Walthamstow Wetlands Wild and Wonderful

Hello and welcome to episode 100 of the Wildlife Matters podcast.

And now here we are, one of the most listened to wildlife podcasts.

I'll share more about that journey a bit later, but coming up, we're heading back to the Walthamstow Wetlands for part two of our adventure.

And this time will be getting close to the reed beds and the wildlife that call them home.

And you won't want to miss this week's Wildlife Matters Mindful Moments, an audio sharing experience where we immerse ourselves in the soothing sounds of the natural world.

But first, let's kick things off with the stories in the headlines in this week's Wildlife Matters Nature News.

Welcome to this week's A Wildlife Matters Nature News, where we take a closer.

Look at the wildlife and nature stories.

That have caught our attention.

Our main story this week is about.

A dramatic increase in cetacean sightings in Scotland's seas.

The number of whales and dolphins spotted has increased dramatically, capturing the interest of locals and visitors alike.

The Arran Ranger Service, part of the National Trust for Scotland, is investigating why these magnificent marine mammals are assembling in such large numbers.

Kilbrannan Sound and the Firth of Clyde have become popular destinations for nature lovers.

And fortunate spectators have had the memorable opportunity to see humpback and minke whales sailing through the waves alongside a group of playful common dolphins.

It's not only the cetaceans that are attracting attention, though.

There are large numbers of gannets, and various gull species have also arrived.

The rangers point out that a key clue is the warming seas, since these may be altering the local food web.

Now, you might be wondering what's behind this sudden burst of whales, dolphins and seabirds.

The NTS rangers say all you need to do is look around for the weather this summer.

There have been huge flocks of gulls offer per mill.

Gulls diving and grabbing fish where people watch in amazement.

And clouds of tiny copy pods near the Lacransa pontoon.

All these clues point to an epic ocean feast developing in these vibrant waters off the Isle of Arran.

The warmer waters this summer have set off a chain of events.

An increase in plankton attracts hungry copepods, which in turn draw in small fish.

Then schools of mackerel and finally the ocean's largest animals.

And it takes a lot of fish and copepods to feed the humpback whale.

At least two of these huge ocean creatures have been fed speeding off the coast of Arran, giving remarkable shows of whales leaping and dolphins performing acrobatics.

However, the most unforgettable thing to experience is the sound of a whale's blow echoing across the quiet water.

The Arun ranger team have also shared a number of pictures of the sightings, including one that showed a Calmac boat that they joked had turned its ferry trip into a whale watching tour.

Scotland's seas have been full of excitement throughout the year.

The wildlife surprises began in April when a walrus, a rare visitor, pulled itself ashore on the Isle of Orkney for the first time in eight years and then turned up along the northeast coast, delighting wildlife enthusiasts.

Then in May, more than 30 orcas passed through northern Scotland, and a local cruise operator later recorded footage of 45 killer whales chasing dolphins at amazing speeds before making a dramatic catch near Oban.

In our second story, let's talk about the summer heat waves that swept across the UK in July and early August, turning parks, lawns and farmland into dry, sun baked landscapes.

It's only after a few much needed rainy days that we're finally seeing a hint of green return to the grass.

Sure, the sunshine was glorious for us, but those scorching days took a real toll on local wildlife.

Maybe you've spotted trees shedding leaves early to save moisture, or noticed crops wilting.

Even fruiting plants like BlackBerry bushes started ripening weeks ahead of schedule.

Nature's way of Coping with the Extreme Heat with extreme heat waves likely to become a more regular feature in our future summers, it's worth thinking about how we can adapt and help our local wildlife to cope, too.

If you've got a garden or even a small outdoor space, then leaving a shallow bowl of water out can be a lifesaver for species like hedgehogs and other small mammals.

Birds, on the other hand, don't sweat.

So topping up a bird bath and making sure there are shady spots for them to escape the heat are simple but powerful ways to give nature a helping hand.

But it's not all wildlife that struggles.

Some species have thrived in the sunshine, especially butterflies.

On a recent nature walk, I joined a small, lively group and we spent over an hour and a half spotting butterflies such as gatekeepers, small blues, speckled woods and meadow browns, and admiring the incredible variety of trees and habitats.

It was a day to keep an eye out overhead as well, as this spot was well known for birds of prey.

