Wildlife Watch Issue 99 - Autumn 2021

FREE! GET ON FIGHT FOR Issue 99 Autumn 2021 BADGER TRACK THE FUTURE POSTER Identify animal How you can help footprints combat climate change holelottalimAw WONDERFUL WAXCAPS wildlife with extra ar ms and legs bs Have you seen these fabulous fungi? The weird

WILD THINGS News from our Wildlife Watchers Ecodrintoerr’s NIFTY RONNIE AND NEST THE ROBIN TOM HIBBERT Five-year-old Ronnie from Worcestershire Editor, Wildlife Watch took this fantastic photo of a robin in his garden. Ronnie sat very still with the W hat’s your favourite camera, waiting for the robin to come and fetch thing about autumn? some mealworms. It was worth the wait! Maybe it’s the gorgeous colours that fill our Sofie (aged 7) from Lothian had a lot of fun MAGAZINE forests as leaves turn red and gathering twigs to make her very own nest. ART gold? Or finding conkers in their What a great job! She planned to put it in spiky shells? a tree and see if any birds wanted to move in and improve it. Mine is watching birds preparing for their long journey south. They POSTER stuff their faces with juicy berries, or PASSION snaffle lots of insects, to give them energy for their tiring flight. But Seven-year-old Roya from Brighton is sometimes birds take a wrong turn really passionate about helping the and end up somewhere unusual. planet. She made this amazing poster Every autumn, birdwatchers get with a powerful message about things we can excited as rare birds accidentally do to help the natural world. Great work, Roya! make their way to the UK. Find out more about these wanderers on page 20. Last autumn we brought you some of the grossest and most gruesome fungi you can find, but this year we want to introduce some of the prettiest – the waxcaps! Head to page 12 to discover these fabulous fungi. There’s so much wildlife to enjoy in autumn, so get outside and have fun! GET IN TOUCH Monty (aged 7) and Nancy (aged 5) from Oxfordshire Email us at: used old copies of Wildlife [email protected] Watch to make these wonderful posters. They look great! Ring us on: 01636 677711 Write to us at: Wildlife Watch The Kiln Mather Road Newark Notts NG24 1WT wildlifetrusts @wildlifetrusts thewildlifetrusts WildlifeWatchUK

IN Cover pic of parrot waxcap © Guy Edwardes / naturepl THIS Black-browed albatross © Pete Richman 20 ISSUE 14 Pine marten © Terry Whittaker / 2020VISION Regulars Snakelocks anemone © Alex Mustard / 2020VISION 08 02 Wild Things 0 4 The Science Section Fact-packed discoveries 0 5 Your Stories 10 Nature on Your Doorstep 11 Minke Whale Poster 1 4 Gallery 1 6 Weird Nature Things with lots of limbs 17 How to… Make a mushroom spore print 22 Feature Creature Herald moth 2 3 Why Are Some Animals Nocturnal? 24 Competitions Honey bee by Watch reader, Sophie 16 Features 06 Fabulous Footprints Learn to track mammals 08 Saving Struggling Species These animals need a helping hand 12 Wonderful Waxcaps 18 Become a Climate Action Champion 20 Far From Home The birds that take a wrong turn WILDLIFE WATCH 99 Editor: Tom Hibbert Editorial Team: Abi Paine, Joanna Richards, Leanne Smart, Mike Watson, Charlotte Varela Check out wildlifetrusts. org/privacy-policy to find out how we keep your information safe. What’s Wildlife Watch? packed full of amazing pictures, Wildlife Watch is the junior posters and competitions. branch of The Wildlife Trusts. We also have a really wild Join Wildlife Watch and start your website and e-newsletter nature adventure. Prices range full of wild ideas and from £10-£24 per year for child- nature-spotting tips. Plus only membership and £30-£60 you get access to local WAKTECEHPING! for family membership. events and groups. Go You’ll receive a starter pack to wildlifewatch.org.uk and four issues of Wildlife to find out more. Watch magazine a year. This is

The Science Se ction In every issue this year we’ll be bringing you a fact-packed science section, sharing recent discoveries about weird and wonderful wildlife and explaining the meaning of some scientific words. WILD WORDS ARACHNID (uh-rak-nid) CREPUSCULAR Thseopfneucasimeusaeflrlgyoivmeeignthhtteo-lgeagrnogyuepd RECTRICES Impress animals that includes your friends (kreh-pusk-yuh-luh) spiders, harvestmen, (rek-trih-seez) with new scorpions, mites and ticks. words from Used to describe The technical the world animals that are name for the stiff of wildlife most active in the tail feathers of a science! twilight at dawn bird, which help or dusk. it to steer. RECENT DISCOVERIES HURRAY FOR JAYS grew were oaks, which were © Margaret Holland most likely planted by jays A recent study has as they stashed acorns for shown just how winter. These clever corvids bury so many acorns that important jays some are forgotten and are for helping forests grow left to grow into oak trees, and spread into new areas. helping forests spread Scientists recorded what naturally. Thrushes, like happened in two fields next blackbirds, also helped to a woodland after they shrubs spread to the fields were left alone for many by eating their berries and years – one for almost 60 pooping out the seeds. years! Over time, both fields grew into forests. More than half of the new trees that FALCON FACE PAINT © Jon Hawkins Surrey Hills Photography he stripe of dark of scientists recently found the first proper evidence that this T feathers below a could be true. They studied peregrine falcon’s photos of peregrines from eyes could help them hunt by around the world, finding keeping bright sunlight out of that those from countries their eyes, so they can see their with more bright sunshine prey more clearly. Dark colours had larger dark patches. don’t reflect sunlight as well as American football players light colours, so pale feathers would reflect more sunlight into often copy this effect by their eyes. This idea has been painting black lines under around for a while, but a team their eyes before a game. 04

