A blog and photo journal about the natural history of north-west England and beyond
A few photos from a November visit to Martin Mere. The most familiar of the winter migrants to the mere – Pink footed Geese preparing for landing. One of the local Buzzards keeping watch for any stragglers or injured birds Eventually the Buzzards find a Read More …
Nuthatch at Leighton Moss. Blue Tit taking advantage of the remaining blackberries. At first I assumed it was after the grubs that tend to live within the berries however after watching it more closely it became clear it was plucking the individual drupelets off each Read More …
Autumn Lady’s Tresses one of our more unusual native orchids growing in the limestone grassland overlooking Morecambe Bay. Tiny and very easy to overlook at least 40 spikes including several doubles hidden away in the grassland. Surprising to see several fresh male Brimstones. Still Read More …
Great Sundew There can’t be too many other areas of England where you can find all 3 of our native Sundews growing together in the same bog. The long strap shaped leaves and short flower stalk help to identify this one as the Great or Read More …
Male Sand Lizard at Higher Hyde HeathAlways great to see these wonderful lizards. It’s just a shame that the Kestrels appear to be far better at finding them than me. Plenty of debris for the lizards to hide in. Also a few Slow-worms and Common Read More …
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 …
Glow-worms mating at Durlston Country Park. The female is the glamorous one glowing in the darkness. In contrast the male is rather dull and lacks the ability to glow. The male however does have the advantage of being able to fly. We spotted this female Read More …
Thought I’d seen it all but this is a new one. 28C and gloriously sunny. Next year it’ll be Pimms and Iced Teas. More unexpected cargo being transported across the Millionaire’s playground of Poole harbour. White Admiral Again, another unexpected sighting. I didn’t really expect Read More …
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 …
