fact file - haven blog · pdf file · 2016-10-14fun fact: woodland. small rodents,...
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Fact FileSize: 2,200kg – almost two
Mini Coopers!
Habitat:
Food:
Rarity:
Fun fact:
The deep sea and UK coast.
Teeny tiny plankton
Vulnerable species.
The world’s second largest fish!
Did you know that at least 21 species of shark swim in UK waters?
The largest is the basking shark, a rare gentle giant that feeds on plankton. Reaching up to 12m in length, they’re hard to miss, and well worth keeping an eye out for along certain coasts during spring and summer. Don’t forget to submit your sightings!
Where to see me
Devon
Cornwall When to see me
Spring Summer Autumn
Where to stayDevon Cliffs (Exmouth), Perran Sands (Perranporth) Riviere Sands (Hayle).
Basking Shark
Scottish WildcatFact File
Size: 5 – 9kg.
Habitat:
Food:
Rarity:
Fun fact:
Forests and heathland.
Rabbits are my favourite.
Rarer than Bengal tigers.
My body’s covered in more than 30,000 hairs per cm2. Toasty!
They might look cute and cuddly, but Scottish wildcats are anything but loveable!
These feisty felines are incredibly rare, with experts estimating that there could be less than 100 left in the wild. This is mainly due to losing many of the forested areas they call home, but also because they breed with wandering domestic cats. Where to see me
Highlands
Aberdeenshire
MorayWhen to see me
Spring Summer Autumn Winter
Where to staySeton Sands (East Lothian)Craig Tara (Ayr).
When to see meWhen to see me
Pine MartenFact File
Size: 1 – 2kg.
Habitat:
Food:
Rarity:
Fun fact:
Woodland.
Small rodents, birds, berries and eggs.
Vulnerable species.
I sometimes eat grey squirrels, which helps reds to thrive.
With its blonde bib, fluffy tail and cheeky face, the pine marten is irresistible!
Thankfully, after centuries of persecution, these Scottish icons are on the up, with elusive populations living across the Highlands. If you’re keen to see one for yourself, however, it’s worth remembering that pine martens are mostly nocturnal. It might be worth enlisting the help of a guide.
When to see me
Spring Summer Autumn Winter
Where to see me
Where to staySeton Sands (East Lothian)Craig Tara (Ayr).
Highlands
BitternFact File
Size: Around 1kg.
Habitat:
Food:
Rarity:
Fun fact:
Wetlands and reedbeds.
Fish and amphibians.
Just 80 breeding males left in Britain.
‘Booms’ can be heard more than a mile away!
When it’s stalking through the reed beds, you’d be forgiven for thinking the bittern was of the pre-historic variety.
These primitive-looking birds are very secretive, hunting for fish on the edge of the water and ‘booming’ during the springtime. You’ll know if you hear one: this iconic call sounds like a giant blowing across the neck of a glass bottle!
Where to see me
When to see me
Spring Summer Autumn Winter
RSPB Leighton Moss
RSPB Minsmere
Norfolk Broads
Where to stayLakeland (Cumbria)Seashore (Great Yarmouth)Hopton (Great Yarmouth).
Swallowtail ButterflyFact File
Size: 9cm wingspan.
Habitat:
Food:
Rarity:
Fun fact:
Wetlands.
Milk parsley.
Very rare – seen only on the Norfolk Broads.
I’m Britain’s largest butterfly.
With a 9cm wingspan and vivid colours, these beautiful butterflies can’t be missed. Well, unless you happen to be in Norfolk.
After losing most of their habitat during WWII, swallowtail butterflies can now only be found fluttering around the Norfolk Broads. What better excuse to visit this national beauty spot?
When to see me
Spring Summer
Where to see me
Where to staySeashore (Great Yarmouth)
Norfolk Broads
CuckooFact File
Size: 58cm wingspan.
Habitat:
Food:
Rarity:
Fun fact:
A mix of coastal, farmland, heathland and woodland habitats.
Hairy caterpillars and other insects.
Populations have dropped by more than 50 per cent in the last 25 years.
I’m a cheeky bird, laying my eggs in the nests of others!
Does the only cuckoo you’ve ever heard live in a clock?
Don’t be surprised, as these sneaky birds are getting rarer and rarer in the UK. Known for laying their eggs in the nests of other birds and, of course, that iconic call, a cuckoo sighting is definitely one for the bucket list. You can’t miss that beautifully barred chest!
