Nature Photographers Ltd

  • Portfolio
  • About
  • Contact
  • Archive
    • All Galleries
    • Search
    • Cart
    • Lightbox
    • Client Area
  • NPL Blog
Show Navigation

Search Results

Refine Search
Match all words
Match any word
Prints
Personal Use
Royalty-Free
Rights-Managed
(leave unchecked to
search all images)
Next
{ 1321 images found }
twitterlinkedinfacebook

Loading ()...

  • Close up of Horse-fly eyes
    119177.jpg
  • Compound Eyes of Drone Fly (EM Style)
    132921.jpg
  • Sand Sole Pegusa lascaris Length to 40cm Similar to Sole, living with right side, and eyes, facing uppermost. Upper pectoral fin has dark centre (dark-tipped in Sole).  Favours coasts with sandy substrates. Found in south and west Britain.
    142950.jpg
  • Yellow-eyed Junco - Junco phaeonotus
    153533.jpg
  • Yellow-eyed Junco - Junco phaeonotus
    153535.jpg
  • Yellow-eyed Junco - Junco phaeonotus
    153534.jpg
  • Yellow-eyed Junco - Junco phaeonotus
    153536.jpg
  • Yellow-eyed Junco - Junco phaeonotus
    153537.jpg
  • Migrant Hawker - Aeshna mixta
    145091.jpg
  • HOVERFLY<br />
VOLUCELLA ZONARIA
    121916.jpg
  • Rabbit Oryctolagus cuniculus Length 40-55cm Familiar, long-eared social burrowing mammal. Lives in tunnel complexes called warrens. Mainly nocturnal or crepuscular; diet is vegetarian. Adult has mainly greyish brown fur with rufous nape and pale greyish underparts. Long ears have rounded, brown tips and tail is dark above and white below. Legs are long but relatively shorter than those of Brown Hare. squeals loudly in alarm. Introduced to Britain but now widespread and common in grassland, scrub and on roadside verges.
    128103.jpg
  • Brown Hawker - Aeshna grandis
    159858.jpg
  • Large Marsh Horsefly - Tabanus autumnalis
    160109.jpg
  • Little Owl - Athene noctua
    163226.jpg
  • Common Toad Bufo bufo Length 5-9cm A widespread toad; the only common species in Britain. Skin is covered in toxin-containing warts. Spawn is laid in double-rowed spawn strings. Gait consists of short hops. Adult is olive-brown to greenish buff (hue is influenced by ambient light). Has red iris and webbed hind feet. Female is larger than male. Juvenile recalls a tiny, large-headed adult. Courting male utters croaking calls in spring. More terrestrial than most other amphibians and adults spend much of their lives on land:  woodland, scrub, grassland and moors are favoured. Must return to water to breed and most are found within 2km or so of suitable ponds. Not deterred by fish: tadpole’ toxic skin acts as deterrent to predation. Observation tips Courting is easy to watch in suitable ponds in spring (February-March are typical months). Sometimes found hibernating under logs in winter.
    128683.jpg
  • Sand Sole -  Pegusa lascaris
    161291.jpg
  • Winter dawn over the River Thames from Westminster Bridge looking towards The London Eye and South Bank, London, Uk
    156242.jpg
  • Bronzed Cowbird - Molothrus aeneus - Adult female
    147371.jpg
  • Bronzed Cowbird - Molothrus aeneus - Adult female
    147372.jpg
  • Bronzed Cowbird - Molothrus aeneus - Adult female
    147374.jpg
  • Bronzed Cowbird - Molothrus aeneus - Adult male
    147370.jpg
  • Bronzed Cowbird - Molothrus aeneus - Adult male
    147373.jpg
  • Bronzed Cowbird - Molothrus aeneus - Adult female
    147375.jpg
  • Crab-eye Lichen - Ochrolechia parella
    115232.jpg
  • Heerman's Gull - Larus heermanni
    160578.jpg
  • Common Squid - Loligo vulgaris
    142004.jpg
  • Curled Octopus - Eledone cirrhosa
    141912.jpg
  • Curled Octopus - Eledone cirrhosa
    141790.jpg
  • Reddish Egret - Egretta rufescens
    160645.jpg
  • Reddish Egret - Egretta rufescens
    160646.jpg
  • Heerman's Gull - Larus heermanni
    160579.jpg
  • Heerman's Gull - Larus heermanni
    160577.jpg
  • Heerman's Gull - Larus heermanni - winter adult
    160580.jpg
  • Heerman's Gull - Larus heermanni
    160581.jpg
  • Black-browed Albatross - Thalassarche melanophris
    160472.jpg
  • Black-browed Albatross - Thalassarche melanophris - adult feeding chick
    160481.jpg
  • Brown Pelican - Pelicanus occidentalis - Pacific race
    160497.jpg
  • Brown Pelican - Pelicanus occidentalis - Pacific race
    160498.jpg
  • Southern Elephant Seal bull - Mirounga leonina
    159585.jpg
  • Southern Elephant - Seal Mirounga leonina - bull. 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.
