Features
Ode to spring
"… What is heaven? A globe of dew,
Filling in the morning new,
Some eyed flower, whose young leaves waken
On an unimagined world: …" Shelley
Spring, the season of re-growth and renewal, has arrived. The landscape is slowly becoming swollen and clothed in a fresh new cover of green, transforming it with a palette of colours and textures, as life erupts from the soil, just waiting for the right conditions of light and heat to stimulate it. Imparting cheer, this visual greening of the environment is accompanied by the most uplifting avian vocal out-pouring of the daily dawn chorus, to further raise the spirits.
With a surge of energy, either as they push forth through the soil, or as pent up leaves are released from the confinement of their buds, emerging plants add intricate detail and interest to the process, which ultimately cloaks the entire countryside, imparting pleasure as they do so, as Wordsworth observed: "… The budding twigs spread out their fan,/ To catch the breezy air;/ And I must think, do all I can,/ That there was pleasure there. …".
Shade loving ferns
Among the myriad plants contributing to this transformation are the graceful ferns which exemplify the process as they burst forth in a display of delicate artistry, slowly unfurling to exhibit subtle features, initially resembling that of a bishop's crozier, before the individual fronds fully extend to form clumps of fine feathery foliage.
Numerous species occur here, mainly adapted to damp environments, and generally tolerant of poor light conditions. They are regarded as some of the more primitive of the vascular plants, producing spores rather than flowers and fruits. The leaves grow from underground rhizomes and show great variety in shape and arrangement. Most have pinnate leaves (those with leaflets arranged along each side of the central stalk), and the leaflets may themselves be pinnate, with the number of such and subsequent sub-divisions aiding the process of identification. Helping further is the arrangement of the sporangia, the small chambers, usually underneath the leaves, in which the spores are formed.
Ferns emerge and develop over a period of time, depending on the species, with the earliest appearing in spring. Wonderfully graceful architectural plants they add atmosphere, structure and diversity to any habitat, and are most impressive in the dappled sunshine of a woodland glade when, combined with complimentary communities of soft green mosses, lichens and liverworts, they present an aesthetically soothing scene.
Ubiquitous bracken
Simplest of all to identify is the hart's tongue fern, scarcely resembling the typically perceived fern, with its shiny, oblong or strap-shaped leaves (up to 2 feet long), formed in dense tufts, with the spores arranged in horizontal, parallel lines beneath them. Found in wetter, shady environments along hedgerows and woodland, it is often associated with waterfalls or dripping water. Next are those with the least divided leaves such as the widespread hard fern, found in acid woods, heaths and moors, the shield ferns, and the common polypody, also found in woodland, often on tree trunks. Among other less familiar species are the small, very attractive and most distinctive spleenworts, growing in dense rosette-like tufts in rock crevices and on walls in alkaline conditions (often bridges). The maidenhair spleenwort is the most striking, with its contrasting black leaf stalk. Found in similar locations is the rusty-back fern, forming dense tufts of pale green inwardly curling leaves, which are conspicuously encrusted beneath by rusty scales that can hide the spore cases.
Probably most familiar of all is bracken which cloaks hillsides of acid heath or peaty soils with its dense tall cover (leaves up to 3m long), almost to the exclusion of other competing vegetation. A pale shade of green when young, it darkens in hue with age before turning brown in autumn, adding variety in colour and form throughout the seasons. Among the many other somewhat similar, generally large, tufted species (with 2/3 pinnately divided fronds) are the graceful lady, buckler and soft-shield ferns, presenting wonderfully lush, visually pleasing feathery plumes, adding character to any scene.
Dawn chorus
At another level what is more exulting and cheerful than the eruption of bird activity and song in spring? As Wordsworth also noted:"…The birds around me hopped and played,/ Their thoughts I cannot measure:/ But the least motion which they made,/ It seemed a thrill of pleasure. …" . It stimulates one to activity, and he expresses his appreciation in another poem referring to the thrush thus: "… Thanks; thou hast snapped a fireside Prisoner's chain,/ Exulting warbler! Eased a fretted brain,/ And in a moment charmed my cares to rest. …".
This chorus of song becomes more intense and varied as spring eases into summer, changing in composition as individual species come into their breeding seasons, and as their migratory relations gradually return from their winter haunts to further swell the ranks, and alter the tone and timbre of the presentation. Topping the performance is that of the Blackbird, and "sweeter music never touched a heart" (Ledwidge). Its melodic confident and farcarrying "fluty" air is almost equalled by those of the Mistle and Song Thrushes which inspired the 12th Century poet AP Rhiccert to pen the following lines:
"He sang exquisitely. …/ Ministering Bardism. …/ I had from his beak/ The voice of inspiration,/ A song of metres/ That gratified me!…" . But it is the overall performance which almost overwhelms the senses as the songs of individual participants surge and fade, allowing less dominant members to add their own unique contributions, adding diversity to the whole exhilarating recital.
The frog he went a-courtin'…
Early spring also is the breeding season for our most familiar amphibian, the Common Frog. From as early as the end of February onwards, after emergence from winter hibernation, they start to spawn. Large numbers congregate in traditional breeding grounds, ponds and still water, for a process which can continue for a number of days, as more and more return for a display of passion, energy and frenzied activity. Females are pursued and surrounded by groups of males which clasp onto them, forming a writhing mass in shallow water close to the surface as they attempt to mate. This is accompanied by a constant lowpitched croaking, adding mood, but ceases if approached or disturbed, as they dive into deeper water for cover. The eggs are fertilized as they emerge and quickly form into the familiar gelatinous clump, with individual egg containing a central black dot which develops into a tiny tadpole, to emerge after 10-21 days, depending on temperature, appearing simply as a head and tail and breathing through gills. They metamorphose gradually as the body forms, and ultimately breathe through lungs. Hind legs are first to develop, followed by the forelegs, at which stage the tail which propelled it is re-absorbed, and it then becomes recognisable as a miniature frog, free to emerge from the water to expand it horizons and gain access to a greater food source. In ideal conditions the entire process takes about twelve weeks.
The Natterjack Toad, our second amphibian, which is confined to coastal sand dunes in Kerry, and has more recently been introduced to Wexford, has a dry wartytype skin and walks as opposed to hopping like frogs. It also breeds in spring but may continue into summer. Its eggs are laid in long double strings usually among waterweeds. Our third, the Smooth Newt, differs from the other two in that it performs a courtship ritual. They differ also in that fertilization takes place internally, with the sperm stored in the females body until the eggs are ripe, when they are laid individually on leaves of aquatic plants. They retain their tails. Widespread but scarce they are found in ponds, ditches and lakes.
With such a resurgence of energy, explosion of growth and display of exuberance it is impossible not to be imbued by the jubilant feeling of nature, reflect its mood, and be cheered by it.
What to look out for in March and April
- Departure of wintering wildfowl, waders and thrushes and arrival of summer migrants - Swallows, Martins, Cuckoo, Warblers etc.
- Hedgehogs, bats, queen bumblebees and wasps emerge from hibernation.
- Primroses, lesser celandine, coltsfoot and woodland flora in bloom.
- Blackthorn in bloom - flowers before leaves.
- Frogs, Newts and Natterjack Toads spawning - toads continue until June/July.
- Insect and butterflies on the wing.
- Daily dawn chorus and birds nesting.
- Deer shed antlers.
- Many mammals producing young.
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