Phenological Survey 2003

WEATHER Throughout the year 2003 the UK had above the average temperature, whereas the rainfall was, in the main, below the average, though some months had excessive rainfall. The summer months experienced a lot of sunshine. All this resulted in a quite mild year with respect to the overall weather conditions. January was a relatively warm month with its temperatures just above average: though the northern counties had higher rainfall than normal and some snow this month was generally warm and sunny. In the second month, February, we had very mild and dry conditions with above average temperatures. The good conditions continued into March and April. Most areas were dry experiencing very sunny conditions. The expected rainfalls were well down on the average. May was very similar though with average sunshine; the rainfall was still below average, particularly in the southern counties. This good weather continued giving the warmest June since 1976. However, rainfalls were well above the average in the eastern counties. July was very similar. August followed the same warm pattern though the rainfall was very low across the UK. Much of the dry spell continued into September for most of the country. Sunny conditions were experienced throughout although temperatures were beginning to drop. A cold October continued this trend but being colder than average since 2002. Nevertheless, this month was very sunny with below average rainfalls. However, November proved to be a mild month. The above average sunshine may have been the reason. Some areas had little rain though some southern places had more than twice the average. With the slight changes in temperatures and sunshine over the previous months it was not surprising that December was quite variable. Many areas in this month had above average rainfall with the temperatures across the country just above average, particularly the eastern side of the UK that had had plenty of sunshine.

Much of this information came from the Met Office 2003 Monthly weather summary (http://www.metoffice.gov.uk/climate/uk/).

FLOWERING PLANTS

Coltsfoot

FIRST; Feb. 21st Essex; March 2nd Hants; March 14th Notts; March 20th N.Yorks and Northants; March 23rd Cumbria; April 7th Kent. MAIN FLOWERING; March 11th to 27th Essex; March 13th to April 9th Hants; April 12th to 25th N.Yorks; April 14th Notts; April 20th Cumbria. LAST; April 16th Essex; April 20th Hants; April 28th Notts and Cumbria; May 1st N.Yorks; June 3rd Northants.

Lesser Celandine

FIRST; Jan. 23rd Notts; Feb. 7th Essex; Feb. 11th Hants; Feb. 20th Worcs; Feb. 28th N.Yorks; March 1st Northants; March 2nd Cumbria; March 14th Devon; March 26th Gwent; April 7th Kent. MAIN FLOWERING; March 1st to April 1st Worcs; March 7th to April 15th Hants; March 7th to April 25th N.Yorks; March 10th to April 15th Essex; March 10th to May 5th Notts; March 22nd to April 24th Cumbria. LAST; April 28th Cumbria; May 2nd Hants; May 4th N.Yorks; May 6th Essex; May 11th Notts; May 14th Worcs; May 28th Northants.

Wild Primrose

FIRST; Jan. 26th Notts; Jan. 27th Hants; Feb. 2nd Devon; March 9th N.Yorks and Northants; April 1st Kent. MAIN FLOWERING; Jan. 28th to May 7th Notts; March 4th Devon; March 6th to April 20th Hants; April 12th N.Yorks; April 17th to 28th Cumbria. LAST; May 4th Northants; May18th N.Yorks; May 20th Devon; May 30th Hants.

Dandelion

FIRST; Jan 4th Northants; Jan. 18th Essex; Jan.23rd Notts; Feb. 26th Worcs; Feb. 28th N. Yorks; March 1st Hants; March 14th Gwent; March 25th Devon; March 29th Cumbria; April 1st Kent. MAIN FLOWERING; March 15th Essex; March 20th to May 8th Notts; March 26th to Nov. 6th Gwent; April2nd to May 28th Hants; April 2nd to May 31st Worcs; April 7th Devon; April 10th to May 5th Cumbria; April 18th N.Yorks; April 22nd Northants. LAST; May 18th Cumbria; May 19th Essex; June 2nd Notts; Nov 15th Northants; Nov.20th Gwent; Nov. 28th N.Yorks; Nov. 30th Worcs; Dec. 10th Hants.

