Wildlife Watch issue 94 - Summer 2020

FHARREEE! GARDEN WEIRD Issue 94 Summer 2020 BUG HUNT NESTS POSTER Can you find Who lays eggs a true bug? in odd places? MAGICAL WELL MOTHS JELL Meet some mystical minibeasts Discover amazing jellyfish facts

WILD THINGS News from our Wildlife Watchers ECDOIRTNOERR’S APPLE DISCOVER BIRD WILDLIFE TOM HIBBERT FEEDERS AT HOME Editor, Wildlife Watch Lots of you have been in touch to tell If you can’t get out into nature as often us you made your own apple bird as you’d like, there are still lots of great It was a strange and feeders, following the instructions in ways to discover wildlife at home. To challenging spring. The the winter issue of Wildlife Watch. help you go wild wherever you are, we’ve 4-year-old Louie had a great time making pulled together a collection of fun activities, coronavirus lockdown them with his older brother, Max. Abi (aged wildlife spotting guides and animal webcams. 5) and Sarah (aged 3) have also let us know Just visit wildlifetrusts.org/nature-at-home meant we spent less time that they’ve seen lots of birds eating the outside than usual, and less time seeds and the apples in their garden. with our friends. But one thing that made this difficult time better LITTER PICK LEGENDS for many of us was nature. Spring carried on, bringing We know lots lots of wonderful wildlife into of you are our daily lives. Birds sang working beautiful songs outside our really hard windows, bees buzzed in to help our planet, so our gardens and butterflies thank you so much to fluttered by when we popped everyone that picks up litter, recycles, or does out for our daily walk. anything to make the world At The Wildlife Trusts, we a better, wilder place! shared lots of ideas on our Joshua and Poppy do lots websites and social media of litter picking in their local channels to help you discover area, and Kaitlan asked for wildlife at home. From activities a litter picker for Christmas! and spotting sheets for your home and garden, to webcams where you can watch ospreys and lots of other animals. Your summer issue of Wildlife Watch is also packed full of wonderful wildlife. Head on a local bug hunt (page 8) or see what moths you can find in your garden (page 18). On page 20, you can learn all about the weird world of jellyfish! What will you discover this summer?

NATURAL © Mark Hamblin / 2020VISION WONDERS 06 © Alexander Mustard / 2020VISION IN THIS ISSUE… Four-year-old Connor uses 20 muffin cases to display 08 02 Wild Things his wonderful collection of 04 Wild Skills natural treasures. What a © Amy Lewis fantastic nature table! Identifying wildlife Kim Taylor / Nature PL Check out 0 5 Your Stories! wildlifetrusts.org/ 0 6 Sea Parrots privacy-policy to find out how we keep your Meet the puffins information safe. 08 The Real Garden Bug Hunt WILDLIFE 10 At Home in the Trees WATCH 94 Summer Editor: Tom Hibbert 11 Blue Shark Poster Editorial Team: 12 Earth’s Mightiest Heroes Abi Paine 14 Gallery Joanna Richards 16 Weird Nature Mike Watson Charlotte Varela Nests 1 7 How to… Make an egg carton crab 18 Magical Moths 20 A Sea-full of Jelly Amazing jellyfish facts 22 Feature Creature Pine marten 23 Why Do Wasps Have Stripes? 24 Competitions WHAT’S WILDLIFE WATCH? GET IN TOUCH The Wildlife Wildlife Watch is the junior branch of The Wildlife Trusts. Join Wildlife Watch Trusts and start your nature adventure. Prices range from £10-24 per year for Email us at: [email protected] Registered child-only membership and £30-60 for family membership. or ring: 01636 677711 or write to us at: Charity No You’ll receive a starter pack and four issues of Wildlife Watch magazine Wildlife Watch, The Kiln, Mather Road 207238 a year. This is packed full of amazing pictures, posters and competitions. Newark, Notts, NG24 1WT We also have a really wild website and e-newsletter full of wild ideas and KEEP WATCHING! nature-spotting tips. Plus you get access to local events and groups. Go to wildlifetrusts @wildlifetrusts wildlifewatch.org.uk to find out more. thewildlifetrusts WildlifeWatchUK

by HibTobmert IDENTIFYING WILDLIFE Toaubtowuht wathhbyaseeroonneuUdmet’Krrdyteuhiiicnsnloohgfguouwsbktlaoliiinrlonidddgfdlsweis,afneimotlt.dfoioHfflnyriuefeenworet.fgihfTleiadahrtrln,oeeiifrteb5sec0.eoaamsdnrpeiesebcotcehovieievhnseragro2rsed0fdt0bot.oudBtthiwutfeiftnoerwfrkrlkeyitnht WHERE IS IT? USE YOUR OTHER SENSES © Janet Packham Most plants and animals have Lots of wildlife will give out clues esswgtiAdoovproloeaesiprdlnoscvkaesiteeipyolfndasyiaunt,nitcytfgbodyawauanltoithhtvttrtehmeaeesnetnpiaontlktpilnmoiaionaynynnedocattotueooirotetr’fshfwtiwahogeohainhurnneblerhyrepairaeteflasaoobytyucuwiotioettanue’us,wtdl?lai.shnoIreIfaenn–eytsiocniieasteucitristhttfs.iaeanFcidniUafrosnfaKlrto,ne,bwsaeitnse,strhoeeseuacoagct,rhthhttrrltyaeoensd., that you’ll miss using just your eyes. region will have different wildlife. Btgwbnmhiruroaaedatttraeskbhctelhaoaeesafvnrx.,eavaYhtenowvmeyeuulopprrnsylbosieyqdeiuoruiindsnufefssdeciedcshrtehaeioafnalfnflcsttmtshislfamoayyonosfentfdthklgealesvrscnmyoe,odrnsau.yowgnlAdssitimilamhlokaewielllapr Chiffchaff Willow warbler © Richard Burkmar 2©02Ch0riVIsSIGOoNmersall / yflaliokoseuwsaieodrmegsnoethtaipfaty.ltaBfslnoumtwtsereaellrnmslid,keesfmuucncbohgeciroacnnsaougntto,tbooresrueplsizoeaisyrodonuoorrucshse!indssethoaf ttassmtee,ll TOP TIP only eat a few plants, so naming the TRthOhinyPmkToiInPfggrtreicaktstitcsaanshsehlpouytoinugle“aterancbhierdr,stoenagc.hFeor,r teexaacmheprl”e. , Many caterpillars identify the caterpillar! plant should help BREAK IT DOWN TAKE NOTES Waththeoencnoelsoptuuardr,tysaihntagapateimmaenys.dtNeaornytyesppthaeincttigeerssn,lsilkooeloenkatrhnawt phaicrht. Carry a little pocket notebook with you when you’re out exploring. Then, when you find something You’ll new, you can make notes on its parts of different features that can help an animal help you you identify it when you get home. identify it. For example, lots of damselflies You could also try sketching it, or if you have farocmamdieffrear,etnatkaenmglyesst.eTrryystpoeidcieenstiufysiynogubr ooks are identified by some photos the pattern on their abdomen (the long, thin part of their or the internet. If you struggle, try posting it on social media body), but butterflies or emailing an expert at a are best identified Athbidsoamzuernemdaarmkisneglfslyhelp identify by the patterns wildlife organisation. on their wings. We’ve got some TOP TIP the legs. Six for an insect, TOP TIP handy guides to identify For minibeasts, count (like a spider or harvestman). You can also get phone apps common species. Visit eight for an arachnid that help identify wildlife. wildlifetrusts.org/identify 04

