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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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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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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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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 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.
germany17
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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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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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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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 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 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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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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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.
woodwhite9
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.
costarica118
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.
costarica115
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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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 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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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.
nightjar18-1
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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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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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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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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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.
heathfritillary1
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.
germany12
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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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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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.
nightjar14
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.
costarica103
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.
marshfritillary3
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.
pearlborderedfritillary5
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.
weasel3
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.
minotaurbeetle1
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.
greenhairstreak3
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.
germany11
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.
woodwhite7
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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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.
BroadBodiedChaser2
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.
SouthAfrica36
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.
CostaRica95
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.
SouthAfrica32
This bird breeds in open country in warmer climates. As the name suggests, bee-eaters predominantly eat insects, especially bees, wasps, and hornets. They catch insects in flight, in sorties from an open perch. Before eating a bee, the European Bee-eater removes the sting by repeatedly hitting the insect on a hard surface.
SouthAfrica26
The green wood hoopoe is an insect-eating species. It feeds mainly on the ground, termite mounds, or on tree trunks, and forms flocks outside the breeding season. Its specialised claws enable it to cling easily to the underside of branches while closely inspecting the bark for insects.
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Found in the forested habitats of tropical Asia, the Crested Serpent Eagle is a bird of prey of medium size. As its names suggests, the species feeds on snakes, though it is known to feed on other species as well. The specific name `cheela` is derived from the Hindi name for kites.
SouthAfrica7
The feathers of the African darter do not contain any oil and are therefore not waterproof. Because of this, the bird is less positively buoyant and its diving capabilities are enhanced. After diving for fish, the feathers can become waterlogged. In order to be able to fly and maintain heat insulation, it needs to dry its feathers. Thus the African darter is often seen sitting along the waterside spreading its wings and drying its feathers in the sun.
SriLanka1
The grizzled giant squirrel is highly territorial and is very vocal upon encountering an intruder. It is usually found alone or occasionally in pairs. When frightened it will either flee, leaping up to six metres between trees, or will flatten itself against a branch, remaining motionless.
SriLanka5
The Sri Lankan Leopard is the top predator in Sri Lanka. Like most cats, it is pragmatic in its choice of diet which can include small mammals, birds, reptiles as well as larger animals. Axis or spotted deer make up the majority of its diet in the dry zone. The animal also preys on Sambar, Barking Deer, Wild Boar and monkeys.
CostaRica48
The Cane Toad, also known as the Giant Neotropical Toad or Marine Toad, is a large, terrestrial true toad which is native to South and mainland Middle America, but has been introduced to various islands throughout Oceania and the Caribbean, as well as Northern Australia.
CostaRica17-1
The Common Basilisk has many natural predators - large reptiles, birds, and some mammals. To avoid predators, it can conceal itself under leaves on the forest floor and can remain motionless for a long time. When it must flee, though, its skill of running on water can help it avoid many predators.
CostaRica15-1
The Spectacled Caiman (Caiman crocodilus), also known as the White Caiman or Common Caiman, is a crocodilian reptile found in much of Central and South America. It lives in a range of lowland wetland and riverine habitat types, and can tolerate salt water, as well as fresh.
WoodWarbler1
Wood Warblers are small birds of oak woodland in the north and west of the UK, particularly upland areas. They sing from high-up in the canopy, but build their nests in low scrub or even on the ground in hollows. Like other warblers, Wood Warblers are insectivorous.
BlackHairstreak1
This butterfly is not a great wanderer and an entire colony will often confine itself to a single area within a wood, despite there being suitable habitat nearby. The inability to colonise new areas at a pace in balance with habitat loss may partially explain the scarcity of this species.
Grasssnake2
The Grass Snake is an active predator of frogs, toads and newts, although fish, small mammals and young birds may also be taken. Prey is grabbed, then swallowed alive. This species is a good swimmer, and is able to stay submerged for over half an hour. The Grass Snake is predated upon by badgers, foxes, domestic cats, hedgehogs and a number of birds.
CommonToad1
Males grasp females tightly prior to spawning, and there is aggressive activity amongst males who try to `take-over` females. `Mating-balls` may often arise, when as many as 10 males jostle for access to a single female. The female occasionally drowns or is crushed as a result.