Lady's Smock

FIRST; March 21st Worcs; April 2nd Hants; April 11th Cumbria; April 14th Kent; April 15th Devon; April 16th Notts; April 17th Essex; April 23rd N.Yorks; April 26th Northants. MAIN FLOWERING; April 27th to June 1st Notts; May 4th to 18th N.Yorks; May 4th to 22nd Essex; May 18th Devon. LAST; May14th Northants; May 31st Essex; June 11th N.Yorks; June 13th Notts; June 16th Devon.

Garlic Mustard

FIRST; April 12th Worcs; April 14th Cumbria; April 16th Hants; April 18th Essex; April 23rd Notts; April 24th N.Yorks; May 3rd Northants; May 5th Devon; May 8th Kent. MAIN FLOWERING; April 20th to May 19th Cumbria; April 23rd to May 25th Worcs; April 28th to May 25th Hants; May 1st to June 2nd Notts; May 4th to 22nd Essex; May 4th to 31st N.Yorks; May 14th Devon. LAST; May 31st Essex; June 1st Hants; June 6th Devon; June 8th N. Yorks; June 11th Notts; June 18th Northants; June 21st Worcs.

Common Birdsfoot Trefoil

FIRST; May 7th Essex; May 11th Notts; May 18th N.Yorks; May 20th Devon, Hants Cumbria; May 22nd Northants; June 12th Kent. MAIN FLOWERING; May 14th to July 20th Essex; June 1st to 10th Cumbria; June 4th Devon; June 8th to July 3rd N.Yorks; June 10th to August 20th Hants; LAST; August 7th Cumbria; Aug. 15th Essex; Aug. 17th N.Yorks; Aug. 25th Northants; Sept. 3rd Hants.

Meadowsweet

FIRST; May 31st Worcs. June 19th Devon; June 24th N. Yorks. June 25th Northants; June 28th Hants; July 4th Cumbria. MAIN FLOWERING; June 18th to Aug. 20th Worcs. June 26th Devon; July 5th to Aug. 22nd Hants; July 10th to Aug. 9th Cumbria; July 11th to Aug. 2nd N. Yorks. LAST; Aug. 12th N. Yorks Aug 20th Cumbria; Aug 29th Northants; Sept. 6th Hants; Nov. 5th Worcs.

BIRDS

Breeding Blackbird

Nest-building; 25th Cumbria; Clutches; April 5th Devon; Nest-building; March 4th Hants; April. Bringing Food for Young; April 12th Cumbria.

Breeding Song Thrush

Nest-building; April 3rd Hants.

Goldeneye

ARRIVAL; Oct. 10th Northants. DEPARTURE; Feb. 15th Northants.

Cuckoo

FIRST; March 31st N. Yorks; April 2nd Kent; April 15th Notts; April 23rd Devon; May 2nd Hants; June 1st Northants. NUMBERS; April 29th N. Yorks; May 3rd to June Hants; May 5th Devon. LAST; June 8th Northants; Aug 1st Hants.

Swift

FIRST; April 16th Notts; April 26th Worcs; April 27th Cumbria; May 2nd Devon; May 4th Essex; May 8th Gwent. NUMBERS; May 3rd Notts. May 8th Devon; May 10th Hants; May 22nd Essex. LAST; Aug 6th Essex; Aug 7th Worcs.

Swallow

FIRST; March 22nd Devon; April 10th Hants; April 12th Worcs; April 17th Cumbria; May 3rd Notts; June 23rd Northants. NUMBERS; April 8th Devon; April 23rd to Aug 29th Hants. LAST; Sept 21st Cumbria; Sept 27th Northants; Oct 8th Worcs and Devon.

House Martin

FIRST; April 19th Worcs, Hants and Northants; April 21st Notts; April 26th Cumbria; May 11th Gwent. NUMBERS; June 11th Notts. LAST; Sept 3rd Hants; Sept 21st Cumbria; Oct 8th Worcs.

