June Wildlife Guide
With more wildlife appearing, know what to look out for and what you can do to help!
With the long days now here, you’ll begin to see lots of changes to our native UK wildlife. We’ll talk you through what you might see and a few tips on helping increase sightings and helping wildlife in your garden.
Wild Birds
You’ll being to see an increase in baby birds as they begin to leave their cosy nests and take flight, you’ll be able to spot baby birds with ease as their feathered coats remain looking a little scruffy and dishevelled, think of a ball of fluff when looking for any baby birds in your garden or woodlands. Please avoid helping any that may seem as though they need it, their parents won’t be far from reach!
However, many birds can still be found to laying eggs in June, with Robins and Goldfinch’s amongst those still nesting. So, in the coming months you can still expect to see an abundance of baby birds emerging from their nests.
Mammals
Expect to see an increase in the bat population in the coming months as most bats begin to give birth in June, parents will soon be out foraging for food so keep an eye out for bats swooping to catch insects. You’ll find that groups of mothers will occupy buildings where temperatures are high, providing them with warmth. You can help entice bats into your garden on summer nights by planting up a variety of insect-tempting flowers.
As well as bats, hedgehogs are also giving birth in June, so expected to hear hedgehogs snuffling along the edge of woodlands or hedgerows looking for food or settling in their nests as they prepare to welcome their hoglets. Be careful not to disturb any nesting hedgehogs, the mother may abandon its hoglets if disturbed.
Light summer nights are the perfect time to begin watching badgers. Their cubs can often be found playing close to their Sett at dusk and around the trees nearby. Badger cubs in the following weeks will begin to venture away from the Sett more frequently, joining the adults on regular forages.
Pond Life
Keep your eyes towards any local or your own wildlife ponds, as the month of June begins to see Toads emerging from the waters where they’ve developed from tadpole to toad! They thoroughly enjoy a heavy rainfall, as you can often see them appear in masses afterwards – be careful when you go looking for these small creatures as they enjoy hiding in the long grass
Bees
Summer is here and so are the bees! Swarms of bees can now be found and you’ll easily find a bee or two in your garden at anytime enjoying your nectar rich flowers that are in full bloom. This sustenance is essential for any healthy bee population to thrive.
Summer nectar is important to keep bees thriving, so why not try planting some of these nectar producing plants such as lavender, foxgloves or alliums
