Wildlife Watch Issue 105 Spring 2023

FREE! EGG- SKETCH FISH STRAVAGANZA SKILLS POSTER It’s not just birds Learn to draw that lay eggs! a kingfisher Issue 105 Spring 2023 TOFLHNYE Meet the orange-tip, a true spring butterfly!

WILD THINGS News from our Wildlife Watchers Ecodrintoerr’s IVY INVESTIGATION TOM HIBBERT Finlay (aged 13) from Lincolnshire recently Editor, Wildlife Watch received his Nature Ranger award for studying the ivy near his house. Ivy is a One of my favourite parts wonderful plant that brings so many benefits. of editing Wildlife Watch is Finlay put together an interesting report on seeing all your amazing ivy and all the wildlife it supports – from artwork. It’s always really hard insects to birds. Well done, Finlay! to choose just 12 pictures for the gallery – I wish I could feature all PINE CONE of them! One of the most popular CREATIONS animals our readers like to draw is the kingfisher. It’s not surprising Seven-year-old a wonderful way to as it’s a beautiful bird! So, I Tilda from Bristol spend a snowy Sunday! thought you might enjoy a guide used the ‘make If you get inspired by to drawing a kingfisher from a your own’ guide in our any of our “How to…” professional artist – turn to page winter magazine to activities don’t forget to 20 for some top tips! create her own pine send in photos of your cone creatures. What wonderful creations. Spring is famous for being the season of love, with animals FOX IN A BOX pairing up to create the next generation. Birds across the UK will be sitting in their nests, keeping their eggs warm – but birds aren’t the only creatures that lay eggs! Head to page six to find out what other animals lay them, too. Finally, have you spotted any butterflies yet? As spring gets going, look out for the lovely orange-tip in parks and gardens. You can learn all about them on page 12. Have a super spring! GET IN TOUCH HEDGEHOG Luna (aged 4) from trap in her garden. She was HERO Worcestershire was amazed to discover a fox Email us at: inspired by Wildlife had visited. Great detective [email protected] Ellen Rose (aged 7) from County Watch to make a footprint work, Luna! Down put together this Ring us on: wonderful hedgehog 01636 677711 house and even included a welcoming sign! Write to us at: That should make a Wildlife Watch hedgehog very happy. The Kiln, Mather Road Newark, Notts NG24 1WT wildlifetrusts @wildlifetrusts thewildlifetrusts WildlifeWatchUK

IN Cover pic of Orange-tip butterfly © Andy Sands / naturepl.com THIS ISSUE Resting sperm whales © Wild Wonders of Europe / Lundgre / naturepl.com 23 Regulars Small copper egg © Peter Eeles Orange-tip butterfly © Ross Hoddinott / 2020VISION 02 Wild Things Snail © Jon Hawkins – Surrey Hills Photography 04 The Science Section 05 Your Photos 10 Heroic Habitats Super scrub 11 Grass Snake Poster 1 4 Gallery 16 Weird Nature Freaky feet 17 How to… Do wild yoga 2 2 Feature Creature Polecat 23 How Do Dolphins Sleep? 24 Competitions 06 16 Features 12 0 6 Eggs-traordinary! It’s not just birds that lay eggs 08 Secrets of the Soil 12 A Splash of Orange Meet the orange-tip butterfly 18 Working with Nature Jobs that help the planet 2 0 Draw a Kingfisher! WILDLIFE WATCH 105 Editor: Tom Hibbert Editorial Team: Ashleigh Carter, Duncan Coleman, Gina Gavigan, Joanna Richards, Leanne Smart, Louise Francis, Mike Watson Design: Sean Coleman 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 stAhcliweenlaacyteessswteocwtnoidonendrseeordfywuolhuwacitaldtnhliiafmet wpdrieseicsrosdvy-seooruyurnisfdr?iinWengedwlsl,owhreditrmhe wyeoaenubtrrokinrngdoewysolpueedargafeta!ectto-pkanckoewdwhat WILD WORDSWow your (TtaAkXs-OonN-uOhM-mYe) W(wAorRr-RuhEnN) ENDEMIC friends with new words from camtiaThnnhloitilnmeoengdkgassecprl.soyirFesiuaomnparrceasnee,tpdxeopausofam.ttorihtnrpiegclauera,lsnagihimrrsuloyinimulalgpivaritnnhsgin, gs Aobrfanujberorbtionwiwtesodsrl-kiwvueph. ere (en-dem-ik) the world of The word used for a living wildlife science! thing that is only found in one very specific area. For example, the Scottish crossbill is endemic to Scotland because it is only found there. RECENT DISCOVERIES Mallard © Andrew Parkinson / 2020VISION Barnacle geese © David Tipling / 2020VISIONSUPER POOPER spreading plants as they of plant! Mallards move so they could be spreading can fly and carry seeds a around a lot and even plants all over Europe. here are lots of long way. A recent study migrate between countries, investigated the role that T different ways mallards, the familiar that plants can ducks we see on ponds spread from one place in the park, play in to another, including in spreading seeds. They poo! An animal eats a looked at hundreds plant’s seeds, wanders off and then poops them of mallard out somewhere else – unwittingly transporting droppings and the plant to a new found 5,760 seeds location. Birds can from 35 different kinds be very good for FIREWORK FRIGHT I f you have a pet, the movements of four species of you may know that geese around New Year’s Eve for fireworks can be very the last eight years. They found frightening for animals. The loud that the fireworks caused geese to bangs and bright flashes are leave their sleeping area and fly to also stressful for wildlife. There new roost sites, flying farther and is lots of evidence that fireworks higher than usual. Some geese cause birds to panic, lose sleep, flew hundreds of kilometres! In and fly away. New Year’s Eve is the days after New Year’s Eve, the a particularly stressful time for geese spent extra time feeding, wildlife because there are so suggesting they had to get back many fireworks across a large the energy they lost fleeing from 04 area. A team of scientists studied the fireworks.

