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  • Canada Goose - Branta canadensis. L 95-105cm. Large, familiar goose with long neck and upright stance. All birds have blackish bill and dark legs. In flight, wings appear uniformly grey-brown while stern is white. Sexes are similar. Adult has white cheeks on otherwise black head and neck. Body is mainly grey-brown, darkest on back (pale feather margins creating barring) and palest on breast. Stern is white and tail is dark. Juvenile is similar but barring on back is less distinct. Voice Utters loud, disyllabic trumpeting calls in flight. Status Introduced but now our most widespread goose; commonest in lowland England, usually in vicinity of freshwater, often on nearby grassland.
    157651.jpg
  • Canada Goose Branta canadensis L 95-105cm. Large, familiar goose with long neck and upright stance. All birds have blackish bill and dark legs. In flight, wings appear uniformly grey-brown while stern is white. Sexes are similar. Adult has white cheeks on otherwise black head and neck. Body is mainly grey-brown, darkest on back (pale feather margins creating barring) and palest on breast. Stern is white and tail is dark. Juvenile is similar but barring on back is less distinct. Voice Utters loud, disyllabic trumpeting calls in flight. Status Introduced but now our most widespread goose; commonest in lowland England, usually in vicinity of freshwater, often on nearby grassland.
    157647.jpg
  • Canada Goose - Branta canadensis. L 95-105cm. Large, familiar goose with long neck and upright stance. All birds have blackish bill and dark legs. In flight, wings appear uniformly grey-brown while stern is white. Sexes are similar. Adult has white cheeks on otherwise black head and neck. Body is mainly grey-brown, darkest on back (pale feather margins creating barring) and palest on breast. Stern is white and tail is dark. Juvenile is similar but barring on back is less distinct. Voice Utters loud, disyllabic trumpeting calls in flight. Status Introduced but now our most widespread goose; commonest in lowland England, usually in vicinity of freshwater, often on nearby grassland.
    157646.jpg
  • Canada Goose - Branta canadensis. L 95-105cm. Large, familiar goose with long neck and upright stance. All birds have blackish bill and dark legs. In flight, wings appear uniformly grey-brown while stern is white. Sexes are similar. Adult has white cheeks on otherwise black head and neck. Body is mainly grey-brown, darkest on back (pale feather margins creating barring) and palest on breast. Stern is white and tail is dark. Juvenile is similar but barring on back is less distinct. Voice Utters loud, disyllabic trumpeting calls in flight. Status Introduced but now our most widespread goose; commonest in lowland England, usually in vicinity of freshwater, often on nearby grassland.
    157645.jpg
  • Canada Goose Branta canadensis L 95-105cm. Large, familiar goose with long neck and upright stance. All birds have blackish bill and dark legs. In flight, wings appear uniformly grey-brown while stern is white. Sexes are similar. Adult has white cheeks on otherwise black head and neck. Body is mainly grey-brown, darkest on back (pale feather margins creating barring) and palest on breast. Stern is white and tail is dark. Juvenile is similar but barring on back is less distinct. Voice Utters loud, disyllabic trumpeting calls in flight. Status Introduced but now our most widespread goose; commonest in lowland England, usually in vicinity of freshwater, often on nearby grassland.
    133406.jpg
  • Canada Goose Branta canadensis L 95-105cm. Large, familiar goose with long neck and upright stance. All birds have blackish bill and dark legs. In flight, wings appear uniformly grey-brown while stern is white. Sexes are similar. Adult has white cheeks on otherwise black head and neck. Body is mainly grey-brown, darkest on back (pale feather margins creating barring) and palest on breast. Stern is white and tail is dark. Juvenile is similar but barring on back is less distinct. Voice Utters loud, disyllabic trumpeting calls in flight. Status Introduced but now our most widespread goose; commonest in lowland England, usually in vicinity of freshwater, often on nearby grassland.
