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February 2024 February 2024
There are, of course, other mammals to spot locally - rabbits, hares, foxes,
hedgehogs and sika deer. In fact, Dorset has the largest population of sika deer
outside of Scotland. They too are an introduction and cause their own problems.
There are some badger setts to be seen, although you will be lucky to see the
badgers. Smaller mammals such as rats, stoats, mice, voles and shrews are also
relatively common locally but can be difficult to spot.
Bird Song
Saint Valentine's Day falls in mid-February and in folk lore was thought to be the
day when birds choose their mates. You can decide whether it is true. Whatever,
it is definitely the case during February that birds become more vocal and the
dawn chorus can become our natural morning alarm clock! The birds are
advertising their presence, demonstrating their strength and ability through song.
This serves not only to attract a mate but also to deter rivals and mark out territory.
It takes a good ear and some patience to distinguish the songs of different birds.
There are some helpful bird song identification apps to download to your phone,
alternatively there are recordings of songs of common birds that can be found on
the internet.
Frogs
Another sign of Spring is the sight of
frogspawn in local ponds, such as at
Souls Moor. Take a look and if you
see any frogspawn or tadpoles do
let us know.
Do let us know of any local sightings
of fogs, frogspawn and tadpoles.
Contact Us
If you would like to know more about the work of the Wildlife Group or to be
included on our mailing list, please contact:
Tony Bates at tonybates19@gmail.com / 01929 471563 or
Mike Gee at mike.n.g@outlook.com / 0775 988 4942.
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