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  • 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.
    128328.jpg
  • Black Grouse Tetrao tetrix L 40-45cm. Bulky moorland gamebird. Males display at traditional leks to interest nearby females. Sexes are dissimilar. Adult male has mainly dark plumage with red wattle above eye. Displaying birds elevate and spread tails (which look lyre-shaped) and reveal white undertail coverts. In flight, tail looks long and forked; wings have white bars. Adult female has orange-brown plumage finely marked with dark bars. In flight wings show narrow white bar. Juvenile resembles a small female with subdued markings. Voice Displaying male utters a bubbling, cooing call. Status Scarce and declining in many areas. Does best on moorland comprising mosaic of grassland, heather moorland, bilberry stands and adjacent woodland.
    155970.jpg
  • Chequered Skipper - Carterocephalus palaemon. Male (top) - female (bottom). Wingspan 25mm. An attractive little butterfly that attracts conservation interest. Hides in deep cover on dull days; active and fast-flying on sunny days but fond of sunbathing. Adult has rich brown upperwings with orange-yellow spots; underwings are paler brown than upperwings, with pale spots. Flies May–June. Larva is nocturnal and feeds on various grasses. Very locally common in open birchwoods in northwest Scotland; used to live in England but now extinct there.
    156715.jpg
  • Black Grouse Tetrao tetrix L 40-45cm. Bulky moorland gamebird. Males display at traditional leks to interest nearby females. Sexes are dissimilar. Adult male has mainly dark plumage with red wattle above eye. Displaying birds elevate and spread tails (which look lyre-shaped) and reveal white undertail coverts. In flight, tail looks long and forked; wings have white bars. Adult female has orange-brown plumage finely marked with dark bars. In flight wings show narrow white bar. Juvenile resembles a small female with subdued markings. Voice Displaying male utters a bubbling, cooing call. Status Scarce and declining in many areas. Does best on moorland comprising mosaic of grassland, heather moorland, bilberry stands and adjacent woodland.
    155971.jpg
  • Black Grouse Tetrao tetrix L 40-45cm. Bulky moorland gamebird. Males display at traditional leks to interest nearby females. Sexes are dissimilar. Adult male has mainly dark plumage with red wattle above eye. Displaying birds elevate and spread tails (which look lyre-shaped) and reveal white undertail coverts. In flight, tail looks long and forked; wings have white bars. Adult female has orange-brown plumage finely marked with dark bars. In flight wings show narrow white bar. Juvenile resembles a small female with subdued markings. Voice Displaying male utters a bubbling, cooing call. Status Scarce and declining in many areas. Does best on moorland comprising mosaic of grassland, heather moorland, bilberry stands and adjacent woodland.
    155973.jpg
  • Black Grouse Tetrao tetrix L 40-45cm. Bulky moorland gamebird. Males display at traditional leks to interest nearby females. Sexes are dissimilar. Adult male has mainly dark plumage with red wattle above eye. Displaying birds elevate and spread tails (which look lyre-shaped) and reveal white undertail coverts. In flight, tail looks long and forked; wings have white bars. Adult female has orange-brown plumage finely marked with dark bars. In flight wings show narrow white bar. Juvenile resembles a small female with subdued markings. Voice Displaying male utters a bubbling, cooing call. Status Scarce and declining in many areas. Does best on moorland comprising mosaic of grassland, heather moorland, bilberry stands and adjacent woodland.
    155972.jpg
  • Chequered Skipper Carterocephalus palaemon Wingspan 25mm. An attractive little butterfly that attracts conservation interest. Hides in deep cover on dull days; active and fast-flying on sunny days but fond of sunbathing. Adult has rich brown upperwings with orange-yellow spots; underwings are paler brown than upperwings, with pale spots. Flies May–June. Larva is nocturnal and feeds on various grasses. Very locally common in open birchwoods in northwest Scotland; used to live in England but now extinct there.
