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The Black-backed Puffback occurs mainly south of the equator in sub-Saharan Africa, from southern Somalia to coastal South Africa. From the vicinity of the equator and northwards it is replaced by the somewhat larger Northern Puffback, with which it forms a superspecies.

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African Green Pigeons are usually gregarious and found in small groups. African green-pigeons forage in trees, flap their wings to keep their balance and often hang upside down. They have a fast and direct flight pattern.

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The needle sharp beak of the bee-eater allows for exact accuracy when catching their prey, thus to avoid the sting of the insect. Once the prey has been snatched out of the air the bee-eater finds its perch and begins the `de-stinging` process by squeezing the insect to discard of its poison and then hitting it against the perch to remove the sting.

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The Great Kiskadee is a common, noisy and conspicuous bird. It is almost omnivorous, and hunts like a shrike or flycatcher, waiting on an open perch high in a tree to sally out to catch insects in flight, or to pounce upon rodents and similar small vertebrates.

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The African Grey Hornbill nests in natural tree cavities. The female will seal herself inside the cavity, using a mixture of mud and her own dung. To facilitate feeding, she will leave a small hole so the male can feed her and the chicks.

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A Cape Buffalo drinks from a waterhole in the darkness of night near the Mozambique border of South Africa. One of the most successful of Africa’s wild ruminants, the Cape Buffalo thrives in virtually all types of grassland habitat in sub-Saharan Africa, from dry savanna to swamp and from lowland floodplains to montane mixed forest and glades, as long as it is within commuting distance of water.

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When disturbed and as warning, the striking caterpillars will raise their head and wave twin tails, which have pinkish extendable flagellae. They may even squirt formic acid at the attacker if the defence warning is unheeded.

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The Red-billed Tropicbird can reach speeds of 44 kilometers per hour when flying out at sea, cruising a minimum of 30 meters above the sea. It cannot stand and is not proficient at walking, and requires an unobstructed take-off to fly from land.

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The flight of the Broad-bodied Chaser is very fast as they dart and dive above the water. They are very territorial and will fight with rival males and any other dragonflies they happen to encounter.

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A flash was used to darken the background on this photograph of a Wood White taking a rest in the Forest of Dean, 2020.

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The caterpillar of the Pearl-bordered Fritillary overwinters wrapped in a leaf at the base of a foodplant. When it emerges, it is half the size it was the previous summer.

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The usual foraging habitats of the Asian Openbill are inland wetlands and they are only rarely seen along river banks and tidal flats. On agricultural landscapes, birds forage in crop fields, irrigation canals, and in seasonal marshes.

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The Arrow-marked Babbler lives in social groups of between 3 and 15 birds that defend large territories, with the size of the territory being dependent upon the number of individuals in the group.

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The Wood White is one of our daintiest butterflies with one of the slowest and delicate flights of all the British butterflies. This one was photographed on a bluebell in the Forest of Dean, Gloucestershire.

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A study showed that Green Bee-eaters are capable of putting themselves in the place of other animals. They were able to predict whether a predator at a particular location would be capable of spotting their nest entrance and behaving appropriately. The ability to look from another`s point of view was usually believed to be possessed only by the primates.

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Lions are the biggest, and most social, of the African cats, living communally in prides. Pride leadership often shifts between several individual animals - male and female - but the social structure of the pride hinges around the bond between related lionesses, who collaborate in all tasks, from raising cubs to hunting. Male lions come and go - often in spectacular battles over territory or individual dominance - but the pride cohesion remains unaffected, firmly under female control.

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The Chestnut-sided Warbler has benefited from the clearing of mature forests. They make use of the abundant second growth habitats. In the tropics where they winter however, the species occurs mostly in mature tropical rainforests.

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The Nightjar was once mistakenly believed to suck the milk from goats, which gave rise to the name goatsucker, or caprimulgus. They actually feed on moths and other large flying insects.

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These birds have distinctive long legs and necks which enable them to see over tall grass. In Afrikaans the Black-bellied Bustard is called the “Langbeenkorhaan” which translates as “long-legged” bustard.

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Even though they are much smaller than lion and leopards, wild dogs have a higher success rate when it comes to killing prey. Hunting at dawn and dusk, they work as a team and can bring down much larger animals, including antelope and wildebeest.

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The preferred habitat of the Pennant-winged Nightjar south of the equator is plateau woodlands, especially Miombo, where they are partial to stony or boulder-strewn hillsides. They are observed as bi-annual and social passage migrants along the Kenyan Rift Valley and Lake Victoria regions, and spend the non-breeding season in subtropical savanna from Nigeria to Sudan.

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The Central American Squirrel Monkey, or Red-backed Squirrel Monkey, is restricted to the northwestern tip of Panama near the border with Costa Rica, and the central and southern Pacific coast of Costa Rica.

