Wildlife Watch summer 2019 by The Wildlife Trusts

FREE! WHALE POSTER

TURNING INTO GOO

MAKING ART FROM LITTER

What really happens inside a chrysalis?

Spreading the word about plastic pollution

Issue 90 Summer 2019

GO WILD FOR R PONDS

Make your own mini wildlife haven!

BLEURGH! Which bird sounds like a fairy being sick?

WILD THINGS News from our Wildlife Watchers

GRACE IS A NATURE RANGER!

EDITOR’S CORNER LEANNE MANCHESTER

Editor, Wildlife Watch Happy summer to our fantastic wildlife watchers. This is a special issue of the magazine for me – because it’s my last! I’ll still be at The Wildlife Trusts, so I’ll enjoy hearing all about your wildlife adventures, but I’m passing the magazine on to my wonderful colleague, Tom. Tom loves wildlife! He spends his weekends bird ringing or just out seeing what wildlife he can spot. He’s a marine biologist but he has a special place in his heart for birds. He’ll introduce himself in the Autumn magazine, but you can read his article on storm petrels on page 20. For now, I hope you enjoy this issue of Wildlife Watch, go wild for 30 Days Wild and have the BEST summer. I’ve had such a brilliant time editing Wildlife Watch. It’s been the best job in the world, and most of all I’ve loved getting to know all of you. You are such inspiring, passionate young people and I know you’re all working hard to make the world a better place in the future, for us and for wildlife. Stay wild!

big well done to Grace aged 13 who received her Nature Ranger award from Lincolnshire Wildlife Trust earlier this year. She did her project on bats and spent time with a bat group. If you want to become a Nature Ranger too, speak to your Wildlife Trust.

WIND IN THE WILLOWS INSPIRES ACTION

ristan, from Ludlow Junior School, was inspired by our Wind in the Willows film trailer to help wildlife! With the help of his mum and his friends Joe and Raife, Tristan gave out leaflets to make other children aware of the dangers facing our wildlife. He also inspired the Assistant Head Teacher to set up an after-school club with the help of Shropshire Wildlife Trust. How amazing!

BUZZING ABOUT A OUT BEES 10-year-old Aron made this fantastic bee hotel himself! He and his family are also making a wildflower meadow in their garden, so they’re hoping to have some bee residents very soon. Thank you so much to Aron and his family!

Check out wildlifetrusts.org/ privacy-policy to find out how we keep your information safe.

WILDLIFE WATCH 90 Editor: LLeanne Manchester Editorial Team: Ben Cook Anna Heathcote Mary Porter Mike Watson Adrian Royston LLynn Victor Branwen Messamah

Cover pic: © Ross Hoddinott / 2020VISION, pic of swift on front cover: © Chris Gomersall / 2020VISION

WOODPECKER ERROR In the Spring 2019 issue we shared a feature about our woodpeckers. We’re so sorry that the illustration was wrong. Lesser spotted woodpeckers are our smallest woodpeckers, not great spotted woodpeckers.

06 18

IN THIS ISSUE… 02 Wild Things 04 Plastic Clear for a Year! 05 Your stories!

Read stories from Wildlife Watchers!

06 Batty about Bats

08 Making Art from Litter

10 Homes Under the Sea The mud

11 Orchid Poster

12 Garden Party

Which birds can you see in your garden?

14 Gallery

16 Weird Nature Slime moulds

17 How to…

Make a musical rain stick

18 Make a Splash for Wildlife! Pic: © Danny Green / 2020VISION

illiam, aged 7, was so excited to find this amazing fossil on Walton beach! We’d be happy too with such a fantastic find. William loves fossil hunting – in fact, his grandma says there’s nothing he likes better. What do you like searching for?

Pic: © Ross Hoddinott / 2020VISION

Pic: © Tom Marshall

FANTASTIC FOSSIL

Ponds

22 WHAT’S WILDLIFE WATCH? Wildlife Watch is the junior branch of The Wildlife Trusts. Join Wildlife Watch and start your nature adventure - prices range from £10-24 per year for child-only membership and £30-60 for family membership. You’ll receive a starter pack and four issues of Wildlife Watch magazine a year. This is packed full of amazing pictures, posters and competitions. We also have a really wild website and e-newsletter full of wild ideas and nature-spotting tips. Plus you get access to local events and groups. Go to wildlifewatch.org.uk to find out more.

20 Storm Riders Our seabirds

22 Feature Creature Otter

23 What Happens inside a Chrysalis?

24 Competitions GET IN TOUCH

Email us at: watch@wildlifetrusts.org or ring: 01636 677711 or write to us at: Wildlife Watch, The Kiln, Mather Road Newark, Notts, NG24 1WT wildlifetrusts thewildlifetrusts

The Wildlife Trusts Registered Charity No 207238

@wildlifetrusts EP KE

! ING CH T WA

C PLASTIC CLEAR A R O F ! R A E Y B

year! ex Lynam is living plastic clear for a t her limi to d She tells you how she manage plastic on her holiday this year.

PLASTIC FREE ON THE GO!

