Wildlife Watch Issue 102 - Summer 2022

FREE! DANGEROUS PREHISTORIC DARTFORD DEPTHS PERFECTION WARBLER POSTER Life in the Uncovering an deep sea ancient animal Issue 102 Summer 2022 SOSAURPIENRGSTARSTaskweatollotwhes sakniedsmwaitrhtinssw!ifts,

WILD THINGS News from our Wildlife Watchers Ecodrintoerr’s BUILDING PURR-FECT FOR BIRDS POND! TOM HIBBERT Daisy (aged 11) and Honey (aged 7) from Evelyn (aged 8) from Bedfordshire Editor, Wildlife Watch Essex love feeding birds around their was determined to create a mini house. They decided to build a bird box wildlife pond after reading about Have you got any exciting to give them somewhere to nest, too. The box them in Wildlife Watch. Great job, Evelyn! plans for this summer? had its first visitor in less than an hour! Hazel the cat looks impressed, too. There’s so much wildlife around, we’re spoilt for choice! HAPPY There are dragonflies and HOGS damselflies zipping over ponds, butterflies and bees bumbling Awesta (aged 12) from Oxford from flower to flower, and baby spotted hedgehogs in her birds begging their busy parents garden, so put out some for food. dry cat food for them. Now they’re regular visitors. We’ve got tips for We’ve got plenty in this issue to feeding garden wildlife at wtru.st/ get you excited for summer. You feed-hogs can meet the masters of the air on page 20 – the swifts, swallows and martins that swoop through our skies this season. These brilliant birds are only here for a few months, so get out and find them whilst you can! If things are getting hot, cool off with a dip into the watery world of seahorses on page 12. Or you can dive even deeper on page 23 as we ask, ‘How do creatures survive in the deep sea?’. Whatever your plans this summer, I hope you have a wonderful and wild time! GET IN TOUCH 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 Cover pic of house martin © Alan Williams / naturepl.com THIS ISSUE © Tom Hibbert 22 Regulars © Anglian Water 02 Wild Things Owl by Watch reader, Nancy 04 The Science Section Fact-packed discoveries 05 Your Photos 1 0 Heroic Habitats Go wild for grasslands 11 Otter Poster 1 4 Gallery 16 Weird Nature Royal wildlife 17 How to… Make a blackberry crumble 2 2 Feature Creature Golden-ringed dragonfly 2 3 How do Creatures Survive in the Deep Sea? 24 Competitions 14 06 Features 10 06 A Sea Dragon Surprise 08 Down to the Roots The stories behind wild names 12 Super Seahorses 18 Nature’s Neighbours Animals that share their homes 20 Masters of the Air Meadow © Ross Hoddinott / 2020VISION WILDLIFE WATCH 102 Editor: Tom Hibbert Editorial Team: Ashleigh Carter, Charlotte Varella, Joanna Richards, Leanne Smart, Mike Watson Check out wildlifetrusts. org/privacy-policy to find out how we keep your information safe. What’s Wildlife Watch? packed full of amazing pictures, Wildlife Watch is the junior posters and competitions. branch of The Wildlife Trusts. We also have a really wild Join Wildlife Watch and start your website and e-newsletter nature adventure. Prices range full of wild ideas and from £10-£24 per year for child- nature-spotting tips. Plus only membership and £30-£60 you get access to local WAKTECEHPING! for family membership. events and groups. Go You’ll receive a starter pack to wildlifewatch.org.uk and four issues of Wildlife to find out more. Watch magazine a year. This is

The Science Se ction In every issue this year we’ll be bringing you a fact-packed science section, sharing recent discoveries about weird and wonderful wildlife and explaining the meaning of some scientific words. WILD WORDSImpresswaWtitosWra(hAeanxaraais’nacPtptrp,pnwtb-sOedioui’nolralsbdhgrSpnetlsh-amgrcEsetcoeehiadkM-lraeomtoaaityuciutnnAoarcsmsgdratTsooinabykrtrIerhesk)tCmlacatlioinanstawgtugaerssk.ssseitntphbrigieatap’ssctdeie.ssP(TfHpohcilaneat-OottrnopobgtTresonorno-uuOcswsetdirens.Siieos-snYxfuweitdsNnh-elstiehgTiareshenH)ytdgtuoErwseteSeaunrtIenSr VENOM your friends with new (ven-um) words from tihtnchbArajeeoyttmcucsothgoexshmdiepclraveifenleuybtasoiidn.otetIirhtmc’sdoreeaerutalfsassettureintgnoaddgellt.y the world of wildlife science! RECENT DISCOVERIES A RIOT OF COLOUR M ost birdwatchers will tell you that birds are more colourful in tropical places, but now scientists have finally proven this! They studied thousands of photos of more than 4,500 species of passerine birds – that’s the family of perching birds like tits, sparrows and finches. They proved that birds that live near the equator are generally more colourful than those from farther away. Now they just need to work out why they’re more colourful! © Adam Jones There’s still plenty of colour in UK birds though, just look at a blue tit! SHARK SICKNESS S cientists have discovered in the UK. This shark was a © Prof. Rosie Woodroffe that a Greenland shark female that was 4-metres long and about 100 years found on a Cornish old, so was not quite an beach died of meningitis. It is adult yet. It might be a sad believed to be the first evidence ending for the shark, but that this species can suffer from by studying its remains the disease. The shark was we can learn lots about found by a biologist who was this endangered species. out walking her dog. It was later This might even help us collected so it could be studied. protect them better in This was only the second ever the future! stranding of a Greenland shark 04

