The definitive field guide to the world's marine mammals.
10% off 'Whales, Dolphins and Seals', now £11.69.Photos, illustrations, maps, hotspots and plenty of information, by far the best book in its field. Includes information on all whales, dolphins, seals, sea-lions, Polar bears, sea otters, dugong and manatees.
Click here to buy this book.
Avian Reintroduction Biology: current issues for science and management - symposium
Avian Reintroduction Biology: current issues for science and management - symposium |
| | |
Notable marine sightings around the UK and Ireland, 2007.
- 20th January. 6 Bottle Nose dolphins off Stonehaven. (Courtesy of Ian Sim/Seawatch.)
- November. Humpback feeding off Stonehaven, Aberdeenshire, possibly in the area for 2 weeks. Interacting with Bottle Nose Dolphins. (Courtesy of Ian Sim/Seawatch.)
- September. Minke whale found dead on Devon beach.
- August. 2-3 Minke whales off St Abbs Head/Coldingham Bay in Berwickshire.
- August. Minke whale in Fraserburgh Harbour.
- July. Northern Bottlenose whale strands in River Orwell, Ipswich.
- June. Humpback seen off North Devon.
- June. 10 Minke whales sighted off the Isle of Man.
- May. Several Minke sightings off Isle of Man, plus a Sei whale.
- May. Repeated sightings of Orcas off Orkneys
- May. Rare sighting of Bottlenose dolphins in the Channel, click here for details.
- April. Several Orca sightings off Northern Ireland
- April. Fin whale in the Moray Firth.
- April. Orca seen off Isle of Man.
- March. 2 Humpbacks seen off Anglesey/Isle of Mann.
- March. 3 Killer whales seen off Shetland.
- March. Sperm whale strands on Orkney.
- March. 6 Killer whales seen off Orkney.
- March. A pod of 15 Sperm whales seen by fishermen off Caithness.
- January. A pod of nine killer whales seen in the Firth of Forth.
![features/RHSflowers[1]](/resources/listimg/features/RHSflowers[1]@small.jpg)
Garden plant list for wildlife.
The RSPB and RHS have got together to create a list of plants recommended for wildlife gardening. The list advises you on which plants to use, which soils they can grow in, what wildlife they attract and when.
See the full list.
British Columbia Whale Watching guidelines.
- Approach whales from the side, not from the front or the rear.
- Approach no closer than 100 metres and shift your motor into neutral or idle.
- Keep noise levels down - no horns, whistles or racing of motors.
- Start your motor only after the whales are more than 100 metres from your vessel.
- Leave the area slowly, gradually accelerating when you are more than 300 metres from the whales.
- Approach and depart slowly, avoiding sudden changes in speed or direction. Do not "leapfrog."
- Avoid disturbing groups of resting whales.
- Maintain low speeds and constant direction if travelling parallel to whales.
- When whales are travelling close to shore, avoid crowding them near the shore or coming between the whales and the shore.
- Limit the time spent with any group of whales to less than 30 minutes at a time when within 100 to 200 metres of whales.
- If there is more than one vessel at the same observation site, be sure to avoid any boat position that would result in encircling the whales.
- Minimize the time spent and the number of vessels with any one group of whales.
- Limit time, as above, and then move out to allow other vessels access to good viewing positions.
- Coordinate activities by maintaining contact with other vessels, and ensure that all operators are aware of the whale watching guidelines.
Insects of Britain and Western Europe
Now you can tell the difference between a bed bug and a pine cone bug.
The new 2007 edition is the answer to all parents glazed looks when little Johnie/Janey asks what sort of caterpillar/beetle is this? Over 2300 illustrations and an instant guide as to whether you might see them in the UK or not.
Read the full review.
Rare Birds Year Book 2009 Photo Competition
A new photo competition has just been launched for photos of the rarest birds in the world, those categorized as Critically Endangered, to be featured in the next edition of Rare Birds Yearbook which is due in October 2008.
Details.
Articles and advice about the wildlife, National parks and safaris in Kenya
Popular conservation news stories from the recent past
Sumatra Ground Cuckoo photographed.
Reserachers from Kent University were amazed to find the had photographed a Sumatra Ground Cuckoo while conducting a tiger survey in Sumatra. It is only the second time it has been recorded in the last 90 years.
