“What’s that huge red ladybird?” I hear you ask. In actual fact it’s the Poplar Leaf Beetle and not a ladybird at all. We came across several of these British leaf beetles last week on Creeping Willow (Salix repens) at … Read More
This male Orange-tip butterfly was showing its beautiful underwing as it sat on Ragged-robin (Lychnis flos-cuculi) at Windmill Farm Nature Reserve on The Lizard in Cornwall. There were a good number of both sexes when we last visited on 4 … Read More
It’s a frequent question asked at this time of year when spring migration is in full flow and small warblers seem to be everywhere. Fortunately some of the most difficult warblers to identify have very distinctive songs such as the … Read More
There were several mature damselflies perched in the sun at Windmill Farm Nature Reserve on The Lizard in Cornwall last week including the Large Red Damselfly (Pyrrhosoma nymphula) shown above and Blue-tailed Damselfly (Ischnura elegans). We were actually there hoping … Read More
The south west is a stronghold for oil beetles which may be seen walking across paths and bare ground at this time of year. These large black beetles are flightless and slow moving so are easily spotted. There are four … Read More
Certainly makes a change from shivering to death on some bleak estuary in winter looking at dull little waders disguised as distant specs. Three Dunlin complete in splendid summer plumage were feeding in 22C and bright sunshine on a pool … Read More
It’s spring and with rare migrant birds arriving everyday in Cornwall everything with feathers is eyed with suspicion. This common Wheatear seen at Windmill Farm Nature Reserve on The Lizard certainly caught our attention. A bird that would normally be … Read More
Adders seem to be everwhere we go in Cornwall at the moment – see Is this the Most Southerly Snake in Britain? post a little over a week ago. This pair were curled up amongst the heather at Kynance Cove … Read More
We found several patches of Western Clover amongst the short grass on the cliffs above Kynance Cove on The Lizard at the weekend. Insight: Western Clover (Trifolium occidentale) is native but very local, found in Cornwall, on the Channel Islands … Read More
A Lizard Adder – sounds like a new species! Whilst photographing Brassica Shieldbugs (Eurydema oleracea) on a warm, south-facing bank on the cliffs at the most southerly tip Britain, on The Lizard peninsular in Cornwall, a stunning male Adder moved … Read More
A smart male Common Redstart was the pick of the bird migrants at Windmill Farm yesterday morning but proved extremely camera shy. However, the Green Tiger Beetles active on the banks around one of the ponds were far more accommodating. … Read More
This adult male Stonechat was showing well in the hedge by the National Trust car park at Kynance Cove on The Lizard in Cornwall. Insight: The male Stonechat (Saxicola torquata) in full breeding plumage is boldly marked, with an orange … Read More