Red kites and buzzards circle overhead, riding in visible currents of warm air.

Watching them glide effortlessly across the sky, barely moving a wing, is one of those Quietly breathtaking sights you never forget.

Red kites are truly striking birds, with their reddish brown feathers and distinctive forked tails, which they use to steer and hover.

Since then, these survivors have made a remarkable comeback.

Now you can spot them across most of the uk, even in towns and cities.

And they're clever scavengers, feeding on whatever they can find, from roadkill and earthworms to the odd bit of human discarded leftovers.

Every time I see one of these graceful birds, I feel a rush of wildness and wonderful, like I'm connecting with a part of nature that's ancient and untamed.

Experiences like that are getting rarer in our busy urban lives.

But the return of the red kite.

Is proof that nature's magic doesn't have to be a distant memory.

Thanks to rewilding and making room for wildlife, even cities can still serve up moments of real wonder.

If you pay attention now, as September brings cooler, wetter days, it's a good time to reflect on what this summer has taught us to appreciate the everyday miracles.

Like rain.

It's so easy to take it for granted until it suddenly disappears.

So maybe wonder and gratitude aren't just for those rare, extraordinary moments, like spotting a red kite overhead or.

But also for the simple, everyday marbles that quietly sustain us and the world we share.

Our third story shares some exciting news.

ITV is launching a brand new series next year that will change how you see city wildlife.

The new series, which is called the World's Wildest Cities, is not just a regular nature documentary.

It's a six part adventure which will take you on an exciting journey through five of the most iconic cities in the world, where you'll have the opportunity to meet remarkable wildlife that lives right beside us.

Wild animals you never thought you'd share your morning commute with.

Plimsoll Productions, the company behind the series, has won Emmy and BAFTA awards, showing that urban wildlife is not only surviving, but in fact thriving by adapting in clever and sometimes hilarious ways to life in urban areas.

With more than half of the world's population now living in cities, we share sidewalks and rooftops with some rather unexpected neighbors, such as possums and penguins, giant lizards and mischievous monkeys.

Although they don't always follow the rules, it is precisely this that makes their stories so interesting.

These urban survivors are overcoming city life through a combination of ingenuity and boldness.

In the episode In New York City, we discover that mice are learning how to break down tough pizza cheese.

In contrast, in the London episode, we see foxes evolving to have shorter snouts to help them tear open bin bags.

And marmosets in Rio, altering their calls to keep up with traffic noise.

These animals are not merely getting by, they're discovering ways to gain an advantage in this fast moving new environments.

Each episode focuses on a different city visiting Rio, New York, Melbourne, Singapore and London.

And the series concludes with a behind the scenes look at how science and filmmaking are bringing these incredible stories to life.

Shot in stunning detail with state of the art cameras, the series offers incredible drama, surprising love stories and hurried searches for food.

As wild areas shrink, cities are becoming unexpected refuges for all kinds of animals.

And looking ahead, it's more important than.

Ever to make room for nature in our cities.

Greener cities lead to better lives not only for us, but also for the wild neighbors we are getting to know.

Mark Brownlow, the show's executive producer, shared his excitement with Wildlife Matters.

Mark said, we are extremely proud of world's wildest cities.

Our cities are becoming new wild frontiers and this series gives viewers a look at a wide range of surprising animal characters living right amongst us.

Everyone benefits when we bring nature into our cities.

The program World's Wildest Cities draws on the success of ITV's recent shows a Force of Nature and A Year on Planet Earth, combining compelling storytelling with stunning visuals which have become the channel's well known feature.

We'll let you know as soon as the screening dates are confirmed.

Confirmed as this is a series you won't want to miss.

And that has been this week's Wildlife Matters Nature News.

Scotland's seas have been bursting with life.

This year, with whales, dolphins and seabirds turning up in record numbers.

Yet ocean warming is a real concern.

But the sights of the Scottish coast right now are absolutely breathtaking.

But as nature surprises us, it also reminds us not every species is thriving.

Some are struggling to keep up as our climate shifts.

It's up to all of us to.

Help wildlife adapt because their future is closely tied to our own.

Now join me on a clifftop where.

You can almost taste the salt in the air and feel the wild freedom of the sea.

For this week's Wildlife Matters, mindful moments, It.

Sam.

