Wildlife Watch Issue 100 - Winter 2021

FREE! NATURE’S ANCIENT Issue 100 Winter 2021 NOISES ANIMALS GREY SEAL POSTER Maddie Moate explores Meet some the sounds of winter 100-year-old wildlife

WI1L0D0LIISFSEUWESATOCFH! This is a super special edition litter picks to giving up single-use of Wildlife Watch. It’s our plastic. There are lots of problems for 100th issue! We’re so excited nature and our planet at the moment, to be sharing it with you. but we know the future is in safe The very first issue of Wildlife Watch hands with you! came out in spring 1973 – that’s almost To celebrate our 100th issue, we 49 years ago! Back then, there were wanted to share some of the amazing wildlife success stories that have no mobile phones and happened since no World Wide issue number one Web – can you – discover these on imagine that? page 6! We’re also The world has setting a challenge changed a lot since for all our wonderful then, and so has the Wildlife Watchers: can magazine! It looks you find 100 species very different, as you next year? Turn to can see from the page 12 for ideas on photo on the right. Even the name has changed – when which wildlife to look the magazine first started, it was called Watch Word. But even after 100 out for each season. And if you think issues and all those years, Wildlife Wildlife Watch is old, wait until you Watch is still very special. And what meet the ancient animals on page 12! To make this issue extra special for makes it special, is you! you, we asked some of our famous We love sharing weird and friends if they could write a couple wonderful wildlife with you, but what of features. We’ve got CBeebies and we like even more is everything you Springwatch presenter Maddie Moate sharing the sounds of winter, and share with us. We love to see your adventurer and nature expert Sophie amazing artwork, and read about Pavelle introducing wild ways to all the animals you’ve seen on your discover wildlife. With all of this adventures. We especially love hearing and more, we hope you enjoy your about all the incredible work Wildlife winter issue of Wildlife Watch! Watchers do to help the planet, from TOM HIBBERT GET IN TOUCH Editor, Wildlife Watch Email us at: [email protected] Ring us on: 01636 677711 Write to us at: Wildlife Watch, The Kiln, Mather Road Newark, Notts, NG24 1WT wildlifetrusts @wildlifetrusts thewildlifetrusts WildlifeWatchUK

IN Hoddinott / 2020VISION, Fox © Luke Massey / 2020VISION, THIS Mustard / 2020VISION, Swallow © Alan Williams / naturepl.com ISSUE 23 Murmuration © Danny Green / 2020VISION Regulars bat © Dale Sutton / 2020VISION, Emperor dragonfly © Ross 18 Fish by Watch reader, Alex Edwardes / 2020VISION, Short-snouted sea horses © Alexander 14 02 100th Issue Celebration 0 4 The Science Section CGoovmererilslaluls/tr2ati0o2n0:VIRSIacOhN,elOHsuprdesyoannIldl rusetdrastiqouinrrelCo©vPeretpeircsC:airBnasd/ge2r02©0VIMaSIrkOND,aPviusffionn,©CoMmarkmoHnacmubtltilnef/is2h02©0JVIulSiIeONH,atRcehdera,dDmiarualbe©ntGounys 06 Fact-packed discoveries 05 Wild Things 1 0 Nature on Your Doorstep 11 Coal Tit Poster 14 Gallery 1 6 Weird Nature Christmassy creatures 17 How to… Make a snow globe 22 Feature Creature Centipede 2 3 What’s a Murmuration? 24 Competitions Features 06 Wildlife Wins Conservation success stories 08 Wild Adventures 12 100 Species to Spot 18 The Sounds of Winter Maddie Moate explores nature’s noises 20 Nature’s Senior Citizens Animals that live to be 100 Otters © Danny Green / 2020VISION WILDLIFE WATCH Editor: Tom Hibbert Editorial Team: Ashleigh Carter, Joanna Richards, Leanne Smart, Mike Watson, Charlotte Varela Check out wildlifetrusts. org/privacy-policy to find out how we keep your information safe. Chris What’s Wildlife Watch? © Wildlife Watch is the junior branch of The Wildlife Trusts. magazine a year. This is packed Gannet Join Wildlife Watch and start full of amazing pictures, posters your nature adventure. Prices and competitions. We also start from £30 for a family have a really wild website membership, but please bear in and e-newsletter full of wild mind prices may vary depending ideas and nature-spotting WAKTECEHPING! on which Wildlife Trust you join. tips. Plus you get access to You’ll receive a starter pack local events and groups. and four issues of Wildlife Watch Go to wildlifewatch.org.uk to find out more.

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 NOCTURNAL TORPOR (nock-tur-nul) Impress PELAGE animals (tor-puh) your friends Used to describe are active When animals go into a kind with new (pel-ij) that of deep sleep, with a lower words from body temperature, breathing the world The hairy, furry, or woolly at night, rate and heart rate to save of wildlife coat of a mammal. Many energy if it’s cold or there’s science! mammals grow a thicker like many not much food. It’s like a mini pelage in winter to version of hibernation! stay warm! moths. RECENT DISCOVERIES SEABIRD SANCTUARY by putting small tracking © Margaret Holland devices on seabirds and A new safe space recording where they for seabirds has went. Birds from many been created in the different countries visit the North Atlantic Ocean! This area, including puffins and special part of the sea, which kittiwakes from the UK. is the size of France, will be This special place has been protected to make sure the given the long name of the North Atlantic Current and millions of seabirds Evlanov Seamount Marine that travel there Protected Area – or NACES to feed will have plenty to eat. MPA for short! Scientists discovered this important area HIPPO HISTORY© Neil Adams / University of Leicester hippo called Hippopotamus © Jon Hawkins Surrey Hills Photography antiquus. By comparing it cientists have to other hippo teeth, they identified it as an upper S discovered a molar – a chewing tooth. fossilised hippo’s Hippos lived in Britain during tooth in Somerset that’s more warm periods between ice ages, but have been extinct than one million here for over 100,000 years. years old. This is This tooth was found in the oldest hippo fossil ever found an old cave in a quarry in Somerset. in the UK! The tooth belonged to an extinct species of 4 Wildlife Watch Magazine Issue 100

