Author Archives: jonathan

Although the weather has been very dry there are lots of interesting fungi around. Here I am with a cauliflower fungus(sparassis crispa) .The pretty creature can only be found at the base of various species of conifers such as the … Continue reading →

The unusual weather patterns of late causes many flowering plants to bloom at odd times. The common Rhododendron (Rhododendron ponticum) is no exception and  can often be seen in flower in the autumn. The shrub is so well naturalized now … Continue reading →

I have just returned from spending a while in the forests of west Sumatra. Here are a few photographs of some of the amazing bio-diversity of life within the jungle. I found all manner of strange and bazaar life forms, … Continue reading →

Leaf beetles are some of our most beautiful insects comprising of all shades of bright metallic colours. They belong to the family Chrysomelidae. 256 species are known to exist in Britain.The Alder leaf beetle (agelastica alni) is a small dark … Continue reading →

  The heath is now at it’s best . The vast purple spread is beautiful to behold and the honey bees are all over the flowers.To see animals amongst the purple such as reptiles, insects and deer is what a … Continue reading →

At this time of year all our species of heather are in bloom. In this picture all four species of heather that we have in southern England can be seen. In certain places in Dorset all four can be seen … Continue reading →

Many damselflies and dragonflies are flitting around waterways and the large red damselfly (Pyrrhosoma nymphula) is a common species, shown hear in tandem. The female also is carrying what look like a cluster of parasites attached to her body. This … Continue reading →

The Ruby tailed wasp(Chrysis ignita) is perhaps one of our most colourful of insects, viewed fro certain angles to the sun. Like most wasps, it is harmless to man and it is attracted to dead wood where mason bees nest, … Continue reading →

This is the hind leg of a velvet swimming crab(Necora puber). the animals actually swim across the sea using these paddle like appendages. they are usually blue in colour but the hot sun had cooked it.

The Sea Buckthorn(Hippophae rhamoides) is a native shrub of coastlines but is not too common these days. the berries are rich in vitamin c and are vital food for birds. Here common starlings (Sturnus vulgarus) strip them in no time. … Continue reading →