Wednesday, 15 February 2012

Golden

Paidiscura pallens

Information
Habitat: 

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Watermead Country Park

Map Info
Nearest Town: 
Thurmaston
County: 
Leicestershire
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Information
Wildlife Description: 

Birds

Tufted duck, Coot, Mallard, Mute Swan, Great Crested Grebe, Grey Heron, Cormorant, Kingfisher, Pochard, Shoveler, Bullfinch, Common Gull, Crow, Dunlin, Goldcrest, Goldfinch, Goosander, Lapwing, Shelduck, Tree Sparrow, Wigeon, Wren, Canada Goose, Moorhen

Butterflies and moths

Speckled wood, Small White, Large White, Gatekeeper, Cinnabar moth, Small Skipper, Ringlet, Peacock, Red Admiral, Comma

Dragonflies and Damselflies

Brown Hawker, Common Blue Damselfly, Blue-tailed Damselfly, Banded demoiselle damselfly

Insects

Soldier Beetle, Green Bottle, Speckled Bush-Cricket,  

Other Vertibrates

Grass Snake, Grey Squirrel

 

Golden Pholiota

Information
Additional Notes: 

Aurivella means "with a golden skin".

Pheasant

Primary Image: 
Facts
Scientific Name: 
Phasianus colchius
Also Known As: 
Common Pheasant
Length: 
71cm
Wingspan (mm): 
80cm
Weight: 
1.4k / 975g
Information
Description: 

A large and very common, long-tailed gamebird that was first introduced to Britain from the orient and has since been bred for sport shooting.

Natterjack Toad

Primary Image: 
Facts
Scientific Name: 
Bufo calamita
Lifespan: 
10 - 15 years
Length: 
60-70 mm
Information
Description: 

It can be distinguished from other species of toads by the bright yellow line running the length of it's back. It is also smaller than the common toad and is olive green in colour with green/gold

 

 

Distribution: 

The Natterjack Toad is now very rare in Britain found mainly in East Anglia, Surrey, Hampshire, Dorset, the Cumbria and Lancashire coast and the Strathclyde region of Scotland. It has recently been reintroduced to Wales.

Habitat: 

Natterjacks prefer sandy open locations around the coast, heathland and occasionally brackish water.

Behaviour: 

They are mainly nocturnal, tending to sleep under logs, stones or in burrows during the day. They have short limbs and only hop if startled. They normally walk or run, a bit like a lizard.  They are poor swimmers and may drown in deep water if they cannot get on shore. When threatened they will inflate their bodies and raise themselves up to appear larger. They hibernate when the temperature drops below 8 degrees centigrade, usually in late Autumn and will dig their own hibernation tunnels. Sometimes several toads, including the common toad will share these tunnels.

Reproduction: 

Spawning is dependant on the weather as they will breed during wet conditions, laying their eggs in pools of water. They lay up to 2000 eggs, which take 7 - 10 days to hatch, longer if the weather is cold.

Status: 

They are a protected species and their numbers have been adversely affected possibly due to the decline in their habitat.

Did You Know?: 

Natterjack Toads have the ability to darken or lighten the colour of their skin in order to camouflage themselves.

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