Alney Island
2 photos
Gloucestershire Wildlife Trust. Alney Island is an island in the River Severn near Gloucester, Gloucestershire, England. The Severn splits into two channels (known as East Channel and West Channel)...
Avocet (Recurvirostra avosetta)
14 photos
The Avocet is a distinctively-patterned black and white wader with a long up-curved beak. Avocets are protected by the Schedule 1, which makes it an offence to disturb them. It's also the emblem of...
Barnacle Goose (Branta leucopsis)
3 photos
The Barnacle Goose is a medium-sized, sociable goose, with a black head, neck and breast and a creamy-white face. This contrasts with the white belly, blue-grey barred back and black tail. Barnacle...
Barn Owl (Tyto alba)
4 photos
With a heart-shaped face, beige back and wings and pure white underparts, the Barn Owl is a distinctive and much-loved countryside bird. Widely distributed across the UK and the rest of the world,...
Beetles & Insects
12 photos
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Bees
9 photos
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Bewick Swan (Cygnus columbianus bewickii)
6 photos
Bewick's Swan adults are white all over with a black and yellow bill, while young birds are greyish with a pinkish bill. Compared to the similar Whooper Swan, these swans have proportionally more...
Bittern (Botaurus stellaris)
3 photos
British Bitterns breed in our largest and least disturbed reedbeds, most often in nature reserves, where they benefit from well-directed conservation efforts and carefully designed habitat creation....
Blackbird (Turdus merula)
9 photos
Male Blackbirds are black with a bright orange-yellow beak and yellow eye-ring. Females are brown often with spots and streaks on their breasts and brown beak. The Blackbird is one of the most common...
Black Cap (Sylvia atricapilla)
2 photos
The Blackcap is a distinctive greyish warbler. The top of the male's head is black (its black cap) while the female's is chestnut brown. Its delightful fluting song has earned it the name 'northern...
Black-headed Gull (Chroicocephalus ridibundus)
16 photos
Not really a black-headed bird, the Black-headed Gull's head is more chocolate-brown. In fact, for much of the year, it has a white head. It's most commonly found almost anywhere inland. Black-headed...
Black Swan (Cygnus atratus)
1 photo
Striking large black waterbird that occasionally escapes from captivity and which now breeds regularly in the wild. This popular ornamental species, introduced from Australia, is occasionally...
Black-tailed Godwit (Limosa limosa)
14 photos
These large wading birds are a Schedule 1 species, giving them full protection from disturbance. In summer, they have bright orangey-brown chests and bellies, while in winter they're more...
Black-winged Stilt (Himantopus himantopus)
1 photo
The black-winged stilt is a black and white wading bird with incredibly long legs. They live in a variety of wetlands, from marshes to coastal lagoons. They wade through the water, plucking insects...
Bluethroat (Luscinia svecica)
3 photos
A small Robin-like bird, the male is unmistakable in spring with his bright blue throat, bordered below with bands of black, white and chestnut. Its central throat spot can be white or chestnut,...
Blue Tit (Cyanistes caeruleus)
11 photos
A colourful mix of blue, yellow, white and green makes the Blue Tit one of our most attractive and most recognisable garden visitors. In winter, family flocks join up with other tits as they search...
Brambling (Fringilla montifringilla)
1 photo
Similar in size and shape to the Chaffinch, the male Brambling has a black head in summer, and an orange breast with white belly. In flight it shows a white rump. Sociable in winter, it may form...
Brent Goose (Branta bernicla)
2 photos
The Brent Goose is a small, dark goose - of similar size to a Mallard. It has a black head and neck and grey-brown back, with either a pale or dark belly, depending on the sub-species. Adults have a...
Brown Hare (Lepus europaeus)
1 photo
The brown hare is known for its long, black-tipped ears and fast running - it can reach speeds of 45mph when evading predators.
Bullfinch (Pyrrhula pyrrhula)
1 photo
The male Bullfinch is unmistakable with his bright pinkish-red breast and cheeks, grey back, black cap and tail, and bright white rump. The flash of the rump in flight and piping whistled call are...
Butterflies, Moths & Caterpillars
55 photos
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Buzzard (Buteo buteo)
8 photos
Now the most common and widespread UK bird of prey, the Buzzard is quite large with broad, rounded wings, and a short neck and tail. When gliding and soaring, it will often hold its wings in a...
Canada Goose (Branta canadensis)
8 photos
The Canada Goose is a large goose, with a distinctive black head and neck, and large white throat patch. A species originally from North America, it has successfully spread to cover most of the UK....
Carrion Crow (Corvus corone)
5 photos
The all-black Carrion Crow is one of the cleverest, most adaptable of our birds. It's often quite fearless, although it can be wary of humans. They're fairly solitary, usually found alone or in...
Cattle Egret (Bubulcus ibis)
3 photos
Slightly smaller but much rarer than the Little Egret, Cattle Egret numbers in the UK are rising. They often spend time close to livestock like sheep and cows and grab the insects and worms their...