SYTOOURRIES Long-tailed tit bRyoNsiceolet(hageedR9o) bin Siskin Hello Rose my delightful garden friend, Wby Wildillialimfe(agpehdo11)tography I have a poem for you that I will send, I will read it out loud and clear, ITHANK YOUto go to Newent Wildlife a flash of blue And hope for the best that you can hear. Watch, it’s a brilliant along the You hop into my garden, group and the leaders town brook. For a morning feast, are so inspiring. I crawled The starling flies in and bullies you, I love wildlife and to the bridge and What a beast! phgoivteosgrmapehainrgeaitllbyenciacuesfeeeitling waited until the like nothing else does. kingfisher flew out on You stand on the old ladder, WNiiclloialema! nd I sold lots of my Lego to a branch next to Puffing out your strawberry red breast, and saved money from me. I watched him for Softly tweeting every morning, birthday’s until I had an hour and a half! wagtail “Look at me, I am the best!” I was using a friend’s Grey Listen to me, enough to buy a new and car in their garden as a You beautiful bird, Nikon D7000 lens. bird-hide. I pre-focused camera; a a 70-300mm my camera and hoped a long-tailed tit would I think the song you sing is the best I’ve heard, Patience is the land. It did…after 20 mins! You make me feel jolly and merry, TtIaaahcnkperdeahcnwoshntlaeaoatdfpfoRinpifnScetPhhdaBe&awgLwesraateiksyyfekiewiwnVldhaywigrltentoeawriigetlye. t Kingfisher most important sang. One thing I’m not very You adorable bird with a poppy red belly! thing in wildlife patient about is waiting for You live in the pots behind the sheds, photography. And slumber in your mossy soft bed, While walking I will never abandon you, ever! close to the I love you my irreplaceable garden treasure. flooded Ross-On- Wye I saw my photos to download! Chaffinch Dfyowoorauythotrceushtmow@raaiwengsitladatzolniinfdweerti?drituSeeesatnssd.otorg! 05 Wildlife Watch Magazine // Summer 2020

© Mark Hamblin / 2020VISION wtihlsSiivletAahinmnRg@dAsasbaH.mifoNessoofpenrwoecgunmstrthhittieheny’evLspaIuFlwasEfifsovintrekfsiipvnoergneydtseoaeatkaroesbresirpd PASERAROTSLASWAbRyRAEHNCE Bright orange webbed feet, a chunky rainbow beak, and ctttrtElhdhylehaoaepoeaenwcnelidephlrn’yytoulfsiedohmfffpefsroasir…naeitavns!hkaempgeePbItea-ouitounrcthnfdnapfdsegi,enneyamasattohrrnh:ooeanediatsurnlueytwntgprhodbanaletfaehvytceeoesy. to lay an egg! 06 Wildlife Watch Magazine // Summer 2020 www.wildlifewatch.org.uk