PYHOOUTROS Kweitehpussh,awriengloyveoutor asmeeatzhinegmpahlol!tos Molly (aged 13) snapped this incredible photo of a fly. Rswoehaboeolrent s(cacagemendeera9a).rceTahauellgyrhinptipctheliinstegsxewtuaarletbe.or bgbiviensgtihnethe The level of detail is amazing! Taking up-close photos of tiny creatures like this is called macro photography and is much harder than it might look! Iarriesyao(alluygnqegdubic1l1ka) ctmok-aphnheaoagtdoeegddratgopuhclalaipntflufylriignehgat.nbYiraodcu!tinoenesdhotot of stoDrpincaeknanyidentolaa(tapuloghrteoeotdrofeg1tsi1mre)atreopveohflkyoaitnnshgiAtshanewrgyool’reunesnderdeey.r.sfDtulelraspsghoocrnteoflaioetufsarceadsnrtahbgaeot nfly be Stoenwdaytcohu@r swtoilrdielisf,eitdreuastss,.aorngd! photos 05 Wildlife Watch Magazine // Spring 2023

EGGS-TRA RDINARY!Introducing an eggs-travaganza of weird and wonderful eggs! lagtayhgnesedygapgrnreseoee–vgdpigdulseen-nqttthuiyleiisotbi’ftsaeobtltiyimhttaeelnreticolmirfheaeaal-ststucughrpreoposwouprtirtn.oBsgdyuiusntctsieetimd’stehsne!tohTmthejmteuoysowtp.britoihrtdeascltl by E Pete Dommett that CUCKOO COMMON GREEN SHIELDBUGThe cunning cuckoo is famous for laying its eggs in the nests Cuckoo egg in reed warbler nest © Richard Castell Shieldbugs certainly produce © Frank Porch of other birds. To trick them into egg-ceedingly strange eggs! thinking the egg is one of their In spring, common green own, the cuckoo must lay an shieldbugs lay clusters of eggs egg that closely matches those on the undersides of leaves of the hoodwinked hosts. After – they look like little green the cuckoo chick has hatched, barrels with smiley emoji faces! These hatch into wingless young known as ‘nymphs’. The it heaves any of its foster nymphs go through five stages parents’ eggs out of the nest of growth (called an ‘instar’) so it will get all the food! before they become adult bugs at the end of summer. mtDhpIoneiIspDtthnaliytsYeenl,sadOUrtyesUdKetou,hdKfcneNumnwircoOeaekcaWorgkbdogs?lose.swrisn disnifhfTethiheraDeeeldnrnIUebDdTt KuhassY,geprpeiO,yenikbcmUcaeirleluodloKsdlnrasNeioznyheOftgiehesWsgahlthdhgni?iebeesl4uld!hd0gbab.uiurgyg SAND LIZARD © Saxifraga - Edo van Uchelen CUTTLEFISH © Alexander Mustard / 2020VISION This rare reptile is the only Go beachcombing in spring native lizard in the UK that lays and you might just find a eggs. In late spring, females bunch of ‘sea grapes’. These dig burrows in sunny, sandy are the eggs of cuttlefish, places and bury between five stained black by the ink and 15 eggs. The baby lizards produced by this squid-like hatch out at the end of summer marine mollusc. The newborn – each one has a special ‘egg cuttlefish that eventually tooth’ to help it eggs-it the emerge from the eggs are tough, leathery shell! only 12-20mm long, but they can swim, feed and squirt ink noDTtanhhItlDeieyvesUgYtporrKOaee’lsUspcasiotyeiKlnsseeNnlgyo(aaOgfoknssWtedh!n?eiaosrkuer) straight away – eggs-actly like their parents! 06 Wildlife Watch Magazine // Spring 2023 wildlifewatch.org.uk