Chaffinch (Fringilla coelebs)
5 photos
The Chaffinch is one of the most widespread and common birds in Britain and Ireland. Its patterned feathers help it blend in when feeding on the ground, so it's easiest to see when it flies, as a...
Chiffchaff (Phylloscopus collybita)
10 photos
The Chiffchaff is a small olive-brown warbler which flits through trees and shrubs, with a distinctive tail-wagging movement. Chiffchaffs usually (though not always) have dark legs and a pale eye...
Chosen Hill
16 photos
Woodland Trust
Cleeve Common
31 photos
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Coal Tit (Periparus ater)
4 photos
Not as colourful as some of its relatives, the Coal Tit has a distinctive grey back, black cap, and white patch at the back of its neck. It has a smaller, skinnier bill than Blue or Great Tits which...
Collared Dove (Streptopelia decaocto)
1 photo
Collared Doves are a pale, pinky-brown-grey colour, with a distinctive black neck collar (as the name suggests). They have deep red eyes and reddish feet. Their cooing, which can sometimes seem to go...
Common Crane (Grus grus)
10 photos
The Crane is a huge, graceful, mostly grey bird with long legs, a long neck and drooping, curved tail feathers. There's a small breeding population in Norfolk, a re-introduced population in...
Common Sandpiper (Actitis hypoleucos)
1 photo
The Common Sandpiper is a smallish wader with contrasting brown upperparts and white underparts. It bobs up and down, known as 'teetering', and has a distinctive flight with stiff, bowed wings. The...
Common Tern (Sterna hirundo)
3 photos
These delightful silvery-grey and white birds have long tails which have earned them the nickname 'sea-swallow'. They have a graceful, floating flight and frequently hover over water before plunging...
Coombe Hill
74 photos
Gloucestershire Wildlife Trust. Coombe Hill Canal and Meadows is a place of vistas and endless skies, of floods and farming, an ancient landscape fringing the River Severn. Whether it’s a chilly...
Coot (Fulica atra)
9 photos
The Eurasian Coot is all-black and larger than its cousin, the Moorhen. It has a distinctive white beak and 'shield' above the beak which earns it the title 'bald'. Its feet have lobed flaps of skin...
Cormorant (Phalacrocorax carbo)
14 photos
The Cormorant is a large, black waterbird whose size and colour make it very visible. With a reptilian neck, it has an almost prehistoric appearance. It is often seen standing with its wings held out...
Curlew (Numenius arquata)
6 photos
The Curlew is the largest European wading bird, found on estuaries in winter and moors in summer. Look for its down-curved bill, brown upperparts, long legs and listen for its evocative, bubbling,...
Dragonflies & Damselflies
13 photos
Dipper (Cinclus cinclus)
4 photos
The Dipper is a short-tailed, stout bird with a low, whirring flight. When perched on a rock, it bobs up and down and often sticks its tail up. Its white throat and breast contrasts with its dark...
Dunlin (Calidris alpina)
4 photos
This is the most common small wader found along the coast. It has a slightly down-curved bill and a distinctive black belly patch when in its breeding plumage. It feeds in flocks in winter, sometimes...
Dunnock (Prunella modularis)
12 photos
The Dunnock is a small brown and grey bird. Quiet and shy, it's often seen on its own, creeping along the edge of a flower bed or near to a bush, moving in a rather nervous, shuffling way, often...
Dunster, Somerset
19 photos
The medieval village of Dunster in Somerset within Exmoor National Park. With Dunster Castle and the Yarn Market. Very popular with tourists. The Bristol channel is within walking distance.
Dymock Woods (Forestry England)
2 photos
This ancient woodland consists of a mixture of tree species which provide a stunning display of seasonal colour and provide vital wildlife habitats. Areas of Dymock Wood are SSSI (Site of Special...
Eider Duck (Somateria mollissima)
1 photo
The Eider is the UK's heaviest and fastest flying duck. It's a true seaduck, rarely found away from coasts. Its reliance on coastal shellfish for food has brought it into conflict with mussel...
Eygptian Goose (Alopochen aegyptiaca)
1 photo
This pale brown and grey goose is related to the Shelduck. Look for its distinctive dark brown eyepatches and contrasting white wing patches in flight. It was introduced to ornamental ponds, but...
Fallow Deer (Dama dama)
8 photos
Although introduced by the Normans, the Fallow deer has been here so long that it is considered naturalised. Look out for groups of white-spotted deer in woodland glades.
Fieldfare (Turdus pilaris)
1 photo
Fieldfares are large, colourful thrushes, much like a Mistle Thrush in size, shape and behaviour. They stand very upright and move forward with purposeful hops. They are very social birds, spending...