liPv4ue0fffyionersaorcvsaenr © Neil Aldridge © Alexander Mustard / 2020VISION 40 TODAY LIFE AT SEA © Charles Thody Photography Puffins are brilliant swimmers. When they are underwater their webbed feet become paddles and their wings propel them through the sea. PUFFIN PALS They can dive as deep as 60 metres to catch Puffins are curious birds that nest in very the fish they need. The roof of a puffin’s mouth large groups called colonies on islands and cliff-edges. They are loyal to their colony is lined with tiny spines that help them to grip and come back to nest in the same burrow with the same mate every year. Puffins like onto lots of fish while they’re diving. The largest to nuzzle and nibble their partner’s beak. This is called ‘billing’ and it helps them bond number of fish recorded in one fishing trip is 82! together after spending the winter away from each other at sea. At the end of the summer, puffins travel Living in big groups helps keep them safe, especially when they are carrying fish home back out to sea and won’t touch land for many for their chicks. Sometimes you can see puffins flying round and round in circles at their colony. months. Most puffins spend the winter in the It’s called ‘wheeling’ and each puffin does two to three ‘wheels’ when returning from the sea, North Atlantic Ocean, but before landing. This confuses predators like gulls and stops them from stealing the puffins’ some travel to the fish, so isn’t just for fun! PUFFLINGS Mediterranean Sea. cap9n3e40prtPfk0helumyr-ief4liifoh0ranimo0nsuwusetftrtieaif!nrmlsaeagtsnepsasds SPRING CLEANING They lose their brightly coloured Puffins build their nests in burrows. They use beaks and the their sharp claws and beak to dig tunnels feathers on their several metres long! Each year they have a face get much spring clean, digging a fresh floor and collecting darker until they leaves and sticks to line their nest, where they return to land lay one bright white egg. Being underground again the next year. keeps the puffins safe from predators that might try to steal their eggs. Baby puffins are called pufflings, and they hatch out as tiny balls of black fluff. Puffin PUFFINS ANDkeep it warm until it is one parents stay with their chick to PEOPLEweek old. After that, the chick can stay in the burrow alone while its parents go out fishing. Adults take it in turns to bring fish back to feed their hungry chick. Pufflings ntacaolmSmrotoeweammssmneyefsamoonrotpiofhepadeturndhrrfoiefoeritssrns,eis,eaas,n!d There are some great places you can don’t like daylight so visit to see puffins in the wild, like Skomer Island in Wales and Handa Island in Scotland. You can take action to help them by sending photos of puffins carrying fish to Project Puffin, checking for signs they stay safely in their of stowaways like rats burrow, playing with sticks before you visit an island, and learning how to clean or by doing a two their new feathers. minute beach clean to After forty days, fully keep their seas safe. grown pufflings become curious about the outside world. Then one day, in the middle of the night, they fly straight out of their © Adam Jones © Peter Cairns / 2020VISION burrow towards the open ocean, and their life at sea begins! Young puffins stay at sea for two or three years before coming back to the place they hatched to lay an egg of their own. 07 Wildlife Watch Magazine // Summer 2020

You’ve probably been on a bug hunt before. But have you ever been on a true bug hunt? © Robert Pickett / Nature PL BTGUHAGERHRDEUEANNLT!byPeteDommett W hen people use the word © Chris Lawrence A MIXED BAG OF BUGSTrcbuhuepu(gmlbanasbunek!ldoii)tolyggltka.oofai-kfefsgAsbsopepbtuhelahcoktlrlerfiroeesneielilnidniewmnmedekldgddesaataepoblltj(tdibliuaouaev,nisnieesrrgtnreuht-swteisdtabroc,e,atvilluuwtntblceiohtvclgsrousahaeuoodtsntrih(eul.rbievmfenpetupSasulbiilsoaoclprarteuoiiatmnneboanhgfotygtntareesseyefaldechrymdnaosaknasaa’fargr.dtatpiee!glrmMrl)oreeioaaaemabtssouhrenrnbetdesneairvdgulrtutedrenrihbmbllneani.ldynituusaTlbpyfsmcgshgenleealiocsaeszwtircllxonelrynotpeoeelsgsttorcdhrfsd)ea(ua–t,sai-itnffnrrompusletfeeicryoepesrmodlosumbecaamub!diuutep)eoefu.pimglchsnaLnuhwosoigghdcrnmtateheasshfleyrl!dovaynlerltoew ‘bug’, they usually mean any kind of www.wildlifewatch.org.uk creepy-crawly – but, strictly speaking, that’s not correct! True bugs belong to an order of insects called Hemiptera. It’s a big group – there are 1,650 different species in the UK! 08 Wildlife Watch Magazine // Summer 2020

WA HTRENUEISBUAGB?UG © Chris Lawrence © Amy Lewis Taaco ihnallrllitlsNsoahleonacoydaivwodmenauifayfribrenologeruasceadtnonkrrdiudmntf!fmeoismBcnwuu.uocToltttknhhrtthoeuel–oeptbtcraereuaiultlsgsltibhshpssaeoaaaucrnrbppsakeeo,uoinuftstrhhyetebioibenstluoudrgtuogolcetehdsa-s,a.lbntiagkStu,ebletaguhtnbsuaeoderyaupraprgtleka!ont on a real bug hunt! FIVE TO FINDGSHRIEEELNDBUG COMMON GARDEN BUGS ROSE FLOWER APHID BUG © Frank Porch © Nick Upton / 2020VISION © Janet Packham Twsrcaoheporiuidteemshtcaabamsienilugsssodmom,nibgsmceirranflieolegylleSurehlncnildtqeo,dgaut‘hslriavaaetdeicnnweswrdknotth.hsbhbSoesauuarngttngphisst-esb’’csshblauUetierercnKiecckldd,dakinbsby!uguuPistnotgehstshwhsitoshipeeaeomwlrldyatr.eo!brsTlgrulqheeguisrsi,rt Gbaftdihnulaawedtrmdatshheyaaeusnpgygege’frerrrespoegenmecraoonopltrul(otalptheshcse’esetuyosspafecarltailnhtzyindedeflsdbisoeelepytshaepbeacpiurnnihmgpkdidsletatsohn‘gnoesftre!,sye)e..s’erdoYTenohinftnulihsygoe’c,ctoyaa’nrnne Aoftaalhofpltesawihnolmemiyd,brissosdit)hseda. tiTlnnheoadyunoimbdoyfuetiaphtgnsnleatwitsrfnhygaita,naniltgnordlsiodvt.hkemeFensflaoogo‘yrpwanteehersvtdrehteesbenb’n,ulladebg(nacrusioknvtetektshajsputethsomyett ciiirntaens, often considered to be pests. blood! Eeek! FROGHOPPER © Luke Massey / 2020VISION POND KDNIDOWYO?U © Frank Porch SKATER tsniIhtofoemuyiisonriygudbhbepbtuaiycsgkckrssruuemobepnbacaikthnhnegaeaaittrhsnycseohaautelsia!pssriTtsnmsh.obeinfusgeg, Afperonlsacmonathtpsse.teerItmpscraaetpond-assauttloescrmoksej–uar,mstthhipatisftae’sliestltdilhkeseigbayhrmooauwosnlne7ga0bpgcumiagnrghdtooeopnvesr IgsWffgpienkayeiaeacsorttdktettueiihnnceu’rrte-ggnepsrl,,epawlvybupcioiebcuterutokrttl!ola’ysealTltssnelhipsoktnieortnihomoyostabuaunfiaagdrrsiosbchetpsmrloooyttlohnolsespenshetsrihgraeetahe,syvtnehsehb–dpoisoasuiruentttwsp,rovdfufoeamalraynonctelbednlodyrat-fwiyobnlcieitntikusthgyhggoleseoufrgtiusorsth. The red-and-black firebug a block of flats! Boinnggg!! – then catch and eat it! siissosucoothmmoemftioEmnnegisnlasnEpudor.totpede,inbutht e pTHraueiemrsbiopuftgewrsainumgsuse,aabllnyusth‘sahovamelf-etwwiong’. species have no wings at all! 09 Wildlife Watch Magazine // Summer 2020