SYTOOURRIES E3ftgohv0oerretDrtyheua-epJyyuwsetnoaWherdo,-iulolwderld!ienmTgJchoAha3nSat0tP’lhsleED.oRnHan,gyeetesorewpWt’seeilildonlldpeyt…howleiuntmgoweahdmaodtbaheyer,, Photo from SgDooAtmYteo1r4sreeat–dWwWiledillsdifilegifneTerWudsauttpcahntod gaDaAfrldoYew2ne4rpdo–reawmweianmng.daddereuwp a Day 6 of Jasper’s magazine! saDunAndYflro2ew6aedr–snawinteuorwuerabtgoeaorrekddse.nthe 30 Days Wild tfeDhoxeArpaYlbgoe1irnia5ngcghf–owmrwhsaaeektawiwnaggellkafcesoosdoutaapldnlroidsnnetgse,. 30 Days Wild afDohAlloeYwd1ge7edhao–gswnceaoimnl etaradaienl.d by Jasper (aged 3) I did 30 Days Wild in June and raised £55 for Somerset Wildlife Trust! I really enjoyed doing something wild every day with my mummy. We learnt a lot of new facts about animals, insects and flowers. We did something wild every day! Here are some of the things we did: DAY 1 – we ate breakfast in the garden, listening to the birds sing. aDwAYild1fl9ow–erwme ewaednotwt.o explore rcfDarooiAnlmoYbuo3rtweh0dep–pgicaewtrtudaerleesmnua.asndidneglaedaivffeesrent EhsamtovaohsenasmenIksfepliiuotnntlhphavgiosepinnhmuoeegegrtextdhwmaip,ni3nlloIgodd0rrwSiimwenDiolsgliaoml,lsysnhtecstaiearldtlWsrluapderiryiyoltends,g DAY 4 – we picked and DAY 10 – we took wildlife DAY 20 – we fed the birds pressed flowers to make photos using cut out frames in Nana’s garden. a window sun catcher. of a heart and butterfly. DAY 6 – we walked up DAY 13 – we watched THANKfwaDroeAdmnYatm2otou2sretbhln–fuleaysw,uypebgabhursuttkaytmevacerbnfadlldeitebaPsseaamaewbnsolo.du,se North Hill, part of the Exmoor live webcams of owls, YOUto Wildlife Trust! National Park. We saw foxes and badgers. Dstooryieosuawnadnitdteoawsrtiotewfoartcthhe@mwailgdalifzeintreu?sStse.nodrgy! our ponies, birds and wildflowers. Jasper! 05Wildlife Watch Magazine // Autumn 2021

FABULOUS FOOT Tracking animals with the Mammal Detective M ost animals © Mike Freedman like to stay FOX thfemionfraboimtmesxfstonmwisTaoaehatntmpheel Xrenweisnopsifattohn!ahnxalcdyapetnoBietesr,Xistsiosh hidden, with F oxes are the wild cousins of dogs many mammals so their prints also have four toes, coming out at night when but their footprint is a neat diamond they won’t be disturbed. shape. They have a triangular foot pad with Footprints can help us find out four toes around the sides and front, and two what animals live in our area. neat claws forming a point at the front. They live The best place to find prints in a burrow called an earth, and there may be bones is in soft soil or mud, perhaps along paths or bare patches in the garden, especially after rain. If it’s been snowing, footprints can be seen almost anywhere! or feathers from previous meals scattered about outside. Dog prints © Darren Tansley © Philip Precey CATS AND DOGS BADGER L ots of people have pets, so there are plenty of cat cwdaBihtgloaleeldritdtehgtleleetahrttpseoriiyintlseegts.o B adgers leave deep bare soil trails and dog footprints around. Search muddy patches in wherever they search for food. Look for the garden, in flower beds or along verges and paths straight tracks across fields or coming for footprints with four toes. Dog prints are generally larger out of woods, hedges or along fences. than cats (3-5cm wide) with big claw marks in front of the Badger feet are as big as a medium dog but toes. Because cats pull in their claws when walking, the have five toes not four. They face forwards and 2-3cm wide cat prints have no claw marks at all. have long claws in front for digging their burrows. 06

TPRINTS DARREN TANSLEY is byTaDnasrlreeyn known as the Mammal Detective. He loves tracking animals like otters and water voles, but his new favourites are the baby beaver kits born in Essex last year! © Darren Tansley © Darren Tansley Muntjac Red deer OTTER DEER U nlike the other animals here, otters spend much of W e have several species of deer, from the dog-sized their time in rivers. Their footprints can be found along muntjac to the horse-sized red deer. But all their muddy banks coming out of the water, or on sand and tracks are roughly the same shape, just different sasleiplaltaruverenagddecerpyuroanbudcrrh,idhybg-auleontsodo.knToienhugettoyadehnroiadspvlueposoifnuikvgaeasll,yttefyoialolferufddtrortowhopuinthmsehfbsiasi.pdhOeestdtc–eatrlolisekeewssaiiafllnyroodofuutteninndy on tip-toes, so you only usually see two fish bones. sizes. Deer really walk side by side, with no claws or foot pads. long pointed toe prints Sdaoonmzdeednisstcpohefecfsoie,osotprlivrhienetaisnv. ihLlyoeotrrdkosdfoadrnetdnractcrrakescakctserotbhsirsgoinumgguhsdtrwdeyoaomtrdaslia,lsfnowdosittp.haths © Darren Tansley © Darren Tansley R AT R A B B I Tabbit footprints are an oval shape. toaalrmalBtbmbroriagoboscgtwistktsiedsn5rbe!l0houna%ottirkacearel R ats have star shaped toe prints on R arranged in a triangle as they hop the front and long back feet. Rats You won’t really notice separate are the size of a guinea pig, so their paw marks, but the four feet are footprints are only 1.5-2cm long. They can be found along ditches, streams, and river around. It is often easier to find rabbits by looking for the little round pellet edges: almost anywhere there is food droppings they leave on and somewhere to burrow. Rat poo stinks and can be harmful, so avoid oondAfptrnelpmoainrmpcoopellmaeesianl,sihngvliieeskllnset lawns and fields where touching it at all costs! they have been feeding. 07