Flamborough
24 photos
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Flamingos
3 photos
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Rabbit (Oryctolagus cuniculus)
5 photos
Who doesn’t love spotting rabbits hopping through long grass during a walk in the countryside? They are a common sight but it is always a treat to see their curious faces popping up, ears stood...
Fox's Bridge Bog Nature Reserve
4 photos
Looked after jointly by the Gloucestershire Wildlife Trust and the Forestry Commision. The bog lies in the heart of the Forest of Dean, and is separated from the Woorgreens Lake and Marsh nature...
Fulmar (Fulmarus glacialis)
3 photos
Almost gull-like, this grey and white seabird is related to the albatrosses. The Fulmar flies low over the sea on stiff wings, with shallow wingbeats, gliding and turning to show its white underparts...
Fungi
13 photos
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Gadwall (Anas strepera)
6 photos
The Gadwall is a very grey-coloured dabbling duck, a little smaller than the Mallard, and with an obvious black rear end. It shows a white wing patch in flight. When seen close-up the grey colour is...
Garganey (Anas querquedula)
2 photos
The Garganey is a scarce and very secretive breeding duck in the UK. It is smaller than a Mallard and slightly bigger than a Teal. The male is most easily recognised by a broad white stripe over the...
Goldcrest (Regulus regulus)
5 photos
Along with the Firecrest, the Goldcrest is the UK's smallest bird. A greyish-green with a pale belly and a black and yellow stripe on their heads, which has an orange centre in males. Their thin beak...
Goldeneye (Bucephala clangula)
3 photos
The Goldeneye is a medium sized diving duck. Males look black and white with a greenish black head and a circular white patch in front of the yellow eye. Females are smaller, and are mottled grey...
Golden Plover (Pluvialis apricaria)
2 photos
The Golden Plover is a medium-sized plover with a distinctive gold and black summer plumage. In winter the black is replaced by light brown and white. They typically stand upright and run in short...
Goldfinch (Carduelis carduelis)
6 photos
The Goldfinch is a colourful finch with a bright red face and yellow wing patch. It's a very sociable bird, often breeding in loose groups. It has a delightful twittering song and call. Their fine...
Goshawk (Accipiter gentilis)
1 photo
The Goshawk is a large hawk, almost reaching buzzard size. When seen up close, it has a fierce look with bright yellow eyes and a distinctive white eyebrow. Thanks to its broad wings, it can to hunt...
Great-crested Grebe (Podiceps cristatus)
2 photos
The Great Crested Grebe is a delightful, elegant waterbird with decorative head plumes. It was once hunted for these fancy feathers, almost causing the UK population to be wiped out. Great Crested...
Great-spotted Woodpecker (Dendrocopos major)
5 photos
About Blackbird-sized and striking black and white. It has a very distinctive bouncing flight and spends most of its time clinging to tree trunks and branches, often trying to hide on the side away...
Great Tit (Parus major)
2 photos
This is the largest UK tit with a distinctive two-syllable song. It has a green and yellow body and a striking glossy black head with white cheeks. It's a woodland bird that has readily adapted to...
Great White Egret (Ardea alba)
10 photos
The Great White Egret is a large, white heron. Great White Egrets can look similar to Little Egrets, but they are much larger - the same size as the familiar Grey Heron. Other identification features...
Greenfinch (Chloris chloris)
2 photos
Its twittering, wheezing song and flash of yellow and green as it flies make this finch a truly colourful character. Nesting in a conifer, or feasting on black sunflower seeds, the Greenfinch is a...
Green Sandpiper (Tringa ochropus)
6 photos
The Green Sandpiper is a wader whose dark, almost black, upperparts contrast with its pale underparts and white rump. It frequently bobs up and down when standing. It often appears nervous and will...
Greenshank (Tringa nebularia)
2 photos
A medium-sized slim wader with a dark grey back and white underparts. Its green legs and slightly up-turned bill help to distinguish it from other waders. It calls regularly and is seen on its own...
Green Woodpecker (Picus viridis`)
1 photo
The Green Woodpecker is the largest of the three woodpeckers that breed in Britain. It has a heavy-looking body, short tail and a strong, long bill. It's green on its upperparts with a paler belly,...
Grey Heron (Ardea cinerea)
19 photos
Grey Herons are unmistakeable – tall, with long legs, a long beak and grey, black and white feathering. They can stand with their neck stretched out, looking for food, or hunched down with their...
Greylag Goose (Anser anser)
9 photos
The ancestor of most domestic geese, the Greylag is the largest and bulkiest of the wild goose native to the UK and Europe. In many parts of the UK, it has been re-established by releasing birds in...
Grey Partridge (Perdix perdix)
1 photo
The Grey Partridge is a medium-sized bird with a distinctive orange face. It flies with whirring wings and occasional glides, showing a chestnut tail. It is strictly a ground bird, never likely to be...
Grey Squirrel (Sciurus carolinensis)
5 photos
One of our most familiar mammals, the grey squirrel can be found in woods, gardens and parks across town and country, and often proves to be very tame. It is a frequent visitor to gardens with bird...
