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Michael Jones @mixaeljones.bsky.social · 02/10/2026

This Wall Lizard is living up to its name by being a lizard on a wall! 🦎 I saw many of these fab reptiles on a visit to Durlston Country Park. #DailyNature #lizard #reptile

A close up of the head of a Wall Lizard. The lizard is gripping onto a grey wall and looking directly at the camera

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Michael Jones @mixaeljones.bsky.social · 25/09/2026

Massive Bolete alert! 🚨 It was bigger than my head, but my hand was easier to photograph next to it for scale! I spotted it under an Oak tree. Would anyone be able to suggest an ID? #FungiFriday #FungiFriends #Fungi

My hand next to the off-yellow irregular-shaped cap of a Bolete mushroom

A side-on view of a bolete mushroom growing out of a grassy area. The stem is an off-yellow colour and the underside of the cap is yellow and sponge-like

A close-up of the underside of a bolete mushroom cap. It is yellow sponge-like

A super close-up of the underside of a bolete mushroom cap. It is yellow and sponge-like with thousands of spore-releasing holes

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Michael Jones @mixaeljones.bsky.social · 19/09/2026

I found what I think is a Festoon caterpillar on the path earlier. Was thinking of trying to parent it to adulthood. Does anyone have any suggestions? Or should just hoist it back up into an oak tree? #TeamMoth #MothsMatter #Moth #Moth-erFather

A Festoon moth caterpillar - a bright green larva with three lines of pink spots on a grey piece of slate. Its little head is looking at the camera. Front-on view

A Festoon moth caterpillar - a bright green larva with three lines of pink spots on a grey piece of slate. Top down view.

A Festoon moth caterpillar - a bright green larva with three lines of pink spots on a grey piece of slate. Side-on view

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Michael Jones @mixaeljones.bsky.social · 18/09/2026

Millions (almost) of Gorse Spider Mites just hanging around, wondering what to do on a Friday afternoon!

A gathering of hundreds of pale red-orange Gorse Spider Mites hanging off the end of a spiky gorse leaf

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Michael Jones @mixaeljones.bsky.social · 16/09/2026

I’ve spotted loads of Clouded Yellow #butterflies over the years, but they’ve never shown much of a desire to hang around… until today! This one was in the next door neighbour’s garden, demonstrating the value of having nectar sources at home! 🥳 @savebutterflies.bsky.social #UKButterflies

Clouded Yellow - a bright yellow butterfly with a few black spots and a single white spot on the closed wings perched on a dark pink-petalled flower

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Michael Jones @mixaeljones.bsky.social · 16/08/2026

One of the things I love about learning to moth trap is that so many moths turn up I’ve never heard of before. This marvellous Maple Prominent visited the garden and agreed to pose beautifully for a photo on the condition that I put a freshly picked squash in the background! #DailyNature #TeamMoth

Maple Prominent - a dark and light brown moth with white frost-like coloured ends to the wings on a grey slate with a yellow background.

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Michael Jones @mixaeljones.bsky.social · 14/08/2026

Moth: Chinese Character Size: Tiny Super power: Looking like a bird poo! #DailyNature #TeamMoth

Chinese Character - a small, mostly white moth that resembles a bird poo.

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Michael Jones @mixaeljones.bsky.social · 11/08/2026

And the winner of the Gremlins impersonation competition is… Vapourer Moth! Best not feed it after midnight! #DailyNature #TeamMoth

A close-up front on view of a Vapourer Moth, showing its massive feathery antennae

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Michael Jones @mixaeljones.bsky.social · 09/08/2026

This Harebell enjoyed the first rain in a long time. Fleetingly refreshing! 🌧️ #WildFlowerHour @bsbibotany.bsky.social

A pale purple Harebell flower with droplets of rain

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Michael Jones @mixaeljones.bsky.social · 08/08/2026

There’s been a Hummingbird Hawk-moth whizzing around my garden on and off for a couple of weeks. This is the first time I’ve managed to get a camera anywhere near it! I assume it’s the same moth, as it gave me a knowing nod before speeding off over the fence. #DailyNature #TeamMoth

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Michael Jones @mixaeljones.bsky.social · 07/08/2026

