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  • Soft Rush - Juncus effusus
    164220.jpg
  • Soft Rush - Juncus effusus
    164221.jpg
  • Soft-plumaged Petrel - Pterodroma mollis
    157790.jpg
  • Thalessema thalassemum - A Spoon worm, phylum Echiura
    161490.jpg
  • Part of the amazing desert-like landscape around the hoodoos of Drumheller, Alberta, Canada.
    159710.jpg
  • Part of the amazing desert-like landscape around the hoodoos of Drumheller, Alberta, Canada.
    159709.jpg
  • Dead Man's Fingers - Alcyonium digitatum
    142477.jpg
  • Red Fingers - Alcyonium glomeratum
    141671.jpg
  • Red Fingers - Alcyonium glomeratum
    141684.jpg
  • Red Fingers - Alcyonium glomeratum
    141682.jpg
  • Dead Man's Fingers - Alcyonium digitatum
    141683.jpg
  • River Spey looking upstream from the road bridge towards the Cairngorm Mountains, Boat of Garten, Scotland, Uk
    145493.jpg
  • Panoramic view of Hambledon Village in the Thames Valley near Henley, Oxfordshire, Uk
    154470.jpg
  • Panoramic view of part of Hambledon Village in the Thames Valley near Henley, Oxfordshire, Uk
    154471.jpg
  • dead man's finger<br />
Alcyonium digitatum
    124061.jpg
  • River Spey looking upstream from the road bridge towards the Cairngorm Mountains, Boat of Garten, Scotland, Uk
    145492.jpg
  • River Spey looking upstream from the road bridge towards the Cairngorm Mountains, Boat of Garten, Scotland, Uk
    145491.jpg
  • SOFT RUSH Juncus effusus (Juncaceae) Height to 1.5m.<br />
Characteristic perennial of overgrazed grassland, mostly on acid soils. Stems are yellowish green, glossy and smooth. FLOWERS are pale brown and borne in loose or open clusters near the stem tops (Jun-Aug). FRUITS are yellow-brown, egg-shaped, indented at the tip and shorter than sepals. LEAVES are absent. STATUS-Widespread and common.
    143608.jpg
  • Soft Wood-grass/Creeping Soft-grass  (Holcus mollis) HEIGHT to 60cm. Similar to Yorkshire Fog but more slender; stems downy only at the joints. Grows in woods and on heaths, mainly on acid soils. FLOWERS In heads, compact at first then spreading, with purplish-green spikelets, each with a bent awn (June-Aug). FRUITS Small, dry nutlets. LEAVES Grey-green.
    106587.jpg
  • SOFT RUSH Juncus effusus (Juncaceae) Height to 1.5m.<br />
Characteristic perennial of overgrazed grassland, mostly on acid soils. Stems are yellowish green, glossy and smooth. FLOWERS are pale brown and borne in loose or open clusters near the stem tops (Jun-Aug). FRUITS are yellow-brown, egg-shaped, indented at the tip and shorter than sepals. LEAVES are absent. STATUS-Widespread and common.
    143612.jpg
  • SOFT RUSH Juncus effusus (Juncaceae) Height to 1.5m.<br />
Characteristic perennial of overgrazed grassland, mostly on acid soils. Stems are yellowish green, glossy and smooth. FLOWERS are pale brown and borne in loose or open clusters near the stem tops (Jun-Aug). FRUITS are yellow-brown, egg-shaped, indented at the tip and shorter than sepals. LEAVES are absent. STATUS-Widespread and common.
    143616.jpg
  • Teal Anas crecca - Female. L 34-38cm. Our smallest duck. Forms flocks outside breeding season. Often nervous and flighty. In flight, both sexes show white-bordered green speculum. Sexes are otherwise dissimilar. Adult male has chestnut-orange head with yellow-bordered green patch through eye. Plumage is otherwise finely marked grey except for black-bordered yellow stern and horizontal white line along flanks. Bill is dark grey. In eclipse, resembles adult female. Adult female has mottled grey-brown plumage. Bill is grey with hint of yellow at base. Juvenile is similar to adult female but warmer buff. Voice Male utters a ringing whistle, female utters a soft quack. Status Associated with water. Nests in small numbers beside pools and bogs mainly in N. Locally common outside breeding season on freshwater marshes, estuaries and mudflats.
    158043.jpg
  • Dotterel Charadrius morinellus L 22cm. Beautiful and tame, pot-bellied mountain wader. Role-reversal seen when nesting: duller male incubates eggs. Adult female in summer has reddish orange breast and belly, black-bordered white collar, and blue-grey throat. Face is whitish and has white supercilium and dark cap; upperparts otherwise grey-brown, back feathers with brown margins. Legs are yellow. Adult male in summer is duller. Winter adult is grey buff with broad, pale buff supercilium and pale breast band. Juvenile is similar to winter adult but with scaly-looking back. Voice Utters a soft pierrr call. Status Rare migrant visitor, mainly to Scottish Highlands. Migrants linger briefly at traditional hilltops staging posts in England, or on coasts.
    158037.jpg
  • Chiffchaff - Phylloscopus collybita. L 11cm. Tiny warbler, best known for its onomatopoeic song. Sexes are similar. Adult and juvenile have grey-brown upperparts and pale, greyish underparts suffused with yellow-buff on throat and breast. Bill is needle-like and legs are black; latter feature helps separate silent individuals from similar Willow Warbler. Voice Call is a soft hueet. Song is continually repeated chiff-chaff or tsip-tsap. Status Common summer visitor to mature deciduous woodland with a dense understorey of shrubs. Most migrate south to Mediterranean region in autumn but several hundred overwinter in S Britain.
    157898.jpg
  • Chiffchaff Phylloscopus collybita L 11cm. Tiny warbler, best known for its onomatopoeic song. Sexes are similar. Adult and juvenile have grey-brown upperparts and pale, greyish underparts suffused with yellow-buff on throat and breast. Bill is needle-like and legs are black; latter feature helps separate silent individuals from similar Willow Warbler. Voice Call is a soft hueet. Song is continually repeated chiff-chaff or tsip-tsap. Status Common summer visitor to mature deciduous woodland with a dense understorey of shrubs. Most migrate south to Mediterranean region in autumn but several hundred overwinter in S Britain. Observation tips Easy to see and hear.
