Author Archives: jonathan

I visited a site where I had previously seen a huge black female adder (vipera berus)two years ago. I only saw her once but did not manage to get a photo. It was not the first black specimen that I … Continue reading →

So much rain poured through small stream systems and marshlands as the water from the surrounding hills gushed down enlarging small shallow warm pools where many species of heathland animals thrive. The ten spined stickleback(Pungitius pungitius) can live in brackish … Continue reading →

There are a number of conspicuous beetles that appear during April and May. In natural grassland ,especially short grazed chalk or neutral grassland ,beetles such as the bloody nosed beetle (Tamarcha tenebricosa) trundle around. They eat bedstraws especially goose grass. … Continue reading →

There are many emperor moths(Pavonia pavonia) emerging from their overwintering cocoons of silk on our heathlands.They  are one of the silk moth species, of the saturnid group. Male and females look slightly different. Here they feed on  heathers. The female … Continue reading →

Here are a few close ups of two lizard species to be found on the Bournemouth cliffs, the green lizard(Lacerta bilieata) and the wall lizard(Podarcis muralis). Both species will bite when handled and in the case of the green, may … Continue reading →

The Puss moth(Cerura vinula) is a pretty whitish grey moth, very furry looking but its larvae must be one of the most bazaar and well known of moth larvae. As it grows it has an amazing defense mechanism. It pulls … Continue reading →

Birds breed at different times and although birds within the northern climates tend to breed within the summer time, they vary and birds that grow slowly often breed early.Early breeders are Grey herons, Ravens, Mistle thrushes and Mallards.Many smaller birds … Continue reading →

Here are three pics of western green lizards (Lacerta biliniata). They too have had an early start.This is a male just maturing into his adult form.He already has a blue head.This species varies enormously and care must be taken when … Continue reading →

The wall lizard(Podarcis muralis)does not hibernate like most other reptiles that inhabit the temperate regions of the world, they can be active in cooler weather but try to use any amount of sunlight they can get.In Britain this species is … Continue reading →