All around, wildlife is beginning to stir, perhaps you can feel it too, the building excitement that bubbles just below the surface. 

Brockholes and Boilton Wood

Part of one of the largest remaining areas of ancient, semi-natural, deciduous woodland in the North West, Boilton Wood, can be accessed via our Brockholes Nature Reserve.

Woodlands are wonderful places to visit in February with so many signs of new life to look out for. As long-tailed tits began work on their domed nests, intricately woven from lichen, cobwebs, and moss, hazel trees adorned their branches with dangling fluffy catkins and tiny hot-pink flowers, and goat willow catkins burst bright yellow like fireworks.

Snowdrops too, delicate and pale as pearls, nodded gently at the ankles of passers-by, goldcrests flitted through the trees and hungry stoats hunted amongst the undergrowth. 

Lunt Meadows

Love was in the air last month at our Lunt Meadows Nature Reserve with Great crested grebes performing their impressive courtship displays on the tranquil waters.

These flamboyant-looking birds complete with punk rock mohawks and an orange neck ruff are quite a site to see, especially when caught mid-dance routine. 

Little egret too was spotted flying overhead and tweezering fish from the water last month, these elegant birds are dazzling white members of the heron family

Did you know... The long neck plumes of little egrets were once more valuable than gold and were smuggled into Europe during the 19th century. As a result, little egret populations plummeted until laws were put in place to protect them.

Water rail was also spotted at the water's edge as well as a hare enjoying the sunshine. 

Morecambe Bay

Meanwhile in Morecambe, The Bay project's Grange-over-Sands wellbeing hub participants enjoyed searching for and finding hawfinches as part of a guided walk last month led by expert, Tony Saunders.

Hawfinches are rare, illusive birds, the largest members of the finch family found in the UK. Sightings unfortunately are becoming increasingly difficult, making encounters like this one particularly special. 

The group also set up trail cameras in the woods at Brown Robin Nature Reserve and captured incredible footage of foxes, badgers, deer. 

What will you spot at our nature reserves this month? Let us know on social media using the buttons below.