Wet
and wild  |
Wetlands are a must for nature lovers. They are especially
good for bird watching, bug spotting and pond dipping. So get out and about and
enjoy a wetland adventure! | Stunning
Swallowtail butterfly.
Photo - Broads Authority. |
Here
are three great nature activities which you can take part in wetland areas:
*
Pond dipping.
* Bird watching and bug spotting.
* Butterfly watching.
Pond
dipping
Wetland habitats are a great place to try pond dipping.
Great locations for this activity featured on ±«Óãtv Nature's Calendar include: *
How
Hill, Norfolk Broads - the How Hill Trust in Norfolk organises dyke dipping
for school groups.
*
Caerlaverock, Solway Firth - pond dipping area.
Other locations
recommended include: * Arundel Wetlands
Centre, West Sussex
* Castle Espie Wetlands Centre, Northern Ireland
These are our top tips for pond dipping: *
Buy a children's fishing net from a toy shop - make sure it has a long pole so
you can reach further without falling in. *
Alternatively you can try making your own by stretching an old pair of tights
over a tennis racquet. * The best ponds to
try dipping in have lots of vegetation like reeds and lily pads on which insects
and other life can rest. * Dip the net gently
into the water and make small movements to collect a good variety of pond life. *
When you think you've got plenty to look at, gently lift your net out of the water
and place gently on a piece of white paper. *
Use a good identification guide to examine your catch and don't forget to put
everything back where you found it! * The Wildfowl
and Wetlands Trust runs for children at many of their wetland centres.
Wetland
birds and bugs  Wetland
ponds are a great habitat for ducks, geese and other migratory birds, but they're
also ideal for Dragonflies and Damsels, skimming across the water's surface.
Good
locations for wetland birds and bugs include: *
Martin Mere, Lancashire
*
London Wetlands Centre
*
Slimbridge, Gloucestershire
Why not follow these great
tips from the Nature's Calendar team: *
Bird-watching has three golden rules - be patient, be quiet and buy a good pair
of binoculars - these may be expensive but there are still bargains to be found
if you buy second-hand. * The best time of
day for bird-watching is in the morning - this is when birds are most active,
particularly in summer. * For Dragon and Damselfly-watching,
lunchtime is better as they thrive in the midday sun, but be careful not to cast
a shadow - they're less active in the shade. *
There are three main plants that Damsels and Dragonflies like - tall plants around
the water's edge, surface plants like lily pads to land on and water-borne plants,
which oxygenate the water to keep it nice and clear. *
Dragonflies are larger with outstretched wings while Damselflies tuck their wings
up behind them - make sure you know the difference!
Butterfly
watching
 One
of the best places to see butterflies is How Hill in Norfolk - it's a great place
to spot the rare Swallowtail which is only found in the Norfolk Broads.
Other
good Norfolk reserves where you can spot the Swallowtails are , and Our
top tips for a successful trip are: *
Look for butterflies darting around to get a general sense of their movements,
but your best chance of seeing them land is when the temperature drops slightly.
*
Swallowtails are Britain's biggest butterfly with a distinctive 10 cm wing span. *
Swallowtails like to feed on nectar plants so look out for the butterflies on
Yellow Flag Irises, Meadow Thistles and Ragged Robin.
* If you're lucky,
you might spot Swallowtail eggs on plants such as Milk Parsley - these are small
white, round blobs. * The website is a good source of information about rare
butterflies.
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