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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.
    104396.jpg
  • Long-finned Pilot Whale Globiocephala melaena Length 4-6m Medium-sized cetacean with distinctive head and dorsal fin shapes. Lives in sizeable groups (pods) and feeds mainly on squid. Head, back and dorsal fin are visible at same time when cruising at surface. Adult is mainly blackish with greyish saddle-shaped mark behind dorsal fin. Has white, thighbone-shaped mark from throat to vent, seen only when breaching. Head is blunt-ended, forehead is domed and flippers are long and sickle-shaped. Dorsal fin is broad-based and curved.
    142343.jpg
  • Long-finned Pilot Whale Globiocephala melaena Length 4-6m Medium-sized cetacean with distinctive head and dorsal fin shapes. Lives in sizeable groups (pods) and feeds mainly on squid. Head, back and dorsal fin are visible at same time when cruising at surface. Adult is mainly blackish with greyish saddle-shaped mark behind dorsal fin. Has white, thighbone-shaped mark from throat to vent, seen only when breaching. Head is blunt-ended, forehead is domed and flippers are long and sickle-shaped. Dorsal fin is broad-based and curved.
    142344.jpg
  • Long-finned Pilot Whale Globiocephala melaena Length 4-6m Medium-sized cetacean with distinctive head and dorsal fin shapes. Lives in sizeable groups (pods) and feeds mainly on squid. Head, back and dorsal fin are visible at same time when cruising at surface. Adult is mainly blackish with greyish saddle-shaped mark behind dorsal fin. Has white, thighbone-shaped mark from throat to vent, seen only when breaching. Head is blunt-ended, forehead is domed and flippers are long and sickle-shaped. Dorsal fin is broad-based and curved.
    142345.jpg
  • Sand Lizard Lacerta agilis Length 16-19cm Bulky lizard. Hibernates Sept-Mar. Females lay eggs. Sexes are dissimilar. Adult male has relatively large head. Ground colour of back is typically buffish brown but note three rows of white-centred dark spots along length of body. Head and flanks are flushed bright green in spring and summer. Adult female has smaller head and more bulky body than male. Ground colour is pale to rich brown with three longitudinal rows of eyespots. Juvenile recalls a small, slender adult female with eyespots on back and flanks. In Britain (where protected by law), restricted to heathland sites in Dorset and Surrey, and coastal sand dunes in Merseyside.
    118485.jpg
  • Long-finned Pilot Whale Globiocephala melaena Length 4-6m Medium-sized cetacean with distinctive head and dorsal fin shapes. Lives in sizeable groups (pods) and feeds mainly on squid. Head, back and dorsal fin are visible at same time when cruising at surface. Adult is mainly blackish with greyish saddle-shaped mark behind dorsal fin. Has white, thighbone-shaped mark from throat to vent, seen only when breaching. Head is blunt-ended, forehead is domed and flippers are long and sickle-shaped. Dorsal fin is broad-based and curved.
    136052.jpg
  • White-tailed Eagle Haliaeetus albicilla W 190-240cm. Immense raptor with long, broad and parallel-sided wings, and by relatively short, wedge-shaped tail. Surprisingly manoeuvrable, despite it size, and catches fish and waterbirds while hunting low over water. Sexes are similar. Adult has mainly brown plumage, palest on head and neck. At rest, white tail is often obscured by wings. Bill and legs are yellow. In flight from below, looks mainly dark except for paler head and neck, and white tail. Juvenile is similar to adult but looks darker overall and tail is uniformly dark. Subadult acquires adult plumage over successive moults; last immature feature to disappear is dark terminal band on tail. Voice Utters mournful whistling calls. Status Formerly just a rare visitor from mainland Europe but now reintroduced successfully to certain Scottish islands.
    154207.jpg
  • Smooth Snake Coronella austriaca Length 50-70cm Rare snake with vaguely viperine markings. Pupil is rounded (vertical slit in Adder). Sunbathes but typically partially hidden. Hibernates October-April. Diet includes other reptiles. Sexes are similar. Adult has slender body but relatively large head; scales are satiny smooth. Overall ground colour ranges from bluish grey to reddish brown. Has darkish spots along length, sometimes combining to form Adder-like zigzag. Head has dark patch; posterior margin is sometimes rather V-shaped. From side, note dark eye stripe. Juvenile is similar but has spots along flanks. In Britain, restricted to mature heathland with bushy Heather (Calluna vulgaris). Rare because of habitat loss, inappropriate heathland management and fires.
    136126.jpg
  • White-fronted Goose - Anser albifrons - Greenland race - flavirostris - juvenile.  L 65-75cm. Adults have striking white patch on forehead. 2 ssp. occur: Greenland White-front A.a.flavirostris has orange bill and overall darker plumage than smaller, pink-billed European White-front A.a.albifrons. All birds have orange legs and mainly dark wings with faint pale wing bars. Sexes are similar. Adult Greenland has dark brown head grading to paler brown on neck and underparts; note black patches on belly and large white forehead patch. Back is dark grey-brown and stern is white. Bill tip is white. Adult European is shorter-necked and paler, especially on head, belly and back. Bill tip is white. Juveniles are similar to respective adults but lack white forehead patch and black belly markings; tip of bill is dark. Voice Utters barking, musical calls. Status Locally common winter visitor; Greenlands visit in Ireland and NW Scotland, Europeans visit England and S Wales. Favours wet grassland.
    155762.jpg
  • Mallard - Anas platyrhynchos. Close up of drake head. L 50-65cm. Our most familiar duck. In flight, both sexes show white-bordered blue speculum. Sexes are dissimilar. Adult male has yellow bill and green, shiny head and upper neck, separated from chestnut breast by striking white collar. Underparts are grey-brown except for black stern and white tail. Back is grey-brown grading to reddish brown. Legs and feet are orange. In eclipse, male resembles adult female but note yellow bill and well-defined reddish brown breast. Adult female has orange-brown bill and mottled brown plumage. Legs and feet are dull orange-yellow. Juvenile is similar to adult female. Voice Male utters whistles and nasal calls. Female utters familiar quack. Status Widespread, commonest on lowland lakes, rivers and urban ornamental lakes.
