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Bird's-foot trefoil
Lotus corniculatus
Not only is it pretty to see, common bird’s-foot trefoil is a key part of food webs, providing food for bees and butterflies.
Other common names include 'butter and eggs', eggs and bacon', and 'hen and chickens', which all refer to the egg-yolk yellow flowers and reddish buds. This member of the pea family is widespread and found in all kinds of grassy places, from lawns to downlands, roadside verges to heathlands.
Snails
It’s important we monitor populations because we tend to ignore snails, and we don’t have many records of them, but as with some of the other species, they are easy to photograph.
Being low in the food chain, snails are an important part of ecosystems, converting nutrients such as calcium from rotting vegetation, soil and fungi into their bodies and shells, which are then fed upon by a wide variety of other species – so from that perspective it’s important we monitor populations.
Small tortoiseshell
Aglais urticae
The pretty small tortoiseshell is a familiar garden visitor that can be seen feeding on flowers all year-round during warm spells.
It is on the wing throughout the year, having two or three broods and overwintering as an adult. The caterpillars feed on common nettle. Male small tortoiseshells are very territorial, chasing each other, other butterflies and anything else that appears in their space.
Fungi
Fungi can appear in any season if conditions are right, though you’d be correct in thinking they are more likely to be seen in summer and autumn.
Taking pictures and using photo tools of these and others will enable you to stay safe from touching the wrong types of fungi and us to gain a greater understanding of this under-recorded group. We have a real opportunity to discover the diversity in our county.
Marbled white
Melanargia galathea
The striking black-and-white checks of the marbled white are unmistakeable. Adults are on the wing in the summer, from June to August.
Strong colonies can be found on warm, species-rich chalk and limestone grasslands, but woodland rides, railways cuttings and road verges are also frequented. The adults can often be seen feeding on purple flowers, such as field scabious, common knapweed and wild marjoram.
Dragonflies and Damselflies
Dragonflies and damselflies are large freshwater insects. Seeing these in urban environments will also indicate that good-quality, viable water sources are nearby.
Dragonflies and damselflies are regarded as good indicators of both climate change and the condition of our wetlands. With water quality and pollution issues in Somerset being of concern, these make an excellent group of species to observe over time.
Bullfinch
Pyrrhula pyrrhula
The rose-red breast, large black cap and thick bill make the bullfinch easy to recognise. A plump-looking bird of woodlands, gardens and hedgerows.
Beautiful, easy to tame and skilful at mimicry, it was often taken as a cage-bird in times past. Shy and secretive, its melancholy call may be the only indication of its presence in a thicket. The bullfinch is currently listed as of conservation concern and on the Amber List for birds.
Goldfinch
Carduelis carduelis
Often breeding in loose colonies, the goldfinch can be easy to spot with its red face and yellow wing patch. The collective noun for a group of goldfinches is a 'charm'.
They’re one of the countryside/farmland bird species that’s successfully transitioned to gardens due to bird seed and us feeding them. Seeing them in gardens is great, but if we can also tie in these records with those seen in the wider countryside, we could get an indication of wild seed abundance such as from teasels.
Hares and Rabbits
Lepus europaeus
Hares and rabbits are under-recorded in Somerset, despite the notion that they are a common species. We need to have a better idea on how their populations are fairing.
These herbivorous mammals have long ears and are fast and bouncy: Hares are larger, live above ground and are solitary. They’re grey or brown in colour and can reach speeds of 45mph when evading predators. Rabbits are more social, burrow underground and are grey-brown in colour.
Red fox
Vulpes vulpes
Famed for their cunning and stealth, these orangey-red dogs with their bushy tails can be seen in towns and the countryside.
They are not fussy eaters and will happily feed on small mammals, birds, frogs, worms as well as berries and fruit! Our recent Somerset State of Nature report hinted at the beginning of a decline, and we want your help find out if this is true.
Slow worm
Anguis fragilis
One of the longest living reptiles in the world, these legless lizards are one of just a few species of reptile found all across Somerset and the UK.
Slow worms can be found in gardens, heathland, tussocky grassland, woodland edges and rides where they can find invertebrates to eat and a sunny patch in which to sunbathe. As indicators of a healthy environment and being protected by law, their presence reflects good habitat quality and biodiversity.
Common blue
Polyommatus icarus
The common blue butterfly lives up to its name - it's bright blue and found in all kinds of sunny, grassy habitats throughout the UK.
The male common blue has bright blue wings with a brown border and white fringe. The female is brown with a blue 'dusting' near the body. It has orange spots on the underside of its hindwings, whereas the similar holly blue has black spots.
Spiders
Often very colourful and with detailed patterns, this overlooked group can be found everywhere. Spiders, like bats, stop our world from being overrun by flies!
Spider silk is amazingly lightweight: a strand of silk long enough to go all the way around the Earth would weigh less than 500 grams - that's the same as a bag of sugar! Spiders are one of the easiest groups of invertebrates to watch and they're fascinating creatures.
Speckled wood
Pararge aegeria
The speckled wood prefers the dappled sunlight of woodland rides and edges, hedgerows and even gardens.
It is a common and widespread butterfly of woodland edges and rides. Adults feed on honeydew, while the caterpillars feed on a variety of grasses, including false broom and cock's-foot. The speckled wood is the only brown butterfly with three small, cream-ringed eyespots on each hindwing and one on each forewing.
SWT Big Count 2025
Alison Jane Howson-French
Created on June 10, 2025
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Transcript
quiz!
Let's go!
meet the species and Participate in the Interactive Quiz
Meet the species
Try the quiz!
meet the species
Click the orange circles to find out more!