    133405.jpg
  • Canada Goose Branta canadensis L 95-105cm. Large, familiar goose with long neck and upright stance. All birds have blackish bill and dark legs. In flight, wings appear uniformly grey-brown while stern is white. Sexes are similar. Adult has white cheeks on otherwise black head and neck. Body is mainly grey-brown, darkest on back (pale feather margins creating barring) and palest on breast. Stern is white and tail is dark. Juvenile is similar but barring on back is less distinct. Voice Utters loud, disyllabic trumpeting calls in flight. Status Introduced but now our most widespread goose; commonest in lowland England, usually in vicinity of freshwater, often on nearby grassland.
    155942.jpg
  • Moorhen Gallinula chloropus L 32-35cm. Familiar wetland bird. Swims with jerky movements and constantly flicks its tail. Often tame on urban lakes. Sexes are similar. Adult can look all-dark but has dark blue-grey head, neck and underparts, and brownish back, wings and tail. Has yellow-tipped red bill and frontal shield, and yellow legs and long toes. Note white feathers on sides of undertail and a white line along flanks. Juvenile is greyish brown with white on throat, sides of undertail coverts, and along flanks. Voice Utters a loud kurrrk. Status Common resident on all sorts of wetland habitats, from village ponds to flooded gravel pits and lakes.
    155719.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
  • The Nightjar Caprimulgus europaeus (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.
    153713.jpg
  • Feral Pigeon or Rock Dove. Known by the scientific name Columba livia, these birds are essentially one and the same. The Feral Pigeon (L 33cm) is the domesticated descendant, and urban counterpart, of the Rock Dove, a shy bird of wild cliffs and coasts. Feral Pigeon occurs as variety of colour forms but true Rock Doves show little variation. Both form flocks. Sexes are similar. Adult and juvenile Rock Doves have blue-grey plumage, palest on upperwings and back, and flushed pinkish maroon on breast. Has two dark wingbars and dark-tipped tail. In flight, note small white rump; upperwings have dark trailing edge and narrow wingbar. Feral Pigeons occur in spectrum of colour forms from almost black to pure white. Some are very similar to ancestral Rock Dove. Voice Utters a range of cooing calls. Status Rock Dove is restricted to coasts and cliffs in N and W and is rather scarce. Feral Pigeon is abundant in towns and cities; occasionally seen on farmland and also in ancestral haunts.
    113261.jpg
  • Great Northern Diver Gavia immer L 75-85cm. Buoyant waterbird. Large bill is held level or very slightly elevated. Sexes are similar. Adult in summer has black neck with two rows of white stripes. Upperparts are blackish with white patches on mantle and spots elsewhere. Underparts are gleaming white. Bill is dark. In winter, has dark grey upperparts and whitish underparts with dark half collar on neck. Bill is greyish. Juvenile is similar to winter adult but slightly grubby-looking. Voice Silent in our region. Status Non-breeding visitor to coastal seas, favouring both rocky shores and large bay; occasional on inland reservoirs.
    126321.jpg
  • Great Northern Diver Gavia immer L 75-85cm. Buoyant waterbird. Large bill is held level or very slightly elevated. Sexes are similar. Adult in summer has black neck with two rows of white stripes. Upperparts are blackish with white patches on mantle and spots elsewhere. Underparts are gleaming white. Bill is dark. In winter, has dark grey upperparts and whitish underparts with dark half collar on neck. Bill is greyish. Juvenile is similar to winter adult but slightly grubby-looking. Voice Silent in our region. Status Non-breeding visitor to coastal seas, favouring both rocky shores and large bay; occasional on inland reservoirs.
    126326.jpg
  • Curlew Numenius arquata 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.
    143895.jpg
  • Curlew Numenius arquata 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.
    143897.jpg
  • 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.
    143989.jpg
  • Blackcap - Sylvia atricapilla - Female. L 14-15cm. Distinctive warbler with a musical song. Sexes are dissimilar. Adult male has grey-brown upperparts, dusky grey underparts, palest on throat and undertail, pale eyering and diagnostic black cap. Adult female and juveniles have grey-brown upperparts, pale buffish grey underparts (palest on throat and undertail) and reddish chestnut cap. Voice Utters a sharp tchek alarm call. Song is rich and musical warble; similar to Garden Warbler’s but contains jaunty phrases. Status Common summer visitor to deciduous woodland with dense undergrowth, scrub and mature gardens. Migrants from N Europe pass through in autumn and some remain throughout winter.