When wildlife is in trouble, sometimes we humans have to step in to save it... STRSSPUAEVGCIGNIELGISNGPeteDboymmett © Elliot Smith spN(metahcwtaoiueirtrleslemsnsntepoeeaaependcdtsehsetefxhoosteuerrairrwfohnailueutdtlrmelpiafn.ebntMeiaiomronnsrad.ealHsrpteohrforpafoatenemlflcuihnthlalgiyeml)f,a.aopWdfoihneUretgKaulpntrsoigtnpwehgenaachtbrileayditsnsnadaeetsrxef.ertdoBininmutcottdihsmoeouncamm.li.kn.eaeens 08 Wildlife Watch Magazine // Autumn 2021 wildlifewatch.org.uk

ry © Terry Whittaker / 2020VISION © Terry Whittaker / 2020VISION © Russell Savo STAG BEETLE TURTLE DOVE These seriously impressive insects are mostly found in wooded areas of You may know them from the famous ‘Twelve Days of if treelasrtvulaamyeaptntshhsdoeeauignrnthaedfe-rgdeefgaaedslnsleotisnnnEinnrbfogorLtalrtoainnunngcpddho,wteoninso.scoaFilxdeuremdyweirnaehaglmiercspho!bavBethreeukedttsl,es Christmas’ lyrics, but turtle ctwnoobTahmihdrimdceoeh’esstwusshftrioruuttaohulrmesmrn,rmndedttuoposherttverlrhiiel”kesim’.nesosg!na‘tIglute,rr, tdheisstirmoypeodrt.aSntat gdebaedewtleosodarheadbeitcalitniisng doves only visit the UK in across Europe and have even summer. These plucky pigeons gone extinct in some countries. troewa‘aarltelbnytsretatoleelcevMtrtelsewfa’rseg(ilwtemruhoshsawretiilacventhgashjleaasa!irwnreds) fly all the way from West Africa Turn your garden into a safe tEaatoitffnhnoaursBeegnrltsultmhalehaUtoteosseenfaKtpy–lrdsaislnpetampsh–oaecttliiuhpdnskag1se5udsrtojaeolts–ayflhrtauoeefrtotoiniruahobnuoodternleshvesdoayeb!hwadinrCinaornendsdosfdcteoshsonlfrui’aeevsnosfteaeliefahlrterrsobvebvbnt5eirarrcyon0edbrtffie0oeesyoEna0odunbackdtirineesoom.mgitpunwLs!aoregaeasv–ersgseehdiilmvnyoytegrdetyf9iaoien6nvlgd%essly! haven for these spectacular invertebrates – and other wildlife – by creating a log shelter. The results can be, er, staggering! catWnhmeiplydiuacdroaro,wtnsb!’ut t © Elliot Smith PINE MARTENThis slinky, nocturnal carnivore is WILDCAT the trees of its forest home. Loss hard to spot among hunting left pine martens on the of woodland and Don’t be fooled – this edge of extinction in is not your average moggy! Wildcats are bigger, furrier, stripier E bfrnuogTsmhlhaeynp-PdltaainacileeentsoddMwaaWarhnreateiemalrensesa.RwtlshehetcoeyorvbaeeortreuhynemPycroeoarjebreeacctcokimsbhmyeotlpanikninggththeesem and wilder than any scarce – this is called pet puss. Once they © Terry Whittaker / 2020VISION roamed all over the UK, but now they’re only found in the wildest parts translocation. Over of Scotland. Wildcats are 50 pine martens so scarce that it’s hard for have already them to find each other during been moved from toihnfestetebnarmede.adTtiehnigws iisstehcasasturoasnyi,n, sgfaoprtmuhreeoyrwpiledtccaatststo Scotland to the er / 2020VISION wilds of Wales! And Gloucestershire Wildlife gradually disappear. Trust is reintroducing A project called Saving Wildcats The Scottish © Terry Whittak Scottish martens to the Forest aims to stop these rare mammals wildcat – also of Dean and Wye Valley on the from going extinct in the UK by ‘HikgnholawnndaTsigtehre’ – English/Welsh border. Welcome back! breeding them in captivity. It’s is rarer than a hoping to release the first cats Leaartnwtioldmlifaektreuastms.oinrigb/elaosgt-mshaenltseiorn into the wild in 2023! Purr...fect! Bengal tiger! 09Wildlife Watch Magazine // Autumn 2021