    144894.jpg
  • Black Grouse Tetrao tetrix L 40-45cm. Bulky moorland gamebird. Males display at traditional leks to interest nearby females. Sexes are dissimilar. Adult male has mainly dark plumage with red wattle above eye. Displaying birds elevate and spread tails (which look lyre-shaped) and reveal white undertail coverts. In flight, tail looks long and forked; wings have white bars. Adult female has orange-brown plumage finely marked with dark bars. In flight wings show narrow white bar. Juvenile resembles a small female with subdued markings. Voice Displaying male utters a bubbling, cooing call. Status Scarce and declining in many areas. Does best on moorland comprising mosaic of grassland, heather moorland, bilberry stands and adjacent woodland.
    113660.jpg
  • Black Grouse Tetrao tetrix L 40-45cm. Bulky moorland gamebird. Males display at traditional leks to interest nearby females. Sexes are dissimilar. Adult male has mainly dark plumage with red wattle above eye. Displaying birds elevate and spread tails (which look lyre-shaped) and reveal white undertail coverts. In flight, tail looks long and forked; wings have white bars. Adult female has orange-brown plumage finely marked with dark bars. In flight wings show narrow white bar. Juvenile resembles a small female with subdued markings. Voice Displaying male utters a bubbling, cooing call. Status Scarce and declining in many areas. Does best on moorland comprising mosaic of grassland, heather moorland, bilberry stands and adjacent woodland.
    137613.jpg
  • Black Grouse Tetrao tetrix L 40-45cm. Bulky moorland gamebird. Males display at traditional leks to interest nearby females. Sexes are dissimilar. Adult male has mainly dark plumage with red wattle above eye. Displaying birds elevate and spread tails (which look lyre-shaped) and reveal white undertail coverts. In flight, tail looks long and forked; wings have white bars. Adult female has orange-brown plumage finely marked with dark bars. In flight wings show narrow white bar. Juvenile resembles a small female with subdued markings. Voice Displaying male utters a bubbling, cooing call. Status Scarce and declining in many areas. Does best on moorland comprising mosaic of grassland, heather moorland, bilberry stands and adjacent woodland.
    143885.jpg
  • Chequered Skipper Carterocephalus palaemon Wingspan 25mm. An attractive little butterfly that attracts conservation interest. Hides in deep cover on dull days; active and fast-flying on sunny days but fond of sunbathing. Adult has rich brown upperwings with orange-yellow spots; underwings are paler brown than upperwings, with pale spots. Flies May–June. Larva is nocturnal and feeds on various grasses. Very locally common in open birchwoods in northwest Scotland; used to live in England but now extinct there.
    123640.jpg
  • Chequered Skipper Carterocephalus palaemon Wingspan 25mm. An attractive little butterfly that attracts conservation interest. Hides in deep cover on dull days; active and fast-flying on sunny days but fond of sunbathing. Adult has rich brown upperwings with orange-yellow spots; underwings are paler brown than upperwings, with pale spots. Flies May–June. Larva is nocturnal and feeds on various grasses. Very locally common in open birchwoods in northwest Scotland; used to live in England but now extinct there.
    105195.jpg
  • Black Grouse Tetrao tetrix L 40-45cm. Bulky moorland gamebird. Males display at traditional leks to interest nearby females. Sexes are dissimilar. Adult male has mainly dark plumage with red wattle above eye. Displaying birds elevate and spread tails (which look lyre-shaped) and reveal white undertail coverts. In flight, tail looks long and forked; wings have white bars. Adult female has orange-brown plumage finely marked with dark bars. In flight wings show narrow white bar. Juvenile resembles a small female with subdued markings. Voice Displaying male utters a bubbling, cooing call. Status Scarce and declining in many areas. Does best on moorland comprising mosaic of grassland, heather moorland, bilberry stands and adjacent woodland.
