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  • Gannet Morus bassanus W 165-180cm. Our largest seabird. Has deep, powerful wingbeats and glides on stiffly held wings. Bill is large and dagger-like. Dives from a height to catch fish. Sexes are similar. Adult has mainly white plumage with black wingtips; head has buffish wash. Juvenile has dark brown plumage speckled with white dots in first year; adult plumage acquired over next 4 years. Voice Silent at sea; nesting birds utter grating calls. Status Very locally common (3/4 of world population breeds here). Nests colonially but otherwise strictly marine.
    137938.jpg
  • Gannet Morus bassanus W 165-180cm. Our largest seabird. Has deep, powerful wingbeats and glides on stiffly held wings. Bill is large and dagger-like. Dives from a height to catch fish. Sexes are similar. Adult has mainly white plumage with black wingtips; head has buffish wash. Juvenile has dark brown plumage speckled with white dots in first year; adult plumage acquired over next 4 years. Voice Silent at sea; nesting birds utter grating calls. Status Very locally common (3/4 of world population breeds here). Nests colonially but otherwise strictly marine.
    122244.jpg
  • Gannet Morus bassanus W 165-180cm. Our largest seabird. Has deep, powerful wingbeats and glides on stiffly held wings. Bill is large and dagger-like. Dives from a height to catch fish. Sexes are similar. Adult has mainly white plumage with black wingtips; head has buffish wash. Juvenile has dark brown plumage speckled with white dots in first year; adult plumage acquired over next 4 years. Voice Silent at sea; nesting birds utter grating calls. Status Very locally common (3/4 of world population breeds here). Nests colonially but otherwise strictly marine.
    143922.jpg
  • Sand Martin Riparia riparia - Collecting nesting material. L 12cm. Typically seen hawking for insects over water, sometimes even picking them off surface. Sexes are similar. Adult has sandy brown upperparts and mainly white underparts with brown breast band. Tail is short and forked. Juvenile is similar but has pale margins to back feathers. Voice Utters range of rasping twitters. Status Widespread summer visitor. Nests colonially, excavating burrows in sandy banks beside rivers and sand and gravel quarries.
    155717.jpg
  • Sand Martin Riparia riparia - Collecting nesting material. L 12cm. Typically seen hawking for insects over water, sometimes even picking them off surface. Sexes are similar. Adult has sandy brown upperparts and mainly white underparts with brown breast band. Tail is short and forked. Juvenile is similar but has pale margins to back feathers. Voice Utters range of rasping twitters. Status Widespread summer visitor. Nests colonially, excavating burrows in sandy banks beside rivers and sand and gravel quarries.
    155159.jpg
  • Gannet Morus bassanus W 165-180cm. Our largest seabird. Has deep, powerful wingbeats and glides on stiffly held wings. Bill is large and dagger-like. Dives from a height to catch fish. Sexes are similar. Adult has mainly white plumage with black wingtips; head has buffish wash. Juvenile has dark brown plumage speckled with white dots in first year; adult plumage acquired over next 4 years. Voice Silent at sea; nesting birds utter grating calls. Status Very locally common (3/4 of world population breeds here). Nests colonially but otherwise strictly marine.
    121954.jpg
  • Gannet Morus bassanus W 165-180cm. Our largest seabird. Has deep, powerful wingbeats and glides on stiffly held wings. Bill is large and dagger-like. Dives from a height to catch fish. Sexes are similar. Adult has mainly white plumage with black wingtips; head has buffish wash. Juvenile has dark brown plumage speckled with white dots in first year; adult plumage acquired over next 4 years. Voice Silent at sea; nesting birds utter grating calls. Status Very locally common (3/4 of world population breeds here). Nests colonially but otherwise strictly marine.
    143735.jpg
  • Kittiwake Rissa tridactyla L 38-42cm. A true seagull: non-breeding life spent entirely at sea. Sexes are similar. Adult has blue-grey back and upperwings with black wingtips; plumage is otherwise white. Bill is yellow; eye and legs are dark. In flight, wingtips look dipped in black ink. In winter, similar but head has grubby patches behind eye. Juvenile has black ‘V’ markings on upperwing; back and upperwing coverts are grey and note triangle of white on flight feathers, dark tip to tail, black half collar and dark markings on head; bill is dark. 1st winter is similar to juvenile but gradually loses dark half collar and black tail tip. Voice Utters diagnostic kittee-wake when nesting. Status Nests colonially on coastal cliff ledges but also dockside factories etc. Non-breeding period spent far out to sea.
    143982.jpg
  • Gannet Morus bassanus W 165-180cm. Our largest seabird. Has deep, powerful wingbeats and glides on stiffly held wings. Bill is large and dagger-like. Dives from a height to catch fish. Sexes are similar. Adult has mainly white plumage with black wingtips; head has buffish wash. Juvenile has dark brown plumage speckled with white dots in first year; adult plumage acquired over next 4 years. Voice Silent at sea; nesting birds utter grating calls. Status Very locally common (3/4 of world population breeds here). Nests colonially but otherwise strictly marine.
    143921.jpg
  • Dotterel Charadrius morinellus L 22cm. Beautiful and tame, pot-bellied mountain wader. Role-reversal seen when nesting: duller male incubates eggs. Adult female in summer has reddish orange breast and belly, black-bordered white collar, and blue-grey throat. Face is whitish and has white supercilium and dark cap; upperparts otherwise grey-brown, back feathers with brown margins. Legs are yellow. Adult male in summer is duller. Winter adult is grey buff with broad, pale buff supercilium and pale breast band. Juvenile is similar to winter adult but with scaly-looking back. Voice Utters a soft pierrr call. Status Rare migrant visitor, mainly to Scottish Highlands. Migrants linger briefly at traditional hilltops staging posts in England, or on coasts.
