Spirit of the Wood

Great to see the Whitethroats beginning to return from Africa. With the recent warm weather leading to a plentiful supply of insects it looks like this year they’ve timed it to perfection…….. Read More …

A Sign of Age

A few photos from an Easter Sunday walk around Jenny Brown’s point and Gait Barrows National Nature Reserve Great to see Forget-me-nots growing wild along the woodland edge The far more unusual Moschatel with its bizarre 5 faced flower. Also known as five-faced bishop and Read More …

Pearly Kings & Queens

  A few highlights from a visit to Arnside Knott Pearl bordered Fritillary. The earliest of the fritillaries to emerge and typically found in woodland clearings and at Arnside Knott – rough, south facing hillsides. Highly threatened it’s unlikely to be confused with any of Read More …

Rockin n Reelin

Originally I was hoping to post this update a few weeks ago but 15 days wandering around Dorset and Oxfordshire without a reliable internet connection put paid to that idea. Better late than never. Several years ago the sound of the Grasshopper Warbler reeling away Read More …

Jack Scout

  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 …

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 …

Badbury Rings

Another Iron Age hill fort and another outstanding site. Really enjoyable walking around admiring the views across the Dorset countryside whilst listening to Cuckoos calling from the woodland, Skylarks overhead and Yellowhammers in the adjacent fields. Plenty of Orchids around. The sheer number of Greater Read More …