The big weekend quiz

The diversity of nature and wildlife in and around the Granite City is impressive – so test your knowledge with Aberdeen City Council Countryside Ranger Service

The City of Aberdeen is a beautiful place thanks to the many green spaces to be found among the streets and buildings. Some of these countryside sites are looked after by the city council’s Countryside Ranger Service, who keep an eye out for what’s living in Aberdeen’s natural places and show people the cultural and natural history of the city. Here is a quiz to test how much you know about Aberdeen’s natural places.

1. Which of Aberdeen’s four Local Nature Reserves is also a Site of Special Scientific Interest?

A. Kincorth Hill B. Den of Maidencraig C. Scotstown Moor

2. What is Aberdeen’s smallest native bird?

A. Blue tit B. Goldcrest C. Firecrest

3. What are these: Stinkhorn, Fly agaric, Cep, Dyer’s mazegill?

A. Fungi B. Mosses C. Flowers

4. Which of these is a moth?

A. Orange tip B. Smoky Wainscot C. Small tortoiseshell

5. What is a “Foggy Bummer?”

A. Honeybee B. Ladybird C. Bumblebee

6. What links these: Bell, Damselfly, Tit, Bottle?

A. Fly B. Green C. Blue

7. What animals support Aberdeen’s coat of arms?

A. Leopards B. Lions C. Unicorns

8. What are baby red squirrels called?

A. Pups B. Kittens C. Squirrelings

9. The lichen Xanthoria parietina is what colour?

A. Yellow-orange B. Blue-purple C. Light grey

10. What defends itself by spitting a foul-smelling oil?

A. Fulmar B. Soldier beetle C. Striped millipede

11. Which orchid will you find growing in wet or damp locations?

A. Early purple orchid B. Northern marsh orchid C. Pyramidal orchid

12. Name a flower you will find in spring?

A. Primrose B. Cow parsley C. Rose

13. What tree will you find growing close to rivers?

A. Willow B. Rowan C. Corsican Pine

14. What do shrews and whales have in common?

A. They live in the sea B. They live on land C. They are mammals

15. What was rare in Aberdeen 10 years ago but is now doing well?

A. Herring gull B. Roe deer C. Red squirrel

16. Which insect has jointed wings?

A. Ants B. Hover flies C. Mayflies

17. How do butterflies and moths get their colours and patterns?

A. It all comes from what they eat B. The flowers they visit C. Scales on the wings

18. Name an animal will you not find in a rock pool.

A. Crab B. Toad C. Jelly fish

19. What should be in the countryside?

A. Plastic B. Trees C. Glass

20. What things can you do to help wildlife?

A. Take your litter home B. Leave only foot prints C. Do no damage D. All of the above

21. What bird is commonly known as a peewit?

A. Oyster catcher B. Lapwing C. Redshank

22. How many full-time Countryside Rangers does Aberdeen City Council have?

A. 10.4 B. 2 C. 3.6

23. To what length can a North Sea bottlenose dolphin grow?

A. 1.2m B. 2m C. 4m

24. What rare Aberdeen resident used to be known as sweet mart due to the smell of its droppings?

A. Pine marten B. Sand martin C. Beach marten

25. What tree has the family name Corylus?

A. Ash B. Scots pine C. Hazel

26. Nether Don once contained a commercial net fishing site but what species would they harvest?

A. Atlantic salmon B. Langoustines C. Carp

27. How many native members of the mustelid family can still be found in Aberdeen?

A. 1 B. 3 C. 5

28. What percentage of Scotland’s Local Nature Reserves are within Aberdeen?

A. 3 B. 9 C. 12

29. Which of these birds walks underwater in search of food?

A. Oyster catcher B. Shoveler C. Dipper

30. What is the highest point in Aberdeen?

A. Mount Keen B. Brimmond Hill C. School Hill

SMALL WONDERS: These small creatures don’t get spotted too often – but what name would you give for a baby red squirrel?

SEA OF PLENTY: A remarkable close-up of a bottlenose dolphin feeding on a fish – see question 23.

A special place for nature and wildlife – the Den of Maidencraig pond.

Trees reaching high in Carnie Woods.

Lesser white-toothed shrew – see question 14.