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  • Pomarine Skua Stercorarius pomarinus (L 42-50cm) shares some plumage similarities to Arctic Skua but is appreciably larger, with deep, powerful wingbeats, and long, spoon-shaped tail streamers in adults. Two adult forms occur: dark morph (uniformly dark) is seldom seen while pale morph is more regular; it has white neck and belly, dark grey-brown upperparts, yellow-flushed cheeks and a dark breast band. Juvenile has variably barred dark, grey-brown. Outer Hebrides and NW Ireland are migration hotspots for Pomarine Skuas.
    145628.jpg
  • Irish Yew - Taxus baccata ‘Fastigiata’ (Height to 25m) Differs from Common Yew in having a more columnar, upright form with ascending branches. Leaves, flowers and fruits are almost identical to those of Common Yew. Present-day plants of this variant are survivors of one of a pair of trees found in County Fermanagh, Ireland, in the mid-eighteenth century.
    157548.jpg
  • Irish Yew - Taxus baccata ‘Fastigiata’ (Height to 25m) Differs from Common Yew in having a more columnar, upright form with ascending branches. Leaves, flowers and fruits are almost identical to those of Common Yew. Present-day plants of this variant are survivors of one of a pair of trees found in County Fermanagh, Ireland, in the mid-eighteenth century.
    157547.jpg
  • Irish Yew - Taxus baccata ‘Fastigiata’ (Height to 25m) Differs from Common Yew in having a more columnar, upright form with ascending branches. Leaves, flowers and fruits are almost identical to those of Common Yew. Present-day plants of this variant are survivors of one of a pair of trees found in County Fermanagh, Ireland, in the mid-eighteenth century.
    157446.jpg
  • Black Guillemot Cepphus grylle - Winter plumage. L 34cm. Charming, coastal auk. Swims well and dives for Butterfish and other bottom-dwellers. Sexes are similar. Adult in summer has mainly sooty-brown plumage except for striking white patch on wing. Has red legs and orange-red gape. In winter, has scaly grey upperparts and white upperparts; black wings and contrasting white wing patch are retained. 1st winter bird is similar to a winter adult but white wing patch contains dark markings. Voice Utters high-pitched whistling calls. Status Local year-round resident in inshore waters of Ireland and N and W Scotland.
    155807.jpg
  • Black Guillemot Cepphus grylle - Winter plumage. L 34cm. Charming, coastal auk. Swims well and dives for Butterfish and other bottom-dwellers. Sexes are similar. Adult in summer has mainly sooty-brown plumage except for striking white patch on wing. Has red legs and orange-red gape. In winter, has scaly grey upperparts and white upperparts; black wings and contrasting white wing patch are retained. 1st winter bird is similar to a winter adult but white wing patch contains dark markings. Voice Utters high-pitched whistling calls. Status Local year-round resident in inshore waters of Ireland and N and W Scotland.
    155808.jpg
  • Black Guillemot Cepphus grylle - Winter plumage. L 34cm. Charming, coastal auk. Swims well and dives for Butterfish and other bottom-dwellers. Sexes are similar. Adult in summer has mainly sooty-brown plumage except for striking white patch on wing. Has red legs and orange-red gape. In winter, has scaly grey upperparts and white upperparts; black wings and contrasting white wing patch are retained. 1st winter bird is similar to a winter adult but white wing patch contains dark markings. Voice Utters high-pitched whistling calls. Status Local year-round resident in inshore waters of Ireland and N and W Scotland.
    155809.jpg
  • Black Guillemot - Cepphus grylle - winter plumage.  L 34cm. Charming, coastal auk. Swims well and dives for Butterfish and other bottom-dwellers. Sexes are similar. Adult in summer has mainly sooty-brown plumage except for striking white patch on wing. Has red legs and orange-red gape. In winter, has scaly grey upperparts and white upperparts; black wings and contrasting white wing patch are retained. 1st winter bird is similar to a winter adult but white wing patch contains dark markings. Voice Utters high-pitched whistling calls. Status Local year-round resident in inshore waters of Ireland and N and W Scotland.
    155810.jpg
  • Black Guillemot - Cepphus grylle - winter plumage.  L 34cm. Charming, coastal auk. Swims well and dives for Butterfish and other bottom-dwellers. Sexes are similar. Adult in summer has mainly sooty-brown plumage except for striking white patch on wing. Has red legs and orange-red gape. In winter, has scaly grey upperparts and white upperparts; black wings and contrasting white wing patch are retained. 1st winter bird is similar to a winter adult but white wing patch contains dark markings. Voice Utters high-pitched whistling calls. Status Local year-round resident in inshore waters of Ireland and N and W Scotland.
    155813.jpg
  • Sorbus anglica (Rosaceae) HEIGHT to 3m. Small shrub. LEAVES Ovate to obovate, lobed and toothed towards distal half; shiny above, whitish and downy below, 8-10 pairs of veins. REPRODUCTIVE PARTS Fruits crimson, to 12mm long, with small lenticels. STATUS AND DISTRIBUTION Restricted to hillsides in Wales, SW England and Ireland, mostly limestone.
    135420.jpg
  • Sorbus hibernica (Rosaceae) HEIGHT to 6m. A shrub or small tree. LEAVES Ovate to slightly obovate, with toothed lobes on distal half of leaf; whitish woolly below and leaves have 9-1 pairs of veins. REPRODUCTIVE PARTS Fruits are pinkish red, to 15mm long, with few lenticels. STATUS AND DISTRIBUTION Confined to areas of scrub and woodland on limestone in central Ireland.
    134741.jpg
  • Sorbus anglica (Rosaceae) HEIGHT to 3m. Small shrub. LEAVES Ovate to obovate, lobed and toothed towards distal half; shiny above, whitish and downy below, 8-10 pairs of veins. REPRODUCTIVE PARTS Fruits crimson, to 12mm long, with small lenticels. STATUS AND DISTRIBUTION Restricted to hillsides in Wales, SW England and Ireland, mostly limestone.
    134640.jpg
  • Irish Yew Taxus baccata ‘Fastigiata’ (Height to 25m) Differs from Common Yew in having a more columnar, upright form with ascending branches. Leaves, flowers and fruits are almost identical to those of Common Yew. Present-day plants of this variant are survivors of one of a pair of trees found in County Fermanagh, Ireland, in the mid-eighteenth century.
    134578.jpg
  • Pine Marten Martes martes Length 55-80cm Secretive and mainly nocturnal mammal. Diet includes small mammals, Rabbits, birds and frogs. Agile climber, capable of catching Red Squirrels. Adult has slender body and long, bushy tail. Head is pointed and ears are relatively large. Fur is thick, sleek and mainly dark orange-brown with creamy yellow throat patch. Mostly silent. Formerly widespread but widely persecuted and eradicated from many areas; now restricted mainly to remote parts of Scotland and Ireland. Favours broken ground, often with tree cover.
