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  • Greenland White-fronted Goose - Anser albifrons flavirostris. L 65-75cm. Adults have striking white patch on forehead. 2 ssp. occur: Greenland White-front A.a.flavirostris has orange bill and overall darker plumage than smaller, pink-billed European White-front A.a.albifrons. All birds have orange legs and mainly dark wings with faint pale wing bars. Sexes are similar. Adult Greenland has dark brown head grading to paler brown on neck and underparts; note black patches on belly and large white forehead patch. Back is dark grey-brown and stern is white. Bill tip is white. Adult European is shorter-necked and paler, especially on head, belly and back. Bill tip is white. Juveniles are similar to respective adults but lack white forehead patch and black belly markings; tip of bill is dark. Voice Utters barking, musical calls. Status Locally common winter visitor; Greenlands visit in Ireland and NW Scotland, Europeans visit England and S Wales. Favours wet grassland.
    155791.jpg
  • Greenland White-fronted Goose - Anser albifrons flavirostris. L 65-75cm. Adults have striking white patch on forehead. 2 ssp. occur: Greenland White-front A.a.flavirostris has orange bill and overall darker plumage than smaller, pink-billed European White-front A.a.albifrons. All birds have orange legs and mainly dark wings with faint pale wing bars. Sexes are similar. Adult Greenland has dark brown head grading to paler brown on neck and underparts; note black patches on belly and large white forehead patch. Back is dark grey-brown and stern is white. Bill tip is white. Adult European is shorter-necked and paler, especially on head, belly and back. Bill tip is white. Juveniles are similar to respective adults but lack white forehead patch and black belly markings; tip of bill is dark. Voice Utters barking, musical calls. Status Locally common winter visitor; Greenlands visit in Ireland and NW Scotland, Europeans visit England and S Wales. Favours wet grassland.
    155834.jpg
  • Greenland White-fronted Goose - Anser albifrons flavirostris.  L 65-75cm. Adults have striking white patch on forehead. 2 ssp. occur: Greenland White-front A.a.flavirostris has orange bill and overall darker plumage than smaller, pink-billed European White-front A.a.albifrons. All birds have orange legs and mainly dark wings with faint pale wing bars. Sexes are similar. Adult Greenland has dark brown head grading to paler brown on neck and underparts; note black patches on belly and large white forehead patch. Back is dark grey-brown and stern is white. Bill tip is white. Adult European is shorter-necked and paler, especially on head, belly and back. Bill tip is white. Juveniles are similar to respective adults but lack white forehead patch and black belly markings; tip of bill is dark. Voice Utters barking, musical calls. Status Locally common winter visitor; Greenlands visit in Ireland and NW Scotland, Europeans visit England and S Wales. Favours wet grassland.
    155744.jpg
  • Greenland White-fronted Goose - Anser albifrons flavirostris.  L 65-75cm. Adults have striking white patch on forehead. 2 ssp. occur: Greenland White-front A.a.flavirostris has orange bill and overall darker plumage than smaller, pink-billed European White-front A.a.albifrons. All birds have orange legs and mainly dark wings with faint pale wing bars. Sexes are similar. Adult Greenland has dark brown head grading to paler brown on neck and underparts; note black patches on belly and large white forehead patch. Back is dark grey-brown and stern is white. Bill tip is white. Adult European is shorter-necked and paler, especially on head, belly and back. Bill tip is white. Juveniles are similar to respective adults but lack white forehead patch and black belly markings; tip of bill is dark. Voice Utters barking, musical calls. Status Locally common winter visitor; Greenlands visit in Ireland and NW Scotland, Europeans visit England and S Wales. Favours wet grassland.
    155747.jpg
  • Greenland White-fronted Goose - Anser albifrons flavirostris.  L 65-75cm. Adults have striking white patch on forehead. 2 ssp. occur: Greenland White-front A.a.flavirostris has orange bill and overall darker plumage than smaller, pink-billed European White-front A.a.albifrons. All birds have orange legs and mainly dark wings with faint pale wing bars. Sexes are similar. Adult Greenland has dark brown head grading to paler brown on neck and underparts; note black patches on belly and large white forehead patch. Back is dark grey-brown and stern is white. Bill tip is white. Adult European is shorter-necked and paler, especially on head, belly and back. Bill tip is white. Juveniles are similar to respective adults but lack white forehead patch and black belly markings; tip of bill is dark. Voice Utters barking, musical calls. Status Locally common winter visitor; Greenlands visit in Ireland and NW Scotland, Europeans visit England and S Wales. Favours wet grassland.
