Green Holidays

If you took part in the recent RSPB garden count – you may well have started on your way to spotting the 270 birds commonly found in the UK.

So why not keep it up?

I have put together this series of informative posts to help you through all the easy species, first. Then there will be the ones that you need to go on a walk to see and gradually we will get onto the birds that you will have to seek out for yourself – like the elusive White-tailed Eagle or the niche dwelling Capercaillie!

There is nothing better sometimes than knowing what a bird is by just checking off 1 sign, like ‘it has a red stripe so it must be a ????’ or ‘it has yellow legs so will be a ????’ Sometimes once you know the general appearance of a bird ‘type’ like a sparrow, warbler or grebe, you can seperate the individual species by just 1 thing.

And these guides will not focus on all the latin names and scientific groupings etc; there will be no use of fancy ornithological words like ornitholigical, tertial tip or emargination. Just easy to use visual descriptions of the birds that you will see while out walking in the woods, wetlands or your own back garden!

But to start you off before we lose you in geese and gulls; we will list the top 5 birds that you may well have seen this week or have probably already seen at some point in your life!

Robin:
This one is easy to spot with it’s bright red breast – and you can easily pick them out in the snow as they are quite bold little birds and use human garden tools and furniture from which to spy their insect prey! And they will come close to humans too if you feed them…..

photo credit: fwooper

Blackbird:
Another common species that just loves to run around garden edges looking for food under leaves and garden waste. The males are black with orange or yellow bills and feet, where the females are browner in colour. You can spot them from their loud warning call as you scare them off…..

photo credit: Keith Laverack

Magpie:
A larger bird that has such distinctive colouring that you will know when you have seen one. Their black and white plumage and their flap-flap-flap-then glide flight pattern will have you ticking off this species in a flash!

photo credit: goingslo

Pheasant:
If you live near the countryside or walk your dog in the fresh air, then you will no doubt have seen a rather handsome brown bird with a perfect white collar around his neck, large red wattles and nice long tail feathers – this is your male pheasant. Females have the same long tail and also frequent large country gardens, footpaths and cultivated fields but don’t have the fancy head! They both fly off clumsily and noisily when you get too close!

photo credit: gerrybuckel

Mute Swan:
I used to live on a canal and could see these all day long – but if you live elsewhere they aren’t difficult to find on any large body of fresh water, like a river, canal, lake or in a local nature reserve. Out of all the swans in the UK, the Mute Swan is the easiest to identify by its bill alone (handy really as all 3 common swans are totally white); it is the only one that has an orange bill which has a large knob of black on the top where it meets the eyes.

photo credit: TossMyPancake

So, if you have already seen these ones, then join me for the next 5 real soon – and make sure that you have seen these all again outside and that you know them inside out – as many other birds look very similar to them but for one or two small details. So only when you know these well can you learn some of the others coming on the list!

Grab your camera and document your journey if you like – it can make your travels more memorable.

See you soon…..

And if you want to know more about the fancy terms and descriptions used to identify birds, please look for my Bird Identification Guides – Technical Data series.

Found something strange – or beautiful – but have no idea what it is?

As long as you have a picture of it, then there is a new way to find out what on earth you have just seen.

It could be something common that you just haven’t seen before where you are visiting – or it could be a species that is new to your area (through land use changes or seasonal migration) and you have been one of the first to spot it.

Basically, the Open University in the UK has set up a database of images of everything in the natural world – as well as people who can tell you what it is.

Rather than just asking a few friends, searching through your field guides or just admiring it for what it is – you can now find out for good.

iSpot:
Not another iPhone application as its name insinuates – but a whole nature database online that can sort out the clustered bonnets from the milky bonnets, the brown bear from the black bear and the large white from the marbled white.

Basically, you can upload your pictures and some basic information about it and leave it to others to identify. You can have a guess yourself, and others will either confirm or deny this – basically like a forum.

You can also help identify other wildlife for photographers as well. It may be that you have experience in fungi – but have taken a picture of a strange insect on that fungi. You can find out what the insect is in exchange for identifying some garden waxcaps or woodland earth star!

photo credit: Marek Komorowski

It is divided up into categories including: mammals, birds, fungi, fish, etc and you can just look at some great shots, see different colour variants of common species (like white deer and black squirrels) or just use the labels to find out where these animals were seen so you can go and look for them yourself.