My 3-year old daughter wasn’t sleepy, so she asked to go on a Nightjar walk. I was so excited that she wanted to share my favourite nature spectacle. It was wonderful being out on the heath together. She even pointed out the first Nightjar whilst I was distracted by an aeroplane! ✈️🤦‍♂️ #DailyNature

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Michael Jones @mixaeljones.bsky.social · 06/08/2026

I got a few strange looks when I exclaimed “Look at that Old Lady in a spiderweb” earlier! It’s the first time I’ve encountered this moth. It’s a shame it had had its insides sucked out by an arachnid and been tangled in web for quite a while. #DailyNature #TeamMoth

A deceased Old Lady moth with a hollowed out body and spider-webbed wings. This moth is dead. It is no more. It has ceased to be! It’s expired and gone to meet its maker.

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Michael Jones @mixaeljones.bsky.social · 05/08/2026

Well, I’ve now become that person who takes photos of moths in public toilets! Is this normal?? Today’s public convenience finds included (I think) Small China-mark, Dark-bordered Pearl and Common Wave. I was @nationaltrust.org.uk’s The Vyne in Hampshire. #DailyNature #TeamMoth

Small China-mark moth on a white toilet wall

Dark-Bordered Pearl moth on a white toilet wall

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Michael Jones @mixaeljones.bsky.social · 04/08/2026

Earlier I went out butterfly spotting… But it unexpectedly started pouring with rain. It had been so long since I last experienced rain, that I dropped to my knees Shawshank Redemption style & absorbed as much petrichor as I could! This delicate Harebell seemed to enjoy the downpour! #DailyNature

A pale purple Harebell flower with droplets of rain on the petals and stem

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Michael Jones @mixaeljones.bsky.social · 03/08/2026

I introduced my in-laws to the wonderful world of moth trapping in their garden. They were surprisingly understanding when I filled their fridge with moths! Photos show a Jersey Tiger Moth admiring its picture in a book and a fridge crammed full of moths (and chocolate!) 😀 #DailyNature #TeamMoth

A black and white-winged Jersey Tiger Moth perched on an index finger whilst being held above tiger moth illustrations in a moth book

An open fridge stuffed full of moths in plastic pots and more chocolate than I would have expected!

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Michael Jones @mixaeljones.bsky.social · 02/08/2026

Day 2 of August’s #DailyNature comes from 2am! I was out checking the moth trap when I spotted two hedgehogs. 🦔 This wonderful thing was as snoozy as I was! 😴 What an amazing experience!

A curled-up hedgehog, lying asleep on a patio. You can see its eyes, nose and a claw poking out of the prickles. There is another hedgehog in the background amongst fallen leaves

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Michael Jones @mixaeljones.bsky.social · 01/08/2026

I don’t see many Small Tortoiseshells, so it was brilliant to meet this one to celebrate day 1 of August’s #DailyNature! (It was a bonus that it sat still for a photo!) #butterfly #BigButterflyCount @savebutterflies.bsky.social

A Small Tortoiseshell butterfly with wings closed perched on a light purple flower head. The butterfly’s long curved proboscis is plunged into the flower to sup on the nectar. The background is a blurred green from a variety of plants

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Michael Jones @mixaeljones.bsky.social · 12/07/2026

Drinker moth in the garden moth trap for the first time last night. What an amazing creature! It left me a present or two in the pot. I guess I’m going to be an uncle! Has anyone ever raised a family of Drinker moths?? Advice please 🙂 #TeamMoth #MothsMatter #DailyNature #Moth

Drinker moth - a fluffy, golden moth with two irregular white spots and some dark lines on the wings. It is sat on a piece of dark grey slate

Two white almost spherical moth eggs with a pale green circle and spot in a translucent black plastic specimen pot

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Michael Jones @mixaeljones.bsky.social · 11/07/2026

This Pantaloon Bee has been returning to the same flower each evening for the last week or so to have a snooze. He’s not there tonight. Perhaps off watching the football somewhere! 🐝 ⚽️ #bee #DailyNature @royentsoc.bsky.social

A male Pantaloon Bee snoozing on the purple flowers of Verbena. You’re going to have to take my word for it when I say it’s asleep!

