Love British Wildlife

I'm in love with British wildlife and all things natural. A budding ornithologist, obsessed with hedgehogs, terrified of spiders and earwigs and a lover of sharing information. I put together this Tumblr to share everything i'd learnt about British wildlife; from our most beautiful to our most scary creatures. Why? Because i want to get people into preserving species they can find on their doorsteps as well as saving beautiful exotic animals abroad. Our natural wildlife is in peril and declining rapidly and needs more help than it's ever needed. I hope to instill a passion in people that i've had instilled in me. All photos are credited where possible with links to the original embedded in the photos. If one of these photographs is yours and you do not want it used, please let me know so i can remove it.

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Scottish Wildcat ~ Matt Binstead

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“I think you need to taste this for me,” the monarch said. They shoved the exquisite cake in their guard’s direction.

Their guard blinked. “Um.” 

“What, you’d rather your monarch be poisoned?”

Of course not. The guard hesitantly took a mouthful, only to practically melt in satisfaction. “Oh my god.” It was amazing. They caught themselves. “I - er - I think it’s fine.” 

“You should try a sip of the wine too,” the monarch said. “Just to be safe. Sit, sit.” 

It took the guard slightly too long to realize that it was practically a date, with the monarch feeding them delicacies off their plate. 

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I need to read more of this.... 

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Absence

I'm well aware i have been absent for a while, which i can only apologise for. 10 weeks ago i gave birth to my son and as you can imagine i have been insanely busy! I still plan to keep this blog up and have started another one too. I will post when i can :)

Thanks for reading :) 

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Bees are important, right? That seems to be the general consensus. But is it true? And should you still care even if you don’t eat honey. Phil argues that the answer is ‘yes’ and presents his top five reasons that explain just why bees are so important.

[zoo-logic]

For the first time in almost two centuries white-tailed sea eagles have bred in the east of mainland Scotland.

Conservationists confirmed today (20 August) that a pair released in 2009 as part of a successful reintroduction project, have raised one chick in a Forestry Commission Scotland wood in Fife.

Between 2007-2012, RSPB Scotland, Scottish Natural Heritage and Forestry Commission Scotland, with additional financial support from Heritage Lottery Fund (HLF) and Fife and Rural Tayside LEADER Programme 2007-2013, reintroduced a total of 85 eagles to Scotland’s east coast. Their progress and whereabouts continue to be regularly monitored by project staff and volunteers. 

Having found a safe and secure home, the adult pair successfully reared a healthy male chick which was fitted with a leg ring and white wing tags with black numbering, earlier this summer by trained and licensed ringing experts.

Minister for Environment and Climate Change Paul Wheelhouse said: “This is fantastic news – it is the first chick in almost two hundred years to be hatched on the mainland of the east coast, which was the ultimate aim of the reintroduction project. I hope it will be the first of many of this magnificent species which will eventually spread their territories right across Scotland. I’d like to thank all partners who have played their part in making this exciting and special event happen.”

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    East Coast eagles make history - read more     Photo by yathin

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UK charity encouraging young people's understanding of the environment. Competitions, fact sheets and projects for teachers and kids.

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Photo by N Sloth - Link to original embedded in photo

#100ScaryUKCreatures - Adder - Vipera berus

The Adder is the UK's only venomous snake (out of the three species we have) and is widespread across the country, with the exception of our smaller islands. 

Females are a reddish brown, whilst males are a silver grey. Both sexes have the distinctive black, zigzag pattern running down their backs and a distinctive V-shaped marking on their heads. Although all black and albino versions have been spotted where these markings are not present. 

They are a relatively small, stocky snake that grows to between 60-75cm in length. The maximum length of an Adder in the UK is between 80-87cm, with the largest specimens being found in Scandinavia where they can reach 97cm. 

The Adder is not usually aggressive, biting only when trodden on or when an individual tries to pick them up. At the first sign of danger they will normally slide off into the grass. Pregnant females will make their presence known with a loud and sustained hissing noise. When an Adder feels threatened, it coils into an S-shape, preparing to strike if needed. 

In Britain, Adders hibernate for between 150-180 days, with 15% of adults and 30-40% of juveniles dying during this time. 

Most Adder bites occur during March-October and have become more common as humans encroach into Adder territory. Though Adders are venomous, their bites don't pose much of a threat to humans and there have only been 14 known fatalities since 1876. Medical advice should always be sought after a bite from an Adder just to be safe. 

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The Scottish Wildcat

Photographer unknown - Link to original embedded in photo

Scientific Name - Felis silvestris

UK Conservation Status - Critically endangered

Was once widespread through all of Britain and referred to simply as the Wildcat. Now only found in a handful of locations in Northern Scotland

Ok, so now we're getting really serious. The Scottish Wildcat is rare, very rare in fact, with less than 100 individuals left on our island. These magnificent cats are ruthless, agile, intelligent, fearless, resourceful, patient, powerful and until 1950, were still thought to be man-eaters.

They were once part of an elite group of animals known as Britain's Big 4 - a group of 4, large carnivores that included the Brown Bear, The Eurasian Lynx, The Grey Wolf and The Wildcat. Whilst the other three have been eradicated from British soil, the Scottish Wildcat is hanging on, having survived some of the most substantial changes in habitat that any creature has had to face. 

The Scottish Wildcat is a small predator, but is larger than a domestic housecat. Males bodies measure 36 inches in length with a tail of about 15 inches and can weigh up to 18kg. Females are smaller, with a body length of 30 inches and a tail length of 14 inches, weighing up to 5kg. Specimens found in Scotland are amongst the largest in Europe. 

They resemble a large tabby cat, albeit with longer legs and larger heads and are more robustly built. Their whiskers can grow up to 8cm and number from 7 to 16 on each side. Their eyelashes can grow up to 6cm and can number from 6 to 8 on each side. 