    145976.jpg
  • Cork Oak Quercus suber (Fagaceae) HEIGHT to 17m<br />
Medium-sized evergreen oak forming a rounded tree. BARK Thick, pale greyish-brown with deep fissures and ridges if left to mature, and a soft corky texture. BRANCHES Numerous, large and twisted, arising low down on bole; in very old trees some branches may trail on ground. LEAVES Resemble holly leaves, with spiny tips to shallow lobes; to 7cm long, on 1cm petioles. Mature leaves are dark green and smooth above, but paler, almost grey and downy below. REPRODUCTIVE PARTS Acorns are 2–3cm long, egg-shaped, and borne in cups covered with long projecting scales. STATUS AND DISTRIBUTION Native of Mediterranean region, introduced here and grown for ornament as far north as Scotland
    135091.jpg
  • Large-leaved Lime Tilia platyphyllos (Tiliaceae) HEIGHT to 40m. Tall and often narrow deciduous tree. Bole is normally free of suckers and shoots, distinguishing this species from Lime. BARK Dark-grey with fine fissures in older trees, which can sometimes be ridged. BRANCHES Mostly ascending but with slightly pendent tips. Twigs are reddish-green and sometimes slightly downy at tip, and ovoid buds, to 6mm long, are dark red and sometimes slightly downy. LEAVES To 9cm long, sometimes to 15cm long, broadly ovate, with a short tapering point and irregularly heart-shaped base. Margins are sharply toothed, upper surface is soft and dark green and lower surface is paler and sometimes slightly hairy. REPRODUCTIVE PARTS Yellowish-white flowers are borne in clusters of up to 6 on whitish-green, slightly downy bracts, usually opening in June. Hard, woody fruit is up to 1.8cm long, almost rounded or slightly pear-shaped with 3–5 ridges; a few remain on lower branches in winter. STATUS AND DISTRIBUTION A native of lime-rich soils in Europe; in Britain it is native to central and S England and Wales, having been introduced elsewhere; it is often planted as a street tree.
    135024.jpg
  • Grey Alder Alnus incana (Betulaceae) HEIGHT to 25m <br />
A fast-growing alder more at home on dry soils than most other alders. Shoots and new leaves are covered with a dense layer of soft greyish hairs (hence incana). BARK Smooth and grey. LEAVES Triangular and toothed, terminating in a point, and the margins do not roll inwards. Hairs persist on the underside of the leaf as it matures. REPRODUCTIVE PARTS The catkins and fruits are very similar to those of other alders, although the green fruits are more globose before ripening to the typical dark, woody alder cone. STATUS AND DISTRIBUTION A native of Europe, introduced into Britain but not often planted. A good species for wasteland and reclamation schemes.
    134709.jpg
  • Western Larch Larix occidentalis (Pinaceae) HEIGHT to 30m<br />
Largest of all the larches, although it rarely reaches its maximum height away from its native range. A tall, slender, conical tree. BARK Grey and scaly, forming deep fissures low down. BRANCHES slightly ascending and short with red-brown shoots. LEAVES Soft needles up to 4cm long, borne in tufts on side-shoots. REPRODUCTIVE PARTS Male flowers are yellow, and pendent below the shoots; female flowers are red and upright above the shoot on the same tree. Both open in spring. Cones are ovoid, 4cm long, with long bracts protruding from between the scales, distinguishing this from all other larches. STATUS AND DISTRIBUTION native of mountains of British Columbia, south to Oregon. Introduced in 1881 into Britain, where there are now some very fine specimens in mature collections.
    134670.jpg
  • American Mink Mustela vison Length 45-65cm Unwelcome introduction to Britain from North America. An active predator of aquatic life; instrumental in demise of the Water Vole. Hunts in afternoon and after dark. Swims well and buoyantly. Adult has slender body and bushy tail. Fur is soft, silky and typically dark brown. Males is larger than female. Utters high-pitched calls when alarmed. Originated from fur farms (‘liberated’ animals and escapees) and now alarmingly widespread along waterways throughout. Often the subject of eradication programmes.
    144324.jpg
  • American Mink Mustela vison Length 45-65cm Unwelcome introduction to Britain from North America. An active predator of aquatic life; instrumental in demise of the Water Vole. Hunts in afternoon and after dark. Swims well and buoyantly. Adult has slender body and bushy tail. Fur is soft, silky and typically dark brown. Males is larger than female. Utters high-pitched calls when alarmed. Originated from fur farms (‘liberated’ animals and escapees) and now alarmingly widespread along waterways throughout. Often the subject of eradication programmes.
    144325.jpg
  • American Mink Mustela vison Length 45-65cm Unwelcome introduction to Britain from North America. An active predator of aquatic life; instrumental in demise of the Water Vole. Hunts in afternoon and after dark. Swims well and buoyantly. Adult has slender body and bushy tail. Fur is soft, silky and typically dark brown. Males is larger than female. Utters high-pitched calls when alarmed. Originated from fur farms (‘liberated’ animals and escapees) and now alarmingly widespread along waterways throughout. Often the subject of eradication programmes.
    144327.jpg
  • Chiffchaff Phylloscopus collybita L 11cm. Tiny warbler, best known for its onomatopoeic song. Sexes are similar. Adult and juvenile have grey-brown upperparts and pale, greyish underparts suffused with yellow-buff on throat and breast. Bill is needle-like and legs are black; latter feature helps separate silent individuals from similar Willow Warbler. Voice Call is a soft hueet. Song is continually repeated chiff-chaff or tsip-tsap. Status Common summer visitor to mature deciduous woodland with a dense understorey of shrubs. Most migrate south to Mediterranean region in autumn but several hundred overwinter in S Britain.
    143313.jpg
  • Ringed Plover Charadrius hiaticula- Juvenile L 17-19cm. Small, dumpy coastal wader. Runs at speed before pausing and picking food item from ground. Note white wingbar in flight. Sexes are separable. Adult male in summer has sandy brown upperparts and white underparts with black breast band and collar. Has black and white markings on face, and white throat and nape. Legs are orange-yellow and bill is orange with dark tip. Adult female in summer is similar but black elements of plumage are duller. Winter adult is similar to summer adult but most black elements of plumage are sandy brown, and has pale supercilium. Leg and bill colours are dull. Juvenile is similar to winter adult but breast band is often incomplete. Voice Utters a soft tuu-eep call. Status Locally common. Nests mainly on sandy or shingle beached, sometimes inland. Coastal outside breeding season; numbers boosted by migrants from Europe.
    144088.jpg
  • Ringed Plover Charadrius hiaticula -Juvenile L 17-19cm. Small, dumpy coastal wader. Runs at speed before pausing and picking food item from ground. Note white wingbar in flight. Sexes are separable. Adult male in summer has sandy brown upperparts and white underparts with black breast band and collar. Has black and white markings on face, and white throat and nape. Legs are orange-yellow and bill is orange with dark tip. Adult female in summer is similar but black elements of plumage are duller. Winter adult is similar to summer adult but most black elements of plumage are sandy brown, and has pale supercilium. Leg and bill colours are dull. Juvenile is similar to winter adult but breast band is often incomplete. Voice Utters a soft tuu-eep call. Status Locally common. Nests mainly on sandy or shingle beached, sometimes inland. Coastal outside breeding season; numbers boosted by migrants from Europe.
    144101.jpg
  • Curlew Sandpiper Calidris ferruginea L 19-21cm. Small, elegant wader. Similar to Dunlin but separable by noting long and obviously downcurved bill and white rump. Sexes are hard to separate. Adult in summer has spangled reddish brown, black and white back and (briefly) brick red on face, neck and underparts (appears mottled in moulting migrants). Male is brighter than female. Winter adult (seldom seen here) has greyish upperparts and white underparts. Juvenile (commonest plumage encountered here) has scaly-looking back, white belly and buffish breast; note pale supercilium. Voice Utters a soft prrrp call. Status Breeds in high Arctic and seen here as scarce passage migrant, usually on estuaries and coastal pools, often with Dunlins.