    157634.jpg
  • Southern Elephant Seal - Mirounga leonina - bull. 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.
    157635.jpg
  • Southern Elephant Seal - Mirounga leonina - pup. 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.
    157632.jpg
  • Early morning commuters crossing Westminster Bridge on a winter's dawn looking towards the Houses of Parliament, London, Uk
    156243.jpg
  • Curled Octopus - Eledone cirrhosa
    141911.jpg
  • Curled Octopus - Eledone cirrhosa
    141910.jpg
  • Common Squid - Loligo vulgaris
    141815.jpg
  • Curled Octopus - Eledone cirrhosa
    141792.jpg
  • Curled Octopus - Eledone cirrhosa
    141791.jpg
  • Laughing Gull - Larus atricilla
    143442.jpg
  • Sandhill Crane - Grus canadensis
    143453.jpg
  • Brown Pelican - Pelicanus occidentalis - Californian race
    160512.jpg
  • Brown Pelican - Pelicanus occidentalis - Californian race
    160513.jpg
  • Brown Pelican - Pelicanus occidentalis - Californian race
    160514.jpg
  • Brown Pelican - Pelicanus occidentalis - Californian race
    160515.jpg
  • Black-browed Albatross - Thalassarche melanophris - sat on nest, Saunders Island, Falkland Islands
    160467.jpg
  • Southern Elephant Seal bull - Mirounga leonina
    159594.jpg
  • Southern Elephant Seal bull - Mirounga leonina
    159590.jpg
  • Southern Elephant Seal bull - Mirounga leonina
    159589.jpg
  • Southern Elephant Seal bull - Mirounga leonina
    159586.jpg
  • Sandhill Crane - Grus canadensis
    158336.jpg
  • Sandhill Crane - Grus canadensis
    158334.jpg
  • Sandhill Crane - Grus canadensis
    158333.jpg
  • Laughing Gull - Larus atricilla
    135472.jpg
  • Lesser Weever Echiichthys vipera Length to 15cm<br />
Notorious fish, capable of inflicting painful sting in a bather’s foot. Found on sandy beaches, mostly buried in substrate during daytime with just eyes visible. Adult has elongate, laterally flattened body with upturned mouth and eyes on top of head. 1st dorsal fin (with venomous spines) has black membrane; fin is raised in defence. Body is marbled reddish and yellow-grey above, paler below. Widespread and locally common, mainly in S half of Britain.
    141603.jpg
  • Shore ClingfishLepadogaster lepadogaster Length to 8cm<br />
Distinctive intertidal fish, found under rocks and in pools on lower shore. Adult is overall tadpole-shaped and broadly flattened, with a pointed snout. Colour is variable but typically yellow or orange with pattern of pale lines and dark spots, and 2 blue eyespots behind real eyes. Note also feathery tentacles in front of eyes. Pelvic fins are modified to form sucker, used for clinging to rocks. Widespread but local, commonest in SW from Dorset to N Wales.
    141613.jpg
  • Lesser Weever Echiichthys vipera Length to 15cm<br />
Notorious fish, capable of inflicting painful sting in a bather’s foot. Found on sandy beaches, mostly buried in substrate during daytime with just eyes visible. Adult has elongate, laterally flattened body with upturned mouth and eyes on top of head. 1st dorsal fin (with venomous spines) has black membrane; fin is raised in defence. Body is marbled reddish and yellow-grey above, paler below. Widespread and locally common, mainly in S half of Britain.