    142622.jpg
  • Pine Marten Martes martes Length 55-80cm Secretive and mainly nocturnal mammal. Diet includes small mammals, Rabbits, birds and frogs. Agile climber, capable of catching Red Squirrels. Adult has slender body and long, bushy tail. Head is pointed and ears are relatively large. Fur is thick, sleek and mainly dark orange-brown with creamy yellow throat patch. Mostly silent. Formerly widespread but widely persecuted and eradicated from many areas; now restricted mainly to remote parts of Scotland and Ireland. Favours broken ground, often with tree cover.
    142623.jpg
  • Pine Marten Martes martes Length 55-80cm Secretive and mainly nocturnal mammal. Diet includes small mammals, Rabbits, birds and frogs. Agile climber, capable of catching Red Squirrels. Adult has slender body and long, bushy tail. Head is pointed and ears are relatively large. Fur is thick, sleek and mainly dark orange-brown with creamy yellow throat patch. Mostly silent. Formerly widespread but widely persecuted and eradicated from many areas; now restricted mainly to remote parts of Scotland and Ireland. Favours broken ground, often with tree cover.
    144350.jpg
  • Pomarine Skua Stercorarius pomarinus (L 42-50cm) shares some plumage similarities to Arctic Skua but is appreciably larger, with deep, powerful wingbeats, and long, spoon-shaped tail streamers in adults. Two adult forms occur: dark morph (uniformly dark) is seldom seen while pale morph is more regular; it has white neck and belly, dark grey-brown upperparts, yellow-flushed cheeks and a dark breast band. Juvenile has variably barred dark, grey-brown. Outer Hebrides and NW Ireland are migration hotspots for Pomarine Skuas.
    120018.jpg
  • Black Guillemot Cepphus grylle L 34cm. Charming, coastal auk. Swims well and dives for Butterfish and other bottom-dwellers. Sexes are similar. Adult in summer has mainly sooty-brown plumage except for striking white patch on wing. Has red legs and orange-red gape. In winter, has scaly grey upperparts and white upperparts; black wings and contrasting white wing patch are retained. 1st winter bird is similar to a winter adult but white wing patch contains dark markings. Voice Utters high-pitched whistling calls. Status Local year-round resident in inshore waters of Ireland and N and W Scotland.
    127988.jpg
  • Black Guillemot Cepphus grylle L 34cm. Charming, coastal auk. Swims well and dives for Butterfish and other bottom-dwellers. Sexes are similar. Adult in summer has mainly sooty-brown plumage except for striking white patch on wing. Has red legs and orange-red gape. In winter, has scaly grey upperparts and white upperparts; black wings and contrasting white wing patch are retained. 1st winter bird is similar to a winter adult but white wing patch contains dark markings. Voice Utters high-pitched whistling calls. Status Local year-round resident in inshore waters of Ireland and N and W Scotland.
    128005.jpg
  • Black Guillemot Cepphus grylle L 34cm. Charming, coastal auk. Swims well and dives for Butterfish and other bottom-dwellers. Sexes are similar. Adult in summer has mainly sooty-brown plumage except for striking white patch on wing. Has red legs and orange-red gape. In winter, has scaly grey upperparts and white upperparts; black wings and contrasting white wing patch are retained. 1st winter bird is similar to a winter adult but white wing patch contains dark markings. Voice Utters high-pitched whistling calls. Status Local year-round resident in inshore waters of Ireland and N and W Scotland.
    127989.jpg
  • Black Guillemot Cepphus grylle L 34cm. Charming, coastal auk. Swims well and dives for Butterfish and other bottom-dwellers. Sexes are similar. Adult in summer has mainly sooty-brown plumage except for striking white patch on wing. Has red legs and orange-red gape. In winter, has scaly grey upperparts and white upperparts; black wings and contrasting white wing patch are retained. 1st winter bird is similar to a winter adult but white wing patch contains dark markings. Voice Utters high-pitched whistling calls. Status Local year-round resident in inshore waters of Ireland and N and W Scotland.
    143634.jpg
  • Pomarine Skua Stercorarius pomarinus (L 42-50cm) shares some plumage similarities to Arctic Skua but is appreciably larger, with deep, powerful wingbeats, and long, spoon-shaped tail streamers in adults. Two adult forms occur: dark morph (uniformly dark) is seldom seen while pale morph is more regular; it has white neck and belly, dark grey-brown upperparts, yellow-flushed cheeks and a dark breast band. Juvenile has variably barred dark, grey-brown. Outer Hebrides and NW Ireland are migration hotspots for Pomarine Skuas.
    144828.jpg
  • Pomarine Skua Stercorarius pomarinus (L 42-50cm) shares some plumage similarities to Arctic Skua but is appreciably larger, with deep, powerful wingbeats, and long, spoon-shaped tail streamers in adults. Two adult forms occur: dark morph (uniformly dark) is seldom seen while pale morph is more regular; it has white neck and belly, dark grey-brown upperparts, yellow-flushed cheeks and a dark breast band. Juvenile has variably barred dark, grey-brown. Outer Hebrides and NW Ireland are migration hotspots for Pomarine Skuas.
    145626.jpg
  • Pomarine Skua Stercorarius pomarinus (L 42-50cm) shares some plumage similarities to Arctic Skua but is appreciably larger, with deep, powerful wingbeats, and long, spoon-shaped tail streamers in adults. Two adult forms occur: dark morph (uniformly dark) is seldom seen while pale morph is more regular; it has white neck and belly, dark grey-brown upperparts, yellow-flushed cheeks and a dark breast band. Juvenile has variably barred dark, grey-brown. Outer Hebrides and NW Ireland are migration hotspots for Pomarine Skuas.
    145625.jpg
  • Pomarine Skua Stercorarius pomarinus (L 42-50cm) shares some plumage similarities to Arctic Skua but is appreciably larger, with deep, powerful wingbeats, and long, spoon-shaped tail streamers in adults. Two adult forms occur: dark morph (uniformly dark) is seldom seen while pale morph is more regular; it has white neck and belly, dark grey-brown upperparts, yellow-flushed cheeks and a dark breast band. Juvenile has variably barred dark, grey-brown. Outer Hebrides and NW Ireland are migration hotspots for Pomarine Skuas.
    145627.jpg
  • Irish Yew - Taxus baccata ‘Fastigiata’ (Height to 25m) Differs from Common Yew in having a more columnar, upright form with ascending branches. Leaves, flowers and fruits are almost identical to those of Common Yew. Present-day plants of this variant are survivors of one of a pair of trees found in County Fermanagh, Ireland, in the mid-eighteenth century.
