An exciting visitor to my allotment - the incredible Hummingbird Hawkmoth! Mesmerising watching it flit between flowers, pausing to probe each with a long proboscis, the wings (allegedly beating 80 times per second) just a blur. #teammoth @dorsetbutterflies.bsky.social @dorsetmoths.bsky.social

Plenty of tiny, beautiful, Eyebright flowers in the wild quarries on Portland. Not sure of species - my Wildflower ID book quickly made me realise these were going to be tricky, and that feeling was compounded by one of the Eyebright having the scientific name of Euphrasia confusa!! #wildflowerhour

What a fabulously fluffy caterpillar - Fox Moth at Tout Quarry, Portland this morning. @dorsetbutterflies.bsky.social @dorsetmoths.bsky.social

My #FavouritePlant absolutely had to be the Marsh Gentian. There were around 40 in flower at this site - I crouched down to inspect and enjoy every single one! Stunning. #wildflowerhour

In 2nd place, for my #FavouritePlant is Lady Orchid, seen for the first time in Kent in May with @mariposanature.bsky.social. It was such a wonderful day, with fellow guests and leaders proving to be great company. And the orchids were fabulous, but the Lady Orchid stole my heart. #wildflowerhour

Have enjoyed remembering the wonderful flowers, people and places encountered this year in selecting my #FavouritePlant. In 3rd place for me - the Snowdrop, a simple, beautiful, sign of spring. And this year, it provided added joy as I discovered those hidden green stripes. #Wildflowerhour

#LunarEclipse from North #Oxfordshire. I missed totality but the #Moon popped out from behind the cloud bank so I got some photos of most of the second half :) #Eclipse #LunarEclipse2025

My final #seedheads for this week's #wildflowerhour challenge...Bird's-foot Trefoil, named after the shape and arrangement of the seedpods.

I revisited the roadside embankment in Weymouth which hosts an epic annual display of Pyramidal Orchids. It's spectacular at it's peak. Whilst not nearly so showy at this time of year, there is still a fantastic display thanks to all the #seedheads. #wildflowerhour @ukorchids.bsky.social

Oooh, great #wildflowerhour challenge this week, have really enjoyed looking more closely at #seedheads. Thrift seedheads blowing in the wind at Durlston Country Park, Dorset.

Glossy Ibis at Tidmoor.

This morning's moth trap (Weymouth) supplied a surprise Water Boatman! Of the 70 moths, half were Large Yellow Underwings! 16 other sp included a gorgeous Dusky Thorn and a new-for-me micro - possibly Neocochylis Molliculana? #TeamMoth @dorsetbutterflies.bsky.social @dorsetmoths.bsky.social

A stroll around Affpuddle Woods, Dorset was rewarded by the very first promises of Autumn - tiny #fungi pushing up through the leaf litter. Still seems very dry and warm on the south coast, so pleased to see these starting to appear - just love fungi season.

First time I've had a good look at a caterpillar's mouth! This Eyed Hawkmoth larva was obligingly positioned for an interesting view of the black mouthparts and it's six true legs. Feeding on apple at my Weymouth allotment. #TeamMoth @dorsetbutterflies.bsky.social @dorsetmoths.bsky.social

It seems like a good year for hedgerow #fruits round here with Bramble, Hawthorn, Blackthorn, Dog Rose and Apple in abundance. But what really caught my eye were extraordinary long "garlands" of red berries belonging to Black Bryony - decorating everything - even barbed wire! #wildflowerhour

Cheating slightly for this week's #Fruits challenge... I attended a brilliant walk with @dorsetflora.bsky.social which tuned me in to looking more closely at Clovers. Well, my new favourite is Strawberry Clover so thought I'd share, as I just love these little spiky orbs. #wildflowerhour

Very happy to have joined the Autumn Ladies Tresses party. I love the "frosting" that glimmers in the sun. Such a lovely, delicate orchid - these ones were particularly tiny in a dry, exposed position at Durlston Country Park, Dorset. #wildflowerhour @ukorchids.bsky.social

Managed to be both a week early and a week late for the #gentianfamily challenge! This week a different location on the Purbeck Heaths revealed more gorgeous Marsh Gentian, plus Dorset Heath and Oblong-leaved Sundew, as well as plenty of Heather & Gorse with some fab Wasp Spiders. #wildflowerhour

Excited to discover my small, potted apple tree is now also home to jazzy Grey Dagger moth caterpillars! So cool to see how they change appearance as they moult and grow. This one, a 4cm final instar, is looking quite spectacular. #TeamMoth @dorsetbutterflies.bsky.social @dorsetmoths.bsky.social