PYHOOUTROS WtTochoilpelloieafuormcrcehud(ashgbiogeanhdctkuh1gp2isr)oobsunnirnadbdpuisprsehebaedrlisllytlihtaominssats,uknwrianvietgzhyziyttthhsseettaoifrnunsdzeuzcoryhruoaatu.tn!ndTdheienvygenslo.-ve Wiisnsesutewea,edwreeosfjeuYnsottuhsroaSdtmotraoienssyh, awhreoernetdhaeerrmefuYwlopiuthhroPytohosout.tohSsios! –spFoeidglcoieconoimt’nyt sym(oaliougkneeaditgnhr1iet3soe)owt?onnJoesukosattfhntleoidsnocpkgirteaieetttstoty,hvbpeeuorsltrohttrhoianekiyteyon’drfeebacbekpecfiaaeguuaetstoihfeunelt.rhbsFe.eiryrd’arsel YslLiohtutulacerycpba(eafnoegcs.eueSdseh1eoa2’snl)l cmtahaaevpestiuntreyrderfieudvdizdtzhauyiasrselcuhaubaltljeyeircst!. Lila (aged 13) took wytDhoaoeutycrmohsaut@ogrwwiaeaizslnidnatlenitfo?deSwtriedurniestdetassf.ootrrog! this scenic snap of a spider on its 05Wildlife Watch Magazine // Summer 2022 web. The way the light hits the silk really makes it shine, showing off the spider’s construction skills. Mpwgusbhrophaueopittwatttieeoeltderrbjowafolcuyfbai(’nttasthnoeggbifrseefaeslnmdyanh.joudo1aM1ytwgit)fahauncinetalliilflgpidpuocaatbenfutntdotrdheetteiihrdsmdrnwtashaai.enrbgl,ed

ASU‘SREPARIDSREAGON’ by Dr Dean Lomax Last year, the fossil of an Rutland Water HOW DID THE ichthyosaur was discovered Nature Reserve FOSSIL FORM? at Rutland Water Nature Reserve. But what exactly The Rutland ichthyosaur lived around 180 is this ancient animal, and million years ago, during the Early Jurassic. how did it get there? At that time, the area that is now Rutland was covered by a vast tropical sea. It was WHAT IS AN filled with ancient marine reptiles and ICHTHYOSAUR? squid-like animals called ammonites and belemnites. After the ichthyosaur died, Often mistaken for ‘swimming dinosaurs’, the body sank to the bottom of the seabed ichthyosaurs (ick-thee-oh-saws) are where its soft, fleshy parts were eaten a fascinating group of marine reptiles by other animals, including sharks and that swam in ancient tropical seas at the other ichthyosaurs. same time dinosaurs walked on land. Over time, just the hard parts remained, The first ichthyosaurs appeared around the bones and the teeth. These became 250 million years ago, but became buried in the mud at the bottom. As the extinct about 90 million years ago, skeleton was buried deeper and deeper, the in the Cretaceous Period. original structure of the bones was replaced Like dolphins and whales, they breathed by minerals from the surrounding mud, air and gave birth to live young at sea, transforming the skeleton into a fossil. never coming ashore. They ranged in size from less than a metre to more than wildlifewatch.org.uk 25 metres long, reaching the size of blue whales! They were top predators that dined on a variety of animals, including squid, fish, other reptiles and even seabirds. 06 Wildlife Watch Magazine // Summer 2022

Dr Dean Lomax is a HOW WAS THIS recognised the bones 1“8wwI0tonIhhJt-ueo’emoslvdeffeipilorhDlerhissoaxtaetshpcnvnifliopiooytssueiuem,nagnanigehdrdt.ns,t”oaitmnlhlyies. apnadlaTeVonptroelsoegnistte,r.aHutehor, FOSSIL FOUND? as part of the spine of onsssiifccapstuihimeecadtcnhheiwittemydihfdooiyecfsriotnlavhdssseutoa,uerunuwsdxserpiara!ewientnstr,ddestapnsohnenoamdcfsiaens y a large ichthyosaur! On 20 January, 2021, Joe Davis from Leicestershire and Rutland Wildlife Trust In February, I led was draining one of the lagoons at the Rutland Water Nature Reserve. He revealed a mini, one-day dig to a strange structure sitting in the Jurassic clay. Joe thought he might have found the site and revealed what a dinosaur, so snapped some photos. The very next day, I received an email appeared to be a complete skeleton! about the find and immediately Unfortunately, the cold, damp weather meant we could not collect the skeleton. I returned to the site in the summer with a team of palaeontologists (scientists that study fossils) and volunteers, ready to unearth the giant ichthyosaur. All photos © Anglian Water WHAT MAKES THIS DISCOVERY SO SPECIAL? During our three-week dig, my team revealed an incredible discovery – a complete, 10-metre-long Gcro‘eIfmcieshekhtswhlifyozroaordsrmdsa’utfhor er ichthyosaur. That’s as long as a bus! At such a giant size, the Rutland ichthyosaur is the most complete skeleton of a large prehistoric reptile ever found in the UK. This is a once in a lifetime discovery and one of the greatest finds in British palaeontological history. SDSETRAAATGSON NTpTeeAommsMsnniEobodldyooanntstoopsseaacuuierrusussc,atrlilgeodnodon LENGTH 10 metres LEmIaVirlEllyiDoJnuyraesasrisc,aagroound 180 CDLisOtaSnEtSlyTrLeIlVaItNedGtoREliLzAaTrdIVsES and turtles FOUND East Midlands, UK Rutland, DAoIttEehTesrqiuchidt,hfyisohs,aaunrsd 07 Wildlife Watch Magazine // Summer 2022