EthVeERfoYrIeSsStUcEhaTHnIgSeYsEeAaRcwhes’ereastaonkiangndawlohoakt at woodland wildlife! Discover how special wildlife you can spot. Summer by Leanne Manchester A re you ready to step into a © Mark Hamblin / 2020VISION magical world? The weather © Jim Higham is hot but beneath the © Les Binns LONGHORN BEETLES branches it’s cool and fresh as the wind rustles the leaves. Y ou can find lots of different When you look up, the sky is partly longhorn beetles in hidden by the arms of strong trees, but woodlands, like the four- sunlight slips through to warm plants banded longhorn beetle in this on the floor. A woodland in summer is photo. Longhorn beetles get their a very special place! name from – you’ve guessed it – Let’s look at some of the plants their long antennae (“horns”). and animals that call the Look out for these fancy fellows woodland their home. feeding on flowers in hedgerows and woodlands. SILVER-WASHED FRITILLARY T here are lots of butterflies that love woodlands, but the silver-washed fritillary is especially lovely. Wonder where it gets its name? Its underwing has beautiful silver streaks that you can spot when it stops to feed on bramble. You’ll have to be quick to spot it – it’s super speedy! FOXGLOVES TAWNY OWL CHICKS © Katrina Martin / 2020VISION F oxgloves grow on the edges © Tom Hibbert I f you’re in or near a woodland of woodlands. These fantastic at night, you’ll have a good flowers are great for bees, chance of hearing the so be sure to wait patiently and beautiful, haunting “twit-twoooo” you’ll be rewarded with a fluffy call. It belongs to our tawny owls. In the summer, tawny owl chicks bumblebee crawling in. If you leave the nest before they can fly. They spend time “branching” - can’t get to a woodland, foxgloves moving around the trees at night, while their parents fly down to can bring a little bit of a woodland feed them. into your garden. Plant them in your garden in the summer and they’ll flower next year! Foxgloves Baby owls are called are beautiful, “owlets”. How-l adorable! DKINDOYWO…U but deadly. The What will you spot this plant is poisonous summer? Let us know at [email protected]! if eaten! 10 Wildlife Watch Magazine // Summer 2020

Wildlife Watch Magazine // Summer 112020 BDLEUEEP © Dan Bolt / underwaterpics.co.uk MhavBsaaeruolcouvrmrryueeeonmussbtdshnheealatterihhknrnvekeei4sslsyAUi0ptlitotKoklosaret,pstnete,ethtvhdmicoceiiseuiriengsgosartehnoacheeftheyinsoaayshgunereae’yaarr.erks.

W e’re at the tipping point in the Earth’s fight against climate change. Our BdfuwiigstiahltdhptleopiffEeefaatihsrrtiehningvhdi,alaleascnillndoinoaseude,sashc-oallefibmvsiuetaalpstteesarcarwerrieasriiysss:intog. from woodlands to peat bogs to whales! It’s time to team up with the planet – to save the world! © Mark Hamblin / 2020VISION PEATLAND © Tom Hibbert SALTMARSH GRASSLAND Anfadahatirarttatnhheeaoonotesrsnmteaescmowdiloanpsdtkyrucoolengstltltptenhkcsmraithshfeoeadpderfefeessalrlenahemoesoavrpcsaesvoessehufoeotenrehadoanerecaarld..siuetrla.cins.pdsIeroNsrtfrLgslbiruoaicyaawsakoooosiesnedlltwsetnatmdfoiasagaoesc,nimnhrlnantatlaalldaayrnaiolsstnstsgshnhdlleesaoaooshtnttus,oiadlrisotbtschcft,iooteasaiatanstBsstltHtuothLLyscpaUAOwktiCsS’EtCsaGOfutKrBeCIopR2ErNEAmETDERTEHNBANHAOWLETCNOAAPO-Pf3HCoYIeet%RCrhKASaaeBeOEtEoStslCyOaAbtfNDsOBsntoNN,htdgELo2eAeossrvAIEWTteweShasNNoHnAeatorofeDrArtYpwrlhcd.etTehooh’sateuuowdtsgnpuribuachtpnrroeiiidfntengahtaeidsognscers,ic,egtgdyfgahctoobm!hgporlometmoiuCahemiegunntUtEzecoopapsUclgaaweaymuKrtohwoKltirnntac’neeassthfpcahottn’thnlove.acacotvoadaieefBhuamrmrwiefngssberyarrbrc,edbhadoonulhareaowrotlnefgpahsetrbfaotnosebehbentaoadffthoo.ofelisupnstenarrtdmi.tnsg It’s not just trees that store carbon, our grasslands do an heroic job of it too! They team up with the flowers, plants, fungi, minibeasts and all the bacteria that lives in the soil to capture carbon and trap it away where it can’t harm our atmosphere. We’ve lost about 97% of our natural grasslands, so if we can restore some of these habitats then we can help the Earth fight the climate crisis! WOODLAND Woodlands are vital in the fight against climate change, but we’re losing trees and woods faster than we’re replanting them. As trees grow and photosynthesise (turn sunlight into energy), they suck in carbon from the air and store it in their trunks, locking up this greenhouse gas in the wood and its soils. 12 Wildlife Watch Magazine // Summer 2020 www.wildlifewatch.org.uk