    155748.jpg
  • Greenland White-fronted Goose - Anser albifrons flavirostris. L 65-75cm. Adults have striking white patch on forehead. 2 ssp. occur: Greenland White-front A.a.flavirostris has orange bill and overall darker plumage than smaller, pink-billed European White-front A.a.albifrons. All birds have orange legs and mainly dark wings with faint pale wing bars. Sexes are similar. Adult Greenland has dark brown head grading to paler brown on neck and underparts; note black patches on belly and large white forehead patch. Back is dark grey-brown and stern is white. Bill tip is white. Adult European is shorter-necked and paler, especially on head, belly and back. Bill tip is white. Juveniles are similar to respective adults but lack white forehead patch and black belly markings; tip of bill is dark. Voice Utters barking, musical calls. Status Locally common winter visitor; Greenlands visit in Ireland and NW Scotland, Europeans visit England and S Wales. Favours wet grassland.
    155833.jpg
  • White-fronted Goose - Anser albifrons - Greenland race - flavirostris - juvenile.  L 65-75cm. Adults have striking white patch on forehead. 2 ssp. occur: Greenland White-front A.a.flavirostris has orange bill and overall darker plumage than smaller, pink-billed European White-front A.a.albifrons. All birds have orange legs and mainly dark wings with faint pale wing bars. Sexes are similar. Adult Greenland has dark brown head grading to paler brown on neck and underparts; note black patches on belly and large white forehead patch. Back is dark grey-brown and stern is white. Bill tip is white. Adult European is shorter-necked and paler, especially on head, belly and back. Bill tip is white. Juveniles are similar to respective adults but lack white forehead patch and black belly markings; tip of bill is dark. Voice Utters barking, musical calls. Status Locally common winter visitor; Greenlands visit in Ireland and NW Scotland, Europeans visit England and S Wales. Favours wet grassland.
    155762.jpg
  • Greenland White-fronted Goose - Anser albifrons flavirostris.  L 65-75cm. Adults have striking white patch on forehead. 2 ssp. occur: Greenland White-front A.a.flavirostris has orange bill and overall darker plumage than smaller, pink-billed European White-front A.a.albifrons. All birds have orange legs and mainly dark wings with faint pale wing bars. Sexes are similar. Adult Greenland has dark brown head grading to paler brown on neck and underparts; note black patches on belly and large white forehead patch. Back is dark grey-brown and stern is white. Bill tip is white. Adult European is shorter-necked and paler, especially on head, belly and back. Bill tip is white. Juveniles are similar to respective adults but lack white forehead patch and black belly markings; tip of bill is dark. Voice Utters barking, musical calls. Status Locally common winter visitor; Greenlands visit in Ireland and NW Scotland, Europeans visit England and S Wales. Favours wet grassland.
    155746.jpg
  • Greenland White-fronted Goose - Anser albifrons flavirostris.  L 65-75cm. Adults have striking white patch on forehead. 2 ssp. occur: Greenland White-front A.a.flavirostris has orange bill and overall darker plumage than smaller, pink-billed European White-front A.a.albifrons. All birds have orange legs and mainly dark wings with faint pale wing bars. Sexes are similar. Adult Greenland has dark brown head grading to paler brown on neck and underparts; note black patches on belly and large white forehead patch. Back is dark grey-brown and stern is white. Bill tip is white. Adult European is shorter-necked and paler, especially on head, belly and back. Bill tip is white. Juveniles are similar to respective adults but lack white forehead patch and black belly markings; tip of bill is dark. Voice Utters barking, musical calls. Status Locally common winter visitor; Greenlands visit in Ireland and NW Scotland, Europeans visit England and S Wales. Favours wet grassland.
