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  • Frozen Kennet and Avon Canal at Ufton, Berkshire, Uk
    142201.jpg
  • Raven - Corvus corax
    160626.jpg
  • Raven - Corvus corax
    160627.jpg
  • Raven - Corvus corax
    160631.jpg
  • Raven - Corvus corax
    160628.jpg
  • Raven - Corvus corax
    160629.jpg
  • Raven - Corvus corax
    160630.jpg
  • Raven - Corvus corax
    160632.jpg
  • Snow Bunting - Plectrophenax nivalis
    160736.jpg
  • Reindeer Rangifer tarandus Shoulder height 0.9-1.2m Long-legged deer. Feeds on low-growing plants, including mosses and lichens. Both sexes have antlers – used to clear snow in winter for feeding. Adult is grey-brown; coat is thickest in winter. Male (bull) is thickset with asymmetrical, palmate antlers from early spring to mid-winter. Female (cow) has shorter antlers that lack palmations; shed in May. Calf is greyish brown. Utters grunting sounds. Formerly native to Britain but extinct by 12th Century. Domesticated animals introduced from Scandinavia now roam Cairngorms.
    144385.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
  • Mandarin Duck - Aix galericulata - male. L 41-49cm. Male is stunningly colourful, with elaborate tufts and plumes. Sexes are strikingly dissimilar. Adult male has mane of orange, white, greenish and brown feathers, with white above eye and elongated orange plumes arising from cheek. Note orange sail-like feathers on back, dark breast with vertical white stripes, brown flanks and white stern. Bill is bright red with pale tip. Adult female is grey-brown overall, darkest on back, with pale buffish spots on flanks. Has white belly, white ‘spectacle’, and white at base of bill and on throat. Bill is dull pink with pale tip. Juvenile resembles an adult female. Voice Mostly silent. Status Introduced from China and now local on wooded lakes in S.
    157146.jpg
  • Mandarin Duck - Aix galericulata - male. L 41-49cm. Male is stunningly colourful, with elaborate tufts and plumes. Sexes are strikingly dissimilar. Adult male has mane of orange, white, greenish and brown feathers, with white above eye and elongated orange plumes arising from cheek. Note orange sail-like feathers on back, dark breast with vertical white stripes, brown flanks and white stern. Bill is bright red with pale tip. Adult female is grey-brown overall, darkest on back, with pale buffish spots on flanks. Has white belly, white ‘spectacle’, and white at base of bill and on throat. Bill is dull pink with pale tip. Juvenile resembles an adult female. Voice Mostly silent. Status Introduced from China and now local on wooded lakes in S.
    157145.jpg
  • Gray-crowned Rosy-Finch - Leucosticte tephrocotis
    148889.jpg
  • Deciduous Woodland in Winter
    129483.jpg
  • Deciduous Woodland in Winter
    129484.jpg
  • Farmland in Winter
    129499.jpg
  • HOAR FROST ON LEAVES
    132634.jpg
  • Cuckmere Haven, Sussex, UK
    133453.jpg
  • Winter snow on the River Kennet at Padworth, Berkshire, Uk
    142200.jpg
  • Beechwood at Little Gaddesden Hertfordshire in Snow
    143175.jpg
  • Thameside farm in the winter dawn light, Streatley on Thames, Oxfordshire
    154455.jpg
  • Winter sunset over the River Thames from the Chiltern Hills by Mapledurham, Berkshire, Uk
    154479.jpg
  • Mapledurham Weir on the River Thames, Berkshire, Uk
    154497.jpg
  • Winter dawn along the River Thames at Goring Weir, Oxfordshire, Uk
    154464.jpg
  • Winter dawn on the River Thames at Goring Weir, Oxfordshire, Uk
    154465.jpg
  • Blackbird Turdus merula - Female. L 25-28cm. Familiar ground-dwelling bird. Sexes are dissimilar. Adult male has uniformly blackish plumage. Legs are dark but bill and eyering are yellow. 1st winter male is similar but bill is dark and eyering is dull. Adult and 1st winter female are brown, darkest on wings and tail, and palest on throat and streaked breast. Juvenile is similar to adult female but marked with pale spots. Voice Utters harsh and repeated tchak alarm call, often at dusk. Male has rich, fluty and varied song. Status Common and widespread in gardens, but in woodland, farmland and coasts. Upland birds move to lower levels in winter and migrants arrive from Europe.
