Sebastiaan Boers - Nature Photography

Changes in agriculture have seen a dramatic decline in hare numbers. The best places to look are open grassy or arable fields, particularly near to woodland fringes or decent hedgerows where hares can find shelter.  Get up early to increase your chances of finding a boxing match, and stay down wind to avoid your scent giving you away.  And leave the dog at home! (wildlifetrusts.org)

Kestrels live in most areas of the UK, apart from western Scotland. They like to use open habitats, such as grasslands, farmland and heathland, where they can get a good view of their prey. They also visit open spaces in towns and cities. (rspb.org.uk)

The Marsh Tit is a small, mainly brown bird, with a shiny black cap, dark bib and pale belly. In the UK, its identification is made tricky by the very similar appearance of native Willow Tits. They're so hard to identify that ornithologists (scientists who study birds) didn't realise there were two species until 1897. (rspb.org.uk)

The Long-tailed Tit is easily recognisable with its distinctive blush, black and white colouring. It also has a tail which is bigger than its body, and a bouncing flight. Sociable and noisy residents, Long-tailed Tits are most usually noticed in small, excitable flocks of about 20 birds. Like most tits, they rove the woods and hedgerows, but are also seen on heaths and commons with suitable bushes. (rspb.org.uk)

Blue Tits belt out all year round. In spring and summer, they’ll use their voice to defend territories and attract a mate. Throughout winter, they’ll hang out in feeding flocks of multiple species, where they keep in touch through contact calls. While they’re a little shier than their larger relatives, they’re still a regular feature at the bird feeder, especially through winter. They can be heard all across the UK – apart from on some of the Scottish islands where, like Great Tits, they’re a bit of a ‘twitch’ when blown across by storm. (rspb.org.uk)

Not as colourful as some of its relatives, the Coal Tit has a distinctive grey back, black cap, and white patch at the back of its neck. It has a smaller, skinnier bill than Blue or Great Tits which helps it feed in conifers. A regular visitor to most feeders, they will take and store food for eating later. In winter they join with other tits to form flocks which roam through woodland and gardens in search of food. Coal Tits can be seen in woodland, especially conifer woods, as well as parks and gardens.  (rspb.org.uk)

The Marsh Tit is a small, mainly brown bird, with a shiny black cap, dark bib and pale belly. In the UK, its identification is made tricky by the very similar appearance of native Willow Tits. They're so hard to identify that ornithologists (scientists who study birds) didn't realise there were two species until 1897. (rspb.org.uk)

Song thrushes are resident all year round in the UK, and they reside primarily in forest areas with good undergrowth, although they do frequent parks and gardens throughout the year. It is not a particularly gregarious creature, and may only loosely be associated with other thrushes, such as Blackbirds and Fieldfares. (gardenbird.co.uk)

In the northwestern province of Gelderland, the Veluwe is a geographical masterpiece. This ridge of hills is covered in some of nature’s most spectacular landscapes, including forests and woodlands, small lakes, swamps and epic sand drifts. Because of its varied habitats, many animals call the Veluwe their home. (discoverholland.com)

Blue Tits belt out all year round. In spring and summer, they’ll use their voice to defend territories and attract a mate. Throughout winter, they’ll hang out in feeding flocks of multiple species, where they keep in touch through contact calls. While they’re a little shier than their larger relatives, they’re still a regular feature at the bird feeder, especially through winter. They can be heard all across the UK – apart from on some of the Scottish islands where, like Great Tits, they’re a bit of a ‘twitch’ when blown across by storm. (rspb.org.uk)

The Long-tailed Tit is easily recognisable with its distinctive blush, black and white colouring. It also has a tail which is bigger than its body, and a bouncing flight. Sociable and noisy residents, Long-tailed Tits are most usually noticed in small, excitable flocks of about 20 birds. Like most tits, they rove the woods and hedgerows, but are also seen on heaths and commons with suitable bushes. (rspb.org.uk)

One interesting fact about the Robin is its keenness to rise early and be one of the first to tune up to Dawn Chorus with its fluting, warbling sound. Interestingly, Robins vocalise differently through the year, with a much more melancholy sound over winter, which become progressively chirpier towards the breeding period in spring. (gardenbird.co.uk)

One interesting fact about the Robin is its keenness to rise early and be one of the first to tune up to Dawn Chorus with its fluting, warbling sound. Interestingly, Robins vocalise differently through the year, with a much more melancholy sound over winter, which become progressively chirpier towards the breeding period in spring. (gardenbird.co.uk)

Teals are small dabbling ducks. Males have chestnut coloured heads with broad green eye-patches, a spotted chest, grey lower sides and a black edged yellow tail. Females are mottled brown. Both show bright green wing patches (speculum) in flight. They are thinly distributed as a breeding species with a preference for northern moors and mires. In winter, birds gather in low-lying wetland in the south and west of the UK. Of these, many are continental birds from around the Baltic and Siberia. At this time, the UK is home to a significant percentage of the north-west European wintering population making it an Amber List species. (rspb.org.uk)

One interesting fact about the Robin is its keenness to rise early and be one of the first to tune up to Dawn Chorus with its fluting, warbling sound. Interestingly, Robins vocalise differently through the year, with a much more melancholy sound over winter, which become progressively chirpier towards the breeding period in spring. (gardenbird.co.uk)

Juvenile Goldfinches have a streaky brown body and head, and lack the red, black and white markings seen on the face of adults. However, like adults, they have black wings with a bright yellow patch and a black tail with white marks. (rspb.co.uk)

The ancestor of most domestic geese, the Greylag is the largest and bulkiest of the wild goose native to the UK and Europe. In many parts of the UK, it has been re-established by releasing birds in suitable areas. The resulting flocks (often mixed with Canada Geese) are found around gravel pits, lakes and reservoirs all year round in southern Britain. They tend to be semi-tame which can make them a little uninspiring. The native birds and wintering flocks found in Scotland have the special appeal of truly wild geese. (rspb.org.uk)