Jack Frost will still be nipping the air, but hopefully his icy grip will start to falter as the end of the month approaches. This is an extremely difficult time for our wildlife. Any not in hibernation will be furiously foraging for any life sustaining morsels that remain. But there is love in the air for some!
Foxes can be spotted at dusk and dawn in the open countryside as well as foraging in towns and cities. This time of year is also ideal for watching the courtship displays and mating behaviour of wildfowl.
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'.)
  
Coastal birds
Red Breasted Merganser, Eider Duck, Shelduck, Cormorant, Shag, Oystercatcher, Ringed plover
These birds can be seen offshore during winter months, and feeding onshore. The best time to see coastal birds is November through to January. Most of these species can be seen at the following properties:
Yorkshire and NE:Farne Islands , Northumberland, County Durham
Northern Ireland: Strangford Lough, County Down coastline
© National Trust / Richard Allen
Estuary birds
Avocets, Godwits, Redshank, Wigeon, Knot, Dunlin, Lapwing
Estuary birds can be seen on the shore or amongst rocks searching for food. Avocets are mainly found in the south.
Northern Ireland: County Down coastline, Strangford Lough, County Londonderry coastline
Wessex: Brownsea Island, Dorset
© NTPL / Stephen Robson
Farmland birds
Fieldfares, Redwings, Buzzards, Red Kites
These birds are commonly seen in winter round farmland habitats.
East of England: Wicken Fen, Cambridgeshire
East Midlands: Calke (Red Kites), Derbyshire
© Dietmar Nill
Flocks of birds
Flocks of Lapwings & Golden Plover
Lapwings and Golden Plovers congregate in large numbers on farmlands, this gives good opportunities to see these birds in mass over throughout the winter when birds form northern Europe migrate south for the winter.
East of England: Wicken Fen, Cambridgeshire
Thames and Solent: Buscot & Coleshill, Wiltshire
Northern Ireland: Fermanagh (Crom Estate)
Yorkshire & NE: Northumberland coast
West Midlands: Attingham
Starlings
Starling flocks are one of the wonders of the natural world when thousands of birds gather above the roost.
Northern Ireland: Strangford Lough
Surrey: Frensham Little Pond
Brown Hares
Frosty January is a good time to see hares. Brown hares can be seen out browsing for food in the open countryside but mountain hares are harder to spot as their coats can turn white in winter to blend into their surroundings. During the late winter months they begin their mating rituals.
© NTPL / Jerry Harpur
Squirrels
As their hormones start to rage this month, our furry friends turn into frisky fiends. Their courtship is one of high level aerial acrobatics. The female emits a man-luring perfume, irresistible to the males who issue their staccato chattering. She then tears off around the trees with the boys, sometimes eight or more, in hot pursuit. Eventually, the fittest one will win the right to mate with her. The babies will be born six weeks afterwards, with an average of three in a litter.
Amphibians
Common frogs brave the frostiness to court, mate, and spawn. The males congregate en masse (which affords them better protection from predation) at suitable watery areas, their purring calls inviting females to them. Once laid, the eggs then develop into tadpoles, which metamorphose into hopping adults. This starts in January in the warmer south of the country and will continue northwards until March.
© www.northeastwildlife.co.uk
Plants
The first signs of winter’s end will start peeking through the soil. Beautiful snowdrops with their bowing white petals are among the first plants to flower, lifting spirits as thoughts move towards spring. Glorious primroses make an appearance in more sheltered areas this month, their flowers range from pale cream to vibrant yellow. Visit these properties to witness the first flowers of the year:
Yorkshire & North East: Fountains Abbey
West Midlands: Brockhampton Estate
Wales: Stackpole
Wessex: Kingston Lacy, Stourhead
Thames & Solent: Stowe Landscape Garden
East of England: Anglesey Abbey, Sutton Hoo
South East: Nymans
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