The underwater reefs and ledges of Kimmeridge Bay home to the Purbeck Marine Wildlife Reserve. …and immediately above – next to the MOD firing range the oldest working oil pump in the UK. Pumping continuously since 1961 its not the first thing that most people Read More …
Category: Flora
Badbury Rings
Chalkhill Blue (male), Badbury Rings A superb area of chalk down that has survived largely unchanged for over two thousand years. The Iron Age hill fort stands 100m high with 3 sets of ditches and ramparts. The ditches and slopes have created a range Read More …
Corfe Castle
Marbled White nectaring on Greater Knapweed in the early morning sunshine at Corfe Castle. Surprising to see them on the wing at 7am. Unfortunately by mid-day they’re so active its difficult to approach them with a camera. Musk Thistle covered in early morning dew Read More …
More from Italy
Ivy Broomrape, Sorrento The parasitic Ivy Broomrape in the hills above Sorrento. Amazing how common this particular Broomrape is. It can even be found growing within the centre of Sorrento outside one of the more exclusive hotels. Naturalised Prickly Pear and Morning Glory, Capri Prickly Read More …
More from Ainsdale
Dark Green Fritillary Dark Green Fritillary nectaring on Hawkbit at Ainsdale Dunes Kidney Vetch A classic plant associated with dry grasslands. Although more common on the chalk downs and cliffs the high lime content of the sand dunes allows it to thrive at Ainsdale. Meadow Read More …
Orchids from Ainsdale
Pyramid Orchids, Ainsdale NNR Great to see several large drifts of Pyramid Orchids amongst the dunes. At this time of year by far the most common of the various Orchids living within the National Nature Reserve. Pyramid Orchid, Ainsdale NNR Bee Orchid, Ainsdale NNR A Read More …
Vesuvius
Mount Vesuvius from Pompeii Before the infamous eruption of AD79 a 6600ft high Volcano. Post AD79 4,203 ft. Unbelievable that a third of the mountain was literally blown 20 miles into the air complete with molten lava, pumice and the pyroclastic flow and boiling mud Read More …
Brimstone & Peacocks
Male Brimstone at Chorlton Water Park Amazing the difference a bit of sunshine can make. On the insect front plenty of Peacocks, Brimstones, Small Tortoiseshell’s and Orange Tips around with the occasional Comma.The local Blackcaps, Whitethroats and Grasshopper Warblers have arrived to join the Chiffchaffs Read More …
The Town Hall Clock
Moschatel or The Town Hall Clock An easily overlooked plant typically found along woodland edges on limestone or chalk rich soil. Fortunately around the edge of Morecambe Bay there’s plenty of suitable habitat with this group of plants found close to Jenny Brown’s point in Read More …