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Michael Jones @mixaeljones.bsky.social · 09/06/2026

Today I encountered a #bee I’ve been keeping an eye out for years - Wool Carder Bee. I was running nature sessions at a local school and spotted it in the herb garden. I think the children found my jumping up and down with excitement somewhat amusing! 🐝 🥳 #30DaysWild - Day9

A chunky bee with yellow spots on the side of its abdomen nectaring on a light purple flower

A chunky bee with yellow spots on the side of its abdomen resting on a light purple flower

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Michael Jones @mixaeljones.bsky.social · 04/06/2026

Sometimes you don’t even have to go looking for nature - It just hops onto your finger! This teeny-tiny #cricket paid me a visit on its way somewhere to do something important. #30DaysWild

A tiny cricket with large hind legs and long antenna sat on a person’s thumb

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Michael Jones @mixaeljones.bsky.social · 03/06/2026

I love that looking closely at something in nature pretty much always reveals something else that’s amazing. Earlier, I watched a Silver-studded Blue #butterfly fluttering past and it landed about 10cm away from a Sand Lizard! 🦋 🦎 #30DaysWild - Day 3 #TakeACloserLook @savebutterflies.bsky.social

A blue-winged butterfly with black and white fringes perched on a piece of dead wood. There is heather in the background

A spotty lizard sat on light green moss. There is heather in the background

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Michael Jones @mixaeljones.bsky.social · 02/06/2026

I took a group of school children out on their local heath this morning and we spotted lots of fab dragonflies. Highlights were a Downy Emerald and this amazing Golden-ringed Dragonfly! The children were fascinated by such a close-up view. #30DaysWild - Day 2 @britishdragonflies.bsky.social

A black and yellow dragonfly perched on an oak twig. Green oak leaves are in the background

A close up of the head and thorax of a black and yellow dragonfly perched on an oak twig. Green oak leaves are in the background

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Michael Jones @mixaeljones.bsky.social · 01/06/2026

A few years ago I got an Alder Buckthorn for my parents in the hope of attracting Brimstones into their garden. Today I got a message from my mum saying something was eating her tree. It was covered in about 50 Brimstone caterpillars 🐛 Result! #30DaysWild - Day 1 @savebutterflies.bsky.social

A light green caterpillar with a pale stripe running the length of its body finishing off the last of a leaf it has been eating

Five green caterpillars eating the leaves of an Alder Buckthorn tree. The leaves are showing signs of being munched. There is a faded brown wooden fence behind.

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Michael Jones @mixaeljones.bsky.social · 15/05/2026

The Nightingale I found within walking distance of my house is still there after a month. And today… finally… it revealed itself! 😀🎶 #bird #heathland

Nightingale - a brown and off-white bird with beak open in full song, perched on a diagonal bramble stem. In the background are green leaves, spiky brambles and spiky gorse

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Michael Jones @mixaeljones.bsky.social · 11/05/2026

Carpets aplenty in the #moth trap at the weekend! Well, only one of each, but you know what I mean! Sharp-angled Carpet Red-green Carpet Green Carpet #TeamMoth #MothsMatter #Moths

Sharp-angled Carpet - a brown and white moth with intricate patterning perched on a slate grey paving slab

Red-green Carpet - a mostly green moth, almost plectrum-shaped on a slate grey paving slab

Green Carpet - a mostly green moth, with black splodges and wiggly white lines, perched on a slate grey paving slab

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Michael Jones @mixaeljones.bsky.social · 08/05/2026

Always a delight to spot a Grizzled Skipper and even more so when it sticks around for closer inspection. They’re usually a bit whizzy! 😀 #Butterfly #Butterflies @savebutterflies.bsky.social

Grizzled Skipper - a dark brown-winged butterfly with white chequered markings and a brown hairy body, perched on the ground.

