Author Archives: jonathan

The Roe deer (Capreolus capreolus) has just finished rutting. The smallest native deer species to the UK, the roe has differing behaviour and rutting times than the larger species which rut between September and November, and grow antlers during the … Continue reading →

Spring migrants are again winging their way across Britain. this year my first swallow was seen on April 8, usually it is a few days earlier. my first willow warbler singing was April 1. chiff chaff was March 18. sadly … Continue reading →

Many species of spiders are far more noticeable at this time of year. there is a good reason for this. The most obvious spiders are the web builders of the family Araneidae;comprising of the large orb web builders such as … Continue reading →

True bugs are defined by having sucking mouth parts instead of jaws, so technically most of the insects that people call bugs are not bugs at all but other types of insects or other invertebrates, it is basically a lazy,modern … Continue reading →

Insects and pollen and nectar go hand in hand.Plants use insects to pollinate themselves as well as other means, many plants only use insects or use wind dispersal of pollen.Most flowering plants use insects of some sort to take pollen … Continue reading →

It is vitally important for dead wood to hang around, especially as standing trees. these days so much dead wood or dying trees are removed in the wake of namby pamby health and safety laws and regulations. we risk losing … Continue reading →

with over 1200 weevil species in Northern Europe identification of individuals can be very tricky. In Britain there have been over 420 species recorded.Some of the overlooked species are tiny such as the two following species from the Apion genus. … Continue reading →

My nearest part of the heathland is vibrant with life today as the warm sun bathed the dry heather in a warm glow.Seven grass snakes basked on the moss and drab coloured sand lizards emerged .A young roe buck grazed … Continue reading →

snake flies are odd creatures. They are Predators as adult and larvae. and have an elongated neck that moves around. The larvae lives in rotting wood feeding on a different variety of smaller organisms, the adult looks look like a … Continue reading →

The Cronk, or raven as it is better known, (corvus corax) is now a common bird, and I am rarely out and about without hearing the typical cronk cronk sound of the call.They have a varied vocabulary and are very … Continue reading →