    144156.jpg
  • Curlew Sandpiper Calidris ferruginea L 19-21cm. Small, elegant wader. Similar to Dunlin but separable by noting long and obviously downcurved bill and white rump. Sexes are hard to separate. Adult in summer has spangled reddish brown, black and white back and (briefly) brick red on face, neck and underparts (appears mottled in moulting migrants). Male is brighter than female. Winter adult (seldom seen here) has greyish upperparts and white underparts. Juvenile (commonest plumage encountered here) has scaly-looking back, white belly and buffish breast; note pale supercilium. Voice Utters a soft prrrp call. Status Breeds in high Arctic and seen here as scarce passage migrant, usually on estuaries and coastal pools, often with Dunlins.
    144160.jpg
  • Dotterel Charadrius morinellus L 22cm. Beautiful and tame, pot-bellied mountain wader. Role-reversal seen when nesting: duller male incubates eggs. Adult female in summer has reddish orange breast and belly, black-bordered white collar, and blue-grey throat. Face is whitish and has white supercilium and dark cap; upperparts otherwise grey-brown, back feathers with brown margins. Legs are yellow. Adult male in summer is duller. Winter adult is grey buff with broad, pale buff supercilium and pale breast band. Juvenile is similar to winter adult but with scaly-looking back. Voice Utters a soft pierrr call. Status Rare migrant visitor, mainly to Scottish Highlands. Migrants linger briefly at traditional hilltops staging posts in England, or on coasts.
    144704.jpg
  • Dotterel Charadrius morinellus L 22cm. Beautiful and tame, pot-bellied mountain wader. Role-reversal seen when nesting: duller male incubates eggs. Adult female in summer has reddish orange breast and belly, black-bordered white collar, and blue-grey throat. Face is whitish and has white supercilium and dark cap; upperparts otherwise grey-brown, back feathers with brown margins. Legs are yellow. Adult male in summer is duller. Winter adult is grey buff with broad, pale buff supercilium and pale breast band. Juvenile is similar to winter adult but with scaly-looking back. Voice Utters a soft pierrr call. Status Rare migrant visitor, mainly to Scottish Highlands. Migrants linger briefly at traditional hilltops staging posts in England, or on coasts.
    144705.jpg
  • Long-tailed Tit Aegithalos caudatus L 14cm. Delightful, long-tailed bird with an almost spherical body. Seen in acrobatic flocks. Sexes are similar. Adult looks overall black and white but note pinkish chestnut patch on shoulders and whitish feather fringes on otherwise black back and wings. Head is mainly whitish with black band above eye; underparts are whitish, suffused pink on flanks and belly. Bill is dark, short and stubby. Juvenile is similar but duller and darker. Voice Utters rattling tsrrr contact call and thin tsee-tsee-tsee. Soft, twittering song is easily missed. Status Common resident of deciduous woodland, scrub and heathland fringes.
    145262.jpg
  • Teal Anas crecca L 34-38cm. Our smallest duck. Forms flocks outside breeding season. Often nervous and flighty. In flight, both sexes show white-bordered green speculum. Sexes are otherwise dissimilar. Adult male has chestnut-orange head with yellow-bordered green patch through eye. Plumage is otherwise finely marked grey except for black-bordered yellow stern and horizontal white line along flanks. Bill is dark grey.  In eclipse, resembles adult female. Adult female has mottled grey-brown plumage. Bill is grey with hint of yellow at base. Juvenile is similar to adult female but warmer buff. Voice Male utters a ringing whistle, female utters a soft quack. Status Associated with water. Nests in small numbers beside pools and bogs mainly in N. Locally common outside breeding season on freshwater marshes, estuaries and mudflats.
    145322.jpg
  • Soft Brome - Bromus hordaceus ssp. ferronii
    159449.jpg
  • Bullfinch Pyrrhula pyrrhula - Male. L 16-17cm. Unobtrusive finch whose call and white rump are distinctive. Bill is stubby and dark. Sexes are separable. Adult male has a rosy-pink face, breast and belly. Back and nape are blue-grey and cap and tail are black. Note white wingbar on otherwise black wings. Adult female is similar but duller. Juvenile is similar to adult female but head is uniformly buffish brown. Voice Utters a soft piping call; pair sometimes duets. Song is quiet and seldom heard. Status Fairly common resident of woodlands, hedgerows and mature gardens.
    158006.jpg
  • Redstart - Phoenicurus phoenicurus - female. L 14cm. Colourful Robin-sized bird. Dark-centred red tail is pumped up and down when perched. Sexes are dissimilar. Adult male has grey back, nape and crown, black face and throat, and orange-red underparts (most colourful on breast). Note white forehead and supercilium. Adult female has grey-brown upperparts and head, and orange wash to pale underparts. 1st winter birds recall respective adult plumages but feathers have pale margins. Voice Utters a soft huiit call. Song is tuneful but melancholy. Status Locally common summer visitor to open woodland with plenty of tree holes for nesting and limited ground cover.
    157998.jpg
  • Teal - Anas crecca - Male. L 34-38cm. Our smallest duck. Forms flocks outside breeding season. Often nervous and flighty. In flight, both sexes show white-bordered green speculum. Sexes are otherwise dissimilar. Adult male has chestnut-orange head with yellow-bordered green patch through eye. Plumage is otherwise finely marked grey except for black-bordered yellow stern and horizontal white line along flanks. Bill is dark grey. In eclipse, resembles adult female. Adult female has mottled grey-brown plumage. Bill is grey with hint of yellow at base. Juvenile is similar to adult female but warmer buff. Voice Male utters a ringing whistle, female utters a soft quack. Status Associated with water. Nests in small numbers beside pools and bogs mainly in N. Locally common outside breeding season on freshwater marshes, estuaries and mudflats.
    157988.jpg
  • Chiffchaff Phylloscopus collybita L 11cm. Tiny warbler, best known for its onomatopoeic song. Sexes are similar. Adult and juvenile have grey-brown upperparts and pale, greyish underparts suffused with yellow-buff on throat and breast. Bill is needle-like and legs are black; latter feature helps separate silent individuals from similar Willow Warbler. Voice Call is a soft hueet. Song is continually repeated chiff-chaff or tsip-tsap. Status Common summer visitor to mature deciduous woodland with a dense understorey of shrubs. Most migrate south to Mediterranean region in autumn but several hundred overwinter in S Britain.
    157981.jpg
  • Long-tailed Tit - Aegithalos caudatus. L 14cm. Delightful, long-tailed bird with an almost spherical body. Seen in acrobatic flocks. Sexes are similar. Adult looks overall black and white but note pinkish chestnut patch on shoulders and whitish feather fringes on otherwise black back and wings. Head is mainly whitish with black band above eye; underparts are whitish, suffused pink on flanks and belly. Bill is dark, short and stubby. Juvenile is similar but duller and darker. Voice Utters rattling tsrrr contact call and thin tsee-tsee-tsee. Soft, twittering song is easily missed. Status Common resident of deciduous woodland, scrub and heathland fringes.
    157977.jpg
  • Chiffchaff Phylloscopus collybita L 11cm. Tiny warbler, best known for its onomatopoeic song. Sexes are similar. Adult and juvenile have grey-brown upperparts and pale, greyish underparts suffused with yellow-buff on throat and breast. Bill is needle-like and legs are black; latter feature helps separate silent individuals from similar Willow Warbler. Voice Call is a soft hueet. Song is continually repeated chiff-chaff or tsip-tsap. Status Common summer visitor to mature deciduous woodland with a dense understorey of shrubs. Most migrate south to Mediterranean region in autumn but several hundred overwinter in S Britain. Observation tips Easy to see and hear.