You dotna’kt ianlwg aaylosohkaavtestoomtreaovfelthfaerntaotsuerealatmreaazsinugrewsitlhdalitfec.aEnVbEeRfYouISnSdUclEoTseHtIoShYoEmAeR. we’re NATURE ON YOUR DOORSTEP AUTUMN APPEARANCES Autumn is a busy time for wildlife, with lots of birds leaving or arriving. Many mammals are storing food or fattening up for winter, and some insects are looking for places to hide away. HERE ARE SOME WILD WONDERS TO LOOK OUT FOR… Cranefly Starling © Dawn Monrose © Richard Burkmar cteaydAhrossalarspuonfnoelnugyeckggilfniynlahylgoillvelyiywanegodcnsutinohu,rametlttwhshsUmi.eindnKTaodggh,ndorreboedwiyunuyyst-cnal!bamoduTrnn,oathgfuwbneelmeeyrenegdnsabsaie.rn,oeeYrgcedontriuroaoeitcnhvnsmk,erepoyaraflluany3tieogdn0eshtt0vseaorelloderulneonitafftdfgtpeishneaarebdernretnwyg.tftehloiynaserpegmirn,esesb.cfemuliTyecthietsnasergogriwrefinitgh Iglffgfoselayirooatoroeckdtuuk,hedpswenharfdh,alsryikye.vsioernApfeurgluboattcimohyurosdvem,ueayfklnredmdnyeiioshoedswatuweeavrtrnhnesusecatwpsernste,iawtesmbhrttilautuifanhrtarlgsmiutonstpbtughhparseceaallylrsosyttighsioaonerenrrgotashsut.dyauopoYvetsoupoetuaubatbnthmleovdoeaicinisgfrkulihtytsft.haitfiiTeuvnnshoielrfyeuegofoyralrsouimtmmsersaoarytouliloosnst. Redwing House spider © Jon Hawkins / Surrey Hills Photography Giant house spider © Malcolm Storey 10 Rssltsaomhtetrbvadeiapelnyweleldtemisotnoro,agaeuhwnsyatedsitawtaihbrdrreeeeealtdlrchyrpbleioaoearisruorsyme,rwslysoydpnoofoirttuebsoi“f .laraatyTscotoehveknuiee,dspyiashttt”.oacrcReocvobeaaemllddklalbeyswcaekhtwiuronbirtghgyuitrhihsmdtbiessmounh.vsUiTeehgbKhvrereheaesfleoyltnyne’ari,rneedtapgah.taa,ernlyeylwiiogotetuihulnyetrtme.ehbIraforayoyuonwsbuede dmatfaShoiueneaartvdluttseehomfwsrieonagnamndl orsbmatpthweofetecaaelcaiinrvrineuedwdpss,eaesaohrhiyrftiindiehnhigldnetgoeyseiuinrundsespteesdaa,e.wrsaaaYtpnolartlicodduyyheegitmnreoaenflarctodaoyrrvooreetmnumovbenaeasrudtnesnei.ledta.bIitciTnm’ens.hdgeaAoeshartreputbetehonlheaniotcositrnabiutvmiguysmeeslttayeehhsleeesptohasififdenfeuyeeysmsee’rsurasapceartila,nselnlcy!icee

Wildlife Watch Magazine // Autumn 112021 oAfWa Thiamlee © Tom Mcdonnell mwaoDrhsiotidculyhinkodceualtynhktengoorUoswKpwo?yttoTouihsncetianhsnpeeesmmeceiienetwskreyehsoawluloeh’rnsaegle! ,

WONDERFUL WAXCAP MEET SOME FABULOUS FUNGI Wachsaemxmcoaiscptasolsafartedhdesomemdaferoeorfvotevhreyermp4i0ockystyeacaorbsloo! Suuhtrfewuehlp(eafrineedltdhssme, yceeglmlrieoeswtte,)rcmiheusosoahsnirdnogoolmodnsllayawrgonruasnsasdr!tehTtahhteehybaaesrsnet’tpabllsaeoceenssoftmeorettriolyifstoeoudsropmrohotastthdsepme.c  ial PWAARXRCOATP PINK WAXCAP © Guy Edwardes / 2020VISION thnweaWthihrmeaec-nexairlcipyfkcaroseoopucmmfrsaeutemnogbthldueboaecltiennlhlf!agwthcaatexmy © Ali McKernan Once thought of as extremely rare and still uncommon. AspUshlanniaprlarrpioebkestesrsoiyot-lsuuaytrwleleflaolesocvatwkuetyhrns,,ecnsgrooeerlmreod!eueIfnttrrssiisme,nconheardsmaesmneetvgheceeoonwsumasigtnlehhimds,etfeyxhrv.ooeemtsniecptgthurueoryppfsailceacasrt!elit To stumble upon this mushroom should put a smile on anyone’s face. It’s one of the most beautiful of all the SCARLET waxcaps. The cap opens out to resemble a ballerina’s WAXCAP tutu. Even the legs appear to be wearing white tights! BLACKENING WAXCAP kpaeasetcpycwhooyeauOmosyunpmotreaofopsogsnesfrcealwhtahpsowaeesoxrnomlsc!snapoapteshnstee,dled© Vaughn Matthews© Ali McKernan 12 acgsArnuilasdlrzsmpysartairfaslerlteu,eo.bilLrtylaooshnooeodggkmemroeaenednsntdwathsryea!eexTualclhnoagedwpreme,traghsotiiavsdhtsienoyhsgaoltaniltfdwdostnryhasotehsuoape’flpeslcpecshieerauaeelrrdtcahhdneyecaverioldsfs.   Ttatahhshseeintsmhcigaoehmtlyohtuao.eTzfrirtishenooengtfshhmeaeabusrnlusnaghncaorksmouecoteto,mib-nnweiscgftioartalarcrevshthes’rsyaaohpapuarietddts!llsyoiWntotohkutohiir!cnnehgignilrsigakpsaesesargblfilelvacectk