    154295.jpg
  • Blackbird Turdus merula - Female. L 25-28cm. Familiar ground-dwelling bird. Sexes are dissimilar. Adult male has uniformly blackish plumage. Legs are dark but bill and eyering are yellow. 1st winter male is similar but bill is dark and eyering is dull. Adult and 1st winter female are brown, darkest on wings and tail, and palest on throat and streaked breast. Juvenile is similar to adult female but marked with pale spots. Voice Utters harsh and repeated tchak alarm call, often at dusk. Male has rich, fluty and varied song. Status Common and widespread in gardens, but in woodland, farmland and coasts. Upland birds move to lower levels in winter and migrants arrive from Europe.
    154296.jpg
  • Robin Erithacus rubecula L 13-14cm. Distinctive bird. Garden-dwellers are bold and inquisitive. Sexes are similar. Adult has orange-red face, throat and breast, bordered by blue-grey on sides but with sharp demarcation from white belly. Upperparts are buffish brown with faint buff wingbar. Juvenile has brown upperparts, marked with buff spots and teardrop-shaped streaks; pale buff underparts have darker spots and crescent-shaped markings. Voice Song is plaintive and melancholy. Alarm call is a sharp tic. Status Widespread resident, commonest in S. Observation tips Easiest to find in gardens and parks.
    154386.jpg
  • Bullfinch - Pyrrhula pyrrhula - male. L 16-17cm. Unobtrusive finch whose call and white rump are distinctive. Bill is stubby and dark. Sexes are separable. Adult male has a rosy-pink face, breast and belly. Back and nape are blue-grey and cap and tail are black. Note white wingbar on otherwise black wings. Adult female is similar but duller. Juvenile is similar to adult female but head is uniformly buffish brown. Voice Utters a soft piping call; pair sometimes duets. Song is quiet and seldom heard. Status Fairly common resident of woodlands, hedgerows and mature gardens.
    153846.jpg
  • Golden Plover Pluvialis apricaria L 28cm. Beautifully marked wader. Call is evocative of desolate uplands in summer. Gregarious outside breeding season; often associates with Lapwings. In flight, note white underwings. Sexes are sometimes separable in summer. Adult in summer has spangled golden upperparts bordered by white band. In most males, belly is black, grading to grey on neck and face. Most females have less distinct dark underparts and face is often whitish. Breeders from N Europe (seen on migration) have darker underparts than British birds. In winter, underparts are pale, and head, neck and back are streaked golden. Juvenile is similar to winter adult. Voice Utters peeoo flight call and plaintive pu-peeoo in summer. Status Locally common breeding species on N upland moors and mountains. Widespread in winter on grassland and arable fields.
    153957.jpg
  • Goldeneye Bucephala clangula L 42-50cm. Compact diving duck. Both sexes are easily recognised. In flight, all birds show white on inner wings (extent greatest in males). Sexes are dissimilar in other respects. Adult male has mainly black and white plumage. Rounded and peaked, green-glossed head has yellow eye and striking white patch at base of bill. In eclipse, resembles an adult female but retains his more striking white wing pattern. Adult female has mainly grey-brown body, pale neck, dark brown head and yellow eye. Juvenile is similar to adult female but with dark eye. Voice Displaying male utters squeaky calls and rattles. Status Scarce breeding species, mainly in N. Locally common in winter, mostly on estuaries but also on inland lakes and flooded gravel pits.
    153961.jpg
  • 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.
    153979.jpg
  • 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.
    153980.jpg
  • 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.
    153981.jpg
  • 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.