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Bennetts Woodpecker mostly forages on the ground, either bare or with short grass, and also feeds in trees. It mostly eats ants and termites, including their eggs. This one was photographed in the Mopani region of Kruger National Park.

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These dragonflies breed in still or slow-flowing water. The males are often seen patrolling by a ponds edge or river, where they fight away intruders, crashing into rival males and spiralling through the air. The females are quite inconspicuous when they lay their eggs, but they sometimes give away their spot by clattering up from the reeds.

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Although they appear slow and clumsy, both young and adult Sloth Bears are excellent climbers. They occasionally will climb to feed and to rest, though not to escape enemies, as they prefer to stand their ground.

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The most important prey item in their diet is Hymenoptera, mostly Apis mellifera. A study in Spain found that these comprise 69.4% to 82% of the European bee-eaters diet. Their impact on bee populations, however, is small. They eat less than 1% of the worker bees in areas where they live.

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A litter of six young Wild Boar piglets taking a rest in the Forest of Dean. The characteristic stripes of the piglets will give way to an overall more grizzled appearance by the time they reach six months of age.

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With its thick bill and very colourful plumage the crested barbet is unmistakable. This small bird has a speckled yellow and red face with a small black crest. The belly is yellow with red speckles, wings are black with white specks and it has a broad black band on its neck.

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The adult Buffalo`s horns are its characteristic feature - they have fused bases, forming a continuous bone shield across the top of the head referred to as a "boss". They are widely regarded as among the most dangerous animals on the African continent, and according to some estimates they gore, trample, and kill over 200 people every year.

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The Hadeda Ibis is named for its loud three to four note calls uttered in flight especially in the mornings and evenings when they fly out or return to their roost trees.

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Male Pearl-bordered Fritillaries are often seen flying swiftly, low across the breeding site in search of a mate and are extremely difficult to follow, the colouring of the wings providing excellent camouflage against the dead bracken that is often found at these sites.

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The Common Green Forest Lizard has a bright green dorsal colouration, usually with 5 or 6 white, cream or dark green transverse stripes; however these are changeable. The male develops a bright red head and throat in the breeding season.

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The Short-eared Owl is a specialist predator of small mammals, predominantly voles and the Field Vole forms c.90% of the prey taken.

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A Nile monitor`s tail may grow more than a metre in length. It serves as a counterweight when running, an oar to help power it through the water and a whip with which to lash out at an assailant in self-defence.

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Although Otters tend to be nocturnal, this one was photographed in a shaft of light in an otherwise shadowy section of river in the daytime.

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A female Nightjar alongside her two eggs (one is obscured by the other) in the Forest of Dean, photographed with a trail-camera triggered by motion.

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These squirrels eat mainly nuts and fruits. Naturally active, their activity reaches levels of frenzy during the mating season. They tend to be very protective of their food sources, often guarding and defending them from birds and other squirrels.

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An African Elephant stripping the bark from a tree in a very dry area of the Limpopo province of South Africa. Bark contains calcium and fibers, which aids digestion. Tusks are used to carve into the trunk and tear off strips of bark.

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The African Hoopoe can be found in South Africa, Lesotho, Swaziland, Namibia, Botswana, Zimbabwe, Mozambique, Angola, Zambia, Malawi, Tanzania, Kenya, Saudi Arabia and the southern half of the Democratic Republic of the Congo. It inhabits broadleaf forests and savannah.

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The beak of the Atlantic Puffin fades to a drab gray during the winter and blooms with colour again in the spring - suggesting that it may be attractive to potential mates.

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The leopard is the felid that occupies the largest geographical area, as it lives in great parts of Africa in southern Sahara, South-east Asia, small isolated populations in northern Africa, the Arab peninsula, Middle East and the Far East. The subspecies Panthera pardus kotiya is endemic of the island of Sri Lanka.

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The Adder is the most northerly member of the viper family and is found throughout Britain, from the south coast of England to the far north of Scotland. In Scandinavia its range even extends into the Arctic Circle.

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The tiny Firecrest vies with the Goldcrest for the title of the UK`s smallest bird. Once just a visitor, the Firecrest can now be found breeding in woodlands in the south of England.

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The Little Sparrowhawk is a bird hunter, waiting in cover the pursuing prey in a short dash and capturing it in flight. The main prey is small birds up to the size of a thrush or a dove.

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The Capercaillie is a non-migratory sedentary species, breeding across northern parts of Europe and western and central Asia in mature conifer forests with diverse species composition and a relatively open canopy structure.

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This species breeds primarily during the rainy season, from October to April, and nests in the understory. Males make their presence known with repeated short bursts of insect-like trills.

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The Lesser Violetear belongs to the order Apodiformes. Hummingbirds share this order with the swifts, such as the white-collared swift. The name Apodiformes is derived from the Greek words "a pous," meaning "without foot."