    158056.jpg
  • White-fronted Goose - Anser albifrons
    162279.jpg
  • Golden-fronted Woodpecker - Melanerpes aurifrons - male
    148709.jpg
  • Golden-fronted Woodpecker - Melanerpes aurifrons - male
    148711.jpg
  • Golden-fronted Woodpecker - Melanerpes aurifrons - male
    148710.jpg
  • Golden-fronted Woodpecker - Melanerpes aurifrons - male
    148713.jpg
  • Golden-fronted Woodpecker - Melanerpes aurifrons - male
    148714.jpg
  • Golden-fronted Woodpecker - Melanerpes aurifrons - female
    148715.jpg
  • Golden-fronted Woodpecker - Melanerpes aurifrons - female
    148716.jpg
  • Golden-fronted Woodpecker - Melanerpes aurifrons - male
    148717.jpg
  • Golden-fronted Woodpecker - Melanerpes aurifrons - male
    148718.jpg
  • Golden-fronted Woodpecker - Melanerpes aurifrons - male
    148719.jpg
  • Golden-fronted Woodpecker - Melanerpes aurifrons - male
    148720.jpg
  • Golden-fronted Woodpecker - Melanerpes aurifrons - male
    148721.jpg
  • Golden-fronted Woodpecker - Melanerpes aurifrons - male
    148722.jpg
  • Golden-fronted Woodpecker - Melanerpes aurifrons - male
    148724.jpg
  • Golden-fronted Woodpecker - Melanerpes aurifrons - male
    148727.jpg
  • Golden-fronted Woodpecker - Melanerpes aurifrons - male
    148728.jpg
  • Golden-fronted Woodpecker - Melanerpes aurifrons - male
    148712.jpg
  • Golden-fronted Woodpecker - Melanerpes aurifrons - male
    148723.jpg
  • Golden-fronted Woodpecker - Melanerpes aurifrons - female
    148725.jpg
  • Golden-fronted Woodpecker - Melanerpes aurifrons - male
    148726.jpg
  • Great Kiskadee - Pitangus sulphuratus) and female Golden-fronted Woodpecker - Melanerpes aurifrons
    148969.jpg
  • White-fronted Tern - Sterna striata
    157861.jpg
  • Panoramic image of Henley on Thames at dusk, Oxfordshire, Uk
    154474.jpg
  • Panoramic image of Henley on Thames at dusk, Oxfordshire, Uk
    154475.jpg
  • White-fronted Tern - Sterna striata
    145386.jpg
  • White-fronted Tern - Sterna striata
    145385.jpg
  • White-fronted Tern - Sterna striata
    157803.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.
    116012.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.
    116387.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.
    128124.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.
    128240.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.
    144272.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.
    144273.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.
    120490.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.
    126352.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.
    128332.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
  • 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.
    144274.jpg
  • Mole Talpa europaea Length 14-18cm Burrowing, tunnel-dwelling mammal. Cylindrical body is covered in black fur. Feeds mainly on earthworms. Presence detected above ground by ‘molehills’ (spoil heaps of excavated soil). Adult has velvety fur and spade-like front feet, armed with sharp claws, and used for digging. Eyes are tiny and external ears are absent. Head is elongated into a sensitive snout. Mostly silent. Common in meadows and woods with well-drained, invertebrate-rich soil. Beneficial as a soil aerator.
    112080.jpg
  • Green Sandpiper Tringa ochropus L 21-23cm. Plump-bodied wader with a bobbing gait. Unobtrusive and often first observed when flushed: note white rump and yelping alarm call. Tail is marked with a few, broad dark bands. Sexes are similar. Adult has rather dark brown upperparts with small pale spots. Head and neck are streaked; note clear demarcation between dark, streaked breast and clean white underparts. Pale supercilium is bold only in front of eye and legs are greenish yellow. Juvenile is similar but pale spotting on upperparts is more noticeable. Voice Utters a trisyllabic chlueet-wit-wit flight call. Status Widespread and fairly common passage migrant, found on freshwater habitats. Winters in small numbers.
    156859.jpg
  • December Moth Poecilocampa populi Length 17-19mm. A sombre-looking moth with a hairy body. Adult has dusky-brown wings, with buff and reddish outer margins and pale cross lines. The body is hairy; front of head is whitish. Male is smaller than female. Flies mainly November-December. Larva feeds on a range of deciduous trees. Widespread and common across much of Britain.
    140904.jpg
  • Poplar Hawk-moth  Laothoe populi Wingspan 70mm. An interesting moth whose wing shape and colouration is a good match for dry, crumpled leaves. Adult has grey-brown forewings with darker central band containing white crescent mark. At rest, hindwings project slightly in front of forewings; a reddish patch on the hindwing is exposed if the moth is startled. Double-brooded: flies May–August. Larva is bright green with a pale diagonal stripe on each segment and a ‘horn’ at the tail end. Feeds on poplar and willows. Common and widespread.
    136546.jpg
  • Poplar Hawk-moth  Laothoe populi Wingspan 70mm. An interesting moth whose wing shape and colouration is a good match for dry, crumpled leaves. Adult has grey-brown forewings with darker central band containing white crescent mark. At rest, hindwings project slightly in front of forewings; a reddish patch on the hindwing is exposed if the moth is startled. Double-brooded: flies May–August. Larva is bright green with a pale diagonal stripe on each segment and a ‘horn’ at the tail end. Feeds on poplar and willows. Common and widespread.
