February was a miserable month for getting out to photograph wildlife but we did have a few highlights. A visit to the Floodplain Forest Nature Reserve near Old Wolverton produced this pair of Little Owls enjoying one of the rare sunny patches in their favoured ancient tree. These lovely Owls have declined drastically in the last couple of decades, disappearing from many former regular haunts, due to a combination of declining large insect prey and loss of habitat. They are also susceptible to prolonged freezing conditions during the winter.

The Goldfinches have been a constant source of colour in the garden, feeding on the seedheads of various plants such as Verbena bonariensis and Lemon Balm. We deliberately leave all the herbaceous plants standing over the winter to provide seeds for the birds and a haven for wintering insects to hibernate. It won’t be long before the latter are emerging in the early spring to liven up the garden once again.

Julie Cuthbert
February 2026