WILD THINGS News from our Wildlife Watchers LITTER ANIMAL Evangeline (aged 8) from Lancashire PICK ARTIST made this cool creature-filled LEGEND collage, including drawings of the animals that she saw on Shetland! She also made her own hedgehog house. Five-year-old Jensen pickers. Every morning from Derbyshire before school he collects convinced his litter to take home and parents to get some litter throw away properly. WASTE RIVER WARRIOR RESCUERS Natalia (aged 9) and her brother Reuben (aged 5) went litter picking along a river in Suffolk. They picked up lots of rubbish that could hurt wildlife. They also saw lots of animals, including a crab fighting with a gull! Nine-year-old Mae from Oxfordshire does INSECT all she can to save the planet. She puts INSPECTOR up posters about littering in school and goes on lots of litter picks. She used all the plastic Five-year-old Connor lids she collected to make this amazing artwork to from Staffordshire highlight the problem of plastic waste. found this gorgeous lesser stag beetle in his garden. DUCK We’d be excited too! DEFENDER Do you want to write for Seven-year-old Jackson the magazine? Send from Scotland loves your stories and ideas to birds and does lots [email protected]! to help them. He even gave a talk to his class on feeding ducks duck food instead of bread. Winter 2021 • wildlifewatch.org.uk 5

CELEBRATING WILDL Nature’s great big fight back “TCOHSOEUE GYOHUED” OUWtabhmeKieet.anhlBzapyfsitusaneoeottsnagwm1jcru0puinsens0epsagtaoyaanrthpeenindolnaayedwygrt,iscopsssm,iuutsrtwo’ouiuclerlijcecsleifedheoicgsnlstfhisrdsfoWoas,efwwvathiowenleiadrndtiisirllhgeidwdofosale,f…siinwtflWeededonslalicntifltvohoedcriasehniinttregfsfgosreureuoclilsfgthma,iha–tnnthntbdhfeghuaedreetredolrmtaewhhosiaiatvnnnvne4gretrk8iohgastvheiltmestoore? LKtthaiBhtoeaenfhioornuegnvori1wrgtteeeds9cutirenehnr7Anbsosdve3dberr2iwetnmitihhg0wrrttc,ihdaufh0n,ehahesrsht1gema,artoctiuneuuttvnophireldtprdythanienhn,balesyhileegwnotedtom,ggtlhewtmasihsitnianuschaobeatdthpmeotfe!ncentpicoTdhthishxathenhoeheebiomeseyuetdaiyph’lgidleld’rsl.lev–ehaysiceIeetLtoposatdxadiobnzpmtrify,ieeaeocnestedfeerrhprcoldtbontueobricnaoiniotinbgnmrcketCmdrohkiECensioog,anfm,egorrwdhgnondro.toklnimwiyatnnsuhwnagtadll.ll FlairtsetrisbseureeonfaWmaetdchWWildoirfde,Wwahticchh. would 1973 2001 © Janet Packham 1990 All peregrine photos © Bertie Gregory / 2020VISION CITY SLICKER 6 Wildlife Watch Magazine Issue sodothoffeeratNcehyariodseinamcitemdatfgcWrniadaenelnooelthzgncotntrvlioo…oecihnweusenagtrtfmtereehsmbyporbne,absunatilwnehrsTitiondrrcrehfle2foliioioikonnfc0ccrfennfiiht0tottleypyheUpaucmredcloinareiglfageniiEenyslevteesau,heoturssshsnperenso,tseepedaebniMtsterrcdomyufatorhaiintndbtlerhssoimsgglunttaopwothiupounoalerdt.oerrdnk?eiie,T!rnnesdPpehtg,rhtsuegiiehogserpwrcoenehienfhoactneoenpatprlsssyee © Mike Snelle 100

