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Jon Dunn @dunnjons.bsky.social · 2d

Every autumn, millions of animals migrate south in search of warmer climes in which to overwinter.

Sadly, some don’t survive the journey. Migration is a testing time for the young and inexperienced. This Morrisons trolley won’t reach its wintering grounds, nor return to breed next spring.

Shopping trolley, half submerged in black water, surrounded by fallen autumn leaves © Jon Dunn

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Mariposa Nature Tours @mariposanature.bsky.social · 29d

Just three places remain available now to join us next year for our Late Spring Orchids of Sicily tour, led by 'Orchid Summer' author Jon Dunn, and local Sicilian naturalist legend Andrea Corso. As the Sicilians say, amuninni!

www.mariposanature.com/tours/botani...

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Mariposa Nature Tours @mariposanature.bsky.social · Aug 25

Postcard from the field from our Madeira tour:

While butterflies are in short supply in terms of overall species present on Madeira, the island's home to some special endemics. Madeiran Speckled Wood is a charming and charismatic example we're all enjoying seeing regularly.

Jon Dunn @dunnjons.bsky.social · Aug 25

Every day so far this week there's been an encounter with Madeiran Speckled Wood. They're usually flirting and dog-fighting with one another, but occasionally one stops for a rest.

Madeiran Speckled Wood (Pararge xiphia) © Jon Dunn

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Jon Dunn @dunnjons.bsky.social · Jul 18

Quick BOC shot before I fall asleep here - a smart, fresh Eastern Baton Blue this afternoon near our hotel here in Hungary. It’s so good to be back in this friendly country - I first came here 30 years ago and, while much has changed in the interim, the butterflies and the warm welcome remain.

Eastern Baton Blue (Pseudophilotes vicrama) © Jon Dunn

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Mariposa Nature Tours @mariposanature.bsky.social · Jun 13

Postcard from the field, from Juan Pablo Cancela, leading our Butterflies of North Greece tour this week:

We all enjoyed close views of intricately marked Lattice Brown yesterday. This mating pair weren't hanging around - newly emerged, and quickly making more Lattice Brown!

#butterflies

Mating pair of Lattice Brown (Kirinia roxelana) © Juan Pablo Cancela

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Mariposa Nature Tours @mariposanature.bsky.social · Jun 13

Today's #FrohawkFriday, the day we celebrate the butterfly studies & artwork of FW Frohawk.

This week's featured species is the Peacock, arguably the most beautiful of all European #butterflies with those large, iridescent pseudo-eyes set upon rich burnt umber velvet wings.

Plate 24 of FW Frohawk's 'Natural History of British Butterflies', featuring Peacock (Aglais io)

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Mariposa Nature Tours @mariposanature.bsky.social · May 17

We think our Orchids of Cyprus tour is pretty special, and the 2025 trip report is on our website so you can get a taste of it too.

But don't take our word for it. Our guests' feedback has been wonderful to receive - thank you!

mariposanature.com/tours/botani...

#BSBICorporateSponsor

A selection of testimonials received from guests on the Mariposa Nature Tours 'Orchids of Cyprus' tour in March 2025

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Mariposa Nature Tours @mariposanature.bsky.social · Apr 13

We're heading home now after the 2025 #OrchidsOfRhodes tour with 55 beautiful species seen well during the past week.

The 2026 Orchids of Rhodes tour is already fully booked, so we've put the 2027 tour online, available to book now.

mariposanature.com/tours/botani...

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Mariposa Nature Tours @mariposanature.bsky.social · Mar 22

A picture postcard from our current featured tour of the week, Butterflies of the Picos de Europa.

A guaranteed departure on 13-20 July 2025, like all our #butterfly tours it generates a donation to support @europebutterfly.bsky.social's conservation work.

www.mariposanature.com/tours/butter...

Butterfly images kindly shared by and © our good friend, Clive Burrows (l-r, top to bottom - Scarce Copper; Esper's Marbled White; Dusky Large Blue; Gavarnie Blue; Chestnut Heath). Landscapes © David Moore.

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Mariposa Nature Tours @mariposanature.bsky.social · Mar 19

While there are undoubtedly glitzier, more colourful Ophrys bee orchids to be seen in Europe, we think the understated elegance of Ophrys reinholdii takes an awful lot of beating. Nobody's #bloomscrolling day was ever made worse by one of these beauties!

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Mariposa Nature Tours @mariposanature.bsky.social · Mar 14

It's #FrohawkFriday, the day we celebrate the pioneering butterfly life-cycle studies & artwork of FW Frohawk.

This week features Brimstone, allegedly the original 'butter-fly', but undeniably the most welcome #butterfly herald of imminent spring, a sign of days lengthening and warming.

