Spring

As we move into Spring the wildlife around you will become alive with wonderful and exciting activity for you to notice! 

Watch out for the following:

• Migrating bird species are beginning to return to Ireland. Keep an eye out for swifts darting between buildings and over water – they are recognisable by their dark colour and forked tails.

• Birds that are visiting Ireland for the winter, including waders such as godwits and redshanks and a number of geese species, will still be around in early Spring.

• During the cold spring days, small song birds such as the sparrow, blue tit, goldcrest and greenfinch must continuously feed to lay down fat reserves for the night to come. So, if you have a bird table, keep it well stocked up with a plentiful supply of nuts and seeds.

• Spring flowers to notice include primrose and cowslips in hedgerows, Lesser celandine, bluebells, snowdrops and dog violets in woodlands and lady’s smock and marsh marigold in wetland areas.

• Look out for frog spawn – a mass of thick jelly like substance with dark spots throughout, which can be found in ponds, ditches and slow moving streams.

• Watch out for the seven spotted ladybird, a red/orange beetle with seven black spots.  They can be found in gardens, meadows and hedgerows.

• Squirrels do not hibernate so they can still be seen gathering their food.

• Holly and ivy will still have some berries and gorse will be starting to bloom

• Fox cubs and badger cubs are born during this period and should appear during late Spring.

• Insects will start to emerge and you should see honeybees, a variety of butterflies and ladybirds by late Spring

• Deer lose their antlers in Spring but will start to grow a new pair immediately.