COMMON WHELK © Paul Naylor / marinephoto.co.uk FROGS, TOADS AND NEWTS Great crested newt eggs © Will Atkins Is that a scrunched-up ball © Peter Eeles All of the UK’s native © Roger Powell / naturepl.com of bubble wrap? No, it’s amphibians lay eggs. In early actually the empty egg cases spring, common frogs cover of the UK’s largest sea snail! the surface of ponds with big Common whelks lay these clumps of jelly-covered eggs weird ‘egg clouds’ (as they’re or ‘spawn’. Both common and sometimes called) on the natterjack toads produce long seabed, but they wash up strings of spawn instead. And on beaches after the baby female newts wrap each one whelks have hatched. The first of their eggs in the leaf of an few whelks to emerge from underwater plant to keep it the eggs often eat their still- eggs-tra safe! developing siblings! DsEupaIpDachwtYocnOl2ucU,m0a0nKp0NcooeOfngfWrtgao?sgin! aulsWsboDeahdIkleDlnstlhko’YeaweOmsgnUgstaaoKcsilawNo‘ssrOaeessasWohanw?wrcaeeitshh! GUILLEMOT SMALL COPPER Why did the guillemot lay a pointed egg? It’s no joke – this Look out for this fast-flying question has seriously puzzled butterfly during spring and oologists (scientists that summer. Females lay their study birds’ eggs) for eggs on the leaves of sorrell centuries. These eggs-perts or dock plants in sunny spots. now think the egg’s unusual The tiny (less than 1mm shape helps stop it from falling wide) white eggs look like off the steep cliff ledges that miniature golf balls! After a these seabirds nest on... but week or two, woodlouse-like they’re still not 100% sure! pink-and-green caterpillars GignD–ursbIsieafhlDrlrpeleooalonmmYkwdtisOoenonprsdatU,ussenionrpKgdfeordgbNfiswnislcfpOukfoheceelWeliorocteeadm?kunnltrweeotdssit!h hatch out of these eggs- tremely small homes. 07Wildlife Watch Magazine // Spring 2023

© Laurie Campbell / naturepl.com SECRETSOF THE SOILbyTomHibbert osbfsskteouietnrnmwyIfotoateu’YfsvuacecotikeranthhuWehaloeiymvlcaeifotefeanmoaoufandworlrrrolesrstaitlsthocogotlthlvo,uerrooceallsssipffonf.qomeuovTtiuitesleuuha!ew.drrdonIlit,cln!uid’attshgghhnthietdhthr.weeee’s wildlifewatch.org.uk 08 Wildlife Watch Magazine // Spring 2023

LET’S DIG IN… WHAT A CLIMATE FULL IS SOIL?oil is the upper layer of the earth. CHAMPION!oil is also really important for OF LIFEhere are plenty of things that live It’s made of minerals (tiny bits of tackling climate change. It holds in the soil. Did you know there’s Sbroken rock) and bits of rotting plant Slots of carbon, locking it away T more life in a teaspoon of soil than and animal matter such as fallen leaves, where it can’t get into the air and make Worm tunnels © Kim Taylor / naturepl.com Stag beetle larva (c) Stephen Dalton / naturepl.com there are people on the planet! Some poo, and dead plants and animals. These the climate crisis worse. The carbon is soil dwellers are obvious, like moles and earthworms. Others are smaller, such decaying pieces form a dark material stored in the soil itself, attached to the as ants, beetles, and pseudoscorpions. Many are too tiny to see at all! These called humus – not to be confused with minerals and inside the bits of plants and miniature organisms include bacteria, fungi, and little worms called nematodes hummus, the tasty paste made from animals. Living plants also take carbon that make earthworms look like giants! Many of these microscopic creatures mushed up chickpeas! Soil also has lots of dioxide out of the air and store it in their help keep the soil healthy. They break down the rotting plants and dead miniature pockets of space between the roots, which reach deep into the soil. If animals, and produce the nutrients plants need to survive. pieces, which hold water and air. we don’t look after our soils, this carbon Larger tunnelling creatures like moles and earthworms also play an important It can take hundreds of years for a can be released into the atmosphere as part in keeping soil healthy. Their burrowing action mixes up the soil and single centimetre of soil to form. This carbon dioxide. One way we can help at helps air and water spread through is because it takes so long for the rock home is to avoid buying garden plants it. This mixing also makes it easier for plants to spread to be broken into tiny pieces by wind, that were grown in peat – a type of soil their roots. water, and other forces. with lots of plant material in it. Some aoFbhuwionerWtuldfrprotueionrw.esmugtot/GsrswmmoobioiloslWdrowe-aikwlnidtlehdoftro!mr s companies dig up peat to grow PLANT plants or burn for fuel, but we FOODne of soil’s most important 10cooTbnfhiltcleaiaoiUnrnbsKto’oasnnbs!nooeuilst need to keep it in the ground! jobs is providing food O and water for plants. All the rotting materials and minerals create a soup of nutrients that plants can suck up through their roots. They need these nutrients to grow. Lots of animals (including us) depend on plants in the food chain. Without the soil to feed the plants, we’d be in big trouble! Young stag beetles live underground! 09 Wildlife Watch Magazine // Spring 2023

