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.

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.

• Coastal birds
• Estuary birds
• Farmland birds
• Flocks of birds
• Urban areas
• Dates for your diary
  

• Download the fox 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.

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

© NTPL / Jerry Harpur

Urban areas

Waxwings and Starlings

Waxwings can be found in a majority of urban areas during the winter months mainly in the east of the country. Starlings can be seen everywhere, but mainly in the east.

Dates for your diary

26 Jan - RSPB: Big Garden Birdwatch