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Painted Wolves or African Wild Dogs are Southern Africa`s rarest and most endangered carnivore. An estimated 6600 dogs survive in increasingly isolated populations in Africa.

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The English name of this insect is derived from the shape and behaviour of the caterpillar. The head and thorax are distinctly more slender than the rest of the body and, this can be said to look like an elephant`s trunk.

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This unmistakable moth has a spectacular brassy, metallic sheen on the forewings. The adults feed at dusk at the flowers of Honeysuckle, buddleias and Red Valerian. They overwinter as small larvae, near the ground amongst vegetation.

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The Sri Lanka Frogmouth is rarely seen during the day except at roost sites or when flushed. It regularly uses the same roost spot for months. It has a distinctive call that is usually heard at dawn and dusk. The sexes differ slightly in plumage.

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The Spotted Hyena is very efficient at eating its prey; not only is it able to splinter and eat the largest ungulate bones, it is also able to digest them completely. Spotted Hyenas can digest all organic components in bones, not just the marrow.

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The Scarlet Macaw can be found from southern Mexico to Peru, as well as Bolivia, eastern Brazil and the island of Trinidad. They prefer to spend their time in tall, deciduous trees in forests and near rivers, usually in large, noisy groups.

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Purple Sunbirds have a fast and direct flight and can take nectar by hovering like a hummingbird but often perch at the base of flowers. The males appear all black except in some lighting when the purple iridescence becomes visible.

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The African Wildcat is the ancestor of the domestic cat of today. This one was photographed at night in the Satara rest camp in the Kruger National Park, South Africa.

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This species is common in much of India, being seen in a variety of open lowland habitats. It tends to be seen in drier habitats than the Red-wattled Lapwing. They are found in most parts of India, parts of Pakistan, Nepal, Bangladesh and Sri Lanka.

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These birds stand still at the water`s edge and wait to ambush prey, but are easier to see than many small heron species. They mainly eat small fish, frogs and aquatic insects. They sometimes use bait, dropping a feather or leaf carefully on the water surface and picking fish that come to investigate.

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Female African Elephants are able to start reproducing at around 10 to 12 years of age, and are in estrus for about 2 to 7 days. They do not mate at a specific time; however, they are less likely to reproduce in times of drought than when water is plentiful.

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The Nightjar can fly long distances to feed, with birds recorded foraging up to 6km from the nest site. Nightjars nesting in plantation forest have been found feeding in a variety of habitats including deciduous woodland, open oak scrubland, young conifer plantations and heathland.

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The Martial Eagle is a large eagle native to sub-Saharan Africa. It is the only member of the genus Polemaetus. One of the largest and most powerful species of booted eagle, it is a fairly opportunistic predator that varies its prey selection between mammals, birds and reptiles.

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White-backed Vultures are an endangered species, living in a diminishing environment, which results in a decrease in the amount of food available. This increases competition for food, which affects them in two ways. First, the white-backed vulture is not a species that shares food with others of its own species. Second, the white-backs face competition for food with other animals in their habitat.

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This bird perches in an elevated position scanning the ground below for possible prey. Most prey is caught on the ground, but flying insects are sometimes caught in mid air. The diet consists of arthropods, insects, lizards, small mammals and fruit.

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The survival of the Sri Lankan Leopard is threatened due to habitat loss and fragmentation primarily with some levels of direct poaching and direct and indirect human-leopard related leopard deaths.

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The Sri Lankan Leopard has evolved to become a rather large leopard subspecies with very large males reaching almost 220 lb, due to the fact that it is an apex predator without competition by other large wild cat species in the country.

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The White-throated Dippers first breed when they are one year old. They are monogamous and defend a territory. The nest is almost invariably built either very near or above water. It is often placed on a rocky ledge or in a cavity.

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The White Stork breeds in greater numbers in areas with open grasslands, particularly grassy areas which are wet or periodically flooded, and less in areas with taller vegetation cover such as forest and shrubland.

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During daytime, Long-eared Owls tends to roost in an upright position on a branch, not infrequently close to the trunk, oftentimes within dense foliage. In winter often stays close to the same tree or grove of trees.

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Mated pairs engage in a fencing display when the male arrives back at the nest. The two birds stand breast to breast with wings spread and bills extended vertically.

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The Banded Cat-eyed Snake is a mildly venomous snake. Its venom is designed for killing of amphibians and reptiles. It is nearly harmless for humans.

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The Hawfinch is the UK`s largest finch, with an enormous bill powerful enough to crush a cherry stone. Despite their size, they are typically elusive, especially during the summer nesting season.

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The Wood White is found in the northern parts of the United Kingdom, largely in the clearings among woodlands or nearby shrubbery. They can often also be found in areas where there is substantial shelter, such as abandoned railway tracks and cliffs near the sea shore, as well as meadows, forest edges and sparse forests up to 2,500 m above sea level.

