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  • Winter dawn at Avebury Stone Circle, Wiltshire, Uk
    154442.jpg
  • Winter dawn at Avebury Stone Circle, Wiltshire, Uk
    161476.jpg
  • Durdle Door on the Jurassic coast, Dorset, Uk
    144744.jpg
  • Durdle Door on the Jurassic coast, Dorset, Uk
    144745.jpg
  • Durdle Door on the Jurassic coast, Dorset, Uk
    161477.jpg
  • Natterjack Breeding Pool - Winterton dunes, Norfolk
    115534.jpg
  • Great Blue Heron - Ardea herodias - adult displaying at nest site
    160550.jpg
  • Arran Service-tree Sorbus pseudofennica (Rosaceae) HEIGHT to 7m. An upright tree (treated as a ‘microspecies of Bastard Service-tree S. x thuringiaca by some ). LEAVES Pinnately divided with 7-9 pairs of veins; proximal 1-2 pairs of leaflets are free. REPRODUCTIVE PARTS Fruits are scarlet, to 12mm long, with few lenticels. STATUS AND DISTRIBUTION More-or-less restricted to a single site on Arran, growing on granite, with a population of around just 400 plants.
    135426.jpg
  • FIELD ERYNGO Eryngium campestre (Height to 50cm) is similar to Sea-holly but yellowish green, with narrower, more deeply divided leaves and smaller flower umbels (Jun-Jul). It grows on dry ground, often near the sea, and is regular at a site near Plymouth; elsewhere its appearance is ephemeral and possibly the result of introductions.
    119889.jpg
  • Great Blue Heron - Ardea herodias - adult displaying at nest site
    160553.jpg
  • Goat Moth Cossus cossus Length 5cm. A large and distinctive moth. Adult has white, silvery grey and buff forewings, the overall pattern resembling tree bark. Flies June-July. Larva feeds in the wood of deciduous trees, notably willows and poplars; it is sometimes found wandering in search of a pupation site. Local and mainly in southern England.
    133108.jpg
  • Goat Moth Cossus cossus Length 5cm. A large and distinctive moth. Adult has white, silvery grey and buff forewings, the overall pattern resembling tree bark. Flies June-July. Larva feeds in the wood of deciduous trees, notably willows and poplars; it is sometimes found wandering in search of a pupation site. Local and mainly in southern England.
    131203.jpg
  • Goat Moth Cossus cossus Length 5cm. A large and distinctive moth. Adult has white, silvery grey and buff forewings, the overall pattern resembling tree bark. Flies June-July. Larva feeds in the wood of deciduous trees, notably willows and poplars; it is sometimes found wandering in search of a pupation site. Local and mainly in southern England.
    131195.jpg
  • Brook Lamprey Lampetra planeri (L 15cm) Elongated fish, resident in unpolluted streams and rivers. It spends most of its 3-5 year lifespan as a larva living buried in silt; here it filters organic matter. Following metamorphosis, adults are sometimes seen spawning in Apilr-May in shallow gravel beds; the sucker is used to move stones to create an egg-laying site. Adults die after spawning.
    139721.jpg
  • Brook Lamprey Lampetra planeri (L 15cm) Elongated fish, resident in unpolluted streams and rivers. It spends most of its 3-5 year lifespan as a larva living buried in silt; here it filters organic matter. Following metamorphosis, adults are sometimes seen spawning in Apilr-May in shallow gravel beds; the sucker is used to move stones to create an egg-laying site. Adults die after spawning.
    139728.jpg
  • Arran Service-tree Sorbus pseudofennica (Rosaceae) HEIGHT to 7m. An upright tree (treated as a ‘microspecies of Bastard Service-tree S. x thuringiaca in some books). LEAVES Pinnately divided with 7-9 pairs of veins; proximal 1-2 pairs of leaflets are free. REPRODUCTIVE PARTS Fruits are scarlet, to 12mm long, with few lenticels. STATUS AND DISTRIBUTION More-or-less restricted to a single site on Arran, growing on granite, with a population of around just 400 plants.
    134639.jpg
  • Arran Service-tree Sorbus pseudofennica (Rosaceae) HEIGHT to 7m. An upright tree (treated as a ‘microspecies of Bastard Service-tree S. x thuringiaca in some books). LEAVES Pinnately divided with 7-9 pairs of veins; proximal 1-2 pairs of leaflets are free. REPRODUCTIVE PARTS Fruits are scarlet, to 12mm long, with few lenticels. STATUS AND DISTRIBUTION More-or-less restricted to a single site on Arran, growing on granite, with a population of around just 400 plants.
    133925.jpg
  • Toad Patrol on a busy Hampshire lane. In early spring every year, thousands of toads, frogs and newts migrate from their hibernation sites to breeding grounds. These journeys often involve road crossings and many are killed by unsuspecting motorists. With awareness of this major problem growing, volunteer groups are now a common sight in known hotspots, helping to reduce the casualty numbers by slowing traffic and collecting these animals from the road.
    163920.jpg
  • Dead toads and frogs collected by volunteers at one of Britain's many toad patrols undertaken at known crossing sites in early spring.