HEROIC HABITATS SCRUB by Tom Hibbert What is Can they Yellowhammer © Chris Gomersall / 2020VISION scrub? help fight the climate crisis? Scrub is an area of scattered What wildlife How can we trees and bushes, often lives there? help scrub? with some spiky plants like hawthorns, blackthorns or Scrub is home to lots of birds. As the trees and shrubs in Scrub needs our help! The brambles. It’s sort of a halfway The spiky bushes help hide and scrubby areas grow, they take best thing we can do is learn stage between more open places protect their nests. Scrub is vital carbon out of the air and lock to love messy, scrubby wild like grassland or heathland and for rare species like turtle doves it away in their wood and in places and not try to tidy them. forests. Over time, larger plants and nightingales, but it is just as the soil. But scrub also plays Conservationists sometimes start to grow in grasslands. If popular with familiar birds like a bigger role – it helps create have to remove trees to stop these plants aren’t eaten by blackbirds, dunnocks and long- forests! When trees drop their scrub becoming woodland, to grazing animals or removed by tailed tits. The berries that grow seeds and saplings start to make sure there’s enough of this people, they create an area of on the bushes from summer to grow, they are often nibbled and special habitat for all the wildlife scrub. Eventually, this scrub can winter help fuel migrant birds eaten by animals, preventing that depends on it. If you have grow into a forest. like blackcaps for their long them from becoming large Scrub is often found on the journey to Africa. trees. When seeds fall space in your garden, you edges of forests, or in forgotten in scrubby areas, the could create a wild corner urban areas. It’s one of our Scrub is also great for other spiky bushes make it with some spiky bushes to most overlooked habitats. wildlife, from lizards to harder for animals shelter nesting birds. Some people don’t like dormice and especially to eat the saplings. it because they think it insects. Flowers The trees are able looks messy, but it’s provide pollen and to grow, eventually incredibly important nectar, whilst lots of turning the scrub into for lots of wildlife. caterpillars like to woodland. Letting munch on the plants forests grow naturally Black hairstreak © Philip Precey that grow there, like this is really Scrub © David Woodfall / naturepl.com including rare species important for fighting like black the climate crisis and hairstreaks. helping nature. 10 www.wildlifewatch.org.uk

SSsssseunpseers Grass snake © Danny Green / 2020VISION tosouoSmatrnegttsaolhapklenepse.ctsisciTin,caklhakilkukiotseeprosgtcsethaachnnineesdniwstgntorstotnah.rhsTgekesuhiomsneeun,focwotahurkwhetmehimh,caafchitltcaiiccaoilatlklnesrhtdrttahoihtesehatsidhetrteemthJtoabeeanccmrkogateebuibndusea!osspcnoka’s Wildlife Watch Magazine // Spring 112023

OSPRLOAAANFSGHEbySamGee © Peter Eeles The beautiful butterfly that’s springing into action! 12 Wildlife Watch Magazine // Spring 2023 wildlifewatch.org.uk

S ome butterflies such as the fatwrShineaeildndimrdlIilflileyvoGevppeselaeaigssnBsrtfouisaowtstnineci!nirnmfEglavieyebtsirnguyagtatsrerettdroafemlgywney.aotcfh,Porch brimstone spend the winter as adults, cosying up in sheds and log Orange-tip caterpillar © Frank piles. Others hide away from the cold as an egg or a caterpillar. Orange-tips spend the © Tom Hibbert colder months as a pupa, waiting patiently to emerge when there’s more sun, nectar, and somewhere to lay their eggs. Their appearance each year is a sure sign that spring has arrived! ONROATNAGLWEAYS ORANGE EGGS HHUORNRGORRY HSHUONWGRY Orange-tips have long, thin eggs that are The males give this butterfly its name. They white when first laid but gradually Orange-tip caterpillars emerge from have white wings and, surprise surprise, turn bright orange. They’re one omrwaemnia4engsid5gluFleigrmrat-oeeotnimepbodatsrfente5htuoosw0esnt.hueeeaerln,ly their eggs a week or two after bright orange tips! The orange colour may be of the easiest butterfly eggs being laid. They are green when a warning to predators in search of a snack – to find! Most caterpillars are fully grown, with a white stripe “I won’t taste very good, so leave me alone!” fussy eaters and only like to along the sides. Like all butterfly The female orange-tip can be a bit trickier to eat a small number of plants. caterpillars, they have one job – identify. She has black tips instead of orange, Orange-tips are no different to eat! The first thing they eat is making her easy to mix up with other white and mostly eat cuckooflower the eggshell they’ve just come out butterflies such as the large white. If you’re and garlic mustard. Look out for of, then they’ll get started on the not sure, you can always tell an orange-tip by bright orange eggs on the stalks of these common plants. plant. They prefer the seedpods but will the pattern on the underside of their wings. © Pete Richman sometimes eat the leaves and flowers of the Underneath, their wings are white with pretty plant too. But that’s not all… green and black splodges that give the Some butterflies lay lots of eggs butterfly fantastic camouflage when resting in a cluster on the same leaf. on a plant. Orange-tip females lay one egg at a time, and with SAPSRIGINNGOF good reason. A hungry orange-tip caterpillar We usually see the first orange-tips will happily eat other of the season in April. They’ll be flying caterpillars given the chance, they’re cannibalistic! around in May and June too, so there’s plenty of time to spot them. oprfaoavunEretxngstrcdehyoe-eapfntiUltSpol cfsrKaotohc.crtraeltoahnrsnnesbde, WITNHTEELROWNAGIT You’ll see them flying in all kinds of different habitats. After the caterpillars have eaten their As well as visiting our fill, they will go into the pupal gardens and parks, stage of their lives. The they can be found caterpillar attaches itself flying along country to a plant stem by lanes, hedges, and spinning a silk string riverbanks. The adults drink nectar from the to hold it in place. flowers of lots of different It will stay there as plants, including bluebells, a pupa all winter, dandelions, and bramble. finally emerging in © Ross Hoddinott / 2020VISION spring as one of the Eversham first butterflies we see each year and Pupa © Brian the cycle starts again! 13 Wildlife Watch Magazine // Spring 2023