    141598.jpg
  • Lesser Weever Echiichthys vipera Length to 15cm<br />
Notorious fish, capable of inflicting painful sting in a bather’s foot. Found on sandy beaches, mostly buried in substrate during daytime with just eyes visible. Adult has elongate, laterally flattened body with upturned mouth and eyes on top of head. 1st dorsal fin (with venomous spines) has black membrane; fin is raised in defence. Body is marbled reddish and yellow-grey above, paler below. Widespread and locally common, mainly in S half of Britain.
    141597.jpg
  • Common Shrew Sorex araneus Length 9-14cm Lives mainly in ground cover or underground, and hence easily overlooked. Leads a frenetic life, its search for invertebrate food seemingly never ending. Adult has velvety fur, dark brown above, with buffish flanks grading to greyish white on underparts. Head extends to a pointed, whiskered snout. Eyes are tiny and beady eyes and ears are small. Tail is relatively short compared to Pygmy Shrew. Utters high-pitched squeaks and shrill screams. Widespread and common in hedgerows, grassland and woodland margins.
    102185.jpg
  • Common Shrew Sorex araneus Length 9-14cm Lives mainly in ground cover or underground, and hence easily overlooked. Leads a frenetic life, its search for invertebrate food seemingly never ending. Adult has velvety fur, dark brown above, with buffish flanks grading to greyish white on underparts. Head extends to a pointed, whiskered snout. Eyes are tiny and beady eyes and ears are small. Tail is relatively short compared to Pygmy Shrew. Utters high-pitched squeaks and shrill screams. Widespread and common in hedgerows, grassland and woodland margins.
    115647.jpg
  • Common Shrew Sorex araneus Length 9-14cm Lives mainly in ground cover or underground, and hence easily overlooked. Leads a frenetic life, its search for invertebrate food seemingly never ending. Adult has velvety fur, dark brown above, with buffish flanks grading to greyish white on underparts. Head extends to a pointed, whiskered snout. Eyes are tiny and beady eyes and ears are small. Tail is relatively short compared to Pygmy Shrew. Utters high-pitched squeaks and shrill screams. Widespread and common in hedgerows, grassland and woodland margins.
    128086.jpg
  • Common Shrew Sorex araneus Length 9-14cm Lives mainly in ground cover or underground, and hence easily overlooked. Leads a frenetic life, its search for invertebrate food seemingly never ending. Adult has velvety fur, dark brown above, with buffish flanks grading to greyish white on underparts. Head extends to a pointed, whiskered snout. Eyes are tiny and beady eyes and ears are small. Tail is relatively short compared to Pygmy Shrew. Utters high-pitched squeaks and shrill screams. Widespread and common in hedgerows, grassland and woodland margins.
    128236.jpg
  • Woodcock Scolopax rusticola L 35-38cm. Dumpy, long-billed wader with short legs and cryptic plumage. Mainly nocturnal. Sexes and ages are similar. Adult and juvenile have marbled chestnut, black and white plumage, palest and more extensively barred on underparts. Note large eyes, located high on head, giving bird almost complete all-round vision. Voice Male utters soft duck-like calls and explosive squeaks at dusk. Status Associated with wooded habitats; both mixed and deciduous woodland is favoured. Needs mosaic of open areas and dense canopy cover in breeding season. Migrants from as far as Russia boost winter numbers and then very locally common. Sadly many are shot.
    156222.jpg
  • Little Owl Athene noctua L 22cm. Our smallest owl. Has large-headed, short-tailed and overall dumpy silhouette. Partly diurnal and seen perched on fenceposts and dead branches. Sometimes bobs head and body when agitated. Sexes are similar. Adult has brown upperparts with whitish spots; pale underparts have dark streaks. Note yellow eyes. Juvenile is duller and lacks spots on head. Voice Calls include cat-like kiu, uttered repeatedly in early evening. Status Introduced from mainland Europe in 19th Century. Now widespread and fairly common in S Britain. Nests in tree holes and cavities in stone walls.
    115705.jpg
  • Grey Gurnard Eutrigla gurnardus Length to 45cm<br />
Distinctive fish. Favours sandy and mixed substrates; found in inshore waters in summer. Adult has large head and eyes, and sloping forehead. Pectoral fin does not reach vent; lowest 3 rays lack webbing and are tactile. 1st dorsal fin often has dark spot. Lateral line is spiny. Overall usually grey-brown with swirly pattern of pale lines and spots on lower flanks. Locally common in S and W; scarce or absent from E.
