes and sizes and colours. The parts of the flower known as the perianth and corona can differ in colouration or equally contain the same pigments. They bloom in a variety of yellows, whites, oranges, pinks, reds or even greens.

Known by various vernacular names such as Daffys, Lent Lily’s, Easter lily’s, the true Wild Daffodil (Narcissus pseudonarcissus) often flowers between the months of March and April. Because of this, they are often associated with Mothering Sunday and Palm Sunday. I personally, have records of the Wild Daffodil in bloom on an average date of 9^th March and there are particular woods in the United Kingdom where only the wild variety grow. However, these places are getting rarer, due to the destruction of their ancient woodland sites. Dependent on where you are located within the UK, some  varieties of Narcissi bloom as early as late November.

Farmers and landowners once harvested wild Narcissuses to provide them with a welcome additional income. As with others in the plant kingdom, there have been occasions of poisoning where children had mistakenly eaten Daffodil bulbs, believing them to be onions.  

Kind Regards

Tony Powell