BBC Wildlife Magazine

There’s still time for you to have your say! To celebrate our 60th anniversary, we want to know which of our specially chosen locations is your favourite. Is it ancient Dartmoor, Bass Rock with its noisy gannets, or the seal hangout that is Lundy Isl

WHAT IS IT ABOUT BEARS THAT WE HUMANS just can’t get enough of? As far back as I care to recall, from Disney’s Baloo to Yogi Bear from Jellystone (not to mention the imaginatively named Little Ted, who I cuddled at night), I looked to bears almost as

It’s late summer on South Georgia in the southern Atlantic, when temperatures can reach a balmy 9ºC, but snowfall remains a threat. Here, a fur seal confronts a column of king penguins, only to quickly withdraw when met with a few warning pecks. A co

SEARCHING FOR LIFE IN THE PELAGIC ocean is like finding a needle in a haystack and capturing an epic scene, such as the one pictured, can take many long days at sea without reward. A frantic gathering of seabirds near the water’s surface, though, is

THE RICH LEMON-YELLOW OF A MALE brimstone butterfly is spectacular at any time – this is an insect that can nowadays be seen in the UK from February until November. But it seems especially fine in early spring sunshine, when the first freshly woken i

THE ROBIN IS RECKONED TO BE BRITAIN’S most popular bird and is also one of the most familiar. Dig some earth and a resident robin might come close to see what food you’ve uncovered. Robin-to-robin interactions are often less amicable. Strongly territ

A PIONEERING PROJECT HAS BEEN launched by Natural England in partnership with the International Centre for Birds of Prey, which will see hen harriers being bred in captivity for the first time and released onto Salisbury Plain, with the aim of restor

TOOTHWORT IS A PLANT DEVOID OF leaves or chlorophyll, with a ghostly pallor that’s most un-plant-like. Its pale pink flower spikes, which sprout suddenly in March and April, bear an uncanny resemblance to naked flesh, or (hence the name) a stack of p

A European Journal of Neuroscience study on stranded dolphins has shown brain changes in aged dolphins similar to those seen with human ageing and Alzheimer’s disease. The results could support the ‘sick-leader’ theory, by which a healthy pod of anim

John Aitchison presents the skylark on Tweet of the Day NO BIRD HAS INSPIRED MORE ENGLISH poetry and music than the skylark – well, apart perhaps from the nightingale. This nondescript, streaky brown bird of rough grassy places is often in full voice

EVOLUTION FASHIONS BODIES THAT are exquisitely adapted to their environment. It’s not perfect, though. Why, for instance, do male mammals have nipples when only females need them? Males and females develop along very similar lines using much the same

“WE CAN BE PASSIONATE ABOUT protecting nature but all the passion in the world won’t change a thing if the law doesn’t reflect a need to protect the environment. “Law is a technical subject [and] about reason – argument, logic, facts and evidence are

This year’s spring equinox, when night equals day, falls on 20th March in the Northern Hemisphere. For the Romans, it was a flowers of blackthorn – Britain’s first native tree to blossom. moment that signalled the start of a new year. For naturalists

A breeding population of pine martens has been discovered in the New Forest after hidden cameras captured footage of pine martens, including young. Previously only seen in northern England, Scotland and parts of Wales, this is clear evidence of the m

ROSEMAN ADAMS HAS ALWAYS BEEN PASSIONATE about wildlife but it wasn’t until 1999 that he became involved in conservation more directly on an island in Saint Vincent and the Grenadines. “I started to see many environmental issues on Union Island and t

Yellowstone: The Art of America. The role of art in its creation. MANY PARASITES MANIPULATE THE behaviour of their hosts to their own advantage. Few, though, help their victims rise up through the social hierarchy. But that is exactly what happens wh

The newly described Garrarnawun bush tomato (Solanum scalarium) is part of the diverse Solanum genus, which also includes tomatoes, potatoes, aubergines and some of the nightshades. Although some bush tomatoes contain solanine and are poisonous, othe

