The Common Noctule is the largest type in Britain of what creature?
"the diet. Eurasian eagle-owls have been recorded hunting the smallest mammal on earth (by weight) the Etruscan shrew (""Suncus etruscus""), as well as the largest mole on earth, the Russian desman (""Desmana moschata""). From the smallest shrew to the heaviest hedgehog, the Eurasian eagle-owl has been verified to hunt the full size range of insectivores. They’ve also attacked bats of every size available, from the smallest European bat, the common pipistrelle (""Pipistrellus pipistrellus""), to the largest species there, the greater noctule bat (""Nyctalus lasiopterus""). In the Sikhote-Alin range of the Russian Far East, bats were found to comprise 5.9% of"
"Cryptocheilus notatus Cryptocheilus notatus is the largest species of spider wasps (Pompilidae) to be found in Great Britain reaching up to 18mm in length. ""Cryptocheilus notatus"" constructs multi-celled nests and they require quite substantial pre-existing cavities, the wasp does very little digging herself. Nesting sites have included mammal burrows, notably those of the European Mole (""Talpa europaea""), but it will utilise disused invertebrate nest sites, which it will expand. Prey recorded in Britain includes ""Drassodes cupreus"", a large nocturnal ground spider from the Gnaphosidae. Associated with woodland edges. In Britain it is associated with warm lowland heaths. Europe and the"
"Red-necked nightjar The red-necked nightjar (""Caprimulgus ruficollis"") is the largest of the nightjars occurring in Europe. It breeds in Iberia and north Africa, and winters in tropical west Africa. ""Caprimulgus"" is derived from the Latin ""capra"", ""nanny goat"", and ""mulgere"", ""to milk"", referring to an old myth that nightjars suck milk from goats. The specific ""ruficollis"" is from Latin ""rufus"", ""red"", and ""collum"", ""neck"". The common name ""nightjar"", first recorded in 1630, refers to the nocturnal habits of the bird, the second part of the name deriving from the distinctive churring song. There are two subspecies: nominate ""ruficollis"", breeding in"
"Common nightingale The common nightingale or simply nightingale (""Luscinia megarhynchos""), also known as rufous nightingale, is a small passerine bird best known for its powerful and beautiful song. It was formerly classed as a member of the thrush family Turdidae, but is now more generally considered to be an Old World flycatcher, Muscicapidae. It belongs to a group of more terrestrial species, often called chats. ""Nightingale"" is derived from ""night"", and the Old English ""galan"", ""to sing"". The genus name ""Luscinia"" is Latin for ""nightingale"" and ""megarhynchos"" is from Ancient Greek ""megas"", ""great"" and ""rhunkhos"" ""bill"". The common nightingale is"
"Common brushtail possum The common brushtail possum (""Trichosurus vulpecula"", from the Greek for ""furry tailed"" and the Latin for ""little fox"", previously in the genus ""Phalangista"") is a nocturnal, semi-arboreal marsupial of the family Phalangeridae, it is native to Australia, and the second largest of the possums. Like most possums, the common brushtail possum is nocturnal. It is mainly a folivore, but has been known to eat small mammals such as rats. In most Australian habitats, leaves of eucalyptus are a significant part of the diet but rarely the sole item eaten. The tail is prehensile and naked on its"
"Cicindela sylvatica Cicindela sylvatica is a tiger beetle, commonly known as the wood tiger beetle or heath tiger beetle. It is the largest of the British tiger beetles with a length of between . It is black in colour with a blue tinge, more pronounced on the underside, and sometimes appears with a bronze sheen. The beetle occurs throughout Europe with the exception of the Mediterranean and the extreme north. In the UK, it is found in England. The beetle has been given priority status under the UK Biodiversity Action Plan (UK BAP) and has been included in the English"
"British Trust for Ornithology in 2012 and 2013 recorded some 3,300 territories, with most of these clustered in a few counties in the south-east of England, notably Kent, Essex, Suffolk, and East and West Sussex. By contrast, the European breeding population is estimated at between 3.2 and 7 million pairs, giving it green conservation status (least concern). Common nightingales are so named because they frequently sing at night as well as during the day. The name has been used for more than 1,000 years, being highly recognisable even in its Old English form ""nihtgale"", which means ""night songstress"". Early writers"
"cm long. It has an unusual habit of copulating on the surface at night, which makes it more visible than most other earthworms. Because it is widely known, ""Lumbricus"" goes under a variety of common names. In Britain, it is primarily called the common earthworm or lob worm (though the name is also applied to a marine polychaete). In North America, the term nightcrawler (or vitalis) is also used. In Canada, it is also called the dew worm, or ""Grandaddy Earthworm"". In the rest of the world, most references are just to the scientific name, though with occasional reference to"