LIFE WINS bRyicJhoaarndnsa © David Parkyn / Cornwall Wildlife Trust OMTATREVRELYLLOUS Joanna Richards Tstbttubhbihhpmepaaeeeoccnesstoaf,koee,ukub,utirshfssduinlseraoitsdinhvtyotkg-ehtoiulhnyrroauosresvet’wrvrwehvteieovreieinsemdwlarpgryatsamoemycusdwsoeptunhuurenc’stiernrnuhveeyctmiytnbvahcseoeibnaoen.utentbEp1etgrh9fesoorhfe5onlctdlof0ruchUotissfetabofeK!itcndoad.oTucuTghfalechontaatlaretcnitotn’esthao’senw tsTfwmihihcoDinSnhnlairaauoalsettcdrmrpmdthleWwclcueieheahefmcdii,enlgiltobelmndyadeofalplgrivpaiuclsmdfoeinoaktertenreynstanfaTlndssigtefnnirio!iweondurbdddnosicasriptfeuontttwopcsomtrg–rhihiwsgnjttaeaie,hhenghmnomrt.gedrawIMoar’njasvlraeijuiaynteiortehItocttsbltsiskocnhnmtaavioeeglnteyywd, something to celebrate! rn / naturepl.com 2011 ornwall Wildlife Trust © Nick Upton / C © William Osbo © AndyRouse / 2020VISION 2009 2015 BEAVER FEVER THE RPEOTOULRFNROOFG THE BatfeWaahwocoeelxlnonertnilithloildnsiddtedcnhevetlvlciiopieerbnnfesttesraiireuro2euihGratTefnte0rruaonvreu.t0erevrecosMs9eaahrrntslis,steinanosv,tBbwwdnihtenbw,rayeeiicbmointicnaspertSegkehehiecKanbateocotEnov!ehhdttnpea,Bteetaigrlhssptunesorfalheditam,rrudsiaisneWUnnseeltlyldceeKereittlohslldad.uaeFteTwslhodrnatihefoeer1idedeneie6dmnbirgWTsntetbhrietrgnu,rToaehectfhasdoatloueetotenuuvunnsdertcntthneturedoesdroiyr,! WphataWCthhtwoehmfhoeetioaeeloanadplr1yrtsdl9hhfitbrgcefh9iuoetboeroeo0ggviniTeiansaerrctsfungiotac–nips“ohrlu–rrlotbneiioeorbauauipnnuTbncttnryeotthiducdrttcoea–sforiAawdsitnnb.btlmudlheoTb.nuchrenpTitoteetheh”hywled?eaieoinmibmdtWyuibhnifiaa’eaea,ede2lnasrrcelfleb0.ot,nsaf1eFeutirdondh5ioxnnuldeetugtbdghrincsnoRyeirsikcanoefriNyntsqtrrphNhfetotulchtoaeeisrorlieferittororrekrefsnlyoksilnek,d © Danny Green / 2020VISION creature’s numbers grow! Winter 2021 • wildlifewatch.org.uk 7

CANOE DOWN amInbnsTiarstaaSustaogssuntaprrsaedh!amoiFldeoorvv@lPfeleooansrrwovtaTuepnhhrlholdeeeiureWasopninaldvlisfe W IExplore the UK’s wildlif A RIVER ADVEN Get closer to the water by trying out a canoe. It’s so much fun paddling down a river! If Everyone loves a good adv you stay quiet and float gently along, you know you don’t need to le can get up close to some of our amazing water- loving wildlife. Look out for ducks, and in summer very own wild advent dragonflies. You could even spot a kingfisher mountains, canoe dow zipping past you! There are lots of places you can rent canoes or kayaks to paddle around on a with sharks witho river or lake – just make sure you wrap up warm, take plenty of snacks, and a plane. Let me follow all safety instructions, including wearing safety AWESOME equipment such as a buoyancy aid. EXPLORE THE COAST ON A PADDLEBOARD W hat’s SUP? No, I’m not snAwpcallawiotlducsaeleriyef.resLstoegcootimyvmtoeheuee! asking how you’re doing – a SUP is a stand-up paddleboard! It’s like a giant surfboard that you push along with an oar. We have some amazing coasts in the UK, with lots of wildlife like seals, dolphins and seabirds to discover. There are plenty of places you can take boat rides to get a better look, but for a real adventure try renting a stand-up paddleboard. It’s fun, good exercise and much quieter than a boat, so wildlife might come even closer! You can use them on rivers, too. Make sure you check the weather, go with an adult, find a nice calm section of water and follow all safety instructions from the rental shop! 8 Wildlife Watch Magazine Issue 100

LDfe in style with SophiePav © Jonathan MabeyWANDER ALONG YOUR NTURES elle! LOCAL ESTUARY venture story! But did you D id you know that a river estuary eave the UK to have your is one of the BEST places for ture? You could climb birdwatching in winter? Every wn a river or even swim year, the UK welcomes tens of thousands out ever getting on of migrant birds from Arctic countries to show you some spend the winter months feeding on our E activities! rich estuary mud! Dress warmly, take some binoculars and head down to your local estuary. Look out for brent geese, lapwings, curlews, wigeons and spectacular starling murmurations as you near sunset. With so many birds it can get very noisy! The Wildlife Trusts has many nature reserves you can visit to see this winter feast – you don’t want to miss out! ATHNEIGSTHATRUS NDER T his is one of my FAVOURITE things to do. Every time you go camping it feels like a mini adventure, even if it’s only in your back garden! It’s also a great way to get closer to nature. As it gets dark, lots of hidden wildlife starts to appear. You can hear tawny owls hooting from the trees, or in summer watch bats swooping through the air. Then you can just lie back and look at the stars twinkling above you. The whole sky is like one giant dot-to-dot – what shapes can you make? Winter 2021 • wildlifewatch.org.uk 9