    162189.jpg
  • Toad Patrol on a busy Hampshire lane. In early spring every year, thousands of toads, frogs and newts migrate from their hibernation sites to breeding grounds. These journeys often involve road crossings and many are killed by unsuspecting motorists. With awareness of this major problem growing, volunteer groups are now a common sight in known hotspots, helping to reduce the casualty numbers by slowing traffic and collecting these animals from the road.
    162191.jpg
  • Toad Patrol on a busy Hampshire lane. In early spring every year, thousands of toads, frogs and newts migrate from their hibernation sites to breeding grounds. These journeys often involve road crossings and many are killed by unsuspecting motorists. With awareness of this major problem growing, volunteer groups are now a common sight in known hotspots, helping to reduce the casualty numbers by slowing traffic and collecting these animals from the road.
    162190.jpg
  • Toad Patrol on a busy Hampshire lane. In early spring every year, thousands of toads, frogs and newts migrate from their hibernation sites to breeding grounds. These journeys often involve road crossings and many are killed by unsuspecting motorists. With awareness of this major problem growing, volunteer groups are now a common sight in known hotspots, helping to reduce the casualty numbers by slowing traffic and collecting these animals from the road.
    162195.jpg
  • Toad Patrol on a busy Hampshire lane. In early spring every year, thousands of toads, frogs and newts migrate from their hibernation sites to breeding grounds. These journeys often involve road crossings and many are killed by unsuspecting motorists. With awareness of this major problem growing, volunteer groups are now a common sight in known hotspots, helping to reduce the casualty numbers by slowing traffic and collecting these animals from the road.
    162194.jpg
  • Long-eared Owl - Asio otus. L 32-35cm. Strictly nocturnal; sometimes caught in car headlights after dark or glimpsed at daytime winter roost. In flight, told from Short-eared by orange-buff patch that contrasts with otherwise dark upperwing. When alarmed, sometimes adopts upright posture with ‘ear’ tufts raised. Sexes are similar. Adult and juvenile have streaked dark brown upperparts and paler underparts. Orange-buff facial disc is rounded; note orange eyes and long ‘ear’ tufts. Voice Deep hoots sometimes uttered in spring. Status Nests in isolated conifer plantations and scrub thickets, with adjacent open country. Disperses outside breeding season and winter roost sites include coastal and wetland scrub, and hedgerows. Influx of European birds boosts winter numbers.
    157971.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
    158086.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.
    157686.jpg
  • Black-headed Gull - Chroicocephalus ridibundus - summer adult.  L 35-38cm. Our most numerous medium-sized gull. Plumage variable but white leading edge to outerwings is consistent feature. Forms single-species flocks. Sexes are similar. Adult in summer has grey back and upperwings, white underparts and chocolate-brown hood. Legs and bill are red. In flight, trailing edge of outerwing is black. In winter, loses dark hood; white head has dark smudges above behind eye. Juvenile has orange-brown flush to upperparts, dark feathers on back, dark smudges on head, and dark tip to tail. Acquires adult plumage by 2nd winter through successive moults. 1st winter bird retains many juvenile plumage details but loses rufous elements and gains grey back. 1st summer bird still has juvenile-type wing pattern but gains dark hood. Voice Raucous calls include a nasal kaurrr. Status Widespread and numerous. Commonest on coasts and inland freshwater sites, but also in towns and on farmland; often follows the plough. Nests colonially beside water. Migrants from Europe boost winter numbers.
    157668.jpg
  • Pellenes tripunctatus - male. A jumping spider that is very rare (RDB1) in Britain. It only occurs on a few coastal shingle sites along the South Coast.
    157297.jpg
  • Pellenes tripunctatus - female. A jumping spider that is very rare (RDB1) in Britain. It only occurs on a few coastal shingle sites along the South Coast.
    157296.jpg
  • Pellenes tripunctatus - female. A jumping spider that is very rare (RDB1) in Britain. It only occurs on a few coastal shingle sites along the South Coast.
    157295.jpg
  • Shelduck - Tadorna tadorna. L 55-65cm. Goose-sized duck with bold markings. In poor light, looks black and white. In flight, note contrast between white wing coverts and black flight feathers. Sifts mud for small invertebrates. Nests in burrows. Sexes are separable with care. Adult male is mainly white but with dark green head and upper neck (looks black in poor light), chestnut breast band, black belly stripe and flush of orange-buff under tail. Legs are pink and bill is bright red with knob at base. Adult female is similar but bill’s basal knob is much smaller. Juvenile has mainly buffish grey upperparts and white underparts. Voice Courting male whistles while female’s call is a cackling gagaga… Status Common on most estuaries and mudflats; local at inland freshwater sites. Migrates to favoured sites like Bridgwater Bay in Somerset for summer moult.
    157233.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.