THE FIRTH OF FORTH JUST EAST OF Edinburgh is an important wintering area for velvet scoter, one of our scarcer sea ducks, that visits from its breeding grounds in Scandinavia and West Siberia. But recently, sharp-eyed observers have found that the lo

Lionel Kelleway is in Surrey looking for spring toads in Living World During mild spells in March, common toads stir from their winter torpor and begin plodding – not hopping, as frogs do – towards ancestral breeding pools. Most move on damp evenings

A NEW STUDY USING SATELLITE IMAGERY and state-of-the-art GPS systems has shown that African elephants take the shortest possible route when looking to feed on their favourite bushes and trees. Researchers found that bull elephants choose different ro

THE TERM ‘A MUSTERING OF STORKS’ derives from ‘muster’, meaning a general gathering or assembly; while ‘mustering’ is applied particularly to troops arranged together for an inspection. The word is also used in the animal world for a round-up of live

IF YOU NOTICE HOLLY BERRIES LEFT ON branches at the end of winter – and it is only female holly trees that have them in the first place – you may have come across the private larder of a mistle thrush. This is a bird that jealously guards its own ber

THE FEMALE BONNETHEAD SHARK, Sphyrna tiburo, is full of surprises. Firstly, this small species of hammerhead is the only shark known to graze on seagrass. All other sharks are committed carnivores, but analysis of the bonnethead’s stomach has reveale

MANY NATURALISTS HAVE WONDERED why so many of Britain’s early spring flowers happen to be yellow. The roll call includes lesser celandine, marsh marigold, primrose, cowslip, daffodil (the native variety of which can be seen in Yorkshire, Gloucestersh

YOU’D HAVE THOUGHT GOVERNMENTS would be more interested in ensuring that our planet continues to be habitable. But they seem woefully and bizarrely unenthusiastic when it comes to avoiding mutual destruction. Sadly, then, it will come as no surprise

THE GLASSFROGS OF TROPICAL AMERICA have probably come closer than any animal to developing an invisibility cloak. And new research reveals the lengths to which these remarkable amphibians go to perfect the illusion. Camouflage is usually achieved by

The broadcaster, naturalist and tour guide shares the most breathtaking seasonal events in Britain TO THOSE WITH A NATURAL HISTORY bent, the month of March is synonymous with one spectacle above any other – that of brown hares duking it out. Celebrat

The popular naturalist, author and TV presenter reveals a secret world of overlooked wildlife NOT MANY SUBJECTS FOUND IN THIS column are best seen at the dining table, or more specifically, in this case, within a bowl of moules marinières. But next t

This lucky six-month-old cub’s tolerant mother allowed him to ride on her back. “We think she’s a first-time parent who developed a special bond with her offspring,” says Kate and Adam Rice, who photographed these images in Alaska’s Katmai National P

IT WAS RAINING WHEN I VISITED Manchester, fittingly one might say, given its popular image. Fittingly, also, because I was standing in West Gorton Community Park, which includes a lovely rain garden – a sunken area filled with water-loving plants whe

Available from BBC Wildlife magazine is full of breathtaking photos and fascinating features on the most interesting animals and habitats in the UK and around the world. With the latest news and conservation issues, practical expert advice and ideas

ROOFS ARE AMAZING resources for many reasons, one of which is that they are superb rain-harvesting devices. In effect, they act as big funnels and direct the rainfall into your gutters, and then often straight down your drain. Each average terraced r

THE SHRILL CALLS OF CICADAS RESONATE through the heavy air as the woodland behind me shimmers in the rising heat of the day. A ring-necked dove, unseen in the canopy, urges me to “work harder, work harder, work harder,” but my damp shirt and red skin

IT’S A GLORIOUSLY WARM Tuesday in June when the Scillonian III draws into the pretty harbour on St Mary’s, the largest of the Isles of Scilly, announcing her arrival with three ear-splitting honks. It’s fitting that it’s a blue-sky day, as these are

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Sir David Attenborough recently said: “Fifty years ago, whales were on the very edge of extinction worldwide. Then people got together and now there are more whales in the sea than any living human being has ever seen.” So, have the whales been saved