Grizzled Skipper - a butterfly with light brown and white chequered closed wings perched on dark green gorse. The background is a lighter green

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Michael Jones @mixaeljones.bsky.social · 04/05/2026

I spotted this amazing Lime Hawk-moth on the floor outside my local pub - perhaps it had one too many lager and limes! 🍺 🍋‍🟩 It’s the first time I’ve seen the adult moth. What a stunner! #TeamMoth #MothsMatter #DailyNature #PubNature @savebutterflies.bsky.social

Lime Hawk-moth - a stunning green and peach-winged moth, with angled wings like a stealth bomber perched on a light purple-flowered Lilac plant

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Michael Jones @mixaeljones.bsky.social · 03/05/2026

A sneaky peek of things to come on a Surrey Heathland this week! #WildflowerHour #Heather @bsbibotany.bsky.social

Bell Heather - Three purple flowers on a dark green leaved stem

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Michael Jones @mixaeljones.bsky.social · 27/04/2026

Perfect #butterfly weather yesterday brought new sightings of Duke of Burgundy, Green Hairstreak and Dingy Skipper. I love the explosion of life at this time of year! @savebutterflies.bsky.social

Duke of Burgundy - a brown and orange butterfly with a chequerboard patterning sits with wings open on a pale green leaf

Green Hairstreak- a shimmering green butterfly rests with wings closed on a light green leaf. The butterfly has black and white striped legs and antennae

Dingy Skipper - a mostly dark brown butterfly with paler brown patterning resting open winged on grass and small sticks

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Michael Jones @mixaeljones.bsky.social · 17/04/2026

I think this one is Stalked Hairy Fairy Cup - what a fab name and super tiny! 🍄‍🟫 I’ve been keeping a close eye out for fungi on beechmast for ages and finally found some! #FungiFriends #FungiFriday

Lots of tiny white and off-white cupped mushrooms on a dark brown beechmast. The beechmast is on a carpet of feathery light green moss

A close-up view of tiny white and off-white cupped mushrooms on a brown beechmast. Both the mushrooms and beechmast appear hairy

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Michael Jones @mixaeljones.bsky.social · 13/04/2026

I was joined at dinner by this tiny little creature! I had no idea there was such a thing as a Turtle Shieldbug (Podops inuncta) Is anyone up for a #ShieldbugYearList?? It’ll be a great way to help me learn more about #Shieldbugs #Pentatomidae

A Turtle Shieldbug - A top-down view of a bronze-brown bug, with rounded back end, in a translucent plastic collection pot

A Turtle Shieldbug - A side-on view of a bronze-brown bug, with rounded back end, on the corner of a square wooden post

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Michael Jones @mixaeljones.bsky.social · 09/04/2026

Amazing! I’ve just heard a Nightingale within walking distance of my house. I love that sound, but usually have to travel to experience the immense joy it brings. Bonus Chiffchaff for good measure. Sound up as loud as you can get it!

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Michael Jones @mixaeljones.bsky.social · 04/04/2026

A bit of #LadybirdYearList admin catch up! 📝🐞 3️⃣ Harlequin Ladybird 4️⃣ Cream-spot Ladybird 5️⃣ 10-spot Ladybird 6️⃣ 14-spot Ladybird Lots of 7-spot Ladybirds everywhere I go too! #UKLadybirds #Ladybird

Harlequin Ladybird. A red ladybird with many black spots on a green mud-spattered bramble leaf

Cream-spot Ladybird. A dark orange ladybird with many cream spots in a translucent plastic specimen pot. The ladybird is reflected in one of the pot’s sides

10-spot Ladybird. A red ladybird with black spots in a translucent plastic specimen pot

14-spot Ladybird. A yellow ladybird with almost rectangular black spots on a shiny evergreen leaf

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Michael Jones @mixaeljones.bsky.social · 31/03/2026

What a wonderfully uplifting afternoon! Sunshine, warmth and lots of insects whizzing about. I wonder if there’s a word to describe the joy brought by the arrival of spring? This unusually approachable Brimstone was a highlight. #DailyNature #Butterfly #Spring #JoyofNature

A close-up of a pale green-yellow coloured Brimstone butterfly. Its long proboscis is probing a yellow Dandelion flower

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Michael Jones @mixaeljones.bsky.social · 27/03/2026

First garden moth trap of the year resulted in a pile of middle-sized brown moths! Let’s see how many I can remember from last year… 🤔 #MothsMatter #TeamMoth #DailyNature