    155087.jpg
  • Shanny Lipophrys pholis Length to 15cm<br />
The commonest blenny on British shores. Found in pools and under rocks on lower shore. Moves around in short bursts, seldom swimming far. Typically props itself up on pectoral fins. Adult is elongate, smooth and scaleless with proportionately large head. Has single, long dorsal fin with dip in middle. No tentacles on head. Usually mottled and marbled brown and buff. Widespread and locally common except in SE.
    141616.jpg
  • Wood Mouse Apodemus sylvaticus Length 15-22cm. Adult is a classic mouse-shape with pointed head, compact body and long tail. Coat is mainly yellowish brown above, with dark vertebral band along dorsal surface of head and body. Yellowish flank colour grades to whitish on underparts. Underground nest and tunnel network serve as a refuge. After dark, forages for seeds, nuts and fruits above ground; climbs well. Utters frantic squeals in distress. Common in woodland but also found in most other terrestrial habitats including scrub and gardens.
    144406.jpg
  • Wood Mouse Apodemus sylvaticus Length 15-22cm. Adult is a classic mouse-shape with pointed head, compact body and long tail. Coat is mainly yellowish brown above, with dark vertebral band along dorsal surface of head and body. Yellowish flank colour grades to whitish on underparts. Underground nest and tunnel network serve as a refuge. After dark, forages for seeds, nuts and fruits above ground; climbs well. Utters frantic squeals in distress. Common in woodland but also found in most other terrestrial habitats including scrub and gardens.
    144408.jpg
  • Wood Mouse Apodemus sylvaticus Length 15-22cm. Adult is a classic mouse-shape with pointed head, compact body and long tail. Coat is mainly yellowish brown above, with dark vertebral band along dorsal surface of head and body. Yellowish flank colour grades to whitish on underparts. Underground nest and tunnel network serve as a refuge. After dark, forages for seeds, nuts and fruits above ground; climbs well. Utters frantic squeals in distress. Common in woodland but also found in most other terrestrial habitats including scrub and gardens.
    144407.jpg
  • Smooth Snake Coronella austriaca Length 50-70cm Rare snake with vaguely viperine markings. Pupil is rounded (vertical slit in Adder). Sunbathes but typically partially hidden. Hibernates October-April. Diet includes other reptiles. Sexes are similar. Adult has slender body but relatively large head; scales are satiny smooth. Overall ground colour ranges from bluish grey to reddish brown. Has darkish spots along length, sometimes combining to form Adder-like zigzag. Head has dark patch; posterior margin is sometimes rather V-shaped. From side, note dark eye stripe. Juvenile is similar but has spots along flanks. In Britain, restricted to mature heathland with bushy Heather (Calluna vulgaris). Rare because of habitat loss, inappropriate heathland management and fires.
    136124.jpg
  • Smooth Snake Coronella austriaca Length 50-70cm Rare snake with vaguely viperine markings. Pupil is rounded (vertical slit in Adder). Sunbathes but typically partially hidden. Hibernates October-April. Diet includes other reptiles. Sexes are similar. Adult has slender body but relatively large head; scales are satiny smooth. Overall ground colour ranges from bluish grey to reddish brown. Has darkish spots along length, sometimes combining to form Adder-like zigzag. Head has dark patch; posterior margin is sometimes rather V-shaped. From side, note dark eye stripe. Juvenile is similar but has spots along flanks. In Britain, restricted to mature heathland with bushy Heather (Calluna vulgaris). Rare because of habitat loss, inappropriate heathland management and fires.
    136125.jpg
  • Smooth Snake Coronella austriaca Length 50-70cm Rare snake with vaguely viperine markings. Pupil is rounded (vertical slit in Adder). Sunbathes but typically partially hidden. Hibernates October-April. Diet includes other reptiles. Sexes are similar. Adult has slender body but relatively large head; scales are satiny smooth. Overall ground colour ranges from bluish grey to reddish brown. Has darkish spots along length, sometimes combining to form Adder-like zigzag. Head has dark patch; posterior margin is sometimes rather V-shaped. From side, note dark eye stripe. Juvenile is similar but has spots along flanks. In Britain, restricted to mature heathland with bushy Heather (Calluna vulgaris). Rare because of habitat loss, inappropriate heathland management and fires.
    136130.jpg
  • White-tailed Eagle Haliaeetus albicilla W 190-240cm. Immense raptor with long, broad and parallel-sided wings, and by relatively short, wedge-shaped tail. Surprisingly manoeuvrable, despite it size, and catches fish and waterbirds while hunting low over water. Sexes are similar. Adult has mainly brown plumage, palest on head and neck. At rest, white tail is often obscured by wings. Bill and legs are yellow. In flight from below, looks mainly dark except for paler head and neck, and white tail. Juvenile is similar to adult but looks darker overall and tail is uniformly dark. Subadult acquires adult plumage over successive moults; last immature feature to disappear is dark terminal band on tail. Voice Utters mournful whistling calls. Status Formerly just a rare visitor from mainland Europe but now reintroduced successfully to certain Scottish islands.
    143636.jpg
  • Kittiwake Rissa tridactyla L 38-42cm. A true seagull: non-breeding life spent entirely at sea. Sexes are similar. Adult has blue-grey back and upperwings with black wingtips; plumage is otherwise white. Bill is yellow; eye and legs are dark. In flight, wingtips look dipped in black ink. In winter, similar but head has grubby patches behind eye. Juvenile has black ‘V’ markings on upperwing; back and upperwing coverts are grey and note triangle of white on flight feathers, dark tip to tail, black half collar and dark markings on head; bill is dark. 1st winter is similar to juvenile but gradually loses dark half collar and black tail tip. Voice Utters diagnostic kittee-wake when nesting. Status Nests colonially on coastal cliff ledges but also dockside factories etc. Non-breeding period spent far out to sea.
