Nature and wildlife May

May – an overview

May is a busy month as birds get down to the task of nest building and rearing their brood. The weather is warm but danger of frost at night can cause damage to tender plants.

What to see

Resident birds and the arrival of summer migrants such as Swallows, House Martins and Swifts are occupied with the task of building nests and rearing their young. Hawthorn also known as May hedge will be flowering in early to late May dependent on how cold spring has been.

Early in May Bluebells will be flowering in woodland. The leaves on trees will be open during the month. Butterflies such as the Orange Tip can be seen on grassland and the Green Hairstreak which is usually found on heath and moorland.

Key dates

House Martins first seen 2nd May 2005 Haworth
Swifts first seen at Haworth 15th May 2005, 2nd May 2007, 4th May 2008, 9th May 2009, 1st May 2010, 6th May 2011, 11th May 2012.
22nd May 2005 Hawthorn flowering at Haworth, 7th May 2007, 24th May 2008.
Bluebells flowering at Haworth May 8th 2009.
Cuckoo heard 14th May 2005 at Ponden and 23 May 2005 at Haworth Cemetery, Penistone. Heard near Bronte waterfall on 1st May 2007. Heard Long Bridge area 20th May 2011, Heard Haworth area 10th May 2012.
Cuckoo Flower, flowering 9th May 2007
Cinnabar moth first seen in Cross Roads on 20th May 2007
Speckled Woodbutterfly seen 13th May 2009

Tnicest month ov all the rest Iz this ear month I lov the best
Bill o ‘th’ Hoylus May 1873
Tis sweet May-day, so the labering hinds, W i oaken wreaths his horses temples binds.
Bill o ‘th’ Hoylus May 1874

If you have any dates, information about weather or observations about nature, stories or folklore relating to this month contact us and if suitable will add to the page – please local to Haworth and the surrounding area only.