In Addition:
There are also links on the sites for further reading, related surveys, tips on identification and links to other useful id and specialist websites.

The OU have also recently launched a short course to run alongside iSpot and for all those people who haven’t taken a degree or had experience in the field before.

It’s called Neighbourhood Nature and can take you as little as 5 weeks or as long as 5 months depending on your other commitments. It allows you the support to run your own local field study relating to any area that you have ready access to and a keen interest in like a local woodland behind the houses, a nearby nature reserve or even a disused railway.

Nature is everywhere – and by working alongside your tutors and the experts on iSpot, you can find out what is living there and why – and anything you can do to keep it there or improve the number and diversity of plants and animals there.

So, if you have been meaning to get qualified in something ‘outdoors’ or to help brush up on your basic skills before embarking on a longer or higher level course – then maybe this course could help you out.

Also You Might Like To:
Obviously, signing up to volunteer with nature-related charities in your area will also enable you to experience nature first hand, access some great habitats, learn from experts and it could always lead to a larger project or a permanent job somewhere down the line.

And if anything, get a camera with a good zoom and an even better macro – and practice observing things – or take a basic photography course. Trying out the different settings is one thing – but knowing what to look out for is another.

You might take a great picture of a striking plant – but then get home to find out that you needed to find the berry, scratch the bark or see what other plants were around it to get a 100% ID. But until you make those mistakes and get annoyed with yourself – you won’t get any better at identifications.

It’s alright relying on others for rare species and all those ‘barely indistinguishable’ lichens – but you should really start to build up your basic id skills in the field if you are planning any sort of career based on nature.

So grab your camera, field guide and waterproofs – and get outside!

There are hundreds of winter walks organised across the country – why don’t you sign up?

It’s always nice to get out in the open on a crisp, sunny winters morning – so why not go on an organised adventure walk with a local expert and a handful of other people – rather than around your normal walk on your own!

You could learn plenty of new skills, plant or wildlife information and maybe make a few new friends along the way!

No-one wants to leave the warmth of their house sometimes – but if you have something arranged – it will give you that extra encouragement to get wrapped up warm and out the door!

And, when you are out there in the frost or snow – you will see some beautiful sites that you never would have otherwise seen – so don’t forget your camera as many organised walks will take you onto private land, off the main footpaths, and through farmland too.

What an opportunity to see some great landscapes, historic buildings, farmland scenes and wild animal tracks.  And you will have an expert with you at all times to answer any questions along the way.

photo credit: rick forgo

And, you could get some great inspiration for art or literature if they are your skills or interests.  Taking a notepad and recording device with you as you experience these scenes could really inspire you.

Local Walks:
There are plenty of charities and local councils etc, that offer these walks – you just need to find their schedules.

Whether they offer information online, at the town hall, library, local tourist information centres or in local publications – you need to get looking.  Some you will need to book and may have limited numbers – others will be free for everyone who shows up in the right place at the right time!

I know that the National Trust offer seasonal walks on their land with knowledgeable guides, but also rambling groups and other charities plan free walks on common or private land.

And – I know you might want to start off at the warmest part of the day – but the earlier your walk starts the better the walk will be as you will witness weather patterns that you might not otherwise see.  I mean you don’t normally get a beautiful low-lying mist over a frosty riverbank after 3 hours of sunshine!

And if you are the first ones there in the morning, you will see the landscape as it should be – empty of other humans.  Wildlife wouldn’t have been scared off by dog-walkers yet – and their tracks will still be clear to see in mud or snow when you arrive.  

So, why not start looking for places you would like to visit close to home and see what events they have in place.  Or contact an establishment, charity or society and ask them what they have on offer.

Don’t be shy about asking as they all need your support – and they all have great landscapes and buildings to show off – especially to the younger generation.

Don’t forget your warm hat and gloves!

Find some of the UK’s ancient grasslands – and they could be bright pink!

Now is the time of year for watching out for mushrooms and toadstools in your local woodlands, parks and gardens. 

But some of these beautiful fungi are clear indicators or some of our most ancient and undisturbed grasslands – so take a closer look!

Waxcaps come in many shapes and colours and are a great way to start mushroom watching as they are so easy to identify with their bright colours and shiny surfaces!

You don’t have to crawl through the undergrowth either to get an eyeful of these pretty garden gems – as they prefer lawns and orchards – so will be right in front of you when you walk around the grasslands and parks near you.

