My laboratory
Nora’s study of bird behaviour explores how small bird communities flock together to ward off larger predators. Nature has many things to teach us and is now widely acknowledged as a key…
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Water vole by Terry Whittaker/2020VISION
Chwilio
Wild Wanderings
Wildlife Watcher Chloe lives by the coast in Wales and shares her favourite finds.
Weird wildlife
Nature can be fantastic, intriguing, and sometimes downright weird! From beetles that hitch rides on bees to fungi that grows in the shape of ears, we've got plenty of things for you to keep an eye out for!
Facts and stories
Learn amazing wildlife facts, read nature stories and hear from like-minded people. Take a look at our blogs and find out about some really weird wildlife near you...
Creeping thistle
Despite being considered a 'weed' of cultivated ground, the seeds of the Creeping thistle provide an important food source for farmland birds, many of which are declining rapidly.
Merlin
Our most diminutive falcon, the merlin is a pretty bird of prey. It chases small birds, flying low to the ground or hovering in the breeze because of its small size. Resident merlins are joined in…
Linnet
The linnet can be seen on farmland and heathland across the UK. But, like so many other farmland birds, linnets are declining rapidly, mainly due to agricultural intensification.
Cosy Nests
We know that many animals make nests, not just birds.
Bottlenose dolphin
The bottlenose dolphins in our waters are the biggest of their kind – they need to be able to cope with our chilly waters!
Hobby
Look out for the swift-like shape of the hobby as it darts over heathlands and wetlands in summer. They are keen hunters, chasing and catching fast-flying dragonflies and small birds on the wing…
My reward
Carole has been volunteering at Idle Valley for seven years now; whilst she used to get involved with the heavy work out on the reserve, the garden is now her domain, working with the Recovery…
Corn bunting
Like many of our farmland birds, the corn bunting has declined in number in recent years. Spot this streaky brown, thick-billed bird singing from a wire or post - it sounds just like a set of…