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  • Bonelli's Eagle - Aquila fasciata - 2 year old male
    156803.jpg
  • Bee-eater - Merops apiaster L 26-29cm.Stunning bird that catches insects in flight. Sometimes perches on dead branches. Sexes are similar. Adult has chestnut crown and nape, grading to yellow on back and rump; uppertail is green and note 2 projecting central tail feathers. Underparts are blue except for black-bordered yellow throat. In flight, wings are chestnut and blue above. Juvenile is duller and lacks tail projections. Voice Utters a bubbling pruuupp call. Status Has bred here but best known as a rare migrant visitor in spring and autumn.
    156813.jpg
  • Bee-eater Merops apiaster L 26-29cm.Stunning bird that catches insects in flight. Sometimes perches on dead branches. Sexes are similar. Adult has chestnut crown and nape, grading to yellow on back and rump; uppertail is green and note 2 projecting central tail feathers. Underparts are blue except for black-bordered yellow throat. In flight, wings are chestnut and blue above. Juvenile is duller and lacks tail projections. Voice Utters a bubbling pruuupp call. Status Has bred here but best known as a rare migrant visitor in spring and autumn.
    156814.jpg
  • Bee-eater Merops apiaster L 26-29cm.Stunning bird that catches insects in flight. Sometimes perches on dead branches. Sexes are similar. Adult has chestnut crown and nape, grading to yellow on back and rump; uppertail is green and note 2 projecting central tail feathers. Underparts are blue except for black-bordered yellow throat. In flight, wings are chestnut and blue above. Juvenile is duller and lacks tail projections. Voice Utters a bubbling pruuupp call. Status Has bred here but best known as a rare migrant visitor in spring and autumn.
    156815.jpg
  • Bee-eater Merops apiaster L 26-29cm.Stunning bird that catches insects in flight. Sometimes perches on dead branches. Sexes are similar. Adult has chestnut crown and nape, grading to yellow on back and rump; uppertail is green and note 2 projecting central tail feathers. Underparts are blue except for black-bordered yellow throat. In flight, wings are chestnut and blue above. Juvenile is duller and lacks tail projections. Voice Utters a bubbling pruuupp call. Status Has bred here but best known as a rare migrant visitor in spring and autumn.
    156816.jpg
  • Little Gull Hydrocoloeus minutus L 25-28cm. Our smallest gull. Has buoyant, tern-like flight. Sexes are similar. Adult in summer has pale grey upperwings with white wingtips, dark hood, dark bill and short, reddish legs. In flight, upperwings have white trailing edge and rounded white wingtip; underwings are dark with white trailing edge. In winter, similar but loses dark hood; otherwise white head has dark smudges on crown and ear coverts. Juvenile has striking black bar (forming letter ‘W’) on upperwings and back. Note dark markings on mantle, nape and ear coverts, and dark tail band; plumage is otherwise white. 1st winter is similar to juvenile but back is pale grey, hence dark bar is seen only on wings. Adult plumage acquired over next 2 years. Voice Utters a sharp kyeck call. Status Regular but scarce passage migrant and winter visitor; mainly coastal.
    154053.jpg
  • Dwarf Cherry (Sour Cherry) Prunus cerasus (Rosaceae) HEIGHT to 8m. A small deciduous tree with a very short, branching bole and a rounded shrubby outline, often surrounded by suckers. BARK Reddish-brown and twigs are smooth. LEAVES To 8cm long, oval to elliptic and sharply pointed at tip, with a tapering base and toothed margin; on 1–3cm-long petioles. Young leaves are slightly downy below, and upper surface is always smooth and shiny. REPRODUCTIVE PARTS Long-stalked white flowers usually open just before leaves in April–May, and grow in clusters of 2–6. Fruits, to 1.8cm long are rounded with a slightly depressed apex, usually bright red or blackish-red. Flesh is soft and tastes acidic, and stone is rounded and smooth. STATUS AND DISTRIBUTION Native of SW Asia, but widely cultivated for its fruit, which is used mainly in preserves when it loses much of its acidity.
    134805.jpg
  • Common Alder Alnus glutinosa Betulaceae Height to 25m. Spreading, often multi-stemmed tree. Bark Brownish, fissured into squarish plates. Branches Ascending in young trees. Young twigs sticky. Buds 7mm long, on 3mm-long stalks. Leaves Stalked, to 10cm long, rounded with notched apex. Reproductive parts Purplish male catkins, in bunches of 2–3, appear first in winter. Female catkins cone-like, reddish at first ripening green by summer. Status Common beside water.
    133263.jpg
  • Pedunculate or English Oak Quercus robur Fagaceae Height to 36m. Spreading, deciduous tree with dense crown. Bark Grey, thick and fissured with age. Branches Dead branches emerge from canopy of ancient trees. Buds hairless. Leaves Deeply lobed with 2 auricles at base; on very short stalks (5mm or less). Reproductive parts Flowers are catkins. Acorns, in groups of 1–3, with long stalks and scaly cups. Status Widespread; prefers heavier clay soils to Sessile Oak.
    129679.jpg
  • Grey Seal Halichoerus grypus Length 2.2-3.2m Bulky seal with proportionately large head. Inquisitive in water. Hauls out for long periods. Adult is greyish overall with dark blotchy spots; fewer, larger spots than on Common Seal. Males are larger and darker than females. In profile, looks ‘Roman nosed’: bridge of nose is convex, more pronounced in males than females. From the front, nostrils are distinctly separated and more or less parallel to one another, not V-shaped. Fore flippers have sharp claws and hind flippers propel the animal through water. Pup is born with white fur; moulted after a few weeks.Voice Utters low, moaning calls. Often found on rocky shores and tolerates rough seas heavy waves. Widespread on west coast of Britain and locally in North Sea.
