Dom Greves Photo

56 species of wild orchid are found in Britain and Ireland. This small selection from the south of England illustrates their various colours and forms.

Natural forms in reflection.

The spectacular emperor moth (Saturnia pavonia) is Britain's only resident member of the silk moth family. It's fairly common, occupying moorland and open country, but less frequently seen. The males have bright orange hindwings and fly during the day in search of the duller females, which fly at night. The fully grown caterpillar is green with black hoops containing yellow wart-like spots, and feeds on moorland plants such as heather.

Fly orchids (Ophrys insectifera) attract male digger wasps (Argogorytes mystaceus) with a scent which closely resembles the female wasp's pheromone. Males attempt to copulate with the orchid. During this process pollinia become attached, which may be carried to the stigma of another flower, completing pollination.

Oak trees host more than 30 species of gall wasp. The larval stage of these insects induce the plant to produce abnormal growths, known as galls, which enclose and protect them as they develop. Oak galls come in a variety of shapes, each unique to particular species.

Glow 'worms' (Lampyris noctiluca) are actually a type of beetle. On warm summer nights the flightless female glow worm climbs a grass stem, or other vegetation, and emits a bright chemical light from her lower abdomen to attract a mate. Sightings of these creatures in the UK are increasingly rare as urban light pollution and pesticides take their toll on suitable habitat.

The tiny harvest mouse (Micromys minutus) lives in long tussocky grassland, reedbeds, hedgerows and around woodland edges. They build a spherical nest of tightly woven grass, high up among tall grasses. Harvest mice are mainly vegetarian, eating seeds and fruits, but will also eat invertebrates. Captured mice are weighed and sexed before release.

The scarce heath potter wasp (Eumenes coarctatus) constructs a nest pot from balls of wet clay on gorse or heather. A single egg is laid before the nest is stocked with moth caterpillar prey.

The hornet (Vespa crabro) is Britain's largest wasp species. Hornets prey on other wasps, honeybees, flies, butterflies, moths and spiders. Saplings are ring-barked to encourage sap flow which is then collected. Nests are usually in aerial locations, particularly inside hollow trees, but also in attics and outbuildings.

Periodically snakes shed their entire skins in a process known as ecdysis. This process of renewal may explain why serpents became symbolic of healing and medicine.

In the summer of 2020 white storks (Ciconia ciconia) hatched for the first time in the wild for more than 600 years in Britain. The adult pair successfully raised 3 chicks at the top of an oak tree on the Knepp Estate in West Sussex, where many have been reintroduced as part of a long-running 'rewilding' project. Deer, cows and pigs also roam the estate. More than 2,500 human visitors flocked to observe the chicks after COVID-19 restrictions were relaxed.

There are about 800 species of 'macro moth' in the UK. These are the species you will find illustrated in standard field guides on the subject. But there have been 2,400 species of moth recorded in the UK when 'micro moths' are accounted for. Only the high priests of this cult can read the runes of their colouring and patternation with any degree of certainty. Nobody knows precisely why these creatures of the night are attracted to bright lights amidst the darkness. Event organised by Surrey Wildlife Trust.

In winter months huge flocks of starlings (Sturnus vulgaris) gather together to share communal roosts at dusk. These flocks are known as 'murmurations'. The birds' aerial displays form spectacular patterns which often attract human admirers, as witnessed here at Poole Harbour in Dorset.

Ospreys (Pandion haliaetus) are regular visitors to Dorset's Poole Harbour in spring and autumn. They stop to feed up on migration between their summer homes in northern Europe and winter retreat in West Africa. Ospreys feed almost exclusively on fish, which they pluck from the water with specially adapted feet.

In the UK the Purbeck Mason Wasp (Pseudepipona herrichii) is found only in the Isle of Purbeck, Dorset. The female wasp stocks her burrow with larvae of a small moth which feeds mainly on bell heather. The adults chew distinctive holes in the heather flowers to obtain nectar which their short tongues could not otherwise reach.

The raft spider (Dolomedes fimbriatus) is the UK's largest arachnid. It inhabits boggy wetland areas and hunts on the surface of the water, sensing prey's vibrations with its front legs. It eats tadpoles, insects, and even small fish.

Reptile surveys with Amphibian & Reptile Conservation (ARC) on the Surrey heaths. All animals handled under licence.

A saprophyte is an organism which gets its energy from dead and decaying organic matter.

Some Hymenoptera like ants, honeybees and bumblebees, are well known for living together in colonies. But these social species are a minority. The vast majority of wasp species lead solitary lives. There are about 9,000 species of these solitary wasps in the UK.

The stag beetle (Lucanus cervus) is the UK’s largest terrestrial beetle. Stag beetle larvae live in old trees with decaying timber and dead wood, where they remain for 4-6 years until maturity. The adult beetles emerge in early summer and often fly at dusk during the mating period. Forest management 'tidying up' practices frequently eliminate the habitat required by this species. Once fairly common, the population of Lucanus cervus is in steep decline and it is now listed as a threatened/declining species.

Four months in the company of a family of Sussex peregrines (Falco peregrinus) through spring and summer of 2020. Three siblings were successfully raised and fledged.

Tiger beetles (Cicindela campestris) are ferocious and agile predators. They hunt spiders, ants and caterpillars on heaths, grassland and sand dunes. Tiger beetle larvae are equally aggressive, lurking at burrow entrances to ambush passing prey.

After emerging from hibernation in early spring common toads (Bufo bufo) migrate back to their breeding ponds at night. Sometimes this involves crossing busy roads and many toads are sadly hit and killed by passing cars. Each year volunteers working with charities such as Froglife and local Amphibian and Reptile Groups attempt to ferry migrating toads, frogs and newts to safety at known crossing points. Male toads grasp females in a position known as 'amplexus' as they attempt to fertilise her eggs. Often a mating pair can be found together before they reach the nearest pond. In this case males hitch a free ride!

A selection of my best work.

The fire at Upton Heath in 2011 was Dorset's largest heath fire for 35 years. The heath is home to all six British species of reptiles, including rare sand lizards and smooth snakes as well as the common lizard, slow worms, grass snakes and adders. The fire destroyed nesting habitat of Dartford warblers and nightjars among other birds. Recorded on behalf of the RSPB and Natural England. With thanks to Dorset Wildlife Trust staff and volunteers.

The White Admiral (Limenitis camilla) is a large woodland butterfly which glides effortlessly along forest rides. Its numbers have recovered in recent decades, possibly due to the cessation of coppicing, which has benefited this species since it requires Honeysuckle growing in shady woodland for its larvae. In Sussex I followed one spectacular final instar larva through pupation to emergence. The next generation were recorded from eggs, through larval development, to construction of winter hibernacula. Attack and parasitisation by wasps was also observed.

Children's outdoor learning event at Durlston Country Park and National Nature Reserve on the 'Jurassic Coast' World Heritage Site. Dorset, UK.

The Isle of Purbeck in Dorset is not a true island but a peninsula, bordered by the English Channel to south and east where steep cliffs fall to the sea, and by the marshy lands of the River Frome and Poole Harbour to the north. Its coastline forms part of the 'Jurassic Coast' World Heritage Site. The Isle's varied geology and natural habitats make it especially rich in wildlife.

The large nest mounds of wood ants (Formica rufa) are a familiar sight for many people. Nests are built from fragments of vegetation and may house up to 400,000 individuals. Wood ants are major predators of other woodland insects and, where present in large numbers, can significantly impact the ecology of their woodland habitat. Wood ants also feed extensively on honeydew, which they 'farm' from aphids.