One of the joys of a garden is being able to watch the wildlife that also enjoys it. March is a beautiful month in the garden, as spring begins after the cold, bleak winter months. If you have been successful in your efforts to make a wildlife friendly space then this month you will be beginning to see some spring species arrive. Here are some of the wildlife spectacles you may see in your garden this month:
Singing Song Thrush
Your garden may be filling with the sound of birdsong at this time of year. One of the loudest and most vociferous of the birds you may hear is the song thrush(Turdus philomelos). This is a territorial bird and at this time of year, the males will be proudly announcing their presence. They have a wide repertoir of calls and are skilled mimics – you better just hope that a thrush outside your bedroom window does not start mimicking your alarm clock!
Hedgehog
In the spring, you may see some sleepy hedgehogs emerging from hibernation to look for food. Look out for them at night, leave out meaty food or chopped eggs for them and make sure they have access to clean water. You want hedgehogs to stay in your garden – they eat slugs and snails and will help keep the numbers of these pests down. If you see a hedgehog that looks drunk after a cold snap, it may be suffering from hypothermia. If you can, wear gloves and place it in a warm place with some food or it may not survive.
Common Newt
Another creature coming out of hibernation at this time of year is the common newt (Triturus vulgaris). They will be arriving in garden ponds and you may see these nocturnal creatures conducting courtship displays at night. If you want to see common newts in your pond, you will have to come out with a torch after dark. Be careful not to disturb them when you quietly observe their behaviour.
Brimstone Butterfly
One of the most cheering sights of the spring might be the sight of the first butterflies in your garden. One of the first butterflies to emerge is the brimstone butterfly. The males have bright yellow upper wings and the females are off-white. When at rest they are harder to spot, however, as they look just like a new leaf. So keep your eyes peeled.
Marmalade Fly
This is one of the first hoverflies that you may see in your garden. They appear as soon as the first flowers open in the spring. Hoverflies are always welcome in the garden. They play an important role in pollination and also predate aphids, helping to keep down the numbers of this common pest. The striking orange and black bands of the marmalade fly make it easy to spot in the March garden.