Blackcap

FIRST; March 30th Worcs; April 15th Devon; April 18th Essex; May 4th Northants. NUMBERS; June 11th Notts. LAST; July 19th Northants; Sept 17th Devon; Oct 12th Worcs.

Chiffchaff

FIRST; Feb 1st Worcs; March 14th Devon and Gwent; March 15th Northants; March 23rd Essex; May 5th Cumbria. NUMBERS; March 27th Essex. LAST; Sept 27th Northants; Sept 29th Devon; Oct 18th Worcs.

Spotted Flycatcher

FIRST; May 5th Notts; June 26th Cumbria. LAST; Sept 9th Cumbria.

Fieldfare

ARRIVALS; Sept 29th Notts; Oct 9th Devon; Oct 15th Hants; Oct 18th Worcs.(100). DEPARTURE; Feb 2nd Hants; March Notts; April 10th Worcs (80); April 18th Northants.

Redwing

ARRIVALS; Oct 8th Worcs; Oct 23rd Devon; Nov 15th Northants. DEPARTURES; Feb 8th Northants; March Notts; Mar 28th Kent (20+); April 2nd Worcs.

ANIMALS

Hedgehog

FIRST; May 10th Cumbria; Aug 29th N. Yorks.

Pipistrelle Bat

FIRST; March 29th Cumbria. NUMBERS; May 7th Cumbria; June 10th Hants; June 16th N. Yorks. LAST; Sept 15th Hants; Oct 26th Notts.

REPTILES

Common Lizard

FIRST; June 4th Devon.

Grass Snake

FIRST; April 5th Kent; April 24th Devon.

Common Frog

SPAWN; Jan 17th Cumbria; Jan 20th Devon; Jan 30th Hants. and Kent; March 3rd Essex; March 5th N. Yorks; March 10th Notts; March 24th Worcs. TADPOLES; Feb 7th Hants; April 16th Cumbria. FROGLETS; June 30th Northants. ADULTS; June 14th Cumbria; Oct 30th Hants. LAST; Nov 29th Hants.

Common Toad

FIRST; March 10th Notts. SPAWN; April 5th Kent; June 29th N. Yorks. LAST; Oct 28th Hants.

INSECTS

Bumble-bees

FIRST; Jan 26th Essex; Feb. 7th Worcs; Feb 19th Hants; March 15th Devon and Notts; March 16th Cumbria; March 24th N. Yorks; March 26th Gwent; before April Kent; April 5th Northants. NUMBERS; March 14th to Oct 2nd Hants; March 24th Essex; late March Notts. LAST; Aug 10th Northants; Oct 10th Cumbria; Nov 3rd Hants; Dec 5th Essex.

Social Wasps

FIRST; March 8th Worcs; March 29th Notts. and Hants; April 1st Kent; April 15th Essex; April 18th Devon. NUMBERS; May 6th Hants; June 12th N. Yorks. Nest, July 16th Northants; Aug 8th to Sept 7th Essex. LAST; Nov 7th Devon; Nov 30th Essex; Dec 3rd Hants.

BUTTERFLIES

Brimstone

FIRST; March 9th Hants; March 14th Devon; March 16th Worcs. and Notts; March 17th West Sussex; April 15th Kent; April 18th Essex. NUMBERS; March 30th Hants; May 28th Cumbria; May 31st Northants. LAST; Aug 3rd Northants; Nov 3rd Hants; Nov 15th Worcs. and Dec 14th Notts.

Orange Tip

FIRST; April 2nd Worcs; April 5th Kent and Hants; April 15th Devon and West Sussex; April 16th Essex and Notts; April 18th Cumbria. NUMBERS; April 20th Hants; May 17th N. Yorks; June 3rd Northants. LAST; May 31st N. Yorks; June 5th Northants; July 1st Hants.