The big challenge for me over the last few months has been plastic free travel. I’ve been lucky enough to go abroad on holiday. That’s great, but it means there are big obstacles to tackle! Where I travelled to you can’t drink tap water, which means it’s impossible to avoid buying plastic water bottles. But we bought as little plastic as possible by buying very large containers full of water. Then we transferred the water in to our own reusable water bottles. Here in the UK, when I’m out and about I use the Refill App. This handy mobile app tells me where I can fill my reusable bottle with water for free – amazing! You might like to ask your mum or dad to download this.

ALWAYS HUNGRY!

Now I don’t know about you, but I eat a lot of snacks! Many of the snacks you can buy are wrapped up in plastic. Instead, I bring some snacks that already come with their own wrapper – like fruit. Fruit is a great on-the-go snack, healthy, cheap and there’s no prep required.

Wildlife Watch Magazine // Summer 2018

Easter has been my other challenge in the last month. Easter eggs often come with excessive and unnecessary amounts of plastic packaging. I made sure I only bought eggs that were wrapped in foil, which can be recycled.

AN UPDATE ON HOW MUCH PLASTIC YOU’VE USED

My ‘plastics bin’ is filling up, but it’s only shoe box size, and I’m pleased with how much I’ve managed to avoid using. Most of the plastic I’ve used came from ‘one off’ items such as equipment packaging or medicine, which is unavoidable. The biggest challenge is still finding plastic free food items in supermarkets. But many supermarkets are happy for you to take your own containers to their deli and meat counters and fill them up.

MY TOP SWAPS Using glitter for a school project or to decorate your face? Use eco glitter instead! It’s made from plants rather than plastic. Make plastic free party bags. Fill ill them with chalk or colouring pencils, foil wrapped chocolate, home baked cookies or cake, all wrapped in scraps of fabric tied with leftover ribbon. Use se bubble bath bars. You just break a small piece off in to the bath and swirl for an extra bubbly bath. Do you take a packed lunch to school? Use se a container filled with plastic free treats – fruit, cheese, dips, sandwiches, etc. Make sure you bring a bottle filled with your favourite juice. Baking is great fun – and you might get to lick the spoon! Ask mum and dad if you can make your own snacks. Take really good care of the things you already have – this way you won’t need to replace them quite so quickly.

Our Allotment

by Evie (aged 10)

itting south of the River Trent is my step-dad’s allotment. This is home to an abundance of wildlife, from ladybirds to two very friendly robins . To encourage wildlife to the allotment I have sown wildflower seeds which are rich in pollen and necta r to attract butterflies and bees. I am also install ing a bee hotel on the shed, and refreshment bar for its visitors. I am growing soft fruit such as strawberries and raspberries that the birds love to feast on. Running alongside the allotment is a brook full of wildlife, including water bugs, dragonflies and ducks. I love getting close up to these weird little critters by paddling in the shallow water. In the evening we watch bats soarin g in the evening sky, gorging themselves on an all-you -caneat buffet of flies and gnats. We try to reduce our carbon footprint by collecting and recycling rainwater in the water butts. This waters the plants, fills my bird bath and cleans our boots and equipment. We also recycle our food waste on the compost heap, which is a habitat to many interesting bugs such as earwigs, and devil’s coach horse. The birds love to stop by for a quick snack if there’s room after all those berries. Juicy worms are their favourite. I love the allotment, I love nature and I try my best to encourage everyone to do their bit to support our wildlife and their habitat.

o Pic: © Alan Price Gatehouse Studi

YOUR STORIES

rthworms Exquisite Ea d 8) by Ste Wells (age

think it’s amazing that every piece of soil that we step on has passed through a worm. They are Earthworms are not an insect. s and their limb no with s ture crea smooth, cylindrical . They have small hairs brains are the size of a pinhead a bird is trying to pull on each segment so that when cling to the mud. can them out of the ground, they tions, which is vibra and light e Earthworms can sens a pretty cool Latin pretty cool, isn’t it? They also have . name that is lumbricus terrestris burrows. They need Earthworms live in underground they’re probably why is that so st to keep their skin moi e house. going to choose rainy days to mov how you tell to g goin I’m Now earthworms make this planet a better place. They not only eat nutrients from the soil for their own dinner, but they help grass and fungus to grow in the soil! They can turn rotting food into healthy compost. Believe it or not, I love Do you want to write those little wigglers! for the magazine? Send your stories and ideas to watch@wildlifetrusts.org!

THANK YOU to Evie & Ste!

Wildlife Watch Magazine // Summer 2019

Y T T A B T U O AB ! S T BA Pic: © Stephen Dalton / naturepl

by en Hel h ls Wa

n as bats are show s, ie v o m e t th n at screech ou th s d n e fi g in k blood-suc in hair. rs and tangle e rn o c rk a d f o ct, bats not true! In fa st ju s t’ a th r t u B als, with supe m m a m g n ti s. are fascina flying abilitie g in z a m a d n ers a ission to hearing pow yth-busting m m a n o is h ls ats. Helen Wa ut the UK’s b o b a ts c fa e find out th

Wildlife Watch Magazine // Summer 2019

www.wildlifewatch.org.uk

Pic: © Tom Marshall

Pic: © Hugh Clark

BAT STATTS TS There are 18 species of bat in the UK. These include the tiny common pipistrelle, which can fit in a matchbox, and the hefty noctule bat, which is the size of a pear! Here are some of the bats you’ re most likely to see flitting around the UK.

