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  • Japanese Cherry Prunus serrulata (Rosaceae) HEIGHT to 15m. A small to medium-sized deciduous tree. BARK Purple-brown, ringed by horizontal lines of prominent lenticels. BRANCHES Ascending, usually fanning out from the bole and terminating in smooth twigs. LEAVES Up to 20cm long, ovate and drawn out to a long tapering tip; the margin is sharply toothed and the smooth petiole, to 4cm long, has up to 4 red glands near the base. REPRODUCTIVE PARTS The white or pink flowers grow in clusters of 2–4, opening just before the leaves; in some cultivars so flowers are borne on a 8cm-long petiole, may have notched petals, and vary in shade from pure white to deep pink. Fruits are round, to 7mm long and deep purple-crimson; they seldom develop in cultivated trees. STATUS AND DISTRIBUTION Probably native to China, then introduced into Japan at a very early date, and subsequently brought to our region where now it is a very popular garden tree. Centuries of breeding and selection have made modern trees different from their wild ancestors, which are rarely seen. SIMILAR TREES Originally bred in Japan and ancient in origin, there are many cultivated forms of Cherry that are popular here as garden tree, and that are often collectively referred to as ‘Japanese Cherries’; typically they are known only by their cultivar names. Popular forms include: Prunus ‘Kanzan’ with magenta buds and pink flowers; Prunus ‘Shirofugen’ with pink buds and white double flowers; Prunus ‘Shirotae’ with large, white flowers; Prunus ‘Pink Perfection’ with pink double flowers.
    133741.jpg
  • Pike Esox lucius Length 30-120cm <br />
A consummate predator. It catches invertebrates when small but large Pike eat other fish and even young water birds. Adult has marbled green and brown markings that afford it good camouflage among water plants. Its streamlined shape and broad tail allow lightning attacks to be carried out, prey being engulfed in the huge mouth and retained by sharp teeth. The Pike is common in weedy lowland lakes, flooded gravel pits and rivers.
    136651.jpg
  • Hedgehog Erinaceus europaeus Length 23-27cm Mainly nocturnal animal, protected by spines (modified hairs). Feeds mainly on invertebrates but will take food put out by people. Hibernates from Oct-Apr. Spines are erectile and an effective deterrent when animal rolls into a defensive ball. Head and underparts are covered in coarse hairs. Muzzle-shaped head ends in a sensitive nose. Utters a pig-like squeal in distress, and grunts when courting. Familiar garden resident.
    153774.jpg
  • Sugar Maple Acer saccharum (Aceraceae) HEIGHT to 26m <br />
Similar to Norway Maple. BARK Has large fissures and falls away in shreds in older trees. BRANCHES Upright to spreading. LEAVES 13cm-long leaves are lobed, but teeth on lobes are rounded, not drawn out into a fine point as in Norway Maple; there are hairs in vein axils below. REPRODUCTIVE PARTS Pendulous yellow-green flowers are small and lack petals; open in spring with leaves. STATUS AND DISTRIBUTION Native of E North America, planted here for its autumn colours.
    134188.jpg
  • Nuctenea umbratica - Female. A large nocturnal orb weaver that is adapted to hide in crevices on tree trunks during the day but is found out in its strong web at night. It is a common spider also living on fences and walls.
    156300.jpg
  • Portugal Laurel Prunus lusitanica (Rosaceae) HEIGHT to 8m <br />
A small, spreading evergreen tree, or usually a shrub. BARK Smooth or occasionally flaking, and very dark grey to black. BRANCHES Widely spreading, with twigs that are reddish and smooth. LEAVES Dark-green, glossy and slightly leathery, and up to 13cm long. The leaves are lanceolate to elliptical and tapering at the tip, with a rounded base and a toothed margin. The reddish petiole is about 2cm long. REPRODUCTIVE PARTS The white flowers are borne in long tapering spikes, up to 26cm long and composed of about 100 strongly scented flowers. They grow out of the leaf axils and exceed the length of the leaves, and are usually pendent. The fruits are up to 1.3cm long, ovoid or rounded with a tapering tip, purplish-black when ripe and containing a smooth, rounded stone with a ridged margin. STATUS AND DISTRIBUTION A native of Portugal, Spain and SW France, but frequently planted elsewhere in the milder parts of W Europe, including Britain and Ireland.