    157601.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
  • Badger Meles meles Length 65-80cm Distinctive nocturnal mammal. Daytime spent in tunnel complex (a sett). Omnivorous and opportunistic feeders. Facial markings are unmistakable and iconic. Adult has coarse fur, greyish on back and flanks, and blackish on underside and legs. Head is elongated into a snout marked with longitudinal black and white stripes. Legs are short, and blunt tail has a white tip. Mostly silent. Locally common where farmland, meadows and woods occur side by side; also occurs on fringes of suburbia.
    144236.jpg
  • Common Frog Rana temporaria Length 6-10cm Widespread amphibian. Adult male has smooth, moist skin. Usually olive-yellow or greyish brown with variable dark blotching and spots. Darker red animals occur in uplands. Eye has yellow iris with dark, oval pupil. Dark mask runs from eye to eardrum. Underparts are greyish white with faint darker marbling. Hind feet have five webbed toes. In breeding season, acquires bluish throat and swollen nuptial pads on innermost digit of front feet, used for gripping female when mating. Adult female is similar but larger with white granulations on the flanks. Juvenile, when newly metamorphosed resembles miniature adult but with large head. Male utters low-pitched croaking calls when courting. Found in a wide range of habitats if still water is present for breeding. Easy to see in early spring when courting.
    128098.jpg
  • Common Frog Rana temporaria Length 6-10cm Widespread amphibian. Adult male has smooth, moist skin. Usually olive-yellow or greyish brown with variable dark blotching and spots. Darker red animals occur in uplands. Eye has yellow iris with dark, oval pupil. Dark mask runs from eye to eardrum. Underparts are greyish white with faint darker marbling. Hind feet have five webbed toes. In breeding season, acquires bluish throat and swollen nuptial pads on innermost digit of front feet, used for gripping female when mating. Adult female is similar but larger with white granulations on the flanks. Juvenile, when newly metamorphosed resembles miniature adult but with large head. Male utters low-pitched croaking calls when courting. Found in a wide range of habitats if still water is present for breeding. Easy to see in early spring when courting.
    128100.jpg
  • Adder Vipera berus Length 45-60cm Venomous snake. Hibernates October-March and sunbathes regularly in spring. Males perform wrestling ‘dances’ to determine access to females for mating. Sexes are similar but females are larger than males. Adult ground colour ranges from reddish brown, greenish yellow or grey to creamy buff.  Almost all have a blackish zigzag line along back, anterior end of which looks arrowheaded and framed by inverted ‘V’ marking on head. Melanic ‘Black Adders’ also occur; commonest in N. Juvenile is similar but slender and usually reddish brown. Widespread but local, found on heaths, moors, open woodlands, rough grassland and coastal dunes. Easiest to see in early spring when basking.
    144175.jpg
  • Adder Vipera berus Length 45-60cm Venomous snake. Hibernates October-March and sunbathes regularly in spring. Males perform wrestling ‘dances’ to determine access to females for mating. Sexes are similar but females are larger than males. Adult ground colour ranges from reddish brown, greenish yellow or grey to creamy buff.  Almost all have a blackish zigzag line along back, anterior end of which looks arrowheaded and framed by inverted ‘V’ marking on head. Melanic ‘Black Adders’ also occur; commonest in N. Juvenile is similar but slender and usually reddish brown. Widespread but local, found on heaths, moors, open woodlands, rough grassland and coastal dunes. Easiest to see in early spring when basking.
    144179.jpg
  • Adder Vipera berus Length 45-60cm Venomous snake. Hibernates October-March and sunbathes regularly in spring. Males perform wrestling ‘dances’ to determine access to females for mating. Sexes are similar but females are larger than males. Adult ground colour ranges from reddish brown, greenish yellow or grey to creamy buff.  Almost all have a blackish zigzag line along back, anterior end of which looks arrowheaded and framed by inverted ‘V’ marking on head. Melanic ‘Black Adders’ also occur; commonest in N. Juvenile is similar but slender and usually reddish brown. Widespread but local, found on heaths, moors, open woodlands, rough grassland and coastal dunes. Easiest to see in early spring when basking.