    104615.jpg
  • Black Grouse Tetrao tetrix L 40-45cm. Bulky moorland gamebird. Males display at traditional leks to interest nearby females. Sexes are dissimilar. Adult male has mainly dark plumage with red wattle above eye. Displaying birds elevate and spread tails (which look lyre-shaped) and reveal white undertail coverts. In flight, tail looks long and forked; wings have white bars. Adult female has orange-brown plumage finely marked with dark bars. In flight wings show narrow white bar. Juvenile resembles a small female with subdued markings. Voice Displaying male utters a bubbling, cooing call. Status Scarce and declining in many areas. Does best on moorland comprising mosaic of grassland, heather moorland, bilberry stands and adjacent woodland.
    143755.jpg
  • Melodious Warbler Hippolais polyglotta (L 12-13cm) occurs most regularly and recalls an outsized Willow Warbler. It has uniform olive-green upperparts with a brownish hue to the wings; the underparts (paler in juveniles than adults) are pale yellow, the colour most intense on the throat and breast. The legs are greyish brown and there is a pale eyering. Members of this interesting genus of warblers are summer visitors to mainland Europe. Unfortunately, none breeds in Britain but we do get occasional visits from passage migrants; look for them at coastal migration hotspots in autumn after south-easterly winds. As a group, Hippolais warblers are superficially similar to Phylloscopus warblers but have proportionately large heads, a peaked rather than rounded crown, a relatively large, broad-based bill and pale lores.
    157614.jpg
  • Melodious Warbler Hippolais polyglotta (L 12-13cm) occurs most regularly and recalls an outsized Willow Warbler. It has uniform olive-green upperparts with a brownish hue to the wings; the underparts (paler in juveniles than adults) are pale yellow, the colour most intense on the throat and breast. The legs are greyish brown and there is a pale eyering. Members of this interesting genus of warblers are summer visitors to mainland Europe. Unfortunately, none breeds in Britain but we do get occasional visits from passage migrants; look for them at coastal migration hotspots in autumn after south-easterly winds. As a group, Hippolais warblers are superficially similar to Phylloscopus warblers but have proportionately large heads, a peaked rather than rounded crown, a relatively large, broad-based bill and pale lores.
    157609.jpg
  • Buff-tip Phalera bucephala Length 25mm. An interesting moth whose markings and rolled-wing resting posture give it the appearance of a snapped twig. Adult has a buff head and silvery-grey wings with a buff patch at the tip. Flies May–July. Larva is yellow and black, with bristly hairs. Feeds on deciduous trees including oaks and limes. Widespread and common in lowland Britain.
    143540.jpg
  • Buff-tip Phalera bucephala Length 25mm. An interesting moth whose markings and rolled-wing resting posture give it the appearance of a snapped twig. Adult has a buff head and silvery-grey wings with a buff patch at the tip. Flies May–July. Larva is yellow and black, with bristly hairs. Feeds on deciduous trees including oaks and limes. Widespread and common in lowland Britain.
    140636.jpg
  • Buff-tip Phalera bucephala Length 25mm. An interesting moth whose markings and rolled-wing resting posture give it the appearance of a snapped twig. Adult has a buff head and silvery-grey wings with a buff patch at the tip. Flies May–July. Larva is yellow and black, with bristly hairs. Feeds on deciduous trees including oaks and limes. Widespread and common in lowland Britain.
    140635.jpg
  • Buff-tip Phalera bucephala Length 25mm. An interesting moth whose markings and rolled-wing resting posture give it the appearance of a snapped twig. Adult has a buff head and silvery-grey wings with a buff patch at the tip. Flies May–July. Larva is yellow and black, with bristly hairs. Feeds on deciduous trees including oaks and limes. Widespread and common in lowland Britain.
    137034.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
  • Buff-tip Phalera bucephala Length 25mm. An interesting moth whose markings and rolled-wing resting posture give it the appearance of a snapped twig. Adult has a buff head and silvery-grey wings with a buff patch at the tip. Flies May–July. Larva is yellow and black, with bristly hairs. Feeds on deciduous trees including oaks and limes. Widespread and common in lowland Britain.
