Muntjac Deer (what three words- ///trend.films.couch) Diamond Jubilee Wood
A very small, stocky deer, the muntjac deer is about the same size as a medium dog. It is gingery-brown, with a pale underside, darker stripes in its face, and small, single-pointed antlers.
It is now a common animal across southeast England and can be found in woodland, parkland and even gardens. Muntjac deer are notorious browsers, eating the shoots from shrubs, as well as woodland herbs and brambles.
Muntjac deer are also known as ‘barking deer’ because of their dog-like calls. Muntjac also scream when frightened. The deer have been seen in the park.
Fox(what three words///readers.auctioned.wasp) Reflection Garden
A born survivor with a bushy tail. Ever adaptable, the fox is equally at home in our woods or city streets. It sits top of the woodland food chain with a diet that takes in everything from birds and beetles to rabbits and rats, fruit and berries.
Russet-red fur, pointed ears and a bushy tail make the fox unmistakable. Often smaller than people imagine, they typically weigh 5–8 kg and stand around 40cm at the shoulder.
Kingfisher(what three words///gaps.grain.houseboat) Wildflower Area- Fenced
The kingfisher is a colourful bird of rivers and streams. It can be spotted sitting quietly on low-hanging branches over the water, suddenly diving in to catch a small fish. Kingfishers live in burrow-like nests near lakes and other waterways, choosing a perfect spot for fishing!
The striking mix of its bright-blue back and metallic copper breast make the kingfisher unmistakable. Males have an entirely black bill, females have an orangey-red patch at the base. The Kingfisher is a protected species in the UK and have been seen in the park.
Owl(what three words///mental.repair.mime) Home Front Garden
Tawny owls are our biggest common owl, familiar in Britain’s woodland, parks and gardens. The‘too-wit too-woo’ call often referred to as being the song of the generic owl, is that of the tawny owl. But it isn’t the call of a single bird, but instead made by a male and female calling to each other.The female makes a ‘too-wit’ sound and the male answers with ‘too-woo’! These incredible creatures sit on their favourite perch on the lookout for small animals like voles and mice to eat. They nest during springtime in hollow trees, or sometimes choose to reuse an old crow’s nest!
The tawny owl is mottled reddish-brown, with a paler underside. It has a big, round head, rounded wings, large, dark eyes, and a dark ring around its face. The Owl is a protected species in the UK.
Badger(what three words///probe.admire.song) Silver Birch Centre- Highcliffe Car Park
Badgers are short, stout, powerful animals that live in underground ‘setts’ that can extend well over 50 metres long! Members of the mustelid family (which includes pine martens, otters, polecats, ferrets and the wolverine), the European badgers’ range extends from Britain, across Europe and to the middle east.
The badger is one of the UK’s most recognised and popular mammals, bringing pleasure to thousands of people and is a living symbol of the British countryside.
In the UK, badgers live in mixed-sex groups of between four and eight animals in underground ‘setts’. A social group living together in the same sett is also known as a ‘clan’
The diet of a badger is extremely varied, with badgers being described by expert Professor Tim Roper as “opportunistic omnivores”. Earthworms are the core of the badger’s diet, often by as much as 60 per cent. In a single night, an adult badger may eat well over 200 worms!
The badger is a protected species in the UK.