    143982.jpg
  • White-tailed Eagle Haliaeetus albicilla W 190-240cm. Immense raptor with long, broad and parallel-sided wings, and by relatively short, wedge-shaped tail. Surprisingly manoeuvrable, despite it size, and catches fish and waterbirds while hunting low over water. Sexes are similar. Adult has mainly brown plumage, palest on head and neck. At rest, white tail is often obscured by wings. Bill and legs are yellow. In flight from below, looks mainly dark except for paler head and neck, and white tail. Juvenile is similar to adult but looks darker overall and tail is uniformly dark. Subadult acquires adult plumage over successive moults; last immature feature to disappear is dark terminal band on tail. Voice Utters mournful whistling calls. Status Formerly just a rare visitor from mainland Europe but now reintroduced successfully to certain Scottish islands.
    144063.jpg
  • White-tailed Eagle Haliaeetus albicilla W 190-240cm. Immense raptor with long, broad and parallel-sided wings, and by relatively short, wedge-shaped tail. Surprisingly manoeuvrable, despite it size, and catches fish and waterbirds while hunting low over water. Sexes are similar. Adult has mainly brown plumage, palest on head and neck. At rest, white tail is often obscured by wings. Bill and legs are yellow. In flight from below, looks mainly dark except for paler head and neck, and white tail. Juvenile is similar to adult but looks darker overall and tail is uniformly dark. Subadult acquires adult plumage over successive moults; last immature feature to disappear is dark terminal band on tail. Voice Utters mournful whistling calls. Status Formerly just a rare visitor from mainland Europe but now reintroduced successfully to certain Scottish islands.
    144062.jpg
  • White-tailed Eagle Haliaeetus albicilla W 190-240cm. Immense raptor with long, broad and parallel-sided wings, and by relatively short, wedge-shaped tail. Surprisingly manoeuvrable, despite it size, and catches fish and waterbirds while hunting low over water. Sexes are similar. Adult has mainly brown plumage, palest on head and neck. At rest, white tail is often obscured by wings. Bill and legs are yellow. In flight from below, looks mainly dark except for paler head and neck, and white tail. Juvenile is similar to adult but looks darker overall and tail is uniformly dark. Subadult acquires adult plumage over successive moults; last immature feature to disappear is dark terminal band on tail. Voice Utters mournful whistling calls. Status Formerly just a rare visitor from mainland Europe but now reintroduced successfully to certain Scottish islands.
    144066.jpg
  • White-tailed Eagle Haliaeetus albicilla W 190-240cm. Immense raptor with long, broad and parallel-sided wings, and by relatively short, wedge-shaped tail. Surprisingly manoeuvrable, despite it size, and catches fish and waterbirds while hunting low over water. Sexes are similar. Adult has mainly brown plumage, palest on head and neck. At rest, white tail is often obscured by wings. Bill and legs are yellow. In flight from below, looks mainly dark except for paler head and neck, and white tail. Juvenile is similar to adult but looks darker overall and tail is uniformly dark. Subadult acquires adult plumage over successive moults; last immature feature to disappear is dark terminal band on tail. Voice Utters mournful whistling calls. Status Formerly just a rare visitor from mainland Europe but now reintroduced successfully to certain Scottish islands.
    144067.jpg
  • Common Frog Rana temporaria Length 6-10cm Widespread amphibian. Adult male has smooth, moist skin. Usually olive-yellow or greyish brown with variable dark blotching and spots. Darker red animals occur in uplands. Eye has yellow iris with dark, oval pupil. Dark mask runs from eye to eardrum. Underparts are greyish white with faint darker marbling. Hind feet have five webbed toes. In breeding season, acquires bluish throat and swollen nuptial pads on innermost digit of front feet, used for gripping female when mating. Adult female is similar but larger with white granulations on the flanks. Juvenile, when newly metamorphosed resembles miniature adult but with large head. Male utters low-pitched croaking calls when courting. Found in a wide range of habitats if still water is present for breeding. Easy to see in early spring when courting.
    144202.jpg
  • View across Whitesands Bay from the end of St David's Head looking toward Ramsey Island, Pembrokeshire, Wales, Uk
    145694.jpg
  • View across Whitesands Bay from the end of St David's Head looking toward Ramsey Island, Pembrokeshire, Wales, Uk
    145695.jpg
  • Common Frog Rana temporaria Length 6-10cm Widespread amphibian. Adult male has smooth, moist skin. Usually olive-yellow or greyish brown with variable dark blotching and spots. Darker red animals occur in uplands. Eye has yellow iris with dark, oval pupil. Dark mask runs from eye to eardrum. Underparts are greyish white with faint darker marbling. Hind feet have five webbed toes. In breeding season, acquires bluish throat and swollen nuptial pads on innermost digit of front feet, used for gripping female when mating. Adult female is similar but larger with white granulations on the flanks. Juvenile, when newly metamorphosed resembles miniature adult but with large head. Male utters low-pitched croaking calls when courting. Found in a wide range of habitats if still water is present for breeding. Easy to see in early spring when courting.
    107034.jpg
  • Common Frog Rana temporaria Length 6-10cm Widespread amphibian. Adult male has smooth, moist skin. Usually olive-yellow or greyish brown with variable dark blotching and spots. Darker red animals occur in uplands. Eye has yellow iris with dark, oval pupil. Dark mask runs from eye to eardrum. Underparts are greyish white with faint darker marbling. Hind feet have five webbed toes. In breeding season, acquires bluish throat and swollen nuptial pads on innermost digit of front feet, used for gripping female when mating. Adult female is similar but larger with white granulations on the flanks. Juvenile, when newly metamorphosed resembles miniature adult but with large head. Male utters low-pitched croaking calls when courting. Found in a wide range of habitats if still water is present for breeding. Easy to see in early spring when courting.
