Have you have been watching the fantastic Wild Isles series on BBC recently? The wildlife drama narrated by Sir David Attenborough shines a spotlight on nature, habitats and some of the amazing species found across the UK, from Puffins to White-tailed Eagles. The series was co-produced by the RSPB (as well as WWF) and features footage filmed on RSPB nature reserves, so, if you love wildlife and want to know more about the threats which exist in our modern world, it’s well worth a watch.
The most recent episode, which aired on Sunday evening, centred on grasslands and featured many species which we see here at RSPB Geltsdale and in the surrounding countryside. Here we have highlighted a few of those amazing species and will tell you a little more about them:
Black Grouse (Latin name Tetrao tetrix) are found on upland heathlands and grasslands. They are classified as red on the list of Birds of Conservation Concern in the UK, due to their decline in numbers. The males are large and black with an almost blue sheen to their feathers, distinctive red wattles over their eyes, a white, lyre-shaped tail and white wing stripes in flight. Females are smaller and grey-brown with notched tails. In spring, males, known as ‘blackcocks’, can be seen displaying at specific sites to show their dominance over each other and compete for the attention of females. This is known as ‘lekking’.
Hen Harriers (Latin name Circus cyaneus) have been severely persecuted, causing their numbers to drop dramatically, and are classified as red on the list of Birds of Conservation Concern in the UK. Males are pale grey in colour, with a white rump, pale underside and black wing tips, giving them a ghost-like appearance. Meanwhile, females and juveniles are brown with a white rump and a long, barred tail. They all have yellow legs, a hooked black beak, and fly with their wings in a shallow V shape. They glide low to search for prey, which consists of small birds and mammals.
Brown Hares (Latin name Lepus europaeus) are thought to have been introduced to the UK in Roman times, but are now considered naturalised and are common in farmland, grassland and woodland habitats. They are golden brown in colour, with a pale belly and white tail. They are larger than a rabbit, with longer legs and ears. Their ears also have distinctive black tips. They run incredibly fast, reaching speeds of 45 miles per hour at full pelt, and are the UK’s fastest land mammal. Females can be seen ‘boxing’ in spring, fending off the advances of males by rising up on their hind legs and swiping at them with their front paws.
Adders (Latin name Vipera berus) are the UK’s only venomous snake, which can be spotted basking in the sunshine on moorlands and heathlands or in woodland glades between March and October. They are relatively small snakes, around 60 to 80 cm in length and 50 to 100g in weight, and can live up to 15 years. They hibernate in winter, emerging in spring, when males can be seen performing a mating ‘dance’ and fending off competition for females. They are recognisable by the distinctive zig-zag pattern down their backs, though all black (or melanistic) adders do occur. Males are generally more silvery grey in colour, while females are light or reddish brown.
For more information about what you can see at RSPB Geltsdale, explore our other blog posts or the 'What Will You See?' section of our website: https://www.rspb.org.uk/reserves-and-events/reserves-a-z/geltsdale/. Watch Wild Isles at 7pm this Sunday on BBC1 or catch up on BBC iPlayer.