Your wild summer

The best of the season’s wildlife and where to enjoy it in Suffolk

Covid-19

We are following Government guidance and responding to the changing situation. Please check our website and social media for the most up-to-date information on our nature reserves, centres and events.

The hobby has a distinctive dashing flight and will chase large insects and small birds like swallows and martins. Its prey is often caught in its talons and then transferred to its beak as it flies.

Thank you Thanks to your membership, we are working hard to make sure the sight of hobbies snatching insects from the sky remains part of our everyday, lived experiences of the natural world.

Hobbies on the hunt SUMMER SPECTACLE

Late spring sees the return of the hobby. A sleek little falcon, the hobby is dark, slate-grey above, with a bold black moustache, white cheeks, streaky underparts, and a surprising pair of gingery red ‘pyjamas’. Having flown all the way from sub-Saharan Africa, this master of the air has one thing on its mind-food. The hobby's visit is perfectly timed to coincide with the emergence of large numbers of damselflies and dragonflies from gravel pits, lakes and reedbeds. With aerodynamic, swept-back wings (reminiscent of a giant swift) and a narrow tail, the hobby is quick and agile, making snatching snacks in mid-air seem effortless, even eating on the wing.

SEE THEM THIS SUMMER

( FROM APRIL TO OCTOBER ) † Carlton Marshes You don’t have to go far to catch a glimpse of a hobby arrowing after its prey at Carlton. Sightings from the car park are common! † Redgrave & Lopham Fen Dragonflies and damselflies thrive around the pools and wetland of this valley fen; a feast for the eyes and for a hungry hobby. † Lound Lakes With a burgeoning reputation as a hobby hotspot, these aerodynamic predators are known to breed on this reserve.

Reserve info & maps

suffolkwildlifetrust.org/nature-reserves

Get broody over a kingfisher this summer.

Something of the night: the nightjar is large and sphinxheaded with a whisker-fringed gape. Even the merest glimpse of a kingfisher – a half-glance of azure and gas-flame blue – is enough to stir the heart. But during spring and summer, in a breeding season that stretches from March to July, there is a chance to get even better views of this river-haunting hunter. Both male and female birds excavate the nest burrow, generally choosing a vertical bank that provides protection from predators. Two to three broods are raised in quick succession, normally in the same nest. Kingfishers may be beautiful to look at, but their nests are anything but. By the end of the season the burrows are often oozy and smelly and it’s common to see kingfishers taking a quick bath as soon as they leave! Kingfisher

SEE THEM THIS SUMMER

† Lackford Lakes This reserve is the place to go to get up close and personal with kingfishers. † Knettishall Heath Watch for the bright thread of a kingfisher’s flight along the Little Ouse.

FIELDCRAFT A super, natural beauty

As its Latin name Caprimulgus europaeus suggests, it was once thought that nightjars suckled goats. In reality, this nocturnal species feeds on insects, which it seizes in flight, often fly-catching from a perch. It hunts by sight, silhouetting its prey against the night sky. The summer is a time for the nightjar’s courtship ritual, when males call to potential mates and fly over them, clapping their wings over their heads like feathered flamenco dancers. Nightjars are found in heathland and young conifer woodlands.

How to SPOT A NIGHTJAR † Listen The first sign that a nightjar is nearby is the male’s distinctive, churring song that contains up to 1,900 notes a minute. † Look up While the bark-coloured bodies of nightjar can be hard to see while they are perched, during courtship displays their pointed wings and long tails make them relatively easy to spot. † Stay up (late-ish) While nightjars are nocturnal, their courtship displays take place as soon as twilight begins to creep.

SEE THIS

The most common of the 18 species of bat you might see in the UK is the tiny common pipistrelle. It weighs less than a 10p coin and is just 5cm in length.

DO THIS

Summer is the time of the seaside. Pace the wrack line to collect seaweeds, shells and mermaids’ purses (the egg-sacs of sharks and rays).

SPECIES SPOTLIGHT Damselflies

Summer is an excellent time to get to know these beautiful insects and learn to distinguish them from dragonflies.

Out on patrol

No summer outing would be complete without hearing the tell-tale wing-rustle of a patrolling damselfly as it hunts over ponds, rivers and marshland. Their aerial manoeuvres rival the fastest military jet as they duck and turn in pursuit of prey, or avoid the clutches of hungry hobbies.

These adaptable insects rule the airways over wetlands, heath and woodland glades, feeding on flies, midges and even each other. If you thought butterflies were the only insects worth a second glance, these multi-coloured, irridescent predators scream out for attention too.

What to look for

There are 17 species of damselfly resident in the UK and all can be found in Suffolk. Their bright bodies bring a splash of colour to the land (and water) just as many species of wildflower and butterfly are winding down for the season.

LARVAE

SCARCE EMERALD DAMSELFLY: ALAMY

ALL THE MORE TO SEE YOU WITH

Large eyes that take up most of the head.

SLENDER FRAME

Slim small body.

WINGS

Damselflies rest with their wings folded. damselflies mating. Look out for the the male clasping the female by her neck, while she bends her body around to his reproductive organs – this is called a mating wheel. The eggs are laid within a plant, just below the water's surface and the nymphs climb out of the water up a suitable stem to moult into damselflies. The earliest damselflies can be on the wing by March, with peak diversity found during July and August. Like most insects, damselflies are at their most active in warm, sunny conditions, so choose your spotting day wisely. Binoculars are a useful tool as many damsels will fly off before you can get too close. And of course, please take care at the water’s edge. Larvae are aquatic. They crawl from the water to shed their skins (exuviae).