You dotna’kt ianlwg aaylosohkaavtestoomtreaovfelthfaerntaotsuerealatmreaazsinugrewsitlhdalitfec.aEnVbEeRfYouISnSdUclEoTseHtIoShYoEmAeR. we’re NATURE ON YOUR DOORSTEP WINTER WONDERS Winter can seem quiet compared to the other seasons, but there’s still plenty of wildlife to spot. Some animals are easy to see as they move around in search of food, but finding others takes a bit of searching! HERE ARE SOME WILD WONDERS TO LOOK OUT FOR… Blackbird Winter moth © Iain H Leach © Mark Hamblin / 2020VISION wtibgdYnholaiiaedtmurhrcd’eykrayeoe’bsionnuipmurlidakrnroosnnlbowrdoteracwiaEnafbouvtllteeyorhborldalvaptaetoacerrmekr.ytohbOahfueianruendmUyrrdseKwio,.loibTfaifnnhrterohtefehwmoeyrorisbteslShipadlactertaracheanyknnivs?dbde’tciEiltrnlqohadinaumecsgvihtywmieahoaioonuauanmtstnesuecdgermoeasoalcnrditgdno,haeafteyfhnisirnonotcubguhionriserbudpasiernp!ansrtrB,rdrrikiianuseegontssord.f Wtmsfsormpoiuingomugthtedhtorfgrefnneiynneieggodzbhruieountgsyumghtc!mspatiWodionneticgnhboyteimheonrafuterosmreoeahsoupzotwtiehunacsisgnineaadcdlrioosecfwllhtdayhe,toettmbhrrwaurirocectiauntsaeltgtsiedfnherigntwtmohbitelohsyigmtabhahr.l.dntosOTyo,ohndmsuiesottoshstyithmdahoaetsuatsllamylit,goroehaputy.it Grey squirrel Ivy © Terry Whittaker / 2020VISION © Scott Petrek 10 Tptstnahshhtaquireeecretuikskysreisfsrnuwi,rnabeenfiniullsallstltdseuo,w,hdatwlwauyas-wmnhratgtdiahitcnteceihhelheragymi,dnosacbdurocamudtasndteastl’iolsntgmeaasldfintmd.ivhndeaIlnyedaotmdltwosfthrohgeaieuoneeyrypdtr.et’eh.rIstetraeoGo,’srbftcr.ethaeoaaemymdftyosaimnonqstepetuobwwreiniaranirsnlesdllst-filegos.sairrhEz.bvltoeGoueiudtrnrryreyobmyrlfusoatosantriqsmendouyolrefeietfreridonenfl,s tgicgTtimllhaiocniraessgdsnwieoynnsfoggpsynr.roeedeInaetae’trsnrd.ofaIulnaterlcacewplrveiolmieasns,snbtsewtetthrthrah,aietlwrltsiggvchroeraoiocrsnwuhoinbnstmhdembeelstraaaoecsnonetky.snruIpitatcahttguraarkrosneswsyda,santrhbdkoy, ugh clusters of berries that birds love to eat.

Coal © Mark Hamblin / 2020VISION tit Tcdohilesfdfuseewprtpeeelnayettnhfhyoeirdrb.wiiTnrdhghseepnlyliaktscheteaitnsso,ghsbsofegotpeohtrdeetyiopnuahlrgaoevhtdes! foaofr Winter 2021 • wildlifewatch.org.uk 11

10T0OSPSEPOCITES idedTnihAftferienfericewyanothtuiyopannlsaosnektxtitsclaliasktneaeddnodaaubnrhoi1amu0vta0eltsfshupienne1c2e0i0x0e2pst2hlco!hiTrsaiesnlsulgteeyntohogfeueWrwakniillndddoltiawfrseylyeWtodoaugsteprc,ahoicmtaeapsttrowloeyevaoeasurtyreo1?g0uo0ral. © Adam Jones Tlohveesebuwsihnetesrftuhllruosfhbeesrries SPRING Listen for i“tcshinifgf icnhgaff, WINTER chiff chaff” 1 Redwing 17 Common gorse 1 Chiffchaff awkins Surrey Hills Photography 2 Robin 18 Snowdrop 2 Great crested © Jon H 3 Tufted duck 19 Mistletoe 4 Mallard 20 Primrose grebe 16 Green shieldbug 5 Long-tailed tit 21 Yew tree 17 Garden snail 6 Pied wagtail 22 Scots pine 3 Sand martin 18 Bluebell 7 House sparrow 23 Grey seal 4 Swallow 19 Daffodil 8 Song thrush 24 Grey squirrel 5 Skylark 20 Cowslip 9 Starling 25 Fox 6 Great spotted 21 Hawthorn 10 Pochard 22 Stinging nettle 11 Mute swan Thhaenygliokuettion woodpecker 23 Cow parsley 12 Canada goose large flocks 24 Three-spined 13 Blackbird 7 Blue tit 14 Rook 8 Wren stickleback 15 Holly 9 Orange-tip 25 Common frog 16 Ivy 10 Peacock (butterfly) 11 Brimstone (butterfly) 12 Large white (butterfly) 13 Holly blue 14 Small tortoiseshell 15 St. Mark’s fly © MargaretHolland Guy Edwardes / 2020VISION © 12 Wildlife Watch Magazine Issue 100