    135446.jpg
  • Southern Evergreen Magnolia or Bull Bay Magnolia grandiflora (Magnoliaceae) HEIGHT to 30m <br />
A large, spreading evergreen tree with a broadly conical crown. BARK Smooth, dull grey. BRANCHES Large, the youngest shoots covered with thick down and terminate in red-tipped buds. LEAVES Elliptical, to 16cm long and 9cm wide with a smooth or sometimes wavy margin. Upper surface is shiny, dark green, and underside is rust-coloured and downy, as is the 2.5cm-long petiole. REPRODUCTIVE PARTS Flowers are striking, composed of 6 white petal-like segments, borne at tips of shoots; conical in bud, later opening out to a spreading cup-shape, to 25cm across. Fruit is conical, to 6cm long, composed of scale-like carpels on a single orange stalk. Flowers from midsummer to late autumn. STATUS AND DISTRIBUTION Native of SE USA, introduced into Europe in 18th century.
    133579.jpg
  • DOGWOOD Cornus sanguinea (Cornaceae) Height to 4m<br />
Deciduous shrub whose deep red twigs stand out in winter. Found in hedgerows and scrub, mainly in calcareous soils. FLOWERS are white with 4 petals; in flat clusters (May-Jul). FRUITS are berries that ripen black. LEAVES are oval, opposite and have 3-5 veins on both sides of midrib. STATUS-Locally common in England and Wales.
    129642.jpg
  • Grey Seal Halichoerus grypus Length 2.2-3.2m Bulky seal with proportionately large head. Inquisitive in water. Hauls out for long periods. Adult is greyish overall with dark blotchy spots; fewer, larger spots than on Common Seal. Males are larger and darker than females. In profile, looks ‘Roman nosed’: bridge of nose is convex, more pronounced in males than females. From the front, nostrils are distinctly separated and more or less parallel to one another, not V-shaped. Fore flippers have sharp claws and hind flippers propel the animal through water. Pup is born with white fur; moulted after a few weeks.Voice Utters low, moaning calls. Often found on rocky shores and tolerates rough seas heavy waves. Widespread on west coast of Britain and locally in North Sea.
    142727.jpg
  • Sugar Maple Acer saccharum (Aceraceae) HEIGHT to 26m <br />
Similar to Norway Maple. BARK Has large fissures and falls away in shreds in older trees. BRANCHES Upright to spreading. LEAVES 13cm-long leaves are lobed, but teeth on lobes are rounded, not drawn out into a fine point as in Norway Maple; there are hairs in vein axils below. REPRODUCTIVE PARTS Pendulous yellow-green flowers are small and lack petals; open in spring with leaves. STATUS AND DISTRIBUTION Native of E North America, planted here for its autumn colours.
    134872.jpg
  • Portugal Laurel Prunus lusitanica (Rosaceae) HEIGHT to 8m <br />
A small, spreading evergreen tree, or usually a shrub. BARK Smooth or occasionally flaking, and very dark grey to black. BRANCHES Widely spreading, with twigs that are reddish and smooth. LEAVES Dark-green, glossy and slightly leathery, and up to 13cm long. The leaves are lanceolate to elliptical and tapering at the tip, with a rounded base and a toothed margin. The reddish petiole is about 2cm long. REPRODUCTIVE PARTS The white flowers are borne in long tapering spikes, up to 26cm long and composed of about 100 strongly scented flowers. They grow out of the leaf axils and exceed the length of the leaves, and are usually pendent. The fruits are up to 1.3cm long, ovoid or rounded with a tapering tip, purplish-black when ripe and containing a smooth, rounded stone with a ridged margin. STATUS AND DISTRIBUTION A native of Portugal, Spain and SW France, but frequently planted elsewhere in the milder parts of W Europe, including Britain and Ireland.
