Innholdsfortegnelse for Spring 2019 i BBC Wildlife Magazine

One magic moment in my birdwatching career happened at RSPB Minsmere a couple of years ago where, in the appropriately named Bittern Hide, we watched one of those fabulous birds going through an entire routine of what bitterns do, over the course of about 20 minutes. It stalked, swam, caught a fish and finally inflated its throat and boomed – all right in front of us! Even the warden working in the hide was amazed. “I’ve not had such good views in the two years I’ve been at Minsmere,” he said. More people have the chance to see bitterns these days, because they are doing so well in the UK, thanks to dedicated conservationists finding out just what conditions suit the birds. Conservationists on the other side of the world…

In his series of great places to watch wildlife in the UK, the star of BBC One’s The One Show this month reveals why overlooked roadside verges are a vital habitat for flora and fauna. While Britain’s land may still be considered as green and pleasant, it is also bisected and crisscrossed by an awful lot of roads. According to the most recent census by the Department for Transport in 2017, the total public road length in England, Scotland and Wales was close to 400,000km. And while road verge area is somewhat more difficult to estimate, it’s believed to cover about 212,000ha, equivalent in size to the county of Nottinghamshire. So, you could say that road verges are the ‘lost country’ of Britain, hidden in plain sight and yet a…

There are many large black beetles on the move in spring. But one of the rarest is the oil beetle. In fact, their life-cycle is so weird and chancy, that just the mere existence of an adult is something of a miracle. There are four species in the UK and several are very rare indeed. However, the most widespread are the violet oil beetle, Meloe violaceus, and the very similar black oil beetle, Meloe proscarabaeus. Both are worth looking out for – for their glorious, glistening oleaginous beauty, if nothing else. They are both big (females can be about 3cm long) and bold. The bumbling confidence to stride about in full sight of insect-loving birds is down to the noxious compound ‘cantharidin’ contained in their blood. Handle one roughly and…

In winter, some stoats undergo a dramatic moult during which their chestnut coat is slowly replaced with white fur, known as ermine. The transformation can take as long as three weeks and requires a genetic predisposition. It is triggered by a ‘switch’ in the stoat’s brain that reacts to cold temperatures and reduced daylight. Yet Bandita is the sole family member to change hue completely. She has done so for two consecutive winters, yet studies of captive stoats suggest it might not happen every year. It’s not known how warmer winters may affect a stoat’s ability to turn ermine in future.…

Bat Conservation Trust The Trust’s National Bat Monitoring Programme has a range of surveys in which you can take part. bats.org.uk Bees, Wasps & Ants Recording Society This society exists to record and study data from volunteers. bwars.com National Amphibian and Reptile Recording Scheme You can help monitor the status of amphibian and reptile species through volunteer-based surveys. narrs.org.uk Botanical Society of Britain & Ireland The place to go for support if you’d like to identify, record and map what grows where. bsbi.org Mammal Society Have you spotted an animal while on a walk or bike ride? Record it on the Mammal Mapper app. mammal.org.uk Seasearch A seabed recording project for volunteer scuba divers. seasearch.org.uk…

JANUARY – APRIL MOULTING  Where St Kilda What Old feathers fall out and new ones grow in their place. Numbers Medium MAY – JULY FEEDING UP Where At sea What Most penguins are at sea feeding up for weeks before they start breeding. They can have short naps while in the water. Numbers Low JUNE – DECEMBER EGG LAYING  Where St Kilda What A few penguins start building their nests in the rocks of St Kilda from June onwards, laying eggs in July, but most do so from August to November. Numbers High AUGUST – MARCH CHICK RAISING  Where St Kilda What Penguins incubate their eggs for 33–37 days. After daily feeding from their parents, the chicks are ready to fledge at 7–11 weeks. Numbers High…