    145974.jpg
  • Chiffchaff Phylloscopus collybita L 11cm. Tiny warbler, best known for its onomatopoeic song. Sexes are similar. Adult and juvenile have grey-brown upperparts and pale, greyish underparts suffused with yellow-buff on throat and breast. Bill is needle-like and legs are black; latter feature helps separate silent individuals from similar Willow Warbler. Voice Call is a soft hueet. Song is continually repeated chiff-chaff or tsip-tsap. Status Common summer visitor to mature deciduous woodland with a dense understorey of shrubs. Most migrate south to Mediterranean region in autumn but several hundred overwinter in S Britain. Observation tips Easy to see and hear.
    145975.jpg
  • Cork Oak Quercus suber (Fagaceae) HEIGHT to 17m<br />
Medium-sized evergreen oak forming a rounded tree. BARK Thick, pale greyish-brown with deep fissures and ridges if left to mature, and a soft corky texture. BRANCHES Numerous, large and twisted, arising low down on bole; in very old trees some branches may trail on ground. LEAVES Resemble holly leaves, with spiny tips to shallow lobes; to 7cm long, on 1cm petioles. Mature leaves are dark green and smooth above, but paler, almost grey and downy below. REPRODUCTIVE PARTS Acorns are 2–3cm long, egg-shaped, and borne in cups covered with long projecting scales. STATUS AND DISTRIBUTION Native of Mediterranean region, introduced here and grown for ornament as far north as Scotland
    135231.jpg
  • Large-leaved Lime Tilia platyphyllos (Tiliaceae) HEIGHT to 40m. Tall and often narrow deciduous tree. Bole is normally free of suckers and shoots, distinguishing this species from Lime. BARK Dark-grey with fine fissures in older trees, which can sometimes be ridged. BRANCHES Mostly ascending but with slightly pendent tips. Twigs are reddish-green and sometimes slightly downy at tip, and ovoid buds, to 6mm long, are dark red and sometimes slightly downy. LEAVES To 9cm long, sometimes to 15cm long, broadly ovate, with a short tapering point and irregularly heart-shaped base. Margins are sharply toothed, upper surface is soft and dark green and lower surface is paler and sometimes slightly hairy. REPRODUCTIVE PARTS Yellowish-white flowers are borne in clusters of up to 6 on whitish-green, slightly downy bracts, usually opening in June. Hard, woody fruit is up to 1.8cm long, almost rounded or slightly pear-shaped with 3–5 ridges; a few remain on lower branches in winter. STATUS AND DISTRIBUTION A native of lime-rich soils in Europe; in Britain it is native to central and S England and Wales, having been introduced elsewhere; it is often planted as a street tree.
    135169.jpg
  • Common Pear (Cultivated Pear) Pyrus communis (Rosaceae) HEIGHT to 20m. A normally upright and slender deciduous tree with a stout bole and a dense framework unless pruned. BARK Dark-brown and breaking up into small square plates. BRANCHES Ascending in young trees, but becoming more spreading in older specimens; some branches may bear a few spines. Young twigs are reddish-brown and sparsely hairy, but they become smoother with age. LEAVES Up to 8cm long, and usually oval to elliptic in shape, but there is always some variation; the margins have numerous small teeth, and the leaves are smooth and almost glossy when mature. REPRODUCTIVE PARTS The flowers are pure white and open before the leaves have fully expanded, typically two to four weeks earlier and cultivated apples flower in the same location. A pear orchard is a spectacular sight on a sunny spring day. The pear-shaped fruits may be up to 12cm long, with a soft, but slightly gritty, sweet-tasting flesh. STATUS AND DISTRIBUTION A native of western Asia originally, but cultivated for millennia and now widespread across Europe, including Britain and Ireland
    135134.jpg
  • Large-leaved Lime Tilia platyphyllos (Tiliaceae) HEIGHT to 40m. Tall and often narrow deciduous tree. Bole is normally free of suckers and shoots, distinguishing this species from Lime. BARK Dark-grey with fine fissures in older trees, which can sometimes be ridged. BRANCHES Mostly ascending but with slightly pendent tips. Twigs are reddish-green and sometimes slightly downy at tip, and ovoid buds, to 6mm long, are dark red and sometimes slightly downy. LEAVES To 9cm long, sometimes to 15cm long, broadly ovate, with a short tapering point and irregularly heart-shaped base. Margins are sharply toothed, upper surface is soft and dark green and lower surface is paler and sometimes slightly hairy. REPRODUCTIVE PARTS Yellowish-white flowers are borne in clusters of up to 6 on whitish-green, slightly downy bracts, usually opening in June. Hard, woody fruit is up to 1.8cm long, almost rounded or slightly pear-shaped with 3–5 ridges; a few remain on lower branches in winter. STATUS AND DISTRIBUTION A native of lime-rich soils in Europe; in Britain it is native to central and S England and Wales, having been introduced elsewhere; it is often planted as a street tree.
    135023.jpg
  • Dwarf Cherry (Sour Cherry) Prunus cerasus (Rosaceae) HEIGHT to 8m. A small deciduous tree with a very short, branching bole and a rounded shrubby outline, often surrounded by suckers. BARK Reddish-brown and twigs are smooth. LEAVES To 8cm long, oval to elliptic and sharply pointed at tip, with a tapering base and toothed margin; on 1–3cm-long petioles. Young leaves are slightly downy below, and upper surface is always smooth and shiny. REPRODUCTIVE PARTS Long-stalked white flowers usually open just before leaves in April–May, and grow in clusters of 2–6. Fruits, to 1.8cm long are rounded with a slightly depressed apex, usually bright red or blackish-red. Flesh is soft and tastes acidic, and stone is rounded and smooth. STATUS AND DISTRIBUTION Native of SW Asia, but widely cultivated for its fruit, which is used mainly in preserves when it loses much of its acidity.
    134805.jpg
  • Grey Alder Alnus incana (Betulaceae) HEIGHT to 25m <br />
A fast-growing alder more at home on dry soils than most other alders. Shoots and new leaves are covered with a dense layer of soft greyish hairs (hence incana). BARK Smooth and grey. LEAVES Triangular and toothed, terminating in a point, and the margins do not roll inwards. Hairs persist on the underside of the leaf as it matures. REPRODUCTIVE PARTS The catkins and fruits are very similar to those of other alders, although the green fruits are more globose before ripening to the typical dark, woody alder cone. STATUS AND DISTRIBUTION A native of Europe, introduced into Britain but not often planted. A good species for wasteland and reclamation schemes.
    134710.jpg
  • Grey Alder Alnus incana (Betulaceae) HEIGHT to 25m <br />
A fast-growing alder more at home on dry soils than most other alders. Shoots and new leaves are covered with a dense layer of soft greyish hairs (hence incana). BARK Smooth and grey. LEAVES Triangular and toothed, terminating in a point, and the margins do not roll inwards. Hairs persist on the underside of the leaf as it matures. REPRODUCTIVE PARTS The catkins and fruits are very similar to those of other alders, although the green fruits are more globose before ripening to the typical dark, woody alder cone. STATUS AND DISTRIBUTION A native of Europe, introduced into Britain but not often planted. A good species for wasteland and reclamation schemes.