    133775.jpg
  • Southern Evergreen Magnolia or Bull Bay Magnolia grandiflora (Magnoliaceae) HEIGHT to 30m <br />
A large, spreading evergreen tree with a broadly conical crown. BARK Smooth, dull grey. BRANCHES Large, the youngest shoots covered with thick down and terminate in red-tipped buds. LEAVES Elliptical, to 16cm long and 9cm wide with a smooth or sometimes wavy margin. Upper surface is shiny, dark green, and underside is rust-coloured and downy, as is the 2.5cm-long petiole. REPRODUCTIVE PARTS Flowers are striking, composed of 6 white petal-like segments, borne at tips of shoots; conical in bud, later opening out to a spreading cup-shape, to 25cm across. Fruit is conical, to 6cm long, composed of scale-like carpels on a single orange stalk. Flowers from midsummer to late autumn. STATUS AND DISTRIBUTION Native of SE USA, introduced into Europe in 18th century.
    133584.jpg
  • Kittiwake Rissa tridactyla L 38-42cm. A true seagull: non-breeding life spent entirely at sea. Sexes are similar. Adult has blue-grey back and upperwings with black wingtips; plumage is otherwise white. Bill is yellow; eye and legs are dark. In flight, wingtips look dipped in black ink. In winter, similar but head has grubby patches behind eye. Juvenile has black ‘V’ markings on upperwing; back and upperwing coverts are grey and note triangle of white on flight feathers, dark tip to tail, black half collar and dark markings on head; bill is dark. 1st winter is similar to juvenile but gradually loses dark half collar and black tail tip. Voice Utters diagnostic kittee-wake when nesting. Status Nests colonially on coastal cliff ledges but also dockside factories etc. Non-breeding period spent far out to sea.
    157936.jpg
  • Hedgehog Erinaceus europaeus Length 23-27cm Mainly nocturnal animal, protected by spines (modified hairs). Feeds mainly on invertebrates but will take food put out by people. Hibernates from Oct-Apr. Spines are erectile and an effective deterrent when animal rolls into a defensive ball. Head and underparts are covered in coarse hairs. Muzzle-shaped head ends in a sensitive nose. Utters a pig-like squeal in distress, and grunts when courting. Familiar garden resident.
    128118.jpg
  • Grey Seal Halichoerus grypus Length 2.2-3.2m Bulky seal with proportionately large head. Inquisitive in water. Hauls out for long periods. Adult is greyish overall with dark blotchy spots; fewer, larger spots than on Common Seal. Males are larger and darker than females. In profile, looks ‘Roman nosed’: bridge of nose is convex, more pronounced in males than females. From the front, nostrils are distinctly separated and more or less parallel to one another, not V-shaped. Fore flippers have sharp claws and hind flippers propel the animal through water. Pup is born with white fur; moulted after a few weeks.Voice Utters low, moaning calls. Often found on rocky shores and tolerates rough seas heavy waves. Widespread on west coast of Britain and locally in North Sea.
    128122.jpg
  • Common Seal Phoca vitulina Length 1.2-1.9m Has a ‘friendly’-looking face. Hauled-out seals are easy to observe. Adult is greyish brown but variably mottled with darker spots. Underside is paler than upperside. Dry coat looks shiny if coated in sand. Bridge of nose has concave outline (convex in Grey Seal) and muzzle is blunt, creating a dog-like appearance. Seen from front, nostrils are close together at base and splayed in V-shaped fashion (separated from, and more parallel to, one another in Grey Seal). Front flippers have claws and powerful hind flippers effect propulsion when swimming. Males are larger and heavier than females. Pup is born with marbled grey-brown coat. Widespread on E coast of England and around Scotland and Ireland generally.
    128124.jpg
  • Japanese Larch Larix kaempferi (Pinaceae) HEIGHT to 40m. A deciduous conifer resembling Common Larch, but lacking the drooping shoots, and having a more twiggy appearance with a dense crown. BARK Reddish-brown, flaking off in scales. LEAVES Needles, growing in tufts of about 40, slightly broader, and greyer in colour than those of Common Larch. REPRODUCTIVE PARTS Male cones are similar to those of Common Larch, but female cones are pink or cream in spring, becoming brown and woody in autumn, and differing from those of Common Larch in having turned-out tips to the scales, looking like woody rose-buds. STATUS AND DISTRIBUTION Native of Japan, but now very common in forestry plantations, replacing the Common Larch because of its more vigorous growth. Of less value to wildlife, because of the dense needle-litter that accumulates beneath it, and the later leaf-fall.