    153982.jpg
  • 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.
    153984.jpg
  • Snow Bunting Plectrophenax nivalis L 16-17cm. Confiding, plump-bodied bunting. All birds have extensive white on inner wing, rump and tail. Sexes are dissimilar. Adult male in summer has mainly white plumage with blackish back, black on wings, and black bill and legs. Adult female in summer is similar but back is brownish and has brown and buff streaking on head, neck and sides of breast. Winter birds have mainly white underparts and buffish orange upperparts. Adult males are whitest on wings, face and underparts. Bill is yellowish and legs are black. Voice Has tinkling flight call. Song is twittering. Status Small numbers breed in Scottish mountains but best known as winter visitor, commonest on E coast; saltmarshes, coastal grassland and beach strandlines are favoured.
    154154.jpg
  • Snow Bunting Plectrophenax nivalis L 16-17cm. Confiding, plump-bodied bunting. All birds have extensive white on inner wing, rump and tail. Sexes are dissimilar. Adult male in summer has mainly white plumage with blackish back, black on wings, and black bill and legs. Adult female in summer is similar but back is brownish and has brown and buff streaking on head, neck and sides of breast. Winter birds have mainly white underparts and buffish orange upperparts. Adult males are whitest on wings, face and underparts. Bill is yellowish and legs are black. Voice Has tinkling flight call. Song is twittering. Status Small numbers breed in Scottish mountains but best known as winter visitor, commonest on E coast; saltmarshes, coastal grassland and beach strandlines are favoured.
    154155.jpg
  • White-tailed Eagle Haliaeetus albicilla W 190-240cm. Immense raptor with long, broad and parallel-sided wings, and by relatively short, wedge-shaped tail. Surprisingly manoeuvrable, despite it size, and catches fish and waterbirds while hunting low over water. Sexes are similar. Adult has mainly brown plumage, palest on head and neck. At rest, white tail is often obscured by wings. Bill and legs are yellow. In flight from below, looks mainly dark except for paler head and neck, and white tail. Juvenile is similar to adult but looks darker overall and tail is uniformly dark. Subadult acquires adult plumage over successive moults; last immature feature to disappear is dark terminal band on tail. Voice Utters mournful whistling calls. Status Formerly just a rare visitor from mainland Europe but now reintroduced successfully to certain Scottish islands.
    154207.jpg
  • Common Larch Larix decidua Pinaceae Height to 35m<br />
Deciduous, conical conifer. Foliage turns golden before needles fall in autumn. Bark Greyish-brown, fissured with age. Branches Mostly horizontal. Needles To 3cm long, in bunches of up to 40. Reproductive parts Male flowers are yellow cones. Female cones are red in spring, maturing brown and woody. Status Native of central Europe, planted here for timber and ornament.
    144444.jpg
  • Common Larch Larix decidua Pinaceae Height to 35m<br />
Deciduous, conical conifer. Foliage turns golden before needles fall in autumn. Bark Greyish-brown, fissured with age. Branches Mostly horizontal. Needles To 3cm long, in bunches of up to 40. Reproductive parts Male flowers are yellow cones. Female cones are red in spring, maturing brown and woody. Status Native of central Europe, planted here for timber and ornament.
    144442.jpg
  • Beech Fagus sylvatica Fagaceae Height to 40m. Imposing deciduous tree with domed crown. Bark Smooth and grey. Branches Ascending. Buds reddish, to 2cm long, smooth and pointed. Leaves To 10cm long, oval, pointed, with wavy margin. Reproductive parts Male flowers pendent, clustered. Female flowers paired with brownish bracts. Fruits are shiny 3-sided nuts, to 1.8cm long, enclosed in a prickly case. Status Common native in S England; widely planted elsewhere.
