Ten of my favourite flora and fauna photos taken in February 2025 and month summary
The photos are of; Bewick's Swans at WWT Slimbridge, Lesser Spotted Woodpecker in the New Forest, Mute Swan at Fishlake Meadows, Kingfisher at Blashford Lakes, Fallow Deers at Acres Down in the New Forest, Red Admiral in Winchester, winter aconites and snowdrops at Slimbridge and winter heliotrope and sweet violet at Lakeside Country Park.
February was a fantastic wild month for me rooted in winter yet teetering into spring. The hopeful sights of snowdrops, crocuses and astonishing early morning views of drumming Lesser Spotted Woodpeckers in the sun blended well with gloomy days and a ghostly winter visiting male Hen Harrier drifting across New Forest heathland. In the sun a butterfly was tempted out of hibernation, an exquisite Red Admiral in Winchester.
Other amazing birds I observed this month included Crossbill, Hawfinch, Stock Dove, Goshawk and Merlin on an incredible New Forest weekend, exciting Sparrowhawk (catching a Starling) and Red Kite views at home and Stonechat, Redpoll, Redwings and Kingfisher. Mandarin Duck, Velvet Scoters, Teal, Gadwall, Goldeneye, Pintail and Wigeon were stars in a strong duck month. Waterfowl of course was at the centre of an incredible trip we had to WWT Slimbridge in Gloucestershire and stops off at Oxfordshire spots on the way home with beautiful Bewick’s and angelic Whooper Swans, White-fronted Geese and Barnacle Geese wonderful to see. Sensational Common Crane views, Little Stint, Ruff, Avocet, Spoonbill, immersive scenes of Rooks, my first Skylarks of the year heard and seen and Great Spotted Woodpecker were other key species on the weekend away.
At Lakeside as well as the Great Crested Grebes with chicks Mute Swan, Canada Geese, Lesser Black-backed Gull, Shoveler and Cormorant caused a stir with some of them coming back as we get towards the breeding season with Common Gull, Firecrest, Bullfinch which I had a strong month for, Chaffinch, Siskin, Great Spotted Woodpecker, Green Woodpecker and Ring-necked Parakeet enjoyed too. In Winchester it was great to see the Peregrines with precious Robin and Wren views at Winnall Moors. Other brilliant birds to see this month included Black-necked Grebe, Jack Snipe, Great White Egret, Great Black-backed Gull, Marsh Harrier, Buzzard and Mistle Thrush.
It was great to see a Brimstone butterfly at Lakeside at the end of the month. Grey Squirrel, Brown Rat, Roe Deer and Fallow Deer were notable mammals to see with bees and Grey Silverfish and spiders at home other nice sightings. It was a fascinating floral month again with the emergence of daffodils, ever more sweet violets and lesser celandine other steps into spring. Red deadnettle, daisies, periwinkle, gorse, speedwell, early coltsfoot, winter heliotrope, snowflakes, petty spurge, dog’s and annual mercury, primroses, winter aconites and seas of hazel catkins were other highlights. Rose hips, green alkanet leaves, cuckoo-pint leaves, ivy and cleavers were also nice to see this month.
