26/4/24 Kent - Dropped by Kent in preparation of our Mariposa Nature Tours orchid tour in early June that I'm co-leading with Jon Dunn 🇺🇦. Was a nice excuse to catch up with this awesome mirrorless Early Spider #Orchid (Ophrys sphegodes). Reminds me of my hairline! #wildflowerhour

Woodcock x fly orchid hybrid 27.4.24

Amphibian and Reptile Conservation ARG UK Nice to see this friend other day basking away in Leicestershire. Photo taken using 300mm lens and left in peace. Adder.

Its been an incredible week of dream come true nature moments. This is one I've looked forward to for years. Dwarf Pansy (Viola kitaibeliana) flowering fabulously on Bryher 😍 #wildflowerhour

Sarah Watts I heard a ringing story where a Phylloscopus warbler was netted, duly rung and agreed by all to be a Willow Warbler based on plumage, bare parts, biometrics etc. Upon release it flew to the nearest branch and proceeded to sing ‘chiff-chaff-chaff’ in a loud, possibly irrate tone.

Visited one of the North Kent Lady orchid colonies - looking good in the damp conditions!

Pasqueflower (Pulsatilla vulgaris), showing off its downy stems and regal purple sepals. An arresting sight in a Cambs NNR this week.
It’s a good thing I checked the book - 6 sepals, no petals. #wildflowerhour

Feel free to join me Saturday 4th May here in Silverdale for a short walk where we’ll see thousands of Early Purple and Green Winged #Orchids

It’s free to attend, but I’d encourage anyone who wishes to attend to make a donation to a wildlife charity

Message me for details!

27/4/24 Dorset - I led my first home tour for Mariposa Nature Tours this weekend. We made many great finds including reptiles and deer antlers as well as several fantastic plants, from peloric Spider #Orchids (Ophrys sphegodes) to Early #Gentians (Gentianella anglica) #wildflowerhour

Fantastic day on the Dorset coast with Mariposa Nature Tours great guided walk with the excellent Dr Richard Bate highly recommend😁

Hiya. Long shot, I’m hoping some humans will see this post, sign & share my new petition to get private vested interests & dirty money out of politics for good -

petition.parliament.uk/petitions/6600…

eg fossil fuel barons, genocidal maniacs, dodgy PPE contractors, Russian oligarchs,…

Our guests enjoyed a wonderful wander on the Suffolk Coast yesterday with Dave Fairhurst, enjoying Woodlarks, Nightingale, Dartford Warbler, breeding Lapwings and Stonechats, and some great flowers as well.

One of several confiding Iberian Sooty Coppers enjoyed today by our guests on our Spring Butterflies of Central & Northern Spain tour. We're now in the Spanish Pyrenees for the next couple of days - looking forward to seeing what we find.

Swanage Railway - hubby’s hobby - his turn to pursue his interest after I did some intense orchid hunting in past two days…but I still did “botanising at 25mph” (max speed usually permitted) from train window - Early Purple orchids, lineside, by signal at Harmans Cross 25/4/24

2/52 #OrchidsOfRhodes April 2024 #AnOrchidAWeek

Violet Limodore (Limodorum abortivum)💜

Dancing on a carpet of pine needles, illuminated by a shard of light filtering through the forest canopy
#orchids #wildflowers

Serapias strictiflora Welw. ex Veiga.
15.04.2024 #orquídies #orquideas #orchids #Menorca #BalearsNatura #Menorca Biosfera #biodiversity #biodiversitat

I stumbled across this little ancient lane today... It looked almost enchanting so I had to go and explore...

Although we didn't bump into Mediterranean Monk Seal on Cyprus last week (too much to ask!), the sharp eyes of Mike Buckland picked up both the endemic subspecies of Mouflon on a hillside (photo) and an Egyptian Bat at our hotel. More pan-species action at jameslowen.com/blog-21-apr-24…

This evening versus yesterday! Very different. #Athens #Greece 🇬🇷 #AfricanDust #SaharanDust My pics

Just spotted through the window, a little cutie on the patio 😍🦔