PS! (MThyenFaUmNegiisGAulyi),MancKd ewrhneathner I’m shopping, at the zoo or walking to work, I’m always on the lookout for fungi! the.fungi.guy GARLIC HONEY WAXCAP WAXCAP © Nigel Bean / naturepl a‘SncdraStncihff!’ © David Kelly / first-nature.com cOshyYaqoeanpuluseleoiamnoewtzfsirytegtie-hchaoaketndrautdo. hnnpaiglniywetkswaatsprahlmpexieescsvaamcerpeaus-nnsgttchihevora,efobtohtuihmsotnenn’gtbeoeywa!tswsTaexhiiotlyislfsb-ntmiehateumehmssaehtsiefrtmartoeooddmamr!yits Qortehruvaeientgaegilleaslsmirtuasurnsesdehfecirnrroendotemowanthohtefh-tneaenyhsotgiurlrloosgniwdegtsewsyinoohufsifmrtfhnoaeofllUsggeaKruro,lpiutchp!c ilsso. dsIteidotdonyly MEADOW SLIMY WAXCAP WAXCAP The UK has some of the very © Ali McKernan mwsbtyeuhcsdootyllewofguoainfxscgEtsaui)rp(epovspeeioetenp-slcesionowmmthheeeo © Ali McKernan on holiday here just to see them! It’s not hard to see where this one gets its name. These are one of the biggest waxcaps, one The cap of this mushroom is mega gloopy and a slight of the most common and (fortunately for prod with a finger will leave you properly slimed! us), also one of the toughest. They’re less picky It’s ghostly grey and often found in graveyards. It’s about their habitat, so check your garden, parks uncommon but can be found all across Europe. or even school field for these big beauties. Look for a peach-coloured cap, white stem and beautiful pale cream gills! 13Wildlife Watch Magazine // Autumn 2021

GALLERY 2 Send in your photos, poems, artwork and letters for your chance to feature in the gallery. If your artwork is picked as the star entry you’ll win your very own drawing kit! The perfect starter set for any budding wildlife artist. 1 3 4 5 6 14 Wildlife Watch Magazine // Autumn 2021

7 8 1) Turtle by Sophia, aged 13 9 10 This wonderful, heartbreaking artwork sends an important message 11 HEwmOitahWilthwTeaOstucEbhNj@eTcwEt iRllindelifetrusts.org about looking after our planet! ‘Gallery entry’ or 2) Butterflies by Rose, aged 5 wWTThrhiiletedelWKitfoeiillnudW,sliMfaaetta:cTthrhuGesrtasRlloerayd What a colourful kaleidoscope Newark of butterflies! 3) Tufted duck by Jyoti, aged 12 Notts NG24 1WT A great painting of a very dashing duck. The golden eye is gorgeous! 12 4) Blue tit by Alex, aged 12 This colourful creation perfectly captures the bouncy energy of a blue tit. 5) Honey bee by Sophie, aged 8 We can’t bee-lieve how cute this artwork is! 6) Sharks by Jake, aged 6 What’s better than one shark drawing? Six shark drawings! 7) Puffin by Lily, aged 13 The shadowing on this digital artwork is amazing! It’s so lifelike. 8) Hedgehog by Eliza, aged 8 Eliza has done a great job of making her hedgehog look super prickly! 9) Octopus by Lola, aged 11 The texture on this octopus’s skin is incredible. Well painted, Lola! 10) Bats by Katrina, aged 10 There’s so much character in this collection of bat sketches! 11) Blue tit by Ania, aged 10 Another blue tit! We love how creative Ania got with her artwork. 12) Great crested grebes by Merel, aged 11 Merel has created a wonderful scene, capturing courting grebes in action! Iwnfdtsahwaoehnemnaewdm’rtefeise.lflooaWaintrcntgeoueidaeenrmletydmootiyogyuuoeohrirudnutwaricraagelaufl.isebrrdtos,swetsitooerk 15 Wildlife Watch Magazine // Autumn 2021