Natural England and other government agencies should expect to find themselves the targets of Wild Justice, according to one of its founders, campaigner and writer Mark Avery. With natural history presenter Chris Packham and anti-raptor-persecution campaigner Ruth Tingay, Avery has set up Wild Justice to take legal cases against public bodies that they believe are failing to protect wildlife. “It’s possible that Natural England might find itself more often in the firing line, but we aren’t picking on them,” Avery says. “If we lose every case, then we will be demonstrating what a great job they are doing.” In the past year, Natural England has regularly found its decisions challenged in the courts. Avery took out a Judicial Review over brood management of hen harriers, while ecologist Tom Langton fought…

The work of Andrew Griffiths and research student Cathy Hobbs hit the headlines in late January 2019 when they revealed that meat from endangered sharks was on British menus. “People don’t appreciate that we have over 20 shark species in UK waters,” says Griffiths. “It’s why I wanted to focus my research on sharks being traded in England.” He and his colleagues identified 117 shark meat products and 33 shark fins from wholesalers, fishmongers and fish and chip shops from February 2016 to November 2017 using DNA bar-coding. A molecular approach is required when studying animals processed for human consumption because they lose their diagnostic features. “It works in a similar way to using barcodes in supermarkets to identify products,” he says. “A database called the Barcode of Life enabled…

Monitoring bitterns is tricky. Not only are they elusive, but their inaccessible habitat makes ringing or tagging impractical. The tried and tested method is to record the males’ booming calls, but this just gives the number of territorial males. Bitterns are polygynous and attempt to mate with more than one female (there is no pair bond). To get an idea of the number of nesting attempts each year, long watches are conducted to monitor female feeding flights, as a female will typically fly away from her nest to forage. Using drones over reedbeds has worked well for some other species, such as great white egrets, whose snow-white plumage stands out brightly, and marsh harriers, whose nests are relatively conspicuous from the air. But bittern nests are tucked in under the…

Hans Kruuk has led a life of adventure. He’s tracked hyenas in the Serengeti, badgers in Oxfordshire, wild dogs in the Galápagos, otters on several continents, and more. Despite his professional friendship with Nobel Prize winner Niko Tinbergen, Kruuk is refreshingly happy to share even his more embarrassing stories, including the ones about the unexpected cobra and the mistimed sneeze. He’s clearly an animal lover and deeply concerned about ethics; his enthusiasm for animal behaviour shines from the page, alongside many photographs from his travels and on-the-spot illustrations by Ineke Kruuk and Diana Brown. The result is like a series of postcards from a friend who just happens to be an expert.…

Why are we fascinated by octopuses? Octopuses are instantly captivating, I think, because they look and behave so differently from any other animals. All those arms and suckers that twist and hold onto things, their ability to change shape and colour, the way they can squeeze into tiny spaces then peep out with those big eyes. Everything about them is strange and enchanting. How intelligent are they compared to other species? Octopuses are highly intelligent, especially compared to all the other animals without backbones. They have complex nervous systems with about 500 million nerves, half of them clustered in their heads and the rest in their arms, controlling their agile limbs and super-sensitive suckers. How are their three hearts used? One heart pumps blood around the body and the other…

More amazing facts at discoverwildlife.com This month’s panel ANATOMY Why do moose have such long noses? A Scientists have spent years pondering the length of the moose’s nose, compared to the far shorter versions seen in other members of the deer family. In terms of smell, this oversized sense organ could be extra-useful for sniffing out mates or predators. Moose nostrils are spaced widely apart, like human ears, which may allow the animal to ‘triangulate’ scents and better pinpoint the distance and direction of their source. It was previously thought that a long nose could also help an individual to shed excess heat when running long-distances to escape wolves. However, recent dissection research found few blood vessels permeating the nose area, disproving this theory. Nevertheless, the dissection did reveal a…

This fly may look as if it’s dressed for a space walk, but that shimmering survival suit is designed for another, very different extreme environment. The alkali fly is one of only a handful of life forms that can survive the toxic waters of California’s Mono Lake, which is saltier and more caustic than any ocean. The key to its success is an ability to dive almost entirely enclosed within a bubble of air, thanks to a hirsute, waxy, water-repellent cuticle. Only its eyes contact the pungent liquid, so as not to impair underwater vision. Grappling-hook claws ensure that the fly can graze on an abundance of algae in the absence of predators, without bobbing straight back up to the surface.…