    128132.jpg
  • Bactrian Camel Camelus bactrianus Shoulder height to 2.2m Large, sturdy ungulate with two humps. Native range is steppes of central Asia but also widely domesticated.
    132830.jpg
  • Grey Seal Halichoerus grypus Length 2.2-3.2m Bulky seal with proportionately large head. Inquisitive in water. Hauls out for long periods. Adult is greyish overall with dark blotchy spots; fewer, larger spots than on Common Seal. Males are larger and darker than females. In profile, looks ‘Roman nosed’: bridge of nose is convex, more pronounced in males than females. From the front, nostrils are distinctly separated and more or less parallel to one another, not V-shaped. Fore flippers have sharp claws and hind flippers propel the animal through water. Pup is born with white fur; moulted after a few weeks.Voice Utters low, moaning calls. Often found on rocky shores and tolerates rough seas heavy waves. Widespread on west coast of Britain and locally in North Sea.
    133608.jpg
  • Grey Seal Halichoerus grypus Length 2.2-3.2m Bulky seal with proportionately large head. Inquisitive in water. Hauls out for long periods. Adult is greyish overall with dark blotchy spots; fewer, larger spots than on Common Seal. Males are larger and darker than females. In profile, looks ‘Roman nosed’: bridge of nose is convex, more pronounced in males than females. From the front, nostrils are distinctly separated and more or less parallel to one another, not V-shaped. Fore flippers have sharp claws and hind flippers propel the animal through water. Pup is born with white fur; moulted after a few weeks.Voice Utters low, moaning calls. Often found on rocky shores and tolerates rough seas heavy waves. Widespread on west coast of Britain and locally in North Sea.
    133609.jpg
  • Grey Seal Halichoerus grypus Length 2.2-3.2m Bulky seal with proportionately large head. Inquisitive in water. Hauls out for long periods. Adult is greyish overall with dark blotchy spots; fewer, larger spots than on Common Seal. Males are larger and darker than females. In profile, looks ‘Roman nosed’: bridge of nose is convex, more pronounced in males than females. From the front, nostrils are distinctly separated and more or less parallel to one another, not V-shaped. Fore flippers have sharp claws and hind flippers propel the animal through water. Pup is born with white fur; moulted after a few weeks.Voice Utters low, moaning calls. Often found on rocky shores and tolerates rough seas heavy waves. Widespread on west coast of Britain and locally in North Sea.
    133610.jpg
  • Grey Seal Halichoerus grypus Length 2.2-3.2m Bulky seal with proportionately large head. Inquisitive in water. Hauls out for long periods. Adult is greyish overall with dark blotchy spots; fewer, larger spots than on Common Seal. Males are larger and darker than females. In profile, looks ‘Roman nosed’: bridge of nose is convex, more pronounced in males than females. From the front, nostrils are distinctly separated and more or less parallel to one another, not V-shaped. Fore flippers have sharp claws and hind flippers propel the animal through water. Pup is born with white fur; moulted after a few weeks.Voice Utters low, moaning calls. Often found on rocky shores and tolerates rough seas heavy waves. Widespread on west coast of Britain and locally in North Sea.
    133611.jpg
  • Grey Seal Halichoerus grypus Length 2.2-3.2m Bulky seal with proportionately large head. Inquisitive in water. Hauls out for long periods. Adult is greyish overall with dark blotchy spots; fewer, larger spots than on Common Seal. Males are larger and darker than females. In profile, looks ‘Roman nosed’: bridge of nose is convex, more pronounced in males than females. From the front, nostrils are distinctly separated and more or less parallel to one another, not V-shaped. Fore flippers have sharp claws and hind flippers propel the animal through water. Pup is born with white fur; moulted after a few weeks.Voice Utters low, moaning calls. Often found on rocky shores and tolerates rough seas heavy waves. Widespread on west coast of Britain and locally in North Sea.
    133612.jpg
  • Grey Seal Halichoerus grypus Length 2.2-3.2m Bulky seal with proportionately large head. Inquisitive in water. Hauls out for long periods. Adult is greyish overall with dark blotchy spots; fewer, larger spots than on Common Seal. Males are larger and darker than females. In profile, looks ‘Roman nosed’: bridge of nose is convex, more pronounced in males than females. From the front, nostrils are distinctly separated and more or less parallel to one another, not V-shaped. Fore flippers have sharp claws and hind flippers propel the animal through water. Pup is born with white fur; moulted after a few weeks.Voice Utters low, moaning calls. Often found on rocky shores and tolerates rough seas heavy waves. Widespread on west coast of Britain and locally in North Sea.
    135708.jpg
  • Polar Bear Ursus maritimus Length 2.5-3m, weight 350-650kg The largest land predator, quite capable of competent swimming. Fur is white, often stained yellowish. Feeds mainly on seals and adapted to life associated with pack ice.
    139688.jpg
  • Grey Seal Halichoerus grypus Length 2.2-3.2m Bulky seal with proportionately large head. Inquisitive in water. Hauls out for long periods. Adult is greyish overall with dark blotchy spots; fewer, larger spots than on Common Seal. Males are larger and darker than females. In profile, looks ‘Roman nosed’: bridge of nose is convex, more pronounced in males than females. From the front, nostrils are distinctly separated and more or less parallel to one another, not V-shaped. Fore flippers have sharp claws and hind flippers propel the animal through water. Pup is born with white fur; moulted after a few weeks.Voice Utters low, moaning calls. Often found on rocky shores and tolerates rough seas heavy waves. Widespread on west coast of Britain and locally in North Sea.