Full story.
Top ten National Trust properties to see butterflies.
The National Trust is the largest and most important landowner for butterflies in England, Wales and Northern Ireland. All (but two) of the resident British butterfly species live on National Trust land. It has many of the best UK sites for individual butterfly species, and many of the rich butterfly sites are home to scarce species.
See the ten best sites.
Articles and advice about the wildlife, National parks and safaris in Kenya
Top wildlife and bird watching in the South East
GARDENING FOR WILDLIFE
Lorraine Kelly launches the 'Wild about gardens' campaign in conjunction with the Royal Horticultural Society and the UK Wildlife Trusts.
More.
Plants recommended for a wildlife garden
The RSPB and RHS have got together to create a list of plants recommended for wildlife gardening.
See the full list.
ELEPHANT BACK SAFARIS: CONSERVATION OR CRUELTY.
Shearwater Adventures, a tour operator from Zimbabwe, is under fire for capturing wild elephants for use on elephant back safaris. However Shearwater strongly defend their position by pointing out that the drought in Zimbabwe is devastating the elephant herds.
Read both sides of the argument.
There are many different styles of Safari to choose from, here are a few rules to help you choose.
- A good guide/spotter. trust us, you will miss more than you see if you don't have a good guide with you. Not only do they see twice as much, they know ten times as much.
- Dawn and dusk are almost always the best time, be prepared to get up early.
- Be patient, the longer you are prepared to sit still, the more you will see.
- Don't forget the people who live there. They often view the animals as pests, but your income will provide a living for them. Don't be ostentatious or patronising.
- Size of vehicle. The bigger and the more people in a vehicle, the less you will see.
- Spending £5000 on a safari doesn't guarantee you will see more than someone who spends £500.
- There’s a lot more to Africa than the big five. Enjoy what you see and don’t go tearing all over to see a lion, thus missing plenty of fantastic but smaller game.
Reader offer. The world's most powerful binoculars
Sunagor are offering Wildlife Extra readers a chance to buy a pair of the world's most powerful binoculars, the Sunagor 25-150 X 70 Megazoom, for just £199.99 (RRP £399.99).
Click here to read the review or to buy.
WILDLIFE WATCHING WITH CHILDREN
My kids were so excited about the thought of going on safari in Kenya, and we had a great time. A walking safari, 4 days on the Masai Mara seeing pretty much everything, the flamingos and rhinos at Nakuru, everything you want to see. And the abiding memories? Hiding under the seats of the open top landrover while watching lions hunting, (as all they have learned from years as armchair viewers is that lions will eat you.) and the hotel with a swim up bar and free coke!
READ THE FULL ARTICLE
Water vole research at Loch Leven
Extensive research at Loch Leven has shown how otters are good for water voles.
See the full report.
Horsey Estate News
Latest News, January 2007
National Trust Warden Steve Prowse counted 13,500 pink-footed geese on a dawn count on 22 January, on this wonderful Trust grazing marsh site in the eastern Broads. There were also 400 white-fronted geese and eight Whooper swans.
RaptorsThe winter count is now up to ten different species of raptor including red kite, rough-legged buzzard, hen harrier, marsh harrier.
Rare water beetleNot of the same size, but of similar significance, was the discovery of the exceptionally rare water beetle (Agabus labiatus) in a newly cleared pond on the property last summer.
Click here to visit Horsey.
Bird watching and birding in South America.
Top African Safari Destinations (in no particular order)
- Chobe, Botswana
- Masai Mara, Kenya
- Virunga Volcanoes, Uganda and Rwanda
- Etosha Pans, Namibia
- Luangwa Valley, Zambia
- Serengeti Plains, Tanzania
- Ngorongoro Crater, Tanzania
- Samburu & Buffalo Springs, Kenya.
- Lake Nakuru, Kenya
- Okavango Delta, Botswana
- Kafue National Park, Zambia.
Worldwide conservation stories from 2007
Top wildlife sites in the South East
Basking shark sighting and a code of conduct
With the recent surge in basking shark sightings off the UK coast, especially Cornwall and the Isle of Man, the Marine Conservation Society has devised a code of conduct as to how to behave when near the sharks, whether in a boat or swimming (not advised).