    144425.jpg
  • Beech Fagus sylvatica Fagaceae Height to 40m. Imposing deciduous tree with domed crown. Bark Smooth and grey. Branches Ascending. Buds reddish, to 2cm long, smooth and pointed. Leaves To 10cm long, oval, pointed, with wavy margin. Reproductive parts Male flowers pendent, clustered. Female flowers paired with brownish bracts. Fruits are shiny 3-sided nuts, to 1.8cm long, enclosed in a prickly case. Status Common native in S England; widely planted elsewhere.
    144426.jpg
  • GIANT HOGWEED Heracleum mantegazzianum (Apiaceae) Height to 4m. Huge and impressive biennial or perennial whose size alone makes it unmistakable. Stems are hollow, ridged and purple-spotted. Whole plant causes blisters if touched in sunlight. Favours damp ground and often found beside rivers. FLOWERS are white and borne in umbels up to 50cm across (Jun-Jul). FRUITS are flattened and narrowly oval. LEAVES are pinnate and up to 1m long. STATUS-Introduced and naturalised locally.
    144491.jpg
  • SNOWDROP Galanthus nivalis (Liliaceae) Height to 25cm<br />
Familiar spring perennial that grows in damp woodland. FLOWERS are 15-25cm long and nodding, the 3 outer segments pure white, the inner 3 white with a green patch; solitary and nodding (Jan-Mar). FRUITS are capsules. LEAVES are grey-green, narrow and all basal. STATUS-Possibly native in S Britain but widely naturalised.
    144595.jpg
  • SNOWDROP Galanthus nivalis (Liliaceae) Height to 25cm<br />
Familiar spring perennial that grows in damp woodland. FLOWERS are 15-25cm long and nodding, the 3 outer segments pure white, the inner 3 white with a green patch; solitary and nodding (Jan-Mar). FRUITS are capsules. LEAVES are grey-green, narrow and all basal. STATUS-Possibly native in S Britain but widely naturalised.
    144596.jpg
  • Chinese Water Deer Hydropotes inermis Shoulder height 55-60cm Small, secretive deer. Adult is reddish buff in summer, greyish brown in winter. Black nose contrasts with otherwise white muzzle. Beady black eyes have white surround. Ears are large and antlers are absent in both sexes. With age, the upper canines develop into projecting tusks; longer in male than female. Fawn is reddish brown with white spots. Barks and screams in alarm. Males have a whistling call during rut. Escaped from Whipsnade Zoo early in 20th Century. Feral British populations now found from Buckinghamshire to East Anglia. Favours marsh habitats including fens and reedbeds.
    104336.jpg
  • Mountain Hare Lepus timidus Length 45-60cm Has shorter ears and more compact body than Brown Hare. Tail is uniformly white and ears are tipped black. Adult Scottish race has greyish brown coat in summer, palest on underparts and most rufous on head. Underfur is blue grey. In winter, acquires thick, whitish coat except for buffish nose. Adult Irish race has reddish brown summer coat and variably buffish brown and white winter coat. Mostly silent. Scottish animals favour heather moors and mountains. Irish Hares favour more grassy habitats.
    112702.jpg
  • Weddell Seal Leptonychotes weddellii Length 2.5-3.5m Large, Antarctic seal, associated with fringes of pack ice. Coat is greyish-brown with numerous darker and lighter patches.
    135956.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.
    144254.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.
    144253.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.
    144256.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.
    144255.jpg
  • Mountain Hare Lepus timidus Length 45-60cm Has shorter ears and more compact body than Brown Hare. Tail is uniformly white and ears are tipped black. Adult Scottish race has greyish brown coat in summer, palest on underparts and most rufous on head. Underfur is blue grey. In winter, acquires thick, whitish coat except for buffish nose. Adult Irish race has reddish brown summer coat and variably buffish brown and white winter coat. Mostly silent. Scottish animals favour heather moors and mountains. Irish Hares favour more grassy habitats.
