Introducing the Erewash Valley Wildlife “Biopedia” – a collection of articles and photos on specific species, written and taken by locals. A guide to the wildlife of the Valley, and a reference for some of our common and rarer species.
This is a brand new section and so will take a while to grow, we hope that people will contribute to this section to allow it to grow – expanding and sharing their knowledge of species in the local area.
This needs *your* input so please submit articles and photos following the instructions here, and choose one of the categories under the Biopedia section. This is a collaborative section, and so feel free to add comments, changes or photos to existing articles (I need to check out if this is possible but for now certainly comment).
Birds
- Whooper Swan (Cygnus cygnus).
- Waxwing (Bombycilla garrulus).
- Water Rail (Rallus aquaticus)
- Teal (Anas crecca).
- Squacco Heron (Ardeola ralloides).
- Sparrowhawk (Accipiter nisus).
- Reed Bunting (Emberiza schoeniclus).
- Pochard (Aythya ferina).
- Mistle Thrush (Turdus viscivorus).
- Little Egret (Egretta garzetta).
- Lapwing.
- Great Spotted Woodpecker (Dendrocopos major).
- Great Crested Grebe (Podiceps cristatus).
- Goosander (Mergus merganser).
- Common Sandpiper
Mammals
Butterflies
Moths
Dragonflies and Damselflies
Crickets and Grasshoppers
Other Invertebrates
Reptiles and Amphibians
Fungi
Freshwater Widllife
Trees
Plants and Flowers
A Celebration Of Snowdrops.
A distinctly springlike feel to today and no better way to signal the warmer seasons are on the way
Whooper Swan (Cygnus cygnus).
The whooper swan is a large white swan, similar size to Mute Swans and bigger than the similar looki
Mistle Thrush (Turdus viscivorus).
This is a pale, black-spotted thrush – large, aggressive and powerful. It stands boldly uprigh
Goosander (Mergus merganser).
These handsome diving ducks are a member of the sawbill family, so called because of their long, ser
Waxwing (Bombycilla garrulus).
The waxwing is a plump bird, which is slightly smaller than a starling. It has a prominent crest. It
Water Rail (Rallus aquaticus)
Water Rail are a shy bird related to the Moorhen and Coot, they more often heard rather than seen an
Fallow Deer (Dama dama).
Fallow deer are a widespread species of deer in Britain. Originally from the Mediterranean and middl
Pochard (Aythya ferina).
In winter and spring, male pochards are very distinctive. They have a bright reddish-brown head, a b
Squacco Heron (Ardeola ralloides).
A small Heron that is more likely to be found in Southern Europe and the Middle East. A bird that no
Teal (Anas crecca).
Teals are small dabbling ducks. Males have chestnut coloured heads with broad green eye-patches, a s
Little Egret (Egretta garzetta).
The little egret is a small white heron with attractive white plumes on crest, back and chest, black
Sparrowhawk (Accipiter nisus).
Sparrowhawks are small birds of prey. They’re adapted for hunting birds in confined spaces lik
Paracorymbia fulva
Rather exciting news for the valley. Paracorymbia fulva is a longhorn beetle (Family Cerambycidae)
Lapwing.
Also known as the peewit in imitation of its display calls, its proper name describes its wavering f
Common Sandpiper
A smallish wader with contrasting brown upperparts and white underparts. It habitually bobs up and d
Common Blue & Azure Damselflies.
Two of our commonest Damselflies. Very common in any part of the valley but how do you tell them apa
Brimstone.
This single-brooded butterfly can be found in most months of the year, although peak flight times ar
Long Winged Conehead Bush Cricket.
First recorded in the UK in 1945 this Bush Cricket was confined to the South Coast until the 80̸
Roesel’s Bush Cricket.
Roesel’s crickets are one of ten species of bush crickets in the UK. The yellow stripe behind
Devil’s Coach Horse (Ochypus olens)
A large beetle, 20 – 28 mm, belonging to the group known as Rove Beetles or Staphylinids. It