"believed that parts of their body ward off seduction. Great potoo The great potoo (""Nyctibius grandis"") is a near passerine bird, both the largest potoo species and the largest member of the order Caprimulgiformes (nightjars and allies). They are also one of seven species in one genus, Nyctibius, located in tropical America. Much like owls, this species is nocturnal. They prey on large insects and small vertebrates, which they capture in sallies from high perches. Possibly its most well known characteristic is its unique moaning growl that the Great Potoo vocalizes throughout the night, creating an unsettling atmosphere in the"
"Great potoo The great potoo (""Nyctibius grandis"") is a near passerine bird, both the largest potoo species and the largest member of the order Caprimulgiformes (nightjars and allies). They are also one of seven species in one genus, Nyctibius, located in tropical America. Much like owls, this species is nocturnal. They prey on large insects and small vertebrates, which they capture in sallies from high perches. Possibly its most well known characteristic is its unique moaning growl that the Great Potoo vocalizes throughout the night, creating an unsettling atmosphere in the Neotropics with its nocturnal sounds. The great potoo has"
"Velvet crab The velvet crab is alternately ""velvet swimming crab"", ""devil crab"" or ""lady crab,"" Necora puber, is a species of crab. It is the largest of the swimming crab family (Portunidae) found in British coastal waters. It has a carapace width of up to , and is the only species in the genus Necora. Its body is coated with short hairs, giving the animal a velvety texture, hence the common name. It is one of the major crab species for United Kingdom fisheries, in spite of its relatively small size. The velvet crab lives from southern Norway to Western"
"blue-grey gnatcatcher (""Polioptila caerulea"") and the ruby-crowned kinglet (""Regulus calendula""). Somewhat larger bodied families are more prominent, i.e. the corvids (14 species) and icterids (14 species) and, secondarily, the kingbirds (""Tyrannus"" ssp.), thrushes, mimids and European starling (""Sturnus vulgaris""). This is likely due to the fact that the larger passerines usually roost in relatively open spots and have larger, more conspicuous nests. Crows and ravens tend to be grabbed off of their communal roosts by night. The great horned owl rarely misses an opportunity to hunt reptiles and amphibians. However, lizards are largely unavailable as prey due to their typically"
"globally only from Widewater Lagoon in Lancing; last seen in 1983 it is thought to be extinct. Since 2001 Knepp Castle in the Low Weald near Horsham has been part of a major rewilding project, as of 2015 the largest rewilding project in lowland Europe. Since its inception the project has seen a spontaneous revival of many rare species. It is now a breeding hotspot for purple emperor butterflies, turtle doves and 2 per cent of the UK’s population of nightingales. Sightings continue to be reported of British big cats or phantom cat wild in Sussex. Domesticated animals with strong"
"nidus-avis""), violet helleborine (""Epipactis purpurata""), the extreme rarity ""E."" x ""schulzei"" (first British record here, 1931), and green-flowered helleborine (""E. phyllanthes""). Various rare molluscs and insects have been recorded. Butterflies on the Common include the Duke of Burgundy (""Hamearis lucina""), silver-washed fritillary (""Argynnis paphia"") and purple emperor (""Apatura iris""). The avifauna includes most of the species typical of broad-leaved woodland in southern England, such as sparrowhawk (""Accipter nisus""), stock dove (""Columba oenas""), tawny owl (""Strix aluco""), European green woodpecker (""Picus viridis""), great spotted woodpecker (""Dendrocopos major""), garden warbler (""Sylvia borin""), blackcap (""S. atricapilla""), chiffchaff (""Phylloscopus collybita""), spotted flycatcher (""Muscicapa striata""),"
"one of Britain's larger bats. Other species include the Daubenton's bat which skims across the water's surface to prey on caddis flies. Bats are most likely to be seen after dusk on warm evenings in summer. Wilstone Reservoir is a very important wildfowl sanctuary, and many rare species dwell here, as well as on the other three reservoirs. These include Atlantic Canada geese, bittern, blackcap, black-headed gull, black-necked grebe, black-tailed godwit, black tern, blue tit, Cetti's warbler, common chiffchaff, corn bunting, common crane, common sandpiper, common scoter, common snipe, common teal, common tern, coot, curlew, curlew sandpiper, dabchick, dunlin, dunnock,"
"pygmy shrew, is one of the smallest mammals in the world. There are also seventeen species of bat found in Britain: the pipistrelle is the smallest and the most common. Rodents are also numerous across Britain, particularly the brown rat which is by far the most abundant urban animal after humans. Some however, are becoming increasingly rare. Habitat destruction has led to a decrease in the population of dormice and bank voles found in Britain. Due to the introduction of the North American grey squirrel, the red squirrel had become largely extinct in England and Wales, with the last populations"