BROWN LONG-EARED BAT

Has ears nearly as long as its body and greyish-brown fur. Pic: © Tom Marshall

Wingspan: 20-30cm Weight: 6-12g Found: Everywhere, except some Scottish islands

Myth 3

Myth 2

BATS ARE BLIND

Myth 4

BATS LOVE HALLOWEEN

Bats are often hibernating by the time Halloween comes around. They will mate in autumn, just before settling down for a long winter’s nap. When they wake up in spring, the female bats come together to live in large ‘maternity colonies’. They usually have just a single pup in early summer. The pup will stay with its mother until it is fully weaned and able to fly and find All UK bats and food on its own. th

Although ‘blind as a bat’ is a common saying, eir roosts a re bats actually have very protected by law. It’s good eyesight. Yet, in Myth 5 very import ant that yo the dead of night, other u don’t distu rb them or senses come into play… BATS ARE PESTS their home Bats usually find their s! Bats may be thought of as dirty prey using something and a nuisance, but they are actually called ‘echolocation’. They really helpful for both gardeners and call out with high-pitched farmers. By eating lots of insects, they keep sounds that reflect off the objects pests away from crops. Because they are around them and echo back to their special affected by things like pesticides used to keep ears. They use this information to tell them insects at bay, if we study bats they can tell us what their surroundings are like, exactly where how the whole food chain is doing. their prey is and how fast it is going! Most of So, rather than fearing bats, let’s show them these sounds can’t be heard with the human some love! Try putting up a bat box in your ear - you need a bat detector to listen in. But, if garden or helping your local Wildlife Trust to you’re really lucky, the low calls of the Leisler’s make habitats for bats. bat may be heard just before sunset.

Wingspan: 20-23cm Weight: 3-8g Found: Everywhere, except some Scottish islands

Pic: © Tom Marshall

The amazing echolocation bats use to navigate the dark keeps them well away from your head! Bat roosts are also hidden away in caves or high up in treetops, so they probably won’t be anywhere near your hair, anyway. Serotine bats are the first to appear before it’s even dark, looking for insects attracted to street lights. Daubenton’s bats can be seen just after sunset, skimming the surface of lakes, ponds and canals. But around 75% of all sightings are pipistrelle bats.

Our smallest bats, they have dark brown fur and a dark mask around the face.

DAUBENTON’S BAT

Pic: © Dale Sutton / 2020VISION

Despite their reputation, our bats in the UK don’t suck blood. They are all ‘insectivorous’. This means that they eat insects, like midges, moths and beetles. It might only be small, but a common pipistrelle bat can wolf down 3,000 insects a night! Our bats are nocturnal, so they hunt at night. They d e r u n inj a look for food d fin e If you ontact th e in woodlands, c plin bat, t Hel meadows, a B l . na 228 Natio gardens and 1300 5 4 on 03 wetlands. Flying with super speed and agility, they will often feed on the wing (while flying), scooping their prey up with their legs and chomping as they go.

COMMON, NATHUSIUS’ AND SOPRANO PIPISTRELLE BATS

BATS GET TANGLED IN YOUR HAIR

A small bat with fluffy, brownish fur, a silvergrey belly, and a pinkish face. Wingspan: 24-27cm Weight: 7-12g Found: Everywhere

NOCTULE BAT Our largest bat with golden-brown fur, dark ears and a dark face. Wingspan: 32-40cm Weight: 18-40g Found: England and Wales

Pic: © Tom Marshall

BATS SUCK BLOOD

SEROTINE BAT Pic: © Kim Taylor / naturepl

Myth 1

Has long, dark brown fur and a pale yellow belly. Wingspan: 32-38cm Weight: 15-35g Found: Southern England and South Wales

Wildlife Watch Magazine // Summer 2019

is a Caroline Bond from r ne ea cl beach also e Sh . ex ss Su East e th m makes art fro s ct lle co litter she from beaches!

G N I K MA M O R F ART ! R E T T LI WHY BEAC?H CLEANING

rewarding! cleaner is very h ac be a g in Be d it helps the you outside an it It’s free, it gets e beach, and I grew up by th I r. te lit in environment. d re d to see it cove made me so sa knowing how on the beach, it e av le ’t dn ul co ey can get for animals. Th dangerous it is r their dinner or mistake it fo stuck inside it usable bag cked up my re pi I , So it. t ea and t! and off I wen