    143902.jpg
  • Dotterel Charadrius morinellus L 22cm. Beautiful and tame, pot-bellied mountain wader. Role-reversal seen when nesting: duller male incubates eggs. Adult female in summer has reddish orange breast and belly, black-bordered white collar, and blue-grey throat. Face is whitish and has white supercilium and dark cap; upperparts otherwise grey-brown, back feathers with brown margins. Legs are yellow. Adult male in summer is duller. Winter adult is grey buff with broad, pale buff supercilium and pale breast band. Juvenile is similar to winter adult but with scaly-looking back. Voice Utters a soft pierrr call. Status Rare migrant visitor, mainly to Scottish Highlands. Migrants linger briefly at traditional hilltops staging posts in England, or on coasts.
    143903.jpg
  • Hedychridium roseum - outside nesting chamber of its host Astata boops
    157116.jpg
  • Spoonbill Platalea leucorodia L 70-80cm. Unmistakable. Flattened, spoon-shaped bill is swept from side-to-side in shallow water to catch small fish and crustaceans. Sleeps with bill tucked under wings - confusion with Little Egret possible. Sexes are similar. Adult has whitish plumage and black bill with yellow tip; in breeding season, has crest and base of bill and breast are flushed yellow. Juvenile is similar but legs and bill are dull pink. Voice Mostly silent. Status Scarce nesting species and non-breeding visitor from mainland Europe. Most records are coastal.
    154343.jpg
  • Common Labyrinth Spider - Agelena labyrinthica - male cautiously approaching female in nesting funnel
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  • Great Blue Heron - Ardea herodias - adult displaying at nest site
    160553.jpg
  • Great Blue Heron - Ardea herodias - adult displaying at nest site
    160550.jpg
  • Fulmar Fulmarus glacialis W 105-110cm. Gull-like but recognised by tube nostrils and by stiffly held wings and effortless gliding flight. Swims buoyantly; gathers in groups where feeding is good. Sexes are similar. Adult typically has blue-grey upperwings and back. Head, underparts and tail are white. Has dark smudge around eye. Dark-phase (from Arctic) is blue-grey and seen occasionally. Juvenile is similar to adult. Voice Utters gurgling cackles and grunts. Status Locally common. Nests colonially on sea cliff ledges. Otherwise, seen gliding over sea.
    128755.jpg
  • Swallow Hirundo rustica L 19cm. Recognised in flight by pointed wings and long tail streamers. Sexes are similar but male has longer tail streamers than female. Adult has blue-black upperparts and white underparts except for dark chest band and brick-red throat and forecrown. Juvenile is similar but has shorter tail streamers and buff throat. Voice Utters sharp vit call in flight; male sings twittering song, often from overhead wires near nest. Status Common and widespread in summer. Usually nests in villages and farmyards, half cup-shaped mud nest typically sited under eaves or in barn. Migrants congregate over freshwater and roost in reedbeds.
    127177.jpg
  • House Martin Delichon rubica L 12-13cm. Recognised by overall black-and-white appearance and striking white rump. Sexes are similar. Adult has mainly blue-black upperparts with white rump; underparts are white. Juvenile is similar but underparts are grubby and upperparts are duller. Voice Utters distinctive prrrt call in flight. Twittering song often delivered from overhead wires near nest. Status Locally common summer visitor. Typically constructs hemi-spherical mud nest under house eaves and overhangs, in loose colonies. On migration, often feeds on insects and congregates over freshwater.
    107454.jpg
  • Harvest Mouse Micromys minutus Length 10-15cm Britain’s smallest rodent. In summer, constructs a tennis ball-sized spherical nest, woven among grass stems. Adult has tiny, compact body. Coat is mainly golden brown but throat, chest and belly are white. Ears are rounded and feet possess a good grip, essential for climbing; prehensile tail serves as fifth limb in this regard. Mostly silent. Once widespread and common (in England at least) in arable fields but now much reduced and confined to wildlife-managed meadows, bramble patches and dry reedbeds.
    128232.jpg
  • Rook Corvus frugilegus L 43-48cm. Familiar farmland bird. Feeds in large flocks (mainly on soil invertebrates) and occupies noisy colonial tree nest sites. Sexes are similar. Adult has black plumage with reddish-purple sheen. Bill is long, narrow and rather pointed; note bare patch of whitish skin at base. Juvenile is similar but skin at base of bill is feathered. Voice Utters a grating craah-craah-craah… call. Status Locally common resident, found mainly on farmland and grassland. Builds large twig nests in clumps of tall trees.
    144031.jpg
  • Rook Corvus frugilegus L 43-48cm. Familiar farmland bird. Feeds in large flocks (mainly on soil invertebrates) and occupies noisy colonial tree nest sites. Sexes are similar. Adult has black plumage with reddish-purple sheen. Bill is long, narrow and rather pointed; note bare patch of whitish skin at base. Juvenile is similar but skin at base of bill is feathered. Voice Utters a grating craah-craah-craah… call. Status Locally common resident, found mainly on farmland and grassland. Builds large twig nests in clumps of tall trees.
