to spot 10 MORE SPECIES

GOLDEN EAGLE

THIS GIANT BIRD OF PREY FAVOURS THE OPEN MOORLANDS AND MOUNTAINS OF THE SCOTTISH HIGHLANDS. THE CAIRNGORMS NATIONAL PARK IS HOME TO UPWARDS OF 50 BREEDING TERRITORIES (cairngorms.co.uk).

WILD BOAR

THE FOREST OF DEAN IS HOME TO A NUMBER OF FERAL BOARS. THEY MIGHT BE SECRETIVE, BUT YOU COULD SEE THEM CHOMPING ON PLANT ROOTS, FUNGI, NUTS AND SEEDS IN THE SUMMER (visitdeanwye.co.uk).

OTTER

AUGHTON WOODS, AN ANCIENT WOODLAND ON THE RIVER LUNE NEAR LANCASTER, IS AN OTTER HOTSPOT. LOOK OUT FOR COMMON SANDPIPERS AND OYSTERCATCHERS THERE, TOO (lancswt.org.uk).

RED SQUIRREL

THE SOLENT STOPS NONNATIVE GREYS FROM REACHING THE WOODLAND SANCTUARIES ON THE ISLE OF WIGHT WHERE RED SQUIRRELS THRIVE. GO IN SEARCH OF THEM AT BORTHWOOD COPSE (nationaltrust.org. uk/borthwood-copse).

SMOOTH SNAKE

VISIT HIGHER HYDE HEATH IN DORSET AND YOU MIGHT JUST CATCH A GLIMPSE OF THE INCREASINGLY RARE SMOOTH SNAKE, AS WELL AS THE EQUALLY ELUSIVE SAND LIZARD (dorsetwildlifetrust.org.uk).

BADGER

IT CAN BE DIFFICULT TO SEE THESE ELUSIVE CREATURES, SO TO INCREASE YOUR CHANCES, JOIN PHOTOGRAPHER DAVID PLUMMER FOR A GUIDED TOUR IN NORTH SUSSEX (david plummerimages.co.uk/ guided-events/badgers).

BAT

THE CROM ESTATE BY UPPER LOUGH ERNE IN COUNTY FERMANAGH IS HOME TO ALL 18 SPECIES OF NATIVE BAT. JOIN A SUMMER BAT-WATCHING EVENT OR SEE THEM STREAM OUT FROM THEIR ROOSTING SPOTS AT DUSK (nationaltrust.org.uk/crom).

BASKING SHARK

THIS GENTLE GIANT IS KNOWN TO FEAST ON PLANKTON AROUND THE HEADLANDS, ISLANDS AND BAYS OF CORNWALL. BOOK ONTO A SEALIFE SAFARI, WHICH DEPARTS FROM PADSTOW (padstowsealifesafaris.co.uk).

ORCHID

HIGH IN THE BELFAST HILLS, SLIEVENACLOY NATURE RESERVE IS A HAVEN FOR ORCHIDS. IN EARLY SUMMER, THE MOSAIC OF MEADOWS AND RUSH PASTURE IS DOTTED WITH NINE SPECIES (ulsterwildlife.org/ nature-reserves/slievenacloy).

OSPREY

BREEDING OSPREYS HAS BEEN THE MAIN FOCUS AT THE REMOTE CORS DYFI RESERVE ON THE WEST COAST OF MID-WALES FOR THE PAST 12 YEARS (dyfiospreyproject.com).