    144180.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
  • Manx Shearwater Puffinus puffinus W 70-85cm. Skims low over sea on stiffly held wings. Contrasting dark upperparts and mainly white underparts are seen as bird banks and glides. Gregarious when feeding is good. Sexes are similar. Adult has blackish upperparts and mainly white underparts with dark wing margins. Juvenile is similar to adult. Voice Silent at sea; strangled coughing calls uttered after dark when nesting birds. Status Fairly common summer visitor. Seen mostly at sea; only visits land to breed, after dark. Nests in burrows on remote islands.
    128762.jpg
  • Manx Shearwater Puffinus puffinus W 70-85cm. Skims low over sea on stiffly held wings. Contrasting dark upperparts and mainly white underparts are seen as bird banks and glides. Gregarious when feeding is good. Sexes are similar. Adult has blackish upperparts and mainly white underparts with dark wing margins. Juvenile is similar to adult. Voice Silent at sea; strangled coughing calls uttered after dark when nesting birds. Status Fairly common summer visitor. Seen mostly at sea; only visits land to breed, after dark. Nests in burrows on remote islands.
    129514.jpg
  • Great Crested Grebe Podiceps cristatus L 46-51cm. Graceful waterbird with slender neck and dagger-like bill. White wing panels revealed in flight. Dives frequently. Sexes are similar. Adult in summer has grey-brown upperparts and mainly whitish underparts; head has black cap and crest, and orange-buff ruff bordering paler cheeks. Bill is pink and eye is red. In winter, has drab grey-brown and white plumage. Juvenile recalls winter adult but has dark stripes on cheeks. Voice Utters wails and croaks in breeding season. Status Locally common breeding species on lakes and reservoirs. Widespread in winter, when also found in inshore seas.
    136261.jpg
  • 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.
    143988.jpg
  • 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.
    143987.jpg
  • Blackcap - Sylvia atricapilla - Female. L 14-15cm. Distinctive warbler with a musical song. Sexes are dissimilar. Adult male has grey-brown upperparts, dusky grey underparts, palest on throat and undertail, pale eyering and diagnostic black cap. Adult female and juveniles have grey-brown upperparts, pale buffish grey underparts (palest on throat and undertail) and reddish chestnut cap. Voice Utters a sharp tchek alarm call. Song is rich and musical warble; similar to Garden Warbler’s but contains jaunty phrases. Status Common summer visitor to deciduous woodland with dense undergrowth, scrub and mature gardens. Migrants from N Europe pass through in autumn and some remain throughout winter.
    157600.jpg
  • Great Crested Grebe - Podiceps cristatus - courting pair. L 46-51cm. Graceful waterbird with slender neck and dagger-like bill. White wing panels revealed in flight. Dives frequently. Sexes are similar. Adult in summer has grey-brown upperparts and mainly whitish underparts; head has black cap and crest, and orange-buff ruff bordering paler cheeks. Bill is pink and eye is red. In winter, has drab grey-brown and white plumage. Juvenile recalls winter adult but has dark stripes on cheeks. Voice Utters wails and croaks in breeding season. Status Locally common breeding species on lakes and reservoirs. Widespread in winter, when also found in inshore seas.
    156642.jpg
  • Ivy Bee - Colletes hederae - male feeding on sedum.
    156070.jpg
  • Buff-tailed Bumblebee - Bombus terrestris - worker on Viper's Bugloss.
    156082.jpg
  • Buff-tailed Bumblebee - Bombus terrestris, on Viper's Buglos.
    156086.jpg
  • Common Carder Bee - Bombus pascuorum on Viper's Bugloss.
    156091.jpg
  • Common Carder Bee - Bombus pascuorum on Ivy.
    156092.jpg
  • Hill or Red-tailed Cuckoo Bumblebee - Bombus rupestris - female, feeding on Viper's Bugloss.
    156096.jpg
  • Red-tailed Bumblebee - Bombus lapidarius - male on Knapweed.
    156161.jpg
  • Red-tailed Bumblebee, Bombus lapidarius - male on Ragwort.
    156165.jpg
  • Hill or Red-tailed Cuckoo Bumblebee - Bombus rupestris - female, feeding on Viper's Bugloss.
