March 2007
March
The ladybird, the brightly coloured beetle, is well known to most people. The markings act as a visual reminder to birds, who find the insect distasteful but might well mistake the creature if it was not so colourful. The pungent liquid responsible for the beetle’s unpleasant taste, is sometimes expelled when it is handled and can stain the skin for sometime.
The three and a half inch smooth newt is our commonest newt. It hibernates under stones or logs.
A rise in temperature during March will tempt it out of hibernation and send it looking for ponds and streams in order to mate.
The current most-used indicator of spring's arrival, the first chiff-chaff, has been spotted in the Pleasaunce and caught on camera by Jason Green, our resident photographer. Most easily noticed by its 'drip-drip' call, the chiff-chaff, back from its winter migration to southern Africa or the Mediterranean. It's very difficult to tell apart visually from the willow warbler, but the call is very different, the willow warbler's a descending series of notes.
Although there is snow still in the wind on occasions, we were surprised to spot a giant snowflake just inside the gates opposite the Co-op.
The snowflake, a bulbous plant whose flowers look like a cross between a snowdrop and the lily of the valley, is called 'leucojum' in Greek, which means 'white violet'.
Although the official start to the bowling season isn't until April 20, some natural occupants have been making the most of the finely cut sward,
Catching a blue tit in flight is no easy feet. Catching one with a seed in its mouth, having just visited a feeder station was a good result for Jason Green, the Pleasaunce's resident photographer.
Also see
and these
Winter tree test
From the woodland glen, the view is fairly open to the University sports ground beyond. On close inspection, a new hedge is taking shape, which is intended will complement the winter red and greens of the dogwood (cornus). The willow hedge will take a number of years to establish and be shown to best effect.
The Pleasaunce's resident birds are starting to nest; the Pleasaunce's resident wildlife photographer, Jason, is watching them and is busy completing his comprehensive catalogue of the park's birdlife.
The traditional Welsh emblem, the daffodil, was out in force in the Pleasaunce on March 1, St David's Day.
Catkins, a traditional sign of early spring are well displayed now on the corckscrew hazel tree at the north side of the bowling green. This is the small but vivid female hazel catkin; the male catkin is the more familar sight and its slim, cylindrical flower clusters can be found in many plant families, including birch, willow, oak, alder and hazel.
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| Last Updated: 14th-May-2007 23:44 |
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