    141946.jpg
  • Bottle-nosed Dolphin Tursiops truncatus Length 2.5-4m Bulky, muscular dolphin. Social, found in schools of 3-4 animals. Diet includes fish, crabs and shrimps. Playful at the surface. Adult is greyish-brown overall, darkest above and palest on throat and belly; mid-grey band is sometimes seen on flanks. Beak is rather short and blunt (fancifully bottle-like) with lower jaw extending beyond upper one. Flippers are rather long and pointed and dorsal fin is tall, curved backwards and almost shark-like.
    144248.jpg
  • Grey Seal Halichoerus grypus Length 2.2-3.2m Bulky seal with proportionately large head. Inquisitive in water. Hauls out for long periods. Adult is greyish overall with dark blotchy spots; fewer, larger spots than on Common Seal. Males are larger and darker than females. In profile, looks ‘Roman nosed’: bridge of nose is convex, more pronounced in males than females. From the front, nostrils are distinctly separated and more or less parallel to one another, not V-shaped. Fore flippers have sharp claws and hind flippers propel the animal through water. Pup is born with white fur; moulted after a few weeks.Voice Utters low, moaning calls. Often found on rocky shores and tolerates rough seas heavy waves. Widespread on west coast of Britain and locally in North Sea.
    144308.jpg
  • Grey Seal Halichoerus grypus Length 2.2-3.2m Bulky seal with proportionately large head. Inquisitive in water. Hauls out for long periods. Adult is greyish overall with dark blotchy spots; fewer, larger spots than on Common Seal. Males are larger and darker than females. In profile, looks ‘Roman nosed’: bridge of nose is convex, more pronounced in males than females. From the front, nostrils are distinctly separated and more or less parallel to one another, not V-shaped. Fore flippers have sharp claws and hind flippers propel the animal through water. Pup is born with white fur; moulted after a few weeks.Voice Utters low, moaning calls. Often found on rocky shores and tolerates rough seas heavy waves. Widespread on west coast of Britain and locally in North Sea.
    144315.jpg
  • Bonelli's Eagle - Aquila fasciata - 2 year old male
    156804.jpg
  • Little Gull Hydrocoloeus minutus L 25-28cm. Our smallest gull. Has buoyant, tern-like flight. Sexes are similar. Adult in summer has pale grey upperwings with white wingtips, dark hood, dark bill and short, reddish legs. In flight, upperwings have white trailing edge and rounded white wingtip; underwings are dark with white trailing edge. In winter, similar but loses dark hood; otherwise white head has dark smudges on crown and ear coverts. Juvenile has striking black bar (forming letter ‘W’) on upperwings and back. Note dark markings on mantle, nape and ear coverts, and dark tail band; plumage is otherwise white. 1st winter is similar to juvenile but back is pale grey, hence dark bar is seen only on wings. Adult plumage acquired over next 2 years. Voice Utters a sharp kyeck call. Status Regular but scarce passage migrant and winter visitor; mainly coastal.
    154054.jpg
  • Little Gull Hydrocoloeus minutus L 25-28cm. Our smallest gull. Has buoyant, tern-like flight. Sexes are similar. Adult in summer has pale grey upperwings with white wingtips, dark hood, dark bill and short, reddish legs. In flight, upperwings have white trailing edge and rounded white wingtip; underwings are dark with white trailing edge. In winter, similar but loses dark hood; otherwise white head has dark smudges on crown and ear coverts. Juvenile has striking black bar (forming letter ‘W’) on upperwings and back. Note dark markings on mantle, nape and ear coverts, and dark tail band; plumage is otherwise white. 1st winter is similar to juvenile but back is pale grey, hence dark bar is seen only on wings. Adult plumage acquired over next 2 years. Voice Utters a sharp kyeck call. Status Regular but scarce passage migrant and winter visitor; mainly coastal.
    154055.jpg
  • Little Gull Hydrocoloeus minutus L 25-28cm. Our smallest gull. Has buoyant, tern-like flight. Sexes are similar. Adult in summer has pale grey upperwings with white wingtips, dark hood, dark bill and short, reddish legs. In flight, upperwings have white trailing edge and rounded white wingtip; underwings are dark with white trailing edge. In winter, similar but loses dark hood; otherwise white head has dark smudges on crown and ear coverts. Juvenile has striking black bar (forming letter ‘W’) on upperwings and back. Note dark markings on mantle, nape and ear coverts, and dark tail band; plumage is otherwise white. 1st winter is similar to juvenile but back is pale grey, hence dark bar is seen only on wings. Adult plumage acquired over next 2 years. Voice Utters a sharp kyeck call. Status Regular but scarce passage migrant and winter visitor; mainly coastal.
    154238.jpg
  • Bottle-nosed Dolphin Tursiops truncatus Length 2.5-4m Bulky, muscular dolphin. Social, found in schools of 3-4 animals. Diet includes fish, crabs and shrimps. Playful at the surface. Adult is greyish-brown overall, darkest above and palest on throat and belly; mid-grey band is sometimes seen on flanks. Beak is rather short and blunt (fancifully bottle-like) with lower jaw extending beyond upper one. Flippers are rather long and pointed and dorsal fin is tall, curved backwards and almost shark-like.