    136509.jpg
  • Poplar Hawk-moth  Laothoe populi Wingspan 70mm. An interesting moth whose wing shape and colouration is a good match for dry, crumpled leaves. Adult has grey-brown forewings with darker central band containing white crescent mark. At rest, hindwings project slightly in front of forewings; a reddish patch on the hindwing is exposed if the moth is startled. Double-brooded: flies May–August. Larva is bright green with a pale diagonal stripe on each segment and a ‘horn’ at the tail end. Feeds on poplar and willows. Common and widespread.
    136204.jpg
  • Black Goby Gobius niger Length to 16cm<br />
Similar proportions to Rock Goby, often with similar colouration too. Favours estuaries and sheltered coasts with muddy substrates; often in eelgrass beds. Adult is uniformly black in some individuals but typically marbled brown and grey-buff. 1st dorsal fin is typically pointed, rather than curved) and lacks a pale margin. Both dorsal fins usually show a dark spot at the front. Has fewer than 50 scales along lateral line. Locally common, S and W only.
    142119.jpg
  • Herring Clupea harengus Length to 40cm<br />
Shoal-forming, economically important fish. Favours open seas but sometimes found inshore. Adult is streamlined, blue-grey above and silvery on sides. Dorsal fin starts in front of pelvic fin. Widespread but rather scarce, numbers much reduced in recent years due to overfishing.
    142081.jpg
  • Sperm Whale Physeter macrocephalus Length 16-20m Huge, distinctive whale with large, bulbous head. Tail is raised clear of water prior to deep dive. Dives to 2,000m or more in search of giant squid and sharks. Females live in social groups. Adult is blackish grey with whitish scars from fights and violent encounters with prey. Head accounts for roughly 1/3 of body length and mass. Lower jaw is slender and armed with sharp teeth. Dorsal fin is absent but note dorsal ‘hump’ and series of knobbly lumps. Flippers are small while tail is large. Has a single blowhole (baleen whales have 2); sited at front of head and angled slightly forward and to left.
    127935.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
  • 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.
    128095.jpg
  • 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.
    144141.jpg
  • 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.
    145057.jpg
  • Green Sandpiper Tringa ochropus L 21-23cm. Plump-bodied wader with a bobbing gait. Unobtrusive and often first observed when flushed: note white rump and yelping alarm call. Tail is marked with a few, broad dark bands. Sexes are similar. Adult has rather dark brown upperparts with small pale spots. Head and neck are streaked; note clear demarcation between dark, streaked breast and clean white underparts. Pale supercilium is bold only in front of eye and legs are greenish yellow. Juvenile is similar but pale spotting on upperparts is more noticeable. Voice Utters a trisyllabic chlueet-wit-wit flight call. Status Widespread and fairly common passage migrant, found on freshwater habitats. Winters in small numbers.
    127337.jpg
  • Coot Fulica atra L 36-38cm. Robust waterbird, often found with Moorhen. Has lobed toes. Feeds by upending, making shallow dives or grazing waterside vegetation. Gregarious outside breeding season. Sexes are similar. Adult has blackish plumage, darkest on head and neck. Note white bill and frontal shield on head, and beady red eye. Legs are pale yellowish. In flight, shows white trailing edge on otherwise dark, rounded wings. Juvenile has dark greyish brown upperparts and white on throat and front of neck. Voice Utters a loud kwoot call. Status Common resident, found on range of freshwater wetland habitats; numbers boosted in winter by influx of migrants.
    133038.jpg
  • Coot Fulica atra L 36-38cm. Robust waterbird, often found with Moorhen. Has lobed toes. Feeds by upending, making shallow dives or grazing waterside vegetation. Gregarious outside breeding season. Sexes are similar. Adult has blackish plumage, darkest on head and neck. Note white bill and frontal shield on head, and beady red eye. Legs are pale yellowish. In flight, shows white trailing edge on otherwise dark, rounded wings. Juvenile has dark greyish brown upperparts and white on throat and front of neck. Voice Utters a loud kwoot call. Status Common resident, found on range of freshwater wetland habitats; numbers boosted in winter by influx of migrants.
