Fiery Clearwing moth seen today at Betteshanger Country Park. What a beauty!

Lizard Orchid (Himantoglossum hircinum), one of the thousands at Sandwich Bay, #Kent 05/05/2024. Wild Orchids UK & Ireland #orchids

Peter Vaughan Wild Orchids UK & Ireland Lizard Orchid - one of the thousands at Betteshanger Country Park - site of a proposed surf lagoon. Over 600 would be ‘translocated.’

Two of the c800 Common Spotted-orchids (Dactylorhiza fuchsii) in a local damp meadow here in north-east #Hampshire, 08/06/2024.

Cross-leaved Heath (Erica tetralix). On a ⁦Hampshire & Isle of Wight Wildlife Trust⁩ humid #heathland reserve, north-east #Hampshire, 13/06/2024.

A female Glow Worm doing her utmost to attract a male by waggling her bioluminescent bottom last night at Bramshill Plantation in Hampshire! If you’re lucky enough to spot one, please do record your sighting at: irecord.org.uk/enter-glow-wor… #ThamesBasinHeath #Beetle #InsectWeek2024

Burnt Orchid, late-flowering variant (Neotinea ustula var. aestivalis), north-west #Hampshire 14/07/2024. #orchids Wild Orchids UK & Ireland European Orchids & Wildflowers

Hornet on a Helleborine! Today, 26/07/2024, I saw a European Hornet (Vespa crabo) pollinating a Broad-leaved Helleborine (Epipactis helleborine), here in north-east #Hampshire. A number of pollinia were stuck on the Hornet’s head. #orchid Wild Orchids UK & Ireland European Orchids & Wildflowers

Wall Brown (Lasiommata megera) butterfly, Durlston Country Park, #Dorset, 03/08/24. The overcast conditions made this individual more settled & easier to photograph than the several highly active ones I saw at Ballard Down yesterday. ⁦Butterfly Conservation 🦋⁩ ⁦@DurlstonCP⁩

Autumn Lady’s Tresses (Spiranthes spiralis) are starting to flower at Durlston Country Park #Dorset, 03/08/2024. Wild Orchids UK & Ireland European Orchids & Wildflowers @DurlstonCP

Ivy Broomrape (Orobanche hederae), purple form. A plant parasite that lacks chlorophyll. I found 3 spikes of this wildflower in a dark corner of my garden yesterday, 05/07/24, here in NE Hampshire. New for the garden and this tetrad. ⁦⁦wildflowerhour⁩ ⁦HBIC⁩

Great Diving Beetle (Dytiscus marginalis) larva found during an amphibian survey today 17/08/2024, NE #Hampshire. No need to see the new Alien Film… HBIC Thames Basin Heaths Partnership

Wasp Spider (Argiope bruennichi) with zig-zag web, NE #Hampshire heathland, 17/08/2024. #spiders Thames Basin Heaths Partnership

I took part in a HIWARG #amphibian survey at a marvellous site in NE #Hampshire today, 17/08/24. We found many small #newt larvae, a GCN (Tritiurus cristatus) larva, a Common Toad (Bufo bufo) & many inverts, inc. water stick insects (Ranatra linearis) HBIC MSc Aquatic Conservation, Ecology & Restoration

Lesser Skullcap (Scutellaria minor) seen at my local Hampshire & Isle of Wight Wildlife Trust heathland site here in NE Hampshire, 26/08/2024. The individual flowers are very small but, I think, almost as intricate as an orchid. HBIC

There were many Wasp Spiders (Argiope bruennichi) in the Heather at Hampshire & Isle of Wight Wildlife Trust Bartley Heath reserve in NE #Hampshire yesterday, 03/09/2024. Including this female next to her large urn-shaped egg-sac. HBIC

Aurora borealis, north-east #Hampshire, evening of 10/10/2024. #northernlights #aurora #auroaborealis

A 2025 season Early Purple Orchid (Orchis mascula) rosette has appeared in my garden today, 20/11/2024, here in north-east #Hampshire. #orchids Wild Orchids UK & Ireland European Orchids & Wildflowers HBIC BSBI: Botanical Society of Britain & Ireland

Happy Christmas!

0phrys sphegodes - Early Spider Orchid, 21/03/2025, Mostarsko Polje, Bosnia-Herzegovina. The first orchid-in-flower of the 2025 season for me. European Orchids & Wildflowers