There’s nothing better than getting out and enjoying the summer sunshine, and the long warm days are perfect for seeking out some wonderful wildlife. Birdsong may have eased off as the breeding season comes to an end and it might seem a little quiet out there – but our nature reserves and the wider countryside can be bustling with life if you take a closer look.
The long, sunny days of a northern hemisphere summer are often typified by visions of green rolling hills, flower-filled meadows or sandy wave-kissed beaches. Many of us love to get out and enjoy this season, whether we’re holidaying somewhere in the UK or simply going for walks close to home. And for those of us who like to immerse ourselves in nature, the summer months can be a wonderful time to get outdoors.
While many of our birds will be keeping something of a low profile, having either finished breeding or perhaps still in the throes of raising a late brood, others can be particularly easy to see at this time of year.
The first returning waders will start to appear on lakes, reservoirs and around our coasts as they move south having nested in the far north. Birds of prey too can be especially noticeable as recently fledged youngsters take to the air and get to grips with the challenges of being a top predator. On those sultry days when flying ants emerge en masse, the skies will fill with swirling gulls eager to take advantage of the brief bounty on offer – scan through the commoner species and see if you can pick out the pure white wings of an adult Mediterranean Gull!
Once the hard work of bringing up the next generation has been completed, many birds will go into a mid-summer ‘post-breeding’ moult and this is no more apparent than with wildfowl. Ducks, such as the Mallard pictured below, go through a full moult, replacing tatty, worn feathers for a sprightly new set that will enable them to dazzle in the winter months ahead.
The problem with replacing feathers, is that it can make a bird more vulnerable to predators, especially as all the flight feathers are in the process of re-growing at the same time. And if your flight feathers are growing, you can’t fly…
So, male ducks in particular, quickly adopt what is know as an ‘eclipse’ plumage, replacing their flashy colours and bold patterns for a more subtle look that helps keep them camouflaged while their new smart plumage is under preparation. This makes duck identification quite a challenge at this time of year, but a trip to your local wetland nature reserve, canal or reservoir is a great place to really test your ID skills!
If sifting through skulking brown ducks isn’t high on your list of desirable days out, the summer months can also provide us with wonderful opportunities to explore the fascinating world of insects and other invertebrates.
Among the most obvious and identifiable are the butterflies and dragonflies, many of which can be seen in all types of habitats across the UK. From commoner garden species to range-restricted rarities, there are almost sixty species each of butterfly and dragonfly (including damselflies, such as this Large Red Damselfly) to seek out out and many RSPB reserves are great places to start your search.
With the lighter late evenings, this season is also a great time to discover marvellous moths. Often attracted to lights around our homes, some of the larger species are surprisingly impressive and quite common. Keep an eye out for such easily identifiable night-flyers such as the widespread Poplar Hawkmoth or Garden Tiger moth (pictured). With around 2,500 species found across the UK, this diverse group of insects is well worth getting to know. But if staying up till dark isn’t your thing, why not look at joining a morning moth-trap event at a nearby nature reserve or even operating your own live moth-trap and discovering how many types live in your neighbourhood!
However you may spend your summer days (or nights) exploring nature, you’re sure to discover a wealth of wildlife at this time of year.
Mawddach Valley - Coed Garth Gell, Gwynedd
Newport Wetlands, Gwent
Lochwinnoch, Renfrewshire
Loch Garten - Abernethy, Highland
Portmore Lough, County Antrim
Dearne Valley Old Moor, Yorkshire
Dungeness, Kent
