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Click an image on the Nature Map to help you know what to look for, where to go and when to see our amazing rich and diverse wildlife in their natural habitats
The Barn Owl is one of Britain’s best-loved birds with its heart shaped face and patterned feathers. One of the best places to see them is Pulborough Brooks reserve between dusk and dawn.
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This is the largest of the true fox, has the greatest geographical range and can often be seen on the streets and in the gardens around Greater London.
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The Shore Crab is the most common crab around the UK’s shoreline and anyone who has gone rock pooling will have seen one. Watch out for a nip from its front claws.
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If you’re lucky you may see a Basking Shark off the North East coast of England between May and October. This is the second largest living fish reaching between 6-8 metres in length.
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Hedgehogs have a coat of sharp pines and if attacked will curl into a prickly ball to deter predators. It got its name because of its peculiar foraging methods.
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The Little Owl is most common in Central, Southern and South Eastern England. They love the lowlands, farmland, hedges, copses, parkland and orchards found here.
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The Roe Deer is small and elegant, reddish brown in colour during summer but becomes grey, pale brown or even black in winter. The males are called bucks and have short straight antlers.
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The sight of the graceful Brown Hare bounding across the fields symbolises the British countryside and they can often be seen boxing during the mating season.
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The Barn Owl is one of Britain’s best-loved birds with its heart shaped face and patterned feathers. One of the best places to see them is Pulborough Brooks reserve between dusk and dawn.
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The hazel or common Dormouse hibernates October to May and is found in the South West corner of England. You’ll be lucky to see one as nocturnal and very often high up in the trees.
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The Exmoor Pony is a horse breed native to the British Isles and roams on the wild moors of Exmoor. With a stocky powerful build they are noted for their hardiness and endurance.
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Accidentally reintroduced into Britain Wild Boar are now roaming and breeding in the British countryside. They are generally active in the daytime and not too wary of people.
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Greater Horseshoe Bats were formerly cave dwellers but now tend to live in roof spaces. They are nocturnal, hibernate over the winter months and have a fleshy nose shaped like a horseshoe.
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Adders, one of our most exotic species, seen in early spring mostly in rough open countryside and edges of woodland. Worcestershire and South Yorkshire are good places to see them.
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The Badger is our largest land predator, nocturnal and very elusive. Their cubs are born underground January and February to emerge in the spring.
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Long-Eared Owls, nocturnal and very secretive, can be seen anytime of the year even on the coast in winter. They feed on small rodents and birds in winter.
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Orange and black wings distinguish the High Brown Fritillary Butterfly from most others. It is large and powerful and flies swiftly over bracken or vegetation in July and August.
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Native Bluebells are widespread over the UK but for a really special display visit the Yorkshire Dales in April and May. They are generally found in low-level woodland, try Lower Wensleydale and Wharfedale.
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This AONB is a special place for Hen Harriers which can be spotted flying freely in the hills and valleys, best time is between March and September.
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Enjoy sea views and a coastal walk whilst spotting Red Squirrels at Formby Red Squirrel Reserve. They can live for up to 6 years, don’t hibernate but aren’t very keen on bad weather!
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Get close up to Puffins on the Farne Islands which provide a perfect habitat for these delightful birds. Take a wildlife cruise in spring to see them as well as lots of other amazing sea life.
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offer a wonderful wildlife experience allowing you to snorkel with seals in their natural environment, they may even nibble your fins and nuzzle your face mask.
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Minke Whales can be spotted between May and September mainly on the Western side of the UK with rare sightings off the North Cornish Coast.
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The sea around Wales provides the perfect home for lots of marine wildlife, you may even see a Basking Shark or Blue Shark in spring and summer.
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Gannets are bright white birds often seen diving from great heights around the Welsh Coast. The Grassholm National Nature Reserve is the third most important site for Gannets in the world.
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Pole Cats can be identified by their short dark tails and rounded ears. Found in rural Wales in lowland wooded habitats, marshes and along riverbanks. .
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The Red Kite is Wales’ national bird brought back from the brink of extinction. They can be seen in Mid Wales and soaring high in the Brecon Beacons.
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The Teifi Marshes Nature Reserve is a great place to see the majestic Sika Deer. Best time is March, just before the impressive antlers of the male are shed in April.
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Ramsey Island is one of the best places to see Grey Seals. A wildlife cruise in autumn along the shoreline is a great way to see and hear the seal pups. .
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Watching Dolphins and Porpoise in their natural environment can be magical. Cardigan Bay is home to large populations, spot these wonder-ful creatures from the coastal path.
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Snowdon Lilies are artic-alpine flowering plants and can only be found in the Snowdonia National Park growing on rock faces, flowering between May and July.
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You’ll have to be up early to see the Black Grouse dance at dawn at Coed Landegla. Guided tours take you through the forest to a hide to watch them in full display!
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The feral Goats of Wales can seem quite wondrous, a remnant of their Neolithic past. You may hear them splashing in the water on the mountains or setting off up a slippery slate slope.
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Thousands of Manx Shearwaters fill the night skies in summer with their loud caterwauling on Bardsey Island where they return to breed in cliffside burrows.
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North Wales welcomes returning Ospreys after their 3,500 mile journey in spring. They can often be spotted nearly submerged snatching large fish from the water.
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Dolphins are found all along the coast of Ireland. The Shannon estuary has the largest Bottle-Nose population and can be seen all year round.
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The Lapwing is the National bird of Ireland as their colouring is the same as the Irish flag, green, white and gold. It also breeds here but its numbers are declining.