Pic: © Andrew Parkinson / naturepl

Wildlife Watch Magazine // Summer 2019

es are big favourite mak Another of my using a I’m ets. That way shopping bask something to in it g in t and turn waste produc ving to grab stop people ha ng. useful that will they go shoppi tic bag when as pl d a o! un to , fo I gs , do ng ake tiny d beach cleani Sometimes I m alised help When I starte erywhere. I re ev g walkers that ts do ne of ts ng lo hi e fis ar d e an er d s e gifts Th un ak pe fo ro that I s so nice to m tting the rope l ach cleans. It’ fil be nd ean up la on cl a g that if I kept pu in in lp d up who are he would just en ts other people r lo fo re into the bin, it he w n bi rground dust h our beaches. site (a big unde d, I decided g art from beac ds up). Instea en ing and creatin ak m ow By sh ep d ke an of our rubbish art ople make sure pe use the litter in plastics I also to get creative, n, and our beaches tio on llu up po ng tic hi as pl is was talking about people what they can w ho e people on y. or da m e e gl s at rd sin uc bi y ed ever pecially solution. aking birds, es be part of the I really love m changes d out at sea. an s ay w er at ade just a few w m e ne th yo ar er d, ev an If r te lit that live ne op, then g sh tin y when they t affected by ea what they bu es. bi to ba These birds ge r ei th ! to a big effect they feed it up it would have in some cases, t net you pick os gh of nd ra Every tiny st ppening. ent this from ha will help prev

BBISH TURNING !RU INTO ART

www.wildlifewatch.org.uk

WANT TO O HELP? 2 minute beach clean is an online community, or a big family, of beach cleaners! This family has people of all ages, from all over the world. When you are out cleaning the beach with your family, you can take a photo of the litter you see and ask your parent or guardian to use #2minutebeachclean on Instagram. This means that your litter can get added to a database – it’s your way of being a young scientist and getting active against plastic pollution! Being a beach cleaner is a great way to show the place you enjoy that you love it! Beaches and other environments, like parks and playgrounds, can’t clean themselves. By helping out and picking up litter with an adult, you are helping all the animals and people that live there too.

ts e big fishing ne Ghost nets ar , nd ou ar at flo ey lost at sea. Th er. at w e th r de spread out un catch they rise and When it’s hot n su e th n Whe fish at the top. wn, do er w lo ll fa ey goes down th als that swim catching anim e there isn’t a us ca deeper. Be e nnected to th fishing boat co ere th s an m hu no net, there are at als free. Th ’s to set the anim have dangerous to why it’s really . eans them in the oc

epl Freund / natur Pic: © Juergen

GHOST NETS

Here’s some very important things to remember if you’re picking litter, to keep you safe: Never do this by yourself! Always make sure you have an adult with you Make sure you wear gloves if you’re picking up litter, whether you’re on a beach or in your local park There can be dangerous things on the floor outside, so make sure your adult checks what you are picking up

Always respect the sea! It’s a natural environment and it can change its mood very quickly Also, remember to always think before buying single-use plastics. If you’re going on a long journey, fill up a water bottle before you go! Try saying no to plastic straws - do you really need one in your drink?

Wildlife Watch Magazine // Summer 2019

Just like us, animals need to find homes to live

in. This time we’re telling you about MUD, and

some of the animals that live in it!

! s r e w o r r u b e h T Griffin by Donal

Pic: © Ernie Janes / naturepl

Bird s, li oys ke thi t love ercat s che fe bur asting r, row ers on !

do about the bottom of surface of the moon than we the ut abo re mo w kno we hey say floor around the , is that huge areas of the sea ugh tho w kno do we g thin e our seas. On hundreds and thousands d and silt, creating homes for UK are covered in mud, san critters! Here are just a few! of fascinating creatures and

aren’t far away.

These orange coloured prawns also create their own burrows in the mud which are about 20-30 cm deep and have a front and back entrance. They are predators and scavengers! They use their large front pincers to capture prey such as worms and small fish. These prawns look like lobsters, just smaller!

SEA POTATO Pic: © Julie Hatcher

The lug worm is very common around the UK and builds its own U-shaped house (or burrow) in the seabed. These marine worms find tiny particles of food to eat in the sandy mud. Most people never see the lug worm itself, but keep an eye out for their coiled ‘casts’ on the shore. These are a sure sign these segmented worms

RAZOR SHELL Pic: © Tom Hibbert

Pic: © Julie Hatcher

‘Casts’ of a lug worm

Pic: © Elaine Whiteford / naturepl

LUG WORM

DUBLIN BAY PRAWN

After a storm you might find razor shells washed up on the shore. They are easy to identify as they have two long, narrow clam shells. Razor shells usually live burrowed into the sand and use their powerful foot to dig down to a safe depth.

Sea potatoes are covered in fur-like spines - weird! These strange looking animals use their long tube feet to pass food from the sand to their mouth. Like the razor shell, you may find the empty shells of sea potatoes washed up on the shore.

www.wildlifewatch.org.uk

Pic: ÂŠ Ross Hoddinott / 2020VISION

ORRR-SOME ! S D I H C OR perstars Orchids are the su rld! of the wildflower wo can id ch This pyramidal or ne Ju in g rin be seen flowe t, as co the ar ne and July and on roadside verges It s. ea in lots of other ar es, rfli tte bu of attracts lots ge lar l tifu au be like this blue butterfly! Wildlife Watch Magazine // Summer 2019

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Would you like to see more birds in your backyard? Then why not invite a few feathered friends round for a...

