Welsh wildlife to see in November
This first of November marks the first day of winter here in Wales, Calan Gaeaf. As we delve into the dark half of the Celtic calendar, here are 5 species to look out this winter.
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Chwilio
Bronze shieldbug
Unlike many of its relatives, this shimmering shieldbug is a predator, feasting on caterpillars and a variety of other insects.
Soldier beetle
One of our largest soldier beetles, often found on flowers where they hunt other insects.
My local takeaway
At dusk, when Dan’s done sharing his love for nature with others, he follows the terns and goes fishing and foraging for dinner. And often cooks it on the beach.
Seven armed starfish
Brittle stars, sea urchins and other starfish will want to stay out of the way of this speedy carnivorous starfish!
Raised bog
Unlike blanket bog, which smothers vast tracts of the uplands, raised bogs are discrete entities, often individually named, and are mostly found within agricultural landscapes in the lowlands.
Violet ground beetle
Violet ground beetles are active predators, coming out at night to hunt slugs and other invertebrates in gardens, woodlands and meadows.
Bringing beavers back to Wales
Beavers will help nature recover in Wales!
Beavers are very special animals because they play a vital role in restoring and managing river and wetland ecosystems. This creates diverse habitats for other species to thrive, benefiting a wide range of other animals and plants. Beavers are often referred to as a ‘keystone species’ or ‘nature’s engineers’ because of the positive impact they can have on the environment.
Beavers are very special animals because they play a vital role in restoring and managing river and wetland ecosystems. This creates diverse habitats for other species to thrive, benefiting a wide range of other animals and plants. Beavers are often referred to as a ‘keystone species’ or ‘nature’s engineers’ because of the positive impact they can have on the environment.
Spiked shieldbug
The spiked shieldbug has fearsome shoulder projections or 'spikes' and a predatory nature. This brown bug feeds on caterpillars and other insects in woodlands and on heathlands.
Farmers are fed up – but they have allies in the public and also in nature
Wildlife Trusts Wales Blog on Farming and the changes needed to make it truly nature friendly and sustainable for the long term
Chinese water deer
Chinese water deer are easily distinguished from other deer by their strange teddy bear like appearance and the huge canine tusks displayed by the stags.
Freshwater pearl mussel
Freshwater pearl mussels spend their adult lives anchored to the river bed, filtering water through their gills and improving the quality of the water for other species.