"Mitchell's hopping mouse Mitchell's hopping mouse (""Notomys mitchellii"") is the largest extant member of the genus ""Notomys"", weighing between . ""N. mitchellii"" is a bipedal rodent with large back legs, similar to a jerboa or kangaroo rat. The species occurs throughout much of semi-arid Southern Australia, and appears to be particularly common on the Eyre Peninsula, South Australia. Typical habitat for ""N. mitchellii"" appears to be mallee shrublands on sandy dune systems. The species is currently considered to be unthreatened, but its range has been reduced through habitat disturbance and destruction associated with European settlement in Australia. Individuals are a"
"an abundance of rabbits, hares, hedgehogs, shrews, moles and several species of bat. Carnivorous mammals include the fox, badger, otter, weasel, stoat and elusive wildcat. Various species of seal, whale and dolphin are found on or around British shores and coastlines. The largest land-based wild animals today are deer. The red deer is the largest species, with roe deer and fallow deer also prominent; the latter was introduced by the Normans. Sika deer and two more species of smaller deer, muntjac and Chinese water deer, have been introduced, muntjac becoming widespread in England and parts of Wales while Chinese water"
"Common nighthawk The common nighthawk (""Chordeiles minor"") is a medium-sized crepuscular or nocturnal bird within the nightjar family, whose presence and identity are best revealed by its vocalization. Typically dark (grey, black and brown), displaying cryptic colouration and intricate patterns, this bird is difficult to spot with the naked eye during the day. Once aerial, with its buoyant but erratic flight, this bird is most conspicuous. The most remarkable feature of this aerial insectivore is its small beak that belies the massiveness of its mouth. Some claim appearance similarities to owls. With its horizontal stance and short legs, the common"
"Bombus ruderatus Bombus ruderatus, the large garden bumblebee or ruderal bumblebee, is a species of long-tongued bumblebee found in Europe and in some parts of northern Africa. This species is the largest bumblebee in Britain and it uses its long face and tongue to pollinate hard-to-reach tubed flowers. Bumblebees are key pollinators in many agricultural ecosystems, which has led to ""B. ruderatus"" and other bumblebees being commercially bred and introduced into non-native countries, specifically New Zealand and Chile. Since its introduction in Chile, ""B. ruderatus"" has spread into Argentina as well. Population numbers have been declining and it has been"
"were hunted to extinction many centuries ago. However, in recent times some of these large mammals have been tentatively reintroduced to some areas of mainland Britain. The largest wild mammals that remain in Britain today are predominantly members of the deer family. The red deer is the largest native mammal species, and is common throughout England, Scotland and Wales. The other indigenous species is the roe deer. The common fallow deer is in fact not native to Britain, having been brought over from France by the Normans in the late 11th century. It has become well established. The sika deer"
"soon after sunset to feed on flying insects such as moths and beetles. They fly straight and fast with shallow dives, often at treetop level. They sometimes feed around streetlights, catching the insects attracted to them. They are most active around dusk and dawn and will travel up to 10 km while foraging. Lesser noctules usually breed in small colonies of around 20 to 50 individuals but in Ireland they can be much larger, with some colonies numbering as many as 1,000 individuals. The colony is usually in a hollow tree or building; bat boxes may sometimes be used. The"
"after the brown rat, and other animals such as common wood pigeon. There are 220 species of non-marine molluscs that have been recorded as living in the wild in Britain. Two of them (""Fruticicola fruticum"" and ""Cernuella neglecta"") are locally extinct. In addition there are 14 gastropod species that live only in greenhouses. The species of amphibian native to Britain are the great crested newt, smooth newt, palmate newt, common toad, natterjack toad, common frog and the pool frog. Several other species have become naturalised. Like many temperate areas, Great Britain exhibits a relative lack of snakes, with the European"
"active at dusk and at night. They have a distinctive call which includes a sharp ""tsiik"" followed by a pause and a two-syllable ""ba-haaww"". The nest is a scrape on the ground and the clutch consists of a single egg. The chicks are well camouflaged among leaf litter. Several populations are given subspecies status and include: Great eared nightjar The great eared nightjar (""Lyncornis macrotis"") is a species of nightjar in the family Caprimulgidae. It is the largest species in the family in terms of length, which can range from . Males weigh an average of and females weigh an"