N E D R GA ! ? Y T R A P by Pete Dommett

etting birds to visit your garden, balcony, window box or green space is easy. Just like people, if you offer them something to eat and drink, they’ll soon show up! Here are just a few of the garden guests that might stop by this summer…

Wildlife Watch Magazine // Summer 2019

Hang bird feeders in you r garden, get a window feeder or pu t up a bird table (and remember to clean them regularly). Offer a range of bird foo d, like seeds, unsalted peanuts, fat-ba lls and mealworms.

If you have space, leave out fresh water for birds to drink from and wash in. A bird bath or a large sau cer will work best.

4 5

5 TOP TIPS O TO ATTRACTNBIHRODW TO YOUR GARDEN!S

Put up nestboxes at the end of this summer for birds to bre ed in next year. If you can, leave a cor ner of the garden to grow a bit wil d. www.wildlifewatch.org.uk

BLUE TITS AND GREAT TITS

HOUSE SPARROWS

ROBINS

Pic: © Mike Read / naturepl

Pic: © Fergus Gill / 2020VISION

Pic: © Joan Burkmar

these You don’t even need a garden to see both – rs acte char urful colo and mon com hed birds will happily visit feeders attac e som them to windows if you offer rs tasty treats (and they’re not fussy eate might even they and box nest a up Put r!). eithe stay all summer!

your This bird is bound to show its face in e. alon in call ’t won garden, but it probably and ds frien their with stick to Sparrows like gh family so make sure you’ve got enou from food in! They enjoy a good nosh-up r the bird feeders and bird tables, but prefe . offer on ns vegetarian optio

year Robins hang around our homes all to see in er hard es etim som ’re they long, but . They’re ding summer when they’re busy bree hopping us, with ens happy to share our gard tizing appe of ch sear in nd across the grou that insects. Some robins become so tame they’ll even feed from your hand!

SPECIAL SUMMER VISITORS

WRENS

BLACKBIRDS

Pic: © James Rogerson

Pic: © Bob Coyle

tion in the Blackbirds like to be centre of atten looking lawn the nd garden. They run arou g angrily terin chat s, worm juicy for at anything that gets in their way. Then, when they’ve had their fill of food, they’ll serenade you from the roof of your house with a soothing sweet song!

the bottom These busy little birds scurry about and of bushes searching for food. Beetles also they but ks, spiders are their usual snac but ll, sma be may s like mealworms. Wren for their they’re very noisy guests - listen out . song loud dibly incre

Pic: © Alan Price Gatehouse Studio

s, it’s If you spot a flock of birds in fancy dres e Thes es. finch gold of rm’ probably a ‘cha clownish their with – birds d loure tly-co brigh s! They’ll faces – get very excited about seed corner of y untid an in es pick them out of thistl ial spec from the garden or feeders. Chaffinches and greenfinches may also drop in for a nibble.

Look out for these tiny birds, breezing in and out of your back garden like flying liquorice allsorts! They might stop for a minute to feed from fat-balls or peanut feeders, but pretty soon they’re gone again. Long-tailed tits visit gardens more often these days, but blink and you’ll miss ‘em!

raphyr Pic: © Jon Hawkins Surrey Hills Photog

LONG-TAILED TITS

GOLDFINCHES

SPOTTED FLYCATCHERS These plain, brown birds might look a bit boring, but they’re brilliant to watch. As their name suggests, they pounce on flies from a perch (like a garden fence or tree-branch) and snap them up in mid-air! Spotted flycatchers can be, P ic er, spotted in bigger :© Richard Steel gardens during the summer, but spend the winter in Africa.

HOUSE MARTINS Look up for these aerial acrobats feasting on flying insects high above your garden in summer. Why not encourage house martins to make their mud nests on your home by providing a muddy puddle for them to use as building material? Or you could put up a ready-made nestbox and give Pic :© them a head start! M argaret Holland

Wildlife Watch Magazine // Summer 2019

GALLERY Send in your photos, poems, artwork and letters for your chance of featuring in the gallery. If your artwork is picked as the star entry you’ll win your very own drawing kit! The perfect start-up set for any budding artist.

6 ENTER ts.org HOW TO dlifetrus

il atch@w entry’ Email w ‘Gallery e n li t c je sub with the to us at: te ri or w allery Watch G Wildlife ts life Trus The Wild r Road e th a ,M The Kiln Newark 24 1WT Notts NG

If we feature your artwork we will include your first name, age and Wildlife Trus t, so don’t forget to incl ude them! We m ight also share your drawings on our Twitt er page!

1) Owl by Ralf, aged 8 (Berks, Bucks & Oxon Wildlife Trust) We were blown away by Ralf’s amazing owl! We just love his use of colours. Every time you look at it, you see something different. Well done, Ralf – you’re our star winner! 2) Fox at midnight by Sophie, aged 11 (Surrey Wildlife Trust) What a beautiful scene this is! This painting is so peaceful, we’d like to climb inside it and say hello to the fox ourselves.