    144032.jpg
  • Bermuda Petrel - Pterodroma cahow - artificial nest burrow and chamber being examined by Jeremy Madeiros, warden of Nonsuch Island, with wooden 'baffle' to exclude White-tailed Tropicbirds from burrows
    155105.jpg
  • Ibisbill Nest - Ibidorhyncha struthersii
    126159.jpg
  • Black Redstart Phoenicurus ochruros (L 14cm) has benefited from urban sprawl and indeed often thrives in areas where industrial dereliction prevails. It is a bold bird that perches conspicuously, quivering striking red tail in an obvious manner. Adult males are particularly striking, with slate-grey body plumage darkest on the face and breast. By comparison, female and immature birds are rather drab, with mainly grey-brown body plumage. In a strange way, the Black Redstart’s song sometimes match its surroundings and includes curious crackling, static-like phrases. Between 50 and 100 pairs attempt to nest here each year but the species is more numerous as a passage migrant and occasional winter visitor to south coasts.
    120053.jpg
  • Female Hen Harrier (Circus cyaneus) at nest on moorland,Lochaber, Scotland, June
    143966.jpg
  • Cactus Wren - Campylorhynchus brunneicapillus - Adult at nest
    147556.jpg
  • Mistle Thrush Turdus viscivorus - at nest. L 27cm. Appreciably larger than Song Thrush. Unobtrusive but has distinctive call and song. Sexes are similar. Adult has grey-brown upperparts with hint of white wingbar. Underparts are pale with large dark spots and flanks are washed orange-buff. In flight, note white underwings and white tips to outer tail feathers. Juvenile is similar but back has white, teardrop-shaped spots. Voice Utters a loud, rattling alarm call. Song contains brief phrases and long pauses; often sung in dull weather. Status Fairly common resident of open woodland, parks and mature gardens.
    110125.jpg
  • Spotted Flycatcher Muscicapa striata - at nest with young. L 14cm. Charming, perky bird with unremarkable plumage. Recognised by upright posture and habit of making insect-catching aerial sorties from regular perches. Sexes are similar. Adult has grey-brown upperparts, streaked on crown, and pale greyish white underparts heavily streaked on breast. Juvenile is similar but has pale spots on back and dark spots on throat and breast. Voice Utters a thin tsee call. Song is simple and includes thin, call-like notes. Status Widespread summer visitor to open, sunny woodland, parks and gardens; often nests around habitation.
    154639.jpg
  • Pacific Golden-Plover - Pluvialis fulva - breeding male on nest
    150775.jpg
  • Nest box for Hazel Dormouse - Muscardinus avellanarius
    157382.jpg
  • Erecting nest boxes for Hazel Dormouse - Muscardinus avellanarius
    157378.jpg
  • Erecting nest boxes for Hazel Dormouse - Muscardinus avellanarius
    157376.jpg
  • Erecting nest boxes for Hazel Dormouse - Muscardinus avellanarius
    157375.jpg
  • Tree Sparrow Passer montanus L 13-14cm. Well-marked bird, rural counterpart of House Sparrow. Forms flocks outside breeding season and may feed with buntings and finches in fields. Sexes are similar. Adult has chestnut cap and striking black patch on otherwise whitish cheeks and side of head; note black bib. Underparts are otherwise greyish white. Back and wings are streaked brown; note white wingbars. Juvenile is similar but duller. Voice Utters chirps and sharp tik-tik in flight. Status Scarce and declining resident of untidy arable farms and rural villages. A tree-hole nester nad has benefited from provision of nest boxes.
    156439.jpg
  • Cuckoo Cuculus canorus - Young being fed by Dunnock. L 33-35cm. Secretive summer visitor with intriguing lifestyle. Heard more than seen. Recalls a Sparrowhawk in flight. Feeds mainly on hairy caterpillars. Sexes sometimes separable. Adult male, and most females have blue-grey head, neck and upperparts; underparts are white and barred. Some adult females are brown and barred on head, neck and upperparts; underparts are white with dark bars. Juvenile is similar to brown adult female but with white nape. Voice Male utters distinctive cuck-oo song; female has bubbling call. Status Local summer visitor. Range dictated by occurrence of songbirds used for nest parasitism; host species include Meadow Pipit, Dunnock and Reed Warbler.
    154631.jpg
  • Puffin Fratercula arctica L 30cm. Endearing seabird. Flies on narrow wings with whirring wingbeats. Swims well and dive frequently for fish. Sexes are similar. Adult in summer has mainly dark upperparts with dusky face; underparts are white. Legs are orange-red and bill is huge, flattened and marked with red, blue and yellow. In winter, similar but with dark grey face and smaller, duller bill. Juvenile is similar to winter adult but with small, dark and dull bill. Voice Utters groaning calls at nest. Status Locally common. Only comes ashore in breeding season. Colonial nester, excavating burrows in grassy cliffs. Only storm-driven, sick or oiled birds are seen near land in winter.
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  • Black-browed Albatross - Thalassarche melanophris - sat on nest, Saunders Island, Falkland Islands
    160467.jpg
  • Cuckoo - Cuculus canorus - with Reed Warbler foster parent. L 33-35cm. Secretive summer visitor with intriguing lifestyle. Heard more than seen. Recalls a Sparrowhawk in flight. Feeds mainly on hairy caterpillars. Sexes sometimes separable. Adult male, and most females have blue-grey head, neck and upperparts; underparts are white and barred. Some adult females are brown and barred on head, neck and upperparts; underparts are white with dark bars. Juvenile is similar to brown adult female but with white nape. Voice Male utters distinctive cuck-oo song; female has bubbling call. Status Local summer visitor. Range dictated by occurrence of songbirds used for nest parasitism; host species include Meadow Pipit, Dunnock and Reed Warbler.