    134697.jpg
  • Red Snakebark Maple Acer capillipes (Aceraceae) HEIGHT to 16m Upright, open tree. BARK Boldly striped. BRANCHES With bright scarlet shoots. LEAVES To 15cm long, rather ovate but with shallow, sharp-angled side lobes and a drawn-out tip. Leaves turn reddish or yellow in autumn. REPRODUCTIVE PARTS Yellowish green flower in racemes. Fruits have almost level wings. STATUS AND DISTRIBUTION Native of Japan, planted here for ornament.
    133786.jpg
  • Kestrel Falco tinnunculus W 65-80cm. Familiar small falcon that habitually hovers where look-out perches are not available. Feeds on small mammals, ground-dwelling birds and insects. Sexes are dissimilar. Adult male has spotted, orange-brown back, blue-grey head, and blue-grey tail with black terminal band. Underparts are creamy buff with bold black spots. In flight from above, dark outer wing contrasts with orange-brown inner wing and back. Adult female has barred brown upperparts and pale creamy buff underparts with dark spots. In flight from above, contrast between brown inner wing and dark outer wing is less distinct than with male and tail is barred. Juvenile resembles adult female but upperparts are more reddish brown. Voice Utters a shrill kee-kee-kee… Status Common and widespread in open, grassy places. Breeding success dependent upon prey populations, notably Short-tailed Voles and Wood Mice.
    145885.jpg
  • Cetti’s Warbler Cettia cetti L 14cm - cut-out of nest. Unobtrusive wetland warbler whose loud song is heard more than bird is seen. Sexes are similar. Adult and juvenile have dark reddish brown upperparts, including tail. Underparts are pale: has whitish throat, grey face and breast, grey-buff belly. Legs are reddish and bill is dark-tipped. Voice Utters a loud pluut call. Song is explosive chee, chippi-chippi-chippi. Most vocal in spring but snatches of song are heard at other times. Status Recent colonist, now a local resident of scrubby margins of marshes and clumps of bushes in extensive reedbeds.
    155544.jpg
  • Japanese Larch Larix kaempferi (Pinaceae) HEIGHT to 40m. A deciduous conifer resembling Common Larch, but lacking the drooping shoots, and having a more twiggy appearance with a dense crown. BARK Reddish-brown, flaking off in scales. LEAVES Needles, growing in tufts of about 40, slightly broader, and greyer in colour than those of Common Larch. REPRODUCTIVE PARTS Male cones are similar to those of Common Larch, but female cones are pink or cream in spring, becoming brown and woody in autumn, and differing from those of Common Larch in having turned-out tips to the scales, looking like woody rose-buds. STATUS AND DISTRIBUTION Native of Japan, but now very common in forestry plantations, replacing the Common Larch because of its more vigorous growth. Of less value to wildlife, because of the dense needle-litter that accumulates beneath it, and the later leaf-fall.
    134624.jpg
  • Japanese Larch Larix kaempferi (Pinaceae) HEIGHT to 40m. A deciduous conifer resembling Common Larch, but lacking the drooping shoots, and having a more twiggy appearance with a dense crown. BARK Reddish-brown, flaking off in scales. LEAVES Needles, growing in tufts of about 40, slightly broader, and greyer in colour than those of Common Larch. REPRODUCTIVE PARTS Male cones are similar to those of Common Larch, but female cones are pink or cream in spring, becoming brown and woody in autumn, and differing from those of Common Larch in having turned-out tips to the scales, looking like woody rose-buds. STATUS AND DISTRIBUTION Native of Japan, but now very common in forestry plantations, replacing the Common Larch because of its more vigorous growth. Of less value to wildlife, because of the dense needle-litter that accumulates beneath it, and the later leaf-fall.