More.
Lyme Bay Reefs devastated by fishing.
Lyme Bay Reefs devastated by fishing.Devon Wildlife Trust has collected evidence that the Reefs in Lyme Bay have been trashed by some fishing techniques. To see the full story, and to see a video of the destruction,
Click here.
Wildlife watching and safaris in Asia
Popular news stories from North America
Articles about wildlife of North America
Where to watch wildlife and birds in North America
Popular wildlife & conservation news stories from the past
Enjoying Moths - All you need to know about Mothing.
This is a hardback book all about 'Mothing', the increasingly popular pastime of studying moths. 96% of all British Lepidoptera species are moths. That is 24 moths for every butterfly.
This book tells you how to collect them, where to find them, how to identify them, where to look for their caterpillars and pupae, and how to help conserving them.
Although packed with photos and tips on how to identify them, this is not a identification guide (There are good ones available), but it does tell you pretty much everything else you need to know about how to study moths in the UK.
Available from Alana Ecology for £29.95.
How to get to the Antarctic.
There are several good operators. Don't go for the huge boats, they are not designed for this kind of travel. Anything too small can struggle in bad weather when crossing the Drake Passage, so something between 70 - 150 berths is ideal. Peregrine have excellent ships, Russian built ice-rated vessels with extra stability that are small enough to get into the bays and inlets most ships cannot.
Top Wildlife watching in South America.
Photo Story: Martial Eagle Attacks Stork.
Fantastic photos of a Martial eagle catching a White stork.
Details.
![features/nomads-cover[1]](/resources/listimg/features/nomads-cover[1]@small.JPG)
Nomads of the Wind - Special Reader Offer
Nomads of the Wind - Special Reader OfferStunning new photographic study of the Monarch Butterfly migration, with photos by BBC Wildlife Photographer of the Year, Ingo Arndt.
Details and images.
![features/walrus6[1]](/resources/listimg/features/walrus6[1]@small.JPG)
THE WILDLIFE OF BAFFIN ISLAND, LANCASTER SOUND AND THE HIGH ARCTIC.
The bears were great, but the walrus, beluga and narwhal made this trip spectacular. Throw into the equation some Bowhead whales, towering sea cliffs swarming with sea birds, scenery to die for and the historic remains of the famous Franklin expedition that disappeared while searching for the elusive North West Passage.
Read the full article.
![features/polar-bear1[1]](/resources/listimg/features/polar-bear1[1]@small.jpg)
Polar bear watching in Spitzbergen.
If you live in Europe, the Svarlbard archipelago is by far the best place to to see Polar bears.
Fly to Spitzbergen and join an expedition cruise to see these fantastic beasts, as well as much more.
Read the full article.
![features/foreman-book6[1]](/resources/listimg/features/foreman-book6[1]@small.JPG)
How to plan and survive a safari.
A short, but very good, guide to safaris and expeditions. No stunning photography, but excellent advice from someone who has led many of these trips in the past. Ideal for someone heading off the beaten track in Africa, packed with very sound and practical down to earth advice.
As much about what not to take and do as about loading yourself with loads of equipment.
Available for £4.38 (plus P & P) from
Lulu.com
Top wildlife watching spots in East Anglia.
Articles about wildlife of North America
Wildlife walks, talks and events with the Surrey Wildlife Trust
Surrey Wildlife Trust EventsSurrey WT have a full programme of events, with something happening every week.
Details
Is southern Sri Lanka the world's top spot for seeing blue and sperm whales?
The Blue whales off the coast of Sri Lanka.
Details
New species recently discovered
New species are still being discovered at a remarkable rate, and in remarkable places.
Click here to see the latest newly discovered species.
More wildlife and natural history books
Australian wildlife images
| Australian Wildlife Photography |
|---|
 |
Shane Walker lives in New South Wales and specialises in Australian wildlife photography. See more of Shane's pictures |
A Life of Ospreys
Written by Roy Dennis. What Diane Fossey is to gorillas and David Shepherd is to Elephants, Roy Dennis is to ospreys.
