Where to see spring wildlife

Bluebell carpet in an ancient woodland

Luke Massey/2020VISION

Where to see wildlife in the spring

From bluebells to birdsong

From the gradual arrival of migrant birds to the unrolling of bluebell carpets - spring is a great unfolding story when everything seems possible, writes Simon Barnes. In spring we have our beginnings. Life starts again: the early flowers daringly lift their heads above the earth and the birds burst into song. Spring is showtime, with the almost ridiculously sumptuous shag-pile carpets of bluebells and the deafening chorus at dawn.

Bluebell woodland

© Jon Hawkins Surrey Hills Photography

Bluebells

Experience
Meadow Crane's-bill

©Mark Hamblin/2020VISION

Wildflower meadows

Experience
osprey

Andy Rouse/2020VISION

Ospreys

Experience
Juvenile grey heron perched on a tree with wings spread, The Wildlife Trusts

Juvenile grey heron - © Terry Whittaker/2020VISION

Heronry

Experience
Common Fragrant-orchid

©Philip Precey

Orchids

Experience
Great spotted woodpecker

©Mark Hamblin/2020VISION

Woodpeckers

Experience
Hare - David Tipling/2020VISION

David Tipling/2020VISION

Hares

Experience
Bittern

©Jamie Hall

Bitterns

Experience
Snake's-head Fritillary

©Guy Edwardes/2020VISION

Fritillaries

Experience
Male hen harrier

Hen harrier (male) ©Mark Hamblin/2020VISION

Hen harriers

Experience
Lapwing flock

©David Tipling/2020VISION

Bird migration

Experience
Courting Grebes (c) Andrew Parkinson/2020VISION

Andrew Parkinson/2020VISION

Grebes

Experience
Daffodils (c) Ross Hoddinott/2020VISION

Ross Hoddinott/2020VISION

Wild daffodils

Experience
Small Pearl-bordered Fritillary butterfly

©Bob Coyle

Woodland butterflies

Experience
Hobby in flight, the Wildlife Trust

© Andy Morffew

Hobbies

Experience
Green Tiger Beetle

Green Tiger Beetle ©Philip Precey

Tiger beetles

Experience
Nightingale

©Amy Lewis

Nightingale and cuckoos

Experience
Sand Martin (c) Bob Coyle

Bob Coyle

Sand martins

Experience
Close-up of palmate newt's head

©Philip Precey

Newts

Experience
Water Vole Terry Whittaker/2020VISION

Water vole ©Terry Whittaker/2020VISION

Water voles

Experience
Natterjack Toad Philip Precey

Philip Precey

Natterjack toads

Experience
Pasque flower

©Les Binns

Pasque flower

Experience
Male black grouse

©Margaret Holland

Grouse

Experience
Meathop Moss nature reserve, Cumbria Wildlife Trust

Meathop Moss nature reserve, Cumbria Wildlife Trust

Year round wildlife

Experience