    104482.jpg
  • Short-beaked Common - Dolphin Delphinus delphis. Length 1.8-2.3m Our most regularly encountered dolphin. Gregarious, living in schools of 10s or 100s of animals. Adult is streamlined, with pattern of overlapping stripes and bands of pigmentation. Body is overall dark grey above and whitish below with broad, tapering yellow band on flanks from eye and mouth to just behind dorsal fin; grey band continues along flanks towards tail. Overall, yellow and grey patches resemble an hourglass. Flippers are narrow and black, with a black line running forward from base to throat. Dorsal fin is broadly triangular and curved backwards slightly.
    156908.jpg
  • Southern Elephant Seal Mirounga leonina Length 2-3m, weight 400-850kg Massive seal. Male is up to four times larger than female, with distinctive proboscis. Breeds on Sub-Antarctic islands, notably South Georgia.
    132251.jpg
  • Southern Elephant Seal Mirounga leonina Length 2-3m, weight 400-850kg Massive seal. Male is up to four times larger than female, with distinctive proboscis. Breeds on Sub-Antarctic islands, notably South Georgia.
    133555.jpg
  • Short-beaked Common Dolphin Delphinus delphis Length 1.8-2.3m Our most regularly encountered dolphin. Gregarious, living in schools of 10s or 100s of animals. Adult is streamlined, with pattern of overlapping stripes and bands of pigmentation. Body is overall dark grey above and whitish below with broad, tapering yellow band on flanks from eye and mouth to just behind dorsal fin; grey band continues along flanks towards tail. Overall, yellow and grey patches resemble an hourglass. Flippers are narrow and black, with a black line running forward from base to throat. Dorsal fin is broadly triangular and curved backwards slightly.
    136054.jpg
  • Common Seal Phoca vitulina Length 1.2-1.9m Has a ‘friendly’-looking face. Hauled-out seals are easy to observe. Adult is greyish brown but variably mottled with darker spots. Underside is paler than upperside. Dry coat looks shiny if coated in sand. Bridge of nose has concave outline (convex in Grey Seal) and muzzle is blunt, creating a dog-like appearance. Seen from front, nostrils are close together at base and splayed in V-shaped fashion (separated from, and more parallel to, one another in Grey Seal). Front flippers have claws and powerful hind flippers effect propulsion when swimming. Males are larger and heavier than females. Pup is born with marbled grey-brown coat. Widespread on E coast of England and around Scotland and Ireland generally.
    141316.jpg
  • Short-beaked Common Dolphin Delphinus delphis Length 1.8-2.3m Our most regularly encountered dolphin. Gregarious, living in schools of 10s or 100s of animals. Adult is streamlined, with pattern of overlapping stripes and bands of pigmentation. Body is overall dark grey above and whitish below with broad, tapering yellow band on flanks from eye and mouth to just behind dorsal fin; grey band continues along flanks towards tail. Overall, yellow and grey patches resemble an hourglass. Flippers are narrow and black, with a black line running forward from base to throat. Dorsal fin is broadly triangular and curved backwards slightly.
    144353.jpg
  • Southern Elephant Seal Mirounga leonina Length 2-3m, weight 400-850kg Massive seal. Male is up to four times larger than female, with distinctive proboscis. Breeds on Sub-Antarctic islands, notably South Georgia.
    124206.jpg
  • Southern Elephant Seal Mirounga leonina Length 2-3m, weight 400-850kg Massive seal. Male is up to four times larger than female, with distinctive proboscis. Breeds on Sub-Antarctic islands, notably South Georgia.
    132250.jpg
  • Southern Elephant Seal Mirounga leonina Length 2-3m, weight 400-850kg Massive seal. Male is up to four times larger than female, with distinctive proboscis. Breeds on Sub-Antarctic islands, notably South Georgia.
    133379.jpg
  • Common Toad - Bufo bufo
    163382.jpg
  • Black Swan - Cygnus atratus
    162037.jpg
  • Black Swan - Cygnus atratus
    162036.jpg
  • Black-winged Stilt - Himantopus himantopus
    160936.jpg
  • Great Blue Heron chicks - Great Blue Heron - Ardea herodias
    160555.jpg
  • Two-spotted Goby - Gobiusculus flavescens
    160046.jpg
  • Gadwall - Anas strepera
    159991.jpg
  • Brent Goose - Branta bernicla
    159992.jpg
  • Raven - Corvus corax
    159659.jpg
  • Nubian Ibex - Capra nubiana
    159569.jpg
  • Great Northern Diver (Common Loon) - Gavia immer - chicks
    159512.jpg
  • Great Northern Diver (Common Loon) - Gavia immer - in summer plumage with chicks
    159511.jpg
  • Great Northern Diver (Common Loon) - Gavia immer - in summer plumage with chick
    159510.jpg
  • Rock Sparrow - Petronia petronia
    158332.jpg
  • Ring-necked Parakeet Psittacula krameri L 40-42cm. Colourful and distinctive alien with long-tailed outline in flight. Powerful bill is used to feed on nuts and fruits. Sexes are separable with care. Adult male has mainly green plumage with dark flight feathers. Note red bill and eyering, pinkish neck ring has dark lower border that links to black throat. Adult female is similar but lacks neck or throat markings. Voice Utters loud, squawking calls. Status Feral populations are established locally; leafy suburbs of W London are a stronghold.
