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

Violet ground beetles are active predators, coming out at night to hunt slugs and other invertebrates in gardens, woodlands and meadows.

This distinctive bug is often seen basking on low-growing plants in spring and summer.

The lesser-black backed gull can be spotted around the coast in summer, with the biggest colony on Walney Island, Cumbria. Look for it over fields, landfill sites and reservoirs during winter.

The house sparrow is a familiar, streaky brown bird of towns, parks and gardens. Males sport a grey cap and black bib, the size of which indicates their status.

The rose chafer can be spotted on garden flowers, as well as in grassland, woodland edges and scrub.

This brightly-coloured beetle is often found feeding on flowers on warm days in late spring and summer.