Page 11 - Issue 65 Online

MANEA MA TTERS
MANEA MATTERS
fleeting visits by black terns and
possibly even phalaropes or
pratincoles. Our team of staff and
volunteers at Welney Wetland
Centre are eager to share the
highlights of the season with
visitors. Providing tips on the
best spots to experience all that
spring has to offer, or assisting
with identification and providing
insight to the lives of these
fascinating animals. Lapwing - Kim Tarsey
The ditches and waterways
throughout the Ouse Washes are
also home to over 20 species of dragonfly and variety of wildflowers, reeds and willows and
damselfly, a wealth of freshwater invertebrates even beneath the surface of the water at the
and amphibians like smooth newts. The first pond dipping stations.
species to emerge are some of the rarest we Have you ever taken time to look at underwater
have on site – scarce chaser dragonflies take invertebrates in detail – most of these tiny
to the air as adults through May and June. Hairy creatures have fascinating adaptations to life
dragonflies are the UK’s smallest hawker and in water. Dragonflies and damselflies begin
are out earlier than other hawker dragonflies, their lives as nymphs, living for 1-2 years in
being seen from May onwards. All these species most cases beneath the surface, before they
can be enjoyed along the footpaths, around the emerge to take to the sky as adults. Whirligig
Whirligig beetles are a group beetles are a group of surface-dwelling beetles
of surface-dwelling beetles that have two pairs of compound eyes, one set
for looking below the surface for prey items,
that have two pairs of and one set for looking above the surface of
compound eyes the water for potential predators. Caddis fly
larvae are underwater architects,
building their own cases to pupate
Scarce Chaser - Kim Tarsey in; wrapping stones, sand or leaves
in silk as protection for their soft
bodies.
To find out more about the
wildlife present throughout the
year and events taking place at
WWT Welney, visit the website at
wwt.org.uk/welney.

Emma Brand
WWT Events & Marketing Officer

DEADLINE for Issue 66 – Friday 22 May 2020 PAGE 11
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