WNAETIURRDE W EIRD- O-ME T E ERFUL WACKYR WEIRD WOND THIS ISSUE: THINGS WITH LOTS OF LIMBS by Eden Jackson COMMON MILLIPEDE PPCUUASTSSSERMMPOOITLTLHHAR ASNNAEKMEOLNOECKS OCTOPUS © David Stephens © Malcolm Storey © Margaret Holland © Alex Mustart / 2020VISION Oetiabnthicngsroetaehdtoliftfnpwma.lucTiteomtesihvrletlbadehsintsaaea.mgtrnrBoeeiouetuawuattcnngolehedhsldsll,wisiokttmhwincstbeaoohein.wlorcAlautmnknontndfuoaaoou,ccrwichtftehh,ntbntashaytivaasrsiatrtn’eeslg The name millipede means These funky caterpillars have Auaafltvoocnnneettundeerusnmmtyeaoardltfocowlrylinnleenoaeenastnrs.snedogArlciycomnwapko-ndlapabkavlostnrsahoyio.tg,mSebslhssninbt.etteTauatglnkiihktrmkteeeetaelhe-yeoclnsielchkeykbwseaseavairetrehe in their armpits! ‘1,000 legs’. But, while they six legs… and, on top of that, a purple tips! do have a lot of legs, most couple of fake ones! Their six CSPRIANBY SPIDER millipedes don’t actually have ‘real’ legs are the ones they’ll CSUONMMSTOANR 1,000. The ones you might keep when they become a moth. spot in a compost heap are In the meantime, the caterpillar to have around grows a couple of extras. These more likely be fair, that’s still a extra legs help it move around 100 legs. To before it becomes a moth. lot more legs than we have! OAK TREE WOODLOUSE © Linda Pitkin / 2020VISION © Chris Lawrence © Amy Lewis © Dan Bolt / underwaterpics.co.uk The spiny spider crab has 10 Wtnaohacteouleahfeooytenedodswywikclsdiosecowuecuver.nuoeenIhdotnrtta’rsedrtvyprollheiaisauckeio1ewrsei4r.mselayM!lrlyeeeTsy…gag,rrotsysyoh.ubbcShe’elkeoylafsy,vs’doiopifrnuoegt hyoot‘aoaeAaoYfvarfkelbtmberosseser,nan’l.atoivgOrvlncleo,edeacatrtehhlytk–slooeiobsfthcdbroknilaegieavmtaeawhoe‘rslbtivomlimcritseseamh!serben. 5b’loSioog0ssnotrr0etmsooaswnoe ! TsaTocohthrochaumeecmretnafycsifcmsosretiuhoomhost.mnanhumHaneasilooiltluyrlywsnyon,nbesushasovouratmmednavaryreve,es’tsel‘tasghiraakurraerroeonygmiuwseshsunstas1andats6vtarp!1yre’r0.Tlapfamyihbeysseuoho, rt.fe, long, spindly legs that make it wildlifewatch.org.uk look like a spider, though the mcfrlaoigwnrtsa.tleEegvaselraoyrneagmuwtouadmyiftnioesddpeiinedpteoer rtchraebirs waters. In total they can travel over 100 miles each year. All those legs must come in handy! 16 Wildlife Watch Magazine // Autumn 2021

Wildlife Watch Magazine // Autumn 172021 cWa-inelcdpxhbipmeceekcupkrintsowhgbisreioootfhnonoemorae.unss

Unleash your planet-helping superpowers and help nature at home, at school, and with your friends and neighbours! BCAAHECCCTALOIMIOMMPNEAIOTNE! by Rachel Hall CLIMATE CHANGE AT HOME can feel scary and Start at home, with lots of simple, small things overwhelming, for that all add up to make a big difference. grown-ups and kids! But Why not get your family involved too? one of the planet’s best superpowers to fight 1 2 5 climate change is you. By taking small actions at FLICK THAT SWITCH GROW WILD – fill your PEOPLE POWER – walk, home, at school, and with – technology uses lots of outside space with plants bike or scooter wherever your neighbours you can energy even when we don’t that wildlife loves and let you can instead of getting help make a big difference realise it. Switch off lights some grassy areas grow an adult to drive you in the to fight climate change when you leave a room. long. Try growing your own car. This will save harmful and restore nature. It’s Turn your game console fruit and veg. This can help gases getting into the time to unleash your or TV off at the plug. Put our climate and wildlife too! atmosphere, and you can superpowers and be a on an extra jumper rather spot wildlife on the way! climate action champion! than turning the heating on. 3 This will all help reduce the 6 18 pressure on our planet. GO PEAT FREE – make sure adults only buy BE A WATER WARRIOR © Peter Cairns / 2020VISION peat free compost for – have shorter showers, their gardening. Peat is turn the tap off when you a superhero in fighting brush your teeth, and ask climate change, but is in your parents to install a big trouble from being dug water butt outside. Saving up. We can help by going water will help to make peat free! sure people and wildlife have access to water when 4 they need it. BE A REUSE AND RECYCLE SUPERSTAR – help your adults to reuse or recycle everything they can. This saves energy as we don’t need to make more new stuff and it helps keep the planet clean. wildlifewatch.org.uk

RACHEL HALL works for The Wildlife Trusts, championing actions to help the planet and nature recover. © Mark Hamblin / 2020VISION AT SCHOOL COIMNMYUONUIRTY School is also a brilliant space to help the planet. Get your classmates and teachers involved to make an even bigger difference! 1 3 1 3 LOCAL LUNCHES – SPREAD THE WORD – CAMPAIGN – could you run SHARING IS CARING – transporting food from other could you start a climate a local campaign or event can you start a scheme to countries uses a lot of energy club, ask to present at an in your community to exchange household items and isn’t good for climate assembly, or get creative with encourage neighbours, or clothes you no longer change. It’s much better for a noticeboard to share simple businesses, or your local need with neighbours? You the climate, where possible, actions like these here that council to also take action could share extra vegetables to buy and eat food that is your school could adopt? against climate change? you’ve grown, or start a grown locally. Can you find community-composting out where your school gets Ask your teacher 2 scheme so your food waste its food? whether they’ve heard doesn’t go to waste. about The Wildlife WILD LOCAL SPACES 2 Trusts’ new Nature’s – can you join a local Climate Heroes. conservation group or MAKE YOUR SCHOOL It’s a resource pack get together with WILDER – could you plant full of activities for neighbours to trees, a wildflower meadow, schools, helping you to plant some trees or grow vegetables or fruit explore how you can or hedges in your in your school grounds? fight climate change local green This helps to capture carbon alongside nature. They space or park? and grow local food for can go onto the Wildlife your lunches. Watch website to find out more! All of these little actions add up, helping protect our planet and its wonderful wildlife. 19Wildlife Watch Magazine // Autumn 2021

