Jon Dunn
@dunnjons.bsky.social
Nature writer, photographer, tour leader. FLS.
BSBI Shetland county recorder
Author for Basic Books, Bloomsbury Books, Hachette, Princeton University Press
Rep’d: Peters, Fraser & Dunlop
www.jondunn.com
BSBI Shetland county recorder
Author for Basic Books, Bloomsbury Books, Hachette, Princeton University Press
Rep’d: Peters, Fraser & Dunlop
www.jondunn.com
Pinned
Jon Dunn
@dunnjons.bsky.social
· Nov 14
Blimey. There's suddenly a LOT more people here. Hello! For those who weren't on the bird site and don't already know, amongst other things, I write stuff, and with Christmas coming up, maybe a joyful book about orchids, or one about hummingbirds, might be a colourful antidote to winter and Now?
Ophrys lucis, your 'orchid of light' on Rhodes.
I enjoyed shedding some light myself today. Remember the time a competitor who boasts of his conservation credentials lobbied BSBI to refuse charitable donations from my wildlife tour company?
I do. It's an illuminating tale.
I enjoyed shedding some light myself today. Remember the time a competitor who boasts of his conservation credentials lobbied BSBI to refuse charitable donations from my wildlife tour company?
I do. It's an illuminating tale.
November 29, 2025 at 7:56 PM
Ophrys lucis, your 'orchid of light' on Rhodes.
I enjoyed shedding some light myself today. Remember the time a competitor who boasts of his conservation credentials lobbied BSBI to refuse charitable donations from my wildlife tour company?
I do. It's an illuminating tale.
I enjoyed shedding some light myself today. Remember the time a competitor who boasts of his conservation credentials lobbied BSBI to refuse charitable donations from my wildlife tour company?
I do. It's an illuminating tale.
Reposted by Jon Dunn
For #BlueSkyArtShow on the theme of #Warmth A beautiful Red Admiral butterfly feeding on the Rudbeckia flowers in our garden on a warm sunny early autumn day! 📷 💛 🦋
Happy Saturday everyone 🕊️👋
#Photography #Nature #Invert #Butterflies #EastCoastKin
Happy Saturday everyone 🕊️👋
#Photography #Nature #Invert #Butterflies #EastCoastKin
November 29, 2025 at 9:58 AM
For #BlueSkyArtShow on the theme of #Warmth A beautiful Red Admiral butterfly feeding on the Rudbeckia flowers in our garden on a warm sunny early autumn day! 📷 💛 🦋
Happy Saturday everyone 🕊️👋
#Photography #Nature #Invert #Butterflies #EastCoastKin
Happy Saturday everyone 🕊️👋
#Photography #Nature #Invert #Butterflies #EastCoastKin
Reposted by Jon Dunn
It's such an honour to have the brilliant orchid-hunter @thenewgalaxy.bsky.social as part of Team Mariposa. We're having a great day here at @bsbibotany.bsky.social conference - meeting friends old and new, sharing stories, making plans.
Discussing the Ghost #Orchid and its current status in the British Isles at the @bsbibotany.bsky.social Botanical Conference 2025, handily been put next to the @mariposanature.bsky.social stand so I can talk about our tours too, where you can come and see Ghost #Orchids in the wild if you want to!
November 29, 2025 at 2:15 PM
It's such an honour to have the brilliant orchid-hunter @thenewgalaxy.bsky.social as part of Team Mariposa. We're having a great day here at @bsbibotany.bsky.social conference - meeting friends old and new, sharing stories, making plans.
Reposted by Jon Dunn
Discussing the Ghost #Orchid and its current status in the British Isles at the @bsbibotany.bsky.social Botanical Conference 2025, handily been put next to the @mariposanature.bsky.social stand so I can talk about our tours too, where you can come and see Ghost #Orchids in the wild if you want to!
November 29, 2025 at 2:13 PM
Discussing the Ghost #Orchid and its current status in the British Isles at the @bsbibotany.bsky.social Botanical Conference 2025, handily been put next to the @mariposanature.bsky.social stand so I can talk about our tours too, where you can come and see Ghost #Orchids in the wild if you want to!
Reposted by Jon Dunn
🌍🌸🌻🌱🌾🌳🍁🥀 Botanical University Challenge at the Botanical Society of Britain and Ireland conference @bsbibotany.bsky.social at Edge Hill University, Merseyside today. #BUC2026
November 29, 2025 at 10:16 AM
🌍🌸🌻🌱🌾🌳🍁🥀 Botanical University Challenge at the Botanical Society of Britain and Ireland conference @bsbibotany.bsky.social at Edge Hill University, Merseyside today. #BUC2026
Reposted by Jon Dunn
We're ready to share hosts of orchids with lots of people today at the brilliant @bsbibotany.bsky.social conference at Edge Hill University.