    157223.jpg
  • Black-headed Gull - Chroicocephalus ridibundus - winter adult.  L 35-38cm. Our most numerous medium-sized gull. Plumage variable but white leading edge to outerwings is consistent feature. Forms single-species flocks. Sexes are similar. Adult in summer has grey back and upperwings, white underparts and chocolate-brown hood. Legs and bill are red. In flight, trailing edge of outerwing is black. In winter, loses dark hood; white head has dark smudges above behind eye. Juvenile has orange-brown flush to upperparts, dark feathers on back, dark smudges on head, and dark tip to tail. Acquires adult plumage by 2nd winter through successive moults. 1st winter bird retains many juvenile plumage details but loses rufous elements and gains grey back. 1st summer bird still has juvenile-type wing pattern but gains dark hood. Voice Raucous calls include a nasal kaurrr. Status Widespread and numerous. Commonest on coasts and inland freshwater sites, but also in towns and on farmland; often follows the plough. Nests colonially beside water. Migrants from Europe boost winter numbers.
    157079.jpg
  • Bewick’s Swan - Cygnus columbianus - juvenile. L 115-125cm. Our smallest swan. Usually seen in medium-sized flocks comprising family groups. Similar to larger Whooper but separated by noting relatively shorter neck and different bill pattern. Sexes are similar. Adult has mainly pure white plumage. Bill is wedge-shaped but proportionately shorter than Whooper; yellow colour typically does not extend beyond start of nostrils and yellow patch is usually rounded, not triangular. Juvenile has grubby buffish grey plumage and dark-tipped pink bill Voice Utters various honking and bugling calls. Status Winter visitor, 10,000+ birds found at traditional sites: flooded grassland, marshy meadows and occasionally arable farmland.
    133352.jpg
  • MONKEY ORCHID Orchis simia (Height to 45cm) has flowers that are fancifully monkey-like. They are borne in cylindrical heads; unlike most other orchids, the flowers open in succession from the top downwards (May-Jun). The Monkey Orchid grows at a few locations in Oxfordshire, with further isolated sites in Kent and Yorkshire.
    156662.jpg
  • PASQUEFLOWER Pulsatilla vulgaris (Ranunculaceae) Height to 25cm. Perennial of dry, calcareous grassland. FLOWERS are purple, bell-shaped with 6 petal-like sepals; upright at first, then nodding (Apr-May). FRUITS comprise seeds with long silky hairs. LEAVES are divided 2 or 3 times and comprise narrow leaflets. STATUS-Rare and restricted to a few sites in S and E England.
    156655.jpg
  • PASQUEFLOWER Pulsatilla vulgaris (Ranunculaceae) Height to 25cm. Perennial of dry, calcareous grassland. FLOWERS are purple, bell-shaped with 6 petal-like sepals; upright at first, then nodding (Apr-May). FRUITS comprise seeds with long silky hairs. LEAVES are divided 2 or 3 times and comprise narrow leaflets. STATUS-Rare and restricted to a few sites in S and E England.
    156654.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.
    155799.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
    155801.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
    155802.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.
    155805.jpg
  • Rook Corvus frugilegus - Immature. 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.
    155819.jpg
  • Rook Corvus frugilegus - Juvenile. 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.
    155820.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.
    155743.jpg
  • Little Ringed Plover Charadrius dubius - Juvenile. L 15-17cm. Slim-bodied little plover that lacks white wingbar. Sexes are similar. Summer adult has sandy brown upperparts and white underparts with black collar and breast band, and black and white markings on head. Has black bill, yellow legs and yellow eyering. Female has duller black elements of head plumage than male. Juvenile has black elements of plumage replaced by sandy brown. Breast band is usually incomplete, leg and eyering colours are dull, and head lacks pale supercilium seen in juvenile Ringed Plover. Voice Utters a pee-oo call. Status Locally fairly common, nesting around margins of flooded gravel pits and other manmade sites. Migrants turn up at freshwater sites outside breeding range and sometimes on coast.
    155571.jpg
  • Shelduck Tadorna tadorna - Juvenile. L 55-65cm. Goose-sized duck with bold markings. In poor light, looks black and white. In flight, note contrast between white wing coverts and black flight feathers. Sifts mud for small invertebrates. Nests in burrows. Sexes are separable with care. Adult male is mainly white but with dark green head and upper neck (looks black in poor light), chestnut breast band, black belly stripe and flush of orange-buff under tail. Legs are pink and bill is bright red with knob at base. Adult female is similar but bill’s basal knob is much smaller. Juvenile has mainly buffish grey upperparts and white underparts. Voice Courting male whistles while female’s call is a cackling gagaga… Status Common on most estuaries and mudflats; local at inland freshwater sites. Migrates to favoured sites like Bridgwater Bay in Somerset for summer moult.
    155595.jpg
  • Rook - Corvus frugilegus - juvenile. 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.
    155500.jpg
  • Bewick’s Swan Cygnus columbianus L 115-125cm. Our smallest swan. Usually seen in medium-sized flocks comprising family groups. Similar to larger Whooper but separated by noting relatively shorter neck and different bill pattern. Sexes are similar. Adult has mainly pure white plumage. Bill is wedge-shaped but proportionately shorter than Whooper; yellow colour typically does not extend beyond start of nostrils and yellow patch is usually rounded, not triangular. Juvenile has grubby buffish grey plumage and dark-tipped pink bill Voice Utters various honking and bugling calls. Status Winter visitor, 10,000+ birds found at traditional sites: flooded grassland, marshy meadows and occasionally arable farmland.