Wild GCSEs I read Mary Colwell’s article on introducing a natural history GCSE (Life lessons, March 2019) and I looked fondly at the illustration by Harry Tennant that segues from children in the classroom to children exploring nature. And I wondered, where does this place exist? The reality is that people in this country have no interest in nature, or have an interest but feel distant from it, because we don’t have any access to nature. This distancing from the countryside is a substantial part of the reason why people have not stood up in arms and complained about the destruction of wildlife habitats in this country. David Bennett, Cambridge Natural history could certainly be introduced into the curriculum from primary school up to GCSE, with an option at A…

1 Time it right Every species has its own routine. Early morning and late afternoon are the best for spotting mammals and birds, whereas reptiles and insects are most active in the middle of the day. 2 Join in Become a member of a local, national or even international wildlife charity or society. By taking part in organised events or wildlife surveys you can give something back to nature while improving your own knowledge. 3 Meet new people Wildlife watching is a great way to meet like-minded people. Share sightings, attend events together and find out more about the habitats and nature in your local area. 4 Keep records Take a pocket-sized notebook with you to record or sketch what you see. This diary of wildlife encounters will help you…

Holnicote Estate, Exmoor In September last year, 150 water voles were reintroduced at six locations along the Aller River, which runs through this vast National Trust estate. It’s hoped that these endearing creatures will become a regular sight. nationaltrust.org.uk/ holnicote-estate Ribble River Take the 177km Ribble Way footpath and follow this fertile river from its source in the Yorkshire Dales down to the Lancashire coast. Famed for its leaping salmon in autumn, it is also home to brown trout. ribbletrust.org.uk RSPB Rockland Marshes, Norwich Tuck yourself away in the hide and look across the reedbeds and open grazing marshes of the Rockland Broad with the River Yare snaking through. You may be treated to sightings of kingfishers, great crested grebes ( below ), mute swans and even a barn owl.…

RSPB Dove Stone, Peak District Within the Derbyshire Peak District, the hills around Dove Stone and Chew Reservoirs are some of the few places in England to see mountain hares. Golden plovers fly, along with ravens ( below ) and curlews. bit.ly/2E3gtP3 Marsden Moor, North Yorkshire This 5,500-acre reserve is maintained by the National Trust. Aside from heather moorland to search for mountain hares, there are also areas of blanket bog – good for displays of cotton grass and golden plover. bit.ly/2WUdZds Cairngorms National Park, Highlands Cairngorm Mountain is a busy ski resort in winter, but there is still great wildlife to watch by the visitor centre in summer. If you fancy a hike away from crowds, mountain hares also live on Carn Daimh, the Ladder and Cromdale Hills. cairngorms.co.uk…

Skomer Island, Pembrokeshire Located a mile off the Pembrokeshire coast, this small island is alive with puffins in spring (a 2016 census indicated there were over 22,000 individuals). Carpets of bluebells and sea campion add to the spectacle, while the waters surrounding the island are visited by dolphins. welshwildlife.org/ skomerskokholm/skomer Blakeney Point, Norfolk This National Nature Reserve is home to the largest grey seal colony in England, offering views of common and grey seals on a long shingle spit. nationaltrust.org.uk/blakeney-national-naturereserve St Kilda, Outer Hebrides It may be one of the most remote parts of the British Isles, but this isolated, windswept archipelago is the absolute Scottish mecca for puffins and an important breeding station for other seabirds, too. kilda.org.uk Farne Islands, Northumberland A seabird hotspot in spring, offering encounters with…

ROBERT FULLER Wildlife artist and photographer Robert is fascinated by the dramatic lives of his local stoats. “I watched in horror as two kits locked together in combat and tumbled into the pond as a writhing ball,” he says. See p16. KATE RISELY Kate’s method of saving the world is collecting data on wildlife. “We all think about the impact of our work, so it’s important to me to consider whether monitoring actually helps to save wildlife,” she says. See p26. LINDA VERGNANI Journalist Linda is fascinated by the feistiness of little penguins. “They are no taller than wine bottles,” she says. “But after dark they trumpet out their songs so loudly, it sounds as if they are using megaphones.” See p30. MIKE UNWIN Nature writer Mike was exhausted by…