'Orchid Summer' author @dunnjons.bsky.social & Ghost Orchid finder @thenewgalaxy.bsky.social will be there all day, and would love to see you!
#orchids
'Orchid Summer' author @dunnjons.bsky.social & Ghost Orchid finder @thenewgalaxy.bsky.social will be there all day, and would love to see you!
#orchids
November 29, 2025 at 9:06 AM
We're ready to share hosts of orchids with lots of people today at the brilliant @bsbibotany.bsky.social conference at Edge Hill University.
'Orchid Summer' author @dunnjons.bsky.social & Ghost Orchid finder @thenewgalaxy.bsky.social will be there all day, and would love to see you!
#orchids
'Orchid Summer' author @dunnjons.bsky.social & Ghost Orchid finder @thenewgalaxy.bsky.social will be there all day, and would love to see you!
#orchids
Reposted by Jon Dunn
*naturally, prior Mariposa guests enjoy an additional £50 loyalty discount over and above the Early Bird discount.
And of course, Orchids of Rhodes generates a donation to support the valuable conservation work of @bsbibotany.bsky.social.
Full trip reports are on our website - enjoy! (2/2)
And of course, Orchids of Rhodes generates a donation to support the valuable conservation work of @bsbibotany.bsky.social.
Full trip reports are on our website - enjoy! (2/2)
November 28, 2025 at 2:18 PM
*naturally, prior Mariposa guests enjoy an additional £50 loyalty discount over and above the Early Bird discount.
And of course, Orchids of Rhodes generates a donation to support the valuable conservation work of @bsbibotany.bsky.social.
Full trip reports are on our website - enjoy! (2/2)
And of course, Orchids of Rhodes generates a donation to support the valuable conservation work of @bsbibotany.bsky.social.
Full trip reports are on our website - enjoy! (2/2)
Reposted by Jon Dunn
For anyone considering replacing Black Friday with Botanic Friday, our unparalleled Orchids of Rhodes tour for 2026 is fully booked - but a few places remain on the 2027 edition, with a £150 early bird booking discount* if booked before 1 Dec 2026. (1/2)
mariposanature.com/tours/botani...
mariposanature.com/tours/botani...
November 28, 2025 at 2:15 PM
For anyone considering replacing Black Friday with Botanic Friday, our unparalleled Orchids of Rhodes tour for 2026 is fully booked - but a few places remain on the 2027 edition, with a £150 early bird booking discount* if booked before 1 Dec 2026. (1/2)
mariposanature.com/tours/botani...
mariposanature.com/tours/botani...
Reposted by Jon Dunn
It's #FrohawkFriday, the day we celebrate the butterfly studies & artwork of FW Frohawk.
Today features Silver-studded Blue & Brown Argus. The latter remains fairly widespread in England, but Silver-studded Blue has declined steadily, losing much of its preferred heathland habitat.
#butterflies
Today features Silver-studded Blue & Brown Argus. The latter remains fairly widespread in England, but Silver-studded Blue has declined steadily, losing much of its preferred heathland habitat.
#butterflies
November 28, 2025 at 8:15 AM
It's #FrohawkFriday, the day we celebrate the butterfly studies & artwork of FW Frohawk.
Today features Silver-studded Blue & Brown Argus. The latter remains fairly widespread in England, but Silver-studded Blue has declined steadily, losing much of its preferred heathland habitat.
#butterflies
Today features Silver-studded Blue & Brown Argus. The latter remains fairly widespread in England, but Silver-studded Blue has declined steadily, losing much of its preferred heathland habitat.
#butterflies
The emperor has no clothes! Very much looking forward to sharing true stories about the little man of Rhodes - and other orchid tales - with @bsbibotany.bsky.social conference attendees this weekend. See you there.
November 28, 2025 at 8:18 AM
The emperor has no clothes! Very much looking forward to sharing true stories about the little man of Rhodes - and other orchid tales - with @bsbibotany.bsky.social conference attendees this weekend. See you there.
The gates of hell* opened fully in Rhodes last year when we found Cerberus - a unique Ophrys reinholdii with three labella fused on one flower.
*insofar as we had to name this orchid after the three-headed canine guardian of the underworld in Greek mythology. We were in orchid heaven!
*insofar as we had to name this orchid after the three-headed canine guardian of the underworld in Greek mythology. We were in orchid heaven!
November 26, 2025 at 11:28 AM
The gates of hell* opened fully in Rhodes last year when we found Cerberus - a unique Ophrys reinholdii with three labella fused on one flower.
