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Even better - me with Steve Fletcher and Enes Unal!

Tall leek orchids (Prasophyllum elatum) near Mallacoota, VIC. Good no.s of these striking black-stemmed forms out in early spring this yr - most flower spikes 60-70cm tall at this location. This is the largest leek orchid found in VIC -can grow to 1.5m tall. #orchids #ozplants

Leopard orchids emerging in early spring near Genoa, VIC. These coastal East Gippsland plants are generally regarded as Diuris pardina but recent revisions of the genus have suggested a return to D. maculata which occurs just across the border in NSW #orchids #spring #inthefield

Rescued this Painted Lady caterpillar on 14.09.24. It was crawling along the road near the Square and Compass pub in Worth Matravers. I was in a not dissimilar position a couple of hours later...😜

Love the macabre mask of this black lichen on Fraxinus in suburban Bournemouth 20.09.24. Wonder if Jamie warren can help on ID please?

First Fly Agaric (Amanita muscaria) of the year for me in East Dorset, 20.09.24.

The last of the Autumn lady's-tresses (Spiranthes spiralis) and the first signs of next year's Bee Orchids (Ophrys apifera) at Dawlish Warren today 😃 21-9-24 Wild Orchids UK & Ireland

Is Altrincham Northern or Southern? Find out what the orchids say when I do my talk for the Altrincham Natural History Society on 8th October at 7.45pm. 😃 It will be on zoom, so you can watch it even if you're not in the north (or the south).

Just read the very sad news of the sudden death of Alan Gendle, one of the nicest, most generous and committed orchidophiles I knew. An absolute encyclopaedia of knowledge on Cumbrian orchids, he will be terribly missed. 😢😢😢😢 RIP, Alan.

Pink sun orchids (Thelymitra carnea) near Genoa, VIC. This very widespread sp. occurs in both AUS + NZ and is usually one of the first sun orchids out in E. Gippsland. Most early flowers at this location were light pink - with the odd darker pink form #orchids #inthefield #spring

Craneflies numbers seem to be good following the damp summer. This one in the New Forest looked amazing on a cool, autumnal morning.

Caladenia pusilla (tiny fingers) near the Genoa River, VIC. Only 2 flowers out in late-Sept here -first time I've seen this v. small / easily over-looked orchid in E. Gippsland. Tip of my little finger here for scale - flowers are tiny (common name checks out!) #orchids #ozplants

Allan Chard & I went for a walk on Watercress Farm, North Somerset today following a report of a single Willow Emerald Damselfly there previously . We found 5 pairs, 10 individuals, both male and female, and ovipositing into the bark of a small tree. UK Dragonflies Allan Chard

I did not realise it was U.K. Fungus day on 5th October! Luckily I was in the New Forest searching for them. Highlight without a doubt is this rare Coral Tooth (Hericium coralloides(m) - like frozen waterfall 🙂

45 years ago tomorrow, 7th October, the most recent confirmed Oxfordshire Ghost was found by Neville Diserens. After more recent rain it seemed sensible to check the three main areas of the site, which had decent numbers of fungi, but no 👻 😞. My last search of the year 👍

Real mixed bag of weather in Bournemouth recently. Snowed on Thursday, battered by Storm Bert at weekend - and today it's balmy enough for Wall Lizards to bask!

Fly Agaric (Amanita muscaria) making a very late appearance in the car park at work in Central Bournemouth 05.12.24.

Unexpected find at home in Bournemouth today. Lesser Celandine (cultivated, pale form) already in flower 🙂

What was that about an Arctic Blast? We have Wall Lizards basking in sunny Bournemouth!😜

Enough is enough. You know where I'll be...😉