SPECIES TO LOOK OUT FOR
Sand martin
The earliest hirundine (martin or swallow) to arrive back to the UK in spring, the sand martin has a gently forked tail and distinct brown breastband, which contrasts with its bright-white underparts. Rarely seen far from water, it nests in crowded colonies in the crumbling cliffs found at many pits and quarries.
Great crested grebe
In full breeding plumage this grebe definitely belongs in the ‘unmistakable’ category, with its long white neck, black-and-chestnut frill and dark head plumes. Pairings generally form in winter. In spring, the partners reaffirm their bonds with a complex series of dances on the water, sometimes leading up to the much-celebrated ‘weed dance’.
Little ringed plover
This dinky wading bird mostly nests on shingle or gravel away from the coast, making it heavily reliant on artificial habitats such as quarries, reservoirs and sewage works during the breeding season. It has a golden eye-ring and lacks a white wing bar, separating it from its more common (and certainly more familiar) cousin, the ringed plover.
Alder fly
Adult alder flies have two pairs of large, almost identical wings with a pronounced network of black veins, which are held roof-like over their body when at rest. Appearing from late April onwards, they can be found
sluggishly flitting around waterside vegetation, frequently in large numbers, while seeking out both pollen and any mating opportunities.
Buzzer midge
Also known as the chironomid midge, this non-biting midge often emerges in large numbers from ponds and lakes in spring, when the distinctively ‘plumed’ males form mating swarms. They are on every predator’s menu – the female midge’s sole aim is to stay alive long enough to see her fertilised egg-mass laid back into the water.