An inconspicuous tree for much of the year, the field maple comes to life in autumn when its lobed leaves turn golden-yellow and its winged fruits disperse in the wind. Look for it in hedges and…

So-named for its spear-like leaves, Lesser spearwort can be found along the edges of ponds, lakes and streams, and in marshes and wet meadows. As a buttercup, it displays familiar, butter-yellow…

Once a rare visitor to the UK, this striking gull is now found nesting here in large colonies.

With yellow-and-black bands, the giant horntail looks like a large wasp, but is harmless to us. The female uses her long, stinger-like ovipositor to lay eggs in pine trees, where the larvae then…

Herb-Paris has four oval leaves set in a cross, with an understated crown of yellow-green flowers rising from the middle. This makes it quite a distinctive plant of ancient and damp woodlands on…

This streaky brown bird is a winter visitor, occasionally found walking around the muddy margins of marshes.

This elegant wading bird is a rare visitor to the UK, though occasionally one or two of pairs will nest here.

This dashing diving duck is a winter visitor to the UK's seas, coastal lakes and occasionally inland water bodies.

One of our prettiest and smallest bumble bees, the early bumblebee has a bright orange tail and lemon-yellow bands on its body. It is very common and can be found in all kinds of habitats in early…

The large white is a common garden visitor - look out for its brilliant white wings, tipped with black.

This wading bird is mainly a visitor on its spring and autumn migration, though a small number nest in Scotland.