Grey Wagtail (Motacilla cinerea)
5 photos
The Grey Wagtail is more colourful than its name suggests, with slate grey upper parts and distinctive lemon yellow under-tail. Its tail is noticeably longer than those of Pied and Yellow Wagtails....
Guillemot (Uria aalge)
4 photos
The UK's coasts have many stretches of steep cliffs where seabirds breed. The Guillemot is one of the most common birds in the great 'seabird cities'. It comes to land only to nest, spending the rest...
Hawfinch (Coccothraustes coccothraustes)
1 photo
The Hawfinch is the UK's largest finch and has a huge bill. Hawfinches are usually shy and difficult to see, but are getting harder to spot as their traditional breeding areas have declined in recent...
Herring Gull (Larus argentatus)
3 photos
Herring Gulls are large, noisy gulls found throughout the year around our coasts and inland around rubbish tips, fields, large reservoirs and lakes, especially during winter. Adults have light grey...
Horsbere Brook Nature Reserve
46 photos
Managed by Gloucester City Council.
House Martin (Delichon urbicum)
3 photos
The House Martin is a small bird with glossy blue-black upper parts and pure white under parts. It has a distinctive white rump with a forked tail and, on close inspection, white feathers covering...
House Sparrow (Passer domesticus)
3 photos
These noisy and sociable birds are found around the world, thanks to their cheerful ability to make the most of humanity's rubbish and wastefulness. But monitoring suggests a severe decline in the UK...
Jackdaw (Coloeus monedula)
9 photos
This is a small black crow with a distinctive silvery sheen to the back of its head. Its pale eyes stand out from its plumage. The Jackdaw's call – a familiar hard 'tchack' – gives it its name....
Jay (Garrulus glandarius)
3 photos
Although they're the most colourful members of the crow family, Jays are actually quite difficult to see. They are shy woodland birds, rarely moving far from cover. The screaming call usually lets...
Kestrel (Falco tinnunculus)
5 photos
Kestrels are a familiar sight, with their pointed wings and long tail, hovering beside a roadside verge. Numbers of Kestrels have declined since the 1970s, probably as a result of changes in farming,...
Kingfisher (Alcedo atthis)
11 photos
Kingfishers are small unmistakable bright blue and orange birds of slow-moving or still water. They fly rapidly, low over water, and hunt fish from riverside perches, occasionally hovering above the...
Kittiwake (Rissa tridactyla)
5 photos
Kittiwakes are gentle-looking, medium-sized gulls with a small yellow bill and a dark eye. They have a grey back with white underneath. Their legs are long and black. In flight, the black wing-tips...
Lapwing (Vanellus vanellus)
10 photos
Also known as the peewit in imitation of its display calls, its common name describes its wavering flight. Its black-and-white appearance and round-winged shape in flight make it distinctive, even...
Laurie Lee Wildlife Way
15 photos
Gloucestershire Wildlife Trust. A walk through the magical Laurie Lee Wood is a step back in time. This small, ancient and semi-natural woodland is full of wildflowers such as white helleborine, and...
Lesser Black-backed Gull (Larus fuscus)
2 photos
Slightly smaller than a Herring Gull, the Lesser Black-backed Gull has a dark grey to black back and wings, yellow bill and yellow legs. Their world population is found entirely in Europe. After...
Lesser Whitethroat (Curruca curruca)
2 photos
As the name suggests, this warbler is smaller than its cousin, the Whitethroat. It sports dark cheek feathers which contrast with its pale throat and can give it a 'masked' look. When it flits from...
Linnet (Linaria cannabina)
9 photos
A small and slim finch that's widespread and was once very popular as a caged bird because of its tuneful song. Males are marked with crimson foreheads and chests, females are much browner. It has a...
Little Egret (Egretta garzetta)
7 photos
The Little Egret is a small white heron with attractive white plumes on crest, back and chest, black legs and bill and yellow feet. It first appeared in the UK in significant numbers in 1989 and...
Little Grebe (Tachybaptus ruficollis)
4 photos
The Little Grebe (or Dabchick) is a small, dumpy grebe which often appears to have a 'fluffy' rear end. It readily dives when disturbed, surfacing unseen some distance away. In summer it has a bright...
Little Owl (Athene noctua)
1 photo
This small owl was introduced to the UK in the 19th century. It can be seen in the daylight, usually perching on a tree branch, telegraph pole or rock. It will bob its head up and down when alarmed....
Little-ringed Plover (Charadrius dubius)
1 photo
The Little Ringed Plover is a small plover with a distinctive black and white head pattern, similar to the Ringed Plover. It has a black beak and pale (not orange) legs. Close views reveal a...
Long-tailed Tit (Aegithalos caudatus)
8 photos
The Long-tailed Tit is easily recognisable with its distinctive blush, black and white colouring. It also has a tail which is bigger than its body, and a bouncing flight. Sociable and noisy...