    155134.jpg
  • Wasp Spider - Argiope bruennichi - Female. Now frequent in southern counties of Britain on grassland in brown field sites, heathland, road verges, and coastal grassland.
    155122.jpg
  • Bewick’s Swan Cygnus columbianus L 115-125cm. Our smallest swan. Usually seen in medium-sized flocks comprising family groups. Similar to larger Whooper but separated by noting relatively shorter neck and different bill pattern. Sexes are similar. Adult has mainly pure white plumage. Bill is wedge-shaped but proportionately shorter than Whooper; yellow colour typically does not extend beyond start of nostrils and yellow patch is usually rounded, not triangular. Juvenile has grubby buffish grey plumage and dark-tipped pink bill Voice Utters various honking and bugling calls. Status Winter visitor, 10,000+ birds found at traditional sites: flooded grassland, marshy meadows and occasionally arable farmland.
    155080.jpg
  • Serotine Eptesicus serotinus Wingspan 33-38cm Large bat, often associated with human habitation. Adult has sleek fur, dark brown above and yellowish brown below. Nose and face are dark; dark ears are oval with 5 transverse folds and tragus is sickle-shaped. Wings are long, broad and dark. Utters shrill squeaks at roost sites. Echolocates in 25-30khz range. Widespread in S, favouring open woodland, parks and mature gardens. Leaves roosts shortly after sunset; wingbeats are slow and fluttering. Roosts in tree holes and buildings in summer, hibernates in buildings and barns.
    143681.jpg
  • Bewick’s Swan Cygnus columbianus L 115-125cm. Our smallest swan. Usually seen in medium-sized flocks comprising family groups. Similar to larger Whooper but separated by noting relatively shorter neck and different bill pattern. Sexes are similar. Adult has mainly pure white plumage. Bill is wedge-shaped but proportionately shorter than Whooper; yellow colour typically does not extend beyond start of nostrils and yellow patch is usually rounded, not triangular. Juvenile has grubby buffish grey plumage and dark-tipped pink bill Voice Utters various honking and bugling calls. Status Winter visitor, 10,000+ birds found at traditional sites: flooded grassland, marshy meadows and occasionally arable farmland.
    154289.jpg
  • Sand Smelt Atherina presbyter Length to 15cm<br />
Slender, silvery-looking fish. Swims in shoals, often in inshore waters in summer months. Adult is yellowish-green above, pale below with silver scales along flanks. Has 2 dorsal fins, sited above pelvic and anal fins respectively. Local and seasonal, mainly in S and SW.
    142219.jpg
  • Sand Smelt Atherina presbyter Length to 15cm<br />
Slender, silvery-looking fish. Swims in shoals, often in inshore waters in summer months. Adult is yellowish-green above, pale below with silver scales along flanks. Has 2 dorsal fins, sited above pelvic and anal fins respectively. Local and seasonal, mainly in S and SW.
    142220.jpg
  • Barbel Barbus barbus Length 20-70cm<br />
A slim-bodied, streamlined and attractive fish. The mouth is sited for bottom feeding and bordered by sensory barbels. Adult has a silvery-brown body and reddish brown fins; the dorsal fin is arched with an incurved outer margin. The Barbel is locally common in moderate flows of larger rivers, mainly in central and S England.
    136663.jpg
  • Roach Rutilus rutilus Length 10-25cm<br />
The Roach is a familiar deep-bodied fish. Adult has a mainly silvery body, that is palest below, red pelvic and anal fins, and reddish brown dorsal, pectoral and tail fins. The dorsal fin is sited above the pelvic fins (cf Rudd). The Roach is common and widespread in England but less so in Wales and Scotland; it is rare in Ireland where, confusingly, the more common Rudd is sometimes called ‘Roach’.
    136521.jpg
  • Lodgepole Pine Pinus contorta (ssp. latifolia). Similar to Beach Pine (ssp. Pinaceae) Columnar with a less dense crown; usually grows on a much straighter, but sometimes divided trunk. Needles are broader than those of Beach Pine, and more spread apart. Grows in the mountains well inland away from sea. REPRODUCTIVE PARTS All trees have male flowers in dense clusters near the tips of shoots. Female flowers grow in groups of up to 4 close to the tip of the shoot. Cones are rounded to ovoid, up to 6cm long and 3cm in diameter, and usually a shiny yellow-brown. Each cone scale has a slender, sharp tip, which easily breaks off.<br />
STATUS AND DISTRIBUTION Native to coastal western North America, widely planted here for timber on poor soils and exposed, often upland, sites.