    134708.jpg
  • Grey Alder Alnus incana (Betulaceae) HEIGHT to 25m <br />
A fast-growing alder more at home on dry soils than most other alders. Shoots and new leaves are covered with a dense layer of soft greyish hairs (hence incana). BARK Smooth and grey. LEAVES Triangular and toothed, terminating in a point, and the margins do not roll inwards. Hairs persist on the underside of the leaf as it matures. REPRODUCTIVE PARTS The catkins and fruits are very similar to those of other alders, although the green fruits are more globose before ripening to the typical dark, woody alder cone. STATUS AND DISTRIBUTION A native of Europe, introduced into Britain but not often planted. A good species for wasteland and reclamation schemes.
    134707.jpg
  • Hinoki Cypress Chamaecyparis obtusa (Cupressaceae) HEIGHT to 25m. Evergreen; recalls Lawson’s Cypress. BARK Reddish and soft. BRANCHES Mainly level. LEAVES Blunt-pointed, bright green with white lines below, eucalyptus-scented; in flat sprays. REPRODUCTIVE PARTS Rounded female cones blue-green at first, yellowing with age. Male cones small, reddish-yellow. STATUS AND DISTRIBUTION Native of Japan and Taiwan. Introduced to Britain in 1861; grows best in wetter areas.
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  • Common Pear (Cultivated Pear) Pyrus communis (Rosaceae) HEIGHT to 20m. A normally upright and slender deciduous tree with a stout bole and a dense framework unless pruned. BARK Dark-brown and breaking up into small square plates. BRANCHES Ascending in young trees, but becoming more spreading in older specimens; some branches may bear a few spines. Young twigs are reddish-brown and sparsely hairy, but they become smoother with age. LEAVES Up to 8cm long, and usually oval to elliptic in shape, but there is always some variation; the margins have numerous small teeth, and the leaves are smooth and almost glossy when mature. REPRODUCTIVE PARTS The flowers are pure white and open before the leaves have fully expanded, typically two to four weeks earlier and cultivated apples flower in the same location. A pear orchard is a spectacular sight on a sunny spring day. The pear-shaped fruits may be up to 12cm long, with a soft, but slightly gritty, sweet-tasting flesh. STATUS AND DISTRIBUTION A native of western Asia originally, but cultivated for millennia and now widespread across Europe, including Britain and Ireland
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  • Western Larch Larix occidentalis (Pinaceae) HEIGHT to 30m<br />
Largest of all the larches, although it rarely reaches its maximum height away from its native range. A tall, slender, conical tree. BARK Grey and scaly, forming deep fissures low down. BRANCHES slightly ascending and short with red-brown shoots. LEAVES Soft needles up to 4cm long, borne in tufts on side-shoots. REPRODUCTIVE PARTS Male flowers are yellow, and pendent below the shoots; female flowers are red and upright above the shoot on the same tree. Both open in spring. Cones are ovoid, 4cm long, with long bracts protruding from between the scales, distinguishing this from all other larches. STATUS AND DISTRIBUTION native of mountains of British Columbia, south to Oregon. Introduced in 1881 into Britain, where there are now some very fine specimens in mature collections.
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  • Nikko Maple Acer nikoense (Aceraceae) HEIGHT to 15m (20m). Broadly spreading deciduous tree. BARK Greyish-brown and smooth. BRANCHES Mainly level, with blackish buds that have grey hairs on scales. LEAVES Compound, with 3 leaflets, the central one up to 10cm long, the other 2 smaller and unequal at the base. They are mostly green and smooth on the upper surface, but bluish-white below with a covering of soft hairs. Leaves turn fiery red in autumn. REPRODUCTIVE PARTS Small yellow flowers, in pendulous clusters of 3, on hairy stalks, open at about same time as leaves. Green, winged fruits are about 5cm long, and wings spread widely, but seeds are rarely fertile or fully formed. STATUS AND DISTRIBUTION Native of Japan, and now popular here as an ornamental tree, mostly for its fine autumn colours.
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  • Hinoki Cypress Chamaecyparis obtusa (Cupressaceae) HEIGHT to 25m. Evergreen; recalls Lawson’s Cypress. BARK Reddish and soft. BRANCHES Mainly level. LEAVES Blunt-pointed, bright green with white lines below, eucalyptus-scented; in flat sprays. REPRODUCTIVE PARTS Rounded female cones blue-green at first, yellowing with age. Male cones small, reddish-yellow. STATUS AND DISTRIBUTION Native of Japan and Taiwan. Introduced to Britain in 1861; grows best in wetter areas.
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  • Hinoki Cypress Chamaecyparis obtusa (Cupressaceae) HEIGHT to 25m. Evergreen; recalls Lawson’s Cypress. BARK Reddish and soft. BRANCHES Mainly level. LEAVES Blunt-pointed, bright green with white lines below, eucalyptus-scented; in flat sprays. REPRODUCTIVE PARTS Rounded female cones blue-green at first, yellowing with age. Male cones small, reddish-yellow. STATUS AND DISTRIBUTION Native of Japan and Taiwan. Introduced to Britain in 1861; grows best in wetter areas.
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  • Cork Oak Quercus suber (Fagaceae) HEIGHT to 17m<br />
Medium-sized evergreen oak forming a rounded tree. BARK Thick, pale greyish-brown with deep fissures and ridges if left to mature, and a soft corky texture. BRANCHES Numerous, large and twisted, arising low down on bole; in very old trees some branches may trail on ground. LEAVES Resemble holly leaves, with spiny tips to shallow lobes; to 7cm long, on 1cm petioles. Mature leaves are dark green and smooth above, but paler, almost grey and downy below. REPRODUCTIVE PARTS Acorns are 2–3cm long, egg-shaped, and borne in cups covered with long projecting scales. STATUS AND DISTRIBUTION Native of Mediterranean region, introduced here and grown for ornament as far north as Scotland
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  • Cork Oak Quercus suber (Fagaceae) HEIGHT to 17m<br />
Medium-sized evergreen oak forming a rounded tree. BARK Thick, pale greyish-brown with deep fissures and ridges if left to mature, and a soft corky texture. BRANCHES Numerous, large and twisted, arising low down on bole; in very old trees some branches may trail on ground. LEAVES Resemble holly leaves, with spiny tips to shallow lobes; to 7cm long, on 1cm petioles. Mature leaves are dark green and smooth above, but paler, almost grey and downy below. REPRODUCTIVE PARTS Acorns are 2–3cm long, egg-shaped, and borne in cups covered with long projecting scales. STATUS AND DISTRIBUTION Native of Mediterranean region, introduced here and grown for ornament as far north as Scotland
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  • Giant Fir Abies grandis (Pinaceae) HEIGHT to 55m Map<br />
Magnificent when mature. Fast-growing conifers, reaching a height of 40m in as many years. LEAVES Note the comb-like arrangement of soft, shining-green needles, borne in 2 rows on either side of downy olive-green twigs. Needles are up to 5cm long with a notched tip and 2 pale bands below; orange-scented when crushed. REPRODUCTIVE PARTS Cones are smooth, less than 10cm long and are produced high up on trees at least 50 years old; they break up on tree to release seeds, STATUS AND DISTRIBUTION Native of coastal W USA. Planted in our region for ornament and sometimes commercially.
