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WILDLIFE CALENDAR


Maidenhead’s wildlife shifts beautifully through the year, with each season bringing its own sights and sounds. From the first bees of spring to summer’s busy birds, autumn’s fungi and winter’s visiting flocks, there is always something new to notice in our gardens, parks and green spaces. By tuning into these seasonal changes, we can better understand the needs of local species and make simple choices that support them. Explore what to look out for each season, and discover small actions that help nature thrive all year round.

Autumn

A hedgehog feeding on a plate of food in a grassy area with fallen leaves.
A variety of floral bulbs, coloured blown, red and orange, piled together in a container.
Five geese flying in formation over a grassy landscape near a body of water.

This is the perfect time to view the many types of fungi growing across the region in all their transient beauty and intricacy. Some drop their spores from colourful caps and brackets, some shoot their spore out of tiny cups or flasks, and some creep about the woodland floor as fascinating slime molds!

As temperatures begin to drop many bees are either reaching the end of their lifespan, hibernating or becoming less active, but there are exceptions. Ivy bee season is definitely here, Similar in size and look to a honey bee, they are more furry and have a more pronounced stripe to their abdomen. Unsurprisingly, you are most likely to see them on flowering ivy from late August through to October/November.

Also spotted buzzing around on the ivy at this time of year are (social) wasps. Both wasps and hornets are an important part of a garden ecosystem, providing pest control and pollination. Whilst fearsome in appearance, they definitely deserve a better reputation than they have!

Hedgehogs will be feeding up and searching for somewhere to hibernate, be sure to check carefully when moving piles of leaves or compost or lighting a bonfire.

Summer visiting birds start to leave and are replaced by winter visitors such as fieldfares, redwings and bramblings. And of course our resident doves, robins, tits and sparrows, to name just a few, are always busy in our gardens and parks.

With fewer insects around, birds look to seeds, berries and other fruit for sustenance. So don’t be in a hurry to clear away all the dried seedheads or fallen apples.

This is the time to:

  • Look out for the first of the migrant birds arriving for the winter
  • Search out different fungi, to identify rather than eat
  • Create a “messy corner” in the garden from bramble stems, leaf litter
  • Build a hedgehog home or leave a pile of leaves in an out of the way corner.
  • Plan a selection of bulbs to provide nectar from late winter to spring and beyond
  • Plant a hedge or tree

Winter

A murmuration of starlings creates a dynamic formation in the evening sky, silhouetted against a blue backdrop, with power lines and distant trees visible below.
A close-up of a red fox standing on snow, with a background of bare branches.
Snow-covered leafless trees against a clear blue sky, showcasing a winter landscape.

Winter is the time to see spectacular murmurations of starlings that appear to move in a magical synchronicity before settling into their roosts for the night. Gathering in large numbers  over the colder months keeps them warmer as well providing greater safety.

And while we may miss the summer butterflies there are still a few moths to look out for even in cooler temperatures. One such, appropriately named, is the pale brown winter moth.

Red foxes are present in both town and country, and can be seen (and heard) more often in the daylight at this time of year as they pair up for the breeding season.

Toads to are preparing to breed and will begin migrating to nearby water. The local toads at Deerswood have been known to begin their move to the lake at Summerleaze as early as February. Toads will move at dusk when the conditions are wet and temperatures above 5 degrees. They are greatly at risk when crossing roads in the low light, so do look out for them. Even on the shortest days, there are welcome signs that spring will return soon.

Trees such as the hazel will be sporting yellow catkins (“lambs’ tails”) which are an invaluable source of early pollen for bees (despite it being wind pollinated). Many bulbs will begin to poke up through the soil, and pretty snowdrops appear in drifts, with some early daffodils beginning to flower, and with the crocus not far behind.

This is the time to:

  • Put out high energy food and fresh water for birds
  • Take part in the Big Garden Birdwatch
  • Trim your hedges and trees, before birds begin to nest.
  • Join the Wild Maidenhead team for some traditional coppicing or hedgelaying
  • Read up on how to identify your favourite insect or birds or animal footprints / signs
  • Plan your next wildlife garden project

Spring

A reed warbler perched on a reed stalk, surrounded by green foliage and a clear blue sky.
A tranquil woodland scene featuring a field of bluebells in bloom, surrounded by trees and greenery.
A bumblebee hovering near purple flowers in a garden setting.

As hedgerows and fruit trees begin to blossom look out for the early bees emerging from hibernation and looking for nests. Buff-tail Bumblebee queens are massive bees with a low drone. You will often see these queens flying back and forth over the ground looking for suitable nesting spots. Other bees to keep your eyes peeled for in early spring include: Tree Bumblebees, Red Mason Bees and some of the early flying mining bees.

With temperatures rising, hungry bats will come out of hibernation and on warmer days, will be actively hunting. By late spring, the females will be looking for somewhere to nest, while the males hang around together.

Birds too will be looking to raise their next brood. The lovely sound of bird song is loudest at this time of year, with males promoting their prowess, defending their chosen territory and of course attracting the attention of females in the area.

A visit to one of our woodlands early on a spring morning is the best way to enjoy these symphonies. And in April or May you may also be treated to the beautiful sight and smell of English bluebells.

Late spring also sees the arrival of summer migrants. Look out for the return of acrobatic swifts swooping over Maidenhead from late April to early August, Willow Warblers in parks and gardens, and if you are by water listen out for the little Reed Warbler.

Now is the time to:

  • Allow part of the lawn to grow longer and watch the flowers and insects
  • Take an early morning walk
  • Sew wildflower seeds and pollinator friendly annuals
  • Create a herb or vegetable patch
  • Select an area to be left undisturbed for nests, or bare soil for mining bees
  • Keep feeding birds

Summer

Close-up of a bumblebee covered in pollen, perched on a pink flower.
A monarch butterfly perched on a pink echinacea flower in a garden.
A vibrant field filled with buttercups and tall grass, creating a picturesque natural landscape.

As the year continues, you’ll start to see some different bees on the wing. A lot of bumblebee nests will be more established now and will be producing smaller worker bees. Some will help to tend the nest while others go out and forage.

Coming out of hibernation later than other bees are the cuckoo bees. A particularly common cuckoo bee locally is the Vestal cuckoo bee. She looks quite similar to the common Buff-tail bumblebee, but differences include the lack of pollen baskets on her legs – as with all cuckoo bees she doesn’t need to collect pollen for her young as she takes over a host nest.

Sticking with insects, dragonflies and butterflies add colour to summer days and as they pair off and provide wonderful aerial shows. Followed by larvae in the ponds and caterpillars in the garden.

Look out too for the emerging stag beetles flying at dusk. Our largest beetle, the adult males can be up to 75mm and use their “antlers” for courtship and to wrestle other males.

Fledgling birds will be joining their parents in the search for food and can be spotted at the bird table or chasing insects with their parents. Social birds, like juvenile starlings, squabble comically over their food.

Also entertaining to watch are the antics of young mammals: squirrel kits scampering around the park and fox cubs chasing each other in fields and gardens.

And if you have access to a night camera then look out for nocturnal visitors such as hedgehog families and badgers.

Local nature reserves, parks and waterways and even many verges are a riot of colour and full of wildlife at this time of year, so it really is the perfect time to explore.

Things to do:

  • Leave a nettle patch for caterpillars to munch on
  • Enjoy the season!
  • Join the Big Butterfly watch
  • See how many different beetles you can find in your lawn
  • Build a stag beetle loggery
  • Report sightings of plants, beetles and bees to iNaturalist
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