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The Lesser Swallow Prominent is found in a variety of habitats particularly bogs, fens, damp woodland and, occasionally, urban areas. Late July until the end of August is perhaps the best time to find them.

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A 50 kg boar needs around 4,000–4,500 calories of food per day, though this required amount increases during winter and pregnancy, with the majority of its diet consisting of food items dug from the ground, like underground plant material and burrowing animals.

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Africanised bees are typically much more defensive than other varieties of honey bee, and react to disturbances faster than European honey bees. They can chase a person a quarter of a mile and have killed some 1,000 humans, with victims receiving ten times more stings than from European honey bees.

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The Common Dwarf Mongoose is primarily found in dry grassland, open forests, and bush land, up to 2,000 m in altitude. It is especially common in areas with many termite mounds, their favourite sleeping place.

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Tsessebe are social animals and their basic group structure consists of small breeding groups, each comprising of six to ten cows with their offspring. Bachelor groups and territorial bull herds may sometimes number up to 30 strong.

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The White-throated Dipper is closely associated with swiftly running rivers and streams or the lakes into which these fall. It often perches, bobbing spasmodically, with its short tail uplifted on the rocks round which the water swirls and tumbles.

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Capuchins are considered among the most intelligent of the New World monkeys; they have been the subject of many studies on behaviour and intelligence. In one particular study conducted in 2007, capuchins were found to be among the ten most intelligent primates, second to Spider Monkeys among New World monkeys.

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The Grey-headed Bushshrike chooses to be monogamous, selecting a life partner for breeding. Breeding is in summer when both birds contribute to the construction of the nest, usually found in the tree canopy.

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Tufted Grey Langurs are generally shy animals. They are partially arboreal, semi-terrestrial and diurnal in habit. They often come to the ground when there is no danger.

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Burchell`s Zebra is a sub-species of the Plains Zebra. Like most plains zebras, Burchells live in small family groups. These can be either harem or bachelor groups, with harem groups consisting of one stallion and one to six mares and their most recent foals, and bachelor groups containing two to eight unattached stallions.

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The Black-backed Jackal generally shows a preference for open areas with little dense vegetation, though it occupies a wide range of habitats, from arid coastal deserts to areas with more than 2000 mm of rainfall. It also occurs in farmlands, savannas, open savanna mosaics, and alpine areas.

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The Bateleur is generally silent, but can produce a variety of barks and screams. The bird spends a considerable amount of time on the wing, particularly in low-altitude glides.

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The conservation status of this ancient species has been a concern in the UK since they became close to extinction here after dramatic population declines from the mid 1950`s to the 1980`s. Our rivers are much cleaner now, but they`re not perfect.

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Motmots are found in Mexico, Central America, and most of South America in rainforests, second-growth forests, forest edges, shady gardens and shaded coffee farms.

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The Mocking Cliff Chat occurs in a neat band from central Ethiopia in the north through east Africa into Zimbabwe, south-eastern Botswana, southern Mozambique and eastern South Africa as far as the far east of Western Cape province.

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To hunt, this bird perches on the topmost branch of a tree, telegraph pole or similar elevated spot in a characteristic upright stance some meters above ground. This one was perched on wires near Brandenburg.

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The Sri Lankan subspecies is the largest and also the darkest of the Asian elephants, with patches of depigmentation—areas with no skin color—on its ears, face, trunk and belly.

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Sloths are among the slowest-moving animals on Earth; they can swim but are virtually unable to walk. This makes them an easy target for jaguars, eagles and people that hunt sloths for their meat.

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The Nine-banded Armadillo can be found in bottomland hardwood forests, scrub and brushlands. It prefers areas with soft soil that it can burrow into. It is usually found near water sources like streams, creeks and water holes.

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The Indian Pond Heron`s feeding habitat is marshy wetlands. They usually feed at the edge of ponds but make extensive use of floating vegetation such as water hyacinth to access deeper water.

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The White-rumped Shama is shy and somewhat crepuscular but very territorial. The territories include a male and female during the breeding season with the males defending the territory averaging 0.09 ha in size, but each sex may have different territories when they are not breeding.

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The Dark-capped Bulbul mainly eats fruit, but will hawk insects occasionally. At certain times of the year, this bulbul will feed on nectar and are important pollinators. Dark-capped Bulbuls are monogamous.

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The Mugger Crocodile is considered a medium-sized crocodilian, but has the broadest snout among living crocodilians. It has a powerful tail and webbed feet. Its visual, hearing and smelling senses are acute.

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The White-throated Dipper is closely associated with swiftly running rivers and streams or the lakes into which these fall. It often perches bobbing spasmodically with its short tail uplifted on the rocks round which the water swirls and tumbles.

