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17 September 2014
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Nature's Calendar

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Wetland activities

Wet and wild

Butterfly c/o Broads Authority

Wetlands are a must for nature lovers. They are especially good for bird watching, bug spotting and pond dipping. So get out and about and enjoy a wetland adventure!

Stunning Swallowtail butterfly.
Photo - Broads Authority.


Here are three great nature activities which you can take part in wetland areas:

* Pond dipping.
* Bird watching and bug spotting.
* Butterfly watching.

Pond dipping

Wetland habitats are a great place to try pond dipping.

Great locations for this activity featured on 91热爆 Nature's Calendar include:

* How Hill, Norfolk Broads - the How Hill Trust in Norfolk organises dyke dipping for school groups.

* Caerlaverock, Solway Firth - pond dipping area.

Other locations recommended include:

* Arundel Wetlands Centre, West Sussex
* Castle Espie Wetlands Centre, Northern Ireland

These are our top tips for pond dipping:

* Buy a children's fishing net from a toy shop - make sure it has a long pole so you can reach further without falling in.

* Alternatively you can try making your own by stretching an old pair of tights over a tennis racquet.

* The best ponds to try dipping in have lots of vegetation like reeds and lily pads on which insects and other life can rest.

* Dip the net gently into the water and make small movements to collect a good variety of pond life.

* When you think you've got plenty to look at, gently lift your net out of the water and place gently on a piece of white paper.

* Use a good identification guide to examine your catch and don't forget to put everything back where you found it!

* The Wildfowl and Wetlands Trust runs for children at many of their wetland centres.

Wetland birds and bugs

Bird watcher c/o WWTWetland ponds are a great habitat for ducks, geese and other migratory birds, but they're also ideal for Dragonflies and Damsels, skimming across the water's surface.

Good locations for wetland birds and bugs include:

* Martin Mere, Lancashire
* London Wetlands Centre
* Slimbridge, Gloucestershire

Why not follow these great tips from the Nature's Calendar team:

* Bird-watching has three golden rules - be patient, be quiet and buy a good pair of binoculars - these may be expensive but there are still bargains to be found if you buy second-hand.

* The best time of day for bird-watching is in the morning - this is when birds are most active, particularly in summer.

* For Dragon and Damselfly-watching, lunchtime is better as they thrive in the midday sun, but be careful not to cast a shadow - they're less active in the shade.

* There are three main plants that Damsels and Dragonflies like - tall plants around the water's edge, surface plants like lily pads to land on and water-borne plants, which oxygenate the water to keep it nice and clear.

* Dragonflies are larger with outstretched wings while Damselflies tuck their wings up behind them - make sure you know the difference!

Butterfly watching

Butterfly c/o Broads AuthorityOne of the best places to see butterflies is How Hill in Norfolk - it's a great place to spot the rare Swallowtail which is only found in the Norfolk Broads.

Other good Norfolk reserves where you can spot the Swallowtails are , and

Our top tips for a successful trip are:

* Look for butterflies darting around to get a general sense of their movements, but your best chance of seeing them land is when the temperature drops slightly.

* Swallowtails are Britain's biggest butterfly with a distinctive 10 cm wing span.

* Swallowtails like to feed on nectar plants so look out for the butterflies on Yellow Flag Irises, Meadow Thistles and Ragged Robin.

* If you're lucky, you might spot Swallowtail eggs on plants such as Milk Parsley - these are small white, round blobs.

* The website is a good source of information about rare butterflies.

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Activities

Activities (Image: Shelduck c/o Wildlife and Wetlandd Trust)

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