    156169.jpg
  • Barbut's Cuckoo Bumblebee - Bombus barbutellus - male on Viper's Bugloss.
    156174.jpg
  • St Andrew's Church in Sonning on Thames, Berkshire, Uk
    154881.jpg
  • St Andrew's Church in Sonning on Thames, Berkshire, Uk
    154882.jpg
  • Sonning Lock on the River Thames, Sonning, Berkshire, Uk
    154885.jpg
  • Sonning Lock on the River Thames, Sonning, Berkshire, Uk
    154884.jpg
  • Sonning Lock on the River Thames, Sonning, Berkshire, Uk
    154886.jpg
  • Looking along the wooden footbridge over the River Thames towards Marsh Lock near Henley on Thames in Oxfordshire, Uk
    154899.jpg
  • View along Thames Street in Sonning on Thames looking towards The Great House and Sonning Bridge, Berkshire, Uk
    154567.jpg
  • View along Thames Street in Sonning on Thames looking towards The Great House and Sonning Bridge, Berkshire, Uk
    154568.jpg
  • Dusk descendes over Henley on Thames in Oxfordshire from the boat hire bank, Uk
    154610.jpg
  • Thameside farm in the winter dawn light, Streatley on Thames, Oxfordshire
    154455.jpg
  • Goring and Streatley on Thames from hillside at Lardon Chase, Oxfordshire, Uk
    154458.jpg
  • Panoramic image of Henley on Thames at dusk, Oxfordshire, Uk
    154474.jpg
  • Panoramic image of Henley on Thames at dusk, Oxfordshire, Uk
    154475.jpg
  • Sea-kale in fruit (Crambe maritima) on Hurst Spit, Hampshire
    153756.jpg
  • Common Frog Rana temporaria Length 6-10cm Widespread amphibian. Adult male has smooth, moist skin. Usually olive-yellow or greyish brown with variable dark blotching and spots. Darker red animals occur in uplands. Eye has yellow iris with dark, oval pupil. Dark mask runs from eye to eardrum. Underparts are greyish white with faint darker marbling. Hind feet have five webbed toes. In breeding season, acquires bluish throat and swollen nuptial pads on innermost digit of front feet, used for gripping female when mating. Adult female is similar but larger with white granulations on the flanks. Juvenile, when newly metamorphosed resembles miniature adult but with large head. Male utters low-pitched croaking calls when courting. Found in a wide range of habitats if still water is present for breeding. Easy to see in early spring when courting.
    128096.jpg
  • Common Frog Rana temporaria Length 6-10cm Widespread amphibian. Adult male has smooth, moist skin. Usually olive-yellow or greyish brown with variable dark blotching and spots. Darker red animals occur in uplands. Eye has yellow iris with dark, oval pupil. Dark mask runs from eye to eardrum. Underparts are greyish white with faint darker marbling. Hind feet have five webbed toes. In breeding season, acquires bluish throat and swollen nuptial pads on innermost digit of front feet, used for gripping female when mating. Adult female is similar but larger with white granulations on the flanks. Juvenile, when newly metamorphosed resembles miniature adult but with large head. Male utters low-pitched croaking calls when courting. Found in a wide range of habitats if still water is present for breeding. Easy to see in early spring when courting.
    128097.jpg
  • Common Frog Rana temporaria Length 6-10cm Widespread amphibian. Adult male has smooth, moist skin. Usually olive-yellow or greyish brown with variable dark blotching and spots. Darker red animals occur in uplands. Eye has yellow iris with dark, oval pupil. Dark mask runs from eye to eardrum. Underparts are greyish white with faint darker marbling. Hind feet have five webbed toes. In breeding season, acquires bluish throat and swollen nuptial pads on innermost digit of front feet, used for gripping female when mating. Adult female is similar but larger with white granulations on the flanks. Juvenile, when newly metamorphosed resembles miniature adult but with large head. Male utters low-pitched croaking calls when courting. Found in a wide range of habitats if still water is present for breeding. Easy to see in early spring when courting.