    118050.jpg
  • Adder Vipera berus Length 45-60cm Venomous snake. Hibernates October-March and sunbathes regularly in spring. Males perform wrestling ‘dances’ to determine access to females for mating. Sexes are similar but females are larger than males. Adult ground colour ranges from reddish brown, greenish yellow or grey to creamy buff.  Almost all have a blackish zigzag line along back, anterior end of which looks arrowheaded and framed by inverted ‘V’ marking on head. Melanic ‘Black Adders’ also occur; commonest in N. Juvenile is similar but slender and usually reddish brown. Widespread but local, found on heaths, moors, open woodlands, rough grassland and coastal dunes. Easiest to see in early spring when basking.
    144176.jpg
  • Common Frog Rana temporaria Length 6-10cm Widespread amphibian. Adult male has smooth, moist skin. Usually olive-yellow or greyish brown with variable dark blotching and spots. Darker red animals occur in uplands. Eye has yellow iris with dark, oval pupil. Dark mask runs from eye to eardrum. Underparts are greyish white with faint darker marbling. Hind feet have five webbed toes. In breeding season, acquires bluish throat and swollen nuptial pads on innermost digit of front feet, used for gripping female when mating. Adult female is similar but larger with white granulations on the flanks. Juvenile, when newly metamorphosed resembles miniature adult but with large head. Male utters low-pitched croaking calls when courting. Found in a wide range of habitats if still water is present for breeding. Easy to see in early spring when courting.
    144201.jpg
  • Goldfinch Carduelis carduelis L 12cm. Delightful, colourful bird. Yellow wingbars and white rump seen in flight is unique. Sexes are similar. Adult has striking black and white pattern on head, and red face. Back is buffish brown and underparts are mainly whitish, suffused pale buff on flanks and sides of breast. Wings are black with yellow wingbar and white tips to flight feathers; black tail feathers are white-tipped. Bill is narrow, conical and pale pinkish buff. Juvenile is mainly pale buffish white, streaked brown on flanks and back. Wings are black with a yellow wingbar. Voice Utters a tinkling, trisyllabic call. Song is twittering and rapid. Status Widespread. Common in breeding season in scrub, deciduous woodland and mature gardens. At other times, forms roving flocks that feed on thistle and teasel seeds; many birds migrate to mainland Europe in winter.
    143949.jpg
  • Canada Goose Branta canadensis L 95-105cm. Large, familiar goose with long neck and upright stance. All birds have blackish bill and dark legs. In flight, wings appear uniformly grey-brown while stern is white. Sexes are similar. Adult has white cheeks on otherwise black head and neck. Body is mainly grey-brown, darkest on back (pale feather margins creating barring) and palest on breast. Stern is white and tail is dark. Juvenile is similar but barring on back is less distinct. Voice Utters loud, disyllabic trumpeting calls in flight. Status Introduced but now our most widespread goose; commonest in lowland England, usually in vicinity of freshwater, often on nearby grassland.
    157647.jpg
  • Canada Goose - Branta canadensis. L 95-105cm. Large, familiar goose with long neck and upright stance. All birds have blackish bill and dark legs. In flight, wings appear uniformly grey-brown while stern is white. Sexes are similar. Adult has white cheeks on otherwise black head and neck. Body is mainly grey-brown, darkest on back (pale feather margins creating barring) and palest on breast. Stern is white and tail is dark. Juvenile is similar but barring on back is less distinct. Voice Utters loud, disyllabic trumpeting calls in flight. Status Introduced but now our most widespread goose; commonest in lowland England, usually in vicinity of freshwater, often on nearby grassland.
    157646.jpg
  • Egyptian Goose - Alopochen aegyptiacus. L 65-72cm. Striking Shelduck-sized bird. In flight, bold white patch on inner wing useful for identification. Bill and legs are pink. Sexes are similar. Adult has grubby white head and neck; pale eye is surrounded by dark patch. Orange-buff breast is clearly separated from paler neck and darker, grey-buff belly; note small, dark patch on centre of breast. Back is dark grey-brown; note white and chestnut on wing, seen in resting birds. Juvenile is similar but colours are duller; dark breast spot and patch around eye are absent. Voice Mostly silent. Status Introduced from Africa but now well established and increasing. Usually seen near water, often on nearby grassland.
    157640.jpg
  • Canada Goose - Branta canadensis. L 95-105cm. Large, familiar goose with long neck and upright stance. All birds have blackish bill and dark legs. In flight, wings appear uniformly grey-brown while stern is white. Sexes are similar. Adult has white cheeks on otherwise black head and neck. Body is mainly grey-brown, darkest on back (pale feather margins creating barring) and palest on breast. Stern is white and tail is dark. Juvenile is similar but barring on back is less distinct. Voice Utters loud, disyllabic trumpeting calls in flight. Status Introduced but now our most widespread goose; commonest in lowland England, usually in vicinity of freshwater, often on nearby grassland.
    157637.jpg
  • Golden Eagle Aquila chrysaetos W 190-225cm. Majestic raptor. Distant flight view could be confused with soaring Buzzard but note proportionately longer wings (narrow appreciably towards base) and relatively long tail. Catches Mountain Hares and Red Grouse but also feeds on carrion in winter. Sexes are similar. Adult has mainly dark brown plumage with paler margins to feathers on back and golden-brown feathers on head and neck. Tail is dark-tipped and barred but can look uniformly dark in flight silhouette. Juvenile is similar to adult but has white patches at base of outer flight feathers; tail is mainly white but with broad, dark tip. Subadult gradually loses white elements of juvenile plumage by successive moults over several years. Voice Mainly silent. Status Resident of remote, upland regions, mainly in Scotland. Favours open moorland and mountains.
    157611.jpg
  • Plaice - Pleuronectes platessa Length to 50cm. A typical flatfish. Adult lives with right side, and eyes, facing uppermost. Outline is oval-rhomboid with a pointed head and slender tail. Marbled patterning on upper surface is a good match for sand; note the dark-centred red spots. Widespread and locally common.