Plate 11 of FW Frohawk's 'Natural History of British Butterflies', featuring Brimstone (Gonepteryx rhamni)

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Sarah Cuttle @sarahcuttle.bsky.social · Mar 11

A visit to some very special snowdrops last week down at Walmer Castle with @mrplantaholic.bsky.social . Galanthus ‘Starling’, ‘Primrose Warburg’, ‘Green Arrow’ & ‘Ballerina,
#nationalsnowdropcollection #galanthus #snowdrops #plantphotography #gardenphotographer

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Mariposa Nature Tours @mariposanature.bsky.social · Feb 27

Not just butterflies! Our current featured tour of the week, Spring Butterflies of the French Pyrenees, explores that area of France at a time when wild #orchids are at their best in the mountains. Our guests are in for a treat at every turn - here's just a selection of what's in store.

Clockwise from top left: Sword-leaved Helleborine (Cephalanthera longifolia); Burnt Orchid (Neotinea ustulata); Elder-flowered Orchid (Dactylorhiza sambucina) red form; Common Twayblade (Neottia ovata); Bug Orchid (Anacamptis coriophora); Elder-flowered Orchid yellow form; Pyramidal Orchid (Anacamptis pyramidalis). All images © Jon Dunn

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Jon Dunn @dunnjons.bsky.social · Feb 25

The sublime and the ridiculous today on Fuerteventura.

Canary Island Daisy was originally a Fuerteventura endemic, but has since been introduced elsewhere in the Canary archipelago. Barbary Ground Squirrel, an African continental native, was introduced in 1965 to Fuerteventura, where it thrives...

Canary Island Daisy (Asteriscus sericeus) © Jon Dunn

Barbary Ground Squirrel (Atlantoxerus getulus) © Jon Dunn

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Mariposa Nature Tours @mariposanature.bsky.social · Feb 25

Day 2 of our Fabulous Fuerteventura tour started with a bang, with a fine Greenish Black-tip found sunning itself by our sharp-eyed tour leader, Dave Fairhurst.

10am is early by #butterfly standards here, so it was compliantly dozy and approachable, much to everyone's appreciative delight.

Greenish Black-tip (Euchloe charlonia) © Jon Dunn

Part of the official Greenish Black-tip Appreciation Society, Fuerteventura, February 2025 © Jon Dunn

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Mariposa Nature Tours @mariposanature.bsky.social · Feb 22

How better to start the weekend than with some colourful, unabashed joy? Here's just a small selection of the Ophrys bee #orchids we'll be sharing with our guests on our popular Orchids of Rhodes tour in just a few weeks time.

A selection of Ophrys bee orchids, to be seen on Rhodes.

L-r, top to bottom: Mammosa, cornutula, blitopertha, colossaea, reinholdii, sancti-isidorii, oreas, regis-ferdinandii, villosa, cretica ssp beloniae, lutea, halia, speculum, ferrum-equinum, persephonae, basilissa © Jon Dunn

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Sarah Cuttle @sarahcuttle.bsky.social · Feb 12

Wooh!!! HUGE Congratulations Helen!! 😃

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Postcard From The Past @pastpostcard.bsky.social · Feb 10

Raymond looks well but very quiet. Doesn't say much at all.

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Jon Dunn @dunnjons.bsky.social · Feb 6

Quite the sunset this afternoon here in Shetland. Stood outside taking it all in, to a soundtrack of Wigeon whistling in my fields.

Sunset at home in Shetland, 6 February 2025.

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Mariposa Nature Tours @mariposanature.bsky.social · Jan 27

We like to think that nobody does it better. Our Orchids of Rhodes tour was the first of 2025's tours to be fully booked, back in midsummer last year. The 2026 tour is already filling fast, is now a guaranteed departure, and generates a donation to @bsbibotany.bsky.social.

#BSBICorporateSponsor

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Mariposa Nature Tours @mariposanature.bsky.social · Jan 24

It's #FrohawkFriday, where we showcase the #butterfly art and celebrate the insights of the late FW Frohawk, one of the great British lepidopterists. This week features Small White - one of the most 'successful' British exports, a rather unwelcome colonist of the USA, Australia, New Zealand...

Plate 4 from FW Frohawk's Natural History of British Butterflies, featuring Small White (Pieris rapae)

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Archaeo - Histories @archaeohistories.bsky.social · Jan 21

Future Archaeological Stuff 😀

#archaeohistories

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Mariposa Nature Tours @mariposanature.bsky.social · Jan 21

What comes after the #BlueBugs of #BlueMonday? Surely it has to be the red representatives of #RubyTuesday? 😉

Already this year there have been reports of sightings of Red Admiral in the UK. Have you seen one yet?

Red Admiral (Vanessa atalanta) © Jon Dunn

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Jon Dunn @dunnjons.bsky.social · Jan 19

Thirteen years ago, Shetland was deluged by an influx of white-winged gulls from the far north, with hundreds of Iceland and Glaucous Gulls seen throughout the isles. My Whalsay home received its fair share of them, with dozens haunting the shores at once during the peak of the influx.

Iceland Gull (Larus glaucoides) [left] and Glaucous Gull (Larus hyperboreus) [right], Shetland, January 2012

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Ian Beavis @ianbeavis.bsky.social · Jan 19

This statue menhir in Guernsey still receives flower offerings - see the arums at the foot in this view

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