The Countryside in February
by Kevin Griffin
In "The good old days" Candlemass Day, 2nd February, was counted as the mid-point of Winter, more cold weather was to come and the animals still had half the farmer's hay store left, enought to see them through the season.
During this month, if the weather is mild, and the ground is not frozen solid, this is the opportune time to sow the wheat and barley.
The ground must be fertilised as well, of course, and this is done with a mixture of dung and straw. The fertilizer provides the young leaves, of the wheat and barley, with necessary nitrogen that they need for healthy green leaves.
ANIMALS TO WATCH OUT FOR
GREATER SPOTTED WOODPECKER. This beautiful bird can be located by the sound of its distinctive tapping away at trees. This tap-tap-tap, is quite rapid and loud and can be heard throughout the months February - April. The tapping is actually a territorial warning to other birds, but it is also used to dig out and feed on the grubs and other insects that live in the tree.
TAWNY OWL. Probably one of the more familiar birds of our woods and forrests. its familiar "to-whit to-whoo" call is unmistakeable. Actually the call doesn't come from the one bird alone but is two separate calls from the male and female. It is a nocturnal bird, (it hunts at night), but if forced by harsh conditions and a shortage of food, it will also hunt by day.
KESTREL. This bird is becoming well established in our countryside. It can be seen hovering in the air, waiting for its next meal. Like the tawny owl it is a bird of prey and feeds on small mammals that are found in the grass far below.
MOLE. Everybody knows the tell-tale signs of a mole, that unmistakeable mound of earth called a molehill that is the excavation of a mole's burrow. Moles live a solitary life, scouting the tunnels of their homes for worms, and only pair-up in the mating season.
WINTER GNAT. This insect, that doesn't bite, looks like a small crane fly (daddy-long legs). It can be seen dancing in swarms on wintery afternoons, it can also be spotted after a snowfall.
DUNNOCK. This is a fairly common bird and a small ground feeder. It has a wren like call, that is heard between February and July.
Copyright The Bentilean 1999
Please note: Kevin later changed his name to Kevin Strider.Back to: The Contents Page | The Archive | The Bentilean Main Page