    132800.jpg
  • Prince Albert’s Yew Saxegothaea conspicua (Podocarpaceae) HEIGHT to 18m. Often resembles a large yew, with a strong ribbed bole. BARK Reddish or purple-brown bark, peeling off in rounded scales. LEAVES Flattened, curved needles up to 3cm long, arranged untidily on the shoot. Tinged purple at first, becoming greener later. Note two pale bands on underside. Crushed leaves have a smell of grass. REPRODUCTIVE PARTS Male flowers are purplish, growing in leaf axils on undersides of shoots. Female flowers are small and blue-grey, and give rise to tiny greenish conelets that are borne at tips of shoots. STATUS AND DISTRIBUTION Native of forests of S Chile and Argentina, preferring damp, sheltered sites. Best specimens outside native area are found in Ireland and SW England.
    132649.jpg
  • FEN ORCHID Liparis loeselii (Height to 20cm) has rather curious yellow flowers with narrow, spreading perianth segments; the flowers are borne in spikes (Jun-Jul) that arise from the cup-like arrangement comprising the basal pair of leaves. Fen Orchid grows in a few fen locations in Norfolk, with additional sites in S Wales and N Devon.
    142355.jpg
  • GREATER BIRD’S-FOOT-TREFOIL Lotus pedunculatus (Fabaceae) Height to 50cm. Hairy, hollow-stemmed perennial found in damp grassy places and fens. FLOWERS are 15mm long and yellow; in heads on stalks up to 15cm long (Jun-Aug). FRUITS are slender pods; splayed like a bird’s foot when ripe. LEAVES have 5 dark green leaflets but appear trifoliate (lower pair sited at stalk base). STATUS-Locally common.
    141420.jpg
  • LADY’S-SLIPPER ORCHID Cypripedium calceolus (Height to 50cm) is unmistakable, its truly magnificent flower comprising maroon outer perianth segments and an inflated yellow lip, 4-5cm across (May-Jun). It grows on limestone soils in N England, where it is extremely rare and its known sites protected. Occasionally, the species is discovered elsewhere in N England although the native origins of some of these plants is doubtful.
    137905.jpg
  • Sticky Catchfly Lychnis viscaria Height to 55cm<br />
Upright perennial with sticky stems. Grows in dry, rocky places. Leaves are narrow-oval and paired. Flowers are pinkish-purple with 5 lobes. Status Rare, restricted to a few sites, mainly in Scotland but also in Wales.
    137761.jpg
  • LIMESTONE WOUNDWORT Stachys alpina (Lamiaceae) Height to 80cm. Creeping and patch-forming, softly hairy perennial with upright flowering stems. Superficially similar to Hedge Woundwort but the plant is not scented when bruised. Grows in open woodland and on rocky ground on limestone. FLOWERS are 15-22mm long, often with creamy yellow markings; borne in whorls in open, leafy spikes (Jun-Aug).  FRUITS are nutlets. LEAVES are stalked and heart-shaped with rounded teeth. STATUS-Rare and restricted to protected sites in Gloucestshire and N Wales.
    134291.jpg
  • LIMESTONE WOUNDWORT Stachys alpina (Lamiaceae) Height to 80cm. Creeping and patch-forming, softly hairy perennial with upright flowering stems. Superficially similar to Hedge Woundwort but the plant is not scented when bruised. Grows in open woodland and on rocky ground on limestone. FLOWERS are 15-22mm long, often with creamy yellow markings; borne in whorls in open, leafy spikes (Jun-Aug).  FRUITS are nutlets. LEAVES are stalked and heart-shaped with rounded teeth. STATUS-Rare and restricted to protected sites in Gloucestshire and N Wales.
    134290.jpg
  • Sticky Catchfly Lychnis viscaria Height to 55cm. Upright perennial with sticky stems. Grows in dry, rocky places. Leaves are narrow-oval and paired. Flowers are pinkish-purple with 5 lobes. Status Rare, restricted to a few sites, mainly in Scotland but also in Wales.
    134159.jpg
  • Sticky Catchfly Lychnis viscaria Height to 55cm<br />
Upright perennial with sticky stems. Grows in dry, rocky places. Leaves are narrow-oval and paired. Flowers are pinkish-purple with 5 lobes. Status Rare, restricted to a few sites, mainly in Scotland but also in Wales.
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  • MILITARY ORCHID Orchis militaris (Height to 45cm) is a stately orchid whose individual flowers are superficially similar to those of the Monkey Orchid, differing in their shorter ‘legs’ and ‘arms’; the flower spike opens from the bottom upwards (May-Jun). Military Orchids were formerly quite widespread in the Chilterns but are now restricted to just a couple of sites, along with a location in Suffolk.
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  • MILITARY ORCHID Orchis militaris (Height to 45cm) is a stately orchid whose individual flowers are superficially similar to those of the Monkey Orchid, differing in their shorter ‘legs’ and ‘arms’; the flower spike opens from the bottom upwards (May-Jun). Military Orchids were formerly quite widespread in the Chilterns but are now restricted to just a couple of sites, along with a location in Suffolk.
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  • MILITARY ORCHID Orchis militaris (Height to 45cm) is a stately orchid whose individual flowers are superficially similar to those of the Monkey Orchid, differing in their shorter ‘legs’ and ‘arms’; the flower spike opens from the bottom upwards (May-Jun). Military Orchids were formerly quite widespread in the Chilterns but are now restricted to just a couple of sites, along with a location in Suffolk.
