Two months ago I wrote about the wildlife found in my mother’s villa near Malaga, Spain.  This month, I returned to Spain but found that August was too hot and dry for much wildlife to flourish. This was in stark contrast... Read More

Cosmeston Lakes Country Park is a beautiful country park with lovely walks around the large lake.  There is ample free parking at the entrance and it is, in general, a flat and pleasant walk around the park. The park opened to... Read More

On visiting Kenfig Nature Reserve I was excited at having photographed what I thought was either a Dark Green or High Brown Fritillary.  These large and powerful butterflies can be seen flying rapidly in a range of open sunny habitats. The... Read More

While most people visit Spain in July/August, I prefer to go in May when the countryside is dappled with wild flowers and temperatures are pleasantly warm but not excessively hot. There are less people, which frankly is a blessing to the... Read More

Back in June 2018, I couldn’t contain my excitement at capturing my first Hawk-moth! It was a striking Poplar Hawk-moth with distinctive scalloped wings and attractive pinkish, velvet-like sheen. Fast-forward almost a year to April and I feel as thrilled... Read More

Between the blackthorn and gorse headges, in a small open patch exposed to the sun, I found this Common Lizzard.  Stretching its long body out of the undergrowth it appeared to welcome the mid day sunshine. Absorbing heat it flattened its... Read More

In contrast to the all pervading good force summoned upon by Jedi Masters such as Yoda, Obi-Wan Kenobi or the young Luke Skywalker; ‘Darkfield’ sounds like an equally pervasive but albeit altogether more sinister force, more likely to be beckoned... Read More

Bugs fascinated me as a child and I recollect my mother telling me how when small I would during the day collect worms in a jar and at bedtime take them to bed with me. I must have been very... Read More

There are two potted oak trees in my garden that over time have been ravaged from attacks by aphids, sawfly – not to mention a host of  infections. My oaks have defiantly and stoically survived whatever adversity has thrown at... Read More

A warm winter is a final opportunity for insects to soak up the sun before the first frosts arrive and winter dormancy sets-in. So it is that the shield bugs are drawn to the sunniest spots. Americans refer to them... Read More