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Wildlife & Plants In the UK

January

January brings the snow, makes our feet and fingers glow…

Wildlife

There is still much wildlife to be seen during January. Birds in woodlands are easier to see as there are no leaves on the trees.  Our Wetland centres and estuaries are full of winter migrants feeding up ready for their migration back to their nesting grounds.

What to See	Where to See and comment	What it looks like
Wildfowl, ducks and Geese See our Geese pages Barnacle Goose  Brent Goose  Pink Footed Goose  White Fronted Goose  Canada Goose  Greylag Goose	In wetlands, coasts and estuaries you will find huge flocks that are over-wintering in here and feeding on tiny worms and shellfish, especially at low tide.     Picture is of a Canada Goose
Swans Mute Swan Whooper Swan Bewick Swan	Large flocks of swans can usually be seen during the winter at Slimbridge WWT in Gloucestershire when they come in for they evening feeds at around 4pm. Swan Upping - The annual Census of the population of Mute Swans on the River Thames taking place during 3rd week of July each year. Locations to see & photograph swans in the UK
Avocets	flock into our wetlands and estuaries to feed on the mini wildlife. They move with the tide to feed on the exposed mud in the estuaries
Starlings	create a particularly dramatic – and noisy – display as they flock in vast numbers that appear to be in perfect synchrony.
Redshanks
Redwings	Having flown in for the winter they will be feeding in the countryside off hedgerows and under fruit trees.
Black-tailed Godwits
Fieldfares	In the countryside feeding on the red and colourful berries in the hedgerow. If you're lucky enough you may seem them in your garden.
Waxwings	Can be seen foraging for berries from wild hedgerow to urban gardens
Song Thrush	May sing on sunny days, and for those of you lucky enough to have bird feeds will see them visit for the winter sustenance.
Blackbirds	Will be visiting your garden feeders to stock up for the coming breeding season
Skylarks
Great Tits
Robin	Seen in our gardens all year round, but this month you may see more than just one as they start to pair up.
Wren
Rook	Starting to pair up and repairing their nests high in the woodland canopy ready for the breeding season.
Hedge Sparrow
Grey Squirrels	A walk in the forest up in trees you may spy them charging after one another as January is when their courtship reaches fever pitch.
Newts	In mild years can be caught heading for their breeding sites
Frogspawn	The first signs from the early movers can be found in garden ponds.
Small tortoiseshell butterfly	May emerge prematurely if it is a mild winter.

Plantlife

Plants continue to remain dormant and flowers are rare, however the first signs of life are starting to emerge as.

See Also

For a more in depth look at Wildlife photography in January.

Other species can be found listed in the Wildlife Section or within the topic index under

• Wildlife and Animals

• Nature, Flora and Countryside

• Wildlife & Nature within the reference section