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  • MONKEY ORCHID Orchis simia (Height to 45cm) has flowers that are fancifully monkey-like. They are borne in cylindrical heads; unlike most other orchids, the flowers open in succession from the top downwards (May-Jun). The Monkey Orchid grows at a few locations in Oxfordshire, with further isolated sites in Kent and Yorkshire.
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  • MONKEY ORCHID Orchis simia (Height to 45cm) has flowers that are fancifully monkey-like. They are borne in cylindrical heads; unlike most other orchids, the flowers open in succession from the top downwards (May-Jun). The Monkey Orchid grows at a few locations in Oxfordshire, with further isolated sites in Kent and Yorkshire.
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  • GRAPE-HYACINTH Muscari armeniacum (Height to 25cm) is often grown in gardens but is also thought to be native to Britain at a few Breckland sites. The leaves are narrow, bright green and basal, and the flowers are blue, egg-shaped and borne in conical spikes, 3-4cm long (Apr-May).
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  • OXLIP Primula elatior (Primulaceae) Height to 20cm<br />
Attractive perennial of open woodland, including coppiced sites, and usually found on clay soils. FLOWERS are 15-25mm across, pale yellow and 5-lobed, resembling small Primrose flowers; borne in 1-sided umbels of 10-20 flowers (Mar-May). FRUITS are capsules. LEAVES are oval, long-stalked and crinkly, ending abruptly at the base and not tapering; form a basal rosette. STATUS-Locally common only in parts of E Anglia.
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  • BUCK’S-HORN PLANTAIN Plantago coronopus (Plantaginaceae) Height to 15cm. Downy, greyish green perennial of grassland, disturbed ground and rocky sites, mainly near the sea. FLOWERS are 2mm across with a brownish corolla and yellow stamens; borne in slender spikes, 2-4cm long (May-Jul). FRUITS are capsules. LEAVES are 20cm long, 1-veined and pinnately divided; in dense basal rosettes. STATUS-Widespread and common around the coasts of Britain and Ireland; also occurs inland in SE England.
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  • GREATER BIRD’S-FOOT-TREFOIL Lotus pedunculatus (Fabaceae) Height to 50cm. Hairy, hollow-stemmed perennial found in damp grassy places and fens. FLOWERS are 15mm long and yellow; in heads on stalks up to 15cm long (Jun-Aug). FRUITS are slender pods; splayed like a bird’s foot when ripe. LEAVES have 5 dark green leaflets but appear trifoliate (lower pair sited at stalk base). STATUS-Locally common.
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  • RED-TIPPED CUDWEED Filago lutescens (Asteraceae) Height to 25cm. Similar to Common Cudweed but plant has a yellow-woolly coating. Grows on disturbed, sandy soils. FLOWERS are borne in rounded, woolly clusters, 8-10mm across, of 10-20 heads; each head has red-tipped bract tips (Jul-Aug). FRUITS are achenes. LEAVES are sharp-pointed and not wavy. STATUS-Rare and restricted to a few sites in SE England.
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  • RAMPION BELLFLOWER Campanula rapunculus. Height to 1m. Upright biennial of grassy places and roadside verges. Flowers 1-2cm long, bell-shaped and pale blue, usually on short stalks and held erect (June-Aug). Fruits dry capsules. Leaves narrow, the basal ones slightly toothed. Status naturalised in a few sites.
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  • FEN RAGWORT Senecio paludosus. Height to 2m. A tall, downy perennial of damp soils. Flowers are yellow and 3-4cm across (June-Aug), and the leaves are narrow, lanceolate toothed and 15-20cm long. Rare and restricted to a few fenland sites.
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  • LIMESTONE WOUNDWORT Stachys alpina (Lamiaceae) Height to 80cm. Creeping and patch-forming, softly hairy perennial with upright flowering stems. Superficially similar to Hedge Woundwort but the plant is not scented when bruised. Grows in open woodland and on rocky ground on limestone. FLOWERS are 15-22mm long, often with creamy yellow markings; borne in whorls in open, leafy spikes (Jun-Aug).  FRUITS are nutlets. LEAVES are stalked and heart-shaped with rounded teeth. STATUS-Rare and restricted to protected sites in Gloucestshire and N Wales.
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  • PASQUEFLOWER Pulsatilla vulgaris (Ranunculaceae) Height to 25cm. Perennial of dry, calcareous grassland. FLOWERS are purple, bell-shaped with 6 petal-like sepals; upright at first, then nodding (Apr-May). FRUITS comprise seeds with long silky hairs. LEAVES are divided 2 or 3 times and comprise narrow leaflets. STATUS-Rare and restricted to a few sites in S and E England.
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  • ROUND-HEADED RAMPION Phyteuma orbiculare (Campanulaceae) Height to 50cm. Distinctive, hairless and unbranched perennial; grows in chalk grassland. FLOWERS are bluish violet and borne in rounded heads, 10-15mm across, on long, slender stems (Jun-Aug). FRUITS are dry capsules. LEAVES are oval at the base of the plant, narrow and unstalked on the stem. STATUS-Local, restricted to a few locations in S England; an indicator of undisturbed sites but absent from many seemingly suitable locations.