Skip to the fun quiz
Go back to the species
1/5
Go back to the species
2/5
Go back to the species
3/5
Go back to the species
4/5
Go back to the species
5/5
Go back to the species
Quiz completed!
You've finished the quiz and are almost ready for The Big Count!
Bird's-foot trefoil
Lotus corniculatus
Not only is it pretty to see, common bird’s-foot trefoil is a key part of food webs, providing food for bees and butterflies.
Other common names include 'butter and eggs', eggs and bacon', and 'hen and chickens', which all refer to the egg-yolk yellow flowers and reddish buds. This member of the pea family is widespread and found in all kinds of grassy places, from lawns to downlands, roadside verges to heathlands.
Snails
It’s important we monitor populations because we tend to ignore snails, and we don’t have many records of them, but as with some of the other species, they are easy to photograph.
Being low in the food chain, snails are an important part of ecosystems, converting nutrients such as calcium from rotting vegetation, soil and fungi into their bodies and shells, which are then fed upon by a wide variety of other species – so from that perspective it’s important we monitor populations.
Small tortoiseshell
Aglais urticae
The pretty small tortoiseshell is a familiar garden visitor that can be seen feeding on flowers all year-round during warm spells.
It is on the wing throughout the year, having two or three broods and overwintering as an adult. The caterpillars feed on common nettle. Male small tortoiseshells are very territorial, chasing each other, other butterflies and anything else that appears in their space.
Fungi
Fungi can appear in any season if conditions are right, though you’d be correct in thinking they are more likely to be seen in summer and autumn.
Taking pictures and using photo tools of these and others will enable you to stay safe from touching the wrong types of fungi and us to gain a greater understanding of this under-recorded group. We have a real opportunity to discover the diversity in our county.
Marbled white
Melanargia galathea
The striking black-and-white checks of the marbled white are unmistakeable. Adults are on the wing in the summer, from June to August.
Strong colonies can be found on warm, species-rich chalk and limestone grasslands, but woodland rides, railways cuttings and road verges are also frequented. The adults can often be seen feeding on purple flowers, such as field scabious, common knapweed and wild marjoram.
Dragonflies and Damselflies
Dragonflies and damselflies are large freshwater insects. Seeing these in urban environments will also indicate that good-quality, viable water sources are nearby.
Dragonflies and damselflies are regarded as good indicators of both climate change and the condition of our wetlands. With water quality and pollution issues in Somerset being of concern, these make an excellent group of species to observe over time.
Bullfinch
Pyrrhula pyrrhula
The rose-red breast, large black cap and thick bill make the bullfinch easy to recognise. A plump-looking bird of woodlands, gardens and hedgerows.
Beautiful, easy to tame and skilful at mimicry, it was often taken as a cage-bird in times past. Shy and secretive, its melancholy call may be the only indication of its presence in a thicket. The bullfinch is currently listed as of conservation concern and on the Amber List for birds.
Goldfinch
Carduelis carduelis
Often breeding in loose colonies, the goldfinch can be easy to spot with its red face and yellow wing patch. The collective noun for a group of goldfinches is a 'charm'.
They’re one of the countryside/farmland bird species that’s successfully transitioned to gardens due to bird seed and us feeding them. Seeing them in gardens is great, but if we can also tie in these records with those seen in the wider countryside, we could get an indication of wild seed abundance such as from teasels.
Hares and Rabbits
Lepus europaeus
Hares and rabbits are under-recorded in Somerset, despite the notion that they are a common species. We need to have a better idea on how their populations are fairing.
These herbivorous mammals have long ears and are fast and bouncy: Hares are larger, live above ground and are solitary. They’re grey or brown in colour and can reach speeds of 45mph when evading predators. Rabbits are more social, burrow underground and are grey-brown in colour.
Red fox
Vulpes vulpes
Famed for their cunning and stealth, these orangey-red dogs with their bushy tails can be seen in towns and the countryside.
They are not fussy eaters and will happily feed on small mammals, birds, frogs, worms as well as berries and fruit! Our recent Somerset State of Nature report hinted at the beginning of a decline, and we want your help find out if this is true.
Slow worm
Anguis fragilis
One of the longest living reptiles in the world, these legless lizards are one of just a few species of reptile found all across Somerset and the UK.
Slow worms can be found in gardens, heathland, tussocky grassland, woodland edges and rides where they can find invertebrates to eat and a sunny patch in which to sunbathe. As indicators of a healthy environment and being protected by law, their presence reflects good habitat quality and biodiversity.
Common blue
Polyommatus icarus
The common blue butterfly lives up to its name - it's bright blue and found in all kinds of sunny, grassy habitats throughout the UK.
The male common blue has bright blue wings with a brown border and white fringe. The female is brown with a blue 'dusting' near the body. It has orange spots on the underside of its hindwings, whereas the similar holly blue has black spots.
Spiders
Often very colourful and with detailed patterns, this overlooked group can be found everywhere. Spiders, like bats, stop our world from being overrun by flies!
Spider silk is amazingly lightweight: a strand of silk long enough to go all the way around the Earth would weigh less than 500 grams - that's the same as a bag of sugar! Spiders are one of the easiest groups of invertebrates to watch and they're fascinating creatures.
Speckled wood
Pararge aegeria
The speckled wood prefers the dappled sunlight of woodland rides and edges, hedgerows and even gardens.
It is a common and widespread butterfly of woodland edges and rides. Adults feed on honeydew, while the caterpillars feed on a variety of grasses, including false broom and cock's-foot. The speckled wood is the only brown butterfly with three small, cream-ringed eyespots on each hindwing and one on each forewing.