    144328.jpg
  • Reindeer Rangifer tarandus Shoulder height 0.9-1.2m Long-legged deer. Feeds on low-growing plants, including mosses and lichens. Both sexes have antlers – used to clear snow in winter for feeding. Adult is grey-brown; coat is thickest in winter. Male (bull) is thickset with asymmetrical, palmate antlers from early spring to mid-winter. Female (cow) has shorter antlers that lack palmations; shed in May. Calf is greyish brown. Utters grunting sounds. Formerly native to Britain but extinct by 12th Century. Domesticated animals introduced from Scandinavia now roam Cairngorms.
    144382.jpg
  • Reindeer Rangifer tarandus Shoulder height 0.9-1.2m Long-legged deer. Feeds on low-growing plants, including mosses and lichens. Both sexes have antlers – used to clear snow in winter for feeding. Adult is grey-brown; coat is thickest in winter. Male (bull) is thickset with asymmetrical, palmate antlers from early spring to mid-winter. Female (cow) has shorter antlers that lack palmations; shed in May. Calf is greyish brown. Utters grunting sounds. Formerly native to Britain but extinct by 12th Century. Domesticated animals introduced from Scandinavia now roam Cairngorms.
    144384.jpg
  • Grey Squirrel Sciurus carolinensis Length 45-55cm Abundant rodent. Introduced to Britain, now the most familiar squirrel. Diet is omnivorous and renowned for its cunning in exploiting food sources. Adult has plump but elongated body and long bushy tail. Rounded ears lack ear tufts. Coat is mainly grizzled grey with whitish chest and belly. Some individuals are variably tinged with brown in summer. Utters teeth-smacking ‘tchack’ when alarmed. Native to North America, introduced here in 1876. Now widespread and common, its adaptability allowing it to thrive in woods, parks and gardens.
    145852.jpg
  • Exmoor Pony Equus ferus caballus is usually dark reddish brown and up to 1.25m at the shoulder. Note the dark nose, pale muzzle and pale eye surround.
    145858.jpg
  • Mistle Thrush Turdus viscivorus L 27cm. Appreciably larger than Song Thrush. Unobtrusive but has distinctive call and song. Sexes are similar. Adult has grey-brown upperparts with hint of white wingbar. Underparts are pale with large dark spots and flanks are washed orange-buff. In flight, note white underwings and white tips to outer tail feathers. Juvenile is similar but back has white, teardrop-shaped spots. Voice Utters a loud, rattling alarm call. Song contains brief phrases and long pauses; often sung in dull weather. Status Fairly common resident of open woodland, parks and mature gardens.
    104832.jpg
  • Robin Erithacus rubecula L 13-14cm. Distinctive bird. Garden-dwellers are bold and inquisitive. Sexes are similar. Adult has orange-red face, throat and breast, bordered by blue-grey on sides but with sharp demarcation from white belly. Upperparts are buffish brown with faint buff wingbar. Juvenile has brown upperparts, marked with buff spots and teardrop-shaped streaks; pale buff underparts have darker spots and crescent-shaped markings. Voice Song is plaintive and melancholy. Alarm call is a sharp tic. Status Widespread resident, commonest in S. Observation tips Easiest to find in gardens and parks.
    113045.jpg
  • Mistle Thrush Turdus viscivorus L 27cm. Appreciably larger than Song Thrush. Unobtrusive but has distinctive call and song. Sexes are similar. Adult has grey-brown upperparts with hint of white wingbar. Underparts are pale with large dark spots and flanks are washed orange-buff. In flight, note white underwings and white tips to outer tail feathers. Juvenile is similar but back has white, teardrop-shaped spots. Voice Utters a loud, rattling alarm call. Song contains brief phrases and long pauses; often sung in dull weather. Status Fairly common resident of open woodland, parks and mature gardens.
    129224.jpg
  • Coal Tit Periparus ater L 10-11cm. Tiny, well-marked and warbler-like bird. Sexes are similar. Adult has white cheeks and white nape patch on otherwise black head. Back and wings are bluish grey and underparts are pale pinkish buff. Note two white wingbars and dark, needle-like bill. Juvenile is similar but colours and markings are less striking. Voice Utters a thin call. Song is repeated teechu-teechu-teechu…, higher pitched and more rapid than Great Tit.<br />
Status Fairly common resident of conifer forests and mixed and deciduous woodland.
