Crested Tit

Photographed last month in Abernethy Forest, Scotland. In Scotland, the crested tit is confined to Caledonian pine forest remnants and pine plantations in Easter Ross, the Beauly catchment (which includes Glen Affric), Strathspey and the Moray Firth coast. It is missing from some of the ancient pinewood remnants, including those on Deeside and at Rannoch, but the reasons for this are not clear, as suitable habitat exists there. The poor dispersal ability of the species has been suggested as one possible reason for this - the geographical isolation of the forest fragments has resulted in large gaps of treeless ground which the birds are unable to cross in sufficient numbers.

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Mountain Hare

A Mountain Hare in partial ermine, photographed a couple of weeks ago in the Findhorn Valley, Scotland. The Mountain Hare is the only native creature to Britian in the lagomorph family, with both Rabbits and Brown Hare's having been introduced by man.

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Otter

A female Otter delivering a freshly caught Perch to her kits on the other side of the river.

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Harvest Mouse

Harvest Mouse, photographed in Cambridgeshire. It is typically found in fields of cereal crops, such as wheat and oats, in reed beds and in other tall ground vegetation, such as long grass and hedgerows. It has reddish-brown fur with white underparts and a naked, highly prehensile tail, which it uses for climbing. It is the smallest European rodent; an adult may weigh as little as 4 grams (0.14 oz).

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Lesser Horseshoe Bat

Lesser Horseshoe Bat in the Forest of Dean. The lesser horseshoe bat is one of the smallest British bat species, about plum-sized. It has a complex noseleaf which is related to its particular type of echolocation system. It eats a variety of small insects including flies (mainly midges), small moths, caddis flies, lace wings and beetles.

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Chinese Water Deer

A female Chinese Water Deer stepping out of the fenland, heading for agricultural land during the last minutes of sunlight in Cambridgeshire.

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Painted Lady

A Painted Lady from last August on Portland, Dorset, prior to migration.

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Harlequin Duck

This is the Harlequin Duck which has been on the River Don since at least early January - one of only ten British records since 1950, so it was a first for me. Another first on this Scottish trip was Eurasian Beaver. It took until nearly 11pm to spot one (in Perthshire), but lots of obstructing branches prevented me using the flash. Next time...

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Weasel

A Weasel seen hunting among the rocks of the scree slopes of the Findhorn Valley in the Cairngorms. Although I've managed crude record shots in the past, the Weasel has been a species that I've struggled with until now. Mustelids are a tricky family of species to photograph in general. Of the species that can be seen in the UK, I'd still like to improve on my Stoat photos, and I still wish for photos of Polecat and American Mink.

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Capercaillie

A male Capercaillie in the Caledonian Pine forest of the Cairngorm National Park, Scotland.

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Ptarmigan

A male Ptarmigan in the Northern Corries on Cairngorm mountain last week, mid-way between the ermine phase and summer plumage.

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Dartford Warbler

This Dartford Warbler was on Portland, very near the Bill. I've seen many Dartford Warblers in Dorset, but never quite as far south as this one. Their range is growing following a reduction in numbers to just a few pairs in the 1960's.

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Atlantic Puffin

An Atlantic Puffin making the final preparations for landing on the island of Skomer, Pembrokeshire.

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Red Fox

A Red Fox relaxing in the afternoon.

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Common Pipistrelle

A young Common Pipistrelle found roosting in a tree in the afternoon, last June.

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Wild Boar

A young Wild Boar piglet photographed last week in the Forest of Dean, Gloucestershire.

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Lesser Redpoll

A Lesser Redpoll photographed almost a year ago in the Forest of Dean. In addition to this blog, which features wildlife from all over Britain, my local Forest of Dean blog can be found at www.forestofdeanblog.com.

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Hawfinch

Hawfinch in the Forest of Dean.

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Hawfinch

A short Hawfinch clip...

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Wild Boar

A tiny Wild Boar piglet photographed in the Forest of Dean last week.

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Red Deer

A Red Deer photographed last summer in Suffolk.

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Wild Boar

A young Wild Boar, seen in the Forest of Dean yesterday.

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Otter

A pair of Otter cubs on the River Stour. I watched the mother Otter fishing for some time, eating most of what she caught, but taking the bigger catches to the cubs to feed on.

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Great Grey Shrike

Great Grey Shrike in the Forest of Dean. It won't be much longer before this bird leaves Britain for its breeding grounds, but hopefully it will be back in October.

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Hawfinch

This last week has brought excellent views of Hawfinch in various parts of the Forest of Dean. This one was seen on Tuesday, eating what I believe were stones from Yew berries that were laying on the ground beneath the trees.

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