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  • Large-leaved Lime Tilia platyphyllos (Tiliaceae) HEIGHT to 40m. Tall and often narrow deciduous tree. Bole is normally free of suckers and shoots, distinguishing this species from Lime. BARK Dark-grey with fine fissures in older trees, which can sometimes be ridged. BRANCHES Mostly ascending but with slightly pendent tips. Twigs are reddish-green and sometimes slightly downy at tip, and ovoid buds, to 6mm long, are dark red and sometimes slightly downy. LEAVES To 9cm long, sometimes to 15cm long, broadly ovate, with a short tapering point and irregularly heart-shaped base. Margins are sharply toothed, upper surface is soft and dark green and lower surface is paler and sometimes slightly hairy. REPRODUCTIVE PARTS Yellowish-white flowers are borne in clusters of up to 6 on whitish-green, slightly downy bracts, usually opening in June. Hard, woody fruit is up to 1.8cm long, almost rounded or slightly pear-shaped with 3–5 ridges; a few remain on lower branches in winter. STATUS AND DISTRIBUTION A native of lime-rich soils in Europe; in Britain it is native to central and S England and Wales, having been introduced elsewhere; it is often planted as a street tree.
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  • SOFT RUSH Juncus effusus (Juncaceae) Height to 1.5m<br />
Characteristic perennial of overgrazed grassland, mostly on acid soils. Stems are yellowish green, glossy and smooth. FLOWERS are pale brown and borne in loose or open clusters near the stem tops (Jun-Aug). FRUITS are yellow-brown, egg-shaped, indented at the tip and shorter than sepals. LEAVES are absent. STATUS-Widespread and common.
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  • SOFT-BROME Bromus hordaceus Height to 1m<br />
Softly downy annual or biennial that grows in meadows and on verges. FLOWERS are borne in moderately compact heads with short-stalked, hairy and egg-shaped spikelets (Jun-Aug). FRUITS are small, dry nutlets. LEAVES are greyish green and rolled when young, with hairy sheaths. STATUS-Widespread and common.
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  • Soft Rush (Juncus effusus) HEIGHT to 1.5m. Characteristic perennial of overgrazed grassland, mostly on acid soils. Stems are yellowish green, glossy and smooth. FLOWERS Pale brown, in loose or open clusters near the stem tops (June-Aug). FRUITS Yellow-brown, egg-shaped, indented at the tip and shorter than sepals. LEAVES Absent.
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  • COMPACT RUSH Juncus conglomeratus (Juncaceae) Height to 1m. Upright perennial of damp, grazed grassland, mainly on acid soils. Similar to compact-flowered form of Soft Rush but stems are darker green, ridged, rough and not glossy. FLOWERS are brown and borne in compact clusters (May-Jul). FRUITS are dark brown, egg-shaped and as long as sepals. LEAVES are absent. STATUS-Locally common.
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  • COMPACT RUSH Juncus conglomeratus (Juncaceae) Height to 1m. Upright perennial of damp, grazed grassland, mainly on acid soils. Similar to compact-flowered form of Soft Rush but stems are darker green, ridged, rough and not glossy. FLOWERS are brown and borne in compact clusters (May-Jul). FRUITS are dark brown, egg-shaped and as long as sepals. LEAVES are absent. STATUS-Locally common.
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  • American Mink Mustela vison Length 45-65cm Unwelcome introduction to Britain from North America. An active predator of aquatic life; instrumental in demise of the Water Vole. Hunts in afternoon and after dark. Swims well and buoyantly. Adult has slender body and bushy tail. Fur is soft, silky and typically dark brown. Males is larger than female. Utters high-pitched calls when alarmed. Originated from fur farms (‘liberated’ animals and escapees) and now alarmingly widespread along waterways throughout. Often the subject of eradication programmes.
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  • American Mink Mustela vison Length 45-65cm Unwelcome introduction to Britain from North America. An active predator of aquatic life; instrumental in demise of the Water Vole. Hunts in afternoon and after dark. Swims well and buoyantly. Adult has slender body and bushy tail. Fur is soft, silky and typically dark brown. Males is larger than female. Utters high-pitched calls when alarmed. Originated from fur farms (‘liberated’ animals and escapees) and now alarmingly widespread along waterways throughout. Often the subject of eradication programmes.
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  • Chiffchaff Phylloscopus collybita L 11cm. Tiny warbler, best known for its onomatopoeic song. Sexes are similar. Adult and juvenile have grey-brown upperparts and pale, greyish underparts suffused with yellow-buff on throat and breast. Bill is needle-like and legs are black; latter feature helps separate silent individuals from similar Willow Warbler. Voice Call is a soft hueet. Song is continually repeated chiff-chaff or tsip-tsap. Status Common summer visitor to mature deciduous woodland with a dense understorey of shrubs. Most migrate south to Mediterranean region in autumn but several hundred overwinter in S Britain.
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  • Chiffchaff Phylloscopus collybita L 11cm. Tiny warbler, best known for its onomatopoeic song. Sexes are similar. Adult and juvenile have grey-brown upperparts and pale, greyish underparts suffused with yellow-buff on throat and breast. Bill is needle-like and legs are black; latter feature helps separate silent individuals from similar Willow Warbler. Voice Call is a soft hueet. Song is continually repeated chiff-chaff or tsip-tsap. Status Common summer visitor to mature deciduous woodland with a dense understorey of shrubs. Most migrate south to Mediterranean region in autumn but several hundred overwinter in S Britain.
    133497.jpg
  • Chiffchaff Phylloscopus collybita L 11cm. Tiny warbler, best known for its onomatopoeic song. Sexes are similar. Adult and juvenile have grey-brown upperparts and pale, greyish underparts suffused with yellow-buff on throat and breast. Bill is needle-like and legs are black; latter feature helps separate silent individuals from similar Willow Warbler. Voice Call is a soft hueet. Song is continually repeated chiff-chaff or tsip-tsap. Status Common summer visitor to mature deciduous woodland with a dense understorey of shrubs. Most migrate south to Mediterranean region in autumn but several hundred overwinter in S Britain.
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  • Shoveler (male) - Spatula clypeata. L 44-52cm. Unmistakable because of bill shape. Usually unobtrusive. In flight, male shows blue forewing panel and white-bordered green speculum; in female, blue is replaced by grey. Sexes are dissimilar overall. Adult male has shiny green head, white breast and chestnut on flanks and belly. Stern is black and white and back is mainly dark. Has yellow eye and dark bill. In eclipse, resembles adult female although body is more rufous and head greyer. Adult female has mottled buffish brown plumage and yellowish bill. Juvenile is similar to adult female. Voice Male utters a sharp tuk-tuk while female makes a soft quack. Status Scarce breeding species on freshwater wetland. Commoner and more widespread in winter but seldom numerous.
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  • Chiffchaff Phylloscopus collybita L 11cm. Tiny warbler, best known for its onomatopoeic song. Sexes are similar. Adult and juvenile have grey-brown upperparts and pale, greyish underparts suffused with yellow-buff on throat and breast. Bill is needle-like and legs are black; latter feature helps separate silent individuals from similar Willow Warbler. Voice Call is a soft hueet. Song is continually repeated chiff-chaff or tsip-tsap. Status Common summer visitor to mature deciduous woodland with a dense understorey of shrubs. Most migrate south to Mediterranean region in autumn but several hundred overwinter in S Britain.