    157972.jpg
  • Black Tern - Chlidonias niger
    157960.jpg
  • Mute Swan - Cygnus olor L 150-160cm. Large, distinctive water bird and a familiar sight. Swimming birds hold long neck in an elegant curve. Family groups are a feature of lowland lakes in spring. Typically tolerant of people. In flight, shallow, powerful wingbeats produce and characteristic, throbbing whine. Sexes are similar but bill’s basal knob is largest in males. Adult has white plumage although crown may have orange-buff suffusion. Bill is orange-red with black base. Juvenile has grubby grey-brown plumage and dull pinkish grey bill. Voice Mostly silent. Status Our commonest swan; the only resident species. Found on freshwater habitats besides which it nests; in winter, also on sheltered coasts.
    156881.jpg
  • Spoonbill Platalea leucorodia L 70-80cm. Unmistakable. Flattened, spoon-shaped bill is swept from side-to-side in shallow water to catch small fish and crustaceans. Sleeps with bill tucked under wings - confusion with Little Egret possible. Sexes are similar. Adult has whitish plumage and black bill with yellow tip; in breeding season, has crest and base of bill and breast are flushed yellow. Juvenile is similar but legs and bill are dull pink. Voice Mostly silent. Status Scarce nesting species and non-breeding visitor from mainland Europe. Most records are coastal.
    156751.jpg
  • Chalkhill Blue - Polyommatus coridon - mating pair. Wingspan 40mm. Iconic downland butterfly, males of which are a unique colour amongst British blues. Adult male has pale sky-blue upperwings; female’s are dark brown with orange submarginal spots. Underwings of both sexes are grey-brown with spots. Flies July–August. Larva feeds on Horseshoe Vetch; sometimes discovered at dusk being attended by ants. Very local and restricted to chalk and limestone grassland in southern England.
    156597.jpg
  • Gibbaranea gibbosa - Female. Cryptic in colour and behaviour but is found frequently in southern Britain on trees and bushes. It is by far the commonest two humped orb web spinner.
    156298.jpg
  • Macaronesian Shearwater - Puffinus baroli
    155753.jpg
  • Mediterranean Gull Larus melanocephalus L 36-38cm. Similar to Black-headed but has stouter bill; adult has uniformly pale wings. Sexes are similar. Adult in summer has pale grey back and wing coverts, and white flight feathers. Note black hood and white ‘eyelids’; bill is mainly red, with yellow tip and black sub-terminal band. Legs are deep red. In winter, loses dark hood; whitish head has menacing look created by dark smudges. Juvenile has grey-brown upperparts with pale margins to back feathers. Note darkish flush on breast. Bill and legs are dark; tail has dark terminal band. 1st winter bird is similar to juvenile but with plain grey back and dark smudges on head. Adult plumage is acquired by 3rd winter. 2nd year bird resembles adult (at respective times of year) but with variable black in wingtips. Voice Utters cow-cow-cow call. Status Very locally common, usually with Black-headeds. Small numbers nest in S England. More widespread outside breeding season.
    155785.jpg
  • Smew Mergus albellus - Adult winter male. L 38-44cm. Elegant little diving duck. Male is stunning and unmistakable. Female might be confused with grebe in winter plumage. Sexes are dissimilar. Adult male looks pure white at a distance but close view reveals black patch through eye and black lines on breast and back. In eclipse (not seen here) resembles adult female but retains more extensive white on wing. Adult female, Juvenile and 1st winter birds (so-called ‘Redhead’ Smews) have orange-red cap and nape, white on cheek and throat, and grey-brown body. Voice Silent. Status Occasional and unpredictable winter visitor. Turns up on flooded gravel pits, reservoirs and lakes.
    155643.jpg
  • Teal Anas crecca L 34-38cm. Our smallest duck. Forms flocks outside breeding season. Often nervous and flighty. In flight, both sexes show white-bordered green speculum. Sexes are otherwise dissimilar. Adult male has chestnut-orange head with yellow-bordered green patch through eye. Plumage is otherwise finely marked grey except for black-bordered yellow stern and horizontal white line along flanks. Bill is dark grey. In eclipse, resembles adult female. Adult female has mottled grey-brown plumage. Bill is grey with hint of yellow at base. Juvenile is similar to adult female but warmer buff. Voice Male utters a ringing whistle, female utters a soft quack. Status Associated with water. Nests in small numbers beside pools and bogs mainly in N. Locally common outside breeding season on freshwater marshes, estuaries and mudflats.
    155416.jpg
  • Lesser Kestrel - Falco naumanni - Mating pair
    155220.jpg
  • Lesser Kestrel - Falco naumanni - Mating pair
    155221.jpg
  • Spanish Imperial Eagle - Aquila adalberti -  3th calendar year
    155168.jpg
  • Evarca arcuata - Two males sparring over female spun up in leaf. Salticidae. A species of lowland wet heath.
    155132.jpg
  • Brent Goose Branta bernicla L 56-61cm. Our smallest goose – similar size to Shelduck. Subtle plumage patterns allow separation of two subspecies that winter here: Pale-bellied Brent B.b.hrota (breeds on Svalbard and Greenland) and Dark-bellied Brent B.b.bernicla (breeds in Russia). Seen in sizeable and noisy flocks. In flight, looks dark except for white rear end. All birds have a black bill and black legs. Sexes are similar. Adult Pale-bellied has blackish head, neck and breast; side of neck has narrow band of white feathers. Note neat division between dark breast and pale grey-buff belly. Back is uniform dark brownish grey. Adult Dark-bellied is similar but belly is darker and flanks are paler. Juveniles are similar to respective adults but note pale feather margins on back and absence of white markings on side of neck; white on neck is acquired in New Year. Voice Very vocal, uttering a nasal krrrut. Status Winter visitor to coasts
    154962.jpg
  • Egyptian Goose Alopochen aegyptiacus L 65-72cm. Striking Shelduck-sized bird. In flight, bold white patch on inner wing useful for identification. Bill and legs are pink. Sexes are similar. Adult has grubby white head and neck; pale eye is surrounded by dark patch. Orange-buff breast is clearly separated from paler neck and darker, grey-buff belly; note small, dark patch on centre of breast. Back is dark grey-brown; note white and chestnut on wing, seen in resting birds. Juvenile is similar but colours are duller; dark breast spot and patch around eye are absent. Voice Mostly silent. Status Introduced from Africa but now well established and increasing. Usually seen near water, often on nearby grassland.
