How to spot the first signs of spring

Spring is a spectacular time of year. With the return of animals to our gardens and the blooming of primroses and crocuses, it feels like nature is waking up again.

One of the most exciting parts of the season is spotting its arrival, and there are two different scientific ways to determine when it starts. Astronomical spring, determined by the Earth’s proximity to the Sun, begins on the spring equinox (20 March). Meteorological spring, based on the Gregorian calendar and annual temperature cycles, begins on 1 March.

Nature also offers an opportunity to track the changing of the seasons without a calendar. However, it has its own timetable based on daylight length and temperature, and this can vary from year to year. To help you know what to expect and when, we’ve created a month-by-month guide so you can spot the signs that spring has finally sprung.

February

February might seem a little early to expect to see springtime animals and plants. But from late February, flowers like daffodils, snowdrops, and crocuses start to emerge. Rooks will also begin to gather at their rookeries and carry sticks to add to their nests high in the treetops, getting ready to raise their young. These rookeries (groups of nests) can be home to thousands of birds! Keep an eye out and you might also be able to spot small tortoiseshell and peacock butterflies.

March

March is when spring starts to really come to life. While frogspawn can start appearing in January depending on the weather, by March it's sure to begin popping up in ponds near you. Over winter, only three mammals native to the UK hibernate: hedgehogs, bats, and dormice. Two of these animals wake from their slumber in March: hedgehogs and bats. Keep an eye out for bats at sunset and sunrise in warm and dry weather - Staunton Country Park in Havant is particularly good for spotting bats (13 species have been recorded to date). Hedgehogs can be sighted in most rural and more populated areas. The best place to find hedgehogs is in your garden, or sometimes under hedges in the wild.

One of the most significant markers of spring is the arrival of the dawn chorus, which begins in early March and continues until July, peaking in May. Before dawn, robins, wrens and a whole orchestra of other birds can be heard singing, welcoming in spring. With migratory birds such as blackcaps, chiffchaffs, and sand martins returning and joining it, the dawn chorus isn't one to miss.

Triggered by the lengthening daylight, birds sing at this time to establish their breeding territories and attract mates. Birdsong can carry up to 20 times as far compared to other times of day, as the air is typically more still and there’s less noise pollution. The best time to listen for the dawn chorus is half-an hour either side of sunrise.

Bumblebees also start to appear in March. The new queen bumblebees, having survived the winter, will search for a place to establish their new colonies and raise their first workers. In early summer, once the bees have hatched, they'll be back pollinating our countryside and gardens in full force.

April

If the weather is warm enough in late April, cherry blossom will come into bloom. Bluebells will also carpet the ground of your local woods from mid-April. River Hamble Country Park and Royal Victoria Country Park in particular are renowned for their bluebells. If you do go to see the bluebells or any other of the spectacular springtime sights, please be mindful of nearby wildlife and follow the countryside code.

The last of the UK’s hibernating mammals, dormice, also begin to reappear in April. By this point in spring, 50% of dormice will emerge from hibernation. As dormice are mainly nocturnal, the best way to find them is to look on the ground for gnawed hazelnuts that have a smooth round hole and toothmarks. Swallows can also be spotted in Hampshire’s skies.

May

While the dawn chorus begins in March, International Dawn Chorus Day is on 7 May. So, if you want to experience the joy of birdsong, why not get up before dawn and celebrate the day?

Hawthorn flowers also bloom in May. A handy way to remember when to expect these flowers is that Hawthorn trees are the ancestors of Maypoles, and its leaves and flowers were historically used for May Day garlands. So, if it’s May, then hawthorns are likely to be flowering.

Spring into action

Now you know how to spot the first signs of spring and when to expect them. If you’re looking for somewhere to spend some time outside this season, have a look at some of our recommendations for walks in Hampshire.

Send us photos of your best springtime sights on Facebook and Instagram, and sign up to our newsletter for more information about how to get involved with nature this year.