To view a different period, click on the appropriate link in the table below.

Look out for in:
Jan/Feb	March	April	May	Jun/Jul	Aug	Sept	Oct	Nov	Dec

Interesting Features to be seen in May

The last summer migrant birds are now arriving. Turtle doves are purring in the scrub and garden warbers, whitethroats and lesser whitethroats have joined the other warblers in the quarry. Watch out also for a hobby hawking over the quarry or pits. The hawthorn is now in full flower. There are two kinds on the reserve. Midland hawthorn with a double styled flower grows in the shade of the forest, and comes into flower slightly earlier than the common hawthorn, which has a one styled flower. The two can probably be more readly identified by their leaves shown in the photograph - the common hawthorn has the deeply lobed leaf on the left; the midland hawthorn leaf on the right is also lobed, but to a much lesser extent. At this time of year, the horse chestnuts are in flower. There are a number of these in the forest, including the white flowered 'conker'bearing tree, and the less common red flowered variety which does not bear fruit. Maple is also covered in tiny yellow flowers. . The garlic is in full bloom on the forest floor, eclipsing the wood anemones, which are now over, and the bluebells, which are past their best by mid month. Bracken and other ferns are unfurling their fronds, and the trees are in fresh green livery. On the surface of leaves on the forest floor you may notice tiny black caterpillar droppings. These have fallen from the thousands of moth caterpillars munching away at the oak leaves above. You can hear the droppings falling like rain if you listen carefully! The caterpillars are the prey of tits and other birds, offering a feast for their newly hatched young. Mistle thrushes, have already raised a free flying brood as they nest very early. Woodpecker nest holes can be seen in some of the birches and sallows. Butterflies to look out for in the quarry are grizzled skippers, dingy skippers, common blue and green hairstreaks. Brimstone, speckled wood and peacock butterflies frequent the forest rides.