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00:00You'll be surprised at where wildlife will set up home, especially now, to survive the coldest,
00:10harshest months. It can even be right underneath our feet. In this episode I'm going to be looking
00:18at where wildlife takes refuge to survive the winter. Welcome to Winter Watch in Wales.
00:30Welcome to the Newport Wetlands Nature Reserve, home to a plethora of species big and small,
00:59and just this very morning I was out and about, I saw a marsh harrier and I caught a glimpse
01:04of a fishing otter. And later on I'm hoping to cast my eyes over an iconic winter spectacle
01:11which can be seen here at the Newport Wetlands. Now for us humans, this time of year we think
01:18of our homes as somewhere cosy and warm, sitting on the sofa in front of a lovely fire. But
01:25for wildlife, it's all about conserving energy and some species slow down and even stop.
01:33And the homes that they choose can mean the difference between life and death. Some creatures
01:40will choose very unusual places as I found out a few years ago when I visited an old quarry
01:47at the Centre for Alternative Technology near Machynlleth.
01:54I'm on my way to a tunnel that was once a really important part of this quarry. It was blasted
02:05out using dynamite about 170 years ago. And although the quarrymen have moved out, I'm hoping to
02:12find signs that wildlife has moved in.
02:15It's just like an underground treasure hunt. You never know what you're going to see next.
02:36Oh, wow. Look at this. I've got an egg sack of a cave spider hanging down from the roof
02:44of the tunnel here, like a bit of cotton wool. That is seriously cool. And right next to
02:49it, look over here, just come back half a step. And we've got a herald moth. Now this is one
02:55of those moths that will overwinter as an adult in caves, in tunnels, in cellars. It's kind
03:01of camouflaged like a dead leaf because it's a woodland moth. And you can even see condensation
03:06on its wing there. That is really nice. Oh, here we are. And this is the cave spider. And
03:21the reason they're in here is because they know that some insects will come and overwinter
03:27in a tunnel like this. And there is enough food to sustain it all year round in here.
03:42Now these holes, these were created so they could put dynamite in there to blast out this
03:48tunnel. And interestingly, this is where a lot of the creatures are hiding tucked out of the way.
03:54So we're going to use a very specialist piece of equipment to get close up views of them. This
04:01is called a probe lens. And what we can do is we can put these right inside these holes there
04:09to get a far better view of what's inside. Oh, look at this. This is really nice. There's
04:16about, I would say, probably half a dozen hoverflies sheltering in there. I think they're
04:23drone flies. It's quite a common hoverfly. And what they've done is they've come in here,
04:27they've crammed into that hole out of the way over the winter, and they've gone into a
04:31torpor. And the reason they're here is because the temperature is cold, but it's constant.
04:37If it warmed up in here, they would warm up, they'd wake up, they'd fly around, they'd find
04:43there's no food for them in winter. And so they'd waste a lot of energy. But because it's
04:48cool and constant, they remain in that torpor.
04:52There's another moth just tucked away in here. See it? Fairly well camouflaged, that one,
05:08as well. And I've got to be honest with you, I've not got a clue what that mouth is.
05:13Wow. What an amazing place. Dozens and dozens of little creatures just tucked away in there
05:29for the winter. But I've got to say, it is pretty cold in there. So I'm going to head off
05:34and go and have a cup of tea.
05:49Those old quarries can be brilliant habitats and especially for creatures that enter a
05:55torpor or a deep sleep over the winter months. Now sometimes creatures will move into our homes.
06:02You won't often see them, but they will leave signs. And they're not always welcome either.
06:07But put yourselves in the shoes of a little house mouse.
06:12Michaela Strachan takes up the story.
06:16Christmas is over and the decorations are shoved back up into the loft for another year.
06:23But bear a thought for what else might be up there.
06:27While we might use it as storage space, this crowded roof can be a perfect winter home for some of our natural neighbours.
06:40Amongst the discarded toys and piles of junk, a female house mouse has made herself at home.
06:47She's heavily pregnant, so constantly craving food.
07:00Her stomach is swollen and heavy as her babies wriggle around inside her.
07:05This mouse is eating for 15.
07:08The sheer effort of even moving around at this late stage makes her quite breathless.
07:18But there isn't time to rest.
07:20She must find somewhere for her nest before the babies come.
07:24Every corner of the attic must be explored to find just the right spot.
07:34And that means she has to take some risks.
07:38She squeezes her swollen belly through tiny gaps.
07:42And even has to walk the tightrope.
07:51Despite the use of her balancing tail, clambering in her condition means her balance is off.
08:00A full step, but no harm done this time.
08:03This mattress could be just what she's looking for.
08:13A warm corner in here will be a safe spot for her babies.
08:20But she needs more than just foam to make the bedding complete.
08:24So it's back out on her scavenger hunt.
08:39This stack of suitcases might lead somewhere worthwhile.
08:42Grain from a split-wheat pillow will make a handy larder for later.