s Lsotaoskhfionrgtsheeemds catonhtMebhseoeersssttpspooeoeoaftc!tsieoedlnsoistyons,otuoouirYnffolcisoinuostteutdhd,alaetoddhrln!lses’1tprp0ohee0taacovirenees and nuts © Jon Hawkin AUTUMN Lsicsrteeanmfoinr gthceairlls SUMMER 1 Jay 15 Bluebottle fly 2 Nuthatch 16 Garden woodlouse 1 Swift 10 Common blue 3 Woodpigeon 17 Common Gently lift 2 Common tern (butterfly) 4 Chaffinch up logs 3 Herring gull 5 Goldfinch centipede and rocks 4 Common red 11 Meadow brown 6 Cellar spider 12 Red admiral 7 Cranefly 18 Red deer soldier beetle 13 Ringlet 8 House spider 19 Hazel 5 Black garden ant 14 Speckled wood 9 Common 20 Crab apple 6 Common darter 15 Garden 21 Beefsteak fungus 7 Four-spotted harvestman 22 Fly agaric fungus bumblebee 23 Horse chestnut chaser 10 Zebra spider 24 Dog rose 8 Common blue 16 Large black slug 11 Garden spider 25 Bramble 17 Common spotted 12 7-spot ladybird damselfly 13 Common earwig © Jon Ha 9 Blue-tailed orchid 14 Common field wkins damselfly 18 Foxglove grasshopper 19 Oak tree Mmloaoolvkeesfoaarsrelothvoeeny! the © Vaughn Matthews 20 Bracken 21 Pipistrelle bat sinsTgrpayleectcoWshmieeafaisaonlnlsreidnteon1enago0!vef0e?n 22 Harbour porpoise 23 Rabbit 24 Shore crab 25 Bladder wrack seaweed Winter 2021 • wildlifewatch.org.uk 13

GALLERY Send in your photos, poems, artwork and letters for your chance to feature in the gallery. If your work is picked as the star entry you’ll win your very own drawing kit! The perfect starter set for any budding wildlife artist. 1 2 3 4 5 6 14 Wildlife Watch Magazine Issue 100

7 8 1) Hedgehog by Alice, aged 9 We love the way the different shades of 9 10 brown make this hedgehog look super spiky! 12 11 2) Fish by Alex, aged 6 Just look at this fabulous 3D fish! You can HEwmOitahWilthwTeaOstucEbhNj@eTcwEt iRllindelifetrusts.org almost see it swimming. ‘Gallery entry’ or wWTThrhiiletedelWKitfoeiillnudW,sliMfaaetta:cTthrhuGesrtasRlloerayd 3) Wasp nests by Theo, aged 7 Newark These incredible model wasp nests look just like the real thing! Notts NG24 1WT 4) Pheasant by Isabelle, aged 6 Pheasants are so common, it’s easy to forget how beautiful they are. 5) Butterflies by Jennifer, aged 11 Jennifer did a great job photographing these two common blue butterflies. 6) Long-tailed tit by Isabella, aged 9 The pose on this little bird is perfect – it looks ready to spring into flight! 7) Great crested grebe by Carys, aged 15 This model grebe is amazing! We’re super impressed. 8) Hare by Eva, aged 8 Eva has made wonderful use of charcoal to bring this hare to life. 9) Bee by Tess, aged 8 You can almost hear this brilliant bee buzzing! 10) Hobby by Eleni, aged 9 The use of black and white really makes this fast falcon stand out. 11) Otter by Ben, aged 10 This otter looks so happy as it peers around the rock! 12) Bees in lavender by Elsie, aged 9 Elsie has created a beautiful scene of busy bees. Iwf willaeinfWtnofeoedreegnadymetooutyuiurtgoeorrhuwyaitrnogaefcuierbllsurs,sotdwsitneoseoahtrdamhakonerwenedm’et. social media. Winter 2021 • wildlifewatch.org.uk 15

WNAETIURRDE W EIRD- O-ME T E ERFUL WACKYR WEIRD WOND THIS ISSUE: CHRISTMASSY CREATURES by Pete Dommett RED-LEGGED ROBIN ANTLER MOTH TURTLE DOVE PARTRIDGE © Margaret Holland © Mark Hamblin / 2020VISION © Amy Lewis © Russell Savory Finding this partridge in a Robins are a common sight Flying antlers? Not Santa’s SCsbdmbtfeehiouarrreiesrdrigsioiteinprssneudagtoslgmt,sittvtebl-twyoedauhtnsoeositenucetyttwlirhuiWaompniersunreiten’sUidtlsseawegtiKsdrndAotb!lgioiyuTiflnrvlralhdiidbetssce.’spesabytraholeiutunecsrgkeyto pear tree – as mentioned in at Christmas – in gardens, reindeers, but a moth named the famous carol The Twelve parks and on Christmas cards! after the strange, antler-shaped MUTE SWAN Days of Christmas – is pretty The Victorian postmen that markings on its wings. After unlikely as they don’t tend to delivered the first festive spending the winter as an perch in trees. You’re much cards were nicknamed ‘robins’ egg, the moth larva grazes on more likely to see a group (or because they wore bright red grass (just like Rudolph) before ‘covey’) of these farmland birds uniforms. Unusually, both taking to the wing in summer! scurrying about on the ground. male and female robins sing all through the winter. NUTMEG MOTH HOLLY BLUE BLACKBIRD © Rachel Scopes © Margaret Holland © Margaret Holland © Neil Aldridge This common butterfly lays TTmcCohwMaticotehnelelhlinlielillowmevnlytirUrieogiomiangwnKDntbiteesnosaiefa.rmrraryfBdndoosltsrsomosvuorar,cerrfefesorrnoscCrsabwcuoorihllao!rylraerlptnycbiohuseklobrtesabtmfuirbchrinTarkldaeadlhbsEslccsy,ieukornfdsr…llodyoisnitep!ntgroe. atbwlhdfsoCuNepueiosrhtuilkhrtwctriotseivmmiiswtnelitisotetmkfuoefgoteornoahoiius!adsstd!N’nnestiTanrhddubngheetMeirdimnesofmlantuableyheovngrs.rtioopsdgslwuaremofirronnafvoorksatflehed Istbsstbswhwpiwusgeaehatrawncneownisehusashsailraatdo-earesloensbwtbpohedtiiehormvelrdeuiiavsmsassmeinaytiinhnndoitnegsdotBthrswbseecepoewioanUfcomliatlttcKeuhykmsr!esee’s.Meovaseernu,nte its eggs on two Christmassy bushes – the holly and the ivy! Its caterpillars feed on both plants before spending the winter pupating in cosy tacoorecaopoonpneesao.rTfitnhhesepbfrriiirngshtg.tbbultuteerafldieuslts 16 Wildlife Watch Magazine Issue 100

