What Wildlife Can You Look For In Wyre Forest In Winter?

If you're planning a trip to a Wyre Forest holiday lodge with the intention of getting back to nature, you might be thinking of waiting until the weather warms up. But winter in the forest is a magical time and there is plenty of wildlife to see at this time of the year.

In fact, because the deciduous trees have dropped their leaves and the foliage has thinned, you might even see a few more creatures in the winter than at other times of the year.

Here are some of the creatures to look out for if you're walking in Wyre Forest in January and February:

Goldcrests

In addition to firecrests, these are the UK's smallest birds. Winter is the ideal time to spot goldcrests, as the numbers in our forests are boosted by migrants who travel from Scandinavia to overwinter in warmer places, like Wyre Forest.

The bright yellow stripe on their head (or orange stripe for males), in addition to their small size, makes them instantly recognisable if you can spot them.

Roe deer

Although less widespread than the non-native fallow deer, roe deer still roam Wyre Forest and the surrounding area. You're most likely to spot them on the edge of the woodland or on farmland.

Male roe deer have much shorter antlers than fallow deer, although the winter is when they grow their antlers ahead of rutting season in the summer. Winter is when you're most likely to see this elusive deer gathering in small groups.

Barn owls

These are one of the best-known owl species in the UK. They are renowned for both their silent flight and their loud screeching call, which gives them their other moniker: the screech owl.

Winter is when you are most likely to be lucky enough to see a barn owl gliding through the air, as they spend more time hunting to survive the cold. Dusk and dawn are the best times of day to go out in search of these beautiful hunters.

You are most likely to spot them flying over farmland and scrubland rather than in the forest itself, which makes Manor Holding a wonderful place to base yourself as it is surrounded by ancient farmland.