    157547.jpg
  • Black Guillemot Cepphus grylle - Winter plumage. L 34cm. Charming, coastal auk. Swims well and dives for Butterfish and other bottom-dwellers. Sexes are similar. Adult in summer has mainly sooty-brown plumage except for striking white patch on wing. Has red legs and orange-red gape. In winter, has scaly grey upperparts and white upperparts; black wings and contrasting white wing patch are retained. 1st winter bird is similar to a winter adult but white wing patch contains dark markings. Voice Utters high-pitched whistling calls. Status Local year-round resident in inshore waters of Ireland and N and W Scotland.
    155806.jpg
  • Black Guillemot - Cepphus grylle - winter plumage.  L 34cm. Charming, coastal auk. Swims well and dives for Butterfish and other bottom-dwellers. Sexes are similar. Adult in summer has mainly sooty-brown plumage except for striking white patch on wing. Has red legs and orange-red gape. In winter, has scaly grey upperparts and white upperparts; black wings and contrasting white wing patch are retained. 1st winter bird is similar to a winter adult but white wing patch contains dark markings. Voice Utters high-pitched whistling calls. Status Local year-round resident in inshore waters of Ireland and N and W Scotland.
    155812.jpg
  • Chilean Incense Cedar Austrocedrus chilensis (Height to 15m) is similar to Incense Cedar Calocedrus decurrens but less regular in outline. Sprays of foliage are very flattened and do not always show the white stripes seen in Incense Cedar. More tender and shorter-lived than Incense Cedar, so only thrives in the west of Britain and Ireland.
    135045.jpg
  • Chilean Incense Cedar Austrocedrus chilensis (Height to 15m) is similar to Incense Cedar Calocedrus decurrens but less regular in outline. Sprays of foliage are very flattened and do not always show the white stripes seen in Incense Cedar. More tender and shorter-lived than Incense Cedar, so only thrives in the west of Britain and Ireland.
    135044.jpg
  • Chilean Incense Cedar Austrocedrus chilensis (Height to 15m) is similar to Incense Cedar Calocedrus decurrens but less regular in outline. Sprays of foliage are very flattened and do not always show the white stripes seen in Incense Cedar. More tender and shorter-lived than Incense Cedar, so only thrives in the west of Britain and Ireland.
    134964.jpg
  • Sorbus anglica (Rosaceae) HEIGHT to 3m. Small shrub. LEAVES Ovate to obovate, lobed and toothed towards distal half; shiny above, whitish and downy below, 8-10 pairs of veins. REPRODUCTIVE PARTS Fruits crimson, to 12mm long, with small lenticels. STATUS AND DISTRIBUTION Restricted to hillsides in Wales, SW England and Ireland, mostly limestone.
    132659.jpg
  • Pine Marten Martes martes Length 55-80cm Secretive and mainly nocturnal mammal. Diet includes small mammals, Rabbits, birds and frogs. Agile climber, capable of catching Red Squirrels. Adult has slender body and long, bushy tail. Head is pointed and ears are relatively large. Fur is thick, sleek and mainly dark orange-brown with creamy yellow throat patch. Mostly silent. Formerly widespread but widely persecuted and eradicated from many areas; now restricted mainly to remote parts of Scotland and Ireland. Favours broken ground, often with tree cover.
    144349.jpg
  • Black Guillemot Cepphus grylle L 34cm. Charming, coastal auk. Swims well and dives for Butterfish and other bottom-dwellers. Sexes are similar. Adult in summer has mainly sooty-brown plumage except for striking white patch on wing. Has red legs and orange-red gape. In winter, has scaly grey upperparts and white upperparts; black wings and contrasting white wing patch are retained. 1st winter bird is similar to a winter adult but white wing patch contains dark markings. Voice Utters high-pitched whistling calls. Status Local year-round resident in inshore waters of Ireland and N and W Scotland.
    127987.jpg
  • Pomarine Skua Stercorarius pomarinus (L 42-50cm) shares some plumage similarities to Arctic Skua but is appreciably larger, with deep, powerful wingbeats, and long, spoon-shaped tail streamers in adults. Two adult forms occur: dark morph (uniformly dark) is seldom seen while pale morph is more regular; it has white neck and belly, dark grey-brown upperparts, yellow-flushed cheeks and a dark breast band. Juvenile has variably barred dark, grey-brown. Outer Hebrides and NW Ireland are migration hotspots for Pomarine Skuas.
    142533.jpg
  • Pomarine Skua Stercorarius pomarinus (L 42-50cm) shares some plumage similarities to Arctic Skua but is appreciably larger, with deep, powerful wingbeats, and long, spoon-shaped tail streamers in adults. Two adult forms occur: dark morph (uniformly dark) is seldom seen while pale morph is more regular; it has white neck and belly, dark grey-brown upperparts, yellow-flushed cheeks and a dark breast band. Juvenile has variably barred dark, grey-brown. Outer Hebrides and NW Ireland are migration hotspots for Pomarine Skuas.
    144848.jpg
  • Pomarine Skua Stercorarius pomarinus (L 42-50cm) shares some plumage similarities to Arctic Skua but is appreciably larger, with deep, powerful wingbeats, and long, spoon-shaped tail streamers in adults. Two adult forms occur: dark morph (uniformly dark) is seldom seen while pale morph is more regular; it has white neck and belly, dark grey-brown upperparts, yellow-flushed cheeks and a dark breast band. Juvenile has variably barred dark, grey-brown. Outer Hebrides and NW Ireland are migration hotspots for Pomarine Skuas.
    144847.jpg
  • Pomarine Skua Stercorarius pomarinus (L 42-50cm) shares some plumage similarities to Arctic Skua but is appreciably larger, with deep, powerful wingbeats, and long, spoon-shaped tail streamers in adults. Two adult forms occur: dark morph (uniformly dark) is seldom seen while pale morph is more regular; it has white neck and belly, dark grey-brown upperparts, yellow-flushed cheeks and a dark breast band. Juvenile has variably barred dark, grey-brown. Outer Hebrides and NW Ireland are migration hotspots for Pomarine Skuas.
    145652.jpg
  • Black Guillemot Cepphus grylle L 34cm. Charming, coastal auk. Swims well and dives for Butterfish and other bottom-dwellers. Sexes are similar. Adult in summer has mainly sooty-brown plumage except for striking white patch on wing. Has red legs and orange-red gape. In winter, has scaly grey upperparts and white upperparts; black wings and contrasting white wing patch are retained. 1st winter bird is similar to a winter adult but white wing patch contains dark markings. Voice Utters high-pitched whistling calls. Status Local year-round resident in inshore waters of Ireland and N and W Scotland.
    158063.jpg
  • Black Guillemot Cepphus grylle L 34cm. Charming, coastal auk. Swims well and dives for Butterfish and other bottom-dwellers. Sexes are similar. Adult in summer has mainly sooty-brown plumage except for striking white patch on wing. Has red legs and orange-red gape. In winter, has scaly grey upperparts and white upperparts; black wings and contrasting white wing patch are retained. 1st winter bird is similar to a winter adult but white wing patch contains dark markings. Voice Utters high-pitched whistling calls. Status Local year-round resident in inshore waters of Ireland and N and W Scotland.