    156934.jpg
  • View from below Morning Point Battery looking towards Peninnis Head and Lighthouse, St Mary's, Isles of Scilly
    156870.jpg
  • Sunrise over the rocks on Porthselau Beach looking towards St David's Head, Pembrokeshire, Wales
    156614.jpg
  • Canoes on the River Thames in front of The Head of the River Pub in Oxford, Uk
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  • Mute Swan - Cygnus olor. Close up of adult head. L 150-160cm. Large, distinctive water bird and a familiar sight. Swimming birds hold long neck in an elegant curve. Family groups are a feature of lowland lakes in spring. Typically tolerant of people. In flight, shallow, powerful wingbeats produce and characteristic, throbbing whine. Sexes are similar but bill’s basal knob is largest in males. Adult has white plumage although crown may have orange-buff suffusion. Bill is orange-red with black base. Juvenile has grubby grey-brown plumage and dull pinkish grey bill. Voice Mostly silent. Status Our commonest swan; the only resident species. Found on freshwater habitats besides which it nests; in winter, also on sheltered coasts.
    155089.jpg
  • Angry clouds and surf around Shipman Head, Bryher, Isles of Scilly, UK
    155067.jpg
  • Sunset over Peninnis Head, St Mary's, Isles of Scilly, UK
    155014.jpg
  • Sunset over Peninnis Head, St Mary's, Isles of Scilly, UK
    155015.jpg
  • Sunset over Peninnis Head, St Mary's, Isles of Scilly, UK
    154397.jpg
  • Sunset over Peninnis Head, St Mary's, Isles of Scilly, UK
    154398.jpg
  • Surf around Shipman Head, Bryher, Isles of Scilly, UK
    154405.jpg
  • Garn Fawr Fort looking towards March Mawr near Strumble Head on the Pembrokeshire Coast, Wales, Uk
    145675.jpg
  • Trig point at Garn Fawr fort looking towards Strumble Head on the Pembrokeshire coast, Wales, Uk
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  • Sunset over the rocks on Porthselau Beach looking towards St David's Head, Pembrokeshire, Wales
    145682.jpg
  • Sunset over the rocks on Porthselau Beach looking towards St David's Head, Pembrokeshire, Wales
    145686.jpg
  • Sunset over the rocks on Porthselau Beach looking towards St David's Head, Pembrokeshire, Wales
    145685.jpg
  • Whitesands Bay and St David's Head from the Pembrokeshire Coastal Path, Pembrokeshire, Wales, Uk
    145688.jpg
  • Sunset over the rocks on Porthselau Beach looking towards St David's Head, Pembrokeshire, Wales
    145696.jpg
  • Wolf Fish Anarhichas lupus Length to 90cm<br />
Unmistakable, superficially eel-like fish. It is usually an offshore species but sometimes it is found in deep pools on lower shore. Adult is elongate with a large, bulbous head and stumpy, peg-like projecting teeth. Locally common in E and NE Scotland.
    142965.jpg
  • Dragonet Callionymus lyra Length to 20cm<br />
Distinctive fish. Broad and flattened at head end, slender and tapering behind. Favours shallow inshore seas, sometimes found in pools on lower shore. Adult has rather long, tapering snout. Breeding male is distinctive: marbled reddish-brown with blue spots; 1st dorsal fin is very tall, 2nd marked with blue and yellow. Immatures and females are marbled yellow-brown; 1st dorsal fin is much shorter. Widespread but commonest on S and W coasts only.
    142656.jpg
  • Tompot Blenny Parablennius gattorugine Length to 25cm<br />
Impressive and colourful blenny. Found on rocky coasts, on lower shore and sublittoral. Adult has similar shape overall to Blenny but stouter body and striking dorsal fin that starts further forward and lacks obvious dip in middle. Head bears pair of frilly tentacles. Colour is variable but usually marbled reddish-brown and buff with dark bands. Locally common, SW only.
    142128.jpg
  • Tompot Blenny Parablennius gattorugine Length to 25cm<br />
Impressive and colourful blenny. Found on rocky coasts, on lower shore and sublittoral. Adult has similar shape overall to Blenny but stouter body and striking dorsal fin that starts further forward and lacks obvious dip in middle. Head bears pair of frilly tentacles. Colour is variable but usually marbled reddish-brown and buff with dark bands. Locally common, SW only.
    142127.jpg
  • Plaice Pleuronectes platessa Length to 50cm<br />
A typical flatfish. Adult lives with right side, and eyes, facing uppermost. Outline is oval-rhomboid with a pointed head and slender tail. Marbled patterning on upper surface is a good match for sand; note the dark-centred red spots. Widespread and locally common.
    139541.jpg
  • MEADOW BUTTERCUP Ranunculus acris (Ranunculaceae) Height to 1m. Downy perennial of damp grassland habitats. FLOWERS are 18-25mm across and comprise 5 shiny, yellow petals with upright sepals; borne on long, unfurrowed stalks (Apr-Oct). FRUITS are hook-tipped and borne in a rounded head. LEAVES are rounded and divided into 3-7 lobes; upper ones are unstalked. STATUS-Widespread and abundant throughout.
    130933.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.
    101130.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.
    101294.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.
    128326.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.
    128327.jpg
  • Wild Boar Sus scrofa Length 1-1.5m Stocky, well-built animal. Ancestor of domesticated Pig. Adult has laterally flattened body. Coat is grizzled grey-brown; comprises just bristle-like guard hairs in summer; dense, with underfur in winter. Coat is often obscured by mud. Head tapers to a blunt snout. Note small eyes are relatively long ears. Adult male (boar) is more powerfully built than female (sow) and has protruding, upwards-pointing tusk-like lower canine teeth. Juvenile (piglet) is reddish brown with longitudinal white stripes. Foraging animals grunt while feeding; barking call uttered in alarm. Wild Boar were driven to extinction in 17th Century. Recently, re-introduced animals and escapees from captivity have formed feral populations, mainly in Sussex and Kent; favours wooded farmland
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  • Brown Hare Lepus europaeus Length 50-75cm Rabbit-like mammal but with longer legs and ears. A fast runner; does not burrow. Performs ‘boxing’ displays while courting. Adult has brown coat grizzled with grey and black, especially on back. Coat is thicker, darker and redder in winter than summer. Ears are black-tipped; tail is dark above with pale fringe, and whitish below. Has ‘wild’ looking eyes located high on sides of head. Mostly silent. Has declined due to farming practises and persecution but still locally common on farmland and grassland.
