Nature Notes

The seasons seem to be changing. The weather is much milder and leaves are still clinging on. These could be a liability in winter gales which can blow a leafed tree over; oaks are particularly vulnerable.

Migratory birds should have winged their way to Africa but some have decided to stay over; in some areas this could mean extinction for species such as robins, which will face intense competition for food from bigger and more aggressive birds. Bewick swans come to Britain for the winter from Siberia, and Whooper swans come from Iceland. The warm weather has delayed their arrival but when they do arrive it is a wonderful sight to see the white flock spread across the sky. The flooded fields provide new places for them to land as they feed on discarded old potatoes and sugar beet tops.

In heavy rain most small birds seek shelter but they have good waterproof feathers and can go on looking for food in or under bushes. Blackbirds, robins and song thrushes actually welcome the rain and happily come down to a lawn when the skies open because earthworms come to the surface.

Most birds avoid flying as much as possible in high winds but rooks and jackdaws like to play in the wind, probably showing off their powers to prospective partners. They let the wind lift them, dive or come tumbling down, then swoop up again, cawing all the time and trying to chase each other. These displays are sometimes called "the crows' wedding" or "the crows' parliament".

Liz Jones