I saw a nuthatch in a tree, showing off its climbing skills. They're pretty little #birds South London, UK.

The signs in the park said not to feed bread to the ducks, so I fed their egos with lots of compliments instead. They are very pretty, so it's only right to tell them that. #birds

This moorhen chick is so funny looking, but cute with it. #birds

A beautiful tufted duck mother and her cute ducklings. #birds

A Canada goose washing, splashing lots. I don't think they're capable of being subtle or quiet. #birds

I know terrapins aren't a natural part of the ecosystem in the UK & shouldn't be in our parks but I still think they're amazing to look at. These two live in a small park in South London.

Tufted ducklings, they're so cute. They can dive even when they're tiny, so they're constantly disappearing and reappearing. #birds

This kingfisher was just metres away from busy roads, light industrial sites, out of town superstores & a busy children's playground. It's so good that they can survive in the city. She had just caught & eaten a small fish. #birds

A parakeet eating some fruit in a neighbouring garden. I find it interesting how they hold food with their feet and their beak. They're not native to the UK but they are everywhere in the London area and a number of other cities. #birds

Local cat enjoying rolling around on my patio, showing off her toe beans 😻 #cats #notmycat

I saw a couple of skylarks on a golf course, on the border between London and Surrey. I really hope they've had a successful breeding season. #birds

The ants weren't happy about the number of 7 spot ladybirds on this plant. Ants actually farm aphids, getting them to produce honeydew, while ladybirds eat aphids. Amazing to watch their interactions. The ants are much smaller so I don't know if anyone wins. #ladybirds

I saw some pretty dragonflies hiding out in woodland to avoid unwanted male attention. First one is a common darter, second southern hawker. Seen in Croydon, South London.

Shiny insects in Reading, UK. A rose chafer beetle and a male banded demoiselle. Such beautiful colours.

It's almost like they're trying to catch people out with the ticket machines. 3 different fares to the same place. The journey planner shows the via London route. A 20p difference between via Redhill & "not via London" (i.e. change at Clapham Junction) but a big fine if you get it wrong.

The beautiful, yet often overlooked dunnock, in a South London park. #birds

A beautiful young fox, the most relaxed of 3 youngsters living near me. I know they're not always perfect neighbours but I love seeing these beautiful creatures in our cities.

I think the fact that Radiohead's 1997 song Let Down has finally charted says something important about the national mood.

Canada goslings and parents in the evening sun. #birds

Robin fledglings are adorable. #birds

Quite a dramatic fight between two moorhens in a South London park this afternoon - then a third joined in & was chased off. They normally seem such peaceful birds. #birds

Canada goose belly flop. Such graceful #birds

The top deck of a bus is the best way to travel round London (when it's too far to walk). Only £1.75, great views, much quieter than the tube & no escalators or long tunnels. This is Bank Junction in the City of London.

I don't think I'll ever grow out of the excitement of seeing ducklings. These two families were at Kelsey Park in South London yesterday. #birds

Bumblebees in poppies, next to a busy road. In the first photo there's a bee in the poppy and another trying to follow it in.

This leaf is beautiful, like a work of art.

A long-tailed tit lying back in a tree on a hot afternoon, in Banstead, Surrey. I guess it was trying to cool down by spreading its feathers and venting with its beak. #birds

The first brood of great crested grebes at South Norwood Lake are looking so grown up now. Their parents appear to be sitting on a second brood of eggs. They are incredible parents. #birds

An animal I hadn't expected to see in France was the coypu, aka nutria. This South American mammal was introduced for the fur industry but is now endemic. Their voracious appetite for water plants is problematic. The resemblance to the capybara is clear though.

Sometimes birding rewards perseverance, other times it's just luck. I heard the gentle purring of a turtle dove & spent quite a time tracking it down to the top of a tree. Then I sat down for a break & saw an osprey in a tree by the River Loire (France). #birds

I am loving these green lizards, they're such stunning bright colours. Seen in the Loire Valley region of France.

I found a swallowtail butterfly near a motorway rest stop in Normandy, France. It's so beautiful.

I saw my first small copper butterfly of the year in a local park. In the first photo there's a regular sized ant for scale.

Baby birds at Waddon Ponds in Croydon. Mallard ducklings and a coot chick. #birds

Some beautiful cows I met yesterday.

Moorhen family at a local pond. I'm not sure what one of the chicks did wrong but it got a telling off from its parent. There's also some tadpoles in the pond. Some ponds are at risk of drying up as there's been so little rain, but this one seems ok. #birds

Today I learned that if a female speckled wood butterfly isn't interested in mating, she'll lie down and play dead until the male moves on 😆

Mistle thrush in a local park, collecting worms for its babies. #birds

Female banded demoiselles are also very beautiful and shiny. Photo 4 is a blue-tailed damselfly, the only other species of damselfly I saw today. All at Morden Hall Park in South London.

Today I saw these male banded demoiselles by the River Wandle, in the lovely Morden Hall Park in South London @nationaltrust.org.uk Such beautiful, shiny insects.

Some cows & a goat grazing the top of the quarry at Riddlesdown (don't worry - there's a big fence to stop them falling off the edge).

It's been so hot here that even the sheep are melting 🫠 Jacob sheep, Riddlesdown, Croydon.

I had a lovely surprise while sitting by a pond today - a female sparrowhawk came down for a drink. Amazing to see this beautiful bird so close - look at her fancy stripy trousers. Croydon, UK. #birds

The great crested grebe chicks at South Norwood Lake are doing really well. They've grown a lot - hard to believe a couple of weeks ago they could both hide in their parents' feathers. #birds

Adorable ducklings at Waddon Ponds in Croydon. Unusually, a male mallard was actually helping look after them. Normally they don't stick around. #birds

Collared doves are beautiful birds. #birds

Sometimes lizard spotting is quite challenging. There's a lizard in each of these photos.

This rabbit I saw today at Chipstead Downs was so cute I just have to share it. The way it flicks its ear with its paw 😍

A lovely pair of common whitethroats I spotted in a hedge today at Hutchinson's Bank in Croydon. They have a distinctive song but usually I don't manage to get a proper look at them. #birds

Great spotted woodpecker in a local park, having a preen, stretching his neck and doing some drumming. I've heard a lot from them recently but not managed to see much so it was good to watch this. #birds