    157681.jpg
  • Nest box for Hazel Dormouse - Muscardinus avellanarius
    157381.jpg
  • Nest box for Hazel Dormouse - Muscardinus avellanarius
    157380.jpg
  • Erecting nest boxes for Hazel Dormouse - Muscardinus avellanarius
    157377.jpg
  • Yellow-bellied Sapsucker - Sphyrapicus varius - Adult male in nest/Adult female on trunk
    153474.jpg
  • Reed Bunting - Emberiza schoeniclus - adult male at nest with chicks. L 14-15cm. Well-marked bird of wetland margins. Forms flocks outside breeding season. Sexes are dissimilar. Adult summer male has black head, throat and bib, and white collar and submoustachial stripe. Underparts are whitish with faint streaking, back is dark and wings have reddish brown feather margins. In all other plumages head has dark brown and buffish brown stripes and pale submoustachial stripe. Back has brown and buff stripes, wing feathers have reddish brown margin and pale underparts are streaked on flanks and breast. Males show hint of summer head pattern. Voice Utters a thin seeu call. Song is simple, chinking and repetitive. Status Locally common. In winter, flocks found on arable fields.
    154644.jpg
  • Wood Mouse Apodemus sylvaticus Length 15-22cm. Adult is a classic mouse-shape with pointed head, compact body and long tail. Coat is mainly yellowish brown above, with dark vertebral band along dorsal surface of head and body. Yellowish flank colour grades to whitish on underparts. Underground nest and tunnel network serve as a refuge. After dark, forages for seeds, nuts and fruits above ground; climbs well. Utters frantic squeals in distress. Common in woodland but also found in most other terrestrial habitats including scrub and gardens.
    109386.jpg
  • Harvest Mouse Micromys minutus Length 10-15cm Britain’s smallest rodent. In summer, constructs a tennis ball-sized spherical nest, woven among grass stems. Adult has tiny, compact body. Coat is mainly golden brown but throat, chest and belly are white. Ears are rounded and feet possess a good grip, essential for climbing; prehensile tail serves as fifth limb in this regard. Mostly silent. Once widespread and common (in England at least) in arable fields but now much reduced and confined to wildlife-managed meadows, bramble patches and dry reedbeds.
    113577.jpg
  • Eider Somateria mollissima L 50-70cm. Bulky seaduck with distinctive profile: wedge-shaped bill forms continuous line with slope of forehead. Gregarious for most of year. In summer, female flocks supervise ‘creche’ of youngsters. Sexes are dissimilar. Adult male has mainly black underparts and white upperparts, except for black cap, lime green nape and pinkish flush on breast. In eclipse, plumage is brown and black, with some white feathers on back, and pale stripe above eye. Adult female is brown with darker barring. Juvenile is similar to adult female but with pale stripe above eye. Voice Male utters endearing, cooing ah-whooo. Status Almost exclusively coastal. Nests close to seashore and feeds in inshore waters, diving for prey such as mussels.
    107603.jpg
  • Puffin Fratercula arctica L 30cm. Endearing seabird. Flies on narrow wings with whirring wingbeats. Swims well and dive frequently for fish. Sexes are similar. Adult in summer has mainly dark upperparts with dusky face; underparts are white. Legs are orange-red and bill is huge, flattened and marked with red, blue and yellow. In winter, similar but with dark grey face and smaller, duller bill. Juvenile is similar to winter adult but with small, dark and dull bill. Voice Utters groaning calls at nest. Status Locally common. Only comes ashore in breeding season. Colonial nester, excavating burrows in grassy cliffs. Only storm-driven, sick or oiled birds are seen near land in winter.
    137884.jpg
  • Anhinga - Anhinga anhinga - family on nest
    160464.jpg
  • Pacific Golden-Plover - Pluvialis fulva - breeding male doing nest distraction display
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  • Nest box for Hazel Dormouse - Muscardinus avellanarius
    157379.jpg
  • Erecting nest boxes for Hazel Dormouse - Muscardinus avellanarius
    157374.jpg
  • Cave Swallow - Petrochelidon fulva - adult at nest
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  • Cave Swallow - Petrochelidon fulva - adult at nest
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  • Cave Swallow - Petrochelidon fulva - adult at nest
    147838.jpg
  • Nightjar - Caprimulgus europeus - Chicks in nest. (L 24-27cm) may share nocturnal habits with owls but the similarities between these unrelated birds ends there. The Nightjar has a huge gape that it uses to catch flying moths. The species is hard to find in the daytime, thanks to its cryptic plumage and often observers have to satisfy themselves with the silhouette of a bird in flight: it looks long-winged and narrow-tailed. All birds have intricate brown, grey and black markings that, in combination, resemble tree bark; males have striking white patches near the wingtips and corners of the tail. Territorial males utter a distinctive churring song for hours on end, after dark. The Nightjar is a migrant visitor to the region, found mainly on lowland heathland (where it is easiest to find) and heather moors.
    156479.jpg
  • Curlew Numenius arquata - at nest. L 53-58cm. Large, distinctive wader with a long, downcurved bill. Call is evocative of lonely, windswept uplands during spring and summer, and coasts in winter. Sexes are similar although male has shorter bill than female. Adult has mainly grey-brown plumage, streaked and spotted on neck and underparts; belly is rather pale. Juvenile is similar but it looks overall more buffish brown, with fine streaks on neck and breast and appreciably shorter bill. Voice Utters a characteristic curlew call and bubbling song on breeding grounds. Status Locally common breeding species on N and upland habitats. Almost exclusively coastal outside breeding season.
    103846.jpg
  • Wren Troglodytes troglodytes - at nest. L 9-10cm. Tiny, dumpy bird that cocks tail upright. Unobtrusive and often creeps through low vegetation. Call is distinctive. Sexes are similar. Adult and juvenile have dark reddish brown upperparts with barring on wings and tail. Underparts are greyish white with buff wash to flanks; note striking, pale supercilium. Bill is needle-like and legs are reddish. Voice Utters a loud, rattling alarm call; warbling song ends in a trill. Status Widespread resident of all sorts of habitats with dense undergrowth.