    128099.jpg
  • Common Frog Rana temporaria Length 6-10cm Widespread amphibian. Adult male has smooth, moist skin. Usually olive-yellow or greyish brown with variable dark blotching and spots. Darker red animals occur in uplands. Eye has yellow iris with dark, oval pupil. Dark mask runs from eye to eardrum. Underparts are greyish white with faint darker marbling. Hind feet have five webbed toes. In breeding season, acquires bluish throat and swollen nuptial pads on innermost digit of front feet, used for gripping female when mating. Adult female is similar but larger with white granulations on the flanks. Juvenile, when newly metamorphosed resembles miniature adult but with large head. Male utters low-pitched croaking calls when courting. Found in a wide range of habitats if still water is present for breeding. Easy to see in early spring when courting.
    128114.jpg
  • Common Frog Rana temporaria Length 6-10cm Widespread amphibian. Adult male has smooth, moist skin. Usually olive-yellow or greyish brown with variable dark blotching and spots. Darker red animals occur in uplands. Eye has yellow iris with dark, oval pupil. Dark mask runs from eye to eardrum. Underparts are greyish white with faint darker marbling. Hind feet have five webbed toes. In breeding season, acquires bluish throat and swollen nuptial pads on innermost digit of front feet, used for gripping female when mating. Adult female is similar but larger with white granulations on the flanks. Juvenile, when newly metamorphosed resembles miniature adult but with large head. Male utters low-pitched croaking calls when courting. Found in a wide range of habitats if still water is present for breeding. Easy to see in early spring when courting.
    128348.jpg
  • Common Frog Rana temporaria Length 6-10cm Widespread amphibian. Adult male has smooth, moist skin. Usually olive-yellow or greyish brown with variable dark blotching and spots. Darker red animals occur in uplands. Eye has yellow iris with dark, oval pupil. Dark mask runs from eye to eardrum. Underparts are greyish white with faint darker marbling. Hind feet have five webbed toes. In breeding season, acquires bluish throat and swollen nuptial pads on innermost digit of front feet, used for gripping female when mating. Adult female is similar but larger with white granulations on the flanks. Juvenile, when newly metamorphosed resembles miniature adult but with large head. Male utters low-pitched croaking calls when courting. Found in a wide range of habitats if still water is present for breeding. Easy to see in early spring when courting.
    128349.jpg
  • Common Frog Rana temporaria Length 6-10cm Widespread amphibian. Adult male has smooth, moist skin. Usually olive-yellow or greyish brown with variable dark blotching and spots. Darker red animals occur in uplands. Eye has yellow iris with dark, oval pupil. Dark mask runs from eye to eardrum. Underparts are greyish white with faint darker marbling. Hind feet have five webbed toes. In breeding season, acquires bluish throat and swollen nuptial pads on innermost digit of front feet, used for gripping female when mating. Adult female is similar but larger with white granulations on the flanks. Juvenile, when newly metamorphosed resembles miniature adult but with large head. Male utters low-pitched croaking calls when courting. Found in a wide range of habitats if still water is present for breeding. Easy to see in early spring when courting.
    128350.jpg
  • Adder Vipera berus Length 45-60cm Venomous snake. Hibernates October-March and sunbathes regularly in spring. Males perform wrestling ‘dances’ to determine access to females for mating. Sexes are similar but females are larger than males. Adult ground colour ranges from reddish brown, greenish yellow or grey to creamy buff.  Almost all have a blackish zigzag line along back, anterior end of which looks arrowheaded and framed by inverted ‘V’ marking on head. Melanic ‘Black Adders’ also occur; commonest in N. Juvenile is similar but slender and usually reddish brown. Widespread but local, found on heaths, moors, open woodlands, rough grassland and coastal dunes. Easiest to see in early spring when basking.
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  • Adder Vipera berus Length 45-60cm Venomous snake. Hibernates October-March and sunbathes regularly in spring. Males perform wrestling ‘dances’ to determine access to females for mating. Sexes are similar but females are larger than males. Adult ground colour ranges from reddish brown, greenish yellow or grey to creamy buff.  Almost all have a blackish zigzag line along back, anterior end of which looks arrowheaded and framed by inverted ‘V’ marking on head. Melanic ‘Black Adders’ also occur; commonest in N. Juvenile is similar but slender and usually reddish brown. Widespread but local, found on heaths, moors, open woodlands, rough grassland and coastal dunes. Easiest to see in early spring when basking.