The UK is full of plants and animals with unusual names. ANDREW is a nature Let’s dig down to their roots and find out how they got them! writer, forest school leader and Essex Wildlife TDHOEWRONOTTOS Trust volunteer. @AndrewMillham by Andrew Millham FORGET-ME-NOT STORM PETREL © Vaughn Matthews © Chris Gomersall / 2020VISION Thm fwds swlehorteaAoorTwowtanrwheguedaioegrhltnmrsom,tfnihseifn!soonfyla”ytifigonr.mgnsnfmotSw,oa‘t,hikmris“eeomreheiFhhwsnrsorertoeyaieg’uhassts.trydootsraghiOtssno,dfetraerncar’ut.toshlteyiheIhleeswtiamwtasitmtnslhcrsetaoheth’,oealblttvialeedfmnshlheeipltaecopeea.oblepvsatHaunflfsgyec,nulstaeaoomorfteiasmifrwdsptbberuyofr.mlerlideZimlenoJlap,orbeowdgvucMssvutlueouasehtetaysrwtlheork.e.nlo”wewenJsnfsdhAdlhaiuohsoifgnfssoithsrewathcioutman!blsteilmtebps,urahpeineesisiieidGndstfcyoa,orttekGfgf“eohrnuibFrneiteovdeliholgtkuieeeronmgkgefghpeottre T he first part of this name is easy to work out. These plant’s leaves. little black and white birds spend lots of time out at sea, where they survive huge storms! Sailors used to believe you could judge the size of an approaching storm based on the number of storm petrels you saw before it arrived. Some even thought that storm petrels lived within hurricanes, directing storms towards unsuspecting ships. The ‘petrel’ part of the name is a bit more mysterious. One theory is it comes from the Latin name for Peter. In the Bible, Saint Peter walks on water. Petrels often fly close to the sea, with their feet hanging down like they’re walking on the surface. Storm petrels even paddle their feet on the sea as they feed! Another name for storm petrels is Mother Carey’s chickens. Mother Carey is a legendary witch-like figure who rides a broom and conjures wicked storms with her storm petrel minions, delivering sailors to watery graves. 08 Wildlife Watch Magazine // Summer 2022 wildlifewatch.org.uk

BUMBLEBEE FALSE WIDOW SPIDER © Wendy Carter © Tom Marshall Tps iwitiifnnanahiaBwsrsttetcehpasynahccpie’rerhbvttkfieewhhdrsieees.dio.eecnacmnTTtmrtesaoUhitahhnfrumhceeKleteeyselea.looibelnbssiAeudsnlipaeainaoesatlwmlicyttfidyibbeioktisnuseedeylfawagorso.nomtcefwSwhibfttdskfohpauceaeuoinwetosarnselwentsnifmnanmdtyipodgniaowaanrisilogdmsewslpgcoettelci,aeimaaiadrgaawttdsksehsfacsnehtitrbntphgdnen.hi,ricinlawrdineoefthmmoeugo,hfwiirragfeotsafawllthgntsmwihhseito’eenatehsebogagswfeaemdavoo!lnnilniooudifonteoddssnorgvtrtcewdofhetaiohutedairhnewnntttreteueahribnsa–tets Wlbf nbitlkuhuaeeHmefmcfbomabesweulehsebseeteuevhm,mewathehrpubo,depmolueyimvllbDbkdfeymeuonlearehfaazreorrtblaezwkolwisevmyekmsitneennubiael,oocbbliltwhatewarylehocuxlebdaloektmieusdhmtddfamtmeoeaineftctmbtifnddhoniehldaeoebygrbeemmuebeulsdnosnelteolhaooettswubhmum?wncnuaemiae.edsfmsmWrbnbenaibletheueostlin.iesumbtctWdtbbehhub,sehbeeswlneewsyeyera,.bndbeofbmTelratCyohueeeel.fhtil.sTstoadTaoehnbwoorhunelcofeaery.euyssotu OTHER NAMES EXPLAINED! © Jon H awkins - Surrey Hills Photography © Guy E © Jon Ha R‘mwrrsOeeheaddBorrbbekIrNrritgneeeSigaanvussseets.tdns’Ie.n’ttEdfohtvotheeroroenntbbht1iecui4enkac0i.rnla0lbaylslrmei,itgdtewhh‘etaroysbin © To m Hibbert wkins - Surrey Hills Photography dwardes / 2020VISION 09 EceLaletEpePhrHpaiAnllNta’rsTstHlrouAonWkkKl.i-kMe OaTnH HhlikeEedDgaGeEpsHigfOoorGrsShmoraoglo.l tctrhearotuurgehs, SlIeimntCltvoEAleeruRsn,rLrioaneEprdgTeecdabEueneLwplFfi-eofCsvlrkhUeoladmoPprSteetoh,dadwerfermuoinon.kdgi.