    115891.jpg
  • Stonechat Saxicola torquata - Male at nest. L 12-13cm. Small, compact bird. When perched, flicks short, dark tail and utters harsh alarm call. Sexes are dissimilar. Adult male has blackish head, white on side of neck, and dark back. Breast is orange-red, grading into pale underparts. In autumn, pale feather fringes make head appear paler. Adult female is similar but colours are muted and plumage is more streaked. 1st winter bird has streaked sandy brown upperparts and head, and buffish orange underparts. Voice Utters harsh tchak call, like two pebbles knocked together. Song is rapid and warbling. Status Locally common heaths, commons and gorse-covered slopes near coast. Some dispersal, mainly to coasts, occurs in winter.
    120944.jpg
  • Greylag Goose Anser anser   on nest. L 75-90cm. Largest Anser goose and only one that breeds in Britain. Feral populations confuse species’ wild status. Compared to other ‘grey’ geese, bulky and more uniformly grey-brown. Pink legs and heavy, pinkish orange bill help with identification. In flight, pale forewings, rump and tail contrast with darker flight feathers. Sexes are similar. Adult is greyish with dark lines on side of neck, barring on flanks and pale margins to back feathers. Bill is pale-tipped. Juvenile is more uniformly grey-brown than adult and bill lacks pale tip. Voice Utters loud, honking calls. Status Locally common resident, mainly in N. Wild migrants boost numbers in winter. Favours wetlands and reservoirs with adjacent grassland.
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  • Red-legged Partridge Alectoris rufa - Adult at nest with chicks. L 32-34cm. Dumpy, well-marked gamebird. Forms small parties (covies), outside breeding season. Hunted and often wary. Prefers to run from danger but flies low on stiffly-held wings. Sexes are similar. Adult has red bill and legs, and white throat bordered with gorget of black spots. Plumage is otherwise mainly blue-grey and warm buff except for black and white barring on flanks. Juvenile has grey-buff plumage with hint of adult’s dark markings. Voice Utters a loud ke che-che, ke che-che… call. Status Introduced but well established, mainly on arable farmland with mature hedgerows and scattered woods.
    154637.jpg
  • Harvest Mouse Micromys minutus Length 10-15cm Britain’s smallest rodent. In summer, constructs a tennis ball-sized spherical nest, woven among grass stems. Adult has tiny, compact body. Coat is mainly golden brown but throat, chest and belly are white. Ears are rounded and feet possess a good grip, essential for climbing; prehensile tail serves as fifth limb in this regard. Mostly silent. Once widespread and common (in England at least) in arable fields but now much reduced and confined to wildlife-managed meadows, bramble patches and dry reedbeds.
    127593.jpg
  • Hazel Dormouse Muscardinus avellanarius Length 13-17cm Nocturnal small mammal and an iconic conservation symbol. Mainly arboreal and hibernates in winter. Nests are made mainly from shredded Honeysuckle bark. Adult has mainly golden brown coat with paler throat and belly. Note the large, beady eyes and rounded ears. Feet have flexible toes, used when climbing; tail has coating of golden fur. Mainly silent. A woodland species. Thrives best where mature oaks, coppiced Hazel and Honeysuckle grow together. Local and threatened by habitat destruction and degradation.
    128231.jpg
  • Cuckoo Cuculus canorus L 33-35cm. Secretive summer visitor with intriguing lifestyle. Heard more than seen. Recalls a Sparrowhawk in flight. Feeds mainly on hairy caterpillars. Sexes sometimes separable. Adult male, and most females have blue-grey head, neck and upperparts; underparts are white and barred. Some adult females are brown and barred on head, neck and upperparts; underparts are white with dark bars. Juvenile is similar to brown adult female but with white nape. Voice Male utters distinctive cuck-oo song; female has bubbling call. Status Local summer visitor. Range dictated by occurrence of songbirds used for nest parasitism; host species include Meadow Pipit, Dunnock and Reed Warbler.
    111807.jpg
  • HEN HARRIER Circus cyaneus Female at nest with young. Wingspan 100-120cm. Britain’s most familiar harrier, usually seen gliding at slow speed, low over the ground. Adult male has pale blue-grey plumage except for white belly, white rump and black wingtips. Adult female is brown with darker barring on wings and tail, streaking on body underparts, and a narrow white rump. Juvenile is similar to adult female but breast and wing coverts are brighter. Voice – mainly silent. Status and habitat – Breeds on upland moorland, winters on lowland heaths and near coasts.
    143968.jpg
  • HEN HARRIER Circus cyaneus Female with young at nest. Wingspan 100-120cm. Britain’s most familiar harrier, usually seen gliding at slow speed, low over the ground. Adult male has pale blue-grey plumage except for white belly, white rump and black wingtips. Adult female is brown with darker barring on wings and tail, streaking on body underparts, and a narrow white rump. Juvenile is similar to adult female but breast and wing coverts are brighter. Voice – mainly silent. Status and habitat – Breeds on upland moorland, winters on lowland heaths and near coasts.
    143970.jpg
  • HEN HARRIER Circus cyaneus Female at nest with young. Wingspan 100-120cm. Britain’s most familiar harrier, usually seen gliding at slow speed, low over the ground. Adult male has pale blue-grey plumage except for white belly, white rump and black wingtips. Adult female is brown with darker barring on wings and tail, streaking on body underparts, and a narrow white rump. Juvenile is similar to adult female but breast and wing coverts are brighter. Voice – mainly silent. Status and habitat – Breeds on upland moorland, winters on lowland heaths and near coasts.
