Look out for Arctic skuas harass terns hummingbird around the coast hawkmoths
TINY & WILD ROSS PIPER
Crickets and grasshoppers EVENTS These well-known insects provide Birdfair nature’s summer soundtrack... 17–19 August, Rutland Water
In the UK we have 23 species of the field cricket and 11 species of grasshopper, grasshopper including a few exotics that have been (Chorthippus accidentally introduced. They range brunneus). from cryptically coloured and easily Before you go out overlooked ground-hoppers (Tetrix on a grasshopper or cricket foray take a spp.) to species such as the great green look at species.orthoptera.org.uk/ bush-cricket (Tettigonia viridissima) default.aspx, a superb resource where and the exceedingly rare and unusual you can even listen to the “song” of mole cricket (Gryllotalpa gryllotalpa), every species. both of which rank among our most The best time to look is in high impressive insects at around 5cm long! summer, and the greatest variety of Sound is extremely important to species is to be to be found in the south, these animals, especially for the with the Dorset Coast, the New Forest purposes of courtship, and it is how and the East Anglian coast and heaths they communicate among the tangle of supporting many species. Look in vegetation where they often reside. grassland, woodland edges and bogs. Indeed, the cryptic colouring of these Once you’re tuned into their songs, animals and their predilection for long move carefully through any areas of The world’s largest wildlife event returns to grasses and dense bushes means you long grass or dense vegetation and use Rutland Water, Rutland, this month and will are more likely to the hear them than your ears. Before long you’ll be able to be celebrating 30 years conserving nature. see them. The call of every species is pinpoint the stridulating animal. There’ll be over 180 talks and events, many unique, and a well-trained ear can pick hosted by famous wildlife personalities out the many species that inhabit any Dr Ross Piper is an such as Chris Packham, Bill Oddie and given area, from the ultrasonic clicks of entomologist, zoologist and Steve Backshall. Come along and visit the explorer. His book, Animal the speckled bush-cricket (Leptophyes Earth, is a cutting-edge RSPB stand and enjoy the Wildlife Zone, punctatissima) that is barely audible to introduction to animal diversity. new for this year, featuring entertainment our ears, to the loud, distinctive rasp of Find out more at rosspiper.net dedicated to our younger visitors. All details at birdfair.org.uk. The proceeds of WHICH IS WHICH? this year’s Birdfair will support the creation Short Rubs hind legs of Argentina’s largest national park. Rubs wings Long antennae against wings together to sing antennae to sing BBC Countryfile Live 2–5 August, Blenheim Palace The RSPB will be at BBC Countryfile Live, a celebration of rural life in the beautiful Ears at the surroundings of Blenheim Palace, Oxfordshire. Visit our stand to take a walk Ears on the base of the front legs abdomen around six different habitats to find out about the nature that depends on it, and Great green bush-cricket Meadow grasshopper how we are helping to save it. And keep One of our largest insects, at more than One of our most common and the children entertained with exciting 5cm long, it is found in southern England. widespread species, as well as the green nature activities, from making mini beast Easiest to find at night when “singing”. form of this grasshopper, a striking Look for it by torchlight in dense thickets pinkish form is often to be seen. Look for hotels to upcycled animal crafts, which all
count towards the RSPB Wild Challenge. iStock; Getty; Alamy; Niall Benvie, Chris Gomersall, Jodie Randall, Jeroen Stel, Ernie Janes (all rspb-images.com) of vegetation. l Omnivorous – eats other it in all types of grasslands as well as small insects and plants l Found in a heaths and dunes. l Found in grasses countryfilelive.com l l l variety of habitats Nocturnal Herbivorous Diurnal Photos:
Nature’s Home autumn 2018 19