    127819.jpg
  • Chinese Character Cilix glaucata Length 12-13mm. An interesting moth: at rest on a leaf it looks remarkably like a bird-dropping. Adult has whitish forewings, blotched with brown and purplish-blue. Double-brooded: flies May-June, and again in August. Larva feeds on Hawthorn, Blackthorn and Bramble. Locally common in southern and central England.
    118995.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.
    115573.jpg
  • Smooth Japanese Maple Acer palmatum (Aceraceae) HEIGHT to 16m. Small deciduous tree with a short, usually twisted bole, and domed crown. BARK Smooth brown bark with paler patches in young trees. BRANCHES Numerous and spreading, ending in thin reddish twigs with green undersides. LEAVES To 9cm long, with 5–7, sometimes 11, toothed lobes divided at least half-way to the base of leaf. REPRODUCTIVE PARTS Dark purple-red flowers, in upright clusters of 12–15 on thin green or red 4cm-long pedicels, usually opening in April–May. Reddish fruits usually hang in clusters, each fruit about 2cm across, the wings diverging widely. STATUS AND DISTRIBUTION Native of Japan, planted here for its compact shape, interesting foliage and fine autumn colours.
    132925.jpg
  • Smooth Japanese Maple Acer palmatum (Aceraceae) HEIGHT to 16m. Small deciduous tree with a short, usually twisted bole, and domed crown. BARK Smooth brown bark with paler patches in young trees. BRANCHES Numerous and spreading, ending in thin reddish twigs with green undersides. LEAVES To 9cm long, with 5–7, sometimes 11, toothed lobes divided at least half-way to the base of leaf. REPRODUCTIVE PARTS Dark purple-red flowers, in upright clusters of 12–15 on thin green or red 4cm-long pedicels, usually opening in April–May. Reddish fruits usually hang in clusters, each fruit about 2cm across, the wings diverging widely. STATUS AND DISTRIBUTION Native of Japan, planted here for its compact shape, interesting foliage and fine autumn colours.
    132924.jpg
  • Smooth Japanese Maple Acer palmatum (Aceraceae) HEIGHT to 16m. Small deciduous tree with a short, usually twisted bole, and domed crown. BARK Smooth brown bark with paler patches in young trees. BRANCHES Numerous and spreading, ending in thin reddish twigs with green undersides. LEAVES To 9cm long, with 5–7, sometimes 11, toothed lobes divided at least half-way to the base of leaf. REPRODUCTIVE PARTS Dark purple-red flowers, in upright clusters of 12–15 on thin green or red 4cm-long pedicels, usually opening in April–May. Reddish fruits usually hang in clusters, each fruit about 2cm across, the wings diverging widely. STATUS AND DISTRIBUTION Native of Japan, planted here for its compact shape, interesting foliage and fine autumn colours.
    132907.jpg
  • The Melodious Warbler Hippolais polyglotta (L 12-13cm) occurs most regularly and recalls an outsized Willow Warbler. It has uniform olive-green upperparts with a brownish hue to the wings; the underparts (paler in juveniles than adults) are pale yellow, the colour most intense on the throat and breast. The legs are greyish brown and there is a pale eyering. Members of this interesting genus of warblers are summer visitors to mainland Europe. Unfortunately, none breeds in Britain but we do get occasional visits from passage migrants; look for them at coastal migration hotspots in autumn after south-easterly winds. As a group, Hippolais warblers are superficially similar to Phylloscopus warblers but have proportionately large heads, a peaked rather than rounded crown, a relatively large, broad-based bill and pale lores.
    143160.jpg
  • The Melodious Warbler Hippolais polyglotta (L 12-13cm) occurs most regularly and recalls an outsized Willow Warbler. It has uniform olive-green upperparts with a brownish hue to the wings; the underparts (paler in juveniles than adults) are pale yellow, the colour most intense on the throat and breast. The legs are greyish brown and there is a pale eyering. Members of this interesting genus of warblers are summer visitors to mainland Europe. Unfortunately, none breeds in Britain but we do get occasional visits from passage migrants; look for them at coastal migration hotspots in autumn after south-easterly winds. As a group, Hippolais warblers are superficially similar to Phylloscopus warblers but have proportionately large heads, a peaked rather than rounded crown, a relatively large, broad-based bill and pale lores.