Imagine yourself high on the cliff tops of southwest Scotland, gazing across the Firth of the Clyde towards the mainland from the Isle of Arran.

The sky is alive with gulls, cormorants, shags and thousands of seabirds swirling in the fresh sea breeze.

We have had an amazing adventure on Arran this year and we'll be sharing those stories with you in a future episodes of the Wildlife Matters podcast.

But now we're whisking you back to the heart of London, to the wild and wonderful Walthamstow Wetlands.

This 211 hectare sanctuary is teeming with life, and I can't wait to share the surprising stories hiding among the reeds in this week's Wildlife Matters Maine feature.

Hello and welcome back to the famous Walthamstow Reservoirs.

Covering 211 hectares, this remarkable place provides drinking water for so much of London, and it's a Protected Site of Special Scientific Interest or Triple si, showing just how important it is for wildlife.

If you missed part one of our journey into the Walthamstow Wetlands, we explored the numbered reservoirs and saw a great variety of birds and plants.

Today we'll keep exploring and discover more of the area's hidden spots.

Next, we'll visit the named reservoirs, which locals often call the ones over the road.

But before we cross, we have special access to the east and West Warwick Lakes.

These lakes sit beside the River Lea and are split by by railway tracks, making for an exciting day ahead.

East Warwick requires a permit, as a local fishing club has exclusive rights.

Only fly fishing is allowed on the lake.

Today, though, my attention turns to the Reeb Bank.

It's a tranquil spot seldom visited by anglers.

With the lakes nearly empty midweek I have the place to myself, free to quietly explore the reed beds and observe the wildlife that thrives in this secluded haven.

Reed beds are at the heart of any healthy wetland.

These marshy places, full of reeds, give shelter to fish, invertebrates and many bird species.

They also act as natural water filters, adding oxygen and cleaning the lakes.

This creates a rich home for all kinds of wildlife.

Among the reeds, you can really see the magic of wetlands.

In the UK, over 700 invertebrate species, including dragonflies and damselflies, have been found in reed beds.

Reed beds add oxygen to the water, which helps aquatic species to survive, especially during pollution events or when the oxygen levels drop.

They offer a safe place until conditions can get better.

Reed beds help reduce water pollution by turning toxic ammonia into a safer nitrate.

In a place where pollution is a constant problem, these natural helpers are more important than ever.

They quietly work to keep the Lee Valley's waters clean for both people and wildlife.

Today we're looking at a traditional reed bed.

It's natural, but you can create one by planting common reed in soil at the lake's edge around Walthamstow wetlands.

You can also see floating reed beds in places where it's hard or not allowed to create one in the riverbed.

These floating islands of reed plants that provide the same benefits as a natural reed bed as the roots of the plant plants hang into the water, increasing the surface area and help tackle pollution.

Of course, reed beds provide multiple benefits for wildlife species as they provide food, shelter and breeding grounds for a wide range of species.

Reed beds, with their tall stems and thick growth, create special microclimates and protect wildlife from predators.

After exploring the area and re beds, I set up my camera and my recording gear in a small spot on the bank surrounded by reeds on three sides.

I can't see much of the East Warwick Lake from here, but I hope to get a close look at the wildlife thriving in this urban reed bank.

Apart from the occasional sound of planes overhead, this place feels peaceful and quiet.

It's a perfect break from the busy city, but here you're less than seven miles from central London.

A gentle breeze brings the fresh smell of water and wild plants.

It's a reminder of how close city life and wild nature really are.

My kit is predominantly secondhand, albeit good quality, even if it's a bit outdated.

My camera body is fast approaching a million shots, although I've only taken about a quarter of those myself.

Instead, I've learned from field skills to help me get close to wildlife.

Sometimes these skills work, but I've also spent hours sitting quietly and seeing nothing.

That's just how it is with nature.

It's always up to the wildlife, not us.

So here I am sitting on my low perching stool with the camera on a tripod and my zoom recorder set up by a thick patch of reeds to my right.

The recorder caught the sound, a slightly shrill but sweet sound song from a sparrow sized bird.

It's a re bed specialist who colors with a black head and a black throat extending down into a bib with a white collar and a distinctive white moustache.

The female reed bunting is a streaky brown bird that closely resembles a sparrow.

And in the autumn and winter, males will also be a speckled brown.