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  • Adder Vipera berus Length 45-60cm Venomous snake. Hibernates October-March and sunbathes regularly in spring. Males perform wrestling ‘dances’ to determine access to females for mating. Sexes are similar but females are larger than males. Adult ground colour ranges from reddish brown, greenish yellow or grey to creamy buff.  Almost all have a blackish zigzag line along back, anterior end of which looks arrowheaded and framed by inverted ‘V’ marking on head. Melanic ‘Black Adders’ also occur; commonest in N. Juvenile is similar but slender and usually reddish brown. Widespread but local, found on heaths, moors, open woodlands, rough grassland and coastal dunes. Easiest to see in early spring when basking.
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  • Cormorant Phalacrocorax carbo L 80-100cm. Dark water bird with heavy, hook-tipped bill. Swims low in water, propelled by large webbed feet. Wings often held outstretched when perched. Sexes are similar. Adult in summer is mainly dark with an oily sheen and black-bordered brownish feathers on wings, and white on thigh and head. Eye is green; skin at base of bill is yellowish. In winter, white feathering is absent. Juvenile has brown upperparts and whitish underparts. Voice Silent except at nest. Status Common, favouring sheltered seas and large freshwater lakes. Breeds colonially.
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  • Ptarmigan Lagopus mutus L 34-36cm. Hardy, mountain gamebird. Indifferent to observers but easily overlooked: unobtrusive and blends in well with surroundings. In flight, both sexes reveal white wings and black tail. Forms small flocks outside breeding season. Sexes are separable with care. Adult male in winter is white except for dark eye, lores and bill. In spring and summer, has mottled and marbled greyish buff upperparts, amount of white on back decreasing with time; belly and legs are white while striking red wattle fades by mid-summer. Adult female in winter is white except for black eye and bill. In spring and summer, has finely barred buffish grey upperparts; extent of white on back diminishes with time. Juvenile resembles uniformly brown female. Voice Utters a rattling kur-kurrrr call. Status Confined to Scottish Highlands, favouring rocky ground with lichens, mosses and other mountain vegetation.
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  • Blackcap Sylvia atricapilla L 14-15cm. Distinctive warbler with a musical song. Sexes are dissimilar. Adult male has grey-brown upperparts, dusky grey underparts, palest on throat and undertail, pale eyering and diagnostic black cap. Adult female and juveniles have grey-brown upperparts, pale buffish grey underparts (palest on throat and undertail) and reddish chestnut cap. Voice Utters a sharp tchek alarm call. Song is rich and musical warble; similar to Garden Warbler’s but contains jaunty phrases. Status Common summer visitor to deciduous woodland with dense undergrowth, scrub and mature gardens. Migrants from N Europe pass through in autumn and some remain throughout winter.
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  • Oystercatcher Haematopus ostralegus L 43cm. Distinctive wader with striking black and white plumage and loud alarm call. Powerful bill used to hammer molluscs off rocks. Sexes are similar. Adult in summer has black upperparts and white underparts with clear demarcation between the two on breast. Note red bill, pinkish legs and beady red eye. In winter, similar but note white half-collar. Juvenile is similar to summer adult but black elements of plumage are brownish and bill and leg colours are subdued. Voice Utters a loud, piping peep call. Status Breeds commonly on coast and beside inland lakes and rivers in N. Mainly coastal in winter, favouring estuaries and mudflats.
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  • Wheatear Oenanthe oenanthe L 14-16cm. Open-country bird. Reveals white rump and black-and-white tail in flight. In other respects, sexes are dissimilar. Adult male has blue-grey crown and back, black mask and wings, and pale underparts flushed orange-buff on breast. Adult female has mainly grey-brown upperparts, darkest on wings. Face, throat and breast are pale orange-buff and underparts are otherwise whitish. 1st winter birds have grey- to buffish brown upperparts and buffish underparts. Voice Utters a sharp chak alarm call, like two pebbles knocked together. Song is fast and warbling. Status Locally common summer visitor to moors and open grassland.