    142657.jpg
  • Plaice Pleuronectes platessa Length to 50cm<br />
A typical flatfish. Adult lives with right side, and eyes, facing uppermost. Outline is oval-rhomboid with a pointed head and slender tail. Marbled patterning on upper surface is a good match for sand; note the dark-centred red spots. Widespread and locally common.
    139541.jpg
  • Hazel Dormouse Muscardinus avellanarius Length 13-17cm Nocturnal small mammal and an iconic conservation symbol. Mainly arboreal and hibernates in winter. Nests are made mainly from shredded Honeysuckle bark. Adult has mainly golden brown coat with paler throat and belly. Note the large, beady eyes and rounded ears. Feet have flexible toes, used when climbing; tail has coating of golden fur. Mainly silent. A woodland species. Thrives best where mature oaks, coppiced Hazel and Honeysuckle grow together. Local and threatened by habitat destruction and degradation.
    107247.jpg
  • Hazel Dormouse Muscardinus avellanarius Length 13-17cm Nocturnal small mammal and an iconic conservation symbol. Mainly arboreal and hibernates in winter. Nests are made mainly from shredded Honeysuckle bark. Adult has mainly golden brown coat with paler throat and belly. Note the large, beady eyes and rounded ears. Feet have flexible toes, used when climbing; tail has coating of golden fur. Mainly silent. A woodland species. Thrives best where mature oaks, coppiced Hazel and Honeysuckle grow together. Local and threatened by habitat destruction and degradation.
    124336.jpg
  • 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.
    128010.jpg
  • 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.
    133342.jpg
  • 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.
    136541.jpg
  • 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.
    143320.jpg
  • Yellow-necked Mouse Apodemus flavicollis Length 18-25cm Similar to Wood Mouse but larger, with relatively larger ears, eyes and feet, and longer tail; coat is richer brown on upperparts and shows clearer demarcation between upperparts and clean-looking white underparts. Note the broad, rich yellow band on throat (in Wood Mouse, yellow on throat is, at most, a discrete spot. Mainly nocturnal. Climbs well. Squeals loudly in distress. Distribution is patchy, and only locally common. Favours undisturbed deciduous woodland.
    145325.jpg
  • Sparrowhawk Accipiter nisus W 60-75cm. Widespread but secretive raptor that catches small birds in flight in surprise, low-level attacks. Has relatively short, rounded wings, long, barred tail, long legs and staring yellow eyes. Male is much smaller than female and also separable on plumage details. Adult male has blue-grey upperparts; pale underparts are strongly barred and reddish brown on body and wing coverts. Adult female has grey-brown upperparts and pale underparts with fine, dark barring. Juvenile has brownish upperparts, and pale underparts with broad, brown barring. Voice Utters a shrill kew-kew-kew in alarm. Status Common, associated mainly with wooded habitats, both rural and suburban.
    143287.jpg
  • Woodcock Scolopax rusticola L 35-38cm. Dumpy, long-billed wader with short legs and cryptic plumage. Mainly nocturnal. Sexes and ages are similar. Adult and juvenile have marbled chestnut, black and white plumage, palest and more extensively barred on underparts. Note large eyes, located high on head, giving bird almost complete all-round vision. Voice Male utters soft duck-like calls and explosive squeaks at dusk. Status Associated with wooded habitats; both mixed and deciduous woodland is favoured. Needs mosaic of open areas and dense canopy cover in breeding season. Migrants from as far as Russia boost winter numbers and then very locally common. Sadly many are shot. Observation tips Easiest to detect in spring: visit likely looking woodland at dusk and watch and listen for roding birds. Prolonged close views are tricky because bird is so difficult to spot.
    145942.jpg
  • Long-eared Owl - Asio otus. L 32-35cm. Strictly nocturnal; sometimes caught in car headlights after dark or glimpsed at daytime winter roost. In flight, told from Short-eared by orange-buff patch that contrasts with otherwise dark upperwing. When alarmed, sometimes adopts upright posture with ‘ear’ tufts raised. Sexes are similar. Adult and juvenile have streaked dark brown upperparts and paler underparts. Orange-buff facial disc is rounded; note orange eyes and long ‘ear’ tufts. Voice Deep hoots sometimes uttered in spring. Status Nests in isolated conifer plantations and scrub thickets, with adjacent open country. Disperses outside breeding season and winter roost sites include coastal and wetland scrub, and hedgerows. Influx of European birds boosts winter numbers.