HEROIC wSIrmRsehhaleseeecaeonhwdrfevsoaWelhwsleiofa-goofwhWirkltalHiselsWdadaylmifilnoftdpaeeulistrnWfuheagarieTreterrc!uh&setr. HABITATS GRASSLANDS by Rachel Remnant How do they How can we Meadow © Ross Hoddinott / 2020VISION fight the help them? Six-spot burnet moth © Guy Edwardes / 2020VISION What are What wildlife climate crisis? Common spotted orchid © Paul Lane grasslands? lives there? We’ve lost 97% of our special Grasslands are important as meadows since the 1930s, and Grasslands are exactly what Grasslands are best appreciated a home for wildlife, but they even more before then. The they sound like – a patch of land up close! Get on your knees also bring lots of other benefits. remaining patches are really covered in grass! They are one and see how many different Healthy grasslands can soak important as we can gather of the world’s most widespread leaf shapes and flower colours up carbon and store it in the seeds from them to make new habitats, covering around a third you can see. A good grassland roots of plants and in the soil. grasslands. Sometimes people of the planet’s land surface. You will have more than 15 species Having less carbon in the air destroy meadows by planting might think of a short garden of plant in every square metre. (in the form of carbon dioxide) trees on them because they lawn or sports pitch, but proper Some really special ones can will help prevent the climate want to help fight the climate grasslands are wilder places have 40-45! With lots of flowers crisis from getting worse. Sadly, crisis. We have to make sure like meadows. They have lots of to feed on, grasslands are a when grasslands are ploughed that we don’t plant trees in the other plants growing amongst haven for insects like moths, or destroyed carbon gets the grass. They are kept in butterflies and bees. The tangles released, making wrong place. shape by animals grazing of grass provide shelter for things worse. At home we them, as well as by voles and harvest mice, which This means we humans growing and are hunted by birds of prey must protect the can make mini cutting hay. like kestrels and barn owls. grassland we have, meadows in our as well as making gardens! Grow The healthy soil is great space for more of some local for earthworms, which it. Grasslands also wildflowers in are eaten by badgers play a big role in the your lawn, like and moles. water cycle and can Grasslands help prevent flooding. yellow rattle, are also great red clover, places to find Kestrel © Luke Massey / 2020VISION meadow fungi, like buttercup the colourful and ribwort waxcaps that plantain. appear in early autumn. Wildlife will love it, and it will help animals move between larger meadows in your area. Even the food we buy can help. Look out for milk, meat and eggs from pasture-fed livestock. 10 Wildlife Watch Magazine // Summer 2022 www.wildlifewatch.org.uk

Otter Spotter © Andy Rouse / 2020VISION OcatTtanehgrpweoeeyhoyaaidekslssksaoaeebnrrhoessvaehhveoieetglfhephsxetmocwhneeelatllmlthe,eneadritnerahdtsheetetcahhatredeipinyrrsgeosloywatn!nhigmdey. Wildlife Watch Magazine // Summer 112022

Eofnttheretohceewana’tsecruytweosrtlcdroefastoumrees! © Andrew Pearson Short-snouted seahorses © Alexander Mustard / 2020VISION SEASHUOPERRSES You’ve probably seen caclrsmooiegysascabheoesrzittaeuttisnothhm.kigovesLnorhreaeosre,onteweb’irsisnumaefwobtitoannhoecnldauseThsntoaUaVourtvb,mKhebtee?eseuatfmhTthoolyiuhdef!tmtnaeioldsneduedr 12 Wildlife Watch Magazine // Summer 2022 wildlifewatch.org.uk

Spiny seahorse © Alexander Mustard SSEPAOHTTOERRSE © Julie Hatcher There are about 50 SPECIES of seahorses in the world, with TWO IN THE UK: FFIUSNHKY pipaerdSefriesaraehghloaaontnresdsdestseoa 1. SPINY SEAHORSE Seahorses are fish, Also called the long-snouted though they look a seahorse. It has a long snout bit different to most and a mane of fleshy spines fish you see. They have on its head, neck and back. It’s often found in seagrass. a horse-like head with a long snout, and PPARRATNNCEIRNSG a curving body that makes them look a bit like the letter ‘S’. They also have a Seahorse couples show their commitment prehensile tail – this means it can grip to each other by dancing! They meet up things, like a monkey’s tail does. This in the morning and spiral in circles, with strange shape makes them very slow their tails tangled together. Amazingly, it’s swimmers. the male seahorse that gets pregnant. The female places her eggs in a special PPORECDKAETT-OSRIZSED pouch on the male’s body, which then aIIrtstAeeSp2aasarlsE.hestthoSfoAoeerhHrssHnsaeeasOrahOomgnacRroseRkaTyosasSsubas-vbEgShngieodoNderussstsOtae.snr‘m,UdsthnayTniosueE’t. .D closes up to protect them. After a few Despite their slow speed, weeks, the male gives birth to seahorses are hunters. They’re some tiny baby seahorses. ambush predators that feed on tiny shrimp and other miniature WATERY marine creatures. They use their WORRIES gripping tail to cling to seaweed or seagrass, sneakily waiting for Seahorses around the world prey to pass by. When they spot face lots of threats. Sometimes something tasty, they suck it they’re caught deliberately up with their long snout – like and sold as pets, dried out and an underwater vacuum cleaner! sold as souvenirs, or used They have no teeth so swallow in traditional medicine. It’s everything whole. important not to buy seahorses, as they’re SSEAAFEGTRYAISNS much better off left in the sea! They’re also in Because they’re such slow swimmers, danger from disturbance seahorses like to hide. They spend a lot and damage to the places of time in seagrass meadows, patches of they live. Luckily, seahorses seaweed and amongst rocks. These places are a protected species in the give them shelter to avoid predators, but UK, but we still need to also something to grip onto. They grab hold look after the seagrass © Paul Naylor / marinephoto.co.uk with their tails to stop themselves being meadows and other swept away. In the UK, seahorses are most underwater areas common on the south coast of England. that they call home. They spend the summer in shallow water, but can move into deeper water in winter. tcchSoaeelnomauhcrbhotlraeosnnehgdseeilnp! 13 Wildlife Watch Magazine // Summer 2022