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The behavior of badgers differs by family, but all shelter underground, living in burrows called setts, which may be very extensive. Some are solitary, moving from home to home, while others are known to form clans called cetes.

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Wild Boar have a very well developed sense of smell, to the point that the animal is used for drug detection in Germany. Its hearing is also acute, though its eyesight is comparatively weak, lacking colour vision and being unable to recognise a standing human 10–15 metres away.

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Nightjars are found around the world except in New Zealand and some islands of Oceania. They are mostly active in the late evening and in early morning or at night, usually nest on the ground, and feed predominantly on moths and other large flying insects. European Nightjar is the only species found in Britain.

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The Hawfinch is a shy species, and therefore difficult to observe and study. It spends most of the day on top of high branches, above all during breeding season. During the course of the Hawfinch's life it can only be seen on the ground while looking for seeds or drinking water, always near trees.

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Although many people believe this owl has exceptional night vision, its retina is no more sensitive than a human`s and its asymmetrically placed ears are key to its hunting by giving it excellent directional hearing.

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The range of this owl extends from Gabon eastwards to southern Kenya and southwards to Namibia and northern South Africa. It inhabits savanna and dry woodland. It is usually seen alone or in pairs. It hunts for large invertebrates and some small mammals, birds and reptiles are also taken.

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Long-eared owls are more or less strictly nocturnal in activity. Usually activity for the species commences at dusk. This photograph depicts a juvenile Long-eared Owl.

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Wood mice inhabit forests, grasslands, and cultivated fields, tending to seek out more wooded areas in winter. Almost entirely nocturnal and terrestrial, wood mice burrow extensively, build nests of plants and live in buildings during harsh seasons.

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A Lion walks away from the remains of its dinner, leaving vultures and a Black-backed Jackal to clear up the scraps.

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Steenbok are active during the day and the night; however, during hotter periods, they rest under shade during the heat of the day. The time spent feeding at night increases in the dry season. While resting, they may be busy grooming, ruminating or taking brief spells of sleep.

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Arrow-marked Babblers feed on insects, spiders and sometimes snails and lizards, as well as fruits. Foraging occurs near the ground, sometimes in association with other babblers or bulbuls.

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The Double-crested Basilisk (Jesus Christ Lizard) is able to run short distances across water using both its feet and tail for support, an ability shared with other basilisks and the Malaysian sail-finned lizard.

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The Helmeted Iguana feeds on insects, spiders, worms, and other lizards. These organisms are extreme "sit and wait" predators and their foraging is brief and infrequent. Therefore, these lizards are considered to be opportunistic feeders.

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Genetic studies indicate that the Golden Jackal expanded from India around 20,000 years ago towards the end of the last ice age. The oldest golden jackal fossil, found at the Ksar Akil rock shelter near Beirut, Lebanon, is 7,600 years old.

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The African Wild Dog is a specialised pack hunter of common medium-sized antelopes. It and the Cheetah are the only primarily diurnal African large predators. They hunt by approaching prey silently, then chasing it in a pursuit clocking at up to 66 km/h (41 mph) for 10 to 60 minutes.

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African lions live in scattered populations across Sub-Saharan Africa.The lion prefers grassy plains and savannahs, scrub bordering rivers and open woodlands with bushes. It is absent from rainforest and rarely enters closed forest.

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Amazon Kingfishers hunt fish and crustaceans from a perch, diving into the water to catch their prey and then returning to the same perch before stunning their prey and swallowing it head first.

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These monkeys are mainly tree-dwelling animals. When travelling among trees, they walk and climb the forest canopy, using all of their four limbs. When eating, they usually wrap their long tails around branches. As diurnal animals, they are active by day and sleep by night on horizontal branches of trees.

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The Fer-de-lance is considered the most dangerous snake species in Costa Rica, responsible for almost half of all snakebites and 1/3 of all hospitalization cases. Many people are killed each year within its range by the Fer-de-lance.

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The Chacma Baboon usually lives in social groups, called troops, which are composed of multiple adult males, adult females, and their offspring. Occasionally, however, very small groups form that consist of only a single adult male and several adult females.

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A female European Nightjar photographed with a camera trap at her nest in the Forest of Dean in 2019.

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This is an insectivorous species which breeds in Japan, eastern Siberia and the Himalayas. It is migratory and winters in tropical southern Asia from southern India and Sri Lanka east to Indonesia.

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Lilac-breasted Rollers are found throughout eastern and southern Africa. Their range extends from the Red Sea coast of Eritrea through East Africa to southern Africa,

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The Pearl-bordered Fritillary, Boloria euphrosyne, is the earliest of the small fritillary butterflies to appear in the spring often flying in the first week in May.

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During the day the Nightjar rests on the ground, often in a partly shaded location, or perches motionless lengthwise along an open branch or a similar low perch. The cryptic plumage makes it difficult to see in the daytime.