    157971.jpg
  • Woodcock - Scolopax rusticola. L 35-38cm. Dumpy, long-billed wader with short legs and cryptic plumage. Mainly nocturnal. Sexes and ages are similar. Adult and juvenile have marbled chestnut, black and white plumage, palest and more extensively barred on underparts. Note large eyes, located high on head, giving bird almost complete all-round vision. Voice Male utters soft duck-like calls and explosive squeaks at dusk. Status Associated with wooded habitats; both mixed and deciduous woodland is favoured. Needs mosaic of open areas and dense canopy cover in breeding season. Migrants from as far as Russia boost winter numbers and then very locally common. Sadly many are shot. Observation tips Easiest to detect in spring: visit likely looking woodland at dusk and watch and listen for roding birds. Prolonged close views are tricky because bird is so difficult to spot.
    158039.jpg
  • Tawny Owl Strix aluco L 38-40cm. Our most familiar owl. Strictly nocturnal; roosts in tree foliage during day. Flight is leisurely on broad, rounded wings. Sexes are similar. Adult and juvenile have streaked, variably chestnut-brown or grey-brown plumage, palest on underparts. Eyes are dark. In flight, underwings look pale. Young birds typically leave nest while still downy and white. Voice Utters sharp kew-wick and well-known hooting calls; most vocal in late winter and early spring. Status Fairly common resident of woodland habitats where small mammals are common; also in gardens and suburban parks.
    157967.jpg
  • Sparrowhawk - Accipiter nisus - male. W 60-75cm. Widespread but secretive raptor that catches small birds in flight in surprise, low-level attacks. Has relatively short, rounded wings, long, barred tail, long legs and staring yellow eyes. Male is much smaller than female and also separable on plumage details. Adult male has blue-grey upperparts; pale underparts are strongly barred and reddish brown on body and wing coverts. Adult female has grey-brown upperparts and pale underparts with fine, dark barring. Juvenile has brownish upperparts, and pale underparts with broad, brown barring. Voice Utters a shrill kew-kew-kew in alarm. Status Common, associated mainly with wooded habitats, both rural and suburban.
    157929.jpg
  • Woodcock - Scolopax rusticola. L 35-38cm. Dumpy, long-billed wader with short legs and cryptic plumage. Mainly nocturnal. Sexes and ages are similar. Adult and juvenile have marbled chestnut, black and white plumage, palest and more extensively barred on underparts. Note large eyes, located high on head, giving bird almost complete all-round vision. Voice Male utters soft duck-like calls and explosive squeaks at dusk. Status Associated with wooded habitats; both mixed and deciduous woodland is favoured. Needs mosaic of open areas and dense canopy cover in breeding season. Migrants from as far as Russia boost winter numbers and then very locally common. Sadly many are shot. Observation tips Easiest to detect in spring: visit likely looking woodland at dusk and watch and listen for roding birds. Prolonged close views are tricky because bird is so difficult to spot.
    157685.jpg
  • Plaice - Pleuronectes platessa Length to 50cm. A typical flatfish. Adult lives with right side, and eyes, facing uppermost. Outline is oval-rhomboid with a pointed head and slender tail. Marbled patterning on upper surface is a good match for sand; note the dark-centred red spots. Widespread and locally common.
    156903.jpg
  • Plaice - Pleuronectes platessa Length to 50cm. A typical flatfish. Adult lives with right side, and eyes, facing uppermost. Outline is oval-rhomboid with a pointed head and slender tail. Marbled patterning on upper surface is a good match for sand; note the dark-centred red spots. Widespread and locally common.
    156934.jpg
  • Tawny Owl - Strix aluco L 38-40cm. Our most familiar owl. Strictly nocturnal; roosts in tree foliage during day. Flight is leisurely on broad, rounded wings. Sexes are similar. Adult and juvenile have streaked, variably chestnut-brown or grey-brown plumage, palest on underparts. Eyes are dark. In flight, underwings look pale. Young birds typically leave nest while still downy and white. Voice Utters sharp kew-wick and well-known hooting calls; most vocal in late winter and early spring. Status Fairly common resident of woodland habitats where small mammals are common; also in gardens and suburban parks.