09:01But our mouse doesn't have the attic all to herself.
09:05The mattress is already occupied.
09:09Bed bugs.
09:11These parasitic bloodsuckers can survive a year without feeding
09:16and are drawn to their prey by sensing body heat.
09:25Luckily, she's chosen a nest site at the other end of the mattress.
09:35As she continues her search,
09:37her hypersensitive nose picks up a scent.
09:43The irresistible lure of cheese.
09:54She had better watch her step.
10:01Saved by a whisker.
10:03With a belly full of cheese and babies, the overwhelming hormonal urge to build her nest is getting stronger.
10:14She finds an old cashmere jumper, the perfect nest liner.
10:24But the soft, natural wool has already been colonized by clothes moth larvae.
10:31Undisturbed in the attic, these tiny caterpillars have spent the winter chewing their way through the fabric.
10:36Blue fibres visible in their digestive tract.
10:41But for this omnivorous mouse, they're nothing more than a handy protein snack.
10:49Gathering scraps from around the loft, the mouse's foraging is paying off, and the nest is developing into a comfortable and soft refuge in which to give birth.
11:10And finally, the blind and hairless babies are born.
11:24And finally, the blind and hairless babies are born.
11:29They will stay utterly dependent upon their mother for nearly three weeks.
11:37Thanks to the safe oasis of a warm attic, this family are oblivious to the changing season outside.
11:45Their mother has found all that they need just by scratching around in the attic.
11:51I do like mice, and actually I get mice in my home every winter as well.
12:09Not house mice, but wood mice.
12:11You can't see them, but often hear them scuttling away up there in the attic.
12:16And keep your eyes open for all kinds of creatures in and around your home.
12:22Ladybirds, for example, they'll gather in large numbers in the winter looking for somewhere cool and dry.
12:29And some butterflies, peacocks, red admirals, they'll spend the winter months in your attic or in your shed.
12:36Keep an eye out for those as well.
12:37Now, we might not want to create a home for mice, but we can create a home for all kinds of other creatures like this.
12:46This is a bug hotel.
12:49Simple thing to build.
12:50It's a pile of pallets that's been filled with reeds, with straw, with branches, with twigs here.
12:57You can build it with a pile of branches in the corner of your garden.
13:02And this can provide a home for hundreds of invertebrates.
13:07And you never know, if you're really lucky, you might even find an overwintering newt or even a toad in there as well.
13:15Now, if you're into your small creatures and you live by the coast, keep an eye open for a crustacean that has to move home regularly.
13:26Because Wales is home to 1,680 miles of coastline and pristine marine habitats, coastal creatures such as the hermit crab are flourishing.
13:38Gillian Burke unveils the mysteries of this curious creature.
13:45Winter seas can be boisterous.
13:57But when the tide retreats, stillness settles in the shore's rock pools.
14:10Under the surface, though, its residents are on the move.
14:15A hermit crab has caught the tantalising scent of food.
14:27It heads towards the source.
14:33Unlike other crabs, hermits don't walk sideways.
14:37Instead, they scuttle forwards.
14:40Long, slender senses lead the way to the dinner table.
14:46Hermit crabs are scavengers, dining on almost any scrap that comes their way.
14:55And they don't just scavenge for food.
15:06While a shell is essential for protection from the elements and from predators, hermit crabs don't grow their own.
15:11They have to find one and upsize it every time they grow.
15:20With tasty scraps in bountiful supply lately, this one's waistline is expanding.
15:25And its shell is a bit run down.
15:29It's time to go house hunting.
15:34Finding the perfect empty shell is no easy task.
15:39Finding the perfect empty shell is no easy task.
15:45Many are still occupied by their original owners.
15:48Original owners.
16:04Others have already been snapped up by other hermits.
16:07But what's this?
16:12An empty periwinkle shell.
16:16Now, the hermit crab begins a thorough survey.
16:21It takes it in its claws, turning it around to get a sense of the weight and condition, inside and out.
16:29If the shell is damaged or has a hole, the crab will be more vulnerable to parasites and easier to crush.
16:42So far, so good.
16:44Now, to try before you buy.
16:49The hermit crab slips its abdomen out of its shell and into the new shell just for a few seconds.
16:56Before switching back.
16:57Then, it tries it on again.
17:01And again.
17:03It will need to be completely satisfied that the new shell is a sound investment.
17:21And this time, it doesn't look like this one's up to scratch.
17:24Back to the old shell it goes.
17:28And the house hunt continues.
17:33With so many hermit crabs to contend with, gastropod shells are in short supply.
17:38And there's plenty of argy-bargy over the good ones.
17:45Sometimes the only option is to try to pinch one.
17:51The crab launches an attack on its neighbour, grabbing its shell.
18:03It then hauls it away.
18:05The crab defending its shell is not going to give up that easily.
18:06So the attacker attempts to get it out using other means.
18:20Banging its shell.
18:21Tugging on its claws.