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The Harbour Porpoise is the small cousin of the Dolphin and found in many coastal areas around Ireland. They are shy mammals and feed on crabs, shellfish and fish.
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The Harbour Porpoise is the small cousin of the Dolphin and found in many coastal areas around Ireland. They are shy mammals and feed on crabs, shellfish and fish.
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The Chough is a rare crow confined to the South and West coasts of Ireland. They are normally seen in sociable flocks with a distinctive call and bright red bill.
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The Bilberry Goat is a breed of feral goat believed to have lived in one herd on Bilberry Rock in Waterford City for hundreds of years. The rock contains a unique mineral which sustains the herd.
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The Long Eared Owl is largely white with a dark comma marking on its under wing, two tufts on its head and bright orange eyes. Mostly seen and heard on dry nights all year round.
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The Irish Stoat is a sub-species and a formidable predator even though only up to 30 cm long. They are often mistaken as weasels but have a white underside and white spots on their lips.
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The Common Seal prefers coastal areas with sandy beaches and calm waters, often seen in harbours, bays and estuaries particularly in July and August.
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World class Salmon fishing opens on a handful of rivers from January but the majority open in February, March, April and May until the end of September, attracting anglers from all over the world.
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Look out for the Daubenton’s Bat skimming the waterways of Ireland at twilight hunting for small insects. They hibernate for the 6 coldest months in caves and abandoned mines.
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The Red Fox is the only wild dog living in Ireland and is widespread, also found near towns and cities. It lives in a single family unit and hunts alone, fox cubs can be seen from May.
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The Oystercatcher is a large distinctive wader with a long orange bill, its call is a noisy shrill loud beep. Favours open sandy coastlines between September and March.
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The native Aspen Tree is famous for its whispering leaves that tremble and rustle in the wind. They thrive in wet areas beside lakes and were of great significance in Celtic mythology.
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Basking Sharks come to Ireland from late April to late July to feed on the high levels of plankton. They can measure up to 11 metres in length and normally seen cruising alone at the surface.
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Ireland is one of the best countries in Europe to whale watch with some of the largest whales coming to its shore to feed. The various transitting species can be seen all year round.
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Heather grows freely and abundantly with stunning purple hues covering over 5 million acres of Scottish moorland, glens and hills. Best times to see it in all its glory are summer and early autumn.
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Second only to tartan the humble thistle has become the emblem of this proud nation. There are several varieties, the spear, musk, melancholy or cotton thistle and no one is quite sure which is the true symbol of Scotland.
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The White Tailed Eagle is the UK’s largest bird of prey with striking white tail feathers, can be seen all year round. Climb Ben More on the Isle of Mull to get high above them.
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Common and grey seals can be seen around the coast line of both The Isle of Lewis and Harris. They are very entertaining and it can be great fun watching them at feeding time in Stornoway harbour.
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The Western Isles are one of the best places in Europe to see Otters which can be spotted in many easily accessible coastal locations. Incoming tides are the best time to see them when they are most active catching crabs.
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These athletic animals can be seen leaping and racing around the mountains normally above 300-400 metres, you may hear them ‘thump’ before you see them.
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Puffins, beautiful and inquisitive, seen in May, June and July on the isles and around the coast of Scotland, look out for them skimming the sea on island ferry crossings.
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The best time to see Whales in Scotland is during the summer months. Try a whale watching cruise to increase your chances and enjoy a wonderful day out spotting wildlife.
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The Orkney Vole is a much larger version of the common vole found on five of the Orkney Islands, the oldest dated vole fossil is 4,600 years old. Most likely to be seen in summer during the day.
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The Golden Eagle, a huge majestic bird of prey, can be seen soaring high over the hills and mountains all year round.
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The Ptarmigan is a plump grey and brown game bird which turns completely white in winter and loves living in the arctic landscape of the Scottish mountains.
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Scotland’s most iconic creature beating Nessie and the midges! Seeing these noble and magnificent Highland Cows can be a real holiday highlight.
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The cool waters around Scotland are a perfect habitat for Bottle-Nose, White Beaked and Common Dolphins who also love playing off the coastlines of Aberdeen, Moray Firth and Fife.
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As well as the prolific Scottish Salmon farms you can catch wonderful Wild Salmon in some of the best fishing rivers in the world such as the Tweed, Tay, Spey, Dee and Nith.
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Thought to be approximately 750,000 deer including roe, red. sika and fallow. Red deer are the largest native land animal in the UK standing 4 feet high at the shoulder.
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The best time to see Pine Martens, gorgeous and mischievous animals, is spring, summer and autumn. They are mainly nocturnal, very athletic and can even hunt and catch red squirrels high up in the trees.
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The Red Grouse is a reddish brown bird found in the Scottish heather moors and uplands. They suddenly break ground and rocket upwards when disturbed.
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cottages.com is a trading name of Vacation Rentals (UK) Ltd. Registered in England and Wales.
Registered Office: Spring Mill, Stoney Bank Road, Earby, Lancashire, BB94 0AA, UK
Company Registration Number 00965389. VAT Registration Number: GB 598 22 99 77
Book with confidence. We are a member of ABTA. Read full details of our ABTA membership and where financial protection might apply to your booking.
cottages.com is the new home of cottages4you (Cottages for You).
cottages.com is a trading name of Vacation Rentals (UK) Ltd. Registered in England and Wales.
Registered Office: Spring Mill, Stoney Bank Road, Earby, Lancashire, BB94 0AA, UK
Company Registration Number 00965389. VAT Registration Number: GB 598 22 99 77