When to see me
Spring Summer
Where to see me
Wildlife Trust Clouts Wood
Wildlife Trust Bough Beech Where to stay
Burnham-on-Sea (Somerset)Allhallows (Kent)Seashore (Great Yarmouth).
Norfolk Broads
Fact FileSize: A tiny 4 – 19g.
Habitat:
Food:
Rarity:
Fun fact:
Coastal sand dunes and sandy heaths.
Beetles, worms and other invertebrates.
Found in just a handful of sites.
I leak an irritating substance from my skin to see off predators!
You won’t find one of these little guys croaking away in your garden.
You may very well hear them calling in a coastal dune landscape, however, especially since the natterjack’s call can travel several kilometres! They can mostly be spotted during springtime, at night, when they enter warm shallow pools to mate. Crowds of males singing together is an unmissable experience!
Where to see me
When to see me
Spring Summer
Natterjack Toad
Sefton Coast
Where to stayMarton Mere (Blackpool)Seashore (Great Yarmouth).
Norfolk Broads
CapercaillieFact File
Size: Up to 4kg.
Habitat:
Food:
Rarity:
Fun fact:
Pinewoods.
Buds, shoots, seeds and berries.
Only around 1,000 birds left in Scotland.
I might be big, but I can still perch on tree branches to feed!
You can’t miss this super-sized game bird. Its gorgeous black feathers, petrol blue bib and bright red eyebrows make it one of Scotland’s most iconic animals.
Sadly, it’s losing much of its forest habitat, so is a rarity even here. If you’d like to track some down, the best time to see them is during winter, when they come out of hiding to tuck into pine needles.
When to see me
Spring Summer Autumn Winter
Where to see meGlenmore
Mar Lodge
Where to staySeton Sands (East Lothian).
When to see meWhen to see me
Red SquirrelRed SquirrelFact File
Size: A pint-sized 280 – 350g.
Habitat:
Food:
Rarity:
Fun fact:
Woodland.
Seeds, fruits and pinecones. I may even eat bird eggs!
Threatened. More than 75 per cent of us are now confined to Scotland.
I can run down trees headfirst thanks to double-jointed ankles.
Red squirrels are perhaps the first animal to come to mind when we think of rare UK wildlife.
Overrun by the bigger grey squirrels, our native reds now live in just a few pockets of the country. The good news is that greys are practically absent in Scotland, and there are protected reserves across the rest of the UK where sightings are fairly guaranteed. Sit yourself down near a feeding station and be very quiet!
When to see me
Spring Summer Autumn Winter
Where to see me
Formby
WhinlatterForest
KeilderForest
Loch ArdForest
Where to staySeton Sands (East Lothian)Marton Mere (Blackpool)Lakeland (Cumbria)Berwick (Berwick-upon-Tweed).
BeaverFact File
Size: 16 – 30kg.
Habitat:
Food:
Rarity:
Fun fact:
Open woodlands by water.
Aquatic plants, grasses and shrubs.
There could be as few as 100 individuals.
I can stay underwater for 15 minutes!
It wasn’t long ago that beavers were hunted to extinction, but now, healthy populations are thriving in Scotland and Devon.
Beavers are highly specialised creatures, with huge front teeth made for felling trees and powerful tails used to steer and propel themselves through water. Keep your eyes peeled if you find yourself in Knapdale Forest or strolling alongside the River Otter.
Where to see me
When to see me
Spring Summer Autumn Winter
Devon
Argyll
Where to stayCraig Tara (Ayr)Devon Cliffs (Exmouth).
Sand lizardFact File
Size: 20cm long.
Habitat:
Food:
Rarity:
Fun fact:
Coastal sand dunes and sandy heaths.
Fruits, flower heads and insects.
One of the UK’s rarest reptiles.
I hibernate during the wintertime!
These bright green lizards look like they should be scaling trees in an exotic country – we couldn’t be happier that they call the UK home.
Sand lizards are one of our rarest reptiles, but can be found by lucky visitors to sandy heathland habitats and sand dunes. Make sure you don’t miss the females! Their brown scales help them blend perfectly into their surroundings.surroundings.
When to see me
Spring Summer Autumn
Where to see me
Sefton Coast
StudlandNew Forest National Park
RSPB Farnham Heath
Where to stayMarton Mere (Blackpool)Rockley Park (Poole)Church Farm (Chichester).