    136144.jpg
  • Chiffchaff Phylloscopus collybita L 11cm. Tiny warbler, best known for its onomatopoeic song. Sexes are similar. Adult and juvenile have grey-brown upperparts and pale, greyish underparts suffused with yellow-buff on throat and breast. Bill is needle-like and legs are black; latter feature helps separate silent individuals from similar Willow Warbler. Voice Call is a soft hueet. Song is continually repeated chiff-chaff or tsip-tsap. Status Common summer visitor to mature deciduous woodland with a dense understorey of shrubs. Most migrate south to Mediterranean region in autumn but several hundred overwinter in S Britain.
    136146.jpg
  • Chiffchaff Phylloscopus collybita L 11cm. Tiny warbler, best known for its onomatopoeic song. Sexes are similar. Adult and juvenile have grey-brown upperparts and pale, greyish underparts suffused with yellow-buff on throat and breast. Bill is needle-like and legs are black; latter feature helps separate silent individuals from similar Willow Warbler. Voice Call is a soft hueet. Song is continually repeated chiff-chaff or tsip-tsap. Status Common summer visitor to mature deciduous woodland with a dense understorey of shrubs. Most migrate south to Mediterranean region in autumn but several hundred overwinter in S Britain.
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  • Shoveler - Spatula clypeata. L 44-52cm. Unmistakable because of bill shape. Usually unobtrusive. In flight, male shows blue forewing panel and white-bordered green speculum; in female, blue is replaced by grey. Sexes are dissimilar overall. Adult male has shiny green head, white breast and chestnut on flanks and belly. Stern is black and white and back is mainly dark. Has yellow eye and dark bill. In eclipse, resembles adult female although body is more rufous and head greyer. Adult female has mottled buffish brown plumage and yellowish bill. Juvenile is similar to adult female. Voice Male utters a sharp tuk-tuk while female makes a soft quack. Status Scarce breeding species on freshwater wetland. Commoner and more widespread in winter but seldom numerous.
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  • Teal Anas crecca L 34-38cm. Our smallest duck. Forms flocks outside breeding season. Often nervous and flighty. In flight, both sexes show white-bordered green speculum. Sexes are otherwise dissimilar. Adult male has chestnut-orange head with yellow-bordered green patch through eye. Plumage is otherwise finely marked grey except for black-bordered yellow stern and horizontal white line along flanks. Bill is dark grey.  In eclipse, resembles adult female. Adult female has mottled grey-brown plumage. Bill is grey with hint of yellow at base. Juvenile is similar to adult female but warmer buff. Voice Male utters a ringing whistle, female utters a soft quack. Status Associated with water. Nests in small numbers beside pools and bogs mainly in N. Locally common outside breeding season on freshwater marshes, estuaries and mudflats.
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  • Teal Anas crecca L 34-38cm. Our smallest duck. Forms flocks outside breeding season. Often nervous and flighty. In flight, both sexes show white-bordered green speculum. Sexes are otherwise dissimilar. Adult male has chestnut-orange head with yellow-bordered green patch through eye. Plumage is otherwise finely marked grey except for black-bordered yellow stern and horizontal white line along flanks. Bill is dark grey.  In eclipse, resembles adult female. Adult female has mottled grey-brown plumage. Bill is grey with hint of yellow at base. Juvenile is similar to adult female but warmer buff. Voice Male utters a ringing whistle, female utters a soft quack. Status Associated with water. Nests in small numbers beside pools and bogs mainly in N. Locally common outside breeding season on freshwater marshes, estuaries and mudflats.
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  • Chiffchaff Phylloscopus collybita L 11cm. Tiny warbler, best known for its onomatopoeic song. Sexes are similar. Adult and juvenile have grey-brown upperparts and pale, greyish underparts suffused with yellow-buff on throat and breast. Bill is needle-like and legs are black; latter feature helps separate silent individuals from similar Willow Warbler. Voice Call is a soft hueet. Song is continually repeated chiff-chaff or tsip-tsap. Status Common summer visitor to mature deciduous woodland with a dense understorey of shrubs. Most migrate south to Mediterranean region in autumn but several hundred overwinter in S Britain.
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  • Teal Anas crecca L 34-38cm. Our smallest duck. Forms flocks outside breeding season. Often nervous and flighty. In flight, both sexes show white-bordered green speculum. Sexes are otherwise dissimilar. Adult male has chestnut-orange head with yellow-bordered green patch through eye. Plumage is otherwise finely marked grey except for black-bordered yellow stern and horizontal white line along flanks. Bill is dark grey.  In eclipse, resembles adult female. Adult female has mottled grey-brown plumage. Bill is grey with hint of yellow at base. Juvenile is similar to adult female but warmer buff. Voice Male utters a ringing whistle, female utters a soft quack. Status Associated with water. Nests in small numbers beside pools and bogs mainly in N. Locally common outside breeding season on freshwater marshes, estuaries and mudflats.
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  • Curlew Sandpiper Calidris ferruginea L 19-21cm. Small, elegant wader. Similar to Dunlin but separable by noting long and obviously downcurved bill and white rump. Sexes are hard to separate. Adult in summer has spangled reddish brown, black and white back and (briefly) brick red on face, neck and underparts (appears mottled in moulting migrants). Male is brighter than female. Winter adult (seldom seen here) has greyish upperparts and white underparts. Juvenile (commonest plumage encountered here) has scaly-looking back, white belly and buffish breast; note pale supercilium. Voice Utters a soft prrrp call. Status Breeds in high Arctic and seen here as scarce passage migrant, usually on estuaries and coastal pools, often with Dunlins.
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  • Kentish Plover Charadrius alexandrinus L 15-17cm. Dumpy little coastal plover. Looks overall much paler than other similarly sized species. Note white wingbar in flight. Sexes are dissimilar. Adult male in summer has sandy brown upperparts and white underparts. Sandy crown has black at front and rufous at back. Has black through eye and dark patch on side of breast. Legs and bill are black. Summer adult female, juvenile and winter adult are similar but black elements of plumage are pale sandy brown (same colour as upperparts); legs are dull brown. Voice Utters a soft bruip call. Status Scarce, short-staying passage migrant, found on sandy estuaries.
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  • Ringed Plover Charadrius hiaticula L 17-19cm. Small, dumpy coastal wader. Runs at speed before pausing and picking food item from ground. Note white wingbar in flight. Sexes are separable. Adult male in summer has sandy brown upperparts and white underparts with black breast band and collar. Has black and white markings on face, and white throat and nape. Legs are orange-yellow and bill is orange with dark tip. Adult female in summer is similar but black elements of plumage are duller. Winter adult is similar to summer adult but most black elements of plumage are sandy brown, and has pale supercilium. Leg and bill colours are dull. Juvenile is similar to winter adult but breast band is often incomplete. Voice Utters a soft tuu-eep call. Status Locally common. Nests mainly on sandy or shingle beached, sometimes inland. Coastal outside breeding season; numbers boosted by migrants from Europe.