maWoprileBdfaoElssirNfuseoisowuTtanrrouipnfrsoklatarssbnaaaleentbt.dfTeuhtthteuearr,es by Ben Cook © Tom McDonnell © Paul Naylor / marinephoto.co.uk SEAGRASS JOIN THE FIGHT SEA LIFE It’s not just on land that habitats suck up YumfiopgiughwhctiatctyhnaErotbaeuorartnhmetomhiseslipons! It’s not just habitats that help soak up carbon, carbon. Underwater meadows of seagrass our amazing animals do too! All animals store are super speedy at absorbing carbon, carbon, and the bigger the animal, the more storing it 35 times faster than a rainforest! Mpeaakte-frseuerecoyomupr opsat rteonptsrobtueyct carbon it stores. Whales are brilliant at this, and But we’re also losing seagrass meadows our super peatlands. their superpower is helping other organisms at a super speedy rate because of things to suck up carbon as well. They dive deep like extreme storms caused by climate Tyhodiurna’kriena,wbfftrrosoaoiweusmsnthihtdticanchlhylmgeetvadpcoenhooariewosnnmi.gonCenipctca?haronoel-sdyuocuts into the ocean to feed, then rise to the surface change, and pollution in our seas. and poop out nutrient rich poo, which is used We think we’re losing two Use less plastic and by phytoplankton (tiny ocean creatures) to football pitches of seagrass recycle everything photosynthesise just like plants do, sucking up you can to make carbon and replacing it with oxygen. meadows every 1SUSMACGIOLLKLTLFOUIMABOCPAAANDRALRATSLLBYYHMOO!,ENONSNSTES sure our rivers When they die, the whales will sink to the and seas don’t bottom of the sea, where the carbon in their hour! We need to bodies will be reused in the food chain and can change the way be locked away in the sea floor for thousands we treat our seas of years. We need to help our ocean animals to make sure this thrive, because the more animals we have, the more carbon they will store! type of habitat can help us fight 13Wildlife Watch Magazine // Summer 2020 the climate crisis. become more polluted.

1 GALLERY Send in your photos, poems, artwork and letters for your chance of featuring in the gallery. If your artwork is Twphiicnekeypodeurarfesvcethtreystosatwratn-ruedpnratsrwyetyinofogur’kllit! any budding wildlife artist. 2 4 14 HEwomOWTirTtaNWhhNwihlieedletorhwwliTWttiKefetOaaesiisltltrnoNdWcukE,hlbGuNiaMf@jse2etTcawc4aEThttrtRi:h1ulliGdWneslaetriTsfleR‘lGetorraauyldlsetrsy.oerngtroayiTnnwInr’flasucewoslmsuotewsd,echsife,ilealoaaatilrhngdetmueceolymreuneaodd’.tunyieWafrdoo.yduerWogrrmaueialwrdtrigttfliwiionhfresgottsrk 5 3 6

7 8 1) Hare by Eliza, aged 12 10 (Somerset Wildlife Trust) 9 It was very tough to choose a star winner 11 12 this issue, but Eliza’s hare is a masterpiece. The details, the posture and the splashes of colour are incredible! 2) Owl by Alfie, aged 7 (Warwickshire Wildlife Trust) The technique of using white lines on a black background really makes this striking picture stand out, and the owl’s stare is wonderfully fierce! 3) Shark by Emilia, aged 9 (Cumbria Wildlife Trust) Emilia has drawn a really realistic shark. She’s perfectly captured the torpedo shape, huge fins and even the gill slits they use to breathe! 4) Dragonfly by Bethany, aged 8 (Kent Wildlife Trust) We love this colourful and very happy dragonfly that Bethany has drawn. Thanks for sharing the lovely poem, too. 5) Hen harrier by Freya, aged 13 (Derbyshire Wildlife Trust) Freya has drawn one of our rarest birds. The attention to detail on all the feathers is really impressive. 6) Beach scene by Lillian, aged 8 This wonderful painting makes us feel like we’re at the seaside. There’s so much wildlife, but the playful dolphin is our favourite. 7) Peacock butterfly by Oliver, aged 10 (Devon Wildlife Trust) Oliver has perfectly captured the vibrant colours of this peacock butterfly, right down to the bright eyespots. 8) Osprey by Kit, aged 5 (Suffolk Wildlife Trust) Ospreys are excellent at catching fish, which they carry back to their nest to feed to their chicks. Kit has even given this osprey a fish! 9) Harvest mouse by Rosa, aged 8 Rosa’s drawing is as cute as a real harvest mouse. Just look at those little whiskers and big, sparkly eye. Adorable! 10) Daubenton’s bat by Rowan, aged 5 (Cornwall Wildlife Trust) This great drawing shows the Daubenton’s bat’s special skill of swooping low over water to catch prey. They can even scoop up insects with their tail. 11) Badger by Tara, aged 6 (Avon Wildlife Trust) Tara has drawn this badger wandering through its woodland habitat. We love the detail of the little bird nesting in the tree hole. 12) Owls by Parker, aged 8 (Nottinghamshire Wildlife Trust) This is a fantastic collection of owls from Parker. Did you know that a group of owls is known as a parliament? 15Wildlife Watch Magazine // Summer 2020