I'm currently reading a lovely book "Swifts and Us - The Life of the Bird that Sleeps in the Sky" by Sarah Gibson @windsweptsarah.bsky.social Looking forward to hearing the author's talk on Saturday at the Swifts Over Sherborne event, and hopefully getting my book signed! swiftsoversherborne.co.uk

Very excited to find 2 awesome Eyed Hawkmoth caterpillars at my allotment, Weymouth, feeding on a small apple tree. Loving the blue horn, the rusty coloured true legs with white spots, and the lateral stripes mimicking leaf veins. #TeamMoth @dorsetmoths.bsky.social @dorsetbutterflies.bsky.social

WOW - totally blown away this week by the undeniably gorgeous flowers of Marsh Gentian. The colours, the shape, the detail.....look at those spots! So beautiful. Flower of the week for me.....absolutely, and surely contender for flower of the year. #wildflowerhour

The cheery yellow flowers of Common Fleabane are my #DaisyFamily contribution for this week's #wildflowerhour. Not unusual, but I rather like them and they certainly added a splash of colour at Silverlakes today.

A jaunt to the Pubeck Heaths was rewarded with lovely close encounters of Grayling butterflies today. So easy to pick out by their distinctive flight, but quite a different matter when they land. Their colouring is perfect camouflage against the dry heathland. @dorsetbutterflies.bsky.social

Enjoyed quality time yesterday with the Elephant Hawkmoth caterpillars in my allotment again. They're active later in the day. I watched them feeding - their faces elongate like little trunks. And I just can't get enough of those eyespots. Look at the brown and pink shading. Incredible! #TeamMoth

Absolutely thrilled to find Elephant Hawkmoth caterpillars at my allotment. What awesome caterpillars they are! There's a good reason my allotment is a bit "messy" and I just love sharing the space with nature. @dorsetbutterflies.bsky.social @dorsetmoths.bsky.social #TeamMoth

My final #pollinatorpals are on Hemp Agrimony and Red Valerian. Chalkhill Blue butterflies in attendance (always delightful), as well as Honeybee and a striking fly (possibly Stomorhina Lunata?). And knapweed with Red-tailed Bumblebees. Such a great challenge this week - thank you #wildflowerhour

A random selection of #pollinatorpals for #wildflowerhour - anyone good on weevil ID?? I've a Honeybee on Bramble, a fly sp on Cinquefoil, a Weevil on False Mayweed?, Red Tailed Bumblebee on Red Bartsia (another fave flower), and Small Heath on Wild Marjoram.

Soooo many gorgeous red-tsiled bumbleebees out and about. They seemed particular drawn to Vipers-Bugloss, and who can blame them - what an awesome flower! Also, common carder bee seen. Birds Foot Trefoil with Common Blue, and a Chalkhill Blue on Travellors Joy. #pollinatorpals #wildflowerhour

Ragwort flowers are so pretty, and I saw many #pollinatorpals visiting including Gatekeeper, Chalkhill Blue, Mason Bee and hoverflies. However, peril awaits some......one unfortunate Gatekeeper had been caught by a Crab Spider hiding amongst the petals. #wildflowerhour

The old quarries have a lot of buddleia self-established, which can be quite invasive and cause issues. However, there is no denying it's flowers are a welcome food source for pollinators, bees and butterflies alike. #pollinatorpals #wildflowerhour

Fab weather for looking for #pollinatorpals for this week's challenge. Bowers Quarry, Portland was a joy - so many insects and flowers. I watched a Chalkhill Blue work methodically around one Carline Thistle flowerhead for about 15 mins - what a winning combination, just magical. #wildflowerhour

Sooo glad I did my Transect at the weekend whilst it was still sunny! A lovely walk at Lorton Meadows, Weymouth resulted in 151 butterflies counted incl. Brimstone, Brown Argus and Common Blue. Some interesting galls on the thistles too. @dorsetbutterflies.bsky.social @dorsetwildlife.bsky.social

I couldn't agree more with @mariposanature.bsky.social - this week's #wildflowerhour challenge just HAD to include ice-cream!! Also enjoyed Golden and Rock Samphire, Greater Sea-spurrey, Common Restharrow, Sea Mayweed and one pink Thrift flower hidden amongst deadheads at Portland Bill. #bythesea

I couldn't agree more with @mariposanature.bsky.social - this week's #wildflowerhour challenge just HAD to include ice-cream!! Also enjoyed Golden and Rock Samphire, Greater Sea-spurrey, Common Restharrow, Sea Mayweed and one pink Thrift flower hidden amongst deadheads at Portland Bill. #bythesea