Their bright colours are clear indicators of an untreated but well maintained grassland habitat – perfect for housing other rare species and wildlife. Such landscapes are now increasingly rare – and many of the waxcap species are listed a rare as well – so your help in spotting them could make sure that they are protected for the future!

What To Look Out For:
Unlike most mushrooms – waxcaps are bright colours – and by bright I mean they stand out like a sore thumb against the green grass!

Here are some of the more common or brightly coloured species for you to look out for:

Golden Waxcap – These are very common and are like little suns on the ground.  They love to grow in groups, spread over a large area and are balanced high on bright yellow stems.

Honey Waxcap – Are bright orange and tend to be low to the ground and look like bottle tops when they are younger.

Snowy Waxcaps – These perfectly white mushrooms grow taller as they age and end up turning inside-out as they mature – making for great photos!

Parrot Waxcaps – Start out yellow and slimy – and turn green and slimy as they age.  Once you have seen one in the grass – you will see dozens of them!

Ballerina Waxcap- Much rarer but especially beautiful!  Not only is it pink in colour, as it ages it’s cap turns upwards at the edges and splits showing the white gills underneath and looks just like a little tu-tu!

There are also black waxcaps, peach, orange, golden and bright red waxcaps with yellow stems!

So, get outside and start looking for these ancient garden growths – and maybe you could find a site worth preserving and add to the known range!

If you are wondering where you plan your first great green adventure – then look to London!

The Outdoor Adventure Show 2011 promises to be even more of an inspiration than ever before with over 60 amazing (and free) workshops in 6 different theatres, including both photography and writing seminars.

With so many experts on hand over the whole weekend and advice from people who have already been traveling ‘green’ for years – you can’t go wrong with a trip to experience it all.

Step 1:
Buying your tickets online in advance can be your first step – as they are £2 cheaper! 

Not only does this mean that you are leaving more money in the jar for your trip – but you can plan ahead what seminars you want to see and if you want to book up on one of the photography courses which will have limited spaces.

Also, you can plan how many days you need to attend for – as the seminars run all day every day in 6 theatres – so you can only see the rest of the stalls and companies and stop for lunch when you aren’t taking part in a workshop or listening in to the tips fo an expert!

There is no point turning up for 1 day for the show only to find that you couldn’t get around it all in just a few hours as you were overwhelmed by the sheer volume of advice crammed into that 1 exhibition hall.

I’ve been to a few of these myself – and you can never get around everything in a day – and you certainly won’t come away with anything really helpful if you do rush about!

Step 2:
Open up a file on your computer and start jotting down your ideas.  Only when you actually put them down in writing can you start to put together a real green adventure!

There are always so many things that appeal when you are at work, or watching the rain lash against your windows – but when you try to make a solid plan they don’t always fit together – such as on a round-the-world trip.  I mean there are only so many times you can zig-zag about in 6 months!

What if 1 thing is totally nowhere near the others?  What if you just can’t get to one place without flying?  What if the things you want to see will take too long?  You won’t know this until you make a rough plan.

So you need to make this plan.

Step 3:
Take it to the experts!  Once you have a better idea of what you actually want – you can run it by a few people that can tell you whether it is feasible or not!

Until you have travelled a certain way or through a certain place – or more likely got something completely wrong – you don’t know how to do it properly!  Experts have this experience!

They could make your simple plan a reality by adding greatly to it and save you time and money along the way – or they could let you know that your plan will never work – and offers suggestions for alternatives or how much more time and money you need to complete yours!

Step 4:
Spend some money and get things moving!  By coming away from the show with something set in stone will really make your trip a reality.

Too many times you leave a show on a real ‘I’m going to do it’ high, and by the time you have sat on the train al the way home in the rain, got back to your house in the dark and fallen asleep with a cold – the trip moves onto the back-burner and another year will pass by before the show comes around again and you get all ‘inspired’ again!

This nature reserve is on the tidal waters of the River Arun, north of the historic town of Arundel and coastal town of Littlehampton on the south coast.

One of the most important wetlands in the south of England, this reserve has excellent facilities and is cram-packed with all types of wildlife.

This is also an education centre at certain times, and there is plenty of advice around the site for visitors.

Habitat Features:
The main feature is obviously the daily flooding wetlands off to the east of the river – filled with waterfowl, cattle and deerherd.