Lower Woods
22 photos
Gloucestershire Wildlife Trust. Lower Woods is one of the largest ancient woodland in the south-west, and a Site of Special Scientific Interest (SSSI). Areas of grazed common land and wide grassy...
Magpie (Pica pica)
4 photos
With its noisy chattering, black-and-white plumage and long tail, there's nothing else quite like the Magpie in the UK. When seen close-up, its black plumage reveals a purplish-blue iridescent sheen...
Mallard (Anas platyrhynchos)
10 photos
The Mallard is a large and heavy-looking duck. It has a long body, and a long and broad bill. The male has a dark green head, a yellow bill, is mainly purple-brown on the breast and grey on the body....
Mandarin Duck (Aix galericulata)
3 photos
The male Mandarin Duck has very elaborate and decorative plumage with distinctive orange feathers on the side of the face, a purple chest, large orange feathers that stick up like sails on its back,...
Marsh Harrier (Circus aeruginosus)
7 photos
The largest of the harriers, the Marsh Harrier can be recognised by its long tail and light flight with wings held in a shallow 'V'. It is distinguishable from other harriers by its larger size,...
Marsh Tit (Poecile palustris)
2 photos
The Marsh Tit is a small, mainly brown bird, with a shiny black cap, dark bib and pale belly. In the UK, its identification is made tricky by the very similar appearance of native Willow Tits....
Meadow Pipit (Anthus pratensis)
6 photos
A small, brown, and streaky bird, the Meadow Pipit is the most common songbird in upland areas. Its high, piping call is a familiar sound. In flight, it shows white outer tail feathers and, in the...
Mistle Thrush (Turdus viscivorus)
2 photos
The Mistle Thrush is a pale, black-spotted thrush – large and powerful. It stands boldly upright and bounds across the ground. In flight, it has long wings and its tail has whitish edges. It's most...
Moorhen (Gallinula chloropus)
7 photos
Moorhens are blackish with a red and yellow beak and green legs. Seen closer-up, they have a dark brown back and wings and a more bluish-black belly, with white stripes on the flanks.
Muntjac Deer (Muntiacus reevesi)
2 photos
The muntjac deer was introduced into the UK from China in the 20th century. It has gained a stronghold in southeast England, where it can cause damage to our woods through browsing.
Mussels & Snails
5 photos
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Mute Swan (Cygnus olor)
15 photos
The Mute Swan is a very large white waterbird. It has an S-shaped neck and an orange bill with a black base and a black bump. It flies with its neck outstretched, making regular, slow wingbeats. The...
Night Sky
1 photo
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Northern Gannet (Morus bassanus)
11 photos
Adult Gannets are large and bright white with black wingtips. They are distinctively shaped - with a long neck and long pointed beak, long pointed tail, and long pointed wings. At sea they flap and...
Nuthatch (Sitta europaea)
2 photos
The Nuthatch is a plump bird about the size of a Great Tit that resembles a small Woodpecker. It's blue-grey on top and whitish below, with chestnut on its sides and under its tail. It has a black...
Otters
3 photos
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Orchids
7 photos
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Osprey (Pandion haliaetus)
2 photos
When seen in flight from below, the Osprey has white or slightly mottled underparts. The wings are angled, bending at the 'wrist' (middle) which has a black patch contrasting with the white wing...
Oystercatcher (Haematopus ostralegus)
11 photos
The Oystercatcher is a large, stocky, black and white wading bird. It has an orange-red bill and reddish-pink legs. In flight it shows a wide, white wing-stripe, a black tail and a white rump that...
Peregrine Falcon
1 photo
The Peregrine is a large and powerful falcon. It has broad, pointed wings and a relatively short tail. Blue-grey on top, with a blackish top of the head, its obvious black 'moustache' contrasts with...
Pheasant (Phasianus colchicus)
7 photos
Pheasants are large, long-tailed game birds. The males have rich chestnut, golden-brown and black markings on their bodies and tails, with a dark green head and red face wattling. Females are mottled...
Pied Flycatcher (Ficedula hypoleuca)
2 photos
The Pied Flycatcher is a small, flycatching bird, slightly smaller than a House Sparrow. The male is mostly black on the upperparts and white underneath, with a bold white patch on the folded wing....
Pied Wagtail (Motacilla alba)
8 photos
The Pied Wagtail is a delightful small, long-tailed and rather sprightly black and white bird. When it's not standing and frantically wagging its tail up and down, it can be seen dashing about over...
Pintail (Anas acuta)
6 photos
Slightly bigger than a Mallard, these long-necked and small-headed ducks fly with curved back pointed wings and a tapering tail, making this the best way to distinguish them from other ducks in the...
Pochard (Aythya ferina)
3 photos
In winter and spring, male Pochards are very distinctive. They have a bright reddish-brown head, a black breast and tail and a pale grey body. Females are more easily confused with other species –...