Know the difference!

As a general rule, the damselfly is slimmer and smaller than the dragonfly and rests with its wings folded (dragonflies keep them spread outwards). Dragonflies also have much larger eyes than damselflies, with the eyes taking up most of the head as they wrap around from the side to the front of the face. The eyes of a damselfly are large, but there is always a gap of space between them.

You might even be lucky enough to see

Reserve info & maps

suffolkwildlifetrust.org/nature-reserves

SEE THEM THIS SUMMER

† Carlton Marshes 2019 saw 28 species of dragonfly and damselfly recorded at this wonderful, watery reserve. † Lackford Lakes The standing waters at Lackford are a vital west Suffolk refuge for a wide species of damselfly. † Framlingham Mere The castle on the hill isn’t the only attraction in this bustling town.

Top tips THREE SPECIES TO SPOT

Common blue damselfly

A regular visitor to garden ponds, the common blue is seen from April to September.

Banded demoiselle

A resident of slow-flowing streams and rivers. Look out for the inky thumbprint on its closed wings.

Large red damselfly

Often one of the first damsels to appear, it likes to rest at the edge of pools and ponds.

HEAR THIS

Nothing says summer like the screams of swifts. Their loud calls are essential to stay in contact with their fast-flying packs.

FORAGE FOR THIS

During late summer the crab apple begins to ripen. While toe-curlingly sour when raw, it makes delicious sunsetcoloured jellies.

NOT JUST FOR KIDS Seven ways to enjoy nature this summer

Why should kids have all the fun? Feed your love of nature with these really wild things to do.

1BUTTERFLY SAFARI

Last summer saw a butterfly bonanza, with huge numbers of migrant painted ladies stealing the show. See how many species you can spot across Suffolk.

2GO ON A BAT WALK

When the sun goes down, much of our wildlife wakes up. Take a walk at sunset on a warm evening to spot bats out and about hunting for insects. See how you can attract bats to your garden by visiting our website’s advice pages.

suffolkwildlifetrust.org/ gardeningbats

4BATHE IN

PHOSPHORESCENT WATER

When the weather hots up there is a good chance that Suffolk’s seas will begin to sparkle at night. Tiny bioluminescent plankton produce an ethereal bluegreen light in response to the water being disturbed.

Explore our luminous coast.

3PUT YOUR FEET UP

Let that mower collect cobwebs and your lawn grow long. It is a big help for insect wildlife and lets you take a break from mowing! Long grass creates a safe haven to hide in, and if there are wildflowers in there, it's good for bees too.

5GO FORTH WITH GLOW-WORMS

These little beetles are the only outdoor illumination you need this summer. While males look like typical beetles, the nightly glow of the female – lighting up to attract a mate in the darkness – is unmistakeable. Head to Knettishall Heath after the sun sets.

A r e yo u r e a d y f o r #30DaysWild ? 1 – 30 June

630 DAYS WILD

This summer sees the return of our annual wildlife challenge, 30 Days Wild – a chance to do something wild every day throughout June. You can sign up here wildlifetrusts.

org/30dayswild

7MAKE A REPTILE SHELTER

You’re not the only one who likes to sunbathe. Simple steps like leaving out wooden boards, roofing felt or corrugated iron sheets, can give snakes and lizards a place to bask or hide. Why not follow these steps and make your own hibernacula. suffolkwildlifetrust.org/gardeningreptiles

YOU WILL NEED

l 2 to 3 drainpipe off-cuts or cement pipes l Logs and branches l Rocks and bricks l Spade 1 In a sunny spot, dig a hole about 50cm deep and 1.5 metres across.

Nature craft

2 Fill with logs, branches, bricks and rocks, leaving plenty of gaps in between.

3 Insert entrance tubes (drainpipes) at ground level in to the pile.

4 Cover the pile with soil (to about 50cm high).

5 You can plant meadow seeds or turf over the mound.

1 Cloud spotting

Lie back and see what shapes you can see in the clouds.

2 Learn bird song

Download an app or use a CD or computer to help you identify the calls and songs of birds in your garden.

3 Den building

Build a den inside or in the garden. Ironing boards, umbrellas, cardboard boxes, bamboo canes and duvet covers can all be used to build dens.

4 Follow a snail trail

Snails make slime to enable them to move over rough surfaces on their muscular foot. You may find the snail at the end of the trail.

5 Wildlife Top Trumps

Research fascinating facts about Suffolk’s wildlife species and create your own Top Trumps cards to play with your family. 10 wild ideas Covid-19 caused most of the Trust’s spring events to be called off – but there are plenty of ways to go wild and stay at home

6 Worm charming

Drive a spade, fork or stick into the ground, moving it around to create vibrations and watch to see if the worms come to the surface.

7 Create a hedgehog highway

Cut a hole (13cm sq) in the bottom of your fence or dig a channel under the fence to allow hedgehogs to travel.

8 Citizen science

Citizen science projects provide opportunities for everyone to contribute to conservation research. Search online for citizen science projects to get involved with.

9 Survey your garden

Carry out a survey in your garden to see how many species you can find.

10 Wild Reads

Pick up a book. Wild Reads celebrates the connection between the natural world and the written word. See p16.

We've missed running our spring programme of events and activities, but have lots more to look forward to later in the year.

Browse our events page for the latest news

suffolkwildlifetrust.org/events