Read full review »
The Encyclopaedia of Sharks
There are some weird and wonderful shapes and sizes. The Hammerhead we all know, but the extraordinary Goblin shark, with its hugely elongated nose (and even more unusually, with a liver that accounts for 25% of its bodyweight.), the prehistoric looking Frilled shark with trident teeth, to the tiny pygmy shark, which checks in at less than a foot long.
Read full review »
In praise of the much maligned hyena – Needs a PR makeover
The hyena gets a bad press. Dan Beaton sings its praises.
Read the full article.
New Zealand Wildlife
Wildlife Extra has just launched a guide to
where to see wildlife in New Zealand, and this book provides the perfect companion with detailed descriptions of all the wildlife and birds that you are likely to see, including birds, whales, dolphins, mammals, amphibians, reptiles, insects, trees and shrubs, and even some fish.
Read full review »
Kielder wildlife events
Date: March - May 2009.
- 29 March Goshawk
- 18 April Deer safari
- 3 May Dawn chorus -
- 9 May Badger
- 8 May Owl night
- 17 May Owl night
- 23 May Bat night
- 24 May Lakeside wildlife
- 27 May Deer safari
- 30 May Family Wildlife Day, Leaplish
More details »
New Zealand Wildlife Links
packham
5 ways to attract moths to your garden
Andrew Green, expert lepidopterist and owner of Wild Britain (formerly known as Bedford Butterfly Park) is actively supporting the campaign by outlining 5 sure ways to attract moths to gardens.
1. Plant night-scented flowers (eg Nicotiana, Sweet Rocket and honeysuckle).
2. Plant mixed native hedging like Privet, hawthorn, buckthorn.
3. Don't be too precious about a few weeds. Moths need things like docks, nettles and grasses to lay eggs on.
4. Moths and other insects need hiding places. Crevices in tree bark and under window sills are good places to look. Try pinning old egg boxes onto the garden fence and see what you get.
5. Remember that although Moths are attracted to light, bright light bulbs can confuse moths so don't over illuminate your garden.
Mammals of Europe, North Africa and the Middle East
There is a wider range of mammals alive an well in Europe than you might imagine, with some 400 species listed.
Read full review »
Seashore safaris
Best activity book of the year
Summer is here, we have warm weather, and the beach is beckoning. A swim, build a couple of sandcastles, a bit of beach cricket, but what to do next?
Click rockpooling to read more
The Book of Shells
We've all picked up a shell or two on the beach, but outside the very most common ones, we have no idea what we are handling. The glorious 652 page book will be able to answer that question for you, no matter where in the world you are.
Read full review »
BBC Wildlife Magazine
This is not the website for the BBC Wildlife Magazine. If you are looking for the website of the BBC Wildlife, please click here.
Wildlife Exhibition
2011 sees the launch of a new wildlife exhibition on October 14 & 15 2011, To find out more click WildlifeXpo.
Tropical Fishes of the East Indies
These beautiful, elaborately detailed and brilliantly coloured drawings provide an extraordinary description of marine fish fauna of the East Indies and are proving useful to modern day scientists in comparisons with present-day scientific knowledge. From an artistic and historical viewpoint, these drawings are among the finest natural history illustrations ever made.
Primates of West Africa
With just 60 species covered in more than 500 pages, this is just about the most comprehensive field guide I have ever seen!
Read about The Primates of West Africa
Birding in Antarctica
If there is one place on earth most described as providing "once-in-a-lifetime" experiences for birders, it's Antarctica. Famously the coldest, driest, highest, and windiest continent on earth, Antarctica supports organisms that are especially adapted to its extreme climate.
Birding in Antarctica
Top recommendations for wildlife watching activities in the UK.
Ten top places to watch whales.
Rhino poaching- the poacher tells all.
The Van Deventer brothers were arrested in South Africa on charges of poaching rhinoceroses. Having entered into a plea bargain with the state, the brothers received reduced prison sentences. Shortly afterwards, they contacted investigative journalist and Africa Geographic columnist Ian Michler. They wanted to tell their story.
Read the full piece
Mud, Man-eaters and Mangroves: Fighting to save the Sundarbans Tigers
There is only one place on earth where wild tigers live in a mangrove swamp. At 10,000km2 the Indian and Bangladeshi Sundarbans is the biggest and most bio-diverse mangrove forest in the world, and home to the tiger.