HazelDormouse3
The Dormouse lives in dense, deciduous woodland, coppice and thick shrubbery. Hazel coppice is a preferred habitat and the dormouse builds spherical nests of grass and honeysuckle bark situated a few feet from the ground. Here it spends the greater part of the day before emerging after dark to forage high in the canopy.
CostaRica12-1
Brown-throated Sloths sleep 15 to 18 hours every day and are active for only a few brief periods, which may be during either the day or night. Although they can walk along the ground, and even swim, they spend most of their lives in the high branches of trees, descending once every eight days or so to defecate in the soil.
Puffin7
For most of the year, Puffins are out at sea, they return to land in order to breed. Just before the breeding season, the annual moult occurs; birds are flightless for a time after moulting, but they are still able to swim underwater, and can return to the breeding colonies between February and early April.
DukeOfBurgundy1
This small butterfly frequents scrubby grassland and sunny woodland clearings, typically in very low numbers. The adults rarely visit flowers and most sightings are of the territorial males as they perch on a prominent leaf at the edge of scrub. The females are elusive and spend much of their time resting or flying low to the ground looking for suitable egg-laying sites.
GlowWorm1
The Glow Worm, Lampyris noctiluca, is not at all worm-like but is a beetle up to 25mm long. Only the wingless female glows strongly, to attract the flying males. Each individual female has an adult glowing life of only a few weeks until she mates, since she dies soon after laying her eggs.
Kingfisher4
Kingfishers may look bright blue, but they are actually a murky brown colour. This is due to the difference between pigmented and structural colouration. If we were to just see the light reflected directly from the wings it would be brown, but actually the light bounces around the structure of the wings, causing iridescent colouring.
AdonisBlue1
The males have brilliant sky-blue wings, while the females are brown and far less conspicuous. Both sexes have distinctive black lines that enter or cross the white fringes to the wings. Despite its restricted distribution, the butterfly can be seen in many hundreds on good sites.
GreatGreyShrike4
Like most shrikes, the preferred feeding strategy of the Great Grey is to wait-and-pounce, from a prominent position on top of a bush or high tree branch. It will, however, also hunt like a Sparrowhawk, waiting in the dense cover of a bush from which it dashes out, surprising its prey. Winter prey is largely made up of small mammals and some small birds. Finches are often a target, and some birds may wait by a finch roost for supper in the evening.
HarvestMouse1
Harvest mice are extremely active climbers and feed in the stalk zone of long grasses and reeds, particularly around dusk and dawn. Their hearing is acute and they will react sharply, either freezing or dropping into cover in response to rustling sounds up to 7m away. Harvest mice have high energy requirements - the cost of being warm blooded and coping with a high surface to volume ratio.
LesserRedpoll2
Lesser Redpoll breed in woodland, but also visit gardens. Lesser Redpolls can be seen dangling from tiny twigs in birch and alder trees, or perhaps on shrub stems. This is a widespread breeding species in Scotland, northern and eastern England and Wales. It is less common in central, southern and south-west England, but does occur in these places in winter.
NorthernWheatear1
The Northern Wheatear makes one of the longest journeys of any small bird, crossing ocean, ice, and desert. It migrates from Sub-Saharan Africa in Spring over a vast area of the northern hemisphere that includes northern and central Asia, Europe, Greenland, Alaska, and parts of Canada. In Autumn all return to Africa, where their ancestors had wintered.
Nightjar2
The European Nightjar feeds on a wide variety of flying insects, which it seizes in flight, often fly-catching from a perch. It hunts by sight, silhouetting its prey against the night sky. Its eyes are relatively large, each with a reflective layer, which improves night vision.
BlackRedstart1
Black Redstarts can be found all year round. Some are summer visitors, like Redstarts, some are passage migrants in the spring and autumn, and others are resident. Most Black Redstarts are in the southern half of England, preferring rocky habitats offered in towns, docklands and industrial areas.
Worcestershire3
Broadway Tower is one of England\'s outstanding viewpoints and at 1024 (312m) above sea level, it is the second highest point on the Cotswold ridge. Situated in an Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty, high in the rolling Cotswold Hills, Broadway Tower surveys an expanse of some of the very best of the Cotswold countryside in a 62 mile radius.
Wiltshire3
The Avebury circle is the oldest stone circle that is known to be in existence anywhere in the world and is even older than Stonehenge. The large circle contains a grass bank that measures about 427m in diameter and reaches as high as six meters. Within the grass area is an inner ditch that can be entered via four entrances at each of the points on a cardinal compass.