    145357.jpg
  • Melodious Warbler Hippolais polyglotta (L 12-13cm) occurs most regularly and recalls an outsized Willow Warbler. It has uniform olive-green upperparts with a brownish hue to the wings; the underparts (paler in juveniles than adults) are pale yellow, the colour most intense on the throat and breast. The legs are greyish brown and there is a pale eyering. Members of this interesting genus of warblers are summer visitors to mainland Europe. Unfortunately, none breeds in Britain but we do get occasional visits from passage migrants; look for them at coastal migration hotspots in autumn after south-easterly winds. As a group, Hippolais warblers are superficially similar to Phylloscopus warblers but have proportionately large heads, a peaked rather than rounded crown, a relatively large, broad-based bill and pale lores.
    157610.jpg
  • Melodious Warbler Hippolais polyglotta (L 12-13cm) occurs most regularly and recalls an outsized Willow Warbler. It has uniform olive-green upperparts with a brownish hue to the wings; the underparts (paler in juveniles than adults) are pale yellow, the colour most intense on the throat and breast. The legs are greyish brown and there is a pale eyering. Members of this interesting genus of warblers are summer visitors to mainland Europe. Unfortunately, none breeds in Britain but we do get occasional visits from passage migrants; look for them at coastal migration hotspots in autumn after south-easterly winds. As a group, Hippolais warblers are superficially similar to Phylloscopus warblers but have proportionately large heads, a peaked rather than rounded crown, a relatively large, broad-based bill and pale lores.
    157028.jpg
  • Melodious Warbler Hippolais polyglotta (L 12-13cm) occurs most regularly and recalls an outsized Willow Warbler. It has uniform olive-green upperparts with a brownish hue to the wings; the underparts (paler in juveniles than adults) are pale yellow, the colour most intense on the throat and breast. The legs are greyish brown and there is a pale eyering. Members of this interesting genus of warblers are summer visitors to mainland Europe. Unfortunately, none breeds in Britain but we do get occasional visits from passage migrants; look for them at coastal migration hotspots in autumn after south-easterly winds. As a group, Hippolais warblers are superficially similar to Phylloscopus warblers but have proportionately large heads, a peaked rather than rounded crown, a relatively large, broad-based bill and pale lores.
    157027.jpg
  • Buff-tip Phalera bucephala Length 25mm. An interesting moth whose markings and rolled-wing resting posture give it the appearance of a snapped twig. Adult has a buff head and silvery-grey wings with a buff patch at the tip. Flies May–July. Larva is yellow and black, with bristly hairs. Feeds on deciduous trees including oaks and limes. Widespread and common in lowland Britain.
    156607.jpg
  • Chinese Character Cilix glaucata Length 12-13mm. An interesting moth: at rest on a leaf it looks remarkably like a bird-dropping. Adult has whitish forewings, blotched with brown and purplish-blue. Double-brooded: flies May-June, and again in August. Larva feeds on Hawthorn, Blackthorn and Bramble. Locally common in southern and central England.
    140248.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.
    136598.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.
    136547.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.
    136427.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.
    136206.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.
    136205.jpg
  • Buff-tip Phalera bucephala Length 25mm. An interesting moth whose markings and rolled-wing resting posture give it the appearance of a snapped twig. Adult has a buff head and silvery-grey wings with a buff patch at the tip. Flies May–July. Larva is yellow and black, with bristly hairs. Feeds on deciduous trees including oaks and limes. Widespread and common in lowland Britain.
    132744.jpg
  • Chinese Character Cilix glaucata Length 12-13mm. An interesting moth: at rest on a leaf it looks remarkably like a bird-dropping. Adult has whitish forewings, blotched with brown and purplish-blue. Double-brooded: flies May-June, and again in August. Larva feeds on Hawthorn, Blackthorn and Bramble. Locally common in southern and central England.