    154829.jpg
  • Black Tern - Chlidonias niger
    153822.jpg
  • Lesser Spotted Eagle - Aquila pomarina
    154033.jpg
  • Red-necked Grebe Podiceps grisegena L 40-45cm. Smaller and more stocky than Great Crested, with striking summer plumage. Note diagnostic yellow-based bill. White wing panels seen in flight. Sexes are similar. Adult in summer has red neck and upper breast; head has white-bordered pale grey cheeks and black cap. Upperparts otherwise grey-brown and underparts whitish with grey streaks on flanks. In winter, loses neck colours but often retains hint of reddish collar. Cheek pattern is less well defined and ear coverts are grubby. Juvenile is similar to winter adult with more extensive red on neck. Voice Mostly silent. Status Scarce winter visitor to sheltered inshore seas and estuaries; occasional on inland lakes and reservoirs.
    154134.jpg
  • Zino's Petrel - Pterodroma madeira
    154222.jpg
  • Jackdaw Corvus monedula in flight. L 31-34cm. Our most familiar small corvid. Has a swaggering walk and is aerobatic in flight. Forms large flocks outside breeding season. Sexes are similar. Adult has smoky-grey plumage, darkest on wings and crown, pale blue-grey eye and grey nape. Juvenile is similar but plumage is tinged brownish and eye is duller. Voice Utters a characteristic chack call. Status Widespread and common resident of farmland, sea cliffs, towns and villages.
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  • Oystercatchers in flight - Haematopus palliatus. L 43cm. Distinctive wader with striking black and white plumage and loud alarm call. Powerful bill used to hammer molluscs off rocks. Sexes are similar. Adult in summer has black upperparts and white underparts with clear demarcation between the two on breast. Note red bill, pinkish legs and beady red eye. In winter, similar but note white half-collar. Juvenile is similar to summer adult but black elements of plumage are brownish and bill and leg colours are subdued. Voice Utters a loud, piping peep call. Status Breeds commonly on coast and beside inland lakes and rivers in N. Mainly coastal in winter, favouring estuaries and mudflats.
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  • Small Heath Coenonympha pamphilus Wingspan 30mm. A tiny grassland butterfly that invariably rests with its wings closed; upperwings are almost never revealed. Underside of forewing is orange with an eyespot; hindwing is marbled grey, brown and buff. Double-brooded: flies May–June and August–September. Larva feeds on grasses and is nocturnal. Widespread but locally common only in southern England; range has contracted because it is restricted to unimproved grassland and does not tolerate modern agricultural practices.
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  • Six-spot burnet Zygaena filipendulae Length 16-18mm. Well-marked and distinctive day-flying moth. Adult has dark forewings (with a greenish-blue iridescence at certain angles) and six red spots; hindwings are red with a dark border. Larva is yellow with black spots; feeds on Bird’s-foot Trefoil. Pupates in a yellow cocoon attached to plant stem. Widespread and locally common in grassland habitats.
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  • Hornet Moth Sesia apiformis Wingspan 35-45mm. Strikingly colourful day-flying moth that is passable mimic of a true Hornet, in terms of appearance and behaviour. Adult has yellow and black bands on body and orange-framed clear wings. Flies June-July. Larva burrows inside wood of Black Poplar. Pupal remains and newly-emerged adults are sometimes found on trunks. Local and mainly in southern and central England.
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  • Silver-washed Fritillary Argynnis paphia Wingspan 60mm. An iconic woodland butterfly associated with sunny rides and clearing; adults are often seen feeding on flowers of Bramble and thistles. Adult has orange-brown upperwings with black markings; underside of hindwing has silvery sheen. Flies June–August. Larva feed on violets.  Status Locally common woodland species in S and SW England and Ireland.
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  • Winter Moth Operophtera brumata Wingspan 22-26mm. The classic moth of winter, whose rounded wings (only males have wings) are held flat at rest. Often seen flying in car headlights, or found resting on walls near outside lights. To see wingless female, look for mating pairs by torchlight on foodplant. Adult male has grey-brown wings with concentric cross lines. Flies November–February. Larva feeds on most deciduous trees and shrubs. Widespread and common.
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  • Two-spotted Goby Gobiusculus flavescens L to 6cm<br />
Well-marked fish that spends more time swimming in water column than most other gobies. Found among seaweeds and eelgrass beds in shallow water. Aduklt has rather streamlined body, marbled brown and buff with blue spots and pale dorsal patches. Typically there is a dark spot at base of tail; male has 2nd dark spot behind pectoral fin. Locally common except along E coast.
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  • Wild Pear Pyrus pyraster Rosaceae Height to 15m <br />
Deciduous spreading shrub or small tree. Bark Grey-brown, breaking into square plates. Branches Spreading and spiny; twigs smooth and greyish brown. Leaves To 7cm long, elliptical with toothed margin. Reproductive parts Flowers white, 5-petalled, long-stalked; produced in quantity. Fruits rounded, hard, to 3.5cm across, yellowish brown. Status Local native.