But their white collar and mustache remain clear.

Their throat becomes quite pale, though some of the dark bib usually stays visible.

In winter, reed buntings join mixed flocks of buntings, finches and sparrows to feed.

On seeds on farmland.

Reed buntings nest in low, dense vegetation, constructing their nests using grass, reeds and moss.

They were one of the species I had hoped to see today.

If a predator gets too close to their nest, one of the adult birds will flap and make a noise as if injured to distract the predator while flying away at speed in the dense reeds.

Of course, with all these small birds living and nesting in the reeds, you would expect to see some predators.

And the next bird I spotted is an apex predator in this area.

Now, I don't think the Marsh Harriers nest here in Walthamstow.

Despite dropping to just one nesting pair in Somerset back In the early 70s, marsh harriers have made a real comeback.

With over 500 pairs now in England and Wales and a stable population in Scotland.

The Marsh Harrier is the largest in the UK, with a wingspan of up to 130cm, which is about 50 inches, nearly twice its body length.

It can weigh up to 800 grams, which is typical for raptors.

And females are noticeably bigger than the males.

Marsh Harriers hover over reed beds looking for potential prey, including small birds like reed buntings and bearded reedlings, as well as voles, mammals and amphibians such as frogs and toads.

Marsh Harriers form a distinctive V shape in the air by holding their wings up.

Females are chocolate brown with a golden yellow crown and throat.

The male I can see has a brown back, ginger belly, pale head and neck and long grey wings with black tips.

Marsh Harriers have begun to spread from their stronghold in East Anglia towards the southeast and other parts of the country where reed bed habitat is found.

During the breeding season, males perform impressive courtship displays, wheeling at great heights, then diving towards the the ground whilst performing a series of tumbles.

Sometimes the female will join him and they will lock talons in midair.

Today I've spotted a lone male Marsh Harrier possibly hunting for his chicks, catching dragonflies in flight before soaring north, perhaps towards a nest site in Essex.

Packing up at Wick Lane, I made my way along the small public crossing to West Point Warwick, then back towards the main entrance.

The path led me through the paddock, alongside the River Lee, past colourful narrow boats, before I finally arrived at the imposing Lockwood Reservoir.

Lockwood is the largest reservoir in the Walthamstow wetlands.

The walk took me past Tottenham Marches and around the top of the reservoir.

With each step, it just felt more peaceful.

When I reached the Lockwood entrance, about halfway along my route, I found a wide, easy path.

It was a great spot to watch dragonflies and damselflies flying above the water.

People often ask me, what's the difference between these two amazing insects Damselflies are delicate insects with eyes on each side of their rectangular head.

Their flight is fluttering and both pairs of wings are the same size.

When resting, damselflies usually keep their wings closed, while dragonflies tend to be larger and the heavier built cousins of damselflies are smaller and lighter.

Their eyes meet in the middle of their round head, their front wings are narrower and their hind wings and when resting they hold their wings wide open.

Some of the larger hawkers can fly at 15 meters a second, the equivalent of around 30 miles per hour.

I once again find myself woefully underqualified to speak about dragonflies and damselflies in depth, as my knowledge is at best general.

But the local group has recorded 23 species of both dragonflies and damselflies here at Walthamstow Wetlands.

Thanks to a tip off from a local, I'm here and excited to see what we might see Spot.

My first thought as I reached for the camera was it was a water vole.

I still remember an earlier conversation with a regular who said that at present water voles were not at the wetlands, but work was continuing on the River Lee and once there it was only a small step for them to return here.

As I watched, I saw a grass snake swimming out into the lake with its head up.

It moved gracefully, wriggling along the surface and almost floating in the reed bed, possibly getting ready to feed on frogs as there was a distinct bulge in its body which was only a few centimeters from its mouth.

After seeing the grass snake, I settled down again and started watching for damselflies and dragonflies.

After a few moments I spotted a classic damselfly, the banded democell, which is a good sign of clean water.

Banded Damicelles are roughly 42 to 45 mil long with a wingspan of 60 to 65 millimeters.

They have a band of a dark bluish colouring in their outer third.

The females have a brilliant metallic green body and their wings are tinted green.

Each wing also has a tiny white spot near its tip.

They have to go underwater to lay their eggs.