    143980.jpg
  • HEN HARRIER Circus cyaneus Female at nest with young. Wingspan 100-120cm. Britain’s most familiar harrier, usually seen gliding at slow speed, low over the ground. Adult male has pale blue-grey plumage except for white belly, white rump and black wingtips. Adult female is brown with darker barring on wings and tail, streaking on body underparts, and a narrow white rump. Juvenile is similar to adult female but breast and wing coverts are brighter. Voice – mainly silent. Status and habitat – Breeds on upland moorland, winters on lowland heaths and near coasts.
    143981.jpg
  • Hazel Dormouse Muscardinus avellanarius Length 13-17cm Nocturnal small mammal and an iconic conservation symbol. Mainly arboreal and hibernates in winter. Nests are made mainly from shredded Honeysuckle bark. Adult has mainly golden brown coat with paler throat and belly. Note the large, beady eyes and rounded ears. Feet have flexible toes, used when climbing; tail has coating of golden fur. Mainly silent. A woodland species. Thrives best where mature oaks, coppiced Hazel and Honeysuckle grow together. Local and threatened by habitat destruction and degradation.
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  • Starling - Sturnus vulgaris - breeding adult. L 20-22cm. Familiar urban and rural bird with swaggering walk. Forms large flocks outside breeding season. Sexes are separable in summer. Adult male in summer has dark plumage with iridescence seen in good light. Legs are reddish and bill is yellow with blue base to lower mandible. Adult female in summer is similar but has some pale spots on underparts and pale yellow base to lower mandible. Winter adult (both sexes) has numerous white spots adorning dark plumage and dark bill. Juvenile is grey-brown, palest on throat; bill is dark; spotted body plumage acquired in winter. Voice Varied repertoire of clicks and whistles including mimicry. Status Widespread and common but declining. Found in all kinds of open habitats in winter. Often nests in house roofs.
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  • Swift Apus apus L 16-17cm. Invariably seen in flight: has anchor-shaped outline and mainly dark plumage. Catches insects on the wing. Sexes are similar. Adult has mainly blackish brown plumage with pale throat. Tail is forked but often held closed in active flight. Juvenile is overall darker but throat and forehead are paler. Voice Loud screaming calls uttered in flight. Status Locally common summer visitor. Nests in churches and loft spaces. Feeding birds gather where insects are numerous. Observation tips Easy to see in late spring in villages and towns. Most adults leave Britain in August.
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  • Black-browed Albatross - Thalassarche melanophris - adult on nest
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  • Hazel Dormouse Muscardinus avellanarius Length 13-17cm Nocturnal small mammal and an iconic conservation symbol. Mainly arboreal and hibernates in winter. Nests are made mainly from shredded Honeysuckle bark. Adult has mainly golden brown coat with paler throat and belly. Note the large, beady eyes and rounded ears. Feet have flexible toes, used when climbing; tail has coating of golden fur. Mainly silent. A woodland species. Thrives best where mature oaks, coppiced Hazel and Honeysuckle grow together. Local and threatened by habitat destruction and degradation.
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  • Hazel Dormouse Muscardinus avellanarius Length 13-17cm Nocturnal small mammal and an iconic conservation symbol. Mainly arboreal and hibernates in winter. Nests are made mainly from shredded Honeysuckle bark. Adult has mainly golden brown coat with paler throat and belly. Note the large, beady eyes and rounded ears. Feet have flexible toes, used when climbing; tail has coating of golden fur. Mainly silent. A woodland species. Thrives best where mature oaks, coppiced Hazel and Honeysuckle grow together. Local and threatened by habitat destruction and degradation.
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  • Hazel Dormouse Muscardinus avellanarius Length 13-17cm Nocturnal small mammal and an iconic conservation symbol. Mainly arboreal and hibernates in winter. Nests are made mainly from shredded Honeysuckle bark. Adult has mainly golden brown coat with paler throat and belly. Note the large, beady eyes and rounded ears. Feet have flexible toes, used when climbing; tail has coating of golden fur. Mainly silent. A woodland species. Thrives best where mature oaks, coppiced Hazel and Honeysuckle grow together. Local and threatened by habitat destruction and degradation.
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  • Spotted Flycatcher Muscicapa striata L 14cm. Charming, perky bird with unremarkable plumage. Recognised by upright posture and habit of making insect-catching aerial sorties from regular perches. Sexes are similar. Adult has grey-brown upperparts, streaked on crown, and pale greyish white underparts heavily streaked on breast. Juvenile is similar but has pale spots on back and dark spots on throat and breast. Voice Utters a thin tsee call. Song is simple and includes thin, call-like notes. Status Widespread summer visitor to open, sunny woodland, parks and gardens; often nests around habitation.
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  • Mute Swan Cygnus olor L 150-160cm. Large, distinctive water bird and a familiar sight. Swimming birds hold long neck in an elegant curve. Family groups are a feature of lowland lakes in spring. Typically tolerant of people. In flight, shallow, powerful wingbeats produce and characteristic, throbbing whine. Sexes are similar but bill’s basal knob is largest in males. Adult has white plumage although crown may have orange-buff suffusion. Bill is orange-red with black base. Juvenile has grubby grey-brown plumage and dull pinkish grey bill. Voice Mostly silent. Status Our commonest swan; the only resident species. Found on freshwater habitats besides which it nests; in winter, also on sheltered coasts.