    133410.jpg
  • Grey Heron Ardea cinerea L 90-98cm. Familiar wetland bird. Stands motionless for long periods. Flies on broad wings with slow, deep wingbeats; neck is held hunched. Sexes are similar. Adult has whitish grey head, neck and underparts with dark streaks on front of neck and breast; note white forecrown and black sides to crown leading to black nape feathers. Back and upperwings are blue-grey; flight feathers are black. Dagger-like bill is yellowish. Juvenile is similar but crown and forehead are dark grey. Voice Utters a harsh krrarnk in flight. Status Common resident. Favours freshwater wetlands but also on coasts in winter.
    143955.jpg
  • Coot Fulica atra L 36-38cm. Robust waterbird, often found with Moorhen. Has lobed toes. Feeds by upending, making shallow dives or grazing waterside vegetation. Gregarious outside breeding season. Sexes are similar. Adult has blackish plumage, darkest on head and neck. Note white bill and frontal shield on head, and beady red eye. Legs are pale yellowish. In flight, shows white trailing edge on otherwise dark, rounded wings. Juvenile has dark greyish brown upperparts and white on throat and front of neck. Voice Utters a loud kwoot call. Status Common resident, found on range of freshwater wetland habitats; numbers boosted in winter by influx of migrants.
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  • Coot - Fulica atra - Adult birds squabbling. L 36-38cm. Robust waterbird, often found with Moorhen. Has lobed toes. Feeds by upending, making shallow dives or grazing waterside vegetation. Gregarious outside breeding season. Sexes are similar. Adult has blackish plumage, darkest on head and neck. Note white bill and frontal shield on head, and beady red eye. Legs are pale yellowish. In flight, shows white trailing edge on otherwise dark, rounded wings. Juvenile has dark greyish brown upperparts and white on throat and front of neck. Voice Utters a loud kwoot call. Status Common resident, found on range of freshwater wetland habitats; numbers boosted in winter by influx of migrants.
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  • Coot Fulica atra L 36-38cm. Robust waterbird, often found with Moorhen. Has lobed toes. Feeds by upending, making shallow dives or grazing waterside vegetation. Gregarious outside breeding season. Sexes are similar. Adult has blackish plumage, darkest on head and neck. Note white bill and frontal shield on head, and beady red eye. Legs are pale yellowish. In flight, shows white trailing edge on otherwise dark, rounded wings. Juvenile has dark greyish brown upperparts and white on throat and front of neck. Voice Utters a loud kwoot call. Status Common resident, found on range of freshwater wetland habitats; numbers boosted in winter by influx of migrants.
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  • Coot Fulica atra L 36-38cm. Robust waterbird, often found with Moorhen. Has lobed toes. Feeds by upending, making shallow dives or grazing waterside vegetation. Gregarious outside breeding season. Sexes are similar. Adult has blackish plumage, darkest on head and neck. Note white bill and frontal shield on head, and beady red eye. Legs are pale yellowish. In flight, shows white trailing edge on otherwise dark, rounded wings. Juvenile has dark greyish brown upperparts and white on throat and front of neck. Voice Utters a loud kwoot call. Status Common resident, found on range of freshwater wetland habitats; numbers boosted in winter by influx of migrants.
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  • Grey Seal - Halichoerus grypus - male and female.  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.
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  • Grey Seal - Halichoerus grypus - juveniles. 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.
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  • Grey Seal - Halichoerus grypus - female.  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.
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  • Grey Seal - Halichoerus grypus - Bull. 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.
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  • December Moth - Poecilocampa populi - larva. Length 17-19mm. A sombre-looking moth with a hairy body. Adult has dusky-brown wings, with buff and reddish outer margins and pale cross lines. The body is hairy; front of head is whitish. Male is smaller than female. Flies mainly November-December. Larva feeds on a range of deciduous trees. Widespread and common across much of Britain.
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  • December Moth - Poecilocampa populi Length 17-19mm. A sombre-looking moth with a hairy body. Adult has dusky-brown wings, with buff and reddish outer margins and pale cross lines. The body is hairy; front of head is whitish. Male is smaller than female. Flies mainly November-December. Larva feeds on a range of deciduous trees. Widespread and common across much of Britain.
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  • December Moth - Poecilocampa populi - Larvae. Length 17-19mm. A sombre-looking moth with a hairy body. Adult has dusky-brown wings, with buff and reddish outer margins and pale cross lines. The body is hairy; front of head is whitish. Male is smaller than female. Flies mainly November-December. Larva feeds on a range of deciduous trees. Widespread and common across much of Britain.