Sometimes, the question “What on Earth?” leaves even the experts stumped. A survey of our resident entomologists has failed to identify this unusual specimen, photographed in Peru. All we can say is that it’s almost certainly an insect larva and quit

GIVEN THAT THEY CONTAIN the biological molecules and machinery required by all life forms, it’s ironic that cells were named after empty spaces. When the 17th-century polymath Robert Hooke looked down a microscope at the structure of cork, its repeat

TV HIGHLIGHT OF THE MONTH Catch up on BBC iPlayer JANUARY SAW THE RETURN OF Winterwatch to our screens for a joyful two weeks. The four regular presenters celebrated the wonders of the UK’s wildlife and its landscapes. Chris Packham and Michaela Stra

How did you first get involved in ‘The Watches’? I have my mum to thank! I’d always been a huge fan of the show and she simply encouraged me to find the email address of the series producer and drop them a message asking if there was anything I could

The award-winning wildlife cameraman and presenter Gordon Buchanan steps up to the microphone to host this podcast from conservation and communities charity Jamma International. Across the episodes, he delves into the world of community-led projects

THE DRAMATISED WILDLIFE SERIES Serengeti returns to BBC One for a third season, this time narrated by the British actress Adjoa Andoh – of theatre and Casualty fame, and lately playing Lady Danbury in the Netflix adaptation of the Bridgerton books. T

A large evergreen shrub, gorse is most recognisable by its coconut-scented bright yellow flowers. Named for its large leaves that were once used to wrap butter, this plant has small pink flowers on a spike. Loved by bumblebees, this nettle species ha

ALONGSIDE STUDYING FOR HER BIOLOGICAL sciences degree, Anna Webberley is the president of the Cardiff University Ornithological Society and was awarded the British Trust for Ornithology’s (BTO) Marsh Award for Young Ornithologist of the Year in 2022.

5 Number of tentacles on a helmet jellyfish (6) 7 Heathland songbird (8) 9 ___ mantella, small frog that lives in subtropical Madagascar (8) 10 Foxes’ dens (6) 11 Fern in the genus Ophioglossum (6,6) 13 Spotted cat of South America (6) 15 Cassava (6)

PRIZE-WINNING PHOTO Growing out of a moss-covered twig, this small troop of miniscule collared parachute fungi was photographed early in the morning, against diffused sunlight coming through the surrounding beech trees. When viewed through a macro le

The striking-looking lionfish uses its outstretched fins to corner and ambush its prey. Unfortunately, it is now an invasive species in the Atlantic, competing with vulnerable native species. Can you spot the five differences between the images? Answ

How did you get into photography? I grew up in a city and felt trapped. Seeking out wildlife was the exact opposite, and photography has always been my ‘thing’. Which shot is most important to you? An image of a jaguar that I captured on my very firs

Learn as much as you can about the animal you want to photograph. The more you study it, the more you can predict what it might do. To capture an animal in movement, use fast shutter speeds of 1/2,000, 1/3,000 or higher. Or use a slightly slower shut

YOUR RECENT FEATURE ON BRITAIN’S 60 favourite places for wildlife (January 2023) included such an array of breathtaking wild places in the UK. But you have missed probably one of the most scenic areas (in my opinion) of all: the North York Moors. I l

Delightful footage of a roe deer mother bringing up her fawns in a cemetery features in Wild Isles – the new five-part series coming to BBC One this spring that showcases the natural wonders of Britain. Photographer Jules Cox studied the family for a

“JUST THREE DAYS INTO OUR Botswana tour and our guide, Disho, had exceeded all expectations with his uncanny ability to spot the wild inhabitants of Chobe National Park. During morning and afternoon excursions from our tented camp in Khwai Community

SEARCHING FOR LIFE IN THE PELAGIC ocean is like finding a needle in a haystack and capturing an epic scene, such as the one pictured, can take many long days at sea without reward. A frantic gathering of seabirds near the water’s surface, though, is