WNAETIURRDE W EIRD-O-ME TE •R• • WEIRD L • • • • WACKY • THIS ISSUE: NESTING HABITS by Tom Hibbert WONDERFU CUCKOO LONG-TAILED TITS GOLDENEYE © Maria Justamond © Transcendent Clicks Photography © David Tipling / 2020VISION Long-tailed tit nests are a masterpiece of TbGltctrathwuoeooyetesolfdthoynhn.eooleeleWonlwsdisrweth,teyiowtneethgfhgntisetegehytmnsaihrfhreiediemngaaodhdvcuthuyteaamoencvitnkurooittsltiotiyesjntusesotgdehmesiimeenvpamianwatrrodgkeeaouueedtdjtceusiudotkr.s.cfntTufkotihahcpsreeedtaayhaatarltbinyernteideroeedr?, Cuckoos don’t need to build a nest, they engineering. It’s like a big, oval bubble of moss, sneak their eggs into the nests of other hair, spiderwebs and lichen, with a single SHELDUCK birds. When a host bird, like a reed warbler, entrance hole to squeeze in and out of. The male leaves its nest, the female cuckoo races in and female build the nest together, which can and lays an egg of her own. The cuckoo take over three weeks. They usually lay six to egg hatches, pushes out the other eggs or eight eggs, but can lay up to 15! Luckily the nest is chicks and takes all the food for itself. stretchy and can expand to fit the growing chicks. MISTLE THRUSH GUILLEMOT © Tom Hibbert © Derek Moore © Paul Green GssstLthhioheuuteeemeacillsilykp.re.eiTslelmTtyahigh,smyeottgeohytpeyspessodutyhirothn’shaavnueteeiveg’ntendgehdeaegotrevrexogtegrtdaonnrgfeswrtstobomro!imucctfTehilkhlifedfertfitoasoeblaelstlsahitdnanpereggebeeliepsnocortsivo,atnf,hefclleaetksthsyh.mhteienacg–plieff. Very few people see shelduck nests because Ssifaanbootruumpatcrinianlagdedigfartfiiiemttrcousesfccettngtokspeerenlesbabdetaici.rnoatdeTsntwsshi,t.siaapbsBnymiulemuioadlaedincsdwttttiailehvteaseetwgthiahrstoerareneuriirtkelsskoihsnhnhfotgsodtamrwiteavnreecafnftiicihdbcnttoeeoeslidiergnd,nhetaeotsnst!d this large duck usually nests underground 16 in rabbit burrows! The female lines the floor www.wildlifewatch.org.uk of the burrow with a few bits of plants and lots of fluffy down feathers, before laying her eggs. The male often hangs around near the burrow and escorts her on feeding trips.

17 Wildlife Watch Magazine // Summer 2020

MMAOGTIHCSAL Charlotte is a lifelong by Charlotte Varela nature lover dedicated to You probably have a teaching everyone how favourite butterfly, but amazing and important what about a favourite our moths really are. moth? Moths are amazing. They pollinate © Wendy Carter plants and even our food. Some are big and bright, others are tiny and brown. They have weird and wonderful names and each and every one of them is completely magical. SUN WORSHIPPERS © Amy Lewis © Gillian Day N ot all moths RUBY TIGER SIX-SPOT BURNET come out under cover of Did you know there could be tigers You can recognise this moth by darkness – many in your garden? The ruby tiger lives counting the six red spots on each are active during up to its name, with bright red of its shimmering black wings. the day and are wings that seem to shine in the It loves grassland that’s full of its often mistaken sun. It has a small black spot on favourite wildflowers: thistles, for butterflies. each wing and is seriously fluffy! knapweed and scabious. People Ruby tigers are pretty common: often mistake six-spot burnet 18 Wildlife Watch Magazine // Summer 2020 they’ve been recorded on moors, moths for butterflies because they in woods, on sand dunes and have really long antennae and even in gardens. Their caterpillars fly during the day, but butterfly like eating dandelions, so why not antennae aren’t quite as thick. let these important plants grow? There are some very similar moths that only have five spots on their wings.

NIGHT-FLIERS © Vaughn Matthews © Wendy Carter © Dave Appleton EMLOETPHHANT HAWK- BBURARNSSISHED moths could be so ight-flying SMWOATLHLOW-TAILED Who knew colourful? The elephant The burnished brass has a moths are bright and spectacular metallic sheen on N Wzohoilme sthaerosuwnadlloawt n-tiagihlet,ditmspoethnds hawk-moth gets its name from its wings, like it’s been painted the rest of its time hiding away. its caterpillars, which look a little with gold. It hides its beauty tricky to see. You During daylight hours it rests in like an elephant’s trunk. The grey under cover of darkness; flying the safety of vegetation in the caterpillars turn into the most at night to drink from plants could spot them woods, parks or gardens where beautiful pink and green-striped like honeysuckle, buddleia and using a moth it lives. When it’s a caterpillar, it moths which may visit your red valerian. This moth flies spends the winter tucked cosily garden if you grow their favourite across much of the UK but its trap (read on to away in the bark of a tree. These plants: rosebay willowherb and numbers are declining. You find out how) or moths are a gorgeous pale yellow could try to help it by leaving by finding them with fairy-like points trailing from fuschia (where they lay their eggs), nettles in your garden – its their hindwings. and honeysuckle (which they caterpillars adore them! resting. drink from). MOTHS © Jeni Davies MOTH TRAPS OMNOVTEHE © Jamie Mogridge-Percy A great way to discover which T hey might CONVOLVULUS HUMMINGBIRD moths live in your garden is by look flimsy, HAWK-MOTH HAWK-MOTH umstiahnbekgeinmlfiglgyoihanthtgmsso,ionbytuhyootutuaracrttparga.nacTrshtdseiesethndwe.omAhelaslsnytaom’tfuehigluyhrtt need is a white sheet to peg Big, beautiful and partial to damp Is it a bird? Is it a plane? No, it’s socks; convolvulus hawk-moths a hummingbird hawk-moth! out and a strong torch to are truly weird and wonderful. Groups of these spectacular point at it. Every year some of them hitch moths migrate here from the but some moths a ride on strong winds all the Mediterranean each summer way from Africa. Their wingspan and fool many of us into thinking undertake an can be as wide as 12cm – about we’ve seen a hummingbird. They the size of an adult hand! Lucky hover and use their super long incredible journey moth-watchers who live by the tongue to feed from flowers. coast have occasionally woken Hotter summers attract more and migrate here up to find them clinging to hummingbird hawk-moths, which damp washing left on their line are usually spotted drinking each year from overnight, though nobody really from red valerian, jasmine and knows why. buddleia in gardens. across the ocean! 19

