On the move

Britain’s exceptionally mild spring in 2019, including the warmest February day on record, saw a sharp rise in early sightings of smooth newts in the BTO Garden BirdWatch survey (which records other wildlife, too). The March reporting rate was comparable to a typical April. But stirring too soon can be risky if temperatures dip again. Will this year see the trend for early emergence continue? On wet evenings, look out for newts on the move – whereas frogs hibernate in ponds, newts have to migrate there.

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Garden BirdWatch: bto.org/gbw