GALLERY 2 4 Send in your photos, poems, artwork and letters for your chance to feature in the gallery. If your artwork is picked 6 as the star entry you’ll win your very own drawing kit! The perfect starter set for any budding wildlife artist. 1 3 5 14 Wildlife Watch Magazine // Spring 2023

7 8 1) Robin by Marcus, aged 10 9 10 This striking robin really caught our eye! 2) Kingfisher and dolphin by Rosie, 11 aged 7 12 Two excellent fish catchers in one drawing! We love the way the kingfisher shimmers. 3) Dragonfly by Molly, aged 13 The intricate lines on this dragonfly create a beautiful, delicate effect. 4) Dormouse by Rachael, aged 9 What a cute little creature! Great to see it tucked away safely in a bush. 5) Acorn men by Beatrice, aged 9 Beatrice got really creative with things you can find on the woodland floor. 6) Hawk-moth by Teddy, aged 7 It was a lovely touch to place this moth on a leaf! 7) Deer by Sebastian, aged 9 What a fantastic creative collage. Great work, Sebastian! 8) Magpie by Layla, aged 11 Just look at the shimmering colours on the magpie’s wings and tail – perfect! 9) Swallowtail by Jemima, aged 6 Jemima has done a great job of capturing the vibrant colours of this bright butterfly. 10) Falcon by Leo, aged 6 We love this soaring falcon. Those strong feet are ideal for grabbing prey! 11) Pheasant by Lars, aged 8 A lovely painting of a bird that’s often seen around farmland. 12) Heron by Xanthe, aged 6 Xanthe has been really creative making this heron from material. Insmfoewiegdedhoftnyeao’atlutsfuororrfeigsrhseytaot ntruoearmiiant rcoetlwnuadoonerudkrtyhwwoeeuemrbw.asiWilgtleee, 15 and social media. HEwmO‘GwWitTaWahTrhNiiilhNtlllteeedehweTorlwetWiOytoaKfteassetiiuclulErnndWNshkbNt,lr@GiajafyMeTett’2wc:Ecoat4TRhirtrllidhu1nGWelseiaftresTlRlterouraysdts.org

WNAETIURRDE W EIRD- O-ME T E THIS ISSUE: FREAKY FEET by Megan Dobson ERFUL WACKYR WEIRD WOND MOLE COOT EBUEARVAESRIAN SNAIL © Steve Bottom © Andrew Parkinson / 2020VISION © Nick Upton / Cornwall Wildlife Trust © Jon Hawkins – Surrey Hills Photography HhcmMtfutrihraalenooolvesaldnlaetetenyente’ssyarddpgosgat?raupurrwuwoeIraetoabudts’vsnlshnefewad-leodrillekoirlJskarerdCteeenluoededBdfnwna,rhudnrhonatoiseunghwimtlntngwloieptgoniotitralnghterswwhmgeoeasffsi!sor!r The coot is a master of water BtLfsncheewilokeeaatiteywvm,weawasrmredtsheboueimblcrhcihsgeake.dhy,mlTpttbbhhnatueeeikhntiyseregilmnhotffrhwsaaotvedsenomeitagtnurdfaeenlehxnaaedrnpadtevewdabrer,wreutbelboiaulbtndteegrd! Who knew the snail’s whole and land, all thanks to its their dams. body is one big foot? Its slimy FLIES odd feet. Their long toes help mucous and muscles of the foot them climb over water weeds work together to propel the and muddy banks, whilst the snail. Snails can glide across any wide lobes on each toe help surface and lock themselves into them to push through the place like an anchor, keeping water as they swim. them safe from predators. That’s one impressive foot! BUMBLEBEES PALMATE NEWT GARDEN SPIDER © Jon Hawkins – Surrey Hills Photography © Jon Hawkins – Surrey Hills Photography © Will Atkins © Stephen Dalton / naturepl.com The feet of flies have a Lhdposifaeik“ralnfmtvppooremrleoowodyypflmselutoleoaiwieecrrsttgntsetsphoapha,,deehihaafnincrusbaletbiealysenfrraiulonsncatoatmmiiterflwnnmrioerobeoge!cra”analnmroenold;sgsebtic.aymsnheooTtbei(eifmhasco’rsetehleneehb)ftienerhoebesmeufenaattesaicctcekhktatoelaasnns d acttgarhthbmirTohmebreooweameiiwprtitehdrerdhmsejeuaaftiilsnononpsazsurzngrddmetyatdshfhhlfeaeboelofeaelaleuepafstsseet,coephetwmkfnfaayfur.shl,woaomlTtoilrlmheycenhasbhse.eaottybdethmhmitusnneerwearalgeptilcwanheostpsgintnsg Tftsaswetotehilhaelolreekosterlbtyswaigayrs.,tar.sTeitecrSmtdhhdriptceeeephtikemenidrerypeeeisfytrsttrephoshsmceiirdcvramtoeaoenehaswaurdwatd’nsllvdsicieasmeelnbogpast’espfwtewionctomtshiihryratttaeehclhakiiaorsnaeteuttcdth ftseauesptte,inlropgootkwhineegrw!fToorhrldefoytohwdrhoaiunzgdahraothuenidr, their unusual feet.  safe place to lay eggs. To avoid predators, the fly needs to be fast! The taste buds let it have a sneaky taste before making a quick getaway. 16 Wildlife Watch Magazine // Spring 2023