Winter 2021 • wildlifewatch.org.uk 17

Join MADDIE MOATE on an audio adventure! SOWUTINNHDTESEROF © Jan Meeus W hen was the last time you ljiussttencleodsetodtyhoeuwr eoyrledsaarnodund you? Winter is the perfect twrfrilaemoiiatcnehdkdytslooatotnolfsecegtoixneyfpegonsluoooenrir.seSeweaotsihrbntseoudtsnodaowdkiuslecsneottduhvospeecoralhfen–aawdtfdtrige,noremtitenrg! © Guy Edwardes / 2020VISION WSpsssMhhohcileaiddAoerclwinDisefaecsDaMseTttlI!,shraEuoMSedshadMawtesnide!oOhd’ansoAimdeDsTe’tsbosrEasStYhosooisseuufanonCKddboBonsieEsroexeewfspobsol?rieoenTadrsehhnwreedsri.th 18 Wildlife Watch Magazine Issue 100

© Danielle Dolson Pink-footed geese © David Tipling / 2020VISION TDHANECREAIN GGOEESSSIEPING kongfAoagwggegnreloseaue.spias Ibclsitinhtaupttlelteoelehccdbdkoloriswtwouscpdaodloslls,toifoekuauovfereldmnefosvatlasaitbiiqlhtetppaiiuegnteoiieegfgddsuoctesorrmewt..tuhscATaaoneehtsfttdonreeiemsoitrrtoi?ipwacuahfWellsrneau,daidaemtcleieikn.lvlcsrp,eyAl!ovtosahsWantuatpenpodempedogascayueditkrahlrtalswharerkneeoriinsnwcorffe,eodoudastwronhfutmoeuwdesrrrpe.tauwmfdIoiaitsnn’a.rsilcltiMtcspsoeseooot?frotomuhlvrlOsleeealeeonroapswos.mfroktfWtaahryuhaotinerneaymatrgbincusnd,eadcrvranrlliaaolosslsimtitupnbhibcds!leokeasssjsoc,getktinaos Gihwstspaholibaktanheeckriceensoatofytuofho.tsheIcueneehTrfehehrletwohaseeiancieetanrkefrydoret.aeorlahAtrirmhkne,esleleeotlaihptnmnhttoooicfiosftaurhhhnensmcoea,daahnylinintilabkkyugmdtleirytngseeoawgrn’rusookohaitefunmielisgpsnsynyoeoso.obsetIsluhtmiesgbtrseaeteusplfyolfctcoeltcotahhyccoaocnetkgnaklusgegopc’.ivstaeiuaTsheetlrhaeeahksebrre!eorsuointutnoodnes! © Sadie McGlone © Amee Fairbank-Brown SSNILOEWNCE SSIKNIGLLISNG W Rahftsaribannonsyvomdoewgrsnlaboosopstutsiassns,erseohodtsossfeudsomtantloiigonktrdneheyeim,t’tetth?gstyloeriooanTaflduhttpgfn,eofdesiotnscnheibwts’earrgteaeosnaettsnrerwdtgalgddmatvepieoneiesnuenlywen.oca’etghhptsmthaelrsefeapnasnmvgsroyae.ewdo.BltlTuiia,ustthtrbastlgaeeupofopatbsnpporoiicef.teuueaiTqdttnhrstudhdiiiinsdoeeweeittseh.sarebS.vfhaeFehlrcsleahysu,ohcsBua,raefmnolonsubnidfytgfooyhhiwufnst nefnmlsoaomwktsaieciaeslneleg! dbmooaxfbokcieuraadsnvilrsslodseotiomodcauosuoenteattbntahthadbkihdneyeecsoeshraqxsasberysauuotorosricatfieben,hthtittiorhxeo.nfac.npeWmssoJmeaabuthmhsomfoiseorsafptudnerettlls’hiissetkcathefiaeattomhewrtcworoerhefoobsudoi.niuilrlonnuSudsgvdgononpshoigngniiiainpnci,gsgtgee.bt.sthh,sTa?TibrahwihldislTonteihwhsxaccwedeaarim(nerciinnfsentaafeeeetbdliaerlctrbe,ouenrrfe,dweotenshlitorttcha’iksitwemnseslbgsaniiaattsaashork,myyssteticniiophtncoasxedaegmser)ci,ltrfllstfiyyfetbao!eyh!shirlreraieBovdnalonsumlxssyitttchitershweienooxw Winter 2021 • wildlifewatch.org.uk 19