Puffin (Fratercula arctica)
4 photos
Puffins are unmistakable birds with their black back and white underparts, distinctive black head with large pale cheeks and their tall, flattened, brightly-coloured bill. Its comical appearance is...
Purple Heron
1 photo
With its warm buff head and neck, black cap, grey back and deep chestnut shoulder patch, the adult Purple Heron is a smart bird, but one that favours the dense vegetation, such as reedbeds, of...
Raven (Corvus corax)
2 photos
The common Raven is a large all-black bird, a member of the crow family. It is massive – the biggest member of the crow family. Look for its large bill and long wings. In flight, it shows a...
Razorbill (Alca torda)
4 photos
The Razorbill is a medium-sized seabird. It's black on top and white below, with a thick black beak that's deep and blunt, unlike the thinner bill of the similar Guillemot. It breeds around the coast...
Red-breasted Merganser (Mergus serrator)
4 photos
These handsome diving ducks belong to the sawbill family, named for their serrated bills, used for catching fish. Their diet of fish like Salmon and Trout has brought them into conflict with game...
Red Fox (Vulpes vulpes)
2 photos
A born survivor with a bushy tail. Ever adaptable, the fox is equally at home in our woods or city streets. It sits top of the woodland food chain with a diet that takes in everything from birds and...
Red-legged Partridge (Alectoris rufa)
2 photos
Larger than the Grey Partridge, it has a large white chin and throat patch, bordered with black. It has a greyish body with bold black stripes on its lower sides and a chestnut-sided tail. It's an...
Red Kite (Milvus milvus)
5 photos
This magnificently graceful bird of prey is unmistakable with its reddish-brown body, angled wings and deeply forked tail. It was saved from national extinction by one of the world's longest-running...
Redpoll (Acanthis flammea)
1 photo
The Common (or Mealy) Redpoll is a small finch. It is larger and paler than the very similar Lesser Redpoll. It is streaky brown above and whitish below with black streaks, and shows two white lines...
Redshank (Tringa totanus)
7 photos
As its name suggests, Redshanks' most distinctive features are their bright orange-red legs. They have a medium-length bill and an orange base to match. Their back and wings are brown and speckled,...
Redwing (Turdus iliacus)
3 photos
The Redwing is usually a winter visitor and is the UK's smallest true thrush. Look for the creamy strip above its eye and the orange-red flank patches. They roam across the UK's countryside, feeding...
Reed Bunting (Emberiza schoeniclus)
11 photos
Reed Buntings are sparrow-sized but slim, with a deeply notched tail. The male has a black head, white collar and a drooping moustache. Females and winter males have a streaked head. In flight, the...
Reed Warbler (Acrocephalus scirpaceus)
2 photos
The Reed Warbler is a plain unstreaked warbler. It's warm brown on top and beige underneath. A summer visitor to breed in the UK, the largest concentrations are East Anglia and along the south coast....
Reptiles
3 photos
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Robin (Erithacus rubecula)
17 photos
The UK's favourite bird. Thanks to its bright red breast, it's familiar throughout the year and especially at Christmas. Males and females look identical, young birds have no red breast and are...
Robinswood Hill Country Park
60 photos
Robinswood Hill has been the head office of Gloucestershire Wildlife Trust since 1992. The site is managed by Gloucester City Council, who work closely in partnership with Gloucestershire Wildlife...
Rock Dove (Columba livia)
2 photos
The Rock Dove is the wild ancestor of domestic Pigeons the world over, which were originally domesticated to provide food. Feral Pigeons come in all shades, some bluer, others blacker – some are...
Rock Pipit (Anthus petrosus)
1 photo
Rock pipits are year-round residents at sites around much of the UKs coastline, and can be seen foraging on rocky shores for snails and crustaceans. Its mainly a ground-dwelling bird, with a...
Roe Deer (Capreolus capreolus)
13 photos
Our most common native deer here in the UK, the Roe deer tends to be solitary in summer, but forms small, loose groups in winter. The males have relatively short antlers, typically with three points....
Rook (Corvus frugilegus)
6 photos
The Rook's bare, greyish-white face, thinner beak and peaked head distinguish it from the Carrion Crow. Rooks are very sociable birds and you're not likely to see one on its own. They feed and roost...
Rough Bank
57 photos
Rough Bank is a Cotswold gem set in a secluded valley and a joy to visit throughout the year.
This flower-rich limestone grassland reserve is a wildlife haven boasting rare plants, butterflies and...
RSPB Bempton Cliffs
22 photos
Bempton Cliffs, on the spectacular Yorkshire coast, is home to one of the UK's top wildlife spectacles. Around half a million seabirds gather here between March and August to raise a family on the...