17 Wildlife Watch Magazine // Spring 2023

WNOWARTIKTUIHRNEGWyeTohuseprrohekaeanrdteoslTodHtirsRtyoEfoEjnoWbaIsLnDyaoLtuIuFrcEeaCrneHdsAeoMrtvPoeIhOoeNrlpiSnwstopilifdrienlifdoeto,hwuethrmepteohoreeprlayeboaoubulotikutethtneoiartgwueroter.k! Name: Alicia Leow-Dyke Job title: Welsh Beaver Project Officer Organisation: North Wales Wildlife Trust mawsFi rnwanioaneoethTWvedrrrahihefeMeonoseebtetrHaltiuivneyaxrvnreromneeeaoAtrgadtidedshcmwstatvaThuloewees5iyapencreursW-0Doentlysft,ieia0oftordaoagOawt,ki-nomylrbIiirdcevnetseecYsWolaesegraooienbnytOabbnorffbfeosojelumeSdoUeoabrnrcataubstevrybohcwgvc!iDenneietjetoTslooarcgaarfOhs.fbeuisvone.vteHbesta?uehIdldid.esroElarnukoyaasuwtlsdsnohsvvrnu,aetoaraee–edarsnvsrrvdwrnewisdiaEeeeadrntrnbydii,Ioninttgshdtvaaehtaeblirtctasreiootnrxenkeeientrdtdadcisenptdpnuoeevodo.lcceaneotrtritcitrooissfeisnn.s HHEOLWPDNOAETSUYROEU?R JOB ibrnsBaapetncreaogkcvueiweebroselsefbcao.earthcenaeohurfestweelpniltdhlroleieftefsier.oraBrfecyotdibtvhtirtoeiineragswsibnialgednklbieefeefyiatsthvtaoeanwrtseiisde SYWIOHMUAILNTAGARPDJEVOOICBPE?LWE OWUALNDTIYNOGUAGIVE pIdctgWI’esooaroeinralimdnpcsgoleliseofrmreouevinmasamTretttueiheowssnehnutada.ocryvInorveutdnoooysssltsuehg-endoewertvnrtetiaotilehneotirvxvcomioonpanllgelyuvwwrenlwioedotilecindrtaaehlcldilrnefy.eWdooonguimfldrrwooellituoofteeepcrtrkaTsoiralntuthnogsedti.rn 18 Wildlife Watch Magazine // Spring 2023 wildlifewatch.org.uk

Name: Alan Wright Job title: Head of Campaigns and Communications Organisation: The Wildlife Trust for Lancashire, Manchester and North Merseyside WAatWtyoaeLahptroahnllneHaiprloluepeddttptodhAswlayioeiuhomeeforeTfiaraiinneunropr4TvgcDgswuoroge2eutmrronea.OrtsanisarMttntaTiaitseonnnYadVg.tysucgeufAaOfsaelwtraaaozdsenoUnotsiboendnairpdftoneseoDianrctus’statuofopanetoOrmd,rmeteradrusivw?roaytrmomreuacelojisaroosmewuer.rnebklmneWuydrasiewetmbcotetewvestaehenreeawwtervani,rrsomeyortvtah.iinseatrodnIaekssnnaaadcvpfwonraeoyaterIofdmiarfmnieatinhctntddmpwheabgamsiaetrzeioengoaiiiyegwntymfustonigltowsoerotarhrtwajcoieokgomeoimwaaibafolffplptlinztfhctsteimohiomtehenhorerreoteeepsa.ydswlnteioat HIaiitmnnrOsappiinWosirtereitnsaDrgenthOsttthenEtehapmSatruotrYtfmoeileOaitsaokUktfeoeRnseaapvJtceuetOiorroeypnBolaetnnoHtedhsEioacnfoLvkuenPmssiteo!aNrrnveAdaaTthiboUonop,RuestEfphua?ollryw king WPIthspEetHaenOorAtnpePTodleLwAoaEu-DntfWdeVaetsAeIsliCalonNlbicngEjroiTigancuWlIgosrNmntmotOhaGerfolioUdiessrAistatLea.aDSYobsnoknlIdeiuYMlalnstsOatgIriilnelLkUlptgiuAoneusGgojRleoapItbortVlJhesbleE,oOaliwtksssYBekihsoiOl?om,lfsc UuiaInslnNeee.aGrnt Name: Chantelle Lindsay 19 Job title: Great North Wood Project Officer Organisation: London Wildlife Trust ptCpphpdWaecAoWlleaauaoonmoltoennjupccHoontimthnltebdeosgtAecnr.upi–tsesdltToInseit.edwewicoWvsatDevyiione,enseimcoetOcisdlrhtore,nd,ueyplrcaYglnasaaeamtatenOtgsnerregeapderdrvUyotemneeonclumoncewath,DptiuwtneseInsatddwOonenanhwsftroaonda?cswiiwlcrsdabdkptroopialostribwnafoensclerodttsihostceeoesho,kascqukreocotlfluroluoanleutvahclsnfedttiavhelenetlyryotlssstrohLovlesioualmeaoiosninwnnlpGupmndtdveirnlorsoadeaeetrmncsetrltaoslas,iieeoovtp,nbirreNurnawstuegss,copt!erpereatishrer.etnof aechTHchmhataOebpfnoiopWtgrawrentasDe,acwfrttoOisuchrrapEeiwllee.SciolocdpYonlliemfsOeet,moUrhvuaeaRnlptpiiopJtiynnrOegewcnBiitoagcrtaHeokgpcaEeernmeLdwaPetieenthvNstecaAnlinmTdaUimteRpEro?ves SYWIOHMUAILNTAGARPDJEVOOICBPE?L WE OWUALNDTIYNOGUAGIVE iwtnuGhnheothuoufesoynureoiaqfiutfl!uo.aDBertresoeclnh,tieo’aatvrhrbeeaeeiclenptaxeyfaorroiaucsuittrdlirycnsstewaotltfhhudaaaroantt sldmaowrkaemonknroeeledtwhye.oidnthuegadt all