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The Red-winged Starling is a bird native to eastern Africa from Ethiopia to the Cape in South Africa. Originally breeding mainly on rocky cliffs, it is now common in urban areas, using buildings as nest sites.

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The Bateleur eagle is a common to fairly common resident of the open savanna country and woodland (thornveld) within Sub-Saharan Africa. It also occurs in south-western Arabia.

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The coat of the Red Squirrel varies in colour with time of year and location. There are several different coat colour morphs ranging from black to red. Red coats are most common in Great Britain.

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The Malabar Pied Hornbill is a common resident breeder in tropical southern Asia from India and Sri Lanka east to Borneo. Its habitat is open woodland and cultivation, often close to habitation.

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The African Wild Dog is mostly found in savanna and arid zones, generally avoiding forested areas. This preference is likely linked to the animal`s hunting habits, which require open areas that do not obstruct vision or impede pursuit.

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These moths are nocturnal and therefore feed on flowers that open or produce nectar at night. The Elephant Hawk-moth has incredibly sensitive eyes that allow it to see colour even at low-light.

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First described in 2005, this Black-spotted Kangaroo Lizard was photographed in the Sinharaja Forest of Sri Lanka, to which this species of lizard is endemic.

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The Heath Fritillary is restricted to a few specialised habitats where it flies close to the ground with characteristic flits and glides. Sadly it is now one of our rarest butterflies but has been saved from the brink of extinction by the concerted action of conservationists.

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A Grey-headed Fish Eagle in Sri Lanka. This eagle lives in lowland forests up to 1,500m above sea-level. Their nests are close to bodies of water such as slow-moving rivers and streams, lakes, lagoons, reservoirs, marshes, swamps and coastal lagoons and estuaries.

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Red Fox in the Forest of Dean. Foxes scent-mark their territorial borders with urine, creating a very strong, recognisable odour. They also have scent glands on their feet to mark well-used trails so they can follow them easily at night.

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A female nightjar and her chick from her first brood of the season. After a week or so, the male will take over brooding the chicks to enable the female to begin her second brood.

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The White-crested Helmetshrike is a gregarious bird and is found in small, active parties that are always on the move as they forage among the foliage or on the ground. They chatter noisily to one another as they move through their territory.

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This is a migratory species over most of its range. The European population breeds mainly in northern Europe, but in winter the birds can be found in north Africa and southern parts of Europe. Although the species is present all year in Ireland, Great Britain and the adjacent European coasts, there is still migratory movement.

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Indian Flapshell Turtles live in the shallow, quiet, often stagnant waters of rivers, streams, marshes, ponds, lakes and irrigation canals, and tanks. Waters with sand or mud bottoms are preferred because of the turtle`s tendency to burrow.

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Smith`s Bush Squirrels are primarily vegetarian, but like most rodents, they take insect prey and use their front feet to manipulate food items when feeding. They scatter-hoard seeds next to tree trunks or grass tufts, thereby facilitating tree regeneration.

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Spotted Bush Snakes are mostly found in trees in bush and forest areas, where they hunt lizards and treefrogs. They are excellent climbers and swimmers, have very good eyesight, and are highly alert snakes. They are not territorial, and will roam great distances in search for food.

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The Greater Blue-eared Starling is a bird that breeds from Senegal east to Ethiopia and south through eastern Africa to northeastern South Africa and Angola. It is a very common species of open woodland bird, and undertakes some seasonal migration.

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During the mating season the male will put on a colourful courtship display, flying in a bobbing motion to best expose his bright underparts and long flashy tail. Once settled onto a branch he will call the females closer with his bill wide open, exposing the bright inside of his mouth, while quivering his wings and sweeping his long tail back and forth.

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Mysterious and frequently unseen, European Nightjar is the only member of this cryptic family to breed in Britain and Ireland. Arriving from late April, but most typically in May, the first sign of their return is the eerie churring song given by the male from a perch within its territory.

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When tettigoniids hatch, the nymphs often look like smaller versions of the adults, but in some species, the nymphs look nothing at all like the adult and rather mimic other species such as spiders and assassin bugs, or flowers, to prevent predation.

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Tettigoniids are found on every continent except Antarctica. The vast majority of katydid species live in the tropical regions of the world. For example, the Amazon basin rain forest is home to over 2000 species of katydids.

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Phasmatodea can be found all over the world except for the Antarctic and Patagonia. They are most numerous in the tropics and subtropics. The greatest diversity is found in Southeast Asia and South America, followed by Australia, Central America, and the southern United States.

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One of the first Small Pearl-bordered Fritillaries to emerge in the Forest of Dean, 2019. It occurs in damp, grassy habitats, woodland clearings and moorland. It uses several species of violet as its foodplant.