Phoresy is a behaviour used by a surprising number of wingless animals that simply borrow the wings of others to disperse. Various mites, pseudoscorpions and lice are well-known hitchhikers. One of the more bizarre, though, is a specialist fly found only on some isolated Scottish islands: the ‘bee rider’, Braula coeca . It looks more like a mite, with no wings and grippy feet. As its common name suggests, it hangs onto the fuzzy bodies of honeybees in order to get from hive to hive, where it lives inside the bees’ cells as a brood parasite.…

HABITAT CREATION I made several distinct habitats to form a ‘stoat city’ that ranges across my garden and down a valley of rough pasture. Each ‘suburb’ sports a nesting chamber, feeding boxes, where I place bait to encourage the stoats to stay, and some have ponds. Tunnels made from plastic and terracotta drainage pipes connect the different suburbs and features. WITHIN THE WALLS There is also a 16m-long dry-stone wall, which the stoats enjoy hiding in. At its centre is an industrial-sized wheelie bin housing a stoat nest. This deluxe apartment comes complete with underfloor heating, white and infrared lighting, three cameras and a microphone. CAMERAS GALORE Overlooking each habitat are more cameras: underground in the meadow, high up on branches, outside entrance holes or concealed in hollow logs. In…

• LITTLE PENGUINS are present at the St Kilda colony all year, coming ashore after sunset and leaving again just before dawn. There are, however, fewer penguins late in the southern spring and during the winter months. • THE BEST TIME for viewing starts from approximately 30 minutes after sunset. Volunteer guides are on duty every night to help. • PLEASE REMEMBER that this is a wild colony, so stay on the marked areas and boardwalk, do not use flash photography, keep your distance and follow the guides’ instructions. Find more advice at St Kilda Earthcare: stkildapenguins.com.au…

Sifakas have limbs uniquely adapted to getting around their arboreal home. Their hind legs are some 35 per cent longer than their forelegs, and propel them in upright leaps of up to 10m from one tree trunk to the next. At high speed, this technique is known as ‘ricochetal locomotion’, the sifakas moving so fast they appear simply to ricochet from tree to tree. Each leap is secured, however briefly, by means of a strong grip. Like all lemurs, sifakas have divergent digits on their narrow, elongated hands and feet that help grasp vegetation, and soft pads that both cushion their landing and provide some adhesion. The enlarged big toe (hallux) on the hindfoot functions as a semi-opposable thumb, allowing a tong-like grip of tree limbs. Like other primates, sifakas’…

THE EXTRAORDINARY PHENOMENON of an impending insect armageddon was first raised by scientists in a 2017 paper highlighting declines of flying insects in German nature reserves of 75 per cent over a 25-year period (Meet the Scientist, September 2018). Then research published in early 2019 really set alarm bells clanging: “The conclusion is clear,” reported a study in Biological Conservation. “Unless we change our ways of producing food, insects as a whole will go down the path of extinction in a few decades.” “There is no way every insect species is going extinct, unless we fry the planet in a nuclear war.” But Dave Goulson, one of the UK’s leading insect experts and a vocal campaigner on the impact of agricultural pesticides on invertebrates, says this claim is over the…

A study published in The Auk, in 2010, argued that increasing numbers of, and predation by, sparrowhawks since the 1970s “may be sufficient explanation for” the decline of house sparrows. Researchers from the BTO carried out a more extensive study into the impact of a suite of predators on 29 species, mainly songbirds. They found no effect on 22 species, with the possible impact of sparrowhawks on bullfinches, reed buntings and tree sparrows “most worthy of further investigation”. Kestrels and grey squirrels were also found to have a negative effect on nuthatches and tree sparrows, and wrens and blackbirds (above), respectively. Research published in the Journal of Applied Ecology in 2013 found the presence of domestic cats and grey squirrels caused blackbirds to reduce provisioning of their chicks by up…

