Search

©Andrew Parkinson/2020VISION

Find out more about membership Find your local Wildlife Trust

Species

Cuckoo ray

It’s easy to identify this distinctive skate from the black and yellow marbled eye spots on each wing.

Species

Cuckoo

Considered to be an early sign of spring, the song of the cuckoo sounds the same as its name: ‘cuck-oo’. It can be heard in woodlands and grasslands. Cuckoos famously lay their eggs in the nests…

Species

Cuckoo wrasse

One of the most colourful fish in UK seas, the cuckoo wrasse looks like it belongs in the tropics. Don't be fooled though, it's very much a native species.

Species

Spotted ray

The spotted ray is one of the smallest species of skate, growing to only 80 cm.

Species

Thornback ray

The most commonly encountered ray around the British Isles, it's easy to see where the thornback ray got its name from - just check out the spines on its back!

Species

Undulate ray

The undulate ray has beautiful wavy patterns on its back, which helps it camouflage against the sandy seabed.

Species

Blonde ray

This large skate has tiny, prickly spines all over its back.

Page

See nightingale and cuckoos

Spring in Britain brings in the song of the nightingale and cuckoo. Find the best places to see and hear these classic signs of spring around the country.
Nature Reserve

Upper Ray Meadows

This link will open on the BBOWT website.

The River Ray is one of the best areas in central England for locally scarce wading birds. The first curlew usually return to the Upper Ray Meadows in late February, and by early spring lapwing…

Species

Blue shark

It's easy to see where the blue shark got its name from. These sleek, elegant sharks have beautiful metallic blue backs which provide brilliant camouflage out in the open ocean.