They can breathe while submerged thanks to a trapped layer of air between their wings, and the females can lay an egg every two to six seconds.

Damselflies look beautiful, but they are predators, catching other insects in flight when they are adults and hunting them underwater as nymphs.

Banded demo cells have a graceful fluttering flight similar to that of a butterfly.

They are usually seen flying over fresh water or riverside vegetation with a moderate to slow flow, with beds of silt or mud or Resting on water vegetation.

The Banded Demo cell isn't a rare species and can be found from the south coast up as far north as Lancashire and North Yorkshire.

Adults often fly from mid May right the way through to September.

I mentioned the female lays her eggs underwater.

The eggs take about two weeks to hatch and the nymphs live underwater amongst roots or aquatic vegetation for about two years.

Once the nymphs have finished their development, they'll crawl up the stems of aquatic plants into the air where they shed their skin and emerge as winged adults.

The next thing I saw was a common blue damselfly.

The dark body and blue tip are distinctive.

Still, like so many damselflies, there are some very similar look alikes which in this case take several color forms where the abdomen can be pink, lilac or green when the damselfly first emerges slowly turning to blue in the most mature adults.

To mix things up some more, there is a species called the scarce blue tailed damselfly.

However that species has not been recorded here at Walthamstow and as the name suggests, there are not too many of them around.

It is also similar to the male red eyed damselfly which is larger and has reddish brown eyes.

The common blue damselfly is regularly seen around England and Wales and is known to prefer lakes and slow moving rivers.

It can also be found away from a water source and adults will fly from late May until September.

The next species actually found me.

They are known to be inquisitive and I am certain this southern hawker came over to check me out.

The Hawker family contains the largest dragonflies in Europe and North America as well as some of the largest dragonflies on the whole planet.

Out of the 36 species of dragonfly that live in the UK, 12 of them belong to the Hawker family.

The southern hawker dragonflies can be up to 7cm long and they can have a wingspan of up to 11 cm.

The males, which is the one that found me, are dark with bright blue and green markings and have a blue or greenish eyes.

Males have been recorded with only blue markings, but these are quite rare.

Females are brown with a bright green markings and have a brown or yellow green eyes.

Southern hawkers can be found around ponds, canals and lakes.

They prefer non acidic waters, often breeding in bodies of water lined with lots of vegetation.

The adults hunt well away from water and can be found searching for prey in woodlands around the perimeters of the Walthamstow wetlands.

They can also be seen in flight from June through to October and the males aggressively defend their hunting and breeding grounds.

Against other males.

Once they have successfully mated, the females lay or more correctly oviposit their eggs on the edge of still or slow flowing water, often in rotting wood or other vegetation.

Nymphs then hatch out of an egg and spend two to three years in the water, developing into an adult.

During this time, the nymphs feed on small tadpoles, aquatic insects and even small fish.

When they are ready years later, the nymphs climb up vegetation that sticks out of the water and they shed their skin, which changes them into adults and gives them their wings and final coloration.

This often occurs from June to late July as adults.

Southern hawker dragonflies feed on various flying insects such as flies, mosquitoes and midges, catching them in mid air with their expert flying skills and incredible eyesight.

Nymphs are aggressive predators that feed on midge and mosquito larvae, which helps to control their populations.

They catch their prey by shooting out the whole bottom jaw and grabbing it.

My final spot for now is spectacular and it is actually the largest dragonfly species in the uk.

They are now a reasonably common sight throughout south of England, but that doesn't make them any less impressive.

Male emperor dragonflies are instantly recognisable.

Their pale blue bodies feature an apple green thorax and a striking black stripe running the length of of their body.

Females look similar but sport a more muted matte greeny blue hue.

Both genders share vivid green blue eyes, completing their regal appearance.

Emperors truly do live up to their name.

They are the UK's largest dragonfly species and also one of the most territorial in the hawker family.

They'll appear in late spring and spend much of their time flying above water, showing just how nature's pecking order works.

Green and blue markings make them stand out in any wetland scene.

Watch as they fly.

Their abdomens often droop noticeably, an elegant silhouette against the sky.

From June through to August, you're likely to spot adult emperors soaring high above thickly vegetated ponds, lakes, canals, ditches and even some slow flowing rivers and lakes such as here at Walthamstow wetlands.