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  • Wild Pear Pyrus pyraster Rosaceae Height to 15m <br />
Deciduous spreading shrub or small tree. Bark Grey-brown, breaking into square plates. Branches Spreading and spiny; twigs smooth and greyish brown. Leaves To 7cm long, elliptical with toothed margin. Reproductive parts Flowers white, 5-petalled, long-stalked; produced in quantity. Fruits rounded, hard, to 3.5cm across, yellowish brown. Status Local native.
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  • Hubei Crab Malus hupehensis (Rosaceae) HEIGHT to 15m<br />
Broadly domed and spreading tree. BARK Reddish brown with scaly plates. BRANCHES Long and spreading, lower ones with shoots that almost reach the ground. LEAVES Narrowly ovate, pointed at the tip, to 10cm long, shiny green above and borne on a rather long, downy petiole. REPRODUCTIVE PARTS Flowers are white, arising from pink buds. Fruits are reddish and 1cm across. STATUS AND DISTRIBUTION Scarce native of E Asia, planted widely here in parks and gardens.
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  • Killer Whale Orcinus orca Length 4-9m Distinctive, well-marked cetacean. The largest dolphin. Social, living in ‘pods’ of 5-20 animals. Feeds on fish, squid, seals and other cetaceans. Adult male has mainly blackish upperparts with grey saddle-like patch behind dorsal fin. Underparts are white and band of white extends onto flanks. Also has white patch behind eye. Dorsal fin is up to 1.8m tall, triangular and upright, sometimes even forward-leaning. Flippers are broad and paddle-shaped. Adult female is smaller with much shorter, shark-like dorsal fin.
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  • Sika Deer Cervus nippon Shoulder height 70-90cm Has body proportions of Fallow Deer but pointed antlers like Red Deer. Adult is reddish brown with whitish spots in summer, dark grey-brown in winter. Rump is whitish with black margin; tail is white with dark median line above. Male’s antlers appear in spring, mature in autumn, and are shed in winter Number of antler points increases with age. Calf is reddish brown with whitish spots. Male utters blood-curdling screams during autumn rut. Introduced to Britain from Far East. Feral populations exist in several parts of the region. Favours wooded country. Mainly nocturnal.
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  • Sika Deer Cervus nippon Shoulder height 70-90cm Has body proportions of Fallow Deer but pointed antlers like Red Deer. Adult is reddish brown with whitish spots in summer, dark grey-brown in winter. Rump is whitish with black margin; tail is white with dark median line above. Male’s antlers appear in spring, mature in autumn, and are shed in winter Number of antler points increases with age. Calf is reddish brown with whitish spots. Male utters blood-curdling screams during autumn rut. Introduced to Britain from Far East. Feral populations exist in several parts of the region. Favours wooded country. Mainly nocturnal.
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  • Pygmy Shrew Sorex minutus Length 7-10cm Our smallest land mammal. Active throughout the 24hr period. Hunts invertebrates mainly at ground level, but also climbs well and sometimes found in bird boxes. Adult has dense fur; dark brown on upperparts and flanks, contrastingly pale greyish on underparts. Note the pointed, whiskered snout, and small, beady eyes; ears partly hidden by fur. Tail is long relative to body length. Utters high-pitched squeaks. Widespread and common in woodland margins, hedgerows, meadows and moors.
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  • Fox Vulpes vulpes Length 95-130cm Adaptable dog-like carnivore but with a catholic diet including fruits and berries. Mainly nocturnal; daytime shelter is called an earth. Adult has thick, mainly orange-brown coat with whitish jaws and underparts are white and white tip to tail. Feet and backs of ears are blackish. Yelping scream is uttered mainly by females for brief period in winter, to mark breeding season. Common, widespread and adaptable, found in towns and cities as well as countryside.
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  • Goat Capra hircus Shoulder height 60-90cm Familiar domesticated animal. Feral populations established in several locations. Sure-footed on steep, broken terrain. Adult Feral Goat is shorter and stockier than domesticated forms. Coat is long, shaggy and variably coloured, often piebald mixture of grey, black and whitish. Male (billy) is larger and bulkier than female (nanny) and has recurved, ringed horns that increase in size with age. Many have a ‘beard’ and tassles on chin. Female is smaller than male, with shorter horns. Juvenile (kid) lacks horns. Voice Utters a warning whistle. Females summon their kids by bleating. Domesticated for more than 10,000 years, prized for its hair, milk, hide and meat. Probably brought to Britain by first Neolithic human settlers.
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  • Common Frog Rana temporaria Length 6-10cm Widespread amphibian. Adult male has smooth, moist skin. Usually olive-yellow or greyish brown with variable dark blotching and spots. Darker red animals occur in uplands. Eye has yellow iris with dark, oval pupil. Dark mask runs from eye to eardrum. Underparts are greyish white with faint darker marbling. Hind feet have five webbed toes. In breeding season, acquires bluish throat and swollen nuptial pads on innermost digit of front feet, used for gripping female when mating. Adult female is similar but larger with white granulations on the flanks. Juvenile, when newly metamorphosed resembles miniature adult but with large head. Male utters low-pitched croaking calls when courting. Found in a wide range of habitats if still water is present for breeding. Easy to see in early spring when courting.
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  • Badger Meles meles Length 65-80cm Distinctive nocturnal mammal. Daytime spent in tunnel complex (a sett). Omnivorous and opportunistic feeders. Facial markings are unmistakable and iconic. Adult has coarse fur, greyish on back and flanks, and blackish on underside and legs. Head is elongated into a snout marked with longitudinal black and white stripes. Legs are short, and blunt tail has a white tip. Mostly silent. Locally common where farmland, meadows and woods occur side by side; also occurs on fringes of suburbia.