    128316.jpg
  • Buff-tip Phalera bucephala Length 25mm. An interesting moth whose markings and rolled-wing resting posture give it the appearance of a snapped twig. Adult has a buff head and silvery-grey wings with a buff patch at the tip. Flies May–July. Larva is yellow and black, with bristly hairs. Feeds on deciduous trees including oaks and limes. Widespread and common in lowland Britain.
    127929.jpg
  • Chinese Character Cilix glaucata Length 12-13mm. An interesting moth: at rest on a leaf it looks remarkably like a bird-dropping. Adult has whitish forewings, blotched with brown and purplish-blue. Double-brooded: flies May-June, and again in August. Larva feeds on Hawthorn, Blackthorn and Bramble. Locally common in southern and central England.
    119994.jpg
  • Smooth Japanese Maple Acer palmatum (Aceraceae) HEIGHT to 16m. Small deciduous tree with a short, usually twisted bole, and domed crown. BARK Smooth brown bark with paler patches in young trees. BRANCHES Numerous and spreading, ending in thin reddish twigs with green undersides. LEAVES To 9cm long, with 5–7, sometimes 11, toothed lobes divided at least half-way to the base of leaf. REPRODUCTIVE PARTS Dark purple-red flowers, in upright clusters of 12–15 on thin green or red 4cm-long pedicels, usually opening in April–May. Reddish fruits usually hang in clusters, each fruit about 2cm across, the wings diverging widely. STATUS AND DISTRIBUTION Native of Japan, planted here for its compact shape, interesting foliage and fine autumn colours.
    135435.jpg
  • Smooth Japanese Maple Acer palmatum (Aceraceae) HEIGHT to 16m. Small deciduous tree with a short, usually twisted bole, and domed crown. BARK Smooth brown bark with paler patches in young trees. BRANCHES Numerous and spreading, ending in thin reddish twigs with green undersides. LEAVES To 9cm long, with 5–7, sometimes 11, toothed lobes divided at least half-way to the base of leaf. REPRODUCTIVE PARTS Dark purple-red flowers, in upright clusters of 12–15 on thin green or red 4cm-long pedicels, usually opening in April–May. Reddish fruits usually hang in clusters, each fruit about 2cm across, the wings diverging widely. STATUS AND DISTRIBUTION Native of Japan, planted here for its compact shape, interesting foliage and fine autumn colours.
    134874.jpg
  • Smooth Japanese Maple Acer palmatum (Aceraceae) HEIGHT to 16m. Small deciduous tree with a short, usually twisted bole, and domed crown. BARK Smooth brown bark with paler patches in young trees. BRANCHES Numerous and spreading, ending in thin reddish twigs with green undersides. LEAVES To 9cm long, with 5–7, sometimes 11, toothed lobes divided at least half-way to the base of leaf. REPRODUCTIVE PARTS Dark purple-red flowers, in upright clusters of 12–15 on thin green or red 4cm-long pedicels, usually opening in April–May. Reddish fruits usually hang in clusters, each fruit about 2cm across, the wings diverging widely. STATUS AND DISTRIBUTION Native of Japan, planted here for its compact shape, interesting foliage and fine autumn colours.
    132907.jpg
  • Smooth Japanese Maple Acer palmatum (Aceraceae) HEIGHT to 16m. Small deciduous tree with a short, usually twisted bole, and domed crown. BARK Smooth brown bark with paler patches in young trees. BRANCHES Numerous and spreading, ending in thin reddish twigs with green undersides. LEAVES To 9cm long, with 5–7, sometimes 11, toothed lobes divided at least half-way to the base of leaf. REPRODUCTIVE PARTS Dark purple-red flowers, in upright clusters of 12–15 on thin green or red 4cm-long pedicels, usually opening in April–May. Reddish fruits usually hang in clusters, each fruit about 2cm across, the wings diverging widely. STATUS AND DISTRIBUTION Native of Japan, planted here for its compact shape, interesting foliage and fine autumn colours.