    156731.jpg
  • Tawny Owl Strix aluco L 38-40cm. Our most familiar owl. Strictly nocturnal; roosts in tree foliage during day. Flight is leisurely on broad, rounded wings. Sexes are similar. Adult and juvenile have streaked, variably chestnut-brown or grey-brown plumage, palest on underparts. Eyes are dark. In flight, underwings look pale. Young birds typically leave nest while still downy and white. Voice Utters sharp kew-wick and well-known hooting calls; most vocal in late winter and early spring. Status Fairly common resident of woodland habitats where small mammals are common; also in gardens and suburban parks.
    156729.jpg
  • Short-eared Owl Asio flammeus L 35-40cm. Well-marked owl that often hunts in daylight. Flight is leisurely, often with stiffly-held wings. Perches on fenceposts. Sexes are similar. Adult and juvenile have buffish brown plumage, heavily spotted and streaked on upperparts; underparts are streaked but paler. Facial disc is rounded; note yellow eyes and short ‘ear’ tufts. Voice Displaying birds sometimes uttera deep hoots. Status Local and rather scarce. Nests on upland moors but outside breeding season favours lowland marshes, grassland and heaths, particularly near coasts. Influx of birds from Europe boosts winter numbers.
    156386.jpg
  • Short-eared Owl Asio flammeus L 35-40cm. Well-marked owl that often hunts in daylight. Flight is leisurely, often with stiffly-held wings. Perches on fenceposts. Sexes are similar. Adult and juvenile have buffish brown plumage, heavily spotted and streaked on upperparts; underparts are streaked but paler. Facial disc is rounded; note yellow eyes and short ‘ear’ tufts. Voice Displaying birds sometimes uttera deep hoots. Status Local and rather scarce. Nests on upland moors but outside breeding season favours lowland marshes, grassland and heaths, particularly near coasts. Influx of birds from Europe boosts winter numbers.
    156385.jpg
  • Short-eared Owl Asio flammeus L 35-40cm. Well-marked owl that often hunts in daylight. Flight is leisurely, often with stiffly-held wings. Perches on fenceposts. Sexes are similar. Adult and juvenile have buffish brown plumage, heavily spotted and streaked on upperparts; underparts are streaked but paler. Facial disc is rounded; note yellow eyes and short ‘ear’ tufts. Voice Displaying birds sometimes uttera deep hoots. Status Local and rather scarce. Nests on upland moors but outside breeding season favours lowland marshes, grassland and heaths, particularly near coasts. Influx of birds from Europe boosts winter numbers.
    156384.jpg
  • Marpissa muscosa - Female. Prettily patterned in browns and greys and occurs in warm, sunny, dry dead wood and is flattened as an adaptation to living in crevices and especially under bark on dead branches and trunks. It is one of our largest jumping spiders. The pinkish orange band of hairs beneath the eyes is diagnostic. It is a local southern species Notable B.
    155334.jpg
  • Marpissa muscosa - Female. Prettily patterned in browns and greys and occurs in warm, sunny, dry dead wood and is flattened as an adaptation to living in crevices and especially under bark on dead branches and trunks. It is one of our largest jumping spiders. The pinkish orange band of hairs beneath the eyes is diagnostic. It is a local southern species Notable B
    155335.jpg
  • Little Owl Athene noctua L 22cm. Our smallest owl. Has large-headed, short-tailed and overall dumpy silhouette. Partly diurnal and seen perched on fenceposts and dead branches. Sometimes bobs head and body when agitated. Sexes are similar. Adult has brown upperparts with whitish spots; pale underparts have dark streaks. Note yellow eyes. Juvenile is duller and lacks spots on head. Voice Calls include cat-like kiu, uttered repeatedly in early evening. Status Introduced from mainland Europe in 19th Century. Now widespread and fairly common in S Britain. Nests in tree holes and cavities in stone walls.
    155211.jpg
  • Little Owl Athene noctua L 22cm. Our smallest owl. Has large-headed, short-tailed and overall dumpy silhouette. Partly diurnal and seen perched on fenceposts and dead branches. Sometimes bobs head and body when agitated. Sexes are similar. Adult has brown upperparts with whitish spots; pale underparts have dark streaks. Note yellow eyes. Juvenile is duller and lacks spots on head. Voice Calls include cat-like kiu, uttered repeatedly in early evening. Status Introduced from mainland Europe in 19th Century. Now widespread and fairly common in S Britain. Nests in tree holes and cavities in stone walls.
    155212.jpg
Next