GALLERY 4 Send in your photos, poems, artwork and letters for your chance to feature in the gallery. If your artwork is picked as the star entry you’ll win your very own drawing kit! The perfect starter set for any budding wildlife artist. 2 1 3 5 6 14 Wildlife Watch Magazine // Summer 2022

1) Owl by Mary, aged 9 This owl has so much character! We can almost feel it staring at us. 2) Whale by Carmen, aged 10 Carmen has created a wonderful watery landscape. 3) Blue tit by Felicity, aged 13 What a brilliant drawing of a beautiful bird! 4) Oak tree by Alfred, aged 8 Alfred has shown us an entire habitat, full of wildlife. 7 5) Honeybee by Dylan, aged 8 9 We love how bright and bold this is! 11 8 6) Owl by Nancy, aged 10 This is a great painting of an owl in action! 7) Bee orchid by Archie, aged 5 A lovely vibrant drawing of this weird and wonderful plant. 8) Crane by Edie, aged 9 It’s great to see this majestic crane in its natural habitat. 9) Hedgehog by Ivy, aged 7 What a lovely prickly hedgehog! 10) House sparrow by Molly, aged 12 An amazing painting of a male house sparrow! 11) Eagle by Amie, aged 9 Amie has painted an eagle poised to take off! 10 12) Owl by Meghan, aged 7 We love the creativity Meghan has shown to make this owl from fallen leaves. Insmfoewiegdedhoftnyeao’atlutsfuororrfeigsrhseytaot ntruoearmiiant rcoetlwnuadoonerudkrtyhwwoeeuemrbw.asiWilgtleee, and social media. 12 HEwmO‘GwWitTaWahTrhNiiilhNtlllteeedehweTorlwetWiOytoaKfteassetiiuclulErnndWNshkbNt,lr@GiajafyMeTett’2wc:Ecoat4TRhirtrllidhu1nGWelseiaftresTlRlterouraysdts.org 15

WE IRD E I R D - OAptwaslaiktlhdtiininlsigfueymaewaljoiurtohbiksirltoaehyteeas,oQlwnmueae’ermeene’ss! WOND R WEIRD NATURE W -METEERFUL WACKY THIS ISSUE: ROYAL WILDLIFE KINGFISHER THE CORONET THE HERALD EPMURPPELREOR © Jon Hawkins / Surrey Hills Photography © Iain H Leach © Vaughn Matthews © Pete Richman TiipTstshskehteirihesllclfiehsnr! rodTiamibevhssleepteerhrkrbneeviaasnyensmgsitkvfhcei,easewsnhhptheuifeteronal’rserkterifosneitfsfhagholemr.y A coronet is a small Iwamrcenunadaehlnrsgesrioesrayssuadtp.mognwTerecerihsicessnembostgaiehnmsegtenwwrereetsasehss,l,eebdooanmurmmhtdcbeaoiialrtfedtrasfhreetlwidrhemreadoenvayrtyyao-lbneost Kings and queens aren’t the king of fishers! or simple crown. This of the people who did. only rulers. This wonderful delicately-patterned moth woodland butterfly is QUEEN BEE gets its name from the CKAINKGESALFRED’S certainly impressive enough wavy patterns on its to be called an emperor, wings that look a bit like but its taste in food isn’t so the paper crown from fancy. They can often be a Christmas cracker. found feeding on dog poo! DBUURKGEUONFDY GOLDCREST © Nick Upton / 2020 VISION © Tom Marshall © Vaughn Matthews © John Bridges The classic wildlife royalty! TbroBbhouthnhuuyetolterartywegtelUerounafrinKlntafrileeedmg.ysNoy,dloebituoinstusskbs, tuEbaeooicuu!dbtfhT’rtysemohtaaqrpheoueufeetaatDihritlwnfeleusyuc’iskrtaylkahenlnnriodteoatflmwiense! liciSnhlkbanoThtieakdsoahekeitmneibhasinns,glseeaebgkaafcfu!efrukprLbdtoeenoaemhanhogtgekteiruemslydlenwsoe,!fdbtmtoKuoutmsinehnnawgaerysgaoimns–Atgy’stceajlbhhuhftluarlsoythetrthudenbaesrafietrd.er HphnmiAgsraaaoemessvmltaeditaennceycnrrg:srirecReeek‘tgasvegliontygnealaungdlrs,relu,’bfuesliapanuoscnettarytircvelhtoilrgheeeeuosuredyrglosgaukoncfolilsia.ndtel.TdmhcnRgchrelteeereiegeftsiiussstc.tlus The queen bee isn’t a wildlifewatch.org.uk species, it’s the name given to the female bumblebee or honeybee that rules the hive. Queens are much larger than the other bees. 16 Wildlife Watch Magazine // Summer 2022

17 Wildlife Watch Magazine // Summer 2022

Badgers © Andrew Copper / naturepl.com A good home is hard to find, so sometimes it’s better to share! NNEAIGTUHRBOE’USRSbyTom Hibbert FTsliWsohfhhteteesahlyltrloee’,erfsripr–!enfoeeLetooddmarehofi,fltteneldue’eysigccsnrnmiturtsmelehsaoueaappeloerrltooytbvkrutriyiairwgvnti.esfahaBgasentalruwfhtdlmpotra…eflrewv,oapasaecrehdonenalaymedtndtaotewsharawlnoankiivtphntiehmepentiotrie?as!enl s 18 Wildlife Watch Magazine // Summer 2022 wildlifewatch.org.uk