A SEA-FULLBlwowithytohuersferiAenMdAsZ’ IaNnGdjfeallmyfiilsyh’sfmacintsd! s OF Blue jellyfish © Linda Pitkin / 2020VISION fish © Alexander Mustard / 2020VI Compass jelly Jellyfish (or jellies as Sadly, if a jellyfish they’re often known) strands on a beach, it are wonderful means that it has died, animals. With a but don’t be too sad. If mostly see-through body this happens, it means and long trailing tentacles, they have grown up they can excite and gross into adulthood and people out all at once. You reproduced all in the might see them washed space of a few summer up and ‘stranded’ on the months, which to them is shore, sometimes in ones a whole lifetime. For the or twos, but other times in mini-marine biologists hundreds and thousands. amongst us, this is our chance to get a better 20 Wildlife Watch Magazine // Summer 2020 look at these strange but interesting sea creatures. www.wildlifewatch.org.uk

JELLY DONAL GRIFFIN is a Marine JELLY Conservation Officer with SPOTTER by Donal Griffin The Wildlife Trusts and has a love for plankton, basking BARREL JELLYFISH sharks and jellyfish. h © Paul Naylor marinephoto.co.uk © marknthomasimages.co.uk Compass jellyfis JELLYFISH These are some of the biggest FFLILULIEDD- IN SPACE jellyfish we find around the UK. They BEAUTIES © Paul Naylor / marinephoto.co.uk can grow to over 1m in diameter and Of course, the best place to find jellyfish is in weigh more than 25kg. One incredible fact about jellyfish is that they the sea, but have you ever thought to look are almost entirely made of water - some towards the sky? No, I am not crazy! In 1991, MOON JELLYFISH are 95% water. For comparison, humans are the American Space Shuttle Columbia took roughly 70% water! Being made mostly of thousands of tiny ephyrae (baby jellyfish) into These jellies are very common water has some advantages, like growing outer space. These grew into adult moon all around the UK. They’re easily really big in a very short amount of time. The jellyfish – a species commonly found around recognised by the four purple rings that bigger they are the less likely they are to be UK coastlines. NASA scientists were interested can be seen through the bell. eaten by other animals in our seas. So being to find out how changes in gravity change able to grow big and quickly is important for how jellyfish detect the environment around LION’S MANE JELLYFISH survival. Jellyfish don’t have brains, but that them. This means that more jellyfish have seems smart to me! been to space than humans! How odd – This is another large jellyfish found in and awesome! our seas. Larger individuals are usually a darker red/brown colour while TRAVELLING THE JELLYFISH smaller lion’s mane jellyfish can be a JELLIES THAT LIVES lighter orangey colour. FOREVERISION Jellyfish are types of plankton, which means 21Wildlife Watch Magazine // Summer 2020 they drift around in our seas at the mercy of You may think it can’t get any weirder than © Alexander Mustard / 2020VISION the wind, tides and ocean currents. But they do jelly-astronauts, but have you heard of the have some control of their movements in our jellyfish that can live forever? The immortal jellyfish (or Turritopsis dohrnii to scientists) is a coastal waters and seas. By putting miniature tiny jellyfish found in seas around the world. electronic tags onto jellyfish, scientists Incredibly, if adults are in danger, sick or found that jellyfish can control old, they grow back to a younger version of their vertical movements (how themselves called a polyp. When the danger deep or shallow they are or sickness has passed, they can grow into an in the water) – meaning adult again. Scientists think that these immortal they can decide on the jellyfish can do this over and over and over depth they want to again, letting them live forever. swim at and look for food! How cool is that? Gjjaeieonerllnleltyytthfvfidiinisesdeghheasaodiecs,.aacf,niSlusoiennssme,teiaiunrbnncgulgohtaeojebqvmkleuelyaoanfctriresaiwauhrhemessexftucwnroalii,trmtninhedmgeve.yeidnng © John Bridges

FEATURE A RARE SPECIES CREATURE Pine martens are one of the UK’s rarest MAPIRNTEEN mammals. They like to live in woodland by Leanne Smart and many years ago, when forest covered more of the country, they were quite 22 Wildlife Watch Magazine // Summer 2020 common. As our forests were cut down, pine martens disappeared from most of the UK. Now pine martens can only be found in a few places, with most of them living in Scotland. © Terry Whittaker / 2020VISION AHAHNEDLPING © Terry Whittaker / 2020VISION Conservationists from wildlife groups (including The Wildlife Trusts) are giving pine martens a helping hand by moving some of them from Scotland, where there are lots of pine martens, to other parts of the UK, like Wales and the Forest of Dean, where pine martens used to live. Hopefully the martens will enjoy their new home and baby martens will be born there. Baby martens are called kits and are born in a den. Dens can be in a hollow tree or even a special box put up by conservationists. ESSENTIAL PINK POO! FACTS Pine martens are good at climbing trees SMcieanrtteifsicmnaarmtese and will eat birds and their eggs as well as catching small animals like mice and voles on the ground. They are mainly nocturnal but they will go out to look for food in the daytime too. In the summer pine martens eat lots of berries, which can turn their droppings blue or pink. Pine martens live on their own for most of the year and they use their droppings (called ‘scats’) to mark their territories, leaving them in places where other martens will find them. Length tail FURRY FEET 46-54cm + 18-27cm Pine martens have chocolate UTypptiocaeliglifhetsypeaanrs brown fur with a creamy white front and a long bushy tail. hpTaphabyiernomaiertntadAomdrmmvoaaiopsarrtlpezeewiintncnhsusggewrswnlfeeasitdgemhcgtetbselyeeollcprtlahiokcueoeusi.tre Their fur is very thick so they don’t need to hibernate in winter. They even have fur on their feet that protects them if they are outside in the snow. www.wildlifewatch.org.uk