    133277.jpg
  • Kestrel Falco tinnunculus W 65-80cm. Familiar small falcon that habitually hovers where look-out perches are not available. Feeds on small mammals, ground-dwelling birds and insects. Sexes are dissimilar. Adult male has spotted, orange-brown back, blue-grey head, and blue-grey tail with black terminal band. Underparts are creamy buff with bold black spots. In flight from above, dark outer wing contrasts with orange-brown inner wing and back. Adult female has barred brown upperparts and pale creamy buff underparts with dark spots. In flight from above, contrast between brown inner wing and dark outer wing is less distinct than with male and tail is barred. Juvenile resembles adult female but upperparts are more reddish brown. Voice Utters a shrill kee-kee-kee… Status Common and widespread in open, grassy places. Breeding success dependent upon prey populations, notably Short-tailed Voles and Wood Mice.
    145812.jpg
  • Kestrel Falco tinnunculus W 65-80cm. Familiar small falcon that habitually hovers where look-out perches are not available. Feeds on small mammals, ground-dwelling birds and insects. Sexes are dissimilar. Adult male has spotted, orange-brown back, blue-grey head, and blue-grey tail with black terminal band. Underparts are creamy buff with bold black spots. In flight from above, dark outer wing contrasts with orange-brown inner wing and back. Adult female has barred brown upperparts and pale creamy buff underparts with dark spots. In flight from above, contrast between brown inner wing and dark outer wing is less distinct than with male and tail is barred. Juvenile resembles adult female but upperparts are more reddish brown. Voice Utters a shrill kee-kee-kee… Status Common and widespread in open, grassy places. Breeding success dependent upon prey populations, notably Short-tailed Voles and Wood Mice.
    158059.jpg
  • Early Purple Orchid - Orchis mascula
    160818.jpg
  • Common Green Grasshopper - Omocestis viridulus - female
    159191.jpg
  • Harbour Porpoise Phocoena phocoena Length 1.4-1.9m Our smallest cetacean. Lives in groups of 3-15 animals. Playful at surface. Adult has stout, streamlined body, blunt head and no beak. Flippers are small and oval and dorsal fin is triangular with concave trailing edge. Tailstock is thick and tail fin is broad. Upperparts are mainly dark grey while underparts are whitish. Has bluish grey patch on flanks, roughly between eye and start of dorsal fin.
    128121 (2).jpg
  • Hybrid Oak - Quercus x rosacea<br />
= Quercus robur x Quercus petraea
    163284.jpg
  • Sessile Oak - Quercus petraea
    163281.jpg
  • Sessile Oak - Quercus petraea
    163280.jpg
  • St Piran's Hermit Crab - Clibanarius erythropus
    162872.jpg
  • Aeolidiella glauca - a nudibranch sea slug
    162709.jpg
  • Field Cricket - Gryllus campestris<br />
male
    162550.jpg
  • Lesser Stitchwort - Stellaria graminea
    162318.jpg
  • Henbit Dead-nettle - Lamium amplexicaule
    162301.jpg
  • Restharrow - Ononis repens
    162294.jpg
  • Fool's Watercress - Apium nodiflorum
    159401.jpg
  • Shepherd's Purse - Capsella bursa-pastoris
    162287.jpg
  • The Deceiver - Laccaria laccata
    135408.jpg
  • Blue Band Brittlegill - Russula chloroides
    135391.jpg
  • Field Earthstar - Geastrum campestre
    135372.jpg
  • Great Spotted Cuckoo - Clamator glandarius
    161779.jpg
  • Water Rail - Rallus aquaticus
    161772.jpg
  • Spotted Crake - Porzana porzana
    161771.jpg
  • Shoveler - Spatula clypeata
    161760.jpg
  • Velvet Scoter - Melanitta fusca
    161757.jpg