    135784.jpg
  • Cryptic Wood White - Leptidea juvernica. Male (top) - female (bottom).
    156708.jpg
  • Arctic Skua Stercorarius parasiticus L 46cm. Aerobatic, graceful seabird with deep wingbeats and narrow, pointed wings. Food parasite of Arctic Tern and Kittiwake. Adult has wedge-shaped tail and pointed streamers. Sexes are similar but adults occur in two morphs. Adult pale phase has white neck, breast and belly, dark cap and otherwise grey-brown plumage. Note faint yellowish flush on cheeks. Adult dark phase is uniformly dark grey-brown. Juvenile is dark rufous brown. Voice Utters nasal calls near nest. Status Local summer visitor to Scottish coasts; coastal passage migrant elsewhere.
    145800.jpg
  • Arctic Skua Stercorarius parasiticus L 46cm. Aerobatic, graceful seabird with deep wingbeats and narrow, pointed wings. Food parasite of Arctic Tern and Kittiwake. Adult has wedge-shaped tail and pointed streamers. Sexes are similar but adults occur in two morphs. Adult pale phase has white neck, breast and belly, dark cap and otherwise grey-brown plumage. Note faint yellowish flush on cheeks. Adult dark phase is uniformly dark grey-brown. Juvenile is dark rufous brown. Voice Utters nasal calls near nest. Status Local summer visitor to Scottish coasts; coastal passage migrant elsewhere.
    145799.jpg
  • Pomarine Skua - Stercorarius pomarinus
    159827.jpg
  • Pomarine Skua - Stercorarius pomarinus
    159828.jpg
  • Pomarine Skua - Stercorarius pomarinus
    159826.jpg
  • Pomarine Skua - Stercorarius pomarinus
    159829.jpg
  • Goat Willow (Sallow) - Salix caprea (Salicaceae). HEIGHT to 12m. Depending on its situation this may be a multi-branched, dense, shrubby tree, or a taller tree with a straight, ridged stem and sparsely domed crown. SHOOTS Thick, stiff twigs are hairy at first, but become smoother and yellowish-brown with age. If the twigs have the bark peeled off they are smooth. (Compare with Grey Willow.) LEAVES Large, up to 12cm long and oval, with a short twisted point at the tip. The upper surface is dull green and slightly hairy, the lower surface is noticeably grey and woolly. The leaf margins have small, irregular teeth, and the short petiole sometimes has 2 ear-like sinuous stipules at its base. REPRODUCTIVE PARTS Male and female catkins, on separate trees, appear before the leaves, often very early in the spring in sheltered places. Measuring up to 2.5cm long, they are ovoid and covered with greyish silky hairs before opening; at this time, Goat Willow is often called ‘Pussy Willow’ because the silky-grey buds bear a fanciful resemblance to cats’ paws. When they open, the male catkins become bright yellow. Female catkins are greener and produce numerous silky-haired seeds. STATUS AND DISTRIBUTION A widespread and common native species in Britain and Ireland, occurring in woods, hedgerows and scrub, and often in drier places than other similar species.Goat Willow (Sallow) Salix caprea (Salicaceae) HEIGHT to 12m. Depending on its situation this may be a multi-branched, dense, shrubby tree, or a taller tree with a straight, ridged stem and sparsely domed crown. SHOOTS Thick, stiff twigs are hairy at first, but become smoother and yellowish-brown with age. If the twigs have the bark peeled off they are smooth. (Compare with Grey Willow.) LEAVES Large, up to 12cm long and oval, with a short twisted point at the tip. The upper surface is dull green and slightly hairy, the lower surface is noticeably grey and woolly. The leaf margins have small, irregular teeth, and the sho
    157425.jpg
  • Hooded Crow Corvus cornix has grubby grey body plumage with black wings and tail, a black head, throat and centre of the upper breast. It is found north and west of the Clyde-Dornoch line, and throughout Ireland and on the Isle of Man. All crows are wary birds that utter a harsh, slightly slurred creeaa-creeaa-creeaa call.
    158087.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
  • Collared Dove Streptopelia decaocto L 32cm. Relatively recent arrival to Britain and Ireland but now a familiar sight and sound in urban areas. Often seen in pairs. Sexes are similar. Adult has mainly sandy brown plumage with pinkish flush to head and underparts, and dark half-collar on nape. Black wingtips and white outer tail feathers are striking in flight. Bill is dark and legs are reddish. Juvenile is similar duller colours and lacks black half-collar. Voice Utters repetitive song comprising repeated oo-oo-oo phrase. Status Spread NW through Europe in 20th Century and first seen here in 1950s.
    158034.jpg
  • Lesser Horseshoe Bat Rhinolophus hipposideros Wingspan 19.5-25cm Smaller than Greater Horseshoe Bat but with similar facial appearance. Adult has fluffy fur, greyish brown above and paler below. Nostrils are surrounded by afleshy, horseshoe-shaped structure. Ears and wings are greyish brown. Audible squeaks heard at nursery colonies. Echolocates in 105-115kHz range. Favours open woodland, but also feeds along hedgerows; insect caught in flight and gleaned from foliage. Roosts in roofs and cellars summer, hibernates in caves and mines. Rare, restricted to SW England and W Ireland. Emerges from roosts at dusk and feeds throughout night.
    157707.jpg
  • Lesser Horseshoe Bat Rhinolophus hipposideros Wingspan 19.5-25cm Smaller than Greater Horseshoe Bat but with similar facial appearance. Adult has fluffy fur, greyish brown above and paler below. Nostrils are surrounded by afleshy, horseshoe-shaped structure. Ears and wings are greyish brown. Audible squeaks heard at nursery colonies. Echolocates in 105-115kHz range. Favours open woodland, but also feeds along hedgerows; insect caught in flight and gleaned from foliage. Roosts in roofs and cellars summer, hibernates in caves and mines. Rare, restricted to SW England and W Ireland. Emerges from roosts at dusk and feeds throughout night.
    157706.jpg
  • Grey Plover - Pluvialis squatarola. L 28cm. Plump-bodied coastal wader. Best known in winter plumage but breeding plumage sometimes seen in newly-arrived, or shortly-to-depart, migrants. In flight, note black ‘armpits’ on otherwise white underwings. Typically solitary. Sexes are similar. Adult in winter looks overall grey but upperparts are spangled with black and white and underparts are whitish. Legs and bill are dark. In summer plumage, has striking black underparts (sometimes rather mottled in females) separated from spangled grey upperparts by broad white band. Juvenile resembles winter adult but has buff wash to plumage. Voice Utters diagnostic, trisyllabic pee-oo-ee call, like a human wolf-whistle. Status Nests in high Arctic; coastal, non-breeding visitor to Britain and Ireland.