Photographer unknown - Link to original embedded in photo

Scottish Wildcats are largely solitary animals, only coming together to breed during breeding season. They inhabit a territory which they mark through urination, faeces laid in conspicuous places and visible scratch marks on trees complete with a scent deposited from glands in their paws. 

Males have a larger territory than females, and though males and females will cross territories, two males will not. Females are more sedentary than males, due to needing a more exclusive area for feeding their kittens. 

There are two times in a year when a Wildcat can mate. These are December-February and May-July. During the mating season, the males fight viciously, usually congregating around a single female.

Kittens are born anytime from April to August and a litter can number 1-7 in size. Females do not dig burrows instead choosing to shelter in hollowed out trees, rock fissures, small caves and abandoned nests of other animals.

Like domestic kittens, Wildcat kittens are born blind and completely helpless, covered in a fluffy coat. They weigh about 160g at birth. Eyes open after 9-12 days and their incisors come through at about 14-30 days. At 60 days old the kittens start hunting with their mother and the family group breaks up after about 5 months. Kittens reach sexual maturity at 300 days old and a kitten is considered fully grown at 10 months old.

The Scottish Wildcat usually lives 13-14 years, but can live up to 21. 

Photo by Peter Trimming - Link to original embedded in photo

The Scottish Wildcat has been observed hunting prey through the treetops, jumping from branch to branch in pursuit of its prey. When hunting on the ground, it lies in wait for its prey and ambushes it, jumping up to 3 metres in some circumstances. It has brilliant vision and hearing and good night vision, making it a ruthless hunter. 

It eats small rodents, birds, rabbits and hares, poultry and has even been observed hunting fawns. Rabbits make up about 70% of their diet and they have been seen to wait above warrens for rabbits to emerge. They eat up to 600 grams of food a day. 

A fully grown Scottish Wildcat has no natural predators (with the exception of humans) though kittens are often killed by pine martens, weasels, birds of prey, foxes and even other Wildcats. 

They prefer to live within woodland, moorlands and the margins of mountains. They avoid exposed coastlines, high, mountainous areas and lowlands.

Wildcats are untameable, even when raised by hand from birth and do not, under any circumstances, make good pets. They are vicious, territorial and impossible to handle. 

Photo by Peter Cairns - Link to original embedded in photo

For those who would like to help the Scottish Wildcats you can do so by donating to the below charities and foundations set up to help them:

http://www.scottishwildcats.co.uk/conservation.html

http://scottishwildlifetrust.org.uk/

http://www.highlandtiger.com/help_donate.asp

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Braemar Castle, Cairngorms Aberdeenshire, Scotland, UK

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There's lots of reasons to be proud to be Scottish, but our beautiful buildings and scenery are up there! 

[seabois]

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My favourite animal on the planet!

[pagewoman]

The Old House, Lower Lydbrook, Gloucestershire,England.

16th century

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Britain is home to some of the most beautiful, oldest and unusual buildings in the world!

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Small Tortoiseshell Butterfly - Aglais urticae

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Bridge To The Castle ~ Highlands of Scotland by Vicki Lea Eggen

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Eilean Donan Castle - my favourite castle and place in the entire world!

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I caught this by myself! Hiding in my duvet! #soproud doesn't look happy though! Can't work out if it's a Common House Spider or a Giant House Spider...

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Beautiful Tintern Abbey

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#ExtinctBritishAnimals - The Eurasian Lynx - Lynx lynx

These beautiful cats were once widespread throughout the forests of the UK and survived in parts of Scotland until the 3rd century AD. 

The Eurasian Lynx is the largest of the lynx species with male lynxes found in Siberia (where the species is the largest) getting up to 38kg. Though they average 18-30kg for males and 8-21kg for females. 

In the summer the Lynx has a short, reddish brown coat and in the winter it is replaced by a much thicker silver-grey coat. The fur is always marked with black spots and some individuals have stripes too. Their fur is highly prized by fur traders. 

Their diet ranges from small mammals and birds, to deer, sheep and small cattle. They are the only Lynx species where ungulates make up a large part of their diet. Lynx are shy, solitary creatures and their presence in an area may go unnoticed for years. 

Their preferred habitat is rugged forest, though in some areas they will migrate to lowlands in the winter, following their prey. 

Here in the UK there is huge interested in reintroducing the Lynx into protected areas in Scotland. Paul Lister, who owns an enormous estate called Alladale, has already made plans to release extinct British carnivores into his 49000 hectare site, starting with the Eurasian Lynx. Other sites are expected to follow in releasing the large, extinct carnivores of Britain. 

[lovebritishwildlife]

Photo 1 by N Sloth - Link to original embedded in photo

Photo 2 by DJ_Almighty_247

#100ScaryUKCreatures - The Diving Bell Spider - Argyroneta aquatica

At first glance these spiders may not look that remarkable, but there is nothing normal about them. 

For one, they spend their entire lives underwater in a bell type structure and is the only spider known to do so. 

Females build a web in the shape of a bell and fill it with air before diving down below the surface. They use this web for digesting prey, moulting, mating, laying eggs and raising young. The only time they break the surface is to renew their air supply. 

When it's time to mate, the male spider constructs a bell of his own and anchors it alongside the females. He then builds a tunnel to connect the two and enters the females bell. After mating the female lays between 30-70 eggs within her bell. 

Unusually for spiders, the male is around 30% larger than the female, with their head and body growing to around 15mm, which is perhaps down to the males more active hunting style. The males of this species actively seek out their meals,

These spiders are found in ponds throughout the UK. Though not aggressive, their fangs are powerful enough to pierce skin and their bite can be quite painful, resulting in localised pain and swelling.