These are organised attempts to record as many different animal and plant species as possible at a specific site over a short period of time, often as little as 24 hours. Anything from fungi and lichens to reptiles, birds and … Read More
This male and female Small Skipper butterfly were seen copulating on Bramble at Windmill Farm Nature Reserve, on the Lizard in Cornwall during the BioBlitz at the end of July. From the underside both sexes look very similar but when … Read More
When a combination of knowledgeable enthusiasts with a diverse range of wildlife interests and the general public gather to explore a site to learn more about its biodiversity it invariably produces some interesting and not previously recorded species. During last … Read More
The Common Lizard, like this one seen at Windmill Farm on the appropriately named Lizard Peninsular last week, are the only lizards likely to be seen in Cornwall. However, we bumped into a chap the other day who said he’d … Read More
This large male adder was seen basking in the sun beside the boardwalks on the Windmill Farm Nature Reserve on the Lizard peninsular in Cornwall. Compared with April last year, when we seemed to be tripping over them wherever we … Read More
It’s not just the sunshine of this Indian Summer that makes it feel like spring as Adders, the only venomous snake in the British Isles, are once more out in the open sunbathing. We came across several at Windmill Farm … Read More
This Whinchat stopped off at Windmill Farm Nature Reserve on The Lizard in Cornwall yesterday on its way to its wintering quarters in Africa. As always with this species the distinctive white eye stripe helped identify it even at distance … Read More
These thistles are a slightly bluer pink than most other thistles and are often found in great drifts on rough grassland and roadsides. Insight into Creeping Thistle (Cirsium arvense): also known as Field Thistle, its seeds are a source of … Read More
Lots of Small Skippers were flying amonst the long grass and feeding on the flowers of Bramble or Blackberry (Rubus fruticosus agg.) and Common Knapweed at Windmill Farn Nature Reserve on The Lizard in Cornwall at the weekend. Insight into … Read More
During an unproductive search for Wasp Spiders at Windmill Farm Nature Reserve on The Lizard in Cornwall a large variety of insects were found including many Cicadella viridis. Insight into Cicadella viridis: a member of the Leafhopper family (Cicadellidae) it … Read More
A few male Common Darters were active around the pools at Windmill Farm Nature Reserve on The Lizard in Cornwall at the weekend, despite the sea mist being driven across the reserve by strong southerly winds. Other dragonfly species seen … Read More
What’s that red and black butterfly? It’s that time of year again when we are often asked this question by people we meet whilst out taking photographs. They are the Five (shown above left) and Six-spot Burnet (shown above right) … Read More