    157665.jpg
  • Irish Yew - Taxus baccata ‘Fastigiata’ (Height to 25m) Differs from Common Yew in having a more columnar, upright form with ascending branches. Leaves, flowers and fruits are almost identical to those of Common Yew. Present-day plants of this variant are survivors of one of a pair of trees found in County Fermanagh, Ireland, in the mid-eighteenth century.
    157549.jpg
  • Silver-washed Fritillary - Argynnis paphia - pupa. Wingspan 60mm. An iconic woodland butterfly associated with sunny rides and clearing; adults are often seen feeding on flowers of Bramble and thistles. Adult has orange-brown upperwings with black markings; underside of hindwing has silvery sheen. Flies June–August. Larva feed on violets.  Status Locally common woodland species in S and SW England and Ireland.
    157505.jpg
  • Common Pear (Cultivated Pear) - Pyrus communis (Rosaceae) HEIGHT to 20m. A normally upright and slender deciduous tree with a stout bole and a dense framework unless pruned. BARK Dark-brown and breaking up into small square plates. BRANCHES Ascending in young trees, but becoming more spreading in older specimens; some branches may bear a few spines. Young twigs are reddish-brown and sparsely hairy, but they become smoother with age. LEAVES Up to 8cm long, and usually oval to elliptic in shape, but there is always some variation; the margins have numerous small teeth, and the leaves are smooth and almost glossy when mature. REPRODUCTIVE PARTS The flowers are pure white and open before the leaves have fully expanded, typically two to four weeks earlier and cultivated apples flower in the same location. A pear orchard is a spectacular sight on a sunny spring day. The pear-shaped fruits may be up to 12cm long, with a soft, but slightly gritty, sweet-tasting flesh. STATUS AND DISTRIBUTION A native of western Asia originally, but cultivated for millennia and now widespread across Europe, including Britain and Ireland
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  • Goat Willow (Sallow) - Salix caprea (Salicaceae). HEIGHT to 12m. Depending on its situation this may be a multi-branched, dense, shrubby tree, or a taller tree with a straight, ridged stem and sparsely domed crown. SHOOTS Thick, stiff twigs are hairy at first, but become smoother and yellowish-brown with age. If the twigs have the bark peeled off they are smooth. (Compare with Grey Willow.) LEAVES Large, up to 12cm long and oval, with a short twisted point at the tip. The upper surface is dull green and slightly hairy, the lower surface is noticeably grey and woolly. The leaf margins have small, irregular teeth, and the short petiole sometimes has 2 ear-like sinuous stipules at its base. REPRODUCTIVE PARTS Male and female catkins, on separate trees, appear before the leaves, often very early in the spring in sheltered places. Measuring up to 2.5cm long, they are ovoid and covered with greyish silky hairs before opening; at this time, Goat Willow is often called ‘Pussy Willow’ because the silky-grey buds bear a fanciful resemblance to cats’ paws. When they open, the male catkins become bright yellow. Female catkins are greener and produce numerous silky-haired seeds. STATUS AND DISTRIBUTION A widespread and common native species in Britain and Ireland, occurring in woods, hedgerows and scrub, and often in drier places than other similar species.
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  • Yellow-legged Gull - Larus michahellis - summer adult. L 52-60cm. Similar plumage to Herring Gull but adult has yellow legs. Typically, consorts with other large gull species. Sexes are similar. Adult in summer has grey back and upperwings (darker than Herring Gull) with more black and less white in wingtips. In winter, similar, sometimes with small dark streaks on head. Juvenile and 1st winter have grey-brown back and wing coverts, and otherwise dark wings. Head, neck and underparts are streaked, are paler than similar age Herring Gull. Adult plumage acquired over 3 years. Voice Similar to Herring Gull but perhaps more nasal. Status S European counterpart of Herring Gull and a rather scarce non-breeding visitor to Britain and Ireland. Most frequent in winter.
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  • Yellow-legged Gull - Larus michahellis - 2nd winter. L 52-60cm. Similar plumage to Herring Gull but adult has yellow legs. Typically, consorts with other large gull species. Sexes are similar. Adult in summer has grey back and upperwings (darker than Herring Gull) with more black and less white in wingtips. In winter, similar, sometimes with small dark streaks on head. Juvenile and 1st winter have grey-brown back and wing coverts, and otherwise dark wings. Head, neck and underparts are streaked, are paler than similar age Herring Gull. Adult plumage acquired over 3 years. Voice Similar to Herring Gull but perhaps more nasal. Status S European counterpart of Herring Gull and a rather scarce non-breeding visitor to Britain and Ireland. Most frequent in winter.
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  • Yellow-legged Gull - Larus michahellis - summer adult. L 52-60cm. Similar plumage to Herring Gull but adult has yellow legs. Typically, consorts with other large gull species. Sexes are similar. Adult in summer has grey back and upperwings (darker than Herring Gull) with more black and less white in wingtips. In winter, similar, sometimes with small dark streaks on head. Juvenile and 1st winter have grey-brown back and wing coverts, and otherwise dark wings. Head, neck and underparts are streaked, are paler than similar age Herring Gull. Adult plumage acquired over 3 years. Voice Similar to Herring Gull but perhaps more nasal. Status S European counterpart of Herring Gull and a rather scarce non-breeding visitor to Britain and Ireland. Most frequent in winter.
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  • Yellow-legged Gull - Larus michahellis - summer adult. L 52-60cm. Similar plumage to Herring Gull but adult has yellow legs. Typically, consorts with other large gull species. Sexes are similar. Adult in summer has grey back and upperwings (darker than Herring Gull) with more black and less white in wingtips. In winter, similar, sometimes with small dark streaks on head. Juvenile and 1st winter have grey-brown back and wing coverts, and otherwise dark wings. Head, neck and underparts are streaked, are paler than similar age Herring Gull. Adult plumage acquired over 3 years. Voice Similar to Herring Gull but perhaps more nasal. Status S European counterpart of Herring Gull and a rather scarce non-breeding visitor to Britain and Ireland. Most frequent in winter.
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  • Silver-washed Fritillary - Argynnis paphia - male (top) - typical female (bottom left) - valezina female (bottom right). Wingspan 60mm. An iconic woodland butterfly associated with sunny rides and clearing; adults are often seen feeding on flowers of Bramble and thistles. Adult has orange-brown upperwings with black markings; underside of hindwing has silvery sheen. Flies June–August. Larva feed on violets.  Status Locally common woodland species in S and SW England and Ireland.
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  • Hop Trefoil - Trifolium campestre. Low-growing, hairy annual. Found in dry grassland. FLOWERS are 4-5mm long and yellow; borne in compact, rounded heads, 15mm across (May-Oct). FRUITS are pods, cloaked by brown dead flowers in hop-like heads. LEAVES are trifoliate; terminal leaflet has the longest stalk. STATUS-Widespread and generally common; local in N and Ireland.
