After months of metamorphosis, tadpoles have transformed into toads and are ready to emerge from their watery world onto dry land. They tend to emerge on mass after a rain shower and will then spend the rest of the year in woodland, gardens, hedgerows and tussocky grassland. They will only return to these ponds and lakes when they are ready to breed in spring.
Watch out for this mass migration at your local pond. Find your nearest nature reserve here.
Young toad - Jon Hawkins – Surrey Hills Photography
June brings calmer seas making it a great time to spot cetaceans like Bottlenose dolphins. We’re lucky to have a semi-resident population of Bottlenose dolphins in the Cardigan Bay.
You can head down to our Cardigan Bay Marine Wildlife Centre in New Quay, to learn more about how we’re monitoring their population and catch a glimpse of these iconic marine mammals from the shore. You can also book a boat trip to see these amazing animals in action!
© Sarah Perry
June is a great time to spot Thick-legged flower beetles! As their name suggests they have rather distinctive legs – although only males have their characteristic swollen thighs.
You can spot these gorgeous green beetles in your garden, road verges and meadows!
Thick Legged Flower Beetle - Jon Hawkins – Surrey Hills Photography
These summer migrants are extremely camouflaged making them very hard to spot, but their distinctive call is worth listening out for this month! Male birds produce a mechanical trill (known as churring) as the sun goes. Nightjars spends their day on the ground and emerge at night to hunt for moths and other insects. If you are lucky, you may also experience their wing-slapping display!
Keep an ear out for nocturnal nightjars in health land, young conifer plantations and forest clearings. Find your nearest nature reserve here.
Nightjar - David Tipling/2020VISION
If you’re heading to the coast this month, look out for these gorgeous pink flowers! Thrift, also known as 'Sea-pink' and 'Cliff Clover', is great source of nectar and pollen for bees, butterflies, and other pollinators! Unlike many other plants, Thrift thrives in the salty sea air. They have adapted to cope with these conditions by transporting the salt from their roots to their older leaves, which they then shed.
Visit Cemaes Head and Port Eynon Point to see these wonderful wildflowers.
Thrift - Mark Hamblin/2020VISION