For such familiar creatures, there is so much still to be discovered about dragonflies and damsels: migration over thousands of kilometres of open ocean, the intricacies of sperm competition, and the evolution of the bizarre ‘mating wheel’ formation – all long-term research topics to keep us busy for years. Combine these insights with a representation of species from around the world in the identification guide, and you have a thoroughly entertaining and informative read. I’m now tempted to head to Hainan to see the phoenix, Pseudolestes mirabilis, which almost uniquely holds its brightly coloured hindwings stationary while using only its front wings to fly. Or maybe it should be Central America to see the blue-winged helicopter, Megaloprepus caerulatus, which has the largest wingspan of any extant species and plucks spiders…

Heart-stopping moments are captured at high altitude in the first episode of this new series, which explores how different species adapt to their punishing habitats. Hosted and narrated by Bear Grylls, the programme premieres with a look at mountain ranges across the globe. Also visiting deserts, oceans, jungles, polar landscapes and grasslands throughout the series, we discover the difficulties posed by these environments and how climate change and ever-fluctuating temperatures are only adding to the mounting challenges.…

A box full of 25 delicately detailed butterflies awaits players of this game. The challenge? Each species is featured twice, once with wings open, and once closed – all you need to do is pair them up. Though crimson rose and zebra longwing make life easy, those such as blue morpho and gold-banded forester may prove a little trickier. While Christine Berrie supplies the wonderful illustrations, Mike Unwin provides information on each species in the accompanying ‘key to the butterflies’, which reveals the correct pairings. You’ll soon be able to tell your dead leaf from your sunset daggerwing.…

This new guide has everything you need to become proficient at identifying bird sounds – not just songs but also a range of calls. An in-depth section covers 65 species found in gardens, woods and farmland, combining detailed text with CD recordings that incorporate valuable explanations and can be downloaded onto your phone. The sounds of over 250 species are described in detail in the second section. So, learn from this superb book, get outdoors and rejoice in identifying the amazingly varied sounds of the most vocal of all vertebrates.…

1 WHY DO BEAVERS BUILD DAMS? Beavers are semi-aquatic animals and feel safest in deep water, which allows them to move freely through their territory and escape predators. Beavers also like the entrance to their lodge or burrow to be submerged, so if they live in an area with fluctuating water levels, they’ll build a dam to create a deep pond. Dams are not usually found in large rivers and streams, as the water depth is sufficient. 2 HOW ARE WATER LEVELS MAINTAINED? The depth of the pond is determined by the height of the dam, known as the ‘crest level’. The sound of water trickling over the lowest point of the crest level alerts the beavers to where the barrier needs to be patched and raised. Patching raises the…

Britain has orcas too, but the future looks bleak for the West Coast Community, one of our few orca pods resident year-round. No calves have been spotted in this group of four males and four females in more than 20 years. Researchers believe the females are sterile as a result of exposure to extreme levels of chemical pollutants affecting hormone levels and their ability to reproduce. This pod is likely to become extinct. Rob Lott, Policy Manager, WDC…

RSPB Winterbourne Downs, Salisbury In the heart of Wiltshire’s rolling chalk country lies this working farm, where former arable fields are being transformed into flower-rich grasslands. On a spring walk here, you may see skylarks, yellowhammers, lapwings, linnets and grey partridges. bit.ly/2UOpiSJ Thurrock Thameside Nature Park, Essex Thanks to an Essex Wildlife Trust restoration project, a closed landfill site has become a rich natural haven. Rare wildflowers flourish on top of decades of household waste, and many vulnerable birds now reside here, including skylarks and barn owls. bit.ly/2UPFR0z Holkham NNR, Norfolk In the 1980s, this area was re-wetted and became valuable for breeding waders and overwintering wildfowl, such as pink-footed geese and redshank. Look out for marsh harriers ( above ) and barn owls at dawn. bit.ly/2SilJaw Vine House Farm,…