RSPB Frampton Marsh
10 photos
Blessed with a variety of freshwater habitats, Frampton Marsh provides close views of the abundant birdlife of The Wash - the biggest bay in England. Avocets, Redshanks and Skylarks can all be seen...
RSPB Ham Wall
31 photos
Ham Wall is a wetland teeming with wildlife – from rare species like Water Voles and Otters to ‘booming’ Bitterns and colourful Kingfishers. Enjoy sweeping views across the marshes to...
RSPB Nagshead
24 photos
At the heart of the Forest of Dean, this mature oak woodland throngs with birds all year round. See Pied Flycatchers and Redstarts in the spring, all three British woodpecker species in summer and...
RSPB Newport Wetlands
42 photos
Newport Wetlands is a blend of wetlands, reedbeds and estuary habitats, including the thick, squelchy mud that waders and wildfowl love to forage in.
RSPB St. Aidan's
11 photos
Just a stone's throw from the centre of Leeds, St Aidan's is a stunning place to explore. Whether you're on foot, on your bike, riding a horse or have your camera at the ready, take advantage of the...
RSPB Titchwell Marsh
7 photos
Tucked on the north coast of Norfolk, between the villages of Titchwell and Thornham, Titchwell Marsh is blessed with diverse habitats. Explore reedbeds, saltmarsh and freshwater lagoons where...
Ruff (Philomachus pugnax)
4 photos
The Ruff is a medium-sized wading bird. It has a long neck, a small head, a short, slightly droopy bill and medium-long orange or reddish legs. In flight, it shows a faint wing-stripe and oval white...
Sand Martin (Riparia riparia)
1 photo
Sand Martins are the smallest European hirundines (the collective name for martins and swallows). They have dark brown upper parts and dark under wings, contrasting with pale under parts divided by a...
Sedge Warbler (Acrocephalus schoenobaenus)
4 photos
The Sedge Warbler is a small, quite plump warbler with a striking broad creamy stripe above its eye and greyish-brown legs. It's brown on top with blackish streaks and creamy white underneath. It's a...
Shelduck (Tadorna tadorna)
7 photos
This is a big, colourful duck, bigger than a Mallard but smaller than a goose. Both males and females have a dark green head and neck, a chestnut belly stripe and a red bill.
Shoveler (Anas clypeata)
5 photos
Shovelers are surface feeding ducks with huge spatula-shaped bills. Males have dark green heads, with white breasts and chestnut flanks. Females are mottled brown. In flight, birds show patches of...
Siskin (Carduelis spinus)
4 photos
The Siskin is a small, lively finch, smaller than a Greenfinch. It has a distinctly forked tail and a narrow bill. The male has a streaky yellow-green body and a black crown and bib. There are yellow...
Skylark (Alauda arvensis)
5 photos
The Skylark is a small brown bird, larger than a sparrow but smaller than a starling. It is streaky brown with a small crest – which can be raised when the bird is excited or alarmed – and a...
Smew (Mergus albellus)
3 photos
The Smew is a compact diving duck with a delicate bill. The male is white with a black mask and a black back, the female is grey with a reddish-brown head and white cheek. In flight, it shows black...
Smooth Newt
1 photo
Both males and females are brown in colour with spotty, orange bellies. These black spots extend up the throat. During the breeding season, males have a wavy crest along their backs. Adults can reach...
Snipe (Gallinago gallinago)
4 photos
Snipe are medium sized, skulking wading birds with short legs and long, straight bills. Both sexes are mottled brown above, with paler buff stripes on the back, dark streaks on the chest and pale...
Song Thrush (Turdus philomelos)
7 photos
A familiar and popular garden songbird whose numbers have declined significantly on farmland and in towns and cities. It's smaller and browner than a Mistle Thrush with smaller spotting. Its habit of...
Sparrowhawk (Accipiter nisus)
5 photos
Sparrowhawks are small birds of prey. They're adapted for hunting birds in confined spaces like dense woodland, so gardens are ideal hunting grounds for them. Adult male Sparrowhawks have a...
Spiders and Webs
10 photos
Spoonbill (Platalea leucorodia)
3 photos
Spoonbills are tall white waterbirds with long broad black bills and black legs. They fly with necks and legs extended. In the water, they feed with elegant sideward sweeps of their bill. In the...
Spotted Flycatcher (Muscicapa striata)
2 photos
At first glance, Spotted Flycatchers might seem a little dull, with brownish-grey feathers. It's better to think of them as beautiful in an understated way. Watch them for a short period and you'll...
Spotted Redshank (Tringa erythropus)
3 photos
The Spotted Redshank is a medium sized elegant wading bird, slightly larger than a Redshank. In summer plumage, the adults are almost entirely black, save for some white spotting on the wings, a...
Starling (Sturnus vulgaris)
5 photos
Smaller than Blackbirds, Starlings have a short tail, pointed head and triangular wings. In their breeding plumage, they look black at a distance. When seen closer, they are very glossy with a sheen...