Black-browed albatross © Pete Richman FAR FROM HOME by Tom Hibbert Ebguveinrteedrexwyxpcayeitcetcetahedred,arss species appear in the UK Did you know that an amazing 626 Many birdwatchers species of wild get very excited have been recorded in the bird More than half of these birds when these rare birds across ratererImnbaisbr,‘dMiardinsewgkinaanct’oc!rwehdinnibgalys UK? turn up, with some rushing are rare visitors, individuals that wildlifewatch.org.uk have gotten lost on their migration the country to see them. When a golden-winged warbler from and ended up far from their usual North America appeared in a home. They come from all possible supermarket car park in 1989, over directions – America, Asia, the 3,000 people went to see it in just Arctic, North Africa and beyond. Some get lost in bad weather, one day! But how do these birds others just take a wrong turn. get so lost? 20 Wildlife Watch Magazine // Autumn 2021

Red-eyed vireos breed Baikal teal usually in North America and spend the winter in winter in the Amazon. Korea, China or Japan, Storms sometimes but several have found bring them to the UK their way to England! © Konrad Wothe / Minden / naturepl © Gerrit Vyn / naturepl From the west aoinsvccspehbtlaaruaBuirr£dirirdnrrace6odehrdaw,wed0swa-0awigann0itnlhcarNidhtiemstoooeemsarwrh-fwscigeon.rveillodTnpkishweodirrertfoaeni!ntwsienshgtdeeoewdre From the east Mcsahaatrerooerearrsmildtaeeridisanma.vgarTiiennchsrggvoeoiusyfCsoitstaahorrntrthfehsaoeeurdfrAstaoChutmaleoaarrlnwilNbyntibiooncmerrtbtteaihhgyrn.erAp,aTrmnChonewetUesbnreSeiticrrArfdaabuaslilar,ndarwdesuhtu©icmPhanul Dykes pbhjteduhueanpiserstvdtesrtiAheeooeromcuearfbmttlifopdaosAwaoaittkgnsbr,lfaeooelirlwyoanayiasftaf!tatittfniAth.hinWhcocmoOesecrontiserorafi.uresos’srcarnTtroaomseaoshrlusbeeeukaeseetie,lrterbysishmdob.l,lieutrftBubonoohd,gtituohrsfeisbeffdutttelttccsnlajhoqhiuohrklmuaceuaisuaekestirtertwlneeaeyersli.cesAekinenaesTtae,mxuhdsltccliopturiohkeosielcssgmiarfnotiiwsehbntctduihhntaealbhsoleehdgnteaUwyimoeoctlfbKfacrirnasneoiagtnreurgc.idmneisdnoscIstfiekdmtntgathiatshnsohnttaeheghtsedtotwehteffohtrwyewafhrorroeosrmeiidmagnrlnelseooibdhgti!bndtwtifhrioia’esdrtedrnssd America, or even South America. Sometimes, as they fly along the coast, they get caught up in storms and drift farther out to sea. If the winds are strong enough, some are pushed all the way to Britain and Ireland. Lesser crested terns © Glenn Bartley / Minden / natureplAn ancient murrelet in are usually found in its usual home, off the warmer waters ldlifeambulance.orgwest coast of Canada © Hanne & Jens Eriksen / naturepl East Su ssex Wildlife Rescue & Ambulance Service / wi Familiar faces Out of the blue 21 SsrmlcbiceeyaoeYnrauostooevmubNsmtuerssrkeleintrtoanneesartfgricihadnltm1cbkh9iymwgrr-taeueee8ebictosmsta’4rorshktnuoreobEBstssweodhuleesvinarernerimteeeelredraeretaarupyoanxnarurtrfpdaesonlosnbtup.cnihwuvniatmSceieasg,CtshkarimlwanlltolerroiyofemaasifeclrtsfdesrmhsaoreiftffulutociomerepSonoannrdslaamdmtfasittnwEnleheciel1dnyesrteva9hwie.baeest9FerOrav.iao7aawceScLnrphlaeonnkefesiescnueteufemosaodtkmIrhefslrnaoerlstmAashlrvee!nteesealMadonrssns,,ortbiarinceuisahtreeadrcosewvni.stliyte, d eilnoxaohSkaApubeusloardtssehonetdeaebex-dfyCftwboeofaaoroanrcutasibekannrdbehddbesoeapcmaunucee!tihdtotogo,mniEnoasitnvuhetlebaraehtrtnhinsteherOesdndlatreheacoltUfttgioe!rhkblh–oKiuuaeOvaoum,ieglnatldnylgeseh,deytetvLmtioosnhuwewfoseayonrogeuoysmudtfesrsanugnspyet.o’rlaetodarlAIuoaisuntwsbnsselWwlsdeaiotcvruieasnladtoiediesnaxndylorniatnfldo,ehl1fhwytmm9ofaWmatmfe9huftplaivf’ygi0esntluecltceernhfuharrwaasereesinMsetnrxhlfuiaoorclapvfoeeaoromgtnoeonetnmlasa.lcmldvbezyOostilentieihtrtvnhgderoiddeoeteiusi/ns.rtaf/oeiegwInhAcDntuts.uouoacaerstSatruhmouvsnppoanlmeoudipusetncinlntPpfedi,hgbfe!w2iaaosonenb0uocrtawstt2espiefs1i dc