Somerset2
Brean Down is one of the landmarks of the Somerset coastline - jutting out into the Bristol Channel. The Down is protected by the National Trust and scheduled as a Site of Special Scientific Interest by the Nature Conservancy Council for its exceptional natural history.
Somerset1
In March 1897, gale swept up the Bristol Channel, bringing high seas, driving snow and sleet. Many ships found themselves in distress, among them the Norwegian barque SS Nornen which had tried to ride out the storm in the lee of the Lundy Roads but had found her anchors dragging. She was being driven towards Berrow mud flats. The crew desperately tried to save her, but were fighting a losing cause. The ship\'s crew of ten, together with their dog were eventually rescued.
Powys8
Talybont Reservoir was built in the 1930s to supply water to Newport. The dam collects water from the River Caerfanell and its tributaries. The Turbine House was originally built to provide power for the treatment works, but it fell out of use when the national grid reached the valley.
Gloucestershire25
May Hill is a hill between Gloucester and Ross-on-Wye, whose summit is on the western edge of Gloucestershire, though its northern slopes are in Herefordshire. It forms part of a low range of hills separating the River Severn from the River Wye. The Hill used to be known as Yartleton Hill, but may have been renamed because of the May Day activities there.
Gloucestershire24
Carpets of Bluebells are a magnificent sight in the spring especially in Britain. They are often associated with ancient woodlands. Bluebells are well adapted to life in woodlands. In the spring they flower before the surrounding trees come out in full leaf. This means that they complete their life cycle while light levels are high. Bluebells are able to grow quickly in the spring because they have an energy store in the form of a bulb.
Gloucestershire13
Awre once claimed some lands in the parish of Slimbridge across the river. In the mid-13th century, the main river channel that runs down the estuary switched its course and began to erode the shore, riverbank and land on the Awre side. As a result, it is estimated that Awre lost about one third of its territory and even today, the parish boundary is set about three quarters of the way across the estuary as if the parish is hoping that one day, its lands will be restored.
Gloucestershire11
A putcher frame disappearing under the high tide of the River Severn. Putcher fishing is a type of fishing (usually of salmon) which employs a large number of putcher baskets, set in a fixed wooden frame, against the tide in a river estuary, notably on the River Severn, in England and South East Wales.
Gloucestershire3
This is one side of a large cube. The cube is constructed from an entire oak tree, planted in the 1800\'s to provide timber for warships, and felled to reveal a glade in the woodland. Made in 2001, this cube is one of many sculptures dotted around the Forest of Dean.
Gwynedd5
Beaumaris Castle was the last of Edward I\'s fortresses in North Wales. Work started in 1295 and continued for 35 years, with over 3,500 workmen employed at the peak of construction. Beaumaris castle was positioned to face Garth Celyn on the opposite shore of the Menai Strait and was intended, along with Conwy Castle and Caernarfon Castle at either end of the Menai Strait, to overshadow the Welsh Royal home and centre of resistance to the English forces.
Gloucestershire4
Symonds Yat Rock is a scenic viewpoint towering 120 metres (394 feet) above the river Wye on the Gloucestershire side. From this viewpoint, between April and August, peregrine falcons can be seen nesting on the cliff side. Other birds of prey including Goshawks and Buzzards can also be seen.
Dorset5
Portland Bill is a narrow promontory (or bill) of Portland stone, which forms the most southerly part of Isle of Portland. The Bill is an important way-point for coastal traffic, and so three lighthouses have been built to protect shipping, in particular from its strong tidal race and shallow reef.
Ceredigion5
In the early days New Quay was a fishing and smuggling port. Later a thriving shipbuilding industry developed, reaching its peak in the middle of the nineteenth century. Picturesque houses, pubs and restaurants cling to the sides of the hills rising above the blue waters of Cardigan Bay on the coast of West Wales.
Sussex5
Built in 1866, originally the West Pier had an open deck with only six small ornamental houses of oriental design, two toll houses and glass screens at the pier head to protect visitors from the wind and sun. In 1875 a central bandstand was added. In the 1880s weather screens the full length of the pier, steamer landing stages and a large pier head pavilion were constructed. The final building, completed in 1916, was a graceful concert hall.