3) 3D fish model by Constance, aged 12 (Norfolk Wildlife Trust) We are so impressed by Constance’s fantastic fish model! Her theme was fish around the UK, and it took her nearly all summer to complete it. She loved finding out about the fish found in her local environment. 4) Blue tits by Rosie, aged 10 (Lincolnshire Wildlife Trust) These blue tits are so delicate and beautifully painted. We really love that Rosie has used different materials in her artwork. She’s captured the character of these adorable little birds so well too! 5) Hare by Daisy, aged 9 (Scottish Wildlife Trust) We do love a good hare, and Daisy has drawn this one so well – we especially like its twitchy nose. As you can see from her drawing, hares have much longer ears than rabbits! 6) Kingfisher by Joe, aged 10 (Yorkshire Wildlife Trust) Joe’s put a lot of effort into showing off the beautiful feathers of the kingfisher. If you look closely you can see so much detail behind the colours. Kingfishers can be very hard to spot – but so rewarding when you do.

7) Harvest mouse by Ella Rose, aged 10 (Yorkshire Wildlife Trust) Oh now, here’s an adorable drawing! Harvest mice often perch on plants, because they’re so light they find it easy to run up and down them. 8) Green woodpecker and roe deer by Meredith, aged 10 (Durham Wildlife Trust) Meredith loves wildlife and is lucky enough to see lots of deer near her house! She told us that she’s even made friends with a blackbird. We really love the watercolours that she has used to create this masterpiece. 9) Sparrowhawk by Erica, aged 9 (Yorkshire Wildlife Trust) This sparrowhawk looks like it’s soaring, looking for its prey! Its beady eye is fixed on the ground. Erica has done a great job of drawing the feathers on this special bird.

10) Robin by Max, aged 8 (South & West Wales Wildlife Trusts) Max and Addie spent lots of time on some fantastic paintings – here’s one of them, by Max. We especially love the background! It looks like a very picturesque sunset. Well done to both of you! 11) Pretty birds by Nicole, aged 7 (Lancashire Wildlife Trust) Nicole’s mum told us that when they completed the Big Garden Birdwatch they saw 114 birds. That’s amazing! It inspired Nicole to write this beautiful poem. We’re so impressed – well done! 12) Bug hotel by Harry, Logan and Fraser,aged 10, 9 & 7 (Dorset Wildlife Trust) A big well done to Harry, Logan and Fraser who made this fantastic bug hotel in their churchyard! They’ve done a fantastic job creating a habitat for all sorts of minibeasts. Why don’t you give it a go in your garden or community space?

THIS ISSUE: SLIME MOULDS

MOULD

Wildlife Watch Magazine // Spring 2019

WONDERF U

Did you know that young slim e moulds can move around in search of food ? This is one big difference between them and mushrooms. To be fair, a young false puffball is difficult to tell apart from a puffball (mushro om). If you return to the same spot a day later and it has changed shape, it’s probably a slime mould.

SCRAMBLED EG G SLIME MOU LD

MANY-HEADED SLIME MOULD

Pic: © Allen Norcross

Pic: © Derek Parker

Pic: © James & Dawn Langiewicz

These tiny blobs can be found on dead wood all year round. They can range in colour, from pinky-grey to greenish-black. If you pop one with a small stick, it’ll ooze a brightly coloured toothpaste-like liquid. You don’t want to be putting this on your teeth though, as it’ll do you no good !

Pic: © James & Dawn Langiewicz

Pic: © Derek Parker

Pic: © Valter Jacinto

SLIME WOLF’S MILK

FALSE PUFFBALL OR MOULD CAULIFLOWER SLIME

stuff that looks Discovered suspicious white en, but not got gard k bac r you in sick like dog sick slime dog the a dog? Well it could be rnight and ove s gras on up turn can It mould! sn’t doe It ber. tem is most common in Sep t it will nigh one r Afte gh! thou nd stick arou ar after a turn black, and then disappe rained. it’s if lly ecia esp s, day of couple

Found on twigs and sometimes even pine needles, egg-shell slime moulds can look like miniature bunches of grapes. Give them a couple of days and you’ll see why they get their name. They EXPLODE! This releases their spores, which means they can multiply. After this, they look like cracked eggs!

•

by Jo Richards

DOG SICK SLIME MOULD

EGG-SHELL SLIME MOULD

• • WACKY

R TE • WEIRD

E R U T A N

••

D I WE R

RD-O-ME I E

s are SUPER Slime mould ars they WEIRD! For ye gi ht to be fun were thoug ctually but they’re a ifferent. something d L ese Check out th wonderfully s… weird thing

us to many Toxic metals can be poisono ed egg mbl scra the but gs, thin g livin (the yellow ers pow cial slime uses its spe to make the ur) colo its it s give that ent pigm magic this for out k Loo . metals harmless mer after sum this en gard r you in e slim the wood heavy rain. It loves to grow on nd plants. arou put n ofte are that s chip

Although it doesn’t have a brain, the ‘manyheaded’ slime mould is a great puzzle-solver. When two meals are on offer, this amazing slime mould finds the shortest route between them. If it is offered more than two options, it sets up a network – a bit like the London underground system – so that it can move around the different feeding spots as quickly as possible! www.wildlifewatch.org.uk