    136783.jpg
  • Golden Eagle Aquila chrysaetos W 190-225cm. Majestic raptor. Distant flight view could be confused with soaring Buzzard but note proportionately longer wings (narrow appreciably towards base) and relatively long tail. Catches Mountain Hares and Red Grouse but also feeds on carrion in winter. Sexes are similar. Adult has mainly dark brown plumage with paler margins to feathers on back and golden-brown feathers on head and neck. Tail is dark-tipped and barred but can look uniformly dark in flight silhouette. Juvenile is similar to adult but has white patches at base of outer flight feathers; tail is mainly white but with broad, dark tip. Subadult gradually loses white elements of juvenile plumage by successive moults over several years. Voice Mainly silent. Status Resident of remote, upland regions, mainly in Scotland. Favours open moorland and mountains.
    143638.jpg
  • Fieldfare Turdus pilaris L 24-26cm. A large and plump thrush. Associates with Redwing in winter flocks. Sexes are similar. Adult has blue-grey head, chestnut back and pale supercilium. Breast and flanks are flushed orange-yellow and heavily spotted; underparts are otherwise whitish. In flight, note pale grey rump and white underwings. Juvenile is similar but note pale spots on wing coverts. Voice Utters a harsh chack-chack-chack call; night-migrating flocks sometimes be detected by these calls. Song (seldom heard here) comprises short bursts of fluty phrases. Status Common winter to farmland and open country. A few pairs breed each year, mainly in N.
    143730.jpg
  • Golden Eagle Aquila chrysaetos W 190-225cm. Majestic raptor. Distant flight view could be confused with soaring Buzzard but note proportionately longer wings (narrow appreciably towards base) and relatively long tail. Catches Mountain Hares and Red Grouse but also feeds on carrion in winter. Sexes are similar. Adult has mainly dark brown plumage with paler margins to feathers on back and golden-brown feathers on head and neck. Tail is dark-tipped and barred but can look uniformly dark in flight silhouette. Juvenile is similar to adult but has white patches at base of outer flight feathers; tail is mainly white but with broad, dark tip. Subadult gradually loses white elements of juvenile plumage by successive moults over several years. Voice Mainly silent. Status Resident of remote, upland regions, mainly in Scotland. Favours open moorland and mountains.
    143932.jpg
  • Ptarmigan Lagopus mutus Male bird in winter plumage L 34-36cm. Hardy, mountain gamebird. Indifferent to observers but easily overlooked: unobtrusive and blends in well with surroundings. In flight, both sexes reveal white wings and black tail. Forms small flocks outside breeding season. Sexes are separable with care. Adult male in winter is white except for dark eye, lores and bill. In spring and summer, has mottled and marbled greyish buff upperparts, amount of white on back decreasing with time; belly and legs are white while striking red wattle fades by mid-summer. Adult female in winter is white except for black eye and bill. In spring and summer, has finely barred buffish grey upperparts; extent of white on back diminishes with time. Juvenile resembles uniformly brown female. Voice Utters a rattling kur-kurrrr call. Status Confined to Scottish Highlands, favouring rocky ground with lichens, mosses and other mountain vegetation.
    144012.jpg
  • Robin Erithacus rubecula L 13-14cm. Distinctive bird. Garden-dwellers are bold and inquisitive. Sexes are similar. Adult has orange-red face, throat and breast, bordered by blue-grey on sides but with sharp demarcation from white belly. Upperparts are buffish brown with faint buff wingbar. Juvenile has brown upperparts, marked with buff spots and teardrop-shaped streaks; pale buff underparts have darker spots and crescent-shaped markings. Voice Song is plaintive and melancholy. Alarm call is a sharp tic.
    144028.jpg
  • Teal Anas crecca L 34-38cm<br />
Use pics 104536 male; 128883 female; 135912 male flight;<br />
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.