DRAW A KINGFISHER! Learn to draw a kingfisher with our easy-to-follow guide from expert bird illustrator Crow Artist 01 02 Sspyhtroaoaurpptroewbsrtiirtitodhon.ssgiemotfptlhee Add the eye and bill. 03 Drawing a line under the Add the tail eye can help and feet. get the bill in the Use a rubber to right place. get rid of the shape lines you don’t need. 04 Add a line for the shoulder feathers Sdkietnatgarftilisstohtoeard’ysdofuarce. (scapulars). 20 Wildlife Watch Magazine // Spring 2023 wildlifewatch.org.uk

Hi! I’m Crow Artist (also called Kirsty Yeoman). I love creating illustrations of bird behaviour and showing them in their natural habitat. 05 06 Dfatoehrrfaeaatewtihnasetclirahthseyo.oenwTtrhhistneoegryp. Now add the tcfoionltoahulindr!keRtaeabmiloseumatnbder tkiwshinehsgicshfhihinsawihndeagirnyotgontrhiygegeholtitug.hrt TAKE IT TO THE NEXT LEVEL! OyeufHeovnneauecdrtneeech’ramsyesnoratosuamrg’noevuandedikdhaemeetobyaawtioisorludetatedrlhflri.detetIrhdttfaoeehwtgahedietleniphftgfhbseeseartrsreos.inoctfs, the wings and head! 21 Wildlife Watch Magazine // Spring 2023

POLECAT Polecat © David Kjaer / naturepl.com by Hannah Rudd MA AMMAMSKAELD Scientific name cold, polecats often move into farmyards and Mustela putorius make winter dens under old buildings and in The polecat is a ferret-sized mammal hay bales. If you’re lucky, you might even spot with small ears, a short fluffy tail and Size one in your garden nestled under the shed, a fur coat made up of two different 0.5-1.9kg and are decking, or compost heap. colours, dark brown on top and yellow underneath. Related to the badger, the otter 32-45cm long HBLAIINRDLEASNS D and other members of the mustelid family, the polecat is known for the black mask Amazing fact P olecats have one litter of 5-10 babies which covers its pale face and gives it a Polecats have powerful each year between May and June. bandit-like look. Short legs and a long slim scent glands hidden under When they are first born polecats are body help the polecat squeeze into rabbit their tails, which they use blind, hairless and reliant on their mother for burrows where it hunts for rabbits at night. to produce a nasty smell if food, so they stay together for 2-3 months Rabbits are their main food, but polecats until the young polecats can live alone. also eat rodents like rats and voles, as well frightened or hurt. as worms, frogs and birds. RBAEPDUTATION LLOOCCAATTIIOONN, W hen Queen Elizabeth I was on the throne in the 16th century, I n the past polecats were hunted almost polecats had a bad reputation to extinction. Fortunately, the species as bloodthirsty animals and were known as has made a great recovery over the vermin. The word polecat was even used last hundred years and can now be found across lowland England and Wales. They as an insult! Fortunately, most live in lots of different places, from riverbanks people are more welcoming of to woodlands and hedgerows. They make polecats now, and there have dens out of rabbit warrens, badger setts or even been reintroduction projects between tree roots by using dried grasses to help them make a comeback. and leaves to line the ground. When it gets 22 Wildlife Watch Magazine // Spring 2023 © Elliot Smith wildlifewatch.org.uk