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  • California Gray Whale Eschrichtius robustus Length to 15m Massive baleen whale, with greyish skin, the head usually covered with barnacles and other outgrowths (callosities). Entire population breeds in lagoons off west coast of Baja California, Mexico, and moves north in summer to feed in Arctic.
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  • Brown Hare Lepus europaeus Length 50-75cm Rabbit-like mammal but with longer legs and ears. A fast runner; does not burrow. Performs ‘boxing’ displays while courting. Adult has brown coat grizzled with grey and black, especially on back. Coat is thicker, darker and redder in winter than summer. Ears are black-tipped; tail is dark above with pale fringe, and whitish below. Has ‘wild’ looking eyes located high on sides of head. Mostly silent. Has declined due to farming practises and persecution but still locally common on farmland and grassland.
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  • Brown Hare Lepus europaeus Length 50-75cm Rabbit-like mammal but with longer legs and ears. A fast runner; does not burrow. Performs ‘boxing’ displays while courting. Adult has brown coat grizzled with grey and black, especially on back. Coat is thicker, darker and redder in winter than summer. Ears are black-tipped; tail is dark above with pale fringe, and whitish below. Has ‘wild’ looking eyes located high on sides of head. Mostly silent. Has declined due to farming practises and persecution but still locally common on farmland and grassland.
    144254.jpg
  • Brown Hare Lepus europaeus Length 50-75cm Rabbit-like mammal but with longer legs and ears. A fast runner; does not burrow. Performs ‘boxing’ displays while courting. Adult has brown coat grizzled with grey and black, especially on back. Coat is thicker, darker and redder in winter than summer. Ears are black-tipped; tail is dark above with pale fringe, and whitish below. Has ‘wild’ looking eyes located high on sides of head. Mostly silent. Has declined due to farming practises and persecution but still locally common on farmland and grassland.
    144253.jpg
  • Brown Hare Lepus europaeus Length 50-75cm Rabbit-like mammal but with longer legs and ears. A fast runner; does not burrow. Performs ‘boxing’ displays while courting. Adult has brown coat grizzled with grey and black, especially on back. Coat is thicker, darker and redder in winter than summer. Ears are black-tipped; tail is dark above with pale fringe, and whitish below. Has ‘wild’ looking eyes located high on sides of head. Mostly silent. Has declined due to farming practises and persecution but still locally common on farmland and grassland.
    144256.jpg
  • Brown Hare Lepus europaeus Length 50-75cm Rabbit-like mammal but with longer legs and ears. A fast runner; does not burrow. Performs ‘boxing’ displays while courting. Adult has brown coat grizzled with grey and black, especially on back. Coat is thicker, darker and redder in winter than summer. Ears are black-tipped; tail is dark above with pale fringe, and whitish below. Has ‘wild’ looking eyes located high on sides of head. Mostly silent. Has declined due to farming practises and persecution but still locally common on farmland and grassland.
    144255.jpg
  • Brown Hare Lepus europaeus Length 50-75cm Rabbit-like mammal but with longer legs and ears. A fast runner; does not burrow. Performs ‘boxing’ displays while courting. Adult has brown coat grizzled with grey and black, especially on back. Coat is thicker, darker and redder in winter than summer. Ears are black-tipped; tail is dark above with pale fringe, and whitish below. Has ‘wild’ looking eyes located high on sides of head. Mostly silent. Has declined due to farming practises and persecution but still locally common on farmland and grassland.
    144258.jpg
  • Brown Hare Lepus europaeus Length 50-75cm Rabbit-like mammal but with longer legs and ears. A fast runner; does not burrow. Performs ‘boxing’ displays while courting. Adult has brown coat grizzled with grey and black, especially on back. Coat is thicker, darker and redder in winter than summer. Ears are black-tipped; tail is dark above with pale fringe, and whitish below. Has ‘wild’ looking eyes located high on sides of head. Mostly silent. Has declined due to farming practises and persecution but still locally common on farmland and grassland.
    144259.jpg
  • Brown Hare Lepus europaeus Length 50-75cm Rabbit-like mammal but with longer legs and ears. A fast runner; does not burrow. Performs ‘boxing’ displays while courting. Adult has brown coat grizzled with grey and black, especially on back. Coat is thicker, darker and redder in winter than summer. Ears are black-tipped; tail is dark above with pale fringe, and whitish below. Has ‘wild’ looking eyes located high on sides of head. Mostly silent. Has declined due to farming practises and persecution but still locally common on farmland and grassland.
    144260.jpg
  • Brown Hare Lepus europaeus Length 50-75cm Rabbit-like mammal but with longer legs and ears. A fast runner; does not burrow. Performs ‘boxing’ displays while courting. Adult has brown coat grizzled with grey and black, especially on back. Coat is thicker, darker and redder in winter than summer. Ears are black-tipped; tail is dark above with pale fringe, and whitish below. Has ‘wild’ looking eyes located high on sides of head. Mostly silent. Has declined due to farming practises and persecution but still locally common on farmland and grassland.
    144261.jpg
  • Brown Hare Lepus europaeus Length 50-75cm Rabbit-like mammal but with longer legs and ears. A fast runner; does not burrow. Performs ‘boxing’ displays while courting. Adult has brown coat grizzled with grey and black, especially on back. Coat is thicker, darker and redder in winter than summer. Ears are black-tipped; tail is dark above with pale fringe, and whitish below. Has ‘wild’ looking eyes located high on sides of head. Mostly silent. Has declined due to farming practises and persecution but still locally common on farmland and grassland.
