It’s that time of year when some birds are preoccupied feeding their young and become less wary. This female was so busy feeding a brood in a thicket of Bramble (Rubus fruticosus agg.) and Gorse (Ulex europaeus) next to a … Read More
It’s a day flying The Cinnabar moth. Although normally a nocturnal flyer, The Cinnabar moths are often disturbed during the day when they will flutter weakly a short distance before settling again in the grass. This one was disturbed from … Read More
Digital photography has transformed amateur botany. When you come across a plant that’s unfamiliar you can take photographs of all the features to study in the dry, warm comfort of home. Sitting at the computer screen with identification guides is … Read More
This digger wasp, thought to be Podalonia hirsuta, was seen and videoed dragging a caterpillar across the slope of a sand dune at Penhale Dunes in North Cornwall. We have witnessed this huge feat of strength on behalf of a … Read More
Despite the first real rain we’ve seen for weeks here in Cornwall we found 8 Grizzled Skipper during a quick visit to Penhale Dunes on the north coast. One was of the form taras (below right), an aberration having the … Read More
There were so many Cowslip in some areas of Glanville’s (Pennans) Field, Penhale near Perranporth you couldn’t help but step on them! Insight into Cowslip (Primula veris): Native and found throughout the British Isles, though very rare in northern Scotland … Read More
Groping around on hands and knees searching for caterpillars is one of those activities that at the time feels perfectly normal behaviour to those taking part but not necessarily to any other member of the public out for a quite … Read More
The fine weather continues to encourage butterflies to emerge earlier than normal. Yesterday, during a successful and extremely eventful search for the caterpillars of the Silver-studded Blue (Plebeius argus) butterfly amongst the Penhale Dunes on the North Cornish Coast, we … Read More