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The Marsh Fritillary was once widespread in Britain and Ireland but has declined severely over the twentieth century. The Marsh Fritillary populations are highly volatile and the species requires extensive habitats or habitat networks for its long term survival. It is now confined to the western side of Britain and Ireland.

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The Crested Serpent Eagle, as its English name suggests, is a specialist reptile eater which hunts over forests, often close to wet grassland, for snakes and lizards. It is placed along with the snake eagles of the genus Circaetus in the subfamily Circaetinae.

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The Greater Kudu is a woodland antelope found throughout eastern and southern Africa. Despite occupying such widespread territory, they are sparsely populated in most areas due to declining habitat, deforestation and poaching.

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Most English colonies of Pearl-bordered Fritillary are found in open areas within deciduous woodland, such as woodland clearings. These colonies are generally small, consisting of a few dozen adults at most, and this butterfly is also relatively-sedentary with only a limited capacity for colonising new areas.

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The aquatic environments that Otters call home are very vulnerable to changes. Dam construction, removal of vegetation along the bank of a river or stream, draining of wetlands, and other man-made changes have a great impact on the population of Otters.

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Our smallest carnivore, the Weasel looks like a mini version of the Stoat. Weasels are very active hunters, feeding on small mammals, such as voles and mice, as well as small birds. They are found in a variety of habitats, including woodland, grassland, hedgerows, heathland and moorland.

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Badgers live in social groups, typically made up of four to seven individuals. Unusually, the species gives birth to its young in winter, with one to five cubs normally born in February. The youngsters will stay underground for around two months and then first emerge in spring.

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The pronotum of the male Minotaur Beetle has forward-projecting horns on either side, slightly variable in length, tending to be proportionately longer in larger specimens. There is a smaller horn in the centre. The female lacks the horns but has a sharp tubercle at each anterior angle of the pronotum.

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This Giant Golden Orb-weaver was photographed in the Sinharaja rainforest. They can also be found in Japan, China, Vietnam, Cambodia, Taiwan, Malaysia, Singapore, Myanmar, Indonesia, Thailand, Laos, Philippines, India, Nepal, Papua New Guinea, and Australia.

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European Otters are said to be the most territorial of all the species of otter in the world. The area that they protect can be up to 25 miles wide. However, most of them observed have a territory of about 11 miles.

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The Sri Lankan Leopard hunts by silently stalking its prey, until it is within striking distance where it unleashes a burst of speed to quickly pursue and pounce on its victim. The prey is usually dispatched with a single bite to the throat.

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The underside of the Green Hairstreak provides the illusion of being green, an effect produced by the diffraction of light on a lattice-like structure found within the wing scales, which provides excellent camouflage as the butterfly rests on a favourite perch, such as a Hawthorn branch.

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The adult White Stork`s main sound is noisy bill-clattering, which has been likened to distant machine gun fire. The bird makes these sounds by rapidly opening and closing its beak so that a knocking sound is made each time its beak closes. The clattering is amplified by its throat pouch, which acts as a resonator.

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A macro view of the underwing of the Pearl-bordered Fritillary, photographed in Gloucestershire. The butterfly was once very widespread but has declined rapidly in recent decades, and is now highly threatened in England and Wales.

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There is an elaborate courtship ritual between Wood whites, initiated by the male. They begin by wagging their head from one side to another, extending their proboscis towards the female. The female, with her antennae pulled back, won`t move if already mated but will immediately move her abdomen towards the male if not.

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Golfo-Dulce Anoles run fast, and jump many times their length. They can also climb straight up almost any surface at blinding speed. They usually sit downward. Seeing a potential prey they dart down towards it.

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Golden Jackals live in mated pairs and are strictly monogamous. In most jackal families, there are one or two adult members called `helpers`. Helpers are jackals who stay with the parents for a year after reaching sexual maturity, without breeding, to help take care of the next litter.

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The hazel dormouse is an ancient, native species. It has been present in Britain since at least the last Ice Age, more than 10,000 years ago.

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The Painted Stork is widely distributed over the plains of Asia. This one was photographed in Udawalawa, Sri Lanka.

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When threatened, the Ostrich will either hide itself by lying flat against the ground, or run away. If cornered, it can attack with a kick of its powerful legs.

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The Broad-bodied Chaser flight period is from April to September but they are mostly seen in May and June. Their flight is very fast as they dart and dive above the water. They are very territorial and will fight with rival males and any other dragonflies they happen to encounter.

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Unlike many hummingbirds, the Green-crowned Brilliant almost always perches to feed. This one was photographed in the Monteverde cloud forest of Costa Rica.

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Adult wood whites fly slowly, and they appear to flutter. Males spend the majority of their lifetime flying low over shrubbery to find possible mates.

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Some Northern Gannet breeding colonies have been recorded as being located in the same place for hundreds of years. The cliffs containing the colonies appear white when seen from a distance, due to the number of nesting birds present on them.