Red Admiral

FIRST; Feb 10th Hants; March 22nd N. Yorks; April 21st Devon; June 6th Kent; June 12th West Sussex; June 29th Northants; July 14th Cumbria; August 10th Essex. NUMBERS; June 8th Hants; June 26th N. Yorks; July 27th Cumbria. LAST; Sept 21st Essex; Oct 2nd Cumbria; Oct 5th Northants; Oct 11th N. Yorks; Nov 4th Devon; Nov 10th West Sussex; Nov.19th Worcs; Dec 3rd Hants.

Painted Lady

FIRST; May 4th West Sussex; May 5th Devon; May 7th Essex; June 1st Kent; June 10th Northants; June 12th Hants; June 13th N. Yorks; June 17th Cumbria. NUMBERS; June 24th N. Yorks; July 5th Hants; July 20th Essex and Cumbria. LAST; August 15th Essex; Aug 16th Northants; Aug 22nd Hants; Sept 15th West Sussex; Sept 27th N. Yorks; Oct 2nd Cumbria.

Small Tortoiseshell

FIRST; Jan 26th Worcs; March 10th Hants; March 16th Devon; March 17th Cumbria; March 18th West Sussex; March 21st Notts; March 23rd N. Yorks; March 25th Essex. NUMBERS; June 6th Hants; June 8th Kent; June 14th Northants; June 15th Cumbria; Aug 9th Essex. LAST; Aug 13th Essex; Sept 20th Northants; Oct 1st Cumbria; Oct 11th West Sussex; Oct 15th N. Yorks; Oct 30th Hants; Nov 19th Worcs.

Peacock

FIRST; Feb 16th Hants; March 13th West Sussex; March 17th Gwent; March 23rd Worcs. and N. Yorks; March 26th Essex; March 27th Notts; April 5th Northants; April 13th Kent. NUMBERS; April 16th Essex and N. Yorks; May 30th Hants; July 18th Northants; Aug 2nd Cumbria. LAST; July 31st Northants; Sept 14th N. Yorks; Sept 15th Cumbria; Sept 29th West Sussex; Oct 6th Worcs; Oct 29th Hants.

Wall Brown

FIRST; April 27th Hants; April 29th N. Yorks; May 9th Devon. NUMBERS; April 29th to June 30th Hants. LAST; July 5th Hants; Aug 15th N. Yorks.

Meadow Brown

FIRST; June 7th Northants; June 10th Devon; June12th West Sussex; June 23rd N. Yorks; June 26th Kent; June 29th Notts; July 16th Hants. NUMBERS; Sept 30th Hants. LAST; Aug 9th West Sussex; Aug 16th N. Yorks. and Northants; Oct 28th Hants.

MOTHS

Poplar Hawk Moth

FIRST; April 26th and LAST; August 24th West Sussex.

Large Yellow Underwing

FIRST; May 26th West Sussex; June 14th Cumbria. NUMBERS; July 14th Cumbria. LAST; Aug 16th N. Yorks; Nov 29th West Sussex.

Vapourer

FIRST; Sept 2nd and LAST; Sept 25th West Sussex.

Oak Eggar

FIRST; July 26th and LAST; Aug 5th West Sussex.

White Ermine

FIRST; April 29th and LAST; June 30th West Sussex.

Cinnabar

FIRST; May 8th West Sussex; June 29th Notts. LAST; July 6th West Sussex.

March Moth

FIRST; March 5th and LAST; April 16th West Sussex.

Common Carpet

FIRST; May 21st West Sussex; May 26th Notts. LAST; August 7th Cumbria; Sept 27th West Sussex.

Magpie

FIRST; June17th and LAST; August 8th West Sussex.

Contributors

Mrs. M. Anderson, Mr. L. A. Brown, Mrs. B. Crookes, Mr. A. Dobbs, Mrs. G. Foster, Miss P. Hickey, Mr. C. G. Norman, Mr. D. Packer, Mr. J. T. Radford, Mr. A. Reid, Mr. M. R. Wallis.

Deadline for the 2004 Phenological Results by early 2005, please.to Michael Wallis, 93 Spring House, Hill Street, Wellinborough, Northants NN8 2AR.