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  • Kentish Plover Charadrius alexandrinus L 15-17cm. Dumpy little coastal plover. Looks overall much paler than other similarly sized species. Note white wingbar in flight. Sexes are dissimilar. Adult male in summer has sandy brown upperparts and white underparts. Sandy crown has black at front and rufous at back. Has black through eye and dark patch on side of breast. Legs and bill are black. Summer adult female, juvenile and winter adult are similar but black elements of plumage are pale sandy brown (same colour as upperparts); legs are dull brown. Voice Utters a soft bruip call. Status Scarce, short-staying passage migrant, found on sandy estuaries.
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  • Green Sandpiper Tringa ochropus L 21-23cm. Plump-bodied wader with a bobbing gait. Unobtrusive and often first observed when flushed: note white rump and yelping alarm call. Tail is marked with a few, broad dark bands. Sexes are similar. Adult has rather dark brown upperparts with small pale spots. Head and neck are streaked; note clear demarcation between dark, streaked breast and clean white underparts. Pale supercilium is bold only in front of eye and legs are greenish yellow. Juvenile is similar but pale spotting on upperparts is more noticeable. Voice Utters a trisyllabic chlueet-wit-wit flight call. Status Widespread and fairly common passage migrant, found on freshwater habitats. Winters in small numbers.
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  • Grey Heron - Ardea cinerea L 90-98cm. Familiar wetland bird. Stands motionless for long periods. Flies on broad wings with slow, deep wingbeats; neck is held hunched. Sexes are similar. Adult has whitish grey head, neck and underparts with dark streaks on front of neck and breast; note white forecrown and black sides to crown leading to black nape feathers. Back and upperwings are blue-grey; flight feathers are black. Dagger-like bill is yellowish. Juvenile is similar but crown and forehead are dark grey. Voice Utters a harsh krrarnk in flight. Status Common resident. Favours freshwater wetlands but also on coasts in winter.
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  • Grey Heron - Ardea cinerea L 90-98cm. Familiar wetland bird. Stands motionless for long periods. Flies on broad wings with slow, deep wingbeats; neck is held hunched. Sexes are similar. Adult has whitish grey head, neck and underparts with dark streaks on front of neck and breast; note white forecrown and black sides to crown leading to black nape feathers. Back and upperwings are blue-grey; flight feathers are black. Dagger-like bill is yellowish. Juvenile is similar but crown and forehead are dark grey. Voice Utters a harsh krrarnk in flight. Status Common resident. Favours freshwater wetlands but also on coasts in winter.
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  • Grey Heron - Ardea cinerea L 90-98cm. Familiar wetland bird. Stands motionless for long periods. Flies on broad wings with slow, deep wingbeats; neck is held hunched. Sexes are similar. Adult has whitish grey head, neck and underparts with dark streaks on front of neck and breast; note white forecrown and black sides to crown leading to black nape feathers. Back and upperwings are blue-grey; flight feathers are black. Dagger-like bill is yellowish. Juvenile is similar but crown and forehead are dark grey. Voice Utters a harsh krrarnk in flight. Status Common resident. Favours freshwater wetlands but also on coasts in winter.
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  • Grey Heron Ardea cinerea L 90-98cm. Familiar wetland bird. Stands motionless for long periods. Flies on broad wings with slow, deep wingbeats; neck is held hunched. Sexes are similar. Adult has whitish grey head, neck and underparts with dark streaks on front of neck and breast; note white forecrown and black sides to crown leading to black nape feathers. Back and upperwings are blue-grey; flight feathers are black. Dagger-like bill is yellowish. Juvenile is similar but crown and forehead are dark grey. Voice Utters a harsh krrarnk in flight. Status Common resident. Favours freshwater wetlands but also on coasts in winter.
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  • Grey Heron Ardea cinerea L 90-98cm. Familiar wetland bird. Stands motionless for long periods. Flies on broad wings with slow, deep wingbeats; neck is held hunched. Sexes are similar. Adult has whitish grey head, neck and underparts with dark streaks on front of neck and breast; note white forecrown and black sides to crown leading to black nape feathers. Back and upperwings are blue-grey; flight feathers are black. Dagger-like bill is yellowish. Juvenile is similar but crown and forehead are dark grey. Voice Utters a harsh krrarnk in flight. Status Common resident. Favours freshwater wetlands but also on coasts in winter.