by Charlotte Varela HMEORTAHLD © Vaughn Matthew DMIASGSTUEIRSEOF Scientific name SUPER SNOOZER Scoliopteryx libatrix Herald moths spend the daytime Herald moths spend most of their resting amongst fallen leaves in Average lifespan adult lives asleep! They hatch out of the parks, gardens and woods Around six months their cocoons in July, then hibernate where they live, so they evolved to look like as an adult moth in sheltered places like caves from September leaves themselves! Their wings are mainly until March, cosying up with bats, ladybirds a chocolate-brown colour with shiny orange Amazing fact and other sleepy moths. When they emerge splotches, and they have very thin white lines Huhehtleyrtearmlpaaldpsrtiohnamnegnoimiccothrcotgsoaraglhldsnaaesnovt,eesfcc,basttahpltlhteaesedtc. ial from hibernation, they mate and lay eggs, that look like the veins on leaves. Add in the which hatch into caterpillars in May. wavy shape of the wings and herald moths Herald moths don’t move much while blend in perfectly with their surroundings, they’re snoozing, but they remain aware meaning they’re less likely to become dinner enough of their surroundings to be able for hungry predators. to crawl away from things like rising flood waters. Herald moths also like hibernating in © Bob Coyle sheds, so if you have one, have a careful look © Amy Lewis around during winter and see what you can find tucked away. 22 Wildlife Watch Magazine // Autumn 2021 SWEET TOOTH It isn’t just butterflies that drink nectar from flowers – herald moths have a particularly sweet tooth. As well as visiting ivy blossom and other plants to quench their thirst after dark, they feed from overripe fruits like blackberries whose sweet juices are beginning to ooze out. As caterpillars, their tastes are quite different – they feed on the leaves of sallow, poplar and willow trees instead. When the caterpillars are ready to turn into adult moths, they pupate between two leaves in a white cocoon made of silk. wildlifewatch.org.uk

NWAONSHCOIYTMMUAAERRLNSEAL? Nightjar © Richard Steel / 2020VISION T he word nocturnal just means happening at nighttime, so nocturnal animals are those that are most active at night. But why do some animals like to come out after dark? EPRSCEADPAITNOGRS MORE TO EATbbichhontataeeeohSauuwnvvicmteknonnaiolhamsetmgtiplbeulivanddaeiaeeesrdbguoltddeadsialsrntsvetsiirpietina’otmknotoe’anngn.sfhcat,ttcTthaaipwelonbhehlegvraimiuesmietgeesshtdyhbeidaetomaoteaotam,rfyothcliy.hlglufaca.moioeOkthottmFhrfreatrmoaoshetlebitosrthutpchaeddeneneoamenumtxotttmsieaoismnctognhmkettiuhwaiguaoegrtapovhirlhctsonfnslubthieetjaniadteatd,hmdltrahbhtsattoefoyuatotntnhoa’itsagdvthmootihndoaltyvhes. COOLING OFFIoTnhuirtsewaaitshllneyideanriashgelptyhoohiettfttechbcaoieUoaenfyulcKiwlmyanw,autacwotrsoleiusheemrl.esdwi,rmTtee’ghssroeoidesnctmaoaivysieoenctnilrtmae’yditvnreeehriisemnodteateaurtlmtlhalrysineanpadrcgedenoralatmoaihrssstke,euse.urees don’t get that high! Iwsabmteabrcp’nieeasnelheedicatdmiaacelcafsioinfnkfouaedeeui.nlssnacsen–e,Mgandtdhsongmtataohabehnbevoteyreayeeoasrnralettuecwiewgsa’a1haavsohtno0urywertelislrn,e0mrvoipegsewfnrecaisrdldledhylawl,asecettbfearohednoasirsrarrrctpdtphenoahoi.rilcdeelmfbTsaeoeydhiereon’astreddhgeatoyauolel’eufelrvryoedistrenbsrtawa.gaslgayuitrSlo!ntleloinhotkobuietmegtgeinhtlhodydeetoa,rtdoy HHOUWNTDION ATNHIEMADALSRK?MrhSotlcert ihhoheteBfghoaaarurealahiamtannplaNcnhlrhstttyyrkndetosefoteeag.sodhlncpintaatnlruerMieaoototisnrmrhotdsuvoesmirgweccnaaueeousroyethnsntgnenniuetumw–mresees,ayeeatn,rweinhchdnlettt.aycdmwhehhihodaeaaekvgSsaahoaevsntelonsebohhovnedilt,aticsoysu’peeymmeehiosn.hwmicaonalmagsmwpaiaeaTuahrdmnrahrntnlhatsorietssalhaeicosh.astiooo,fsslinhalhlud,snelpnfTnnenwsvdinormhclsntilcctaeiehgithhkndroegoetcocefdhiieea’lhecfolvktetdoibiltadvrheevtnhm.sceciuejaeeobucdeaaTtyclrtbiendltilasnmsnheetivetofbgstgymeodevbmucmth.,rteesrooyhaahaenotlresIholaodenicaovnmlctrnnoairyyrkaeecntbee,ewsdnvetarrdosdeethellasrthoskiitolntheggeoidrtapheeifgoekostehhfnictsenehebyf.ihtthtloithcemcbte.lgwsehiieabiatstgashmiaieo.s!’nnjrhvcsetlrtede-kkcotlotls Blue tit with caterpillar © Gillian Lloyd 23 Wildlife Watch Magazine // Autumn 2021

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