Sussex4
The West Pier is a pier in Brighton. It was built in 1866 and has been closed and deteriorating since 1975, awaiting renovation, although after two fires and several storms, little is left in situ. In early 2006, the West Pier Trust announced a new plan to fund the restoration of the pier: a 183-metre observation tower, the i360, to be built on the West Pier promenade deck. The tower is planned to carry 100 visitors at a time to a viewing platform 150 metres above sea level.
Gloucestershire9
Putcher fishing is a type of fishing (usually of salmon) which employs a large number of putcher baskets, set in a fixed wooden frame, against the tide in a river estuary, notably on the River Severn, in England and South East Wales. Photographed against a rapidly rising tide.
WhiteTailedEagle2
The white-tailed eagle - also known as the sea eagle or white-tailed sea eagle - is a huge bird with broad wings up to 245 cm (over 8 feet) wide. White-tailed eagles became extinct in Britain in the early 1900s and despite a lengthy re-introduction scheme, their numbers in Scotland are still very low.
Dorset4
The rocks at Kimmeridge Bay were once the floor of a deep, tropical sea rich in pre-historic life. They formed in the Jurassic period, 155 million years ago. The sequence of rocks here provides such an excellent record of this part of the Jurassic that geologists have adopted Kimmeridgian as the term for rocks of this age all around the world.
Merseyside1
This was taken on Crosby Beach where Antony Gormley has installed 100 cast iron figures along a 3 kilometre stretch of beach, reaching out up to 1 kilometre to sea. All the figures are looking out to sea, staring at the horizon in silent expectation. The work is seen as a poetic response to the individual and universal sentiments associated with emigration - sadness at leaving, but the hope of a new future in another place.
Pembrokeshire5
The dolmen dates from approximately 3,500 B.C. and, possibly, was used as a communal burial. The existing stones form the portal and main chamber of the tomb, which would originally have been covered with a large stone mound about 36.6 m long and 17 m wide. Some of the stones have been scattered, but at least seven are in their original position.
Warwickshire1
This infrared photograph was taken on the top of Windmill Hill in Tysoe. The parish of Tysoe is divided into Upper and Lower Tysoe, and includes the hamlet of Westcote. The village is situated opposite the hill on which is cut the figure of a horse, 50 feet in length, in the red sandstone rock, and which gives to the adjacent low lands the name of the Vale of Red Horse.
Invernessshire8
The Cuillin are a range of rocky mountains located on the Isle of Skye in Scotland. The true Cuillin are also known as the Black Cuillin to distinguish them from the Red Hills across Glen Sligachan. The Red Hills are lower and, being less rocky, have fewer scrambles or climbs.
Monmouthshire3
The total length of the second Severn Crossing is just over 5000 metres, with a main span of 456 metres in a main bridge of 947 metres length. The number of approach spans is 45, divided between the Welsh end, 22, and the English end, 23. The bridge was built between 1992 and 1996. This image was shot over a duration of 11 minutes in infra-red from the seaweed covered \'Black Rock\'.
Monmouthshire2
Raglan Castle is a significant late medieval castle located just north of the village of Raglan in the county of Monmouthshire in south east Wales. Its origins lie in the 12th century but the ruins visible today date from the 15th century and later. Its ruination came at the end of one of the longest sieges of the English Civil War.
Monmouthshire1
This infrared image was taken from the grounds of Piercefield House - a largely ruined neo-classical mansion designed by Sir John Soane, located near Chepstow. The house is now but a shell, along with its extensive stable block, and a mere shadow of its former glory.
Wiltshire5
Silbury Hill is huge; it is likely to have involved roughly 4 million man-hours of work and 500,000 tonnes of material. The largest man-made mound in Europe, mysterious Silbury Hill compares in height and volume to the roughly contemporary Egyptian pyramids. Probably completed in around 2400 BC, it apparently contains no burial. Though clearly important in itself, its purpose and significance remain.
Somerset4
A groyne creates and maintains a wide area of beach or sediment on its updrift side, and reduces erosion on the other. It is a physical barrier to stop sediment transport in the direction of longshore transport (Longshore Drift). This image, shot over several minutes, shows some groynes on Berrow Beach, Brean.
Invernessshire5
These spectacular pinnacles of rock can be found on the Isle of Skye. The area in front of the cliffs of the Storr is known as the Sanctuary. This has a number of weirdly shaped rock pinnacles, the remnants of ancient landslips. This image was shot in infra-red over a number of minutes.