As formidable aerial predators, emperors are adept at catching and eating prey in mid flight.

Males, ever vigilant, often fly higher than other hawkers, fiercely defending their territory from challengers.

Like other dragonflies, emperors have large eyes for spotting prey and strong toothed jaws for catching food in mid air.

Their slim bodies and wings that can move on their own make them excellent, excellent flyers.

They can dart, hover and change direction quickly, showing what a perfect wetland predator looks like.

Butterflies and smaller dragonflies, even damselflies aren't safe from these skilled hunters.

While emperors rule the air above, it's the reed beds below that really support the amazing variety of life at the Walthamstow reservoirs.

Reed beds are a key part of today's story.

Here at Walthamstow, some reed beds were planted to speed up this process.

As reed beds mature, a layer of dead plant material builds up and if left alone, this can lead to a scrub or even woodland taking over.

It's a good example of how nature is always changing.

They are dominated by the common reed, which forms extensive yellow brown reed beds in wetlands across the uk.

These reed beds provide crucial habitats for birds like marsh harrier, bearded reedling, both styles of today's walk.

The dominant plant, common reed, spreads via creeping rhizomes and bursts into feathery bloom from August through to October.

Common reed is the plant of British reed beds and if you have ever looked at a reed bed, you will have seen this plant.

It's a tall plant with a golden hollow stems which has large feathery flower spikes that appear dark purple but slowly fade to brown as the spikelets which contain the flowers, develop bristles.

Earlier, I mentioned that reed beds can be taken over by scrub and eventually turn into woodland if left alone.

But for many years, people have cut and managed reeds to use for roof thatching.

Keeping up this kind of management helps keep the habitat healthy and gives specialist wildlife a place to live.

Once common throughout the uk, reed beds are now mostly confined to isolated coastal areas, with East Anglia being a particular hotspot.

The reed bed at the Wildfound Wetlands Trust Arundel Centre is a designated Centre Site of Scientific interest.

Reed beds are not just great habitats for wildlife species, though.

They are also efficient water filters, improving water quality and helping to clean some of the nitrates and other chemicals that leach into our water bodies from industrial farms.

The other forms of reed most frequently seen are great reed mace, more commonly known as bulrushes, is a familiar plant on freshwater margins, such as on the edge of ponds, lakes, ditches and rivers.

They have an impressive stance with long leaves and tall stems, which makes them stand out from other wetland plants.

But it's the sausage like flower heads that are unmistakable.

These appear from June through to August, but the plant persists through the winter, often dying back to a brownish colour from its usual green.

There is ongoing work here at Walthamstow and in the wider Lee Valley to create habitat for for water voles.

Whilst you won't find them in the area now, I have seen some of the projects and know the teams restoring reed beds and banks are confident that the species will return here.

You can still find other mammals in the reeds here at Walthamstow, though, and I have seen a tiny nest of one of the cutest small mammals, the stunning harvest mouse.

I sit down as quiet as a church mouse and wait to see if I can spot it anything.

Today I'm lucky enough to see a harvest mouse with its pale ginger yellow fur and a glimpse of its white belly as it hangs from a reed.

By its nearly hairless tail, which is almost as long as its body, the harvest mouse is the only British mammal to have a prehensile tail.

It can use it like a fifth limb, holding onto grass stems with it.

The tiny harvest mouse requires long, tussocky grassland re beds, hedgerows, farmland and around woodland edges to survive.

With the decline in these habitats, the harvest mouse has also, sadly, rapidly declined.

They mainly eat seeds, fruits and berries, but they'll also eat some invertebrates.

Harvest mice will build a distinctive spherical nest of tightly woven grass, which I can see high up in the tall reeds.

In this nest, the female gives birth to up to six young.

The other small mammal that can be found in most reed beds is the water shrew.

You don't think of shrews as being large, and I guess they aren't.

But the water shrew is the largest of Britain's shrews.

They have a long, pointed snout, small ears and tiny eyes.

The fur is jet black, short and dense, with a velvety texture on the upper surface of the body, usually a grayish white, sometimes yellowish, underside.

Most have a tuft of white hairs on their ears and white hairs around their eyes.

Distinctive, stiff white hairs on the margins of their feet and the underside of their tail form a keel.