  • Little Bittern - Ixobrychys minutus
    161738.jpg
  • Bittern - Botaurus stellatus
    161730.jpg
  • Chough - Pyrrhocorax pyrrhocorax
    161714.jpg
  • Grey Wagtail - Motacilla cinerea
    161701.jpg
  • Woodpigeon - Columba palumbus
    161686.jpg
  • Turtle Dove - Streptopelia turtur
    161677.jpg
  • Treecreeper - Certhia familiaris
    161676.jpg
  • Sparrowhawk - Accipiter nisus
    161668.jpg
  • Robin - Erithacus rubecula
    161654.jpg
  • Redshank - Tringa totanus
    161647.jpg
  • Redwing - Turdus iliacus
    161649.jpg
  • Redstart - Phoenicurus phoenicurus
    161648.jpg
  • Red-legged Partridge - Alectoris rufa
    161646.jpg
  • Puffin - Fratercula arctica
    161640.jpg
  • Long-eared Owl - Asio otus
    161626.jpg
  • Linnet - Acanthis cannabina
    161622.jpg
  • Lesser Redpoll - Carduelis flammea
    161619.jpg
  • Honey Buzzard - Pernis apivorus
    161612.jpg
  • Goldcrest - Regulus regulus
    161600.jpg
  • Fulmar - Fulmarus glacialis
    161597.jpg
  • Dartford Warbler - Sylvia undata
    161593.jpg
  • Crossbill - Loxia curvirostra
    161588.jpg
  • Cirl Bunting - Emberiza cirlus
    161583.jpg
  • 04.045 (0050)<br />
Stigmella aurella
    159111.jpg
  • 14.008 (0272)<br />
Bucculatrix cidarella
    159134.jpg
  • 35.085 (0762)<br />
Athrips mouffetella
    159205.jpg
  • 37.015 (0493)<br />
Coleophora serratella
    159209.jpg
  • 40.008 (0892)<br />
Mompha subbistrigella
    159227.jpg
  • 44.001 (1288)<br />
Twenty-plume Moth - Alucita hexadactyla
    159231.jpg
  • Barred Fruit-tree Tortrix - Pandemis cerasana<br />
49.025 (0970)
    159241.jpg
  • 49.024 (0969)<br />
Chequered Fruit-tree Tortrix - Pandemis corylana
    159240.jpg
  • 49.030 (0985)<br />
Carnation Tortrix - Cacoecimorpha pronubana
    159244.jpg
  • 49.062 (1036)<br />
Acleris forsskaleana - Acleris forsskaleana
    159253.jpg
  • 49.077 (1048)<br />
Garden Rose Tortrix - Acleris variegana
    159256.jpg
  • Orange Swift - Triodia sylvina<br />
3.001 (15)
    158203.jpg
  • Map-winged Swift - Korscheltellus fusconebulosa<br />
3.003 BF18
    158210.jpg
  • Hornet Moth - Sesia apiformis<br />
52.002 BF370
    158217.jpg
  • Large Red-belted Clearwing - Synanthedon culiciformis<br />
52.007 BF381
    158222.jpg
  • Six-belted Clearwing - Bembecia ichneumoniformis<br />
52.014 BF382
    158228.jpg
  • Forester - Adscita statices<br />
54.002 BF163
    158233.jpg
  • Satin Lutestring - Tetheella fluctuosa<br />
Tetheella fluctuosa
    158254.jpg
  • Small Lappet - Phyllodesma ilicifolia<br />
66.011 BF1641
    158269.jpg
  • Pine-tree Lappet - Dendrolimus pini<br />
66.009 BF1639
    158267.jpg
  • Kentish Glory - Endromis versicolora<br />
67.001 (1644)
    158271.jpg
  • 69.003 (1981)<br />
Eyed Hawk-moth - Smerinthus ocellatus
    158274.jpg
  • 69.002 (1980)<br />
Eyed Hawk-moth - Smerinthus ocellatus
    158273.jpg
  • 69.009 (1983)<br />
Broad-bordered Bee Hawk-moth - Hemaris fuciformis
    158279.jpg
  • 70.017 (1714)<br />
Portland Ribbon wave - Idaea degeneraria
    158309.jpg
  • 70.030 (1675)<br />
Dingy Mocha - Cyclophora pendularia
    158322.jpg
  • 70.042 (1730)<br />
Spanish Carpet - Scotopteryx peribolata
    158340.jpg
  • July Belle - Scotopteryx luridata<br />
70.041 (1734)
    158339.jpg
  • 70.073 (1786)<br />
Whitte-banded Carpet - Spargania luctuata
    158369.jpg
  • 70.090 (1755)<br />
Chevron - Eulithis testata
    158388.jpg
  • Common Marbled Carpet - Chloroclysta truncata<br />
70.097 (1764) Male (left) and Female (right)
    158396.jpg
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