For our 100th issue, we’re introducing some 100-year-old wildlife! NATURE’S SENIO T he UK is home to some old, wise, creatures that are experts in anti-ageing and avoiding being eaten. They have mastered slow living, often growing only a few millimetres per year. Many of them save their energy by moving very slowly and not having kids until they are really old! tshetdeheemeaemtsptbuhaltdcaichPnhahreadkrart.k’ssahneBdeseyauiemywt!tepetsassthehycemlsvaiyneaondsfkthoitnoeng’t © arransealife.co.uk © Franco Banfi / naturepl.com © Dough Perrine / naturepl.com Greenland shark Ocean quahog These are very mysterious creatures, staying in the deep, (pronounced ‘ko-hog’ or ‘kwah-hog’). dark, cold seas that humans rarely explore. They’re very slow swimmers, moving at less than half the pace of a walking This large clam lives buried in sandy seafloors. Like a tree, human, despite being four times bigger! Females wait until they counting the number of growth rings on its shell tells its age. are an ancient 150 years old before having babies. Greenland Scientists can also study the clam’s shell to find out how warm sharks live to at least 250 years old and could possibly live to and salty the sea was hundreds of years ago. The oldest over 500, making them the longest living vertebrate (animals recorded ocean quahog was 507 years old, so was alive when with backbones) on the planet! Henry VIII was king! It was nick-named ‘Ming’ as it was born during the rule of the Ming dynasty in China. 20 Wildlife Watch Magazine Issue 100

OR CITIZENS byBethChurn © Mark Yokoyama © Florian Graner / naturepl.com Orange roughy Cold-water coral These are big, bright orange fish with spiny fins and tails. They Did you know that corals don’t just live in warm, tropical seas? can be found in deep seas around the UK. They were once called They’re also found in chilly, UK seas! Lots of tiny animals called slime-head fish because slimy mucus oozes from their big heads! ‘polyps’ live together in large groups. They build a shared Their name was changed because fishermen didn’t think this skeleton-like house around themselves for protection. Over time, sounded very tasty. Counting the number of layers on the fish’s the hard skeletons grow and create a coral reef. The polyps ear bone will tell you how old it is. The oldest orange roughy was themselves don’t live that long, but the cold-water coral reefs 230 years old. Orange roughy are in danger from overfishing, they build can be 1000s of years old, and the oldest is thought to because they take so long to grow – so it’s best not to eat them! be over 8000! © Brian Eversham © Linda Pitkin / 2020VISION Yew trees Freshwater pearl mussel These mussels live in rivers and streams. Young mussels latch The most ancient trees in the UK are the Fortingall Yew onto the gills of passing fish like salmon and trout. They (Scotland), the Defynnog Yew (Wales), and the Crowhurst stay here until they are big enough to survive on the Yew (England). These are estimated to be 2000-5000 riverbed. Few animals eat the adult mussels because years old, meaning they may have started growing thwreehcooUTarKlhdniveedwedoda2lhs2dtuo8eams1dwt1a5aonyymsien!aanrs they are protected by thick, hard shells. The oldest long before the Roman Empire began! As the world freshwater pearl mussel was 280 years old. changes around it, the yew tree stands strong, They are endangered animals and their location rooted in the same spot. Imagine the things it has is kept top secret to stop them from being seen and the stories it would tell if it could speak! illegally taken for their pretty pearls. Winter 2021 • wildlifewatch.org.uk 21

by Tom Hibbert BCREONWTINPEDE © Niall Benvie / 2020VISION For our 100th issue, © Alex Hyde / naturepl.com we chose a feature Scientific name HGUANRDTEERNS creature famous for Lithobius forficatus having 100 legs… Centipedes are fierce predators that use well, sort of! Size large venomous claws to hunt other Up to 3cm long minibeasts, including spiders and slugs. LMHEOAGWNSY? Brown centipedes are also known as common Amazing fact centipedes, because they’re found across the Centipedes are Centipedes use their UK in forests, fields and gardens. They spend often thought to long antennae and the day hiding under stones and logs, then have 100 legs legs to feel their come out at night to hunt. If you carefully lift up because of their name, a log or stone you might spot one underneath which comes from the Latin way around. – but be sure to put it down gently so you don’t words for 100 (centum) and squash them or any other creatures! feet (pedes). But centipedes don’t actually have 100 legs! MCEILNLTIIPPEEDDEE?OR There are many different species of centipede, which At first glance, it might seem tricky to can have as few as 30 tell a centipede from a millipede. legs or over 200 of them. They both have lots of legs! Counting The number of pairs of legs is the legs doesn’t always help, but looking at always odd, so it’s impossible where they’re placed can. Their bodies are for a centipede to have 100 legs made up of lots of armour-like sections joined – unless it loses a few! A fully together. Millipedes have two pairs of legs on grown brown centipede only each section of their body, but centipedes only has 30 legs. have one pair on each section. Millipede legs also point straight down to the ground, whilst centipede legs often stick out to the side. There are over 40 species of centipede in the UK, which are very difficult to tell apart. 22 Wildlife Watch Magazine Issue 100