Gloucestershire19
Awre once claimed some lands in the parish of Slimbridge across the river. In the mid-13th century, the main river channel that runs down the estuary switched its course and began to erode the shore, riverbank and land on the Awre side. As a result, it is estimated that Awre lost about one third of its territory and even today, the parish boundary is set about three quarters of the way across the estuary as if the parish is hoping that one day, its lands will be restored.
Invernessshire4
Best known for the alleged sightings of the legendary Loch Ness Monster, also known as \'Nessie\', Loch Ness is over twenty miles long and hundreds of feet deep in places. The loch is notorious for its murkiness, as the water is filled with slime, peat, and mud. This long exposure was taken from the grounds of the abbey at Fort Augustus.
Puffin4
Atlantic puffins have penguin-like colouring but they sport a colourful beak that has led some to dub them the sea parrot. The beak fades to a drab grey during the winter and blooms with colour again in the spring, suggesting that it may be attractive to potential mates.
Invernessshire3
This spectacular pinnacle of rock is one of a series on Storr, on the Isle of Skye. The area in front of the cliffs of the Storr is known as the Sanctuary. This has a number of weirdly shaped rock pinnacles, the remnants of ancient landslips. Tiny ghostly people can be seen at the base of the rock.
Invernessshire2
From the summit of Ben Nevis, the highest mountain in the UK at 1344 metres above sea level, overlooking the dramatic 700 metre cliffs of the north face. The view from the UK\'s highest point is as extensive as it is unrivalled. Under ideal conditions, it can extend to almost 200 kilometres (125 miles).
Gloucestershire22
This image was formed from a high point in the Forest of Dean over the duration of about an hour, and illustrates the rotation of the Earth during that period. The picture is a composite of 103 separate exposures, with LED light used to illuminate the stone sculpture in the foreground.
LesserRedpoll1
It is a sociable bird which usually forages in flocks. It mainly feeds in trees but also feeds on the ground, especially in winter as the supply of seeds becomes reduced. The diet is mostly composed of small seeds such as those of birch, alder, and grasses. Fruit, buds, and invertebrates are also eaten.
Gloucestershire17
The Forest of Dean after a heavy snowfall in 2010. The forest is composed of both deciduous and evergreen trees. Predominant is oak. Beech is also common, and sweet chestnut has grown here for many centuries. The forest is also home to Foxgloves and other wild flowers. Conifers include some Weymouth Pine, Norway spruce, douglas fir and larch.
Gloucestershire16
From the banks of the River Severn at Awre, at a time when Britain was a no-fly zone as the tiny particles of rock, glass and sand contained in the ash cloud from the eruption of the Eyjafjallajoekull volcano could jam aircraft engines, as has happened in previous incidents of planes flying into plumes of volcanic ash.
Gloucestershire18
The Speech House is the administrative building of the Forest of Dean, lying at the centre of the forest. It hosted the \'Court of the Speech\', a sort of parliament for the Verderers and Free Miners managing the forest, game, and mineral resources of the area. It was severely damaged in the Revolution of 1688, but repaired soon thereafter. Around 1840 it began to be used as an inn, and by the late 19th century it was functioning as an hotel, which it continues to do.
WhiteTailedEagle1
The diet of the White-tailed Eagle is varied, opportunistic and seasonal. Prey specimens can often include fish, birds and mammals. Many birds live largely as scavengers, regularly pirating food from otters and other birds including cormorants, gulls, Ospreys and various other raptors.
Puffin2
Atlantic puffins have penguin-like colouring but they sport a colourful beak that has led some to dub them the sea parrot. The beak fades to a drab grey during the winter and blooms with colour again in the spring - suggesting that it may be attractive to potential mates.
Pinemarten1
Pine martens favour well wooded areas where they can nest in hollow trees and old animal homes. Pine martens eat small mammals and seasonally available produce such as autumn fruits and berries. They are also treetop hunters that can race skilfully along branches, leaping from tree to tree in pursuit of squirrels.
Treecreeper1
The Eurasian Treecreeper is insectivorous and climbs up tree trunks like a mouse, to search for insects which it picks from crevices in the bark with its fine curved bill. It then flies to the base of another tree with a distinctive erratic flight. This bird is solitary in winter, but may form communal roosts in cold weather.
Otter2
Otters are inquisitive, playful and intelligent, often appearing to take childlike enjoyment in sliding around on muddy banks or in snow. They are semi-aquatic mammals and live in holts around water edges. They are fast, agile swimmers. Bubbles of air trapped in their fur give them a silvery appearance underwater.