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  • Canoes on the River Thames in front of The Head of the River Pub in Oxford, Uk
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  • Grey Heron Ardea cinerea L 90-98cm. Familiar wetland bird. Stands motionless for long periods. Flies on broad wings with slow, deep wingbeats; neck is held hunched. Sexes are similar. Adult has whitish grey head, neck and underparts with dark streaks on front of neck and breast; note white forecrown and black sides to crown leading to black nape feathers. Back and upperwings are blue-grey; flight feathers are black. Dagger-like bill is yellowish. Juvenile is similar but crown and forehead are dark grey. Voice Utters a harsh krrarnk in flight. Status Common resident. Favours freshwater wetlands but also on coasts in winter.
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  • Coot - Fulica atra - Adult birds squabbling. L 36-38cm. Robust waterbird, often found with Moorhen. Has lobed toes. Feeds by upending, making shallow dives or grazing waterside vegetation. Gregarious outside breeding season. Sexes are similar. Adult has blackish plumage, darkest on head and neck. Note white bill and frontal shield on head, and beady red eye. Legs are pale yellowish. In flight, shows white trailing edge on otherwise dark, rounded wings. Juvenile has dark greyish brown upperparts and white on throat and front of neck. Voice Utters a loud kwoot call. Status Common resident, found on range of freshwater wetland habitats; numbers boosted in winter by influx of migrants.
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  • Coot - Fulica atra - Adult in flight. L 36-38cm. Robust waterbird, often found with Moorhen. Has lobed toes. Feeds by upending, making shallow dives or grazing waterside vegetation. Gregarious outside breeding season. Sexes are similar. Adult has blackish plumage, darkest on head and neck. Note white bill and frontal shield on head, and beady red eye. Legs are pale yellowish. In flight, shows white trailing edge on otherwise dark, rounded wings. Juvenile has dark greyish brown upperparts and white on throat and front of neck. Voice Utters a loud kwoot call. Status Common resident, found on range of freshwater wetland habitats; numbers boosted in winter by influx of migrants.
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  • Coot - Fulica atra - Adult in flight. L 36-38cm. Robust waterbird, often found with Moorhen. Has lobed toes. Feeds by upending, making shallow dives or grazing waterside vegetation. Gregarious outside breeding season. Sexes are similar. Adult has blackish plumage, darkest on head and neck. Note white bill and frontal shield on head, and beady red eye. Legs are pale yellowish. In flight, shows white trailing edge on otherwise dark, rounded wings. Juvenile has dark greyish brown upperparts and white on throat and front of neck. Voice Utters a loud kwoot call. Status Common resident, found on range of freshwater wetland habitats; numbers boosted in winter by influx of migrants.
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  • Coot Fulica atra L 36-38cm. Robust waterbird, often found with Moorhen. Has lobed toes. Feeds by upending, making shallow dives or grazing waterside vegetation. Gregarious outside breeding season. Sexes are similar. Adult has blackish plumage, darkest on head and neck. Note white bill and frontal shield on head, and beady red eye. Legs are pale yellowish. In flight, shows white trailing edge on otherwise dark, rounded wings. Juvenile has dark greyish brown upperparts and white on throat and front of neck. Voice Utters a loud kwoot call. Status Common resident, found on range of freshwater wetland habitats; numbers boosted in winter by influx of migrants.
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  • Coot Fulica atra L 36-38cm. Robust waterbird, often found with Moorhen. Has lobed toes. Feeds by upending, making shallow dives or grazing waterside vegetation. Gregarious outside breeding season. Sexes are similar. Adult has blackish plumage, darkest on head and neck. Note white bill and frontal shield on head, and beady red eye. Legs are pale yellowish. In flight, shows white trailing edge on otherwise dark, rounded wings. Juvenile has dark greyish brown upperparts and white on throat and front of neck. Voice Utters a loud kwoot call. Status Common resident, found on range of freshwater wetland habitats; numbers boosted in winter by influx of migrants.
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  • Coot Fulica atra L 36-38cm. Robust waterbird, often found with Moorhen. Has lobed toes. Feeds by upending, making shallow dives or grazing waterside vegetation. Gregarious outside breeding season. Sexes are similar. Adult has blackish plumage, darkest on head and neck. Note white bill and frontal shield on head, and beady red eye. Legs are pale yellowish. In flight, shows white trailing edge on otherwise dark, rounded wings. Juvenile has dark greyish brown upperparts and white on throat and front of neck. Voice Utters a loud kwoot call. Status Common resident, found on range of freshwater wetland habitats; numbers boosted in winter by influx of migrants.