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  • Barnacle Goose Branta leucopsis L 58-69cm. Small, well-marked goose seen in large, noisy flocks. All birds have black legs and bill. Looks strikingly black-and-white in flight. Sexes are similar. Adult has mainly white face with black line from bill to eye; black crown and nape merge with black neck and breast. Belly is whitish grey with faint dark barring on flanks; back is grey with well-defined black and white barring. Stern is white while tail is black. Juvenile is similar to adult but white elements of plumage are often tinged yellow and barring on back is less well defined. Voice Utters loud, barking calls. Status Winter visitor to coastal farmland and saltmarshes.
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  • 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.
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  • 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.
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  • Whooper Swan - Cygnus cygnus
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  • 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.
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  • Grey Partridge - Perdix perdix L 29-31cm. Well-marked gamebird. Usually seen in small parties. Hunted and consequently wary; prefers to run from danger. Sexes are separable with care. Adult male has mainly grey, finely marked plumage with orange-buff face, large chestnut mark on belly, maroon stripes on flanks and streaked back. Adult female is similar but marking on belly is small. Juvenile is grey-buff with hint of adult’s dark markings. Voice Utters a choked, harsh kierr-ikk call. Status Native of grassland and arable farmland with mature hedgerows. Once abundant, now scarce due to modern farming methods. Observation tips Easiest to see in winter.
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  • Gray-crowned Rosy-Finch - Leucosticte tephrocotis
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  • Lapwing Vanellus vanellus L 30cm. Pied-looking wader with a spiky crest. Has rounded, black and white wings and distinctive call. Sexes are separable in summer. Adult male in summer has green- and purple-sheened dark upperparts; underparts are white except for orange vent and black foreneck. Note black and white markings on throat. Adult female in summer has less distinct black neck markings and shorter crest. Winter adult is similar to summer female but throat and foreneck are white, and back feathers have buffish fringes. Juvenile is similar to winter adult but crest is short and back looks scaly. Voice Utters a choked pee-wit call. Status Fairly common nesting species of undisturbed grazed grassland, moors and arable farmland; numbers have declined seriously. Migrants from Europe boost numbers in winter.
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  • Snow Bunting - Plectrophenax nivalis - 1st winter. L 16-17cm. Confiding, plump-bodied bunting. All birds have extensive white on inner wing, rump and tail. Sexes are dissimilar. Adult male in summer has mainly white plumage with blackish back, black on wings, and black bill and legs. Adult female in summer is similar but back is brownish and has brown and buff streaking on head, neck and sides of breast. Winter birds have mainly white underparts and buffish orange upperparts. Adult males are whitest on wings, face and underparts. Bill is yellowish and legs are black. Voice Has tinkling flight call. Song is twittering. Status Small numbers breed in Scottish mountains but best known as winter visitor, commonest on E coast; saltmarshes, coastal grassland and beach strandlines are favoured.
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  • Larch Wood in Winter - Common Larch Larix decidua Pinaceae Height to 35m<br />
 Deciduous, conical conifer. Foliage turns golden before needles fall in autumn. Bark Greyish-brown, fissured with age. Branches Mostly horizontal. Needles To 3cm long, in bunches of up to 40. Reproductive parts Male flowers are yellow cones. Female cones are red in spring, maturing brown and woody. Status Native of central Europe, planted here for timber and ornament.