Fries’s goby © Paul Naylor / marinephoto.co.uk Norway lobster © Pa BURROWSntbc hswsageaoupoteShbLhmunolvrIamoiloaturreeeetoormerthrtdbesrtsdaibwidnattctu5enhsoNiumgupmsrF0t.cefrirolprmerBaiotyiaienmcohreesarwwnsedewelsn,tyedi,hso’sihamcssrtgrpeonrrayowauigeeeaonf’vnmttlnsaorilospaetsseatdhbt,bohuunilplnheryswifesdlooava.ogaprttdtetagebusrhrhve.ypceryrbneeicesTonuslasniierrhtebup!(e,sbdenaaesneiBtalnuitaloynsgedyswafer,nolioncrmodotshiwod.ahloglfkriSwaadeniemfrnsetho.lshiecspsrorieTxonoa,,rawomshleovcrilwecnwedeeslnouuetcda.yetnmlidlsatInydufn.sicoepssmtadororIlerstweimanaeactiglaetteyuh,tmsairmt!ehpsseeumil)ysNlaaisvyllehlorfaii/nsrmeharinephoto.co.uk BUILDINGS BIRD NESTScoom bohftrBfohetioiepchrTereskdvlhenyattselsreleeyndn–ymwpstobs,dultniieamnknfet’rcsetieaaoaoatgiydmngttulue!hoehsartttsebecnhtotaoosietcfmhturkebeneerearfesearpfeloecssttipaluo’rtslbtauriimteilrtrnossossaeettouosallllvfogt,nhotebvhopdefuetilnfyteioebhlt’.dronvoaeeLitendmcolyiwnkgvtoosseaattenfoohrinlpnmvfeoftoeesdfbpfo.seaieife.rdfnradeIr.tdfntrTenowedhscenoehtsotnrentliesd’nlett,esastfiaeenrtr,eeackcbdteltusbhu,dlietabotsirnunnsdtgg, nfau eaelslenncseaTtdieahthdtfhd.uslgiaosecLubtlut,oknuslhitetpasecsiaptnsoskhmlsrmtgiioeestltythatdlimo,aabegeyatonrihhyirlenttoddtoeemhodlasrsreretseagboastlspnehtasanutyrainrcdnrwsetvdolgecietsfovhaaulmetncenhnc,oiakerotmshtscrtoeheehemtr,ehii,acntieearhkel.tssebsiBm!tltyouhTbLeotheeywsdsyeiseob.rpeamIefrteaaienfreger ssotmaaphHplyf embbociaooiSalogttstgIiorhsetttttrooulpuYooh’itsestanilsmmosurnhsaesbe.hgtttneulhsgehcrlidHeipitceoc’norehasitv,sknielanehthntpsmeetptyseovijeeogicryhuiip–drentpefdeouiloasfipcreiuu.rlewdnnustttofnoerrheCsiryeedl.wobeogbdsdh.beersTvfor,Ta,ioalrdal.hlobiiwldmhaxcqdebautIoriuefaiseteuesanlisra,eayttylr,esilsgllststenoeoaiyleoasnhslsp.potioudpg,homnlcepiTyicwrkdnboloa!deshetooicahegcntuu-eOvyrevbhtomllreofeegtlesueyesuduwtfidmodsnpocltrnoflcaahebiotegvivaomihknonrrnbaeriheeigunoesakeabthaloftmoerguortrbstoypskmthgorvhs,uihboeeuinreocenunsaltoearo,usyo!spsieiotttw,artsedthertOooeswlapopnetotgeltsuhtfetsrisiaetntoeihdnplehriyekrrotrske,raekesiiseoiltsdisnrssiaesrrrvinb,spfoecenrsbnarelsploeoili!ryilkoudpdstcwktiefsovoioesseeeniolwicdktatinrei,hrybntnihilbettregiicieleitcemttaiertahsheo’nseessstatlosc.slstraaawteshuruhaneircetninatadntsehstctpdtvhcufelaieeooedrninlreensieonaddsygrttgot.thio.inucneatdynooSgdffnpaepb’ilttdllaucisetngltrhitusmsohcboasklni!endsk,s to fleas like beetles and Blackbird nest © Am House spider © Philippe Clement / naturepl.com spiders that hunt these unwelcome invaders. 19

House martins © Markus Varesvuo / naturepl.com LOOK UP! isThfiellaescdurwmobimtahtesar!esrkiyal MOFATHSETAEIRRS by Pete Dommett abSfwaagtaanbderwimiotoaldloohsupvison.lpetsyaTpge.wynh(isAdnhoedetlgtiuplormsootuaawa-ftannrbhatrceddahtleolifiscoeninmorokwmeufaapsw,arrrla)hseesii,rnnottbuefggeufurmlslsosytiyunmemaitdpnthnmeie’thfedrlhrafeivebfsfereioawrltsysseiirirniakttnfymoettlrdees! 20 Wildlife Watch Magazine // Summer 2022 wildlifewatch.org.uk