Royal Parks, London The eight Royal Parks in London support a wide variety of wildlife, including red deer in Bushy and Richmond Parks. Tawny owls are now breeding again in St James’s Park, while Regent’s Park ( above ) is home to a breeding population of hedgehogs. royalparks.org.uk Derby Cathedral Volunteers from the Derby Cathedral Peregrine Project run a free, public watchpoint on the Cathedral Green every Wednesday and Saturday morning between late May and early July. derbyperegrines. blogspot.com Lincoln Cathedral The Lincoln RSPB Local Group is hosting its 13th annual peregrine watchpoint this summer. Taking place every weekend in June and July from 11.30am to 4.30pm, it is run by volunteers and free of charge. lincolncathedral.com/ peregrines Arnos Vale Cemetery This famous gothic cemetery is also home to a…

1 Between Llanddona and Red Wharf Bay on Anglesey, roadside verges are managed with the help of the North Wales Wildlife Trust and contain a fascinating array of plants through the spring and summer months. 2 Wood Lane, near Long Stratton, Norfolk, has a verge consisting of a wonderfully wildflower-rich fragment that is managed sympathetically as a designated Roadside Nature Reserve. 3 Blue Bell Hill is a Roadside Nature Reserve located next to the A229, near Maidstone, and is managed by Kent Wildlife Trust volunteers. It supports at least seven species of orchid and a range of spring butterflies, reptiles and voles. 4 Chris’ Caf e on the A40 High Wycombe road, near M40 J5, Buckinghamshire, has to be the best place to see red kites in England – the…

Little penguins are “socially monogamous but sexually promiscuous”, according to marine biologist Andre Chiarada. Most stick with the same permanent partner from one breeding season to the next. But when their mates are away at sea, both sexes seek “extra-pair copulation”. During the courtship season, Andre found 75 per cent of microchipped birds at Phillip Island were having ‘affairs’ with strangers – an insurance policy in case their mate dies or leaves. Cheating on mates also ensures genetic diversity.…

As a visitor, the only realistic way to see silky sifakas is to visit one of the habituated troops at Marojejy National Park. The best time of year is during the Malagasy spring and summer, from the very end of August to late December, when the weather is most conducive to wildlife-watching. There’s another short window of opportunity in April to May. At other times, rain can be heavy and the going very tough. TOUR OPERATORS Rainbow Tours 0207 666 1250 , rainbowtours.co.uk offers tailor-made trips that combine three nights at Marojejy with three nights at Andasibe-Mantadia National Park, where you can go in search of indris and other lemurs. Other tour companies offering guided trips to Marojejy include Naturetrek 01962 733051 , naturetrek. co.uk ; Wildlife Worldwide 01962 302086…

Cold water balloon Like their terrestrial namesakes, sea cucumbers aren’t known for their athleticism. But Journal of Animal Ecology reports that they are able to travel for miles on ocean currents by inflating themselves with water to achieve neutral buoyancy. Primates under threat A new titi discovered in Mato Grosso, Brazil, has been named Plecturocebus grovesi to honour primatologist Colin Groves. However, it is predicted that 86 per cent of its 10,000ha forest habitat will disappear by 2040. Fishers return In January, six fishers (relatives of martens) were released in the Northern Cascades forests in the Pacific Northwest. This begins a multi-year programme to restore fishers (wiped out by past trapping) to a prime wilderness of North America. Lions predate fur seals Namibia’s Skeleton Coast lions have been hunting marine…

There’s no denying it – human-induced climate change is an existential threat to all life on Earth. A recent landmark report by the UN Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change tells us that we have until about 2030 to get our act together, if there is to be any hope of keeping it to manageable proportions. If we don’t, we’ll pass a tipping point and the consequences will be nothing less than catastrophic. The evidence is all around us – shrinking glaciers, disappearing sea-ice, worsening floods, more and more hurricanes with escalating power, and longer and more intense heat waves and droughts. For wildlife, global warming is placing additional pressures on ecosystems that are already stressed by many other human-induced threats. At worst, warming temperatures will lead to population or species…