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  • Flooded Gravel Pit in Winter
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  • Tundra, Snaefellsnes, Iceland
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  • HOAR FROST ON LEAVES
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  • WINTER LANDSCAPE
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  • WINTER LANDSCAPE
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  • Snow covered Roman Wall looking towards St Mary the Virgin Church, Silchester, Hampshire, Uk
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  • Winter sunset over the River Thames from the Chiltern Hills by Mapledurham, Berkshire, Uk
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  • Snow Goose - Anser caerulescens
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  • Golden Plover Pluvialis apricaria L 28cm. Beautifully marked wader. Call is evocative of desolate uplands in summer. Gregarious outside breeding season; often associates with Lapwings. In flight, note white underwings. Sexes are sometimes separable in summer. Adult in summer has spangled golden upperparts bordered by white band. In most males, belly is black, grading to grey on neck and face. Most females have less distinct dark underparts and face is often whitish. Breeders from N Europe (seen on migration) have darker underparts than British birds. In winter, underparts are pale, and head, neck and back are streaked golden. Juvenile is similar to winter adult. Voice Utters peeoo flight call and plaintive pu-peeoo in summer. Status Locally common breeding species on N upland moors and mountains. Widespread in winter on grassland and arable fields.
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  • Goosander Mergus merganser L 58-66cm. Large, elegant diving duck. Narrow mandibles have serrated edges. In flight, upper surface of male’s inner wing is white; in female white is restricted to trailing edge. Sexes are dissimilar in other regards. Adult male has bright red bill, green-glossed head (looks dark in poor light), mainly pink-flushed white body and black back. In eclipse, resembles adult female but retains white wing pattern. Adult female has reddish bill, orange-red head with shaggy crest, and greyish body palest on breast; chin is white. Juvenile resembles dull adult female. Voice Displaying male utters ringing calls. Status Fairly common freshwater species beside wooded upland rivers; nests in tree holes. Influx from mainland Europe boosts winter numbers; found on reservoirs, lochs and flooded gravel pits.
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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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  • HOAR FROST ON BRACKEN Pteridium aquilinum
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  • Scots Pine Pinus sylvestris Pinaceae Height to 36m<br />
Conical evergreen becoming flat-topped with age. <br />
Bark Grey-brown and scaly low down, red or orange higher up. Branches Irregular. Needles Paired, grey-green to 7cm long. Reproductive parts Male flowers are yellow, at tips previous year’s shoots. Female flowers grow at tips of new shoots; crimson at first, ripening to brown cones. Status Native to parts of Scotland, also planted for timber and naturalised there and throughout Britain.
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  • Scots Pine Pinus sylvestris Pinaceae Height to 36m<br />
Conical evergreen becoming flat-topped with age. <br />
Bark Grey-brown and scaly low down, red or orange higher up. Branches Irregular. Needles Paired, grey-green to 7cm long. Reproductive parts Male flowers are yellow, at tips previous year’s shoots. Female flowers grow at tips of new shoots; crimson at first, ripening to brown cones. Status Native to parts of Scotland, also planted for timber and naturalised there and throughout Britain.
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  • Ash Fraxinus excelsior Oleaceae Height to 40m. Deciduous tree with open crown. Bark Grey, fissured with age. Branches Ascending; grey twigs flattened at nodes with conical black buds. Leaves Pinnate, to 35cm long with 7–13 lanceolate, toothed leaflets. Reproductive parts Flowers small, purple, clustered. Fruits are single-winged ‘keys’, in bunches. Status Common native; prefers calcareous or base-rich soils.
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  • British deciduous woodland in winter snow
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  • DOG-ROSE Rosa canina (Rosaceae) Height to 3m<br />
Scrambling, variable shrub whose long, arching stems bear curved thorns. Associated with hedgerows, woodland margins and scrub. FLOWERS are 3-5cm across, fragrant with 5 pale pink petals and yellow stamens; borne in clusters of up to 4 flowers (Jun-Jul). FRUITS are red, egg-shaped hips that typically shed their sepals before they ripen. LEAVES comprise 5-7 hairless leaflets. STATUS-Widespread and common throughout.
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  • WINTER ACONITE Eranthis hyemalis (Ranunculaceae) Height to 10cm. Attractive perennial that sometimes forms carpets on woodland floors. FLOWERS are 12-15mm across, with 6 yellow sepals; borne on upright stems, above the leaves (Jan-Apr). FRUITS are dry, many-seeded and splitting. LEAVES are spreading (3 per stem) and each divided into 3 lobes.
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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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  • 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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  • 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.
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