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Things to look out for in January
As colder weather
approaches, animals become more adventurous and field signs are usually
more evident.
Endangered species such as the Water Vole (Arvicola terrestris)
will be easier to see as waterside
vegetation dies back. As long as it is not too cold, you may see them
if you walk along weedy waterways, and
the Royal Military Canal, Romney Marsh and Dartford Marshes
all contain relatively good populations of this
species.
Your gardens
are also likely to be a hive of activity, especially if you have a bird
table or resident Grey
Squirrels (Sciurus carolinensis). The squirrels may be seen during
courtship chases, with several males
chasing a single female, although only the most athletic male will get
a chance to mate. Bird tables are likely
to be visited by many species, including Tits, Starlings and Robins, although
you may be lucky enough to
see rarer visitors, such as Great Spotted Woodpeckers or Nuthatches.
If you spend
time visiting coastal areas, this is a very good time to see large flocks
of over-wintering birds
such as Knot, Dunlin, and other wading birds. Not all over-wintering birds
are waders, and you may see
flocks of Waxwing, Redwing and Fieldfare. Towards the end of the month,
you may see emerging Violets
and Snowdrops, and as we move nearer to spring, both animal activity and
colour will increase. All you need
to do is get out there and let KMBRC known what you've seen. For details
on recording, click here.
Good places to visit in January
Stodmarsh National Nature Reserve, Canterbury
Elmley National Nature Reserve, Isle of Sheppey
Dungeness National Nature Reserve