May Day is traditionally the official festival of summer. It celebrates the rebirth of nature and originally marked the end of the seeding season for farmers. Now it’s a bank holiday and most of us get to enjoy a day off, so unless you’re taking part in a Mayday festival or getting crowned the May Queen, why not go exploring to see what nature has to offer this month.
Hedgerows are now dotted with white as cow parsley blooms, while in damp woods; carpets of wild garlic and wood sorrel cover the ground, the wild garlic filling the air with its pungent scent, and the leaves making
a nice addition to a salad. Red campion and germander speedwell are providing small bursts of colour across sunny banks and hedgerows.
As their name suggests, this is the month when mayflies hatch. They have lived in the water for two years, they now emerge to mate and then die after 24 hours. The adult form does not eat; their digestive system is just filled with air.
Look out for one of our largest beetles, the cockchafer beetle. They blunder around on warm evenings emitting a loud buzzing noise. They are brown and slightly fury and head towards the light in order to find a mate. The adults feed on leaves and in particular favour oak leaves. If you pick one up it will squeak, by rubbing pegs on its hind legs against its middle legs.
Wasp beetles and cardinal beetles sit out in the open as their warning colouration provides protection from eager-eyed birds.
Nightingales can now be heard in southern woodland with their song that has been described as the most beautiful sound in nature and has consequently inspired songs, fairy tales, operas, books and a vast amount of poetry. Garden warblers and blackcaps join the chorus across the country.
The migratory swifts scream up and down urban streets reaching speeds of up to 70 mph. Despite the similarities in appearance and behaviour to swallows, these birds are actually more closely related to hummingbirds, the similarities are simply a result of convergent evolution.
At dusk, badger cubs will emerge from their setts accompanied by their watchful parents. They are fun to watch as they play but badgers are easily spooked so it is best to view them from a distance with binoculars.
Harder to spot are the baby hares (leverets) crouching in the long grass of open fields. They are so well conditioned to remain still in order to avoid detection, you can stand right next to one and it won’t even flinch so chances are you won’t realise you’re next to it. The same can be said for
skylark chicks, often the only sign you’re near a skylark nest is a very vocal and annoyed parent.
For more information about our ecological services call us on 029 2065 0331 or email enquiries@acerecology.co.uk