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  • Coot Fulica atra L 36-38cm. Robust waterbird, often found with Moorhen. Has lobed toes. Feeds by upending, making shallow dives or grazing waterside vegetation. Gregarious outside breeding season. Sexes are similar. Adult has blackish plumage, darkest on head and neck. Note white bill and frontal shield on head, and beady red eye. Legs are pale yellowish. In flight, shows white trailing edge on otherwise dark, rounded wings. Juvenile has dark greyish brown upperparts and white on throat and front of neck. Voice Utters a loud kwoot call. Status Common resident, found on range of freshwater wetland habitats; numbers boosted in winter by influx of migrants.
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  • Green Sandpiper Tringa ochropus L 21-23cm. Plump-bodied wader with a bobbing gait. Unobtrusive and often first observed when flushed: note white rump and yelping alarm call. Tail is marked with a few, broad dark bands. Sexes are similar. Adult has rather dark brown upperparts with small pale spots. Head and neck are streaked; note clear demarcation between dark, streaked breast and clean white underparts. Pale supercilium is bold only in front of eye and legs are greenish yellow. Juvenile is similar but pale spotting on upperparts is more noticeable. Voice Utters a trisyllabic chlueet-wit-wit flight call. Status Widespread and fairly common passage migrant, found on freshwater habitats. Winters in small numbers.
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  • Dipper - Cinclus cinclus - juvenile. L 18cm. Dumpy waterside bird that perches on river boulders. Flies low over water. Dives readily in search of invertebrates. Sexes are similar. Adult has dark grey-brown wings, back and tail. Head is reddish brown and throat and breast (bib) are white. Belly grades from reddish chestnut at front to blackish brown at rear. Legs and feet are stout and powerful. Juvenile has greyish upperparts and barred, pale underparts. Voice Utters a shrill striitz call. Status Fairly common but local on fast-flowing streams and rivers.
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  • Grey Heron Ardea cinerea L 90-98cm. Familiar wetland bird. Stands motionless for long periods. Flies on broad wings with slow, deep wingbeats; neck is held hunched. Sexes are similar. Adult has whitish grey head, neck and underparts with dark streaks on front of neck and breast; note white forecrown and black sides to crown leading to black nape feathers. Back and upperwings are blue-grey; flight feathers are black. Dagger-like bill is yellowish. Juvenile is similar but crown and forehead are dark grey. Voice Utters a harsh krrarnk in flight. Status Common resident. Favours freshwater wetlands but also on coasts in winter.
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  • The Flame Axylia putris Length 16-18mm. An attractive moth whose wings are often held wrapped around the body so that it resembles a broken twig. Adult has pale buff forewings, marked with dark streaks and a dark spot; leading edge and thorax are rich brown, with pale front to head. Flies June-July. Larva feeds on low-growing herbaceous plants. Widespread but common only in central and southern Britain.
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  • Lesser Broad-bordered Yellow Underwing Noctua janthe Length 20-23mm. An attractively marked moth that rests with wings held flat, one forewing partly overlapping the other. Adult has reddish-brown forewings with subtle purplish-grey banding and a reddish margin to the outer leading edge. There is a neatly defined pale front end. Flies July-September. Larva feeds on a range of herbaceous plants. Widespread throughout but commonest in southern Britain.
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  • Lesser Broad-bordered Yellow Underwing Noctua janthe Length 20-23mm. An attractively marked moth that rests with wings held flat, one forewing partly overlapping the other. Adult has reddish-brown forewings with subtle purplish-grey banding and a reddish margin to the outer leading edge. There is a neatly defined pale front end. Flies July-September. Larva feeds on a range of herbaceous plants. Widespread throughout but commonest in southern Britain.
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  • Poplar Hawk-moth  Laothoe populi Wingspan 70mm. An interesting moth whose wing shape and colouration is a good match for dry, crumpled leaves. Adult has grey-brown forewings with darker central band containing white crescent mark. At rest, hindwings project slightly in front of forewings; a reddish patch on the hindwing is exposed if the moth is startled. Double-brooded: flies May–August. Larva is bright green with a pale diagonal stripe on each segment and a ‘horn’ at the tail end. Feeds on poplar and willows. Common and widespread.
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  • Poplar Hawk-moth  Laothoe populi Wingspan 70mm. An interesting moth whose wing shape and colouration is a good match for dry, crumpled leaves. Adult has grey-brown forewings with darker central band containing white crescent mark. At rest, hindwings project slightly in front of forewings; a reddish patch on the hindwing is exposed if the moth is startled. Double-brooded: flies May–August. Larva is bright green with a pale diagonal stripe on each segment and a ‘horn’ at the tail end. Feeds on poplar and willows. Common and widespread.
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