    120970.jpg
  • The Melodious Warbler Hippolais polyglotta (L 12-13cm) occurs most regularly and recalls an outsized Willow Warbler. It has uniform olive-green upperparts with a brownish hue to the wings; the underparts (paler in juveniles than adults) are pale yellow, the colour most intense on the throat and breast. The legs are greyish brown and there is a pale eyering. Members of this interesting genus of warblers are summer visitors to mainland Europe. Unfortunately, none breeds in Britain but we do get occasional visits from passage migrants; look for them at coastal migration hotspots in autumn after south-easterly winds. As a group, Hippolais warblers are superficially similar to Phylloscopus warblers but have proportionately large heads, a peaked rather than rounded crown, a relatively large, broad-based bill and pale lores.
    143481.jpg
  • The Melodious Warbler Hippolais polyglotta (L 12-13cm) occurs most regularly and recalls an outsized Willow Warbler. It has uniform olive-green upperparts with a brownish hue to the wings; the underparts (paler in juveniles than adults) are pale yellow, the colour most intense on the throat and breast. The legs are greyish brown and there is a pale eyering. Members of this interesting genus of warblers are summer visitors to mainland Europe. Unfortunately, none breeds in Britain but we do get occasional visits from passage migrants; look for them at coastal migration hotspots in autumn after south-easterly winds. As a group, Hippolais warblers are superficially similar to Phylloscopus warblers but have proportionately large heads, a peaked rather than rounded crown, a relatively large, broad-based bill and pale lores.
    143714.jpg
  • The Melodious Warbler Hippolais polyglotta (L 12-13cm) occurs most regularly and recalls an outsized Willow Warbler. It has uniform olive-green upperparts with a brownish hue to the wings; the underparts (paler in juveniles than adults) are pale yellow, the colour most intense on the throat and breast. The legs are greyish brown and there is a pale eyering. Members of this interesting genus of warblers are summer visitors to mainland Europe. Unfortunately, none breeds in Britain but we do get occasional visits from passage migrants; look for them at coastal migration hotspots in autumn after south-easterly winds. As a group, Hippolais warblers are superficially similar to Phylloscopus warblers but have proportionately large heads, a peaked rather than rounded crown, a relatively large, broad-based bill and pale lores.
    143767.jpg
  • The Melodious Warbler Hippolais polyglotta (L 12-13cm) occurs most regularly and recalls an outsized Willow Warbler. It has uniform olive-green upperparts with a brownish hue to the wings; the underparts (paler in juveniles than adults) are pale yellow, the colour most intense on the throat and breast. The legs are greyish brown and there is a pale eyering. Members of this interesting genus of warblers are summer visitors to mainland Europe. Unfortunately, none breeds in Britain but we do get occasional visits from passage migrants; look for them at coastal migration hotspots in autumn after south-easterly winds. As a group, Hippolais warblers are superficially similar to Phylloscopus warblers but have proportionately large heads, a peaked rather than rounded crown, a relatively large, broad-based bill and pale lores.
    145356.jpg
  • The Melodious Warbler Hippolais polyglotta (L 12-13cm) occurs most regularly and recalls an outsized Willow Warbler. It has uniform olive-green upperparts with a brownish hue to the wings; the underparts (paler in juveniles than adults) are pale yellow, the colour most intense on the throat and breast. The legs are greyish brown and there is a pale eyering. Members of this interesting genus of warblers are summer visitors to mainland Europe. Unfortunately, none breeds in Britain but we do get occasional visits from passage migrants; look for them at coastal migration hotspots in autumn after south-easterly winds. As a group, Hippolais warblers are superficially similar to Phylloscopus warblers but have proportionately large heads, a peaked rather than rounded crown, a relatively large, broad-based bill and pale lores.
    145358.jpg