    144262.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.
    144308.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.
    144310.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.
    144309.jpg
  • Mountain Hare Lepus timidus Length 45-60cm Has shorter ears and more compact body than Brown Hare. Tail is uniformly white and ears are tipped black. Adult Scottish race has greyish brown coat in summer, palest on underparts and most rufous on head. Underfur is blue grey. In winter, acquires thick, whitish coat except for buffish nose. Adult Irish race has reddish brown summer coat and variably buffish brown and white winter coat. Mostly silent. Scottish animals favour heather moors and mountains. Irish Hares favour more grassy habitats.
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  • Mountain Hare Lepus timidus Length 45-60cm Has shorter ears and more compact body than Brown Hare. Tail is uniformly white and ears are tipped black. Adult Scottish race has greyish brown coat in summer, palest on underparts and most rufous on head. Underfur is blue grey. In winter, acquires thick, whitish coat except for buffish nose. Adult Irish race has reddish brown summer coat and variably buffish brown and white winter coat. Mostly silent. Scottish animals favour heather moors and mountains. Irish Hares favour more grassy habitats.
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  • Otter Lutra lutra Length 95-135cm Sinuous swimmer with a bounding gait on land. Feeds mainly on fish. Adult has long, cylindrical body, with short legs and long, thickset tail. Blunt head has sensitive bristles and toes are webbed. Coat is mainly brown but chin, throat and belly are whitish. Fur has water-repellent properties: sleek in water but ‘spiky’ when dry. Mostly silent. Persecuted and poisoned (by agricultural pesticides) until mostly extinct in lowland Britain by 1960s. Now recovering and recolonising former haunts.
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  • Pine Marten Martes martes Length 55-80cm Secretive and mainly nocturnal mammal. Diet includes small mammals, Rabbits, birds and frogs. Agile climber, capable of catching Red Squirrels. Adult has slender body and long, bushy tail. Head is pointed and ears are relatively large. Fur is thick, sleek and mainly dark orange-brown with creamy yellow throat patch. Mostly silent. Formerly widespread but widely persecuted and eradicated from many areas; now restricted mainly to remote parts of Scotland and Ireland. Favours broken ground, often with tree cover.
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  • 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.
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  • Wild Boar Sus scrofa Length 1-1.5m Stocky, well-built animal. Ancestor of domesticated Pig. Adult has laterally flattened body. Coat is grizzled grey-brown; comprises just bristle-like guard hairs in summer; dense, with underfur in winter. Coat is often obscured by mud. Head tapers to a blunt snout. Note small eyes are relatively long ears. Adult male (boar) is more powerfully built than female (sow) and has protruding, upwards-pointing tusk-like lower canine teeth. Juvenile (piglet) is reddish brown with longitudinal white stripes. Foraging animals grunt while feeding; barking call uttered in alarm. Wild Boar were driven to extinction in 17th Century. Recently, re-introduced animals and escapees from captivity have formed feral populations, mainly in Sussex and Kent; favours wooded farmland
    144412.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.
    144651.jpg
  • Otter Lutra lutra Length 95-135cm Sinuous swimmer with a bounding gait on land. Feeds mainly on fish. Adult has long, cylindrical body, with short legs and long, thickset tail. Blunt head has sensitive bristles and toes are webbed. Coat is mainly brown but chin, throat and belly are whitish. Fur has water-repellent properties: sleek in water but ‘spiky’ when dry. Mostly silent. Persecuted and poisoned (by agricultural pesticides) until mostly extinct in lowland Britain by 1960s. Now recovering and recolonising former haunts.
    145893.jpg
  • Otter Lutra lutra Length 95-135cm Sinuous swimmer with a bounding gait on land. Feeds mainly on fish. Adult has long, cylindrical body, with short legs and long, thickset tail. Blunt head has sensitive bristles and toes are webbed. Coat is mainly brown but chin, throat and belly are whitish. Fur has water-repellent properties: sleek in water but ‘spiky’ when dry. Mostly silent. Persecuted and poisoned (by agricultural pesticides) until mostly extinct in lowland Britain by 1960s. Now recovering and recolonising former haunts.
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  • Common Lizard Lacerta vivipara Length 10-15cm Widespread legged lizard. Fond of sunbathing. Hibernates Oct-April. Gives birth to live young. Adult has rather slender body with angular, pointed snout. Ground colour is variable but brown is usual. From above, note vertebral row of dark spots or patches, and parallel rows of dark markings on flanks, bordered above by pale spots. Some have green or reddish flush to head. Mature male has bright yellow or orange underparts studded with dark spots. Juvenile resembles a miniature adult but with relatively much shorter tail; uniformly black for first few weeks of life. Has declined markedly. Still very locally common in open habitats, notably heathland.
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  • Adder Vipera berus Length 45-60cm Venomous snake. Hibernates October-March and sunbathes regularly in spring. Males perform wrestling ‘dances’ to determine access to females for mating. Sexes are similar but females are larger than males. Adult ground colour ranges from reddish brown, greenish yellow or grey to creamy buff.  Almost all have a blackish zigzag line along back, anterior end of which looks arrowheaded and framed by inverted ‘V’ marking on head. Melanic ‘Black Adders’ also occur; commonest in N. Juvenile is similar but slender and usually reddish brown. Widespread but local, found on heaths, moors, open woodlands, rough grassland and coastal dunes. Easiest to see in early spring when basking.
