Snail shells
Two different types of snail shell discovered today in the Thames. The top one is a Nerite Snail (Theodoxus fluviatilis), the bottom one is a Laver Spire Shell (Hydrobia ulvae). Both can tolerate the...
Author: Wild Capital
Great Crested Grebes
Some nice images of a Great Crested Grebe family at the London Wetland Centre, taken on Tuesday. In the last photo the chicks are hitching a ride on the parents back. You can just...
Visit by a Nocturnal Alien
One of the natural history peculiarities of London is that it is here where aliens often land. And yes, in this case they are little and green… I mean alien in the ecological sense...
Common Swift Moth Larva
Meet the larva of the Common Swift Moth (Hepialus lupulinus). This larva feeds underground in the soil on the roots of grasses and many other herbaceous plants. The species is the commonest of the Swift...
Leaf Cutter Bee in action
What a wonderful action shot of a Leaf Cutter Bee (megachile centuncularis). In June and July a female Leaf Cutter Bee will cut oval sections from leaves, primarily roses, willows, lilacs and laburnums. She...
Thank you letters
Thank you letters from a school group I taught last week about the River Thames. I was delivering a programme through the Thames Explorer Trust, funded by the Port of London Authority. The...
Stags in the Wood
Ever since I learnt of their existence, I have been desperate to see a Stag Beetle, sometimes known as a “Thunder Beetle” or “Oak Ox”. Living in Scotland gave me the opportunity to see...
Fun in the Sun at Richmond Park
What a glorious day! We headed over to Richmond Park and enjoyed aerial views of a Kestrel, Swifts, Green Woodpecker and a Skylark, all against a perfect blue sky. Down on the ground young...
Migration to the City
When I told friends that I was leaving the Scottish Highlands to set up an organisation celebrating wildlife in London, there were a few raised eyebrows. Goodbye golden eagles and pine martens, hello rats...
Marsh Frog (Pelophylax ridibunda)
Ever spotted one of these guys?! (The yellow stripe is variable and not always present). Yesterday at the London Wetland Centre we were drawn to them by sound rather than sight. A loud laughing croaking noise...