THE ROBIN IS RECKONED TO BE BRITAIN’S most popular bird and is also one of the most familiar. Dig some earth and a resident robin might come close to see what food you’ve uncovered. Robin-to-robin interactions are often less amicable. Strongly territ

A PIONEERING PROJECT HAS BEEN launched by Natural England in partnership with the International Centre for Birds of Prey, which will see hen harriers being bred in captivity for the first time and released onto Salisbury Plain, with the aim of restor

“WE CAN BE PASSIONATE ABOUT protecting nature but all the passion in the world won’t change a thing if the law doesn’t reflect a need to protect the environment. “Law is a technical subject [and] about reason – argument, logic, facts and evidence are

ROSEMAN ADAMS HAS ALWAYS BEEN PASSIONATE about wildlife but it wasn’t until 1999 that he became involved in conservation more directly on an island in Saint Vincent and the Grenadines. “I started to see many environmental issues on Union Island and t

Yellowstone: The Art of America. The role of art in its creation. MANY PARASITES MANIPULATE THE behaviour of their hosts to their own advantage. Few, though, help their victims rise up through the social hierarchy. But that is exactly what happens wh

THE FIRTH OF FORTH JUST EAST OF Edinburgh is an important wintering area for velvet scoter, one of our scarcer sea ducks, that visits from its breeding grounds in Scandinavia and West Siberia. But recently, sharp-eyed observers have found that the lo

IF YOU NOTICE HOLLY BERRIES LEFT ON branches at the end of winter – and it is only female holly trees that have them in the first place – you may have come across the private larder of a mistle thrush. This is a bird that jealously guards its own ber

THE FEMALE BONNETHEAD SHARK, Sphyrna tiburo, is full of surprises. Firstly, this small species of hammerhead is the only shark known to graze on seagrass. All other sharks are committed carnivores, but analysis of the bonnethead’s stomach has reveale

YOU’D HAVE THOUGHT GOVERNMENTS would be more interested in ensuring that our planet continues to be habitable. But they seem woefully and bizarrely unenthusiastic when it comes to avoiding mutual destruction. Sadly, then, it will come as no surprise

THE GLASSFROGS OF TROPICAL AMERICA have probably come closer than any animal to developing an invisibility cloak. And new research reveals the lengths to which these remarkable amphibians go to perfect the illusion. Camouflage is usually achieved by

The broadcaster, naturalist and tour guide shares the most breathtaking seasonal events in Britain TO THOSE WITH A NATURAL HISTORY bent, the month of March is synonymous with one spectacle above any other – that of brown hares duking it out. Celebrat

The popular naturalist, author and TV presenter reveals a secret world of overlooked wildlife NOT MANY SUBJECTS FOUND IN THIS column are best seen at the dining table, or more specifically, in this case, within a bowl of moules marinières. But next t

This lucky six-month-old cub’s tolerant mother allowed him to ride on her back. “We think she’s a first-time parent who developed a special bond with her offspring,” says Kate and Adam Rice, who photographed these images in Alaska’s Katmai National P

IT WAS RAINING WHEN I VISITED Manchester, fittingly one might say, given its popular image. Fittingly, also, because I was standing in West Gorton Community Park, which includes a lovely rain garden – a sunken area filled with water-loving plants whe

ROOFS ARE AMAZING resources for many reasons, one of which is that they are superb rain-harvesting devices. In effect, they act as big funnels and direct the rainfall into your gutters, and then often straight down your drain. Each average terraced r

THE SHRILL CALLS OF CICADAS RESONATE through the heavy air as the woodland behind me shimmers in the rising heat of the day. A ring-necked dove, unseen in the canopy, urges me to “work harder, work harder, work harder,” but my damp shirt and red skin

IT’S A GLORIOUSLY WARM Tuesday in June when the Scillonian III draws into the pretty harbour on St Mary’s, the largest of the Isles of Scilly, announcing her arrival with three ear-splitting honks. It’s fitting that it’s a blue-sky day, as these are