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Bill Oddie Goes Wild
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Heathland is a highly specialised and declining habitat unique to north-west Europe. In Britain it is mainly confined to the southern counties of Dorset, Hampshire and Surrey, and coastal areas of Norfolk and Suffolk. It is home to a unique fauna and flora, notably reptiles, dragonflies and damselflies, unusual plants and birds - some of which are virtually confined to this habitat.
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sunny mornings in spring and early summer are an excellent time to look for basking snakes and lizards: including the rare smooth snake and sand lizard as well as their commoner relatives; look for a sheltered, south-facing slope |
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heathland birds include whitethroat, tree pipit, stonechat and Dartford warbler; all may be seen perched on top of heather or gorse, and sing during spring and early summer |
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summer evenings are a good time to watch hobbies catching dragonflies; or listen out for the churring of the nightjar |
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in boggy areas, search for sundew - Britain's commonest carnivorous plant - using a magnifying glass to see its full beauty! |
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autumn and winter can be a quiet time on heaths, but some birds may be more visible, including the great grey shrike, a rare visitor from Scandinavia |
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