Their primary food source is freshwater shrimps, water skaters and caddis larvae, which they obtain by diving and hunting underwater.

They will occasionally take frogs and newts, and sometimes even small fish are eaten.

They also feed on many terrestrial invertebrates, such as earthworms, snails and beetles.

The water shrew is most unusual amongst mammals in possessing a venomous saliva.

A mild toxin secreted into the saliva in the mouth helps to stun its prey.

It is relatively powerful as well, so even humans can feel the effects of this if they were bitten by a water shrewd.

Even though the shrew's bite rarely punctures the skin, a red rash appears at the site of the bite, which is sore to the touch.

Water shrews do not hibernate.

They remain Active all through the year, diving for aquatic prey even in mid winter.

Their fur is denser than other shrew species, efficiently insulating them against the cold and the wet water.

Shrews are generally solitary, each maintaining its distinct territory, although they frequently live in proximity to each other in a favored area of a stream bank.

They breed throughout the summer producing two to three litters, each with between three and up to 15 young.

Between April and September, females produce their young in a nest woven from dry grass, usually in a burrow or under a log.

After breeding, the adults will die off and the young.

Shrews carry the population through the winter before becoming sexually mature the following spring.

Spring Ready to breed in the summer following their birth, Water shrews are never very abundant.

It is difficult to tell if their populations are under threat or not.

They are still numerous in many sites where long term studies have been conducted.

The likely reasons for their decline in their numbers are habitat loss and water pollution.

They are very vulnerable to pollutants and pesticides in the water which they ingest indirectly via their prey and directly through their grooming activities.

As I start to pack my camera and equipment away, I heard a sound that made me stop.

I quickly hit the record button on the Zoom audio recorder and scoured the reed beds with my binoculars.

Nothing.

I sat down, still as a statue and slowly scanned the reed beds from where the sound was coming.

I have heard this sound before on several occasions, but have never been able to see or get a picture or even a glimpse of the elusive source of the sound.

The mysterious bittern.

Bitterns are a rare and shy heron species that are currently listed as amber on the UK endangered species list.

And incredibly, they are here, just outside the centre of London, our capital city.

The bittern spends almost all of its time hidden away in large reed beds where it feeds on eels and other fish.

It has a wonderfully camouflaged plumage helping it to blend into the reeds.

It can also stand motionless for long periods of time, which makes it even easier for it to avoid detection.

During the breeding season.

The male bittern booms making a deep foghorn like sound that can be heard for up to two miles away.

But it does that mainly at night.

This wasn't a boom call, but the bittern was calling to another.

Which means there must be at least one pair here.

Even after another hour of waiting quietly hoping to see the bitten, I had no luck today.

After a long stretch without hearing it, I packed up my gear and walked back to the main entrance, heading towards Blackhorse Road station and home after an amazing day in nature just outside the heart of the city.

If our adventure has inspired you to visit Walthamstow Wetlands or any other nature reserve, then please do share your stories of your trips with us.

You'll find our contact details are in the show notes.

As we finish another visit to one of London's many wild places, I want to say thank you Walthamstow Wetlands.

You are a special place and somewhere I will come back to visit many more times.

And that has been this week's Wildlife Matters main feature.

I hope you've enjoyed exploring Walthamstow Wetlands with me.

It's truly one of London's wildest places where you can swap the hustle and bustle of the city for the calm of being close to the water and the thrill of reconnecting with nature.

And because this is our 100th episode, I wanted to say a huge thank you to you.

Whether you're tuning in for the very.

First time or you've been here since the beginning, you're the reason that this show has grown from a tiny passion project to one of the most loved wildlife podcasts around.

With over 123,000 unique downloads so far.

I'm so excited for what's next.

The last five years of the Wildlife Matters podcast have seen us share a diverse range of wildlife and nature discoveries Based on over 25 years of working with wildlife and of course, our unique style of storytelling.

And if you haven't already, please hit like and subscribe.

It's free and now you've got 100 episodes to explore anytime that you like.

Wildlife Matters will return in two weeks as we finish Series eight by celebrating the autumn equinox with some live storytelling from around the campfire in the heart of the deep woods, sharing wildlife based folklore stories that you won't want to miss.

As always, thank you for being part of this wild journey and until next time, stay curious wild ones.

This is Wildlife Matters signing off.