Clockwise from top left: Craig Joiner/Alamy; Paul Hobson/FLPA; Getty;
JanePumfrey/Getty;JuesCox/FLPAClockwisefromtop
left:swathesoflate
summerheatherin
ExmoorNationalPark;
thediminutivemerlin(no
biggerthana blackbird)
hoversinsearchof
prey;thebrightfruitsof
cowberryappearfrom
Augustonwards;red
deerfeedonheather
andotherdwarfshrubs;
shootingredgrousehas
becomebigbusiness.September 2020 BBC Wildlife 19WILD SEPTEMBER
England, while the much rarer juniper is
far more frequent in the Highlands.
The rich shrub flora and wild nature
of moorland make it a considerable draw
for breeding waders, especially golden
plovers and curlew. Smaller birds, such
as ring ouzels, meadow pipits and twite,
will also all rear broods in the heather or
close by. Well-conserved estates can be
raptor heaven, with merlins, hen harriers
and short-eared owls brightening up any
upland visit between spring and autumn.
Mammals have representation too, in
the form of red deer and mountain
hare, while the heather and associated
grasslands host the Scotch argus butterfly.
Yet as moorland has become blighted
by competing interests, burning has
become the management tool of choice