SWALLOW © Chris Gomersall / 2020VISION SAND MARTIN © Hans Glader BIA Minden / naturepl.com by Pete Dommett Tbtsfflaeorawusodrilimatglosdhlentleiortn.eheywgAaetfsoftthemathwneeanreeeciresescssorttstelsethisatondwyeasaongsisniccnrtfiaauhrdclcoianpbehasrbdsoietiocgeanudiktflnntuoetsimcfrnp6afohnlb-iu,hcfg0aisnledosuht0vguo.neet0aSmpe-ionshwwinvswmdaaaeuisntiseerlrcpslgetorhcfperi!etaweeaalsWdywldnssdao,oabdsoofbndtirfcaynfotadaoheontlsytoinhudontdrt’pglnpoepl.eaasoaAssortfru.etkboarWnisvrnnotbiavsssoeeiitdpftdal!fhstyeolbmPopoyattbuhoeftisiutoae’tcbtAdsearwn’rtaswefnpnbaadb!bsdapeceney,auacsrtpdrylwhraaelieranunct!lotctklylokwyw, Tauisbnanwepnrsetsdohpietnoieeldnsapcigeskniaocdegctlfossotgbhna.wslooeeeenSonvnctsadsielatiyn.mttfrocsuTdechoashneatamhepledanlemeesimiantsbnesbrtbgeetucweimrnrtaehfrofarseaenoolgtimundcmembeesesrbte.eehditiYetnoeusttorwohrptsus.oheihcatLtfeihmooruontohnofsddioegtpedkryenehy-rehfuetetbogpiapedrrmrruo,nvsasasnweedasoadntdsnnrbfnirendsapeidfneeelnaayomkeadikfn!rbatassahgfamreteotntoaaihrfinklsntyidbshrs,dsiidebgrsotdeyornufstsneautbr.idst–nviAcrnendhia’nretilsnllsg HOUSE MARTIN © Margaret Holland SWIFT © Stefan Johansson LTanbcitanoohoninrtlebdwddlheiusrecostirwhltatdsoehevko!udeeyywomuWnr.fobtlrdiIabdhthotkrhruiensiymshtnginaeenangbsdasnovwuhtpseiestunsuihsamfynn–niiirxtutdeebitbsmlspeaasiyrbbtrfradfeospurlttdyopdhroumaieaneefdoaow!dcgfd)neori,saholbbadetwcolhmeevslnaileeaaefeafes1ltsklhll,ilnsoe.to0(oattdtwOslbt0huen,oo0epnsd(ahfxbeocoepiwieugnntrdhothdotmgichdestraehkeors–sv?esreeeotsasfip,dkrbeeoeluolaoetfbftssm)yotooousuomfuftwMdhmr1hta0daohheaurluyodlkeltdpsouaiiepenrswyhusaessno.sdaeudbsnslutdeesil!d Wtbu–htTinhohipirvereueudeaycbyn!r’htartidSdeenldwliobgnf(orrc,iehfoawatdsasmtlnrelvdeianseottdrokhaTaea.fieahennyrInbnreag’dAro‘atbettfw,pr’baasboeeboocnrdlaliuuiatdvsdn,siettsingssde’enw)wcy.davoterohiJeeieflvtfudtueontaesfs–,mabrmtssastmuuwlohpeibbnsineleieaadleglyeapnlcui,lnotcdiakbhlwntgkwcioegtamhsroblsmolu.iimcaontsaAshhwtstonedtoechms-dtuaiahearptlnemetiancersaabhcdlrsalihcnroio-kctrhohsn–rytknio.etnos‘aanevisnrinioennl–dwrivfa1eueio,r0epmsemn0ts’lifa.yin0linyllsielifkbhnmliivieoutgegesomgndhrrsl-tAkiie!gfisethlowhttimamiffnleytet2!res s(cAiorfloluysfotoshuu,t’rhrfeeeseprMdeeaiceniddegiisntaegwsrrittalhlhniseseoyiaonfnnlyAS!bueeBgauuhtsaetdna,oddsnoint’mhtgeweoSosfafrwrhtyoiaft–rAsatfmhrDiecaeyays’leohl rnbatevtoehbneaaitrlhcrkeaeauinrdteuinyxmctlernsefutdm!mi)b.igmlTerheajerot!yiuo’lrnlneys 21Wildlife Watch Magazine // Summer 2022

GDROALGDOENN-FRLIYNGED © Pete Richman DARDAAGZOZLNING TGHOEWFILTOHW T he golden-ringed dragonfly is a Scientific name G olden-ringed dragonflies need beautiful insect, with big green eyes Cordulegaster boltonii flowing water to lay their eggs in. and a long body covered in black They really like narrow streams with and yellow bands. It’s one of our largest Size lots of plants along the edge. The female dragonflies – in fact, the female is the UK’s 7.4 – 8.4cm hovers above the water with her body longest dragonfly, thanks to the long egg- pointing down, then plunges lower and sinks laying organ (called an ovipositor) at the Amazing fact her ovipositor into the stream bed again and end of her body. It can take up to five again – a bit like a drill! Each time she sticks years for a young it in, she lays her eggs. HHUEANTTHELRAND gtoolddeevne-lroinpgiendtodarnagaodnufllty When the eggs hatch, the young dragonflies (called larvae) look nothing like G olden-ringed dragonflies live Female the adult. They have shorter, fatter bodies and on heathlands and moorlands, no wings. They live in the water for several sometimes appearing far away from years, hiding in the mud at the bottom of the nearest water. They hunt the stream and ambushing smaller watery insects, including creatures. They’ll chomp down on young © Vaughn Matthews insects, tadpoles and even small fish! When butterflies, bees © Tom Hibbert they are finally and wasps. They’ll ready to turn into an adult, they even catch and eat climb out onto other dragonflies! a riverside plant and transform. You can find them in They usually do this at night, so Scotland, Wales and they’re less likely to be spotted and northern, southern gobbled up by a predator. and western England. They fly all summer, from May Male to September. 22 Wildlife Watch Magazine // Summer 2022 Ovipositor wildlifewatch.org.uk