Peacock butterfly © Vaughn MatthewsWWHAHASYVPSDEO Batman hoverfly © Wendy Carter Common wasp © Wendy CarterSTRIPES? by Wendy Carter Iawwaaspysitt)n’hssathhhtoaewurdstahtbnhateedsiinortogwpresaeanfsoteirnynosscaeuefc.eftSr!toyoT,mmhbeeutrhteieno’sstrehsooceotrfsmstoh(upliicdkshee. BIG AND BOLD GO AWAY ALL BARK AND NO BITEIysTtefdotooahhvayf ufioeoanesy’ludneg!vcm’eelyFrrlbtoodreeoheowwaritagutnntduoseagsg.nirnnrtattehdhghhtaeaeaabttyvltotlyeawawtscfhrasoahekeyorno:ymmotwu’ssrftteeaertstaasiophahpnbeiosenopstw,augho.ttitetnhtTetoyyhgehnoeysketoutiiemracfarfealbne.hpndrdxToiaigyhsswonhotteueigtunytne’sgvfrct.rereoip,mypeosyrteubohd’euerePqaeetc–msw‘ysuarruagattteeesabrbosoitiucindtralptesirsesankhgaageFsedolslcicstwlyinasgsymokn–abgattllreaetkoosaaeansyhmtrrae’dntherep.tlhwraidtehakanmaoWihanl.teararyksttStanagaahtobiestyhtotiirtbroohlsfrnnhorecolyianioliewcabpftmewiosriuolgttnuddkclasieftocwunassteyprnyobaschrooastgehrparltksptiIape.emvyelantrobsloiss’odetrTvnsasaaopiiewahcywwnesgavbrinatiolcigtnasasohlonmtahotantoshdsumccargstnestrmtosopthcehatt,vhtdtiishjo.uoatsnroeieihtuholenrhtaeor,ifslgmbinasksaeiopgn,al.nrurpttiletetpvurevahg.vadsAorsmeesteioorsnceearlthsbdtslesebirkedaandevai,tawvpsrakrdioeystgsoittoeetoiostdh,tyouc,frsswuhreeisorasptossiehtoyh.fntehv’hdaewryesweteveraattmehhcahwrskinroeelhegssAaisrlnat,oostlgtriweupnhengrsgostguch,iStl-mwsagooealoaaaonswheanabbmwtnskynreholekspytdmeoifStaaahintohhnutibotlfcrerngao’eogegeusmnltyyregrdhhmtbritreveineih!oiefdebtefaaeogaiboohTtl‘rteehBrlliieihlcinehrnde.naaedstaegedyostnngstElmepcgdt’ciabvtchtcihssaatsevyaieht.sstnonstwlnmhcahinih’niakhdedvajoe’ietushebtneehaasrbax.seisaboiUnpftplldnouspttacilTe’evheKtsheso)vghtrhtetymiptoeesnersemho–stowreartrattrhfgraevesntsoialfnneoiaidnyleehlltteeyseleedtcuden’igryalhns(ytopaafsisnhdt.c.tltfwigkhotyut.nfontsdahseI.elnoihaklottTgttselnbrrseoth’teohoeiscmloh.empnbwirnfekalnkkuaoaeteTliwreficoesttaurinhkedoeotvetrrakge’ottoanouaeashhblsehtltribltkeyhkepeenrhfeetaltaetedsiyeotoylhhrtvih itirwveaneanetsnaeengtefetioe,dnst2rtng3

COMPETITIONS WINWAATREERUSBAOBTLTELE FOR YOUR CHANCE TO WIN: Draw your favourite sea creature! T o help you cut down on the amount of Is it something big like a whale? plastic you use, we’re giving away two Or something tiny like a shrimp? wonderful reusable Chilly’s water bottles. Take a photo of your drawing and AdyorniundrkthhooenTtyhtdehhrseainevgkebsooahwttobliettehsaaonwuudtitilflnumkeleoweesdhptianimygloepuadoreprctslaoaignlsdnttliydco,rblnienottkhtytsleoecmu!o.ld, email it to us, or pop it in the post. We’ve got TWO bottles to give away. WIN THE BAT BOOK TbbatiWhmyocweclCepdsoo’ho,eavrmtahalrekdftrrpunaelogoordanauroftcnytnbgtbeeyfehaFlaMytfaIoatmtVisnhuislEtgenatwchifieczeunuimtiorhnlap.wpaigTtslTiloimhniuehdjroegsselmedturb-ftBaraaodwrnalctiosgieegttowshyaBinlvitnaonvs,eebodaokitnwhu.etairy FTOORWYIONU: R CHANCE WaaWblloiteevchonerawkcei?gtaaalhilWwtnkluteetohrda?euya?noltdtWduWhwyhawthoooetruauirctmtleredowcamwairotkeobeueeauoslatdluuduottp?riutieittt! Buy online at dk.com RRP: £12.99 WIN A CLIMATE IN CHAOS O n page 12 we introduced Earth’s mightiest FTOORWYIONU: R CHANCE Buy online at hachettechildrens.co.uk heroes in the fight against climate RRP: £12.99 change; now discover more ways to Just answer this question help them with A Climate in Chaos, by on Earth’s Mightiest Heroes. Neal Layton. This wonderfully illustrated book What percentage of our explains more about climate change and is natural grasslands have full of ideas for how you can help. we lost? We’ve got FOUR copies to give away Send your competition entries to us: By ienmcluadilewyCaootucmrhpnceoatimmtioepn,s@eangtweriieladsnlmidfeaCatyruObwseaMtusy.soPoerdfEgcoTBonInTyotIuapOrcowNtsientbgRWsiyUtioeldLualEinfwSeditsWhoacyitoacluhmr,eeTdnhitaerycK!hiDalnnE,nAeMDlsa.LtIhNeEr :R3o1adA, uNgeuwsatrk2,0N2o0ttinghamshire NG24 1WT Don’t forget to