Venturing out of hibernation, a red admiral butterfly soaked up the weak sunshine in my garden on November 4. It had replenished energy reserves by imbibing nectar from ivy flowers draping my fence.

Then, on December 2, lone surviving worker wasp also used the few remaining ivy blooms that had not matured into berries. Unlike the butterfly that wasp will not survive the winter as only fertilised queens hibernate.

It's incredible how resilient small insects are despite their seemingly delicate structure and how many species perhaps surprisingly are active even in the coldest weather. For example there are eleven moths that fly from autumn into early spring.

The aptly named winter moth is one of these and sometimes wanders into our headlight beams on winter nights. Only the male can fly, seeking wingless mates that perch on trees giving off pheromones luring potential suitors. Females have lost the ability to fly, their wings being mere stubs as they need to conserve energy for egg laying.

Before first light on November 29 my local songthrush began singing his heartwarming melody. He was perched at the top of the same fir tree that he has chosen for the past two years.

My garden blackbird has also begun tuning up ready for the great spring singalong but both birds may temporarily fall silent in really cold windy weather.

Mistle thrushes, however, often perform in gales and snow showers, hence their nickname 'stormcock'.

 



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