Page 8 - BBC Wildlife Volume 36 #04

Q DUNNOCK
Q BRIMSTONE
WORSHIPPER DUNNOCK
DALLIANCES
the brimstone butterfly the
eous shade of yellow, it also The dunnock’s wing-flicking display and
xquisite silhouette. Its wings cheerful spring song is guaranteed to
d to look just like a leaf when raise the spirits. Birders call the species
ct is at rest with them closed. an LBJ (Little Brown Job), yet there’s
ring sunshine wakes the adult nothing dull about its sex life. Some
from its winter torpor as early pairs are monogamous. But a male
ch, but April normally sees the might also breed with two females,
ence. If you watch one sipping or one female with multiple males, or
m an early-flowering plant such two or more males may share several
as a dandelion, bugle or primrose, you’ll females. Observations by ornithologist
notice that it carefully arranges its wings Nick Davies in Cambridge revealed
to soak up as much sun as it can. that dunnocks are so promiscuous
FIND OUT MORE Visit www.butterfly- that males resort to ‘cloaca-pecking’ to
conservation.org and www.ukbutterflies.co.uk remove sperm of rivals before mating.
FIND OUT MORE Bird promiscuity is covered
by BBC Radio Four’s The Life Scientific: www.
Q BLACKTHORN bbc.co.uk/programmes/b098j5l3
BOUNTIFUL BLOSSOM

The delicate snow-white blossom
and contrasting black twigs of
this hedgerow shrub areaclassic
combination of early spring. There’s
no foliage at this stage – that emerges
later.Traditionally a March or April
spectacle, blackthorn flowering has
been moving steadily forwards, so in
places can be as early as February.
Wise foragers take note of where the
blossom is most prolific, as it’s a handy
guidetowhere the best sloes will be.
GET INVOLVED Report timings of spring
g
events at www.naturescalendar.org.uk
UK HIGHLIGHTS
K

tt e grebe: Co nVarnde ; b ackthorn: Ross Hodd nott; dog’s mercury: Dav d Chapman; r ng
g
;
p The essential wildlife events to enjoy this month, compiled by Ben Hoare.

Q COMMON LIZARD
WAKEY WAKEY ke
ouze : Rob n Ch ttenden; tawny bee: Brian Valentine; lizard: Genevieve Leaper have overwintered in groups – such communal
Adult lizards are rousing themselves from
hibernation and increasingly active now. Like
many reptiles of temperate climes, theyymay
c
hibernation sites are known as hibernacula.
r
After dispersing, the lizards spend a lot of time
a
basking. Favoured locations include ssun-warmed
rocks, banks and hedgerow branches, anand fence-
posts facing the morning rays. Before long, the
the
lizards will turn their attention to mating, with
Br mstone,dunnock & the first young born live in July.
GET INVOLVED Find out how to help
Britain’s reptiles at www.arc-trust.org

8 BBC Wildlife April 2018