There is also some restored heathland, a small pine woodland, some grassland and sloping deciduous woodland as well as a hillfort and many footpaths and bridlepaths.

Famous for it’s visiting wetland birds, 50-strong ‘escaped’ fallow deer herd and ‘dancing adders’ – where the males twist around each other trying to pin each other to the ground.

The Reserve:
Quite a lot of the restored heathland and grasslands are accessible without passing through the main reception building – although at only £3 to pay anyway – it would be rude not to pay such a small amount to maintain and improve this reserve – after having had a great day out here yourself!

Heading through the main reception building takes you up a typical footpath bordered by old hedgerows and rabbit-friendly grassland.  This leads you a junction where you can head 4 ways really.  3 are within the reserve and form a dissected circle so you can get back to where you started with ease. 

The fourth way to the right takes you to a small hamlet with a delightful church and churchyard – filled with Orange Tip butterflies and meadow flowers crammed on every inch!  Ultimately this leads to the main road – so head back the way you came to get back onto the reserve itself.

Look on every leaf in the reserve as there are mini beasts all over the place – and we got some great close up shots of all sorts of invertebrates here.  And on the other end of the scale – don’t forget your binoculars as the woodland birds are all over too – and worth a look!

And you will need the distance to hunt for the huge herd of really chilled out deer that roam these wetlands – footprints show that they walk along the very footpaths you are standing on now, but you will more often see then in the distance, relaxing on the well gnawed grasses alongside the cattle and rabbits!

There are 3 hides here with totally different angles and depending on whether you are high or low tide you can see a whole range of wetland birds including migrants and rarities!  I saw mainly common species myself – I did get some great views of a very young grey heron and many of one of my favourites: shelducks.

I didn’t get to see the ‘dancing’ adders either although there were plenty of photos and stories about them in the reception area – along with other great information to get more out of your day – as if you would run out of things to interest you here!

There is even a kiddies play and learn area and education rooms as well.

Reserve Details:
Here is a general summary of the site for the visitor as in Spring 2010.

Cost:     The reserve is £3 (adults) to visit.
Hours:   The reserve is open all hours – but Reception as office hours.
Carpark:There is a carpark for about 100+ cars.
Shop:     There is a wetland-based retail shop on site.
Eating:  There is restaurant on site with indoor and outdoor seating.
Toilets: Toilets are open until 5pm each day.
Dogs:     Dogs should be kept on leads on the by-ways through the reserve.
Kids:      Families are welcome and there is plenty for young children to do.
Other     There is no playpark, however cycling/horseriding is permitted on bridleways.

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Visit a delightful little site at the foot of the South Downs with a historic water mill and stream.

This reserve is actually the SWT’s HQ as well, and is crammed full of old buildings and great habitats for you and your kids to explore.

Education groups are run here for schools and adults alike – with training courses run for countryside management and habitat surveys as well as general interest evenings and wildlife tours

Habitat Features:
The site is approximately 40 acres in size and is at the base of the chalk South Downs near Henfield.

It is mainly wetland pastures and grassland meadows, with a small area of dense bluebell woodland, a more open and coppice woodland and a variety of historic small waterways that used to power the mill itself (which is no longer in use).

The reserve is famous for its nightingales and has a huge number of newts living in its main dipping pond.  There are plenty of damselflies and dragon flies in the spring, as well as nesting kestrels and owls – and many overhead swallows and swifts!

The Reserve:
A walk around the reserve could take around 2 hours if you were just strolling with the family, but if you loved wildlife watching or photography, then you could easily be there double that time.

Woods Mill Sign Post

Entering the reserve is over the main water feed to the old mill where you can start seeing the insect life in flight – and you enter the main school group outdoor education areas (raised gardens, picnic tables, insect houses and main reception) -  but turning first left for a coutryside walk.

The main route is all weather and suitable for pushchairs and wheelchairs and there are plenty of seats dotted along the way too.

This first path gives you a waterside walk where you will hear the famous nightingales singing in spring (good luck seeing one!) and brings you up to the reed beds.  Following on to the left is a grassland field where there are raptor nest boxes on the far side.

From here you can head out further along the raised waterway for long views over some wetland pastures and to connect with some wider footpaths and hiking trails outside of the reserve itself.  However, heading across the pastures you can walk alongside a small bluebell woodland – filled with stitchwort and other spring flowers – before heading into the coppice woodlands.