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  • Grass Snake Natrix natrix Length 60-90cm Large non-venomous snake. Hibernates October-April. Hunts on land but also active in water, feeding on frogs and fish. Female lays eggs, often in composting piles of vegetation. Adult has slender body, thickest towards middle evenly tapering towards tail. Ground colour on upperparts is olive-green; has occasional dark vertical stripes on flanks and double row of indistinct dark spots down back. Neck has black and yellow crescent-shaped markings on sides, forming incomplete collar. Scales on under surface are whitish with dark chequering. Has backward-curved teeth that retain struggling prey. Eye has round pupil. Juvenile resembles tiny adult with relatively larger head. Hisses if distressed. Locally common in grassland and heathland, usually in vicinity of water.
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  • Grass Snake Natrix natrix Length 60-90cm Large non-venomous snake. Hibernates October-April. Hunts on land but also active in water, feeding on frogs and fish. Female lays eggs, often in composting piles of vegetation. Adult has slender body, thickest towards middle evenly tapering towards tail. Ground colour on upperparts is olive-green; has occasional dark vertical stripes on flanks and double row of indistinct dark spots down back. Neck has black and yellow crescent-shaped markings on sides, forming incomplete collar. Scales on under surface are whitish with dark chequering. Has backward-curved teeth that retain struggling prey. Eye has round pupil. Juvenile resembles tiny adult with relatively larger head. Hisses if distressed. Locally common in grassland and heathland, usually in vicinity of water.
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  • Adder Vipera berus Length 45-60cm Venomous snake. Hibernates October-March and sunbathes regularly in spring. Males perform wrestling ‘dances’ to determine access to females for mating. Sexes are similar but females are larger than males. Adult ground colour ranges from reddish brown, greenish yellow or grey to creamy buff.  Almost all have a blackish zigzag line along back, anterior end of which looks arrowheaded and framed by inverted ‘V’ marking on head. Melanic ‘Black Adders’ also occur; commonest in N. Juvenile is similar but slender and usually reddish brown. Widespread but local, found on heaths, moors, open woodlands, rough grassland and coastal dunes. Easiest to see in early spring when basking.
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  • Slow-worm Anguis fragilis Length 30-40cm Legless lizard. Hibernates Oct-Mar. Length comprises 50-60% tail but this can be shed in dire distress. Female gives birth to live young. Sexes are similar. Adult male has slender, shiny body and no discernible ‘neck’. Male is usually coppery brown or greyish brown, sometimes with darker markings on head. Adult female is similar but with a thin, dark vertebral stripe along back (may end in faint ‘v’ at anterior end) and broken black line on flanks. Belly is marbled bluish and some animals have blue spots on sides. Juvenile has golden or silvery back with thin, dark vertebral stripe and dark flanks. Favours sunny, open habitats with areas of grass and bramble.
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  • Slow-worm Anguis fragilis Length 30-40cm Legless lizard. Hibernates Oct-Mar. Length comprises 50-60% tail but this can be shed in dire distress. Female gives birth to live young. Sexes are similar. Adult male has slender, shiny body and no discernible ‘neck’. Male is usually coppery brown or greyish brown, sometimes with darker markings on head. Adult female is similar but with a thin, dark vertebral stripe along back (may end in faint ‘v’ at anterior end) and broken black line on flanks. Belly is marbled bluish and some animals have blue spots on sides. Juvenile has golden or silvery back with thin, dark vertebral stripe and dark flanks. Favours sunny, open habitats with areas of grass and bramble.
    128149.jpg
  • Adder Vipera berus Length 45-60cm Venomous snake. Hibernates October-March and sunbathes regularly in spring. Males perform wrestling ‘dances’ to determine access to females for mating. Sexes are similar but females are larger than males. Adult ground colour ranges from reddish brown, greenish yellow or grey to creamy buff.  Almost all have a blackish zigzag line along back, anterior end of which looks arrowheaded and framed by inverted ‘V’ marking on head. Melanic ‘Black Adders’ also occur; commonest in N. Juvenile is similar but slender and usually reddish brown. Widespread but local, found on heaths, moors, open woodlands, rough grassland and coastal dunes. Easiest to see in early spring when basking.
    136064.jpg
  • Slow-worm Anguis fragilis Length 30-40cm Legless lizard. Hibernates Oct-Mar. Length comprises 50-60% tail but this can be shed in dire distress. Female gives birth to live young. Sexes are similar. Adult male has slender, shiny body and no discernible ‘neck’. Male is usually coppery brown or greyish brown, sometimes with darker markings on head. Adult female is similar but with a thin, dark vertebral stripe along back (may end in faint ‘v’ at anterior end) and broken black line on flanks. Belly is marbled bluish and some animals have blue spots on sides. Juvenile has golden or silvery back with thin, dark vertebral stripe and dark flanks. Favours sunny, open habitats with areas of grass and bramble.
    136128.jpg
  • Slow-worm Anguis fragilis Length 30-40cm Legless lizard. Hibernates Oct-Mar. Length comprises 50-60% tail but this can be shed in dire distress. Female gives birth to live young. Sexes are similar. Adult male has slender, shiny body and no discernible ‘neck’. Male is usually coppery brown or greyish brown, sometimes with darker markings on head. Adult female is similar but with a thin, dark vertebral stripe along back (may end in faint ‘v’ at anterior end) and broken black line on flanks. Belly is marbled bluish and some animals have blue spots on sides. Juvenile has golden or silvery back with thin, dark vertebral stripe and dark flanks. Favours sunny, open habitats with areas of grass and bramble.
    136129.jpg
  • Grass Snake Natrix natrix Length 60-90cm Large non-venomous snake. Hibernates October-April. Hunts on land but also active in water, feeding on frogs and fish. Female lays eggs, often in composting piles of vegetation. Adult has slender body, thickest towards middle evenly tapering towards tail. Ground colour on upperparts is olive-green; has occasional dark vertical stripes on flanks and double row of indistinct dark spots down back. Neck has black and yellow crescent-shaped markings on sides, forming incomplete collar. Scales on under surface are whitish with dark chequering. Has backward-curved teeth that retain struggling prey. Eye has round pupil. Juvenile resembles tiny adult with relatively larger head. Hisses if distressed. Locally common in grassland and heathland, usually in vicinity of water.
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