Help with wildlife identification
In this section we have selected some of the resources we think will be most helpful in aiding identification of wildlife in the North Pennines.
Follow the links below to find identification help, or find out more about wildlife in the North Pennines by visiting our biodiversity pages.
Mammals
Bats
Bat descriptions and sound recordings
This site which is linked to the Warwickshire Bat Group has a very good section on each species which includes sound recordings.
Bat calls and recording
The Durham Bat Group's website has a good section on bat calls including sound files.
Mammals other than bats
Some of the clearest identification guides for mammals have been produced by the Environmental Records Centre for Cornwall and the Isles of Scilly (www.erccis.org.uk) Just remember that they don’t have all the same species as the North Pennines. Notably missing are polecat and pine marten which are covered very well on the Vincent Wildlife Trust website.
Carnivores
An identification guide to the carnivores of Cornwall and the Isles of Scilly. Carnivore guide
Deer
An identification guide to the deer of Cornwall and the Isles of Scilly.
Deer guide
Small mammals
An identification guide to the small mammals of Cornwall and the Isles of Scilly. Small mammals guide
Top of Page
Birds
The RSPB bird guide is probably the best and most comprehensive on-line identification and information guide to British Birds.
Top of Page
Reptiles and amphibians
Photographic identification guide
A good series of photographs and annotated pictures from Herpetofauna UK to aid identification of reptile and amphibian species found in the UK.
Top of Page
Invertebrates
Garden slugs and snails
Provided by the Conchological Society of Great Britain and Ireland, this key can help you identify snails ands slugs found in the UK.
Moths
The aim of this site is to illustrate as many species of British moths as possible and to provide this information in an accessible format.
Butterflies
A beautifully produced guide to British butterflies with a large range of excellent photos and species information. Includes flight charts to show which butterflies are on the wing when, population trends, plus an extensive stock of images. Now widened to include other species as well as butterflies.
Bumblebees
The Bumblebee Conservation Trust has an excellent website with a good identification guide. There is also an interesting interactive key to bumblebees by the Natural History Museum.
Shieldbugs
An excellent gallery and guide to the shieldbugs (and other bugs on the same site)
Ladybirds
The Woodland Trust has produced a user-friendly guide to ladybirds , covering 22 of our most common ladybirds. Remember that many ladybird species have more than one colour form and so you should read the description as well as looking at the single photo for each species. More detailed guides such as the Field Studies Council booklets might be helpful.
Oil beetles
Buglife run a national hunt for oil beetles and have an excellent information leaflet including help with identification. Please record your sightings with WildWatch and we will pass the data on. Buglife Oil beetle ID guide
Top of Page
Plants and fungi
Invasive plants
A comprehensive series of identification sheets for each of the invasive species listed in Schedule 9 of the Wildlife and Countryside Act for England and Wales (as well as species listed for Scotland).
https://secure.fera.defra.gov.uk/nonnativespecies/index.cfm?sectionid=47
Trees
Photgraphic guide to British trees
Guide to native British trees, with photographs. Browse the species lists or A-Z listing to discover, appreciate and identify tree species found throughout the UK.
http://www.woodlands.co.uk/blog/tree-identification/
Key to British trees and shrubs
Easy to use on-line key that enables you to distinguish between 80 species of trees and shrubs commonly found growing wild in Britain and Ireland from either their bare twigs, or from summer foliage. Also includes a description of the mature tree or shrub, including flowers and fruit, photos of the whole tree/shrub, leaves, winter twig, flowers etc. Also a distribution map by species for Britain and Ireland.
Veteran trees
The Ancient Tree Hunt website is the place for recording veteran trees and for finding those already recorded. It also includes a lot more information about ancient tree ecology and management.
Waxcap fungi
Aberystwyth University have produced an excellent website about waxcap fungi which includes an interactive key to identification. Alternatively use this printable waxcap key.
Top of Page