The best time to spot frogs is during the breeding season when adults lay frogspawn in ponds between February and March. Snowdrops are the first flowers to emerge after the winter, signalling that spring is on its way. Crocus and aconites can be found in woodland and gardens.
  
Download the snowdrop picture to use as a monthly desktop calendar. (click on the orange link and then right click on the picture and select 'set as background'.) Inspired by the Yorkshire and North East nature conservation calendar.
Waders at Coasts and Estuaries
Dunlin, Knot, Oystercatchers, Turnstone, Avocet
Over the winter, waders from northern Europe gather in large colonies around the UK’s estuaries.
Tip: At low tide the tide can go out for long distances in certain places and so do the birds, therefore going out at high tide may mean a better chance of spotting birds.
East of England: Horsey, Norfolk
Wessex: Brownsea Island, Dorset
South of England: Isle of Wight (Newtown), East Head, Chichester Harbour
Northern Ireland: Portstewart Strand, Barmouth & Grangemore, Crom Estate, Fermanagh
© Peter Brash
Herons / Little Egrets
Male herons have an impressive courtship dance where they extends their necks straight upwards and then progressively bend it back until their head touches their backs, the bill remaining vertical throughout. This display normally takes place near areas of water. The Little Egret is a small pure white heron, Brownsea Island is the only National Trust property where these birds nest.
Wales: Stackpole Estate, Pembrokeshire
Thames & Solent: Morden Hall Park, Morden
East of England: Houghton Mill, Cambridgeshire
West Midlands: Berrington, Herefordshire
Song Thrushes
Song thrushes have an amazing array of songs, so when you go out in to parks, woodlands and gardens listen out for these beautiful singers.
Wales: Bethllwyd Farm (Brecon)
Devon & Cornwall: Killerton, Devon
South East: Sissinghurst, Kent
© NTPL / Stephen Robson
Rooks
Bare, greyish-white face, thinner beak and peaked head make it distinguishable from the carrion crow.
Wessex: Below Crook Peak, Somerset
Kittiwakes
These birds live strictly on the coast where they come to the UK to breed. Unlike the herring gull they are not aggressive. (breeding season Feb-Aug)
Yorkshire & NE: Northumberland Coast
Northern Ireland: Carrick-A-Rede
© NTPL / Joe Cornish
Frogspawn
Frogspawn can be found at the following places:
South East: Frensham Common, Surrey
North West: Sandscale Haws, North of Barrow, off A590 towards Roanhead. Cumbria
Wessex: Snowshill Manor Gardens, Gloucestershire. Tyntesfield, North Somerset
Snowdrops
Snowdrops can be found at the following places:
West Midlands: Dudmaston, Shropshire
Thames & Solent: The Vyne, Hampshire
Wessex: Stourhead, Wiltshire. Kingston Lacy, Dorset
Wales: Plas-yn-Rhiw,Gwynedd. Chirk Castle, Wrexham
Yorkshire: Fountains Abbey
Dates for your diary
14 Feb - National Nest Box Week
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