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  • Mute Swan Cygnus olor L 150-160cm. Large, distinctive water bird and a familiar sight. Swimming birds hold long neck in an elegant curve. Family groups are a feature of lowland lakes in spring. Typically tolerant of people. In flight, shallow, powerful wingbeats produce and characteristic, throbbing whine. Sexes are similar but bill’s basal knob is largest in males. Adult has white plumage although crown may have orange-buff suffusion. Bill is orange-red with black base. Juvenile has grubby grey-brown plumage and dull pinkish grey bill. Voice Mostly silent. Status Our commonest swan; the only resident species. Found on freshwater habitats besides which it nests; in winter, also on sheltered coasts.
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  • Mute Swan Cygnus olor L 150-160cm. Large, distinctive water bird and a familiar sight. Swimming birds hold long neck in an elegant curve. Family groups are a feature of lowland lakes in spring. Typically tolerant of people. In flight, shallow, powerful wingbeats produce and characteristic, throbbing whine. Sexes are similar but bill’s basal knob is largest in males. Adult has white plumage although crown may have orange-buff suffusion. Bill is orange-red with black base. Juvenile has grubby grey-brown plumage and dull pinkish grey bill. Voice Mostly silent. Status Our commonest swan; the only resident species. Found on freshwater habitats besides which it nests; in winter, also on sheltered coasts.
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  • Osprey Pandion halieaetus W 145-160cm. The classic fish-eating raptor. Can look gull-like in flight but fishing technique is unmistakable: hovers, then plunges talons first into water. Sexes are similar. Adult has mainly brown upperparts, except for pale crown; underparts are mainly whitish with darker chest band. In flight from below, looks pale overall with dark carpal patches, dark band along base of flight feathers and dark terminal band on barred tail. Juvenile is similar to adult but darker markings are less distinct. Voice Utters various whistling calls. Status Migrant visitor, seldom seen far from water even on migration. Nests close to large waterbodies, mainly in N. Breeding range is gradually extending S; also introduced in places (notably Rutland Water). Passage migrants sometimes linger for a few days at fish-rich lakes and flooded gravel pits.
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  • Osprey Pandion halieaetus W 145-160cm. The classic fish-eating raptor. Can look gull-like in flight but fishing technique is unmistakable: hovers, then plunges talons first into water. Sexes are similar. Adult has mainly brown upperparts, except for pale crown; underparts are mainly whitish with darker chest band. In flight from below, looks pale overall with dark carpal patches, dark band along base of flight feathers and dark terminal band on barred tail. Juvenile is similar to adult but darker markings are less distinct. Voice Utters various whistling calls. Status Migrant visitor, seldom seen far from water even on migration. Nests close to large waterbodies, mainly in N. Breeding range is gradually extending S; also introduced in places (notably Rutland Water). Passage migrants sometimes linger for a few days at fish-rich lakes and flooded gravel pits.
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  • Osprey Pandion halieaetus W 145-160cm. The classic fish-eating raptor. Can look gull-like in flight but fishing technique is unmistakable: hovers, then plunges talons first into water. Sexes are similar. Adult has mainly brown upperparts, except for pale crown; underparts are mainly whitish with darker chest band. In flight from below, looks pale overall with dark carpal patches, dark band along base of flight feathers and dark terminal band on barred tail. Juvenile is similar to adult but darker markings are less distinct. Voice Utters various whistling calls. Status Migrant visitor, seldom seen far from water even on migration. Nests close to large waterbodies, mainly in N. Breeding range is gradually extending S; also introduced in places (notably Rutland Water). Passage migrants sometimes linger for a few days at fish-rich lakes and flooded gravel pits.
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  • Fulmar Fulmarus glacialis W 105-110cm. Gull-like but recognised by tube nostrils and by stiffly held wings and effortless gliding flight. Swims buoyantly; gathers in groups where feeding is good. Sexes are similar. Adult typically has blue-grey upperwings and back. Head, underparts and tail are white. Has dark smudge around eye. Dark-phase (from Arctic) is blue-grey and seen occasionally. Juvenile is similar to adult. Voice Utters gurgling cackles and grunts. Status Locally common. Nests colonially on sea cliff ledges. Otherwise, seen gliding over sea.
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  • Hazel Dormouse Muscardinus avellanarius Length 13-17cm Nocturnal small mammal and an iconic conservation symbol. Mainly arboreal and hibernates in winter. Nests are made mainly from shredded Honeysuckle bark. Adult has mainly golden brown coat with paler throat and belly. Note the large, beady eyes and rounded ears. Feet have flexible toes, used when climbing; tail has coating of golden fur. Mainly silent. A woodland species. Thrives best where mature oaks, coppiced Hazel and Honeysuckle grow together. Local and threatened by habitat destruction and degradation.
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  • Hazel Dormouse Muscardinus avellanarius Length 13-17cm Nocturnal small mammal and an iconic conservation symbol. Mainly arboreal and hibernates in winter. Nests are made mainly from shredded Honeysuckle bark. Adult has mainly golden brown coat with paler throat and belly. Note the large, beady eyes and rounded ears. Feet have flexible toes, used when climbing; tail has coating of golden fur. Mainly silent. A woodland species. Thrives best where mature oaks, coppiced Hazel and Honeysuckle grow together. Local and threatened by habitat destruction and degradation.
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  • Little Owl Athene noctua L 22cm. Our smallest owl. Has large-headed, short-tailed and overall dumpy silhouette. Partly diurnal and seen perched on fenceposts and dead branches. Sometimes bobs head and body when agitated. Sexes are similar. Adult has brown upperparts with whitish spots; pale underparts have dark streaks. Note yellow eyes. Juvenile is duller and lacks spots on head. Voice Calls include cat-like kiu, uttered repeatedly in early evening. Status Introduced from mainland Europe in 19th Century. Now widespread and fairly common in S Britain. Nests in tree holes and cavities in stone walls.