*insofar as we had to name this orchid after the three-headed canine guardian of the underworld in Greek mythology. We were in orchid heaven!
*insofar as we had to name this orchid after the three-headed canine guardian of the underworld in Greek mythology. We were in orchid heaven!
Reposted by Jon Dunn
Tour update. As of this morning our Fabulous Fuerteventura - Birds, Butterflies & Botany tour now has just one place remaining available on it to join us there in late February 2026.
With a unique mix of fauna and flora, this is an incredibly special place.
mariposanature.com/tours/wildli...
With a unique mix of fauna and flora, this is an incredibly special place.
mariposanature.com/tours/wildli...
November 26, 2025 at 10:56 AM
Tour update. As of this morning our Fabulous Fuerteventura - Birds, Butterflies & Botany tour now has just one place remaining available on it to join us there in late February 2026.
With a unique mix of fauna and flora, this is an incredibly special place.
mariposanature.com/tours/wildli...
With a unique mix of fauna and flora, this is an incredibly special place.
mariposanature.com/tours/wildli...
Reposted by Jon Dunn
I'm not sure this is the best way to go about it, but this is the first trial piece
naturallatin.com/2025/11/25/d...
naturallatin.com/2025/11/25/d...
December 2003
I have decided that I should create an archive of some of my writing. Between 2002 and 2006, I wrote a month column for the Garden, the journal of the RHS, and was privileged to have the brilliant …
naturallatin.com
November 25, 2025 at 6:23 PM
I'm not sure this is the best way to go about it, but this is the first trial piece
naturallatin.com/2025/11/25/d...
naturallatin.com/2025/11/25/d...
Reposted by Jon Dunn
Since the very beginning of the Mariposa journey, we've always donated funds to support the valuable conservation work of @bsbibotany.bsky.social after every #orchid tour we run. No exceptions, no caveats, no question. We're looking forward to sharing our tours with BSBI members this weekend.
November 25, 2025 at 10:08 AM
Since the very beginning of the Mariposa journey, we've always donated funds to support the valuable conservation work of @bsbibotany.bsky.social after every #orchid tour we run. No exceptions, no caveats, no question. We're looking forward to sharing our tours with BSBI members this weekend.
Reposted by Jon Dunn
Good morning, and welcome to a new week!
Our featured tour this week is Autumn Exotica in Andalusia, running next September, co-led by Spanish lepidopterist legend Miguel Munguira & generates a donation to support the work of @europebutterfly.bsky.social. (1/2)
mariposanature.com/tours/butter...
Our featured tour this week is Autumn Exotica in Andalusia, running next September, co-led by Spanish lepidopterist legend Miguel Munguira & generates a donation to support the work of @europebutterfly.bsky.social. (1/2)
mariposanature.com/tours/butter...
November 24, 2025 at 10:00 AM
Good morning, and welcome to a new week!
Our featured tour this week is Autumn Exotica in Andalusia, running next September, co-led by Spanish lepidopterist legend Miguel Munguira & generates a donation to support the work of @europebutterfly.bsky.social. (1/2)
mariposanature.com/tours/butter...
Our featured tour this week is Autumn Exotica in Andalusia, running next September, co-led by Spanish lepidopterist legend Miguel Munguira & generates a donation to support the work of @europebutterfly.bsky.social. (1/2)
mariposanature.com/tours/butter...
Reposted by Jon Dunn
Tour update. As of this morning, our featured tour of the week, Summer Butterflies of the Spanish Pyrenees, has just 3 places remaining available to book to join us.
Any booking made before 1 December will qualify for a £150 early bird discount. Vamos!
mariposanature.com/tours/butter...
Any booking made before 1 December will qualify for a £150 early bird discount. Vamos!
mariposanature.com/tours/butter...
November 22, 2025 at 12:40 PM
Tour update. As of this morning, our featured tour of the week, Summer Butterflies of the Spanish Pyrenees, has just 3 places remaining available to book to join us.
Any booking made before 1 December will qualify for a £150 early bird discount. Vamos!
mariposanature.com/tours/butter...
Any booking made before 1 December will qualify for a £150 early bird discount. Vamos!
mariposanature.com/tours/butter...
Reposted by Jon Dunn
Tour update. Our flagship Orchids of Rhodes tour for 2026 has been fully booked for months now. As of this morning, the 2027 edition of the ultimate orchid-hunting holiday on Rhodes has just 5 places remaining available. #orchids #bloomscrolling #NaturePhotography
mariposanature.com/tours/botani...
mariposanature.com/tours/botani...