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  • Wheatear Oenanthe oenanthe L 14-16cm. Open-country bird. Reveals white rump and black-and-white tail in flight. In other respects, sexes are dissimilar. Adult male has blue-grey crown and back, black mask and wings, and pale underparts flushed orange-buff on breast. Adult female has mainly grey-brown upperparts, darkest on wings. Face, throat and breast are pale orange-buff and underparts are otherwise whitish. 1st winter birds have grey- to buffish brown upperparts and buffish underparts. Voice Utters a sharp chak alarm call, like two pebbles knocked together. Song is fast and warbling. Status Locally common summer visitor to moors and open grassland.
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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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  • Cormorant Phalacrocorax carbo L 80-100cm. Dark water bird with heavy, hook-tipped bill. Swims low in water, propelled by large webbed feet. Wings often held outstretched when perched. Sexes are similar. Adult in summer is mainly dark with an oily sheen and black-bordered brownish feathers on wings, and white on thigh and head. Eye is green; skin at base of bill is yellowish. In winter, white feathering is absent. Juvenile has brown upperparts and whitish underparts. Voice Silent except at nest. Status Common, favouring sheltered seas and large freshwater lakes. Breeds colonially.
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  • Guillemot Uria aalge L 42cm. Familiar seabird that nests in densely packed breeding colonies. Swims well and flies on whirring wingbeats. Sexes are similar. Adult in summer has chocolate-brown head and upperparts (darkest in N birds) and white underparts. Bill is dark and dagger-like; so-called ‘Bridled Guillemot’ has white ‘spectacle’ around eye. In winter, has white on cheeks and throat but black line running back from eye. Voice Utters growling calls at breeding colonies. Status Locally numerous at seabird colonies with precipitous cliff ledges. Moves offshore outside breeding season. Suffers badly in oil spills.
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  • Common Carder Bee - Bombus pascuorum - worker feeding on chives
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  • Wren Troglodytes troglodytes 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.
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  • Coelioxys elongata - female. A solitary bee parasitic on Megachile willughbiella, uncommon.
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  • Coelioxys elongata - female. A solitary bee parasitic on Megachile willughbiella, uncommon.
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  • Coelioxys elongata - female. A solitary bee parasitic on Megachile willughbiella, uncommon.
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  • Ivy Bee - Colletes hederae - male feeding on sedum.
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  • Ivy Bee - Colletes hederae - male feeding on sedum.
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  • Ivy Bee - Colletes hederae - male feeding on sedum.
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  • Ivy Bee - Colletes hederae - male feeding on sedum.
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  • Ivy Bee - Colletes hederae - male feeding on sedum.
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  • Buff-tailed Bumblebee - Bombus terrestris - worker on Viper's Bugloss.
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  • Buff-tailed Bumblebee - Bombus terrestris - worker on Viper's Bugloss.
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  • Buff-tailed Bumblebee - Bombus terrestris, on Viper's Buglos.
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  • Buff-tailed Bumblebee - Bombus terrestris, on Viper's Buglos.
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  • Vestal Cuckoo Bumblebee -  Bombus vestalis (left and top) with Bombus terrestris or lucorum on Sea Holly.
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  • Vestal Cuckoo Bumblebee -  Bombus vestalis (left and top) with Bombus terrestris or lucorum on Sea Holly.
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  • Common Carder Bee - Bombus pascuorum on Spear Thistle.
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  • Common Carder Bee - Bombus pascuorum on Ivy.
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  • Common Carder Bee - Bombus pascuorum on Ivy.
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  • Hill or Red-tailed Cuckoo Bumblebee - Bombus rupestris - female, feeding on Viper's Bugloss.
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  • Red-tailed Bumblebee - Bombus lapidarius - worker on Ragwort.
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  • White-tailed Bumblebee - Bombus lucorum - queen on Sea Holly.
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  • Hill or Red-tailed Cuckoo Bumblebee - Bombus rupestris - female, feeding on Viper's Bugloss.
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  • Hill or Red-tailed Cuckoo Bumblebee - Bombus rupestris - female, feeding on Viper's Bugloss.
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  • Hill or Red-tailed Cuckoo Bumblebee - Bombus rupestris - female, feeding on Viper's Bugloss.
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