"Panagaeus cruxmajor Panagaeus cruxmajor, the crucifix ground beetle, is a rare European ground beetle. In England it occurs in a few places only. ""Panagaeus bipustulatus"" is a commoner relative, looking very much alike except for being smaller. The crucifix ground beetle is sometimes included in ""P. bipustulatus"", but most modern authors consider it distinct. The largely black and rather bristly beetle is in length, with large red spots on its wing cases which give the appearance of a red background behind a black cross. It shelters under pieces of wood during the day, and is a nocturnal predatory species thought"
"Great diving beetle The great diving beetle (""Dytiscus marginalis"") is an aquatic diving beetle native to Europe and northern Asia, and is particularly common in England. The great diving beetle, true to its name, is a rather large insect. The larvae can grow up to in length, while the adults are generally . These beetles live in fresh water, either still or slow-running, and seem to prefer water with vegetation. They are dark-coloured (brown to black) on their back and wing cases (elytra) and yellow on their abdomen and legs. The male's wing cases are shiny, while those of the"
"Ischnura heterosticta Ischnura heterosticta, one of at least two species with the common name common bluetail, is an Australian damselfly of the family Coenagrionidae. It is the largest of the six ""Ischnura"" species in Australia. They are generally found near slow-running or still water. The species is also salt tolerant. It flies from October to March. The common bluetail is a small damselfly. Most males have blue eyes, a blue thorax, and a blue ringed tail. The females have a variety of forms including green, brown, black, and a form with very similar colourings to the male. In Australia, ""Ischnura"
"Common starling The common starling (""Sturnus vulgaris""), also known as the European starling, or in the British Isles just the starling, is a medium-sized passerine bird in the starling family, Sturnidae. It is about long and has glossy black plumage with a metallic sheen, which is speckled with white at some times of year. The legs are pink and the bill is black in winter and yellow in summer; young birds have browner plumage than the adults. It is a noisy bird, especially in communal roosts and other gregarious situations, with an unmusical but varied song. Its gift for mimicry"
"ubiquitous species is one of the most hated of garden pests. The species overwinters as a larva and feeds on mild days throughout the winter. See Robinson, G.S. et al. Large yellow underwing The large yellow underwing (""Noctua pronuba"") is a moth, the type species for the family Noctuidae. It is an abundant species throughout the Palearctic ecozone, one of the most common and most familiar moths of the region. In some years the species is highly migratory with large numbers appearing suddenly in marginal parts of the range. It is also present in Europe, North Africa, Canary Islands, Middle"
"tit, European greenfinch, blackbird, blackcap, common chaffinch, house sparrow, jay, kestrel, white wagtail, European robin, song thrush, sparrowhawk and wood pigeon. In May 2007, pupils from Christ the King school built a small pond in the haven. Grange Park, Blackpool Grange Park is a council built and largely council owned housing estate in Blackpool a seaside resort on the Fylde coast in Lancashire, England. It consists of about 1,800 dwellings mostly 1940s and 1970s housing, with a population of over 6,000. It is one of the largest council estates in Lancashire and for many years suffered from serious social disorder"
"Great grey owl The great grey owl or great gray owl (""Strix nebulosa"") is a very large owl, documented as the world's largest species of owl by length. It is distributed across the Northern Hemisphere, and it is the only species in the genus ""Strix"" found in both Eastern and Western Hemispheres. In some areas it is also called Phantom of the North, cinereous owl, spectral owl, Lapland owl, spruce owl, bearded owl, and sooty owl. Adults have a large rounded head with a grey face and yellow eyes with darker circles around them. The underparts are light with dark"
"slightly larger than the European robin, at length. It is plain brown above except for the reddish tail. It is buff to white below. Sexes are similar. The eastern subspecies ""L. m. hafizi"" and ""L. m. africana"" have paler upperparts and a stronger face-pattern, including a pale supercilium. The song of the nightingale has been described as one of the most beautiful sounds in nature, inspiring songs, fairy tales, opera, books, and a great deal of poetry. It is a migratory insectivorous species breeding in forest and scrub in Europe and south-west Asia, and wintering in sub-Saharan Africa. It is"
"common nightingale and the Old World chats. In its large continental Eurasian range, robins vary somewhat, but do not form discrete populations that might be considered subspecies. Robin subspecies are mainly distinguished by forming resident populations on islands and in mountainous areas. The robin found in the British Isles and much of western Europe, ""Erithacus rubecula melophilus"", occurs as a vagrant in adjacent regions. ""E. r. witherbyi"" from Northwestern Africa, Corsica, and Sardinia closely resembles ""melophilus"" but for a shorter wing length. The northeasternmost birds, large and fairly washed-out in colour are ""E. r. tataricus"". In the southeast of its"