Read more »
Popular wildlife articles
Most searched for nature reserves
Bird book reviews
Chris Packham's thoughts
Family holiday to Nepal
The wildlife, mountains, people, noise and smells all make for a perfect family holiday.
From Kathmandu to Chitwan National Park via the foothills of the mighty Himalaya.
Click here for more details.
Darwin, morals, altruism, violence and chimpanzees – An essay by Daniel Beaton
Between 5 and 8 million years ago, somewhere within the African continent lived an animal that was an ancestor to both modern humans and the chimpanzee, or rather chimpanzees - as we must not forget the bonobo.
Click here to read Daniel's essay
Latest competitions
Enter the latest Wildlife Extra competition.
Click here
Where to watch birds in Ethiopia
I once took a trekking group to the Bale Mountains and the keen birders in the group had recorded some 350 species f bird after 1 week. We then had a week visiting other areas of Ethiopia, and I remember very clearly sitting outside our hotel in Lalibela (Home of the world famous rock hewn churches) as around 2 dozen Lammergeiers circled around our heads.
Read full review »
Collins Bird Guide - 2nd edition
The long awaited second edition of Collins Bird Guide is now here. Covering Britain and Europe, the second edition has been update and revamped. Distribution maps have been updated allowing for recent bird movements; the text has been expanded and new illustrations have been included - There are now 3500 illustrations!
Click Collins Bird Guide to read more
Large blue butterfly ‘open day’
On Sunday 20 June staff and volunteers will be showing visitors round taking them to the best places to see these little blue beauties during their short life.
More details »
Lost World - The marine realm of Aldabra & the Seychelles
One of the best books we have seen for a long time, with some extraordinary underwater images as well as some fantastic bird shots.
Read full review »
Field guide to the wildlife of New Zealand
This book covers all the different families and species that you are likely to see, including trees and shrubs. Most species have a smallish image, a brief description and an idea of where you might see them. It isn't an in depth guide, but covers the widest range in the smallest space!
Read full review »
Australian Wildlife
Australia must rank alongside Madagascar for the quantity of endemic and weird species. It is a vast country with huge variations; best known for its deserts and Great Barrier Reef, it also has tropical rainforests, several ranges of snowy mountains, wetlands, swamps, mangroves and great marine ecosystems.
Read full review »
British Moth ID
The book covers 1420 species of moth, 850 macros and 500 micros, as well as 314 caterpillars, pupae and eggs and 74 butterflies.
Read full review »
Kenya Highlights - A guide to escorted tours in Kenya
There are dozens of guide books to Kenya, but this one has a different slant. Not so much a guide book to take with you (Take it anyway), but a guide for before you go.
Read full review »
Where to watch birds in Dorset, Hampshire & the Isle of Wight. 4th Edition
This is an updated guide to the best birding spots in the area
Read full review »
Why is Herefordshire ignored by national conservation bodies? RSPB, we need you.
There are no RSPB reserves, no WWT reserves, and no National Parks. To my surprise, I have discovered that there are 3 National Nature Reserves in Herefordshire, covering just 200 hectares between them, but 2 of them are permanently closed to the public.
Why is Herefordshire ignored by national conservation bodies? RSPB, we need you.
Articles about the wildlife of the UK
Urban foxes in Bristol
I have been photographing urban foxes in Bristol for over 6 months now; what started off as a chance encounter has become an obsession for me and has changed my feelings and attitudes towards urban foxes forever.
Click urban fox to read more
Where to Watch Birds in Britain - Second edition
The familiar format contains 34 new sites, giving a total of 454, now including 5 sites on the Isle of Wight. Each site now has a grid reference to aid those of you who are GPS dependent, and there is also a list of 100 birds you might want to see and the best places to see them.
Read full review »
Great British Marine Animals - 3rd Edition
Many people think of the waters around Great Britain as cold, grey and fairly lifeless. This book will put you right (though noone can argue about the water temperature).
Read full review »
Bill Oddie's Little Black Bird Book
Written by a birdwatcher, for birdwatchers about birdwatchers, Oddie is adhering to the maxim that only Jewish comedians can make Jewish jokes by being a birder/twitcher laughing at birders & twitcher.