November 21, 2025 at 12:51 PM
Tour update. Our flagship Orchids of Rhodes tour for 2026 has been fully booked for months now. As of this morning, the 2027 edition of the ultimate orchid-hunting holiday on Rhodes has just 5 places remaining available. #orchids #bloomscrolling #NaturePhotography
mariposanature.com/tours/botani...
mariposanature.com/tours/botani...
Reposted by Jon Dunn
It's #FrohawkFriday, the day we celebrate the butterfly studies & artwork of FW Frohawk.
Today features Long-tailed & Short-tailed Blue, both great British rarities in Frohawk's day. The latter still is, but Long-tailed Blue now seems to arrive annually in southern England in very small numbers.
Today features Long-tailed & Short-tailed Blue, both great British rarities in Frohawk's day. The latter still is, but Long-tailed Blue now seems to arrive annually in southern England in very small numbers.
November 21, 2025 at 6:53 AM
It's #FrohawkFriday, the day we celebrate the butterfly studies & artwork of FW Frohawk.
Today features Long-tailed & Short-tailed Blue, both great British rarities in Frohawk's day. The latter still is, but Long-tailed Blue now seems to arrive annually in southern England in very small numbers.
Today features Long-tailed & Short-tailed Blue, both great British rarities in Frohawk's day. The latter still is, but Long-tailed Blue now seems to arrive annually in southern England in very small numbers.
June 2017, orchid-hunting as always, but above all blessed to be at Hampden Park on 24 June. The Stone Roses were the soundtrack to so many of my days in the field.
"Don't be sad that it's over, be happy that it happened"
#RIPMani
"Don't be sad that it's over, be happy that it happened"
#RIPMani
November 20, 2025 at 10:36 PM
June 2017, orchid-hunting as always, but above all blessed to be at Hampden Park on 24 June. The Stone Roses were the soundtrack to so many of my days in the field.
"Don't be sad that it's over, be happy that it happened"
#RIPMani
"Don't be sad that it's over, be happy that it happened"
#RIPMani
Reposted by Jon Dunn
Like all our butterfly tours, Summer Butterflies of the Spanish Pyrenees next July offers ample opportunities for guests to take their time to enjoy their photography, and to take home beautiful lasting memories.
#NaturePhotography
#NaturePhotography
November 20, 2025 at 8:32 AM
Like all our butterfly tours, Summer Butterflies of the Spanish Pyrenees next July offers ample opportunities for guests to take their time to enjoy their photography, and to take home beautiful lasting memories.
#NaturePhotography
#NaturePhotography
Reposted by Jon Dunn
The accommodation for our Butterflies of the Spanish Pyrenees is a cut above - Casa Sarasa is run by naturalists for naturalists, set in stunning countryside and with wildlife on the doorstep. Leader Peter's moth trap can yield some enormous surprises...
@europebutterfly.bsky.social
@europebutterfly.bsky.social
November 19, 2025 at 8:26 AM
The accommodation for our Butterflies of the Spanish Pyrenees is a cut above - Casa Sarasa is run by naturalists for naturalists, set in stunning countryside and with wildlife on the doorstep. Leader Peter's moth trap can yield some enormous surprises...
@europebutterfly.bsky.social
@europebutterfly.bsky.social
Reposted by Jon Dunn
Rafflesia hasseltii: a plant seen more by tigers than people. Watching this flower open by night was the closest thing to magic:
November 19, 2025 at 1:36 AM
Rafflesia hasseltii: a plant seen more by tigers than people. Watching this flower open by night was the closest thing to magic:
Reposted by Jon Dunn
1/2 #speciesaday no. 672 is the obscene Parasitic Bolete (Pseudoboletus parasiticus) growing from its host Common Earthball (Scleroderma citrinum). Around 10 years ago I was seeing this all around the West Weald. I guess it will come round again.
November 18, 2025 at 6:55 PM
1/2 #speciesaday no. 672 is the obscene Parasitic Bolete (Pseudoboletus parasiticus) growing from its host Common Earthball (Scleroderma citrinum). Around 10 years ago I was seeing this all around the West Weald. I guess it will come round again.
Reposted by Jon Dunn
Postcard from the field from our wandering tour leader, Michele Viganò - Miki has been in the Western Sahara in the past week, and his first postcard shared with us is this gorgeous Sand Cat (Felis margarita). Stay tuned for more North Africa wildlife postcards from Miki this coming winter!
November 18, 2025 at 9:09 PM
Postcard from the field from our wandering tour leader, Michele Viganò - Miki has been in the Western Sahara in the past week, and his first postcard shared with us is this gorgeous Sand Cat (Felis margarita). Stay tuned for more North Africa wildlife postcards from Miki this coming winter!