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  • ROCK SEDGE Carex rupestris (Cyperaceae) Height to 20cm<br />
Delicate, creeping and mat-forming perennial of dry mountain ledges on base-rich rocks. FLOWERS are brown and borne in slender, terminal spikes, male flowers above females (Jun-Jul). FRUITS are yellow and flask-shaped. LEAVES are wiry and curly. STATUS-Local and scarce, restricted to a few suitable sites in Scotland.
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  • ALPINE LADY’S-MANTLE Alchemilla alpina (Rosaceae) Height to 25cm. Tufted perennial of grassy upland sites. FLOWERS are tiny, yellowish green and borne in flat-topped clusters (Jun-Aug). FRUITS are dry and papery. LEAVES are palmately lobed, the lobes typically divided to the base or nearly so; undersurface of leaf is silky hairy. STATUS-Widespread but locally common in NW England and Scotland only.
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  • SILVER RAGWORT Senecio cineraria (Asteraceae) Height to 80cm. Bushy, woody and silvery grey perennial. Grows on coastal cliffs and walls. FLOWERS are yellow and borne in heads, 15-25mm across, with silvery woolly stalks and bracts; heads in clusters (Jun-Aug). FRUITS are downy. LEAVES are pinnate, green and downy above but white woolly below. STATUS-Introduced and familiar as a plant of municipal car parks and other formal sites; also naturalised on the coast of SW England.
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  • GRAPE-HYACINTH Muscari armeniacum (Height to 25cm) is often grown in gardens but is also thought to be native to Britain at a few Breckland sites. The leaves are narrow, bright green and basal, and the flowers are blue, egg-shaped and borne in conical spikes, 3-4cm long (Apr-May).
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  • Cypriot Sowbread - Cyclamen cyprium (Height to 10cm) Tuberous perennial. Endemic to Cyprus. Leaves heart-shaped with wavy margins. Flowers pink and unmarked, March-May. Favours stony ground and shaded sites.
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  • Fen Orchid (Liparis loeselii ovata) HEIGHT to 20cm. Rather curious yellow flowers with narrow, spreading perianth segments; the flowers are in spikes (June-July) that arise from the cup-like arrangement comprising the basal pair of leaves. Fen Orchid grows in a few fen locations in Norfolk, with additional sites in S Wales and N Devon.
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  • MEADOW CLARY Salvia pratensis (Lamiaceae) Height to 1m<br />
Attractive, downy and slightly aromatic upright perennial. Grows in dry grassland on chalk and limestone soils. FLOWERS are 2-3cm long and bluish violet, the calyx being downy but lacking long white hairs; borne in whorls on upright and showy spikes (Jun-Jul). FRUITS are nutlets. LEAVES are narrow, heart-shaped at the base, bluntly toothed and wrinkled; basal leaves are stalked while upper leaves are increasingly stalkless up the stem. STATUS-Rare and restricted to a few sites in S England.
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  • Sperm Whale Physeter macrocephalus Length 16-20m Huge, distinctive whale with large, bulbous head. Tail is raised clear of water prior to deep dive. Dives to 2,000m or more in search of giant squid and sharks. Females live in social groups. Adult is blackish grey with whitish scars from fights and violent encounters with prey. Head accounts for roughly 1/3 of body length and mass. Lower jaw is slender and armed with sharp teeth. Dorsal fin is absent but note dorsal ‘hump’ and series of knobbly lumps. Flippers are small while tail is large. Has a single blowhole (baleen whales have 2); sited at front of head and angled slightly forward and to left.
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  • House Mouse Mus domesticus Length 14-19cm Ancestor of domesticated pet mice. Diet is varied. Presence detected by musky smell. Adult has a compact head and body, roughly the same length as tail. Coat ranges from yellowish brown to grey brown and is darker above than below. Ears are relatively large. Utters high-pitched squeaks. Probably introduced to Britain during Iron Age. Formerly abundant but now less so. Favours sites where food is stored (factories and farm barns) and has truly commensal association with Man
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  • Serotine Eptesicus serotinus Wingspan 33-38cm Large bat, often associated with human habitation. Adult has sleek fur, dark brown above and yellowish brown below. Nose and face are dark; dark ears are oval with 5 transverse folds and tragus is sickle-shaped. Wings are long, broad and dark. Utters shrill squeaks at roost sites. Echolocates in 25-30khz range. Widespread in S, favouring open woodland, parks and mature gardens. Leaves roosts shortly after sunset; wingbeats are slow and fluttering. Roosts in tree holes and buildings in summer, hibernates in buildings and barns.
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  • Serotine Eptesicus serotinus Wingspan 33-38cm Large bat, often associated with human habitation. Adult has sleek fur, dark brown above and yellowish brown below. Nose and face are dark; dark ears are oval with 5 transverse folds and tragus is sickle-shaped. Wings are long, broad and dark. Utters shrill squeaks at roost sites. Echolocates in 25-30khz range. Widespread in S, favouring open woodland, parks and mature gardens. Leaves roosts shortly after sunset; wingbeats are slow and fluttering. Roosts in tree holes and buildings in summer, hibernates in buildings and barns.