Wildlife Watch Magazine // Summer 2019

Pic: © Anna Williams

A E K A M L AS H SP E F I L D L I W FO R

Pic: © Ross H

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FULL OF LIFE

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by Eden Jackson

Pic: r © Richard Burkma

The reason why ponds are such hives of activity is because they provide food, water and a home to a very big range of creatures! Insects, such as pond skaters and water spiders, live on the surface of the water and provide a great snack for frogs, birds and newts. Other animals, like water snails and mayfly larvae, hide lower down amongst slippery rocks and plants. Lots of animals will also Pic: © visit a pond for a drink. Thirsty Lu k bees, butterflies and even hedgehogs may drop-by in the summer months! M

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WHERE HAVE THEY GONE?? Sadly, over the years, a lot of ponds, rivers and streams have disappeared. Often the land where they used to be has been built upon or the water drained out of it due to farming. Because of this many of the animals that rely on ponds have nowhere to live. But all is not lost! There is a lot we can do in our own gardens or outdoor spaces to help. Ponds don’t need to be big to make a big difference. You can make your own mini pond by following the instructions on the next page. An old washing up bowl or plant pot can be transformed into a feeding ground for insects, frogs, birds and bats!

all Pic: © Tom Marsh

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Pic: © Anna Williams

at a pond? ave you ever stopped and looked utes you’re Even if you only watch for a few min insects tiny ny tee bound to see some life. From tics oba acr ing air in the water to damselflies perform to spot… above it, there is always something

www.wildlifewatch.org.uk

HOW TO BUILD A MINI WILDLIFE POND

Animal watch-list! Illustrations: © Corinne Welch

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6. Now watch and wait! Wildlife will come to your pond by itself. Don’t introduce frogs, 5. Start planting! You fish or even only need one water from or two plants. can s another You plant s, Flowering rush, ond centre pond as this p y hornwort or u bu en can spread ard ure yo g s spiked e from make dise v ase. i at but or n f k . as nts pla

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water milfoil are great. You can visit wildlifetrusts.org/actions/ how-create-mini-pond for more ideas.

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3. Add a layer of gravel and rocks. Use logs or stones to create a range of depths and a slope for creatures to climb in and

4. Fill your pond. Use rainwater, because tap water contains unwanted chemicals.

Pic: ©

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2. If the container isn’t watertight, e.g. an old plant pot, then add a piece of pond liner.

out. If your container isn’t sunk in you’ll need a ramp from the ground outside the pond.

1. Choose a spot. Your pond will want light, but not full sunlight all day. You can dig a hole and sink your container, or just have it sitting on top.

WHAT TO DO

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Old bricks, rocks and pebbles

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A watertight container (it could be an old washing-up bowl, sink or plant pot. Aim im for 20-30cm deep)

Gr e

YOU WILL NEED:

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Wildlife Watch Magazine // Summer 2019

Our ur special seabirds

Holing up H

Storm petrels are tiny, only a little bigger than the house martins that visit us in summer. From Some seabirds can fly through above they look a little storms, using strong bit like house martins, winds to soar faster and faster. A house martin too. They are mostly Others can dive and swim almost black, with a big white as well as a dolphin, hunting fish patch on the bum and more than 100 metres below the a white band under surface. Even when they return to each wing. land, seabirds do things the hard They nest in burrows way – some nest on tiny ledges on and little gaps between cliff faces. rocks, usually on small We have lots of amazing islands to stay safe seabirds in the UK - it’s one of from predators. If you the best places in Europe to see them. There’s go to a storm petrel colony at night you can hear the black-and-white puffin, which waddles them singing from their holes. Their song is a soft along like a penguin with a colourful beak, purring with squeaky “ter-chik” calls every now and the gannet, one of our largest birds with a and then. Some people describe it as sounding wingspan as long as a tall adult. But one of our like a fairy being sick! most impressive seabirds is also our smallest… Pic: © Dawn Monrose

ome birds cross oceans every year as they fly between countries, but others can spend most of their life out at sea. hey paddle on the They water, or fly low over the waves, many of them only returning to land when it’s time to nest. These are the seabirds, and they’re some of the toughest animals around.

www.wildlifewatch.org.uk

South Stack Anglesey

Get spectacular views of seabirds and seals.

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Guillemots and razorbills nest on the steep cliffs.

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St petr orm els like sound a bein fairy g si ck!

Their impressive sense of smell also helps them find food out at sea. It helps them to home in on blood and fish oil – mmm yum! One of the most amazing things about storm petrels is the way they catch their food. Some seabirds dive headfirst into the water, others swoop low and skim the surface, but storm petrels are special. They walk on water!

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The petrels flutter low over the sea, flying almost like a bat. When they find food they put their legs down, patter their feet on the water and snatch food with their beak. Our storm petrels mostly eat plankton, the tiny creatures that drift around in the ocean.

You won’t just hear storm petrels at a colony, you’ll smell them too. They have a lovely musky scent. Scientists have found that storm petrels can recognise each other by smell. They may even use smell to help them find their own burrow in the dark - very important when there’s a hungry chick to feed!