Rocky Shores is number seven in Bloomsbury’s British Wildlife Collection and heavy with verdant colour that positively celebrates the seashore. It is as packed with knowledge and enthusiasm as a rock pool is filled with strange and beautiful species – the details of which Archer-Thomson and Cremona describe so well. This to me will certainly make you want to dust off your wellies and head to the rocky shore, driven by new knowledge. But equally, even just sitting back and reading about the creatures in such glorious detail, you will find yourself temporarily transported to a vibrant pool surrounded by seaweed fronds and anemone tentacles.…

Join explorer and adventurer Paul Rose on a romp through the Yorkshire Dales, taking viewers from celebrated beauty spots to hidden gems. Starting in Wharfdale and ending in Richmond, we are led north through ‘God’s own country’, with Paul as our amicable guide. The sweeping valleys of the Dales unfold before us, as we encounter the farmers helping to look after rare wildflowers in Swaledale, and the national park staff recording dormice near the dramatic Aysgarth Falls. If nothing else, it will inspire you to dig out your walking boots and take to the hills this spring.…

COMPOST CRITTERS Any hibernating frogs, toads or hedgehogs should be awake by now, so feel free to fork-over your compost. But watch out for late risers! For composting tips, see bit.ly/wildcompost BABY FOOD Chicks can choke on peanuts, chunks of bread or pieces of fat ball, so avoid providing these during the breeding season. Find RSPB advice at bit.ly/whentofeed BUTTERFLY BONANZA Get planting to create a summer oasis for our fluttering friends. Hebe, Buddleja, Sedum and Verbena should all be high on your shopping list.…

The greening of our planet’s barren land surface by plants was perhaps the most momentous evolutionary transformation in its history. In this scholarly, highly readable and passionate account, the author tells the story of how terrestrial vegetation evolved, from lowly algal ancestors to the loftiest trees, drawing on the latest evidence from molecular genetics to fill in gaps in the fragmentary fossil record. Plants and fungi created the conditions to sustain human life, which is now threatened by climate change and the destruction of our plant-based ecosytem. This book is a call-to-arms: cutting-edge plant science in an environmental context.…

Members of the same species usually look fairly similar, but not always. A single species can contain individuals of different types, known as morphs. Peppered moths come in light and dark forms according to the backgrounds on which they rest, while two-spot ladybirds present a startling variety of warning patterns. Polymorphs often have a genetic basis, but in the case of ants, the workers, soldiers and queens are the result of different feeding regimes during development. Stuart Blackman…

While watching puffins waddling into their burrows with beaks full of sand eels for the first time on a visit to the Farne Islands, Northumberland, I remember feeling surprised by how small they were. Up until that point, I had read about their breeding behaviour, seen countless images of them in books and magazines and watched them on television but none compared to actually being there. Spending hours observing one of the UK’s most charismatic species was without a doubt, the highlight of my trip to the coast that summer. Beautiful Wild Britain is a special guide to the diverse range of habitats found in the British Isles and some of the wildlife stars that inhabit them, including kingfisher (p4), mountain hare (p7), barn owl (p10) and red squirrel (p18).…

RSPB Loch Garten, Abernethy Forest Listen to the soft trilling of crested tits as you walk the trails of this reserve, which is world-famous for its Osprey Centre. Situated in the Cairngorms National Park, it’s also a great place to visit for red squirrels and Caledonian forest fungi. bit.ly/2LA4wFn Brownsea Island, Dorset Cut off from the mainland, this island in Poole Harbour offers a grey-free oasis for red squirrels. A mix of woodland, heathland and a lagoon means Brownsea is popular with spotted woodpeckers, tawny owls, kingfishers and more. nationaltrust.org.uk/ brownsea-island Formby, Merseyside Follow an easy one-hour trail through coastal woodland or call in at special feeding stations for your best chance of seeing red squirrels here. nationaltrust.org.uk/formby Snaizeholme Red Squirrel Trail, Yorkshire A viewing area at Widdale Red Squirrel…