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  • Serotine Eptesicus serotinus Wingspan 33-38cm Large bat, often associated with human habitation. Adult has sleek fur, dark brown above and yellowish brown below. Nose and face are dark; dark ears are oval with 5 transverse folds and tragus is sickle-shaped. Wings are long, broad and dark. Utters shrill squeaks at roost sites. Echolocates in 25-30khz range. Widespread in S, favouring open woodland, parks and mature gardens. Leaves roosts shortly after sunset; wingbeats are slow and fluttering. Roosts in tree holes and buildings in summer, hibernates in buildings and barns.
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  • Serotine Eptesicus serotinus Wingspan 33-38cm Large bat, often associated with human habitation. Adult has sleek fur, dark brown above and yellowish brown below. Nose and face are dark; dark ears are oval with 5 transverse folds and tragus is sickle-shaped. Wings are long, broad and dark. Utters shrill squeaks at roost sites. Echolocates in 25-30khz range. Widespread in S, favouring open woodland, parks and mature gardens. Leaves roosts shortly after sunset; wingbeats are slow and fluttering. Roosts in tree holes and buildings in summer, hibernates in buildings and barns.
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  • Sperm Whale Physeter macrocephalus Length 16-20m Huge, distinctive whale with large, bulbous head. Tail is raised clear of water prior to deep dive. Dives to 2,000m or more in search of giant squid and sharks. Females live in social groups. Adult is blackish grey with whitish scars from fights and violent encounters with prey. Head accounts for roughly 1/3 of body length and mass. Lower jaw is slender and armed with sharp teeth. Dorsal fin is absent but note dorsal ‘hump’ and series of knobbly lumps. Flippers are small while tail is large. Has a single blowhole (baleen whales have 2); sited at front of head and angled slightly forward and to left.
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  • Sperm Whale Physeter macrocephalus Length 16-20m Huge, distinctive whale with large, bulbous head. Tail is raised clear of water prior to deep dive. Dives to 2,000m or more in search of giant squid and sharks. Females live in social groups. Adult is blackish grey with whitish scars from fights and violent encounters with prey. Head accounts for roughly 1/3 of body length and mass. Lower jaw is slender and armed with sharp teeth. Dorsal fin is absent but note dorsal ‘hump’ and series of knobbly lumps. Flippers are small while tail is large. Has a single blowhole (baleen whales have 2); sited at front of head and angled slightly forward and to left.
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  • Sperm Whale Physeter macrocephalus Length 16-20m Huge, distinctive whale with large, bulbous head. Tail is raised clear of water prior to deep dive. Dives to 2,000m or more in search of giant squid and sharks. Females live in social groups. Adult is blackish grey with whitish scars from fights and violent encounters with prey. Head accounts for roughly 1/3 of body length and mass. Lower jaw is slender and armed with sharp teeth. Dorsal fin is absent but note dorsal ‘hump’ and series of knobbly lumps. Flippers are small while tail is large. Has a single blowhole (baleen whales have 2); sited at front of head and angled slightly forward and to left.
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  • Sperm Whale Physeter macrocephalus Length 16-20m Huge, distinctive whale with large, bulbous head. Tail is raised clear of water prior to deep dive. Dives to 2,000m or more in search of giant squid and sharks. Females live in social groups. Adult is blackish grey with whitish scars from fights and violent encounters with prey. Head accounts for roughly 1/3 of body length and mass. Lower jaw is slender and armed with sharp teeth. Dorsal fin is absent but note dorsal ‘hump’ and series of knobbly lumps. Flippers are small while tail is large. Has a single blowhole (baleen whales have 2); sited at front of head and angled slightly forward and to left.
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  • Scrimshaw - Sperm whale tooth. Sperm Whale Physeter macrocephalus Length 16-20m Huge, distinctive whale with large, bulbous head. Tail is raised clear of water prior to deep dive. Dives to 2,000m or more in search of giant squid and sharks. Females live in social groups. Adult is blackish grey with whitish scars from fights and violent encounters with prey. Head accounts for roughly 1/3 of body length and mass. Lower jaw is slender and armed with sharp teeth. Dorsal fin is absent but note dorsal ‘hump’ and series of knobbly lumps. Flippers are small while tail is large. Has a single blowhole (baleen whales have 2); sited at front of head and angled slightly forward and to left.
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  • Serotine Eptesicus serotinus Wingspan 33-38cm Large bat, often associated with human habitation. Adult has sleek fur, dark brown above and yellowish brown below. Nose and face are dark; dark ears are oval with 5 transverse folds and tragus is sickle-shaped. Wings are long, broad and dark. Utters shrill squeaks at roost sites. Echolocates in 25-30khz range. Widespread in S, favouring open woodland, parks and mature gardens. Leaves roosts shortly after sunset; wingbeats are slow and fluttering. Roosts in tree holes and buildings in summer, hibernates in buildings and barns.
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