A pile of 12 clear plastic insect collection pots with white lids on a patio. There is a brown moth in each of the pots

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Michael Jones @mixaeljones.bsky.social · 15/03/2026

It’s great to have Dark-edged Bee-flies whizzing around in the spring sunshine again. Super fluffy! #BeeFlyWatch #DailyNature

A fluffy brown and white insect with dark-edged wings (blurred in the photo due to the speed of flapping) taking nectar from a purple-flowered Grape Hyacinth

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Michael Jones @mixaeljones.bsky.social · 05/03/2026

It’s only March and this Dartford Warbler is already auditioning for Christmas cards! #DailyNature #Birds #Heathland

A Dartford Warbler perched on top of a Scots Pine tree

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Michael Jones @mixaeljones.bsky.social · 04/03/2026

Earlier, this Blue Tit gave me a “Don’t you dare take my photo and post it as a #DailyNature” look! Sorry Blue Tit! 🙂

A Blue Tit stares directly at the photographer whilst perched on a dark red-brown tree branch

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Michael Jones @mixaeljones.bsky.social · 03/03/2026

I was out for a heathland walk with a school group earlier and after we’d spotted lots of 7-spot Ladybirds, one of the children saw this fab little Heather Ladybird 🐞 Top nature detectives! #UKLadybirds #Ladybird #DailyNature

A black ladybird with red spots on a white and brown Silver Birch trunk

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Michael Jones @mixaeljones.bsky.social · 02/03/2026

This Goldfinch was in my garden earlier, feasting on the Evening Primrose seeds from last year. It demonstrates the benefits of not cutting the old plants back too early. #DailyNature #Bird #WildlifeGardening

A Goldfinch on an old plant stem with seed heads still remaining. The bird has a bright red face with white and black behind. The back and chest are a peachy brown and the wings are black with white spots and a patch of vivid yellow

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Michael Jones @mixaeljones.bsky.social · 01/03/2026

Just a little bit of sun was enough to bring out the bumblebees on my local heath! ☀️ 🐝 This Early Bumblebee queen (Bombus pratorum) is showing the value of Gorse for nectar at this time of year. It’s great to have #DailyNature back to celebrate the impending arrival of spring! 🌼

An Early Bumblebee on gorse. The bee is fluffy with a black head and alternating black and yellow bands on its thorax and abdomen. The tail is a pale orange. The gorse flowers are bright yellow and the spiky leaves are dark green.

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Michael Jones @mixaeljones.bsky.social · 27/02/2026

I was taking a school group around their local heathland and one of the children spotted this striking mushroom. I think it’s Verdigris Navel, which seems to be seldomly spotted. Can anyone confirm and I’ll let the school know they’ve got a champ nature spotter! 🍄‍🟫 #FungiFriday #FungiFriends

A dark green-stemmed mushroom with a white-gilled, green-topped cap. There is light green feathery moss all around

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Michael Jones @mixaeljones.bsky.social · 20/02/2026

My first encounter with the wonderfully named Crystal Brain Fungus! 🧠 🍄‍🟫 #Fungi #FungiFriday #FungiFriends

Two translucent white jelly-like fungi fruiting bodies on a dark brown angled stick. The background is a lime green carpet of out of focus moss

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Michael Jones @mixaeljones.bsky.social · 15/02/2026

This Chiffchaff was enjoying the sunny weather yesterday at WWT Arundel. It was so uplifting to be out underneath blue skies! ☀️ #UKbirds #bird

A small olive-brown bird on a dark green leaved plant with white flowers

A small olive-brown bird perched on a bare branch. There are some larger branches in the foreground

A small olive-brown bird on bare tree branch. The sky behind is blue

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Michael Jones @mixaeljones.bsky.social · 13/02/2026

I found the brilliantly blue Cobalt Crust for only the second time this afternoon. I was leading a nature walk on a local heathland and audibly squeaked with excitement when I saw it! 🍄‍🟫💙 #FungiFriends #FungiFriday #Heathland #Fungi

A vibrant blue crust fungus on a wooden fence post. The crust covers most of the wood, but there are gaps showing the pale coloured wood below

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