Danny Green/2020VISION
Seasonal Spotter's Guide: February
Despite often being the coldest month of the year, February is still a great time to get out and spot wildlife in Cornwall, with many species emerging or even putting on impressive displays this month.
Here are some sights to look out for in February!
Scarlet Elfcup ©Mark Robinson
Scarlet elfcup
You won’t often see many fungi ‘blooming’ in winter, however, the fruiting bodies (mushrooms) of this bright red, cup-shaped fungus start appearing in February. While they are widespread, they are scarce – keep an eye out for them on fallen twigs and branches, and under moss, particularly from Hazel, Elm, or Willow trees.
Did you know - as their names would suggest, the ruby elfcup is very similar in appearance to the scarlet elfcup, you can only see the difference under a microscope and looking at the tiny surface hairs. Scarlet Elf Cups have coiled hairs, while Ruby Elf Cups have straight (uncoiled) hairs.
©Steve Waterhouse
Great-crested grebe
These diving waterbirds can be found on lakes and reservoirs year-round, and while their winter plumage is plain and colourless, February, which marks the start of their breeding season, is their time to shine. Now their magnificent head plumes and orange neck ruffs appear.
They don’t just dress to impress potential mates. Great crested grebes also perform elaborate courtship dances, consisting of calling, head bobbing and synchronised swimming. Occasionally they’ll perform a ‘weed dance’ in which both birds will hold a piece of weed in their beaks, speed towards each other and rear up (avoiding collision) dancing erect and vigorously paddling their feet to maintain their position.
Primrose by Claire Lewis
Primrose
Although in milder years, primroses may flower as early as December (particularly in Cornwall), in February flowers can be seen in much higher abundance. Often seen in woodland clearings, hedgerows, and grasslands, primroses are one of the first native wildflowers to bloom in significant numbers. As such, they are an important food source for early pollinators. Did you know - the primrose's common name comes from the Latin 'prima rosa', meaning 'first rose', describing its early spring flowering.
©Margaret Holland
Rook
Rook mating season kicks off around February-March with males courting females by strutting, bowing and cawing. While most birds spread out to establish their own breeding territories, rooks band together, nesting at the tops of tall trees in large colonies called rookeries. Both males and females each work on their own nests, carefully selecting only the best twigs for the job, often snapping them from branches or even stealing from their neighbours.
©Jon Hawkins Surrey Hills Photography
Common toad
After spending the winter hibernating, often under log piles, stones, or even old flowerpots, common toads wake up in February ready for breeding in ponds during the spring. These toads are famous for their mass migrations back to their breeding ponds on the first warm, damp evenings of the year, often around St. Valentine's Day (how romantic!). Common toads are friends to gardeners, feeding on slugs and snails, and are protected by law in the UK. Did you know - toad tadpoles can survive in deep, fish inhabited ponds where frog tadpoles can’t as they contain toxins that make them unpleasant for predators to eat!
Grey herons on nest by Neil Phillips
Grey heron
It can be an odd sight to see a large, gangly, prehistoric-looking bird perched high up in the treetops, however this is where grey herons prefer to make their nests. This month they can be seen returning to communal nesting sites, called heronries, to repair last year’s nest ahead of egg laying in March and April. Look out for these incredible birds in flight, their long necks and legs, and slow-flapping wings making them hard to miss!
Common Toad, Image by Tom Marshall
Show us your wild snaps!
We’d love to see what flora and fauna you spot! Send us your best images of wildlife and wild places in Cornwall this season to feature on our website and in our Wild Cornwall magazine.