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  • Silver-washed Fritillary - Argynnis paphia - larva. Wingspan 60mm. An iconic woodland butterfly associated with sunny rides and clearing; adults are often seen feeding on flowers of Bramble and thistles. Adult has orange-brown upperwings with black markings; underside of hindwing has silvery sheen. Flies June–August. Larva feed on violets.  Status Locally common woodland species in S and SW England and Ireland.
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  • Yellow-legged Gull - Larus michahellis - summer adult. L 52-60cm. Similar plumage to Herring Gull but adult has yellow legs. Typically, consorts with other large gull species. Sexes are similar. Adult in summer has grey back and upperwings (darker than Herring Gull) with more black and less white in wingtips. In winter, similar, sometimes with small dark streaks on head. Juvenile and 1st winter have grey-brown back and wing coverts, and otherwise dark wings. Head, neck and underparts are streaked, are paler than similar age Herring Gull. Adult plumage acquired over 3 years. Voice Similar to Herring Gull but perhaps more nasal. Status S European counterpart of Herring Gull and a rather scarce non-breeding visitor to Britain and Ireland. Most frequent in winter.
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  • Speckled Wood - Pararge aegeria - male (top row) - female (middle row) - ssp. insula from Scilly (bottom row). Wingspan 45mm. A familiar woodland and hedgerow butterfly that favours sunny glades; fond of basking. Adult has dark brown upperwings with pale markings; underwings are rufous brown with similar pattern to that seen on upperwings. Double-brooded: adults fly April–June and July–September. Larva feeds on grasses and is strictly nocturnal. Widespread but common only in southern England; local or absent further north and in Ireland.
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  • Small Blue - Cupido minimus - male (top row) - female (bottom row). Wingspan 25mm. Britain’s smallest butterfly; extremely active in sunshine, lethargic on overcast days. Adults have smoky-brown upperwings, those of males having a purplish iridescence; underwings of both sexes are grey with small black dots. Flies June–July. Larva is grub-like and feeds on Kidney Vetch. Very locally common in England, Wales and southern Ireland; usually associated with chalk grassland because of  larval foodplant’s requirements.
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  • Ringlet - Aphantopus hyperantus - male (top row) - female (bottom row). Wingspan 48mm. A distinctively dark grassland butterfly. Adult has sooty-brown wings that are darker in males than females; both upper and lower wings are marked with eyespots but the size and number are variable. Flies June–July. Larva feeds on grasses and is strictly nocturnal. Widespread and fairly common in Britain and Ireland as far north as southern Scotland. Associated with a wide range of grassland habitats.
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  • Large Heath - Coenonympha tullia - male, ssp. davus - Lake District (top row); <br />
female, ssp. davus - Lake District (2nd row); male, ssp. polydama - Scottish borders (3rd row); male, ssp. scotica - N Scotland (4th row). Hardy, upland butterfly. Adult seldom reveals upperwings; underside of hindwing is grey-brown while orange-brown forewing has a small eyespot. Flies June-July. Only flies in sunny weather and drops into vegetation the instant a cloud obscures the sun. Larva feeds on White Beak-sedge. Status Local on waterlogged acid moors from central Wales northwards; most widespread in Scotland, very local in Ireland.
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  • Gatekeeper - Maniola tithonius - male (top row) - female - bottom row. Wingspan 40mm. A classic hedgerow and wayside butterfly, and a sign that summer has arrived; often feeds on Bramble flowers. Adult has brown upperwings with broad orange patches and an eyespot with twin highlights on the forewing. Underside of hindwing is marbled brown and buffish-white; forewing has large orange patch with an eyespot. Flies July–Aug. Larva feeds on grasses and is nocturnal. Locally common in central and southern England and Wales, and southern Ireland.
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  • Large Heath - Coenonympha tullia - male, ssp. davus - Lake District (top row) - <br />
female, ssp. davus - Lake District (2nd row) - male, ssp. polydama - Scottish borders (3rd row). Hardy, upland butterfly. Adult seldom reveals upperwings; underside of hindwing is grey-brown while orange-brown forewing has a small eyespot. Flies June-July. Only flies in sunny weather and drops into vegetation the instant a cloud obscures the sun. Larva feeds on White Beak-sedge. Status Local on waterlogged acid moors from central Wales northwards; most widespread in Scotland, very local in Ireland.<br />
bottom row - male, ssp. scotica - NW Scotland
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  • Bar-tailed Godwit Limosa lapponica L 35-40cm. Large wader with long, slightly upturned bill. Looks shorter-legged than Black-tailed. In flight, note absence of wingbar on upperwing; white rump extends as wedge to lower back and tail is barred. Sexes are dissimilar in summer. Adult male in breeding plumage has reddish orange head, neck and underparts. Back is spangled grey, black and pale buff. Adult female in breeding plumage has buffish orange wash on head, neck and breast, pale belly and greyish back. Winter adult has grey-brown head, neck and upperparts; underparts are pale. Juvenile recalls winter adult but has buffish wash to head, neck and upperparts. Voice Utters a sharp kve-wee call in flight. Status Nests in Arctic; non-breeding visitor to coastal Britain and Ireland.
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  • Grey Plover Pluvialis squatarola L 28cm. Plump-bodied coastal wader. Best known in winter plumage but breeding plumage sometimes seen in newly-arrived, or shortly-to-depart, migrants. In flight, note black ‘armpits’ on otherwise white underwings. Typically solitary. Sexes are similar. Adult in winter looks overall grey but upperparts are spangled with black and white and underparts are whitish. Legs and bill are dark. In summer plumage, has striking black underparts (sometimes rather mottled in females) separated from spangled grey upperparts by broad white band. Juvenile resembles winter adult but has buff wash to plumage. Voice Utters diagnostic, trisyllabic pee-oo-ee call, like a human wolf-whistle. Status Nests in high Arctic; coastal, non-breeding visitor to Britain and Ireland.
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  • Pomarine Skua - Stercorarius pomarinus (L 42-50cm) shares some plumage similarities to Arctic Skua but is appreciably larger, with deep, powerful wingbeats, and long, spoon-shaped tail streamers in adults. Two adult forms occur: dark morph (uniformly dark) is seldom seen while pale morph is more regular; it has white neck and belly, dark grey-brown upperparts, yellow-flushed cheeks and a dark breast band. Juvenile has variably barred dark, grey-brown. Outer Hebrides and NW Ireland are migration hotspots for Pomarine Skuas.