RedFox6
Red foxes live around the world in many diverse habitats including forests, grasslands, mountains, and deserts. They also adapt well to human environments such as farms, suburban areas, and even large communities. Their resourcefulness has earned them a legendary reputation for intelligence and cunning.
WallLizard2
There has been some discussion as to whether the Wall lizard is a native species, as it is on Jersey in the Channel Islands. Although it cannot be ruled out with complete certainty, all scientific evidence suggests that the Wall lizard is an entirely introduced species to the United Kingdom, with many documented releases across the nineteenth century.
WallLizard1
This very agile lizard is well named as it can often be seen basking, hanging from walls or rock faces. It is either green or brown with mottled marking along its flanks, and reaches a length of about 8-inches (20cm) with the tail making up to two thirds its overall length.
SikaDeer5
In the UK and Ireland, several distinct feral populations of Sika deer now exist. Some of these are in isolated areas, for example on the island of Lundy, but others are contiguous with populations of the native red deer. Since the two species sometimes hybridise, there is a serious conservation concern.
Muntjac4
In contrast to all other species of deer in Britain, muntjac do not have a defined breeding season (rut). Instead, they breed all year round and the does can conceive again within days of giving birth. Bucks may fight for access to does but remain unusually tolerant of subordinate males within their vicinity.
SikaDeer3
The ancestor of all Cervus species probably originated in central Asia and resembled sika deer. All Cervus species can crossbreed and produce hybrids in areas where they coexist (for example, introduced sika hybridize with native red deer in the Scottish Highlands, where this is a serious threat to the gene pool of the red deer population).
RedKite4
Red Kites are distinctive because of their forked tail and striking colour - predominantly chestnut red with white patches under the wings and a pale grey head. They have a wingspan of nearly two metres (about five-and-a-half-feet), but a relatively small body weight of 2 - 3 Ibs.
RedKite1
The diet of the Red Kite consists mainly of small mammals such as mice, voles, shrews, young hares and rabbits. It also feeds on a wide variety of carrion including sheep carcasses and dead game birds. Live birds are also taken and occasionally reptiles and amphibians. Earthworms also form an important part of the diet, especially in the spring.
Glamorgan8
The pier opened on 10 May 1898 at a cost of £10,000. It was the western terminus for the worlds first passenger carrying railway, the Swansea and Mumbles Railway, and a major terminal for the White Funnel paddle steamers of P and A Campbell, unloading tourists from routes along the River Severn and Bristol Channel.
RoeDeer1
A row of roe deer, also known as the Western Roe Deer or chevreuil, is an Eurasian species of deer. It is relatively small, reddish and grey-brown, and well-adapted to cold environments. It is a relatively small deer, with a reddish body and grey face, and a very short, barely visible tail. Its hide is golden red in summer, darkening to brown or even black in winter.
RoeDeer2
Roe deer are one of Britain\'s native deer species and have become the most widespread. They became largely extinct in the 1700s and were only later reintroduced. Before 1960 they were treated as vermin owing to the damage they cause to the forestry industry. Unlike other deer, they do not live in herds, but are most often seen as solitary individuals or as a family group of a mother and her offspring.
Adder2
The adder is generally not aggressive, tending to be rather timid and biting only when cornered or alarmed. Many people are only bitten after stepping on them. They will usually disappear into the undergrowth at a hint of any danger, but will return once all is quiet, often to the same spot.
Adder1
Vipera berus is a venomous viper species that is extremely widespread and can be found throughout most of Western Europe and all the way to Far East Asia. Known by a host of names including Common adder and Common viper, adders have been the subject of much folklore in Britain and thoughout Europe.
Adder4
Adders have the most highly developed venom injecting mechanism of all snakes, but they are not aggressive animals. Adders will only use their venom as a last means of defence, usually if caught or trodden on. No one has died from an adder bite in Britain for over 20 years.
FallowDeer7
Young fallow start breeding when they are about 18 months old. The mating season, or rut, starts in late September and peaks in mid October. Usually, the doe gives birth to a single fawn between late May - mid June. The fawn is weaned by October. Both sexes live in single sex groups for most of the year, only getting together at the time of the rut.
Badger3
The Badger (Latin name Meles meles) is one of the most popular animals in the UK. Widespread across England and Wales (with a few in Scotland), the badger is loved by most but seen by few. All too often the Badger and its environment are harmed by man (by accident or deliberately).