In summer the cliffs are packed with tens of thousands of breeding seabirds, including gannets.

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Flamborough Head Yorkshire

This wild island fills with puffins in summer.

Take a big whiff!

One of England’s largest Arctic tern colonies.

Skomer Island Wales

Farne Islands Northumberland

There are many myths and legends surrounding storm petrels. Some sailors believed they were the souls of people lost at sea and belonged to a dangerous sea-witch called Mother Carey. But not all of the legends are bad. Some sailors thought they were a blessing, a sign that they would be protected from a n a c coming storm. Really, you s l petre h should count yourself lucky if c Storm a e nise you see one of these little birds ay recog w e by th r e from a boat – they’re beautiful! h t o l. smel they

Wildlife Watch Magazine // Summer 2019

FEATURE CREATURE

WATER LOVERS

Otters are playful, intelligent and super swimmers. You might not realise it, but otte rs are actually related to badger s, pine martens, weasels and stoats! They’re the only member of this family that spends so much time in water. Otters are very fast swimmers; they can dive as deep as 14 metres . Their webbed feet help them to mo ve through the water, and they can even close their ears and nostrils when underw ater!

OTTER by Mary Edwards

HOME SWEET HOME

Otters sometimes live in den s above ground, but mostly they live in underground “holts”. They dig out chambers in riverbanks, usu ally under tree roots or even under pile s of old bricks and rubble! They line their holt with grass or moss and this is where the female gives birth. Baby otte rs are called kits, pups or whelps.

FOOD LOVERS

Otters are carnivores! Their favo urite food is fish, but they will catc h crayfish, frogs and other small animals too. They have excellent hearing and sight, which makes them very good predat ors. They have long, stiff whiskers whi ch help them to detect their prey. When otters aren’t hunting, slee ping or cleaning, they love to play! The ir favourite games include sliding down banks, wrestling with each other and chasing their tails!

KEEPING WARM

TIAL ESSEN TS FAC ame Scientific n tr Lutra lu a Life span 5-10 years ct Amazing fa mells like Otter poo s or smelly sweet hay at ding on wh fish, depen n eating! they’ve bee P ic :©

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All otters have thick fur. They have a thick undercoat for warmth and a waterproof outer coat, which they keep clea n by preening. The fur traps air insid e it to help the otter bob about in the water. Once the pups have grown thei r waterproof coats, their mother teaches them how to swim. She will eve n drag them into the water if they are n’t keen! She also teaches them how to fish. She often catches a live fish, then lets it go for the pups to chase. Otters nearly became extinct in the 20th Century, due to hunting and chemical pollution in rivers. Now, thankfully, things are improving for the otter, and they live in most counties of the UK. If you’re very lucky, you might even spot one on a river near you.

WHAT HAPPENS EA DE INSID ? S I L A S CHRY by Connor Butler

utterfly he lifecycle of a b is mysterious and rpillars emerge fascinating. Cate lis as beautiful from their chrysa y magic! What butterflies, as if b n inside? exactly is going o

WHAT IS A CHRYSALIS?

WHAT HAPPENS INSIDE?

A butterfly’s lifecycle has four stages: Egg, Larva, Pupa, and Adult. When inside a chrysalis, the butterfly is called a pupa. To turn into an adult, the pupa starts to weird! digest its body from the inside. How that icals chem of It uses the same sort being it used to digest its food. Imagine wait, no – ach stom own your by digested don’t imagine that!

rs have After hatching from an egg, caterpilla often will and y fuss are They ! food one goal – are they n Whe t. plan of type one only eat an-eat completely full, from their all-you-c rest and to spot safe a plant feast, they find stive That silk. with s selve Lots of important parts, like the dige attach them , don’t brain the rge (after system, the airway and When the butterfly is ready to eme might not sound very strong, just ’re they colour. ad, ges Inste chan turn to goo. 5-21 days), the chrysalis but it acts just like Velcro! r’s rpilla ezes cate sque The rfly nd! butte arou the ed r and mov The casing splits Then, the caterpilla n? the o soft into are o s cled wing recy c is Its k. uth” o crac ll “mo c sma a to gh r out throu sheds its skin salis o y r tube h a – e Like C oscis yet. y butterfly’s prob and crumpled so it can’t fly awa reveal a hard shell alis is th A chrys butterfly ride, the it uses to eat. There h whic stretching your legs after a long car underneath. This is for a e ing ir float s e with m blob ial them a fill spec th to s also n wing are its p a butterfly spreads called a chrysalis. oths wr e call grow M n to n Whe . begi h out. a whic them nd n p arou ghte strai u the and ct d p bloo It will prote ilk - w s in and s to nnae s li ante take s, into the wing it’s ready, the butterfly caterpillar whilst its chrysa ocoon. c a in is part g last ythin is the ever n begi th legs. Once the air to insides turn to goo – place, this sack of goo is of its lifecycle. After feeding, Cater gross! pillars finding a mate, and laying ready for the next step! are e a ting eggs, the cycle starts again! ma

NOT QUITE ALL GOO

FREEDOM

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Wildlife Watch Magazine // Summer 2019

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