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  • DOG’S MERCURY Mercurialis perennis (Euphorbiaceae) Height to 35cm. Hairy, creeping perennial with a foetid smell. Found in woodlands (sometimes forms carpets); also in limestone pavements. FLOWERS are yellowish are rather tiny; in open spikes on separate sex plants (Feb-Apr). FRUITS are hairy. LEAVES are oval, shiny and toothed. STATUS-Widespread and generally common but scarce in N Scotland and Ireland.
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  • Orange-tip - Anthocharis cardamines. Male (top) - female (bottom). Wingspan 40mm. A familiar spring butterfly, males of which are unmistakable. Adult has rounded wings. Forewing is dark-tipped but male has an adjacent orange patch. Underside of hindwing of both sexes is marbled green and white. Adult flies April–June. Larva is green with whitish counter shading; feeds mainly on Cuckoo-flower. Widespread in southern Britain and Ireland; associated with open woodland, verges, and rural gardens.
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  • Dark Red Helleborine - Epipactis atrorubens (Orchidaceae) Height to 60cm. Upright, downy and rather distinctive perennial that grows on limestone soils. FLOWERS comprise rather broad sepals and upper petals, and a broad heart-shaped lip, all of which are dark reddish purple; borne in spikes (Jun-Jul). FRUITS are pear-shaped and downy. LEAVES are oval and tinged purple. STATUS-Very local and restricted to N England, N Wales, NW Scotland and W Ireland.
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  • Dark Red Helleborine - Epipactis atrorubens (Orchidaceae) Height to 60cm. Upright, downy and rather distinctive perennial that grows on limestone soils. FLOWERS comprise rather broad sepals and upper petals, and a broad heart-shaped lip, all of which are dark reddish purple; borne in spikes (Jun-Jul). FRUITS are pear-shaped and downy. LEAVES are oval and tinged purple. STATUS-Very local and restricted to N England, N Wales, NW Scotland and W Ireland.
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  • Katsura Tree Cercidiphyllum japonicum (Cercidiphyllaceae) HEIGHT to 25m. Conical-crowned deciduous tree, sometimes with a single bole, more often with several main stems. BARK vertically fissured and peeling. LEAVES In opposite pairs, to 8cm long, rounded, with pointed tips and heart-shaped bases. Pink at first, turning green in summer, then red in autumn. REPRODUCTIVE PARTS Flowers are produced in leaf nodes in April. Male flowers are small clusters of reddish stamens, female flowers are darker-red clusters of styles. Fruits are claw-like bunches of 5cm-long pods which change from grey, through green, to brown. STATUS AND DISTRIBUTION Native of Japan, grown in Britain and Ireland for ornament.
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  • Cornish Elm Ulmus minor ssp. angustifolia (Ulmaceae) HEIGHT to 36m  Narrowly conical and rather open crown. BARK Grey-brown and scaly. BRANCHES Relatively few branches, lowest ones ascending steeply. LEAVES Oval, toothed and relatively small (to 6cm); smooth and leathery above, downy on the midrib below. Leaf is narrow and almost equatl at the base, sometimes concave and with a straight midrib. Petiole is 1cm long and downy. REPRODUCTIVE PARTS Papery fruits. STATUS AND DISTRIBUTION Restricted to Cornwall, W Devon; more local elsewhere in West Country and introduce to SW Ireland. Much reduced because of Dutch Elm Disease.
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  • Yellow-legged Gull - Larus cachinnans - 2nd winter/summer. L 52-60cm. Similar plumage to Herring Gull but adult has yellow legs. Typically, consorts with other large gull species. Sexes are similar. Adult in summer has grey back and upperwings (darker than Herring Gull) with more black and less white in wingtips. In winter, similar, sometimes with small dark streaks on head. Juvenile and 1st winter have grey-brown back and wing coverts, and otherwise dark wings. Head, neck and underparts are streaked, are paler than similar age Herring Gull. Adult plumage acquired over 3 years. Voice Similar to Herring Gull but perhaps more nasal. Status S European counterpart of Herring Gull and a rather scarce non-breeding visitor to Britain and Ireland. Most frequent in winter.
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  • Collared Dove Streptopelia decaocto L 32cm. Relatively recent arrival to Britain and Ireland but now a familiar sight and sound in urban areas. Often seen in pairs. Sexes are similar. Adult has mainly sandy brown plumage with pinkish flush to head and underparts, and dark half-collar on nape. Black wingtips and white outer tail feathers are striking in flight. Bill is dark and legs are reddish. Juvenile is similar duller colours and lacks black half-collar. Voice Utters repetitive song comprising repeated oo-oo-oo phrase. Status Spread NW through Europe in 20th Century and first seen here in 1950s.
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  • Peregrine Falco peregrinus W 95-115cm. One of our most impressive raptors. Soars on broad, bowed wings but stoops with wings swept back at phenomenal speed on prey such as pigeons. Sexes are similar but male is smaller than female. Adult has dark blue-grey upperparts and pale, barred underparts. Note dark mask on face and powerful, yellow legs and feet. In flight from above, looks uniformly dark grey although rump may appear paler; from below, pale underparts are barred and contrast between pale cheeks and throat, and dark moustache, is striking. Juvenile is similar to adult but upperparts are brownish while paler underparts are suffused with buffish orange. Voice Utters a loud kek-kek-kek… in alarm. Status Widespread resident in N and W Britain and Ireland. Population is recovering following crash caused by pesticide contamination in 1960s. Favours mountains and coastal cliffs but increasingly nests in towns and cities.
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  • Bar-tailed Godwit Limosa lapponica - Breeding male. L 35-40cm. Large wader with long, slightly upturned bill. Looks shorter-legged than Black-tailed. In flight, note absence of wingbar on upperwing; white rump extends as wedge to lower back and tail is barred. Sexes are dissimilar in summer. Adult male in breeding plumage has reddish orange head, neck and underparts. Back is spangled grey, black and pale buff. Adult female in breeding plumage has buffish orange wash on head, neck and breast, pale belly and greyish back. Winter adult has grey-brown head, neck and upperparts; underparts are pale. Juvenile recalls winter adult but has buffish wash to head, neck and upperparts. Voice Utters a sharp kve-wee call in flight. Status Nests in Arctic; non-breeding visitor to coastal Britain and Ireland.
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  • Bar-tailed Godwit Limosa lapponica L 35-40cm. Large wader with long, slightly upturned bill. Looks shorter-legged than Black-tailed. In flight, note absence of wingbar on upperwing; white rump extends as wedge to lower back and tail is barred. Sexes are dissimilar in summer. Adult male in breeding plumage has reddish orange head, neck and underparts. Back is spangled grey, black and pale buff. Adult female in breeding plumage has buffish orange wash on head, neck and breast, pale belly and greyish back. Winter adult has grey-brown head, neck and upperparts; underparts are pale. Juvenile recalls winter adult but has buffish wash to head, neck and upperparts. Voice Utters a sharp kve-wee call in flight. Status Nests in Arctic; non-breeding visitor to coastal Britain and Ireland.