Read full review »
Butterflies of Britain and Europe: A Photographic Guide
Good photos and maps make this book easy to use, you will struggle with caterpillar ID though.
Read full review »
Birding on Alderney
Alderney, at just 3 square miles, has more than 270 species of birds recorded amonst its very diverse habitats, and is particularly well know for its gannets and puffins.
Read more about the birds of Alderney and how to see them
Britain's butterflies
Comprehensive photo field guide to the butterflies of Britain.
Click Britain's Butterflies to find out more.
Bear watching in Slovakia
The High Tatras is the highest mountain range in Central Europe outside of the Alps. There is also a high density of bears in the region. The unique terrain makes it possible to have a good chance of seeing bears at certain times of the year without the need to use hides.
Why British wildlife lovers have such a soft spot for butterflies
By Matthew Oates - The National Trust's specialist on invertebrates
A surprising number of people responded to the National Trust's competition on butterflies with tales of 'epiphany moments'
Read the full article by Matthew Oates
Butterflies
This isn't just a guide to British butterflies, it is a lot more. Matthew Oates is the National Trust's, and one of Britain's, leading experts. He fell in love with butterflies, and particularly the purple emperor, at an early age, and has been following them all around Britain ever since.
Highly recommended.
Read full review »
The Urban Birder
The clue is in the name of the book. David Lindo is the self styled ‘Urban Birder' and specialises in birding in towns and cities, and especially in London.
Read full review »
Butterflies and moths - More details
Garden wildlife photos
Having taken 2-3 photos, I walked back towards the office, but just before I reached the door, I notice something buzzing around in front of the flowers. The buzz was actually the hum of the very distinctive Hummingbird Hawkmoth, the first we have seen here.
A top 10 minutes.
Lemurs of Madagascar
Amazingly, when the first edition of this book was written, in 1994, only 50 species were known, but since then another 43 species and subspecies have been identified, and this book recognises a further 8 as a result of greater understanding of their systematics!
Anyone visiting Madagascar should take a copy of this book with them.
Read full review »
The Breeding Birds of North-East Scotland
If you live in the North East of Scotland, and you like your birds, you probably already have this book. If not, you should get it. Read full review »
Wildlife photography - Uwe Skrzypczak
Uwe spends a lot of time in East Africa, especially following the great migration, and a lot of this book is based around that extraordinary event. This is a very detailed book covering all aspects of DSLR photography.
Read full review »
Birds of Ghana
The one thing that always puzzled me about Ghana is that so few people visit. For the average traveller I would rate Ghana as one of the best places to visit in the world; for a birder it is an absolute must.
Read full review »
Lady of the Loch
Lady, as she has become know, is a remarkable 25-year-old bird (Ospreys live on average just 8 years), that has raised 48 chicks so far, at Scottish Wildlife Trust's Loch of the Lowes wildlife reserve. - This is her story.
More details
Articles about the wildife of the Antarctic
England nature
Read about the nature of England, and see a guide to nature reserves in England.
Click here to see more about English Nature
Southern right whales of South Australia.
This is one of the best viewing areas in the world with up to 70 whales, including calves, congregating in the seas adjacent to the Bunda cliffs.
Read more.
The Gannets of Grassholm Island
Gannets have now colonised the island in huge numbers. Grassholm covers only 22 acres and there are at least 60,000 Gannets plus their chicks, as well as small colonies of Guillemots, Razorbills, Kittiwakes and Shags.
Click here to read the full article
Safari with children
My kids were so excited about the thought of going on safari in Kenya, and we had a great time. A walking safari, 4 days on the Masai Mara seeing pretty much everything, the flamingos and rhinos at Nakuru, everything you want to see. And the abiding memories? Hiding under the seats of the open top landrover while watching lions hunting, (as all they have learned from years as armchair viewers is that lions will eat you.) and the hotel with a swim up bar and free coke!
READ THE FULL ARTICLE
Wildlife of the Jurassic Coast
If you are visiting the southern coast of England, anywhere between Exmouth and Swanage, and you are vaguely interested in wildlife, you should get your hands on this book.
Read full review »
Biscay ORCA Big Whale Watch 2008 clocks up 9 cetacean species