HOW DO Angler fish © David Shale / naturepl.com CREATURES SURVIVE Snailfish © David Shale / naturepl.com IDNEETPHSEEA? by Erin McKeown T he deep sea is one of the coldest, darkest and loneliest places on planet earth. Living in this part of our oceans is very difficult. However, some species have evolved very strange adaptations to help them survive in these depths. UNDER PRESSURE  DEEP AND DARK  DEEP SEA DIETS IwdttwfmmbthuopedoscehOfpyTaosfenrrvkaiawliroehhefaotnotngedoefdtoeyuoniasrmeesheenemsletprescenrtsrwrgosdeuoieatbhd.ftaoooonttcrnerfhadyaltohTlofenernsehtenaivsuhyemhlt.t’ptyeewpsotthtstihaPgSshhhituhesinbspavesesaameoaa.hmiiertkortnctnwmnneeessaimTuawfigoegfaun.tsahpliefoeenalicsiskrsttDeesnsufriehnmnuegakdhgOerredsarhecieecseiuaeltlpeesfenb.iotiaspodnsofhneveegnter!arhsheytaysfhoioostsaehuumhIomiferstpgyeihhisoelolotoeeaahcaupnsrnvtee,hreeaedadmeaesninohsvlaldwoaoeshdittinnsetnhanffhieavspegyteioeetnvotanpeiltuesocddrorklirhefkoedeepaap5dc0LeoahTha!idfnhegnaitihlimsphnmt,egbaafalsrobaleoslososcdittrdetclmmtoflhiyweeoiaertsayaeshraelthtimocthegphnoi.stauaah-e,oieTnnlnstrtcirmhenv,esgideadmeeouahalamsltiyunaeenkthnmchgolldilegrspnditheareglhiogebewrmnlhaelefeisegottioostasurdretlriuntkunovrlaanhdtpeee’mhtrnsefssrkrdeaitiyemriot.mhnheomienvpdeeaaaettiiisacvefhtrlfscoeohnMkcitiochsef3yneteewtu,oneotcPt,ohhya5hluoaicnatwneseRcit0efnelnc.elcfosoln0ei.tobitigralfOgcmhudioFroL.smc.kfhetudfaoteeTahTCttOijieUcot.raihonelmhslTetciKamgrrnahTie,eeosrtles’aoiltsfsteare!nuedbnsnaT.gseogeshIuhetldee’doFsnis,spsucstrecaswoeoitodewehsogaehDedceowneesihvldpoaaoatnepdltsrheeata!u.plrwea.elpreldrtyeirgtdTpsdokRaaoi1sdohhos’,ts0,srtpuahhsfuenteitt,snetdate0herstrcthocofgctrnea0emotavoodemgiohesi0aaubclvioebeeprhtleelleeflbdlolieeelopitrst.nlofheyshilrrfihfnpiTsfgeitedetsnhhoayhihsid.rvtietnanharhibAysfbeivarienouljnekrtlaesryrrnahorkdantclmrhatelsh,tmoryiktihafnfpomeheaauofeopsendetlnoeossdrroecsefaeddpxouiebrigenteweaieteovronopidhsnsneceiptfbgnt.aotimdsrhfestlotsoyIsioehsh.nnsmemeoadmaaaleloadonsty,toahenov.hdfdtvcsaneelgfhaeAsleaesmdrtirehstmpynssnhkhpawnotisseicteahhstrvoeciioktnneeetreiuhlio,solvntlntp-elas,osesf skull and injuring the brain. 23 Wildlife Watch Magazine // Summer 2022

COMPETITIONS WIN WHAT A SHELL CAN TELL D ive into the world of shells and the FOR YOUR CHANCE TO WIN: creatures that live in them! You’ll discover what shells can tell us about soDerrnasdhweulysleoyduorcufrraedvaortauuwrreitienagns!hdell wild places from around the globe, and meet lots of magnificent molluscs – like RRP: £12.99 the clusterwink snail that glows in the dark! This beautiful book is written by Helen Scales and illustrated by Sonia Pulido. We’ve got SIX copies to give away. Buy online at: phaidon.com RRP: £16.95 WIN BOX KIT BAT Build your own bat box with this easy- FOR YOUR CHANCE to-assemble kit! It comes with all the TO WIN: pieces you need, you just have to find a hammer and a screwdriver. Put your TaayeisntellciaRnuirues?ttnhlwa(tCenahlmudnaeitamW:fgoTaaahsltzseewiirlniaasleanes!ssd)ftwouenr d bat box on a tree or building to offer a safe space to roost for common pipistrelle bats. . We’ve got FOUR kits to give away! Buy online at: nestbox.co.uk RRP: £20.40 WINMAKE THIS BOOK WILD T his book was made to have fun FOR YOUR CHANCE TO WIN: outside! Cut, colour and create as you connect with nature like never Just answer this question! Which one before. Fill the pages with mud, of these is a real bird found in the UK? leavers, flowers, doodles and stories! a) House martin There are more than 60 nature-themed b) Garage martin activities to enjoy, from dressing a dragon c) Shed martin to composing a poem for the planet. We’ve got FIVE copies to give away. Buy online at: wtru.st/book-wild RRP: £10.99 Itfoypouut’rtehesemndininognme uelmtipaliel teonstarivees,epnleeargsye!try COMPETITION RULES [email protected] By post Wildlife Watch, The Kiln, Mather Road, Newark, Nottinghamshire NG24 1WT Send your competition entries to us: By email your name, age and a way of contacting you about your entry! DEADLINE: 31 August 2022 Don’t forget to include Competition entries may be used on our website and social media channels.