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  • Badger Meles meles Length 65-80cm Distinctive nocturnal mammal. Daytime spent in tunnel complex (a sett). Omnivorous and opportunistic feeders. Facial markings are unmistakable and iconic. Adult has coarse fur, greyish on back and flanks, and blackish on underside and legs. Head is elongated into a snout marked with longitudinal black and white stripes. Legs are short, and blunt tail has a white tip. Mostly silent. Locally common where farmland, meadows and woods occur side by side; also occurs on fringes of suburbia.
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  • Badger Meles meles Length 65-80cm Distinctive nocturnal mammal. Daytime spent in tunnel complex (a sett). Omnivorous and opportunistic feeders. Facial markings are unmistakable and iconic. Adult has coarse fur, greyish on back and flanks, and blackish on underside and legs. Head is elongated into a snout marked with longitudinal black and white stripes. Legs are short, and blunt tail has a white tip. Mostly silent. Locally common where farmland, meadows and woods occur side by side; also occurs on fringes of suburbia.
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  • Brown Hare Lepus europaeus Length 50-75cm Rabbit-like mammal but with longer legs and ears. A fast runner; does not burrow. Performs ‘boxing’ displays while courting. Adult has brown coat grizzled with grey and black, especially on back. Coat is thicker, darker and redder in winter than summer. Ears are black-tipped; tail is dark above with pale fringe, and whitish below. Has ‘wild’ looking eyes located high on sides of head. Mostly silent. Has declined due to farming practises and persecution but still locally common on farmland and grassland.
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  • Brown Hare Lepus europaeus Length 50-75cm Rabbit-like mammal but with longer legs and ears. A fast runner; does not burrow. Performs ‘boxing’ displays while courting. Adult has brown coat grizzled with grey and black, especially on back. Coat is thicker, darker and redder in winter than summer. Ears are black-tipped; tail is dark above with pale fringe, and whitish below. Has ‘wild’ looking eyes located high on sides of head. Mostly silent. Has declined due to farming practises and persecution but still locally common on farmland and grassland.
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  • Brown Hare Lepus europaeus Length 50-75cm Rabbit-like mammal but with longer legs and ears. A fast runner; does not burrow. Performs ‘boxing’ displays while courting. Adult has brown coat grizzled with grey and black, especially on back. Coat is thicker, darker and redder in winter than summer. Ears are black-tipped; tail is dark above with pale fringe, and whitish below. Has ‘wild’ looking eyes located high on sides of head. Mostly silent. Has declined due to farming practises and persecution but still locally common on farmland and grassland.
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  • Northern Bottlenose Whale Hyperoodon ampullatus Length 7-9m Colour is blue-grey to buff and animal has a bulbous, rounded forehead, single blowhole and pronounced beak. It is a deep-water species and under normal circumstances it is seldom seen close to land.
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  • Risso’s Dolphin Grampus griseus Length 3-3.5m Large, blunt-nosed and distinctive dolphin. Lives in ‘pods’ of 3-15 animals. Adult greyish brown overall, darkest on dorsal fin, flippers and tail, and palest on face, throat and belly. Older animals become very pale and upper surface is heavily criss-crossed with white scars. Head is blunt-ended and forehead is split down middle – from upper lip to blowhole - by a deep crease. Dorsal fin is tall, pointed and slightly recurved. Flippers are long and narrow and tail fin is broad.
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  • Red Deer Cervus elaphus Shoulder height 100-130cm Male (stag) is our heaviest deer. Size varies with region – southern animals are larger than northern ones. Lives in separate sex herds for much or year. Adult is reddish in summer but dark brown in winter. Has whitish rump patch and buffish brown tail. Only male has antlers: appear in spring, mature in autumn, shed in winter. Number of antler points increases with age. Calf is reddish brown with white spots. Female (hind) bleats and male utters bellowing roars during autumn rut. Common and native in Scotland. Locally also in Lake District, Exmoor, the New Forest and Norfolk.
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  • Adder Vipera berus Length 45-60cm Venomous snake. Hibernates October-March and sunbathes regularly in spring. Males perform wrestling ‘dances’ to determine access to females for mating. Sexes are similar but females are larger than males. Adult ground colour ranges from reddish brown, greenish yellow or grey to creamy buff.  Almost all have a blackish zigzag line along back, anterior end of which looks arrowheaded and framed by inverted ‘V’ marking on head. Melanic ‘Black Adders’ also occur; commonest in N. Juvenile is similar but slender and usually reddish brown. Widespread but local, found on heaths, moors, open woodlands, rough grassland and coastal dunes. Easiest to see in early spring when basking.
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  • Demoiselle Crane - Anthropoides virgo
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  • Greylag Goose Anser anser L 75-90cm. Largest Anser goose and only one that breeds in Britain. Feral populations confuse species’ wild status. Compared to other ‘grey’ geese, bulky and more uniformly grey-brown. Pink legs and heavy, pinkish orange bill help with identification. In flight, pale forewings, rump and tail contrast with darker flight feathers. Sexes are similar. Adult is greyish with dark lines on side of neck, barring on flanks and pale margins to back feathers. Bill is pale-tipped. Juvenile is more uniformly grey-brown than adult and bill lacks pale tip. Voice Utters loud, honking calls. Status Locally common resident, mainly in N. Wild migrants boost numbers in winter. Favours wetlands and reservoirs with adjacent grassland.
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