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  • European White-fronted Goose - Anser albifrons albifrons - 1st winter.  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.
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  • Brent Goose - Branta bernicla - pale-bellied race - Wexford Wildfowl Reserve, Ireland. L 56-61cm. Our smallest goose – similar size to Shelduck. Subtle plumage patterns allow separation of two subspecies that winter here: Pale-bellied Brent B.b.hrota (breeds on Svalbard and Greenland) and Dark-bellied Brent B.b.bernicla (breeds in Russia). Seen in sizeable and noisy flocks. In flight, looks dark except for white rear end. All birds have a black bill and black legs. Sexes are similar. Adult Pale-bellied has blackish head, neck and breast; side of neck has narrow band of white feathers. Note neat division between dark breast and pale grey-buff belly. Back is uniform dark brownish grey. Adult Dark-bellied is similar but belly is darker and flanks are paler. Juveniles are similar to respective adults but note pale feather margins on back and absence of white markings on side of neck; white on neck is acquired in New Year. Voice Very vocal, uttering a nasal krrrut. Status Winter visitor to coasts.
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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.
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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.
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  • Hooded Crow Corvus cornix has grubby grey body plumage with black wings and tail, a black head, throat and centre of the upper breast. It is found north and west of the Clyde-Dornoch line, and throughout Ireland and on the Isle of Man. All crows are wary birds that utter a harsh, slightly slurred creeaa-creeaa-creeaa call.
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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.
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  • Peregrine Falco peregrinus W 95-115cm. One of our most impressive raptors. Soars on broad, bowed wings but stoops with wings swept back at phenomenal speed on prey such as pigeons. Sexes are similar but male is smaller than female. Adult has dark blue-grey upperparts and pale, barred underparts. Note dark mask on face and powerful, yellow legs and feet. In flight from above, looks uniformly dark grey although rump may appear paler; from below, pale underparts are barred and contrast between pale cheeks and throat, and dark moustache, is striking. Juvenile is similar to adult but upperparts are brownish while paler underparts are suffused with buffish orange. Voice Utters a loud kek-kek-kek… in alarm. Status Widespread resident in N and W Britain and Ireland. Population is recovering following crash caused by pesticide contamination in 1960s. Favours mountains and coastal cliffs but increasingly nests in towns and cities.
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  • Knot Calidris canutus L 25cm. Dumpy, robust wader. Forms large flocks in winter. Has white wingbar but otherwise lacks distinctive features in non-breeding plumage. Sexes are similar. Adult in winter has uniform grey upperparts and white underparts. Bill is dark and legs are dull yellowish green. In summer plumage (sometimes seen in late spring or early autumn) has orange-red face, neck and underparts; back is marked with black, red and grey. Legs and bill are dark. Juvenile resembles winter adult but has scaly-looking back and peachy flush to breast. Voice Utters a sharp kwet call. Status Non-breeding visitor to Britain and Ireland. Locally common in winter on estuaries and mudflats.
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  • Black-tailed Godwit - Limosa limosa - Winter Adult -  L 35-40cm. Large wader with long, slightly upturned bill. Looks shorter-legged than Black-tailed. In flight, note absence of wingbar on upperwing; white rump extends as wedge to lower back and tail is barred. Sexes are dissimilar in summer. Adult male in breeding plumage has reddish orange head, neck and underparts. Back is spangled grey, black and pale buff. Adult female in breeding plumage has buffish orange wash on head, neck and breast, pale belly and greyish back. Winter adult has grey-brown head, neck and upperparts; underparts are pale. Juvenile recalls winter adult but has buffish wash to head, neck and upperparts. Voice Utters a sharp kve-wee call in flight. Status Nests in Arctic; non-breeding visitor to coastal Britain and Ireland.
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  • Black-tailed Godwit - Limosa limosa - Winter Adults. L 35-40cm. Large wader with long, slightly upturned bill. Looks shorter-legged than Black-tailed. In flight, note absence of wingbar on upperwing; white rump extends as wedge to lower back and tail is barred. Sexes are dissimilar in summer. Adult male in breeding plumage has reddish orange head, neck and underparts. Back is spangled grey, black and pale buff. Adult female in breeding plumage has buffish orange wash on head, neck and breast, pale belly and greyish back. Winter adult has grey-brown head, neck and upperparts; underparts are pale. Juvenile recalls winter adult but has buffish wash to head, neck and upperparts. Voice Utters a sharp kve-wee call in flight. Status Nests in Arctic; non-breeding visitor to coastal Britain and Ireland.
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  • HARE’S-FOOT CLOVER Trifolium arvense (Fabaceae) - Lundy, Devon. Height to 25cm. Charming and distinctive annual that is covered in soft hairs. Found in dry, grassy areas, typically on sandy or gravelly soils. FLOWERS are pale pink and shorter than the filament-like calyx teeth; borne in dense egg-shaped to cylindrical heads, 2-3cm long (Jun-Sep). FRUITS are concealed by the calyx. LEAVES are trifoliate and comprise narrow leaflets that are barely toothed. STATUS-Widespread and locally common in England and Wales; absent from N Scotland and mainly coastal in Ireland.
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  • HARE’S-FOOT CLOVER Trifolium arvense (Fabaceae) - Lundy, Devon. Height to 25cm. Charming and distinctive annual that is covered in soft hairs. Found in dry, grassy areas, typically on sandy or gravelly soils. FLOWERS are pale pink and shorter than the filament-like calyx teeth; borne in dense egg-shaped to cylindrical heads, 2-3cm long (Jun-Sep). FRUITS are concealed by the calyx. LEAVES are trifoliate and comprise narrow leaflets that are barely toothed. STATUS-Widespread and locally common in England and Wales; absent from N Scotland and mainly coastal in Ireland.
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  • HARE’S-FOOT CLOVER Trifolium arvense (Fabaceae) - Lundy, Devon. Height to 25cm. Charming and distinctive annual that is covered in soft hairs. Found in dry, grassy areas, typically on sandy or gravelly soils. FLOWERS are pale pink and shorter than the filament-like calyx teeth; borne in dense egg-shaped to cylindrical heads, 2-3cm long (Jun-Sep). FRUITS are concealed by the calyx. LEAVES are trifoliate and comprise narrow leaflets that are barely toothed. STATUS-Widespread and locally common in England and Wales; absent from N Scotland and mainly coastal in Ireland.
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  • Round-leaved Crowfoot - Ranunculus omiophyllus (Ranunculaceae) Floating. Creeping annual or biennial. Favours damp, muddy places, often water seepages. FLOWERS are 8-12mm across and comprise 5 white petals, twice as long as sepals (May-Aug). FRUITS are borne in rounded heads. LEAVES are lobed and rounded. STATUS-Rather local and restricted mainly to S and W England and Wales, and S Ireland.
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