Island Life Magazine Ltd February / March 2016 | Page 69

COUNTRY LIFE

martins usually arrive in April but swifts
may not appear until early May.
Gribbit, gribbit
One of the first signs of spring is the
spawning of frogs and toads. Look for
masses of jelly-like frogspawn in local
ponds and ditches. Toads often travel long
distances to suitable ponds for breeding.
They travel at night when it’s cooler and
damper - which is why, sadly they are often
killed crossing roads. There’s evidence that
frogs and toads are breeding earlier these
days, even in late winter months - so keep
an eye out from February.
Bluebell Woods
One of the great Spring wildlife sights in
late April and early May are those carpets
of fragrant bluebells, so make sure you
don’t miss this amazing Spring spectacle
that transforms a native woodland into a
magical place.

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