Stonechat (Saxicola rubicola)
4 photos
Stonechats are Robin-sized birds. Males have striking black heads with white around the side of their neck, orange-red breasts and a mottled brown back. Females have brown heads, brown backs and an...
Swallow (Hirundo rustica)
3 photos
Swallows are small birds with dark, glossy-blue backs, red throats, pale underparts and long tail streamers. They are extremely agile in flight and spend most of their time in the air. They are...
Teal (Anas crecca)
9 photos
Teals are small dabbling ducks. Males have chestnut coloured heads with broad green eye-patches, a spotted chest, grey lower sides and a black edged yellow tail. Females are mottled brown. Both show...
Treecreeper (Certhia familiaris)
6 photos
The Treecreeper is a small, very active bird that lives in trees. It has a long, slender, downcurved bill, which it uses to pluck insects from underneath bark. It's speckly brown above and mainly...
Tree Sparrow (Passer montanus)
1 photo
Tree Sparrows are smaller than House Sparrows, and are more active, often sticking their tails up. The Tree Sparrow has a chestnut brown head and back of the neck (rather than grey) and white cheeks...
Tufted Duck (Aythya fuligula)
11 photos
The Tufted Duck is a medium-sized diving duck, smaller than a Mallard. It's black on the head, neck, chest and back, and white on the sides. It has a small crest and a yellow eye. In flight it shows...
Wandering Wonders
33 photos
Landscapes, Odds & Ends
Water Rail (Rallus aquaticus)
3 photos
Smaller and distinctly slimmer than the Moorhen, the Water Rail is a fairly common but highly secretive inhabitant of freshwater wetland. It has chestnut-brown and black upperparts, a grey face and...
Waxwing (Bombycilla garrulus)
3 photos
The Waxwing is a plump bird, which is slightly smaller than a Starling. It has a prominent crest (head feathers that stick up). It's reddish-brown with a black throat, a small black mask around its...
Wheatear (Oenanthe oenanthe)
2 photos
The Wheatear is a small mainly ground-dwelling bird. It hops or runs on the ground. The male is blue-grey above, with black wings and white below with an orange flush to the breast. It has a black...
Whelford Pools
3 photos
Gloucestershire Wildlife Trust. Located to the west of the Cotswold Water Park between Fairford and Lechlade, this nature reserve used to be the site of two barren gravel pits, but is now a...
Wigeon (Anas penelope)
7 photos
The Wigeon is a medium-sized duck with a round head and small bill. The head and neck of the male are chestnut, with a yellow forehead, pink breast and grey body. In flight, Wigeons show white...
White-fronted Goose (Anser albifrons)
2 photos
The White-fronted Goose is a grey goose, bigger than a Mallard and smaller than a Mute Swan. Adults have a large white patch at the front of the head around the bill and bold black stripes on the...
Whitethroat (Curruca communis)
5 photos
The Whitethroat is a medium-sized warbler, about the size of a Great Tit. It has quite a long tail, which it flicks and sticks up as it darts rapidly in and out of cover. The male has a grey head, a...
Whooper Swan (Cygnus cygnus)
1 photo
The Whooper Swan is a large white swan, bigger than a Bewick's Swan. It has a long neck, which it usually holds erect, and black legs. Its black bill has a large triangular patch of yellow on it. It...
Wild Plants
75 photos
Willow Warbler (Phylloscopus trochilus)
1 photo
Willow Warblers are small birds with grey-green backs and pale under parts. They have a yellow tinged chest and throat and pale supercilium (the stripe above the eye). They are separated from the...
Wood Pigeon (Columba palumbus)
6 photos
The UK's largest and most common pigeon, the Woodpigeon is largely grey with a white neck patch and white wing patches, clearly visible in flight. Although shy in the countryside it can be tame and...
Woorgreens Nature Reserve
77 photos
Gloucestershire Wildlife Trust. Woorgreens is found in the heart of the Forest of Dean, and is home to a range of wildlife that live within its marsh, lake and heath habitats. Now considered...
Wren (Troglodytes troglodytes)
6 photos
The Wren is a tiny brown bird, although it's heavier and not as slim as the even smaller Goldcrest. It's almost round in shape with a fine bill, quite long legs and toes, very short round wings and a...
WWT Slimbridge
311 photos
The WWT reserve at Slimbridge in Gloucestershire provides shelter and food for flocks of swans, geese and ducks in the winter and is an ideal breeding ground for waders in the summer months. The...
Yellowhammer (Emberiza citrinella)
3 photos
Male Yellowhammers are unmistakeable with a bright yellow head and underparts, brown back streaked with black, and a chestnut rump. In flight, it shows white outer tail feathers. They're often seen...
Yellow Wagtail (Motacilla flava)
2 photos
The Yellow Wagtail is a small, graceful, yellow and green bird, with a medium-length tail and slender black legs. It spends much time walking or running on the ground. As its name implies, it wags...