Thrilled to find a beautiful Peach Blossom moth in the trap this morning (Weymouth), as well as a cracking Oak Eggar. Not a huge count with 17 species / 26 individuals in total, but lots of variety and always a lovely way to spend a morning. 😃 #TeamMoth @dorsetmoths.bsky.social

Lots of Peacock butterfly caterpillars busily feeding on nettles in the sun today, at the edge of Lorton Meadows. One of my favourite caterpillars - so beautiful. @dorsetbutterflies.bsky.social @dorsetwildlife.bsky.social

For the #deadnettlefamily challenge I can't resist "recycling" a favourite flower from my visit to Braunton Burrows 3 weeks ago - a lovely Skullcap. And from this week - a simple, White Dead-nettle (love those furry hoods!) and Betony - both purple and white flowers found. #wildflowerhour

For #Wildflowerhour some serious Ragwort appreciation! With their cheery colour and surprisngly purple stems, just masses of insect visitors - bees, hoverflies, butterflies incl Brown Argus and Small Copper. Plus jazzy Cinnabar Moth caterpillars - hadn't noticed the long pale hairs before. Lovely.

Hurrah, it's here!! 🦋 The annual Big Butterfly Count has begun AND it's lovely weather and I have butterflies in my allotment literally waiting to be counted - what a great start. #bigbutterflycount @dorsetbutterflies.bsky.social

I have a septet of #hairyplants for this week's #wildflowerhour challenge. With first prize going to the "hairy knees" of Hogweed. My other hirsute contenders are Common Fleabane, Stinging Nettle, Enchanter's Nightshade, Great Willowherb, Red Campion and some taller-than-me, hairy/ prickly thistles.

Any bookings for Butterflies of the Hautes Pyrenees with Kate Humble made before midnight on Sunday can enjoy a £200 discount off list price! Happy birthday from us to you, and thanking everyone who's joined Team Mariposa on our journey to date. 🤗(3/3) mariposanature.com/tours/butter...

I can't recommend a visit to Braunton Burrows highly enough. It is beautiful and simply flower-tastic!! The Thyme and Lady's Bedstraw form the most gorgeous carpets of colour. And the Bog Pimpernel and Sand Pansies were just gorgeous. #wildflowerhour

Had a fab day out at Braunton Burrows with @hardyorchidsociety.bsky.social on Friday. So much to see, incl Marsh Helleborine, Pryamidal, Early Marsh, Marsh Fragrant and Southern Marsh Orchids. Many thanks to @rogercharding.bsky.social and Mary Breeds for being wonderful guides. #wildflowerhour

I've enjoyed two species of helleborine this week, both new for me and couldn't have been more different! Green-flowered Helleborine, subtle, delicate, hidden in plain sight in wooded shade. And thousands of showy Marsh Helleborine, Braunton Burrows, Devon. #wildflowerhour #helleborinechallenge

By far the best moth trap of the year for me, despite rain overnight, with 93 moths / 40 sp (Weymouth). Including Blackneck, Blue-bordered Carpet, Early Thorn, Elephant Hawkmoth, Spectacle, Pebble Prominent, Garden Tiger and, my all-time favourite, the Buff-tip. @dorsetmoths.bsky.social #TeamMoth

Lorton Meadows looks so pretty sprinkled with knapweed and vetch. Very enjoyable butterfly transect today - 178 total / 13 sp, incl many Small Skipper, some Common Blue, gorgeous Ringlets & a lovely Scarlet Tiger moth. #wildflowerhour @dorsetwildlife.bsky.social @dorsetbutterflies.bsky.social

Thought I'd go for the hat-trick with a grass, a sedge and a reed (or a bur-reed anyway) for this week's challenge. I found Pendulous Sedge along the river, along with Branched Bur-reed. And some very vigorous False Oat Grass in a lofty position on a roadside verge. #wildflowerhour #grasschallenge

A very beautiful and tranquil walk along the river in Dorchester today revealed Ivy-Leaved Toadflax and Mexican Fleabane hanging over the water from crevices in the walls, along with Enchanter's Nightshade in the shade of the trees alongside. #wildflowerhour

To celebrate #NationalInsectWeek here is a selection of some of the fab insects that call my allotment home. Spotted all life stages of shieldbug this year, and watched this Spider Wasp(?) diligently carrying and dragging grit and debris into a pile....presumably covering her egg. Very exciting.