Essex skipper
This small orange-brown butterfly can be tricky to tell apart from the similar small skipper.
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Chwilio
Sooty shearwater
These globe-spanning seabirds can often be seen offshore in autumn, shearing low over the waves.
My family
Rutland Water has been a part of Becky's life since she was 16. She has grown up with the staff and volunteers as her extended family and closest friends. At the age of 16, she met her…
My social network
Jen doesn't need her phone to get connected - she can hear the tweeting of birds, see the flicker of sunlight in the reeds and share her interest in wildlife with like-minded people. All…
Red-breasted merganser
The streamlined red-breasted merganser is a handsome bird and a great fisher - its long, serrated bill helps it to catch and hold its slippery fish prey. It is most commonly spotted around the…
Brown-tail
The caterpillars of this fluffy white moth are best admired from a distance, as their hairs can irritate the skin.
Ring ouzel
The blackbird of the mountains, ring ouzels can be found breeding on upland moors and rocky crags in summer.
Lobster
A well known inhabitant of UK seas, common lobsters can reach up to 60cm in length.
Oyster mushroom
Oyster mushrooms are shell shaped fungi that grow in tiers or fabulous clusters on dead trees or stumps. Unlike many fungi, these mushrooms are not seasonal and can be found all year round,…
Great black-backed gull
This huge gull can be seen around most of the UK's coasts in summer, with some venturing inland in winter.
Green sea urchin
This small, round sea urchin is (unsurprisingly!) green in colour and can be found on rocky shores around the UK.
Grey seal
These large seals can often be seen bobbing in the sea or lying on beaches waiting for their food to go down.