Expect to see common vetch, lords and ladies and cuckoo flower as you follow the woodland trails.  Log benches and willow sculptures can be found here – as well as some moss-covered ‘ruins’ throughout.  Thought to be from a demolished folly here many years ago – they certainly intrigue visitors as they lay where they were dumped all those years ago!

Overgrown Stone Ruins

The ponds are found here too, with larger ornamental ponds and a smaller dipping pond closer to the road.  Expect to see newt after newt rising to the surface here in spring – taking a gulp of air before heading back down to the murky depths! 

There is limited parking on site – but I always find a space!  Maybe check for training sessions at the site – which will usually attract more drivers as there is no train station close by and only a handful of buses pass by – and avoid those days!

Reserve Details:
Here is a general summary of the site for the visitor as in Spring 2010.

Cost:      The reserve is free to visit.
Hours:    The reserve is open all hours – apart from 2 weeks at Christmas.
Carpark: There is a carpark for about 50 cars max.
Travel:     There is a bus stop outside the reserve – but no train station near by
Shop:      There is no shop on site – villages 5 minutes drive each way.
Eating:    There is no cafe or restaurant on site.
Toilets:   In carpark – open until 5pm each day.
Dogs:      No dogs allowed in reserve.
Kids:       Families are welcome and there is plenty for young children to do.
Other:     There is no playpark, cycling or horseriding on the reserve.

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Is that beautiful picture of a tiger really so beautiful?

Were you aware that there are animal farms across the world where ‘wild’ animal are bred specifically for wildlife photography?

Did you know that there are places across America and Europe where tigers, pumas, wolves and foxes are kept in small cages specifically to look ‘wild’ for a paying customer?

It happens all the time apparently to ‘get a great close up shot’ for a magazine or website – but is it infact just a lie?

Is the shot ‘perfect’ because it is of a beautiful animal regardless of where the animal was just 10 minutes before the image was created – or should the best shots only be of wild animals?

The Problem:
There has only really recently been a heavy discussion about this ‘canned’ photography since the winner of the BBC Wildlife Photographer of the Year 2009 was proved to be a caged wolf that had been hired by the photographer and ‘made’ to jump the gate for the winning shot!

People were in uproar when it was discovered as it exposed the dark side of wildlife photography – and the lies of the photographer.

How many times he had made the wolf jump the gate to to get the right shot we will never know – but is the fact that he resorted to a captive animal good ethics anyway?

The Facts:
If you want to use caged animals for your photos that is your prerogative – and there are some really well maintained establishments that do this – but it really isn’t the way to get a ‘true picture of wildlife’ is it?

Knowing that the animals are caged – most of the time in sub-standard environments – should be enough to put nearly all true wildlife lovers off immediately.  But as these places still exist, we know that people have been using them an awful lot of the time and all over the world.

How many photos have you thought were amazing – but will never know that they were filmed in a ‘set up’ location with a totally unwild animal?  Shouldn’t these images be clearly marked when published?

Baited Scenes:
However, where do you stand on actual wild animals being lured in to a ‘shot’ with food?  Basically leaving out food to attract the animals to exactly where you want them to be.

We do it all the time for our pleasure with bird feeders and certain reintroduced species – but does it infringe on ethical photography?

Great Tit On Feeder

Should you sit around animal nests knowing that there are young inside – but potentially stressing the parents with your presence?

It all starts to get a bit confusing when you analyse the role a photographer plays in the landscape – as animals don’t just live where we see them – they live in the surrounding countryside, so you traipsing through it day after day to get a ‘good picture’ could actually be making different species move out of the area!  And feeding them could actually attract even more to the area.

But surely all wildlife photography isn’t that bad?

Well I say: stick to footpaths - and get a camera with an excellent zoom!

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It’s your chance to meet some inspirational people – and get your hands on some great equipment!

It’s not all about birds – but if you love birdwatching and great wetland landscapes – then I suggest you clear your diary for any day over the weekend of 20th to 22nd August 2010!

For only £10 entry – you could have the opportunity to ask Chris Packham for some wildlife-watching tips, listen to Mark Carwardine discussing endangered species and maybe watch a slide show of great wildlife moments from Simon King – not bad, eh?

The Show:
Basically, BirdFair is one of the biggest bird-watching and outdoor shows in the UK and is set in the most beautiful scenery to add even more to your day.