FallowDeer6
Arguably, fallow deer with their distinctive dappled, Bambi-like coats are also the most attractive of the four main deer species in Britain, but not all fallows are dappled, and there are a number of different fallow deer forms and colorations. Their woodland habitat and elusive habits and lifecycle mean that the true wild fallow deer are often difficult to spot.
FallowDeer2
Fallow deer are now widespread on the UK mainland and are present in most of England and Wales below a line drawn from the Wash to the Mersey. There have been long standing populations in the New Forest and the Forest of Dean and many of the other populations originated from park escapees.
RedDeer1
Most red deer in Britain can be found on the open moorlands of the Scottish Highlands and Islands. The majority of the deer population live in open-hill habitats all year round although they tend to be smaller than those resident in woodland areas. For much of the year, male and female groups remain separate, feeding on grasses, rushes, and sedges in summer, and heather and blaeberry in winter.
FallowDeer1
The Fallow Deer was spread across central Europe by the Romans. Until recently it was thought that the Normans introduced them to Great Britain and to Ireland for hunting in the royal forests. However recent finds at Fishbourne Roman Palace show that Fallow Deer were introduced into southern England in the first century AD.
RedFox1
The Red Fox (Vulpes vulpes) is the largest of the true foxes, as well as being the most geographically spread member of the Carnivora, being distributed across the entire northern hemisphere from the Arctic Circle to North Africa, Central America, and the steppes of Asia.
RedFox2
Red foxes have overtaken grey wolves as the most widespread canines in the wild. Distributed throughout the northern hemisphere, red foxes are highly adaptable and occupy territories in deserts and tundra as well as urban areas. They live in family groups in dens and eat most things including small mammals, fruit, carrion and the contents of dustbins. As well as having excellent vision, smell and touch these bushy-tailed true foxes can produce 28 different calls.
SikaDeer2
A female Sika Deer enters the woods from the marshland in Dorset. The sika deer can be active throughout the day, though in areas with heavy human disturbance they tend to be nocturnal. In Britain and Ireland several distinct feral populations now exist. Some of these are in isolated areas, for example on the island of Lundy, but others are contiguous with populations of the native Red Deer. Since the two species sometimes hybridise, there is a serious conservation concern.
SikaDeer1
The Sika deer is one of the few deer species that does not lose its spots upon reaching maturity. The color of the fur ranges from mahogany to black, and white individuals are also known. All Sikas are compact and dainty-legged with short, trim, wedge-shaped heads and a boisterous disposition. When alarmed, they will often display a distinctive flared rump, much like the American Elk.
WildBoar4
Litter size is typically 4-6 piglets but may be smaller for first litter, usually 2-3. The sex ratio at birth is 1:1. Piglets weigh between 750g - 1000g at birth. Rooting behaviour develops in piglets as early as the first few days of life and piglets are fully weaned after 3-4 months. They will begin to eat solid foods such as worms and grubs after about 2 weeks.
WildBoar10
The dispersal strategy of adult wild boar is unusual for an ungulate as they may disperse from an area prior to the depletion of local food resources. Wild boar thus disperse when physically in good condition, as a consequence of which mortality rates are low. Dispersal can be by individuals or as a group; animals dispersing are usually adult males or males and females in their second year.
WildBoar7
In Celtic mythology the boar was sacred to the Gallic goddess Arduinna, and boar hunting features in several stories of Celtic and Irish mythology. One such story is that of how Fionn mac Cumhaill (Finn McCool) lured his rival Diarmuid Ua Duibhne to his death, gored by a wild boar.
wildboar11
Wild boar are primarily nocturnal animals irrespective of sex, age, or season, although they may be more diurnal in times of food shortage. The daytime is spent sleeping in areas of thick cover in day nests, which are saucer shaped depressions in the ground which may be lined with leaves. Wild boar often have one long rest period in dense cover, during the day, that can last more than 12 hours.
WildBoar16
It is thought that the original British wild boar were probably extinct by the 13th century, and the re-introduced animals became extinct during the 17th century. Between the 17th century and the 1980\'s, when wild boar farming began, only a handful of captive wild boar, imported from the continent as zoo exhibits, were present in Britain. Until very recently, no free-living wild boar (native or introduced) have been present in Britain for the last 300 years.