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  • Little Owl Athene noctua L 22cm. Our smallest owl. Has large-headed, short-tailed and overall dumpy silhouette. Partly diurnal and seen perched on fenceposts and dead branches. Sometimes bobs head and body when agitated. Sexes are similar. Adult has brown upperparts with whitish spots; pale underparts have dark streaks. Note yellow eyes. Juvenile is duller and lacks spots on head. Voice Calls include cat-like kiu, uttered repeatedly in early evening. Status Introduced from mainland Europe in 19th Century. Now widespread and fairly common in S Britain. Nests in tree holes and cavities in stone walls.
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  • Sand Martin Riparia riparia L 12cm. Typically seen hawking for insects over water, sometimes even picking them off surface. Sexes are similar. Adult has sandy brown upperparts and mainly white underparts with brown breast band. Tail is short and forked. Juvenile is similar but has pale margins to back feathers. Voice Utters range of rasping twitters. Status Widespread summer visitor. Nests colonially, excavating burrows in sandy banks beside rivers and sand and gravel quarries.
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  • Ringed Plover Charadrius hiaticula L 17-19cm. Small, dumpy coastal wader. Runs at speed before pausing and picking food item from ground. Note white wingbar in flight. Sexes are separable. Adult male in summer has sandy brown upperparts and white underparts with black breast band and collar. Has black and white markings on face, and white throat and nape. Legs are orange-yellow and bill is orange with dark tip. Adult female in summer is similar but black elements of plumage are duller. Winter adult is similar to summer adult but most black elements of plumage are sandy brown, and has pale supercilium. Leg and bill colours are dull. Juvenile is similar to winter adult but breast band is often incomplete. Voice Utters a soft tuu-eep call. Status Locally common. Nests mainly on sandy or shingle beached, sometimes inland. Coastal outside breeding season; numbers boosted by migrants from Europe.
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  • Razorbill Alca torda L 41cm. Bulky seabird with distinctive bill and essentially black and white plumage. Swims well and flies on whirring wingbeats. Sexes are similar. Adult in summer has black head, neck and upperparts, and white underparts; note white wingbar. Bill is large and flattened with vertical ridges and white lines. In winter, similar but throat and cheeks are white and bill is smaller. Voice Mostly silent. Status Locally common on rocky coast seabird colonies in W and N. Nests under boulders and in crevices on cliff ledges. Pelagic outside breeding season; healthy birds seldom seen close to land. Vulnerable to oil spills.
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  • Osprey Pandion halieaetus W 145-160cm. The classic fish-eating raptor. Can look gull-like in flight but fishing technique is unmistakable: hovers, then plunges talons first into water. Sexes are similar. Adult has mainly brown upperparts, except for pale crown; underparts are mainly whitish with darker chest band. In flight from below, looks pale overall with dark carpal patches, dark band along base of flight feathers and dark terminal band on barred tail. Juvenile is similar to adult but darker markings are less distinct. Voice Utters various whistling calls. Status Migrant visitor, seldom seen far from water even on migration. Nests close to large waterbodies, mainly in N. Breeding range is gradually extending S; also introduced in places (notably Rutland Water). Passage migrants sometimes linger for a few days at fish-rich lakes and flooded gravel pits.
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  • Mute Swan Cygnus olor L 150-160cm. Large, distinctive water bird and a familiar sight. Swimming birds hold long neck in an elegant curve. Family groups are a feature of lowland lakes in spring. Typically tolerant of people. In flight, shallow, powerful wingbeats produce and characteristic, throbbing whine. Sexes are similar but bill’s basal knob is largest in males. Adult has white plumage although crown may have orange-buff suffusion. Bill is orange-red with black base. Juvenile has grubby grey-brown plumage and dull pinkish grey bill. Voice Mostly silent. Status Our commonest swan; the only resident species. Found on freshwater habitats besides which it nests; in winter, also on sheltered coasts.
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  • Harebell Carpenter Bee - Chelostoma campanularum - at sealed nest hole
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  • Great Egret - Ardea alba
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  • Osprey - Pandion haliaetus
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  • Osprey - Pandion haliaetus
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  • Great Egret - Ardea alba
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  • Purple Sandpiper Calidris maritima L 21cm. Plump-bodied wader. Unobtrusive but typically confiding. Legs are yellowish in all birds and bill has yellowish base. White wingbar seen in flight. Sexes are similar. Adult in winter is uniform blue-grey on head, breast and upperparts, darkest on back; belly is white and flanks are streaked. In summer plumage (sometimes seen in late spring) has reddish brown and black feathers on back and dark ear coverts on otherwise streaked grey-brown face. Juvenile recalls winter adult but feathers on back have pale margins creating scaly look; neck, breast and flanks are streaked. Voice Utters a sharp kwit call in flight. Status Handful of pairs breed in Scotland. Best known as a local non-breeding visitor to rocky shores and headlands.
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  • Robin Erithacus rubecula L 13-14cm. Distinctive bird. Garden-dwellers are bold and inquisitive. Sexes are similar. Adult has orange-red face, throat and breast, bordered by blue-grey on sides but with sharp demarcation from white belly. Upperparts are buffish brown with faint buff wingbar. Juvenile has brown upperparts, marked with buff spots and teardrop-shaped streaks; pale buff underparts have darker spots and crescent-shaped markings. Voice Song is plaintive and melancholy. Alarm call is a sharp tic. Status Widespread resident, commonest in S. Observation tips Easiest to find in gardens and parks.
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  • Great Egret - Ardea alba
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