MWbUyLaHureRnBoAotMh TU’SRAATION? © Danny Green / 2020VISION © Danny Green / 2020VISIONS wirling and swooping, starlings gather together in huge flocks on winter evenings. They soar and dive and spin, creating enormous dazzling patterns in the sky as the sun goes down. This is called a murmuration. But why do they do it? SAFETY IN NUMBERS WSNAURGMGALYNDNmtsfltsthfivooiostikootiuenaernnpebmrhrrdocgeipymolnuishrlrniediinbxphontaeugyeiiaattsssrncrsesadrre!rtogsrdceatj,toinMoittnarafooibwtfllioliorunoonlnuwlhynccissgntapfia.hiktktongtiwhiaPncemhrsgosmskkorxe.afeeeupaswyAsotd,arnehh,swmuasrlduoibtthytkfgusuooueeersrrttansahstt,niihunoderknesre.twhaahrtyemcmTaoluoohumrtfersmetmhwnosuouafirfnurmirnaogsgetmabionesntdoahustesnAmodnifmuoritpmnnhovueuiratmrtrsaaaettntbnsohtitfiioetttsotcosethaosrnh,ternotserpamo.etlriiershnayamnWblhanievcangniie.fighsdytdtsegslmgeTeptctsehkfnrhahaulooeerteoasenhrtsotectmthtemthaspnlkhaeaemtenusiuorirgwnrlddrifathnngslaeoodotteugri,wslcosmajsreoitkvtnnrtha.iibf,etnvieoranyTselygishdoneiingtswthshwiehseteihrsnvnauietnetnrtyrhj.hoeuing,e © Chris Speller HOW TO SEE ONE!AarToenhfsstyeetewanrbrhvleenienssergteatpomrinlartuechtreheemdesmubtUreoiaKddtsds,ioelfeanreonoctmdhfaeptnwomiewihlrdantshps,noptaauhetngeundhirraecaflmairtevioeossu.trite r bsylooteeoatfAatrssrwerltmioTeeinonhfzeguugiisnsnrsrmtsgarsOmietuerwcelsetritnsiitaanodl.getnbteiseosendrnvrtofitlsaBwuoeinsmcrtniiudktnpitsasgoMelhlcrfysaraabolrhtneicmuraehdbrppe,seEp.sjuauehAfrrnsautoetsrnpttbjhdehaoeiretisnetfroosdetuirndsmeenosobesrtcthfeyhaoet.pf e thoergmsDp/imsoacttusowrvfmoeilrdrusloriaefueteritoirntunogsspts.Avmenardaygnricstcdehaoh amyahosmtilolhaluemeyuteelYshmfxowiwuacepraubrnhaaernms’eodnetrltlcirohsruaehefnstoirrnsnoiealtunwictidnetnrrgewihogdogabrensanyaeasrgog.psemfi!uotobTtea’uyrourilyteorlpdrftmoourtseowtprfuoucmlaptaanarhgraaecrsnmearttemeiiitvsoe!tbhetbenneoIseetec,oasrr.wcetbtttafPhauvhloteniietotracecaekitgwhssstve’ketsestye.ra! Winter 2021 • wildlifewatch.org.uk 23

COMPETITIONS WEINNDANGERED ANIMALS BINGO T LhaisurfeanmcielyK-firniegnPdulybblisinhginoggiasmpaecbkyed with astonishing and beautiful TCFOOHRAWNYIONCUE: R creatures from all over the world. WtMchahralelareaktdtu,eanbaniuctedht sthbstpeeheretechm’iseessafitlriolls?lftftTitomohneesyyhtooaouursertacBuvaIneNrddtGheaOersm!!it!’s Just tell us which amphibian was reintroduced to the UK in 2015, after going extinct in the 1990s. (The answer We’ve got THREE to give away. is in the magazine!) Buy online at: wtru.st/animal-bingo RRP: £19.99 WIN Build your own bug box and create a FOR YOUR handy hiding spot for bees, beetles CHANCE ABKBOIUTXG and other minibeasts to spend the TO WIN: winter in your garden. This easy- to-assemble kit comes with pre-cut JUST ANSWER THIS panels, nails and screws, so all you’ll QUESTION! need is a hammer, screwdriver and What is the name for some adult supervision to put it all together! Then just forage for sticks a group of geese? and cones to fill it. a) A gaggle We’ve got SIX kits to give away! b) A chattering c) A charm Buy online at: nestbox.co.uk RRP: £15.60 WIN We’ve got FIVE copies to give away. THE BLUE Buy online at: GIANT wtru.st/blue-giant RRP: £6.99 T his beautifully illustrated story follows Meera and her mum FOR YOUR CHANCE TO WIN: at the seaside, as they meet a blue giant that asks for help Draw your favourite sea creature. to save the seas. It’s the perfect book to introduce young readers to the issues of pollution, waste and the ocean. Send your competition COMPETITION RULES NG24 1WT Denotnr’iet sfotrogeutst:oBiyncelumdaeilyowuCarotcmnhapcmeotimeti,opnasg@eentwariienldsdlmifaeatwyruabseytuso.sfoecrdgoonBntayocuptrionwsgetbyWsoiutieldaalbinfeodusWtoacyiotaculhmr,eeTndhitaeryc!KhiDalnnE,nAeMDlsa.LtIhNeEr:R2o8adF,eNberuwaarrky,2N0o2tt2inghamshire