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  • Bullfinch Pyrrhula pyrrhula L 16-17cm. Unobtrusive finch whose call and white rump are distinctive. Bill is stubby and dark. Sexes are separable. Adult male has a rosy-pink face, breast and belly. Back and nape are blue-grey and cap and tail are black. Note white wingbar on otherwise black wings. Adult female is similar but duller. Juvenile is similar to adult female but head is uniformly buffish brown. Voice Utters a soft piping call; pair sometimes duets. Song is quiet and seldom heard. Status Fairly common resident of woodlands, hedgerows and mature gardens.
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  • Teal Anas crecca L 34-38cm. Our smallest duck. Forms flocks outside breeding season. Often nervous and flighty. In flight, both sexes show white-bordered green speculum. Sexes are otherwise dissimilar. Adult male has chestnut-orange head with yellow-bordered green patch through eye. Plumage is otherwise finely marked grey except for black-bordered yellow stern and horizontal white line along flanks. Bill is dark grey.  In eclipse, resembles adult female. Adult female has mottled grey-brown plumage. Bill is grey with hint of yellow at base. Juvenile is similar to adult female but warmer buff. Voice Male utters a ringing whistle, female utters a soft quack. Status Associated with water. Nests in small numbers beside pools and bogs mainly in N. Locally common outside breeding season on freshwater marshes, estuaries and mudflats.
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  • Curlew Sandpiper Calidris ferruginea L 19-21cm. Small, elegant wader. Similar to Dunlin but separable by noting long and obviously downcurved bill and white rump. Sexes are hard to separate. Adult in summer has spangled reddish brown, black and white back and (briefly) brick red on face, neck and underparts (appears mottled in moulting migrants). Male is brighter than female. Winter adult (seldom seen here) has greyish upperparts and white underparts. Juvenile (commonest plumage encountered here) has scaly-looking back, white belly and buffish breast; note pale supercilium. Voice Utters a soft prrrp call. Status Breeds in high Arctic and seen here as scarce passage migrant, usually on estuaries and coastal pools, often with Dunlins.
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  • Long-tailed Tit Aegithalos caudatus L 14cm. Delightful, long-tailed bird with an almost spherical body. Seen in acrobatic flocks. Sexes are similar. Adult looks overall black and white but note pinkish chestnut patch on shoulders and whitish feather fringes on otherwise black back and wings. Head is mainly whitish with black band above eye; underparts are whitish, suffused pink on flanks and belly. Bill is dark, short and stubby. Juvenile is similar but duller and darker. Voice Utters rattling tsrrr contact call and thin tsee-tsee-tsee. Soft, twittering song is easily missed. Status Common resident of deciduous woodland, scrub and heathland fringes.
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  • Redstart Phoenicurus phoenicurus L 14cm. Colourful Robin-sized bird. Dark-centred red tail is pumped up and down when perched. Sexes are dissimilar. Adult male has grey back, nape and crown, black face and throat, and orange-red underparts (most colourful on breast). Note white forehead and supercilium. Adult female has grey-brown upperparts and head, and orange wash to pale underparts. 1st winter birds recall respective adult plumages but feathers have pale margins. Voice Utters a soft huiit call. Song is tuneful but melancholy. Status Locally common summer visitor to open woodland with plenty of tree holes for nesting and limited ground cover.
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  • Dotterel Charadrius morinellus L 22cm. Beautiful and tame, pot-bellied mountain wader. Role-reversal seen when nesting: duller male incubates eggs. Adult female in summer has reddish orange breast and belly, black-bordered white collar, and blue-grey throat. Face is whitish and has white supercilium and dark cap; upperparts otherwise grey-brown, back feathers with brown margins. Legs are yellow. Adult male in summer is duller. Winter adult is grey buff with broad, pale buff supercilium and pale breast band. Juvenile is similar to winter adult but with scaly-looking back. Voice Utters a soft pierrr call. Status Rare migrant visitor, mainly to Scottish Highlands. Migrants linger briefly at traditional hilltops staging posts in England, or on coasts.
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  • Dotterel Charadrius morinellus L 22cm. Beautiful and tame, pot-bellied mountain wader. Role-reversal seen when nesting: duller male incubates eggs. Adult female in summer has reddish orange breast and belly, black-bordered white collar, and blue-grey throat. Face is whitish and has white supercilium and dark cap; upperparts otherwise grey-brown, back feathers with brown margins. Legs are yellow. Adult male in summer is duller. Winter adult is grey buff with broad, pale buff supercilium and pale breast band. Juvenile is similar to winter adult but with scaly-looking back. Voice Utters a soft pierrr call. Status Rare migrant visitor, mainly to Scottish Highlands. Migrants linger briefly at traditional hilltops staging posts in England, or on coasts.
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  • Dotterel Charadrius morinellus L 22cm. Beautiful and tame, pot-bellied mountain wader. Role-reversal seen when nesting: duller male incubates eggs. Adult female in summer has reddish orange breast and belly, black-bordered white collar, and blue-grey throat. Face is whitish and has white supercilium and dark cap; upperparts otherwise grey-brown, back feathers with brown margins. Legs are yellow. Adult male in summer is duller. Winter adult is grey buff with broad, pale buff supercilium and pale breast band. Juvenile is similar to winter adult but with scaly-looking back. Voice Utters a soft pierrr call. Status Rare migrant visitor, mainly to Scottish Highlands. Migrants linger briefly at traditional hilltops staging posts in England, or on coasts.
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  • Dotterel Charadrius morinellus L 22cm. Beautiful and tame, pot-bellied mountain wader. Role-reversal seen when nesting: duller male incubates eggs. Adult female in summer has reddish orange breast and belly, black-bordered white collar, and blue-grey throat. Face is whitish and has white supercilium and dark cap; upperparts otherwise grey-brown, back feathers with brown margins. Legs are yellow. Adult male in summer is duller. Winter adult is grey buff with broad, pale buff supercilium and pale breast band. Juvenile is similar to winter adult but with scaly-looking back. Voice Utters a soft pierrr call. Status Rare migrant visitor, mainly to Scottish Highlands. Migrants linger briefly at traditional hilltops staging posts in England, or on coasts.
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  • Bullfinch Pyrrhula pyrrhula L 16-17cm. Unobtrusive finch whose call and white rump are distinctive. Bill is stubby and dark. Sexes are separable. Adult male has a rosy-pink face, breast and belly. Back and nape are blue-grey and cap and tail are black. Note white wingbar on otherwise black wings. Adult female is similar but duller. Juvenile is similar to adult female but head is uniformly buffish brown. Voice Utters a soft piping call; pair sometimes duets. Song is quiet and seldom heard. Status Fairly common resident of woodlands, hedgerows and mature gardens.
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  • Chiffchaff Phylloscopus collybita L 11cm. Tiny warbler, best known for its onomatopoeic song. Sexes are similar. Adult and juvenile have grey-brown upperparts and pale, greyish underparts suffused with yellow-buff on throat and breast. Bill is needle-like and legs are black; latter feature helps separate silent individuals from similar Willow Warbler. Voice Call is a soft hueet. Song is continually repeated chiff-chaff or tsip-tsap. Status Common summer visitor to mature deciduous woodland with a dense understorey of shrubs. Most migrate south to Mediterranean region in autumn but several hundred overwinter in S Britain.
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