HSDLOOEWLEPPHD?OINS Bottlenose dolphin © John MacPherson/2020VISION by Emma Lowe Common dolphin © Chris Gomersall/2020VISIOND olphins are marine Resting sperm whales © Wild Wonders of Europe / Lundgre / naturepl.com mammals and JUST KEEP BREATHING HALF A SLEEP WHALE OF A TIMEAatlmimcsuthuncimllaoumiondnrappivaaoanitegnibmnnomiufirses.rroutfschgcemmdFhfrtwttnthioaeoiooiaaaosiaelctestuddthhillhgmlrlhsssurweeotlefscisahw.uotbuvhtliaeurreitsuAerhteoneneie,grnaxsrtgraadeihuyttlvbaeatolghittinsmhnti.rhkeleiu,dcerspoekvienennoTiabhirprfnseetsgnftouifhienhsgrnssextmpconrcygleewafhbenmmegcoi.ntobroeieyarlauiitueoloemtnraumhscutsdketpanpihieftnlmnbrceololoiutiegryattxilaoonemi.tsviycielwersavsgA.e.gwiethettatnieOdDhuhgenh!ntsenshoeoshgnederttlisploawcsaet,thooanhmstinmtndeatseaas,uikerryrirniafnagrefecotehnrtaew7wte%’osdIthoADcwfbhloshfaoeordehtsfoaoelstlopieopticsuslnnlhehphourwo,tsersihhfarlnnhmai!efisastdalsnoyehylncaesbwpehteeyoyiamr,dptovaobosuenalirlsdolbtataythewribadneechroafoayettafofpihoamtamvbossrhtteflitlrotlehnepheemahhsmadegrei.ieoontenspoeDhortbugldoe?wnarrsoaraaeslieeisltfdl,ipnpolnlseeohdtrstwhesfwiwontk!ephtoifisehl,AtifolslciteescfDrch.sihtpdtistaworeeoostetnan.raulhiasbpmtltTnarellhrfrohefhootaaeecewtiafsilinsiconyrtwhritsrneeuhhbaayatgpegoeletooikfgolilteiueuvpgnhhtenbesgetgrtbtfebhoitaroearttostrhboitthwwthclnpfohrafeaahei.esetit3lltaahwchfap0ltiteieeshthmohlssmselweiienm!kehcbaiiwtenarTWpaaiirtnnhheneuhnvdghwgaeardeteo,easlsthasaelnhbfstlepitaedonloierhscnwcsardwtetteaigeinioanhgstntb.shwshhrwtarSe,hfoogeetaloieeomcuoaraudmosdamttlonsmtthsnsuwothawdeoaiicnmteihnnsklhhssgmlragli.leepen.re,hvaeaeegWeedsaaisrcrppuiilnatnhhiffieirfnidnaeeaifinbscsagtrltrsufmecboheitlnvlteaehetfaehaeiseetetiwcamerrwhptsoonihsil.remcuntudfawehSabontrlarhneelrtrfpgloaahlyerssesul,cie,nnrpeimr Wildlife Watch Magazine // Spring 2023

COMPETITIONS WIN CALL THE PUFFINS! M eet Muffin the puffin and her friends, who must work together We’ve got SIX copies to give away! to help all the birds on the island of Egg. This adorably illustrated Buy online at: wtru.st/muffin-puffin book is perfect for young readers to enjoy a story about friendship, teamwork, FOR YOUR CHANCE TO WIN: optimism and of course puffins! It’s written by Cath Howe, illustrated by Ella Okstad, Just answer this and published by Welbeck Flame. question – can you see puffins in the UK? WISNTCIOCKREVRIDS! FOR YOUR CHANCE TO WIN: DamgeomrgbieegdlsoorutsyviuicodeoskueeftshtreothsiiscnnefkjsropecoeyarrmtogtoohwfeCfeegrf2a‘oald0omwcr?shaisATlwyoyhrfytceaitosonhtkur!eyvinIcoitedgauiingfn’ilcshllhtuedre’ s Tetlhl fueasvcworouhwriictfehaammnieldymwibsheyyro!oufr see in the UK. We’ve got TEN sticker sets to give away! Buy online at: crowartist.co.uk WINSEMEDAKBEAYLLOSUKRITO! WN Seedballs are an easy way to plant FOR YOUR CHANCE TO WIN: If you’re wildflowers and attract more life to sending multiple your garden. With this kit, you can Just answer this question. Which of these entries, please try make your own seedballs. It’s messy plants do orange-tip caterpillars love to eat? to put them in one and super fun! There’s enough in the pack to a) Cuckooflower make up to 60 seedballs, with flowers chosen b) Hogweed email to save to be perfect for bees and butterflies. c) Dog rose energy! Clue – the answer is in the magazine! We’ve got FOUR sets to give away. Buy online at: seedball.co.uk Send your competition entries to us: By COMPETITION RULES Newark, Nottinghamshire NG24 1WT Don’t forget to May 2023 einmclauidl ewCyaootcmuhrpcneotaimtmiopnes,@eangtwreiieldsalnmifdeatyarubwsetausy.soeordgf ocBnoynoutparocwsteitnbgWsityielodaulinfeadbsWoouacittaclyhmo,ueTrdhieaencKthriyaln!n,nDeMElsAa.tDhLeIrNREo:a3d1,