18:24Tugging on its claws.
18:27Anything to try to shake it loose and claim squatter's rights.
18:31But this crab just won't budge.
18:32The only thing to do now is to sit tight and hope that the perfect winter retreat washes in on the next high tide.
18:48What a fascinating little crustacean.
19:08It's so important that we all do everything we possibly can to help our wildlife.
19:13Especially during the winter months.
19:16And that applies particularly to those creatures that have lost their natural habitats.
19:23One of those is the hedgehog.
19:26Did you know that we've lost an estimated 30% of our hedgehogs in just the last decade?
19:34Chris Packham tells the story of one such Welsh hedgehog trying to navigate its way through a dystopian world.
19:43Climate change has altered our winters.
19:48Combined with unrelenting urban sprawl, this has had a devastating effect on the natural world.
19:58And for some species, time is running out.
20:04It's running out.
20:11Do you like our hedgehog?
20:13It's not artificial, but it is increasingly rare.
20:19Our spine runner should be hibernating, but this winter is just not cold enough.
20:25The drive to find food forces her onto the busy streets.
20:36Cities are not built with hedgehogs in mind.
20:39She's not equipped to deal with this unnatural landscape.
20:55To survive each night, she must eat at least 16% of her own body weight.
21:00But in winter, food is scarce.
21:14An upturned bin provides temporary relief.
21:17And this meagre meal may have to do for tonight.
21:23In a metropolis full of synthetic smells...
21:42She's drawn to the toxic chemicals coating abandoned car parts.
21:48But hunger is not the reason here.
21:55She's mixing the grease with saliva to form a thick foam.
22:01She coats her spines in it.
22:04Could this be a ploy to deter potential predators with a noxious taste and smell?
22:10It's called self-anointing.
22:14But where once she would have used decaying material or natural toxins,
22:20she now makes do with man-made chemicals.
22:24Nothing's worse than having an itch you just can never scratch.
22:31Escaping the bright lights, she struggles through a small hole in a fence to a darker territory.
22:36Holes like this used to be commonplace.
22:42But now, she's lucky to find one.
22:49Our gardens were once an oasis for hedgehogs.
22:53But this sterile environment replicates the city around it,
22:59restricting what life remains.
23:00This is no place to find a meal.
23:15With the volume of traffic out of control, roads have criss-crossed and fragmented her brave new world.
23:21She needs to find refuge before dawn.
23:26Finally, a place where she can retire.
23:30Do hedgehogs dream of electric slugs?
23:35She's seen things we wouldn't believe.
23:36Meadows glowing under the constellation of Orion.
23:38She's watched moonbeams glistening on the path by the garden gate.
23:40And if we don't act, those moments will be lost in time.
23:44Like tears in rain.
23:45Like tears in rain.
24:16John when I was a lad I used to see hedgehogs everywhere now I rarely see
24:21them but I'm lucky in that I do have a family of hedgehogs in my garden and it's
24:26all about connectivity connecting these areas so the hedgehogs can move along
24:31and if you live in an urban area cut holes in your fence allowing the hedgehog
24:36to go from garden to garden simple things would make a big big difference
24:43another iconic winter species that relies on safe refuge is the starling it's all
24:51about safety in numbers they gather together in massive flocks often using
24:57human structures woodlands or reed beds and if you've been lucky enough to see a
25:05murmuration don't let those large flocks fool you because the birds we see here
25:10in the winter have come from northern Europe the breeding starlings we have
25:15here in the UK are in decline so much so that they're now on the red list of birds
25:22the birds most in danger of disappearing and wouldn't it be a shame not just to
25:28lose an iconic winter species but also these magnificent murmurations and there
25:35is a starling roost here at Newport wetlands
25:41so I'm going to take this opportunity to see if I can witness a Newport murmuration for myself
25:49as the light fades the starlings will start returning to their roost so I'm heading to a
25:54quiet corner of the reserve to see if they put on a show
25:57we've got a lovely elevated position here looking down over the whole reed bed a few starlings have
26:06arrived already behind me here but we haven't seen any large murmurations so it's wait and hope for the best
26:27the sky is full of starlings there's like a blizzard of birds here still know which way to look
26:57you can hear it's still very very noisy several thousands of birds in the reed bed there and
27:08they'll be noisy like this for maybe half an hour 40 minutes and what they're doing is they're working
27:13out kind of a pecking order it'll be the older more experienced birds in the middle and the younger
27:19the less experienced birds on the periphery still small groups kind of shifting around finding their
27:27position but that will probably be it for the night they've got a very safe home there in the middle of
27:34thousands of other birds in the middle of a big big reed bed just about the safest place you could find
27:41in the newport wetlands what a way to end the starlings here have found their home for the night
27:55and of course our wildlife they need safe refuge and lots of food over the winter months and this is
28:01where we can come in and help please provide a home for wildlife in your garden in your green spaces
28:09that's it for now until next time we'll have our take care
28:39you
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