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A vixen fox in the Forest of Dean on a spring afternoon.

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Scinax staufferi is found in Belize, Costa Rica, El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras, Mexico, and Nicaragua.

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Bothrops asper is a highly venomous pit viper species ranging from southern Mexico to northern South America and is considered to be one of the most dangerous snakes in the western hemisphere.

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Strawberry poison frog, Oophaga pumilio, shows extreme variation in color and pattern between populations that have been geographically isolated for more than 10,000 years.

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The Tawny Eagle breeds in most of Africa both north and south of the Sahara Desert and across tropical southwestern Asia to India.

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The Spotted Hyena, also known as the laughing hyena, is a hyena species, currently classed as the sole member of the genus Crocuta, native to Sub-Saharan Africa.

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A group of African Elephants in the Kruger National Park, South Africa.

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A Leopard surveys the scene before stepping out from cover into the open.

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The White-throated Kingfisher is a tree kingfisher, widely distributed in Asia from the Sinai east through the Indian subcontinent to the Philippines.

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A juvenile White-fronted Dipper on the Forest of Dean, Gloucestershire.

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A Little Owl surveys its territory from the hollow of a tree in Gloucestershire.

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A Lioness photographed resting near the Sabie River in South Africa.

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The African Wild Dog is just one of many common names given to the species - African Wild Dog, Painted Hunting Dog, Painted Wolf, African Hunting Dog, Cape Hunting Dog or African Painted Dog.

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The Common Frog is found throughout Britain and Ireland, in almost any habitat where suitable breeding ponds are near by.

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Rose Chafers are found in southern and central Europe and in the southern part of the United Kingdom, where they sometimes seem to be very localised.

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A recently fledged European Nightjar in the Forest of Dean, Gloucestershire.

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The White-throated Dipper is closely associated with swiftly running rivers and streams or the lakes into which these fall. It often perches bobbing spasmodically with its short tail uplifted on the rocks round which the water swirls and tumbles.

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A Toque Macaque in Udawalawa, Sri Lanka.

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A Feral Goat in the Findhorn Valley, Scotland.

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The delicate underwing of the Small Pearl-bordered Fritillary photographed in the Forest of Dean, Gloucestershire.

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A backlit Red Squirrel as it feeds in the Cairngorms, Scotland.

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The Eurasian Otter uses its faeces, spraints, to mark its territory and prioritise the use of resources to other group members.

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A Small Pearl-bordered Fritillary shows its underside from its perch in the Forest of Dean.

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A silhouetted White Stork at dusk in northern Germany.

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The Square-tailed Nightjar is a species of nightjar in the family Caprimulgidae which is native to tropical and subtropical woodlands of the Afrotropics.

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A white (leucistic) Red Kite soars over the Welsh countryside.

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A Plain Prinia gathers nesting material in Sri Lanka.

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A close up view of the stripes of the Plains Zebra in the Kruger National Park, South Africa.

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Green Bee-eater photographed in Wilpattu, Sri Lanka.

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A juvenile Adder in the Forest of Dean.

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A Sand Lizard basks in the April sun in Dorset.

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A Hazel Dormouse on a nighttime feeding foray in Devon.

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White-fronted Bee-eaters nest in colonies averaging 200 individuals, digging roosting and nesting holes in cliffs or banks of earth. A population of bee-eaters may range across many square kilometres of savannah, but will come to the same colony to roost, socialise, and to breed.

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A perch couldn`t take the weight of this Kingfisher, causing it to sag beneath the water.

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A female Nightjar incubating her two eggs in the Forest of Dean.

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A Wild Boar peers through the dead bracken in the Forest of Dean.

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A male Great Curassow photographed in Arenal, Costa Rica.

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The Eurasian beaver Castor fiber was once widespread in Europe and Asia but by the beginning of the 20th century both the numbers and range of the species had been drastically diminished, mainly due to hunting.

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Sloth moths have evolved to inhabit sloth fur exclusively. Adult female moths leave the fur of the sloth to lay eggs in the sloth droppings when the sloth descends, once a week, to the forest floor to defecate. The larvae of Cryptoses choloepi live in the dung and newly emerged moths later fly from the dung pile into the forest canopy to find a host sloth.

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Wild Boar in a snow shower, photographed in the Harz Mountains, Germany.

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The Sri Lanka Drongo is endemic to Sri Lanka. It can be found throughout the wet zone of south-western parts of Sri Lanka.

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A Dwarf Mongoose peers over the side of a termite mound - one of their preferred places to sleep - near Punda Maria, South Africa.

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A Lion photographed at night in the Satara region of Kruger National Park, South Africa.

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Mandarins frequently escape from collections, and in the 20th century, a large, feral population was established in Great Britain.