As with many great shows, there will also be the opportunity to visit the stands of all the local and international wildlife stands and ask questions about the work they do and how to become a supporter or volunteer.

Add to this stalls that are filled to the brim with the best photographic equipment to improve your photos and to increase your viewing range as digiscopes and binoculars of all shapes and sizes are on offer.  As well as a host of specialist manufacturers and users to help you decide on the best items for your needs.

Whether you are hoping to get some advice for starting out or whether you are looking to take the next step in your craft and hoping to increase your equipment collection to cover more wildlife and birds – it will all be there.

Using A Zoom Lens Can Get Great Images

And it’s not just about technical things – there will be a whole host of stalls selling outdoor clothing, camping goods, walking shoes, wildlife holidays, travel books, field guides, wildbird seed, nest boxes, wildlife art, and so much more!

And, to be ‘green’ the organisers are offering free transfer buses to the show from the local train station to save on all those cars on the roads!

Show Extras:
It’s not all about just being a show – there is so much more there than stall after stall.

For example, there is a grand auction selling a whole range of random goodies from paintings to one-off experiences – all donated to the show specifically to raise funds for this years fundraising targets.

There are also 3 different agendas for events and talks throughout each day and kids events as well for the little learners!  Bushcraft skills, art and education are the themes you can find here in the several big tents on site.

And, your entry ticket gives you free access to the nature reserves here too – so after you have brought that new camera you have been promising yourself – or upgraded to a better digiscope – you can get straight out there are try it for size!

If you plan to go for the day – make sure you get there early and plan to do a lot of walking, and you won’t regret it.  If you know you love this type of show then make sure you stay for the weekend as you might not get to see everything on just the 1 day!

And this only happens once a year!

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Have you ever wanted to know what that beautiful orange butterfly was? 

You must have been sitting in the garden, or walking in the countryside and watched the most delightful and brightly coloured butterfly waft past you on a breeze.  But what was it?

Or maybe you followed it as it hopped from flower head to flower head, fanning it’s wings open and closed. And we have all tried to photograph them only to have them flutter away on a breeze.

So, why not take part in a survey this July (2010) to help identify some of our most common butterflies here in the UK – and get to learn what they are for your own benefit at the same time!

Butterfly Identification:
There are plenty of very distinct butterflies in the UK – but there are plenty of similar species too – so when trying to identify any butterflies, you need to be looking for key details like the placing or spots or the position and amount of white on the wings for example.

There are also more expert ways of identity – such as the shape of the wings, the coloring of the underside of the wings (normally totally boring compared to the the top) and which plants they are settling on.

Butterflies are very specific in the types of plants that they will eat and so this can sometimes be the key difference between two similar looking species.

Best course of action for the butterflies (as with all species id) is to start learning the most common species in your area and get these 100% right. Only then is it worth learning all the other similar species.

Butterfly Id Guide:
It is always great to have a simple colour guide to these common species that you can carry with you – and then refer to immediately you see the butterfly.

Peacock Butterfly - With Obvious Large Spots

This way you get to learn their patterns much quicker, For example the Peacock butterfly (above) and the Small Tortoiseshell (below) can both appear quite a reddy-orangy colour to the novice as they flutter about – but they are so different when you see them in display.

Small Tortoiseshell - With Distinct Patterning

So by knowing to look out for stripes on the one and spots on the other can make all the difference when trying to identify them. Then if a Painted Lady appears, you will be able to tell it apart from these 2 as well rather than getting all 3 muddled up!

Painted Lady Butterfly

Download the Butterfly Identification Guide off the Big Butterfly Count website and start practising!

The Butterfly Survey:
What a great opportunity to get outside and away from the busy town than to plan a walk or a picnic out in the countryside or local woods – than to go count butterflies!

Butterflies are a key indicator or damaged habitats and changing weather patterns as they depend on only a handful of specific plants for their lifecycle.

So a drop in numbers of one species can mean a drop in the numbers of the other species that live in the same area – including the mammals and birds that feed on the missing butterflies!

All you have to do for this survey is spend 15 minutes in the sunshine (and it has to be sunshine otherwise the butterflies won’t be flying) and log your sightings!

What easier way is there to help your local wildlife and have a great outdoor adventure at the same time!

Big Butterfly Count – Takes place between: 24th July and 1st August 2010