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
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
There's something two-faced in Rhodes. I don't see it every year, but I keep my eyes open for it...
Occasionally Ophrys bee #orchids form lusus flowers, with aberrant petals and/or sepals. Here's Ophrys calypsus and O. polyxo, each with two lips fused on one flowerhead.
Occasionally Ophrys bee #orchids form lusus flowers, with aberrant petals and/or sepals. Here's Ophrys calypsus and O. polyxo, each with two lips fused on one flowerhead.
November 15, 2025 at 9:17 AM
There's something two-faced in Rhodes. I don't see it every year, but I keep my eyes open for it...
Occasionally Ophrys bee #orchids form lusus flowers, with aberrant petals and/or sepals. Here's Ophrys calypsus and O. polyxo, each with two lips fused on one flowerhead.
Occasionally Ophrys bee #orchids form lusus flowers, with aberrant petals and/or sepals. Here's Ophrys calypsus and O. polyxo, each with two lips fused on one flowerhead.
Part of the joy of working with European #orchids is seeing the reaction they elicit, whether in person from my @mariposanature.bsky.social guests or here online. It's so satisfying to see how they touch something in people. I'm currently writing about that emotional response for a new book.
November 11, 2025 at 7:16 AM
Part of the joy of working with European #orchids is seeing the reaction they elicit, whether in person from my @mariposanature.bsky.social guests or here online. It's so satisfying to see how they touch something in people. I'm currently writing about that emotional response for a new book.
Ophrys lindia and Ophrys eptapigiensis from this year's @mariposanature.bsky.social Orchids of Rhodes tour that, as usual, I co-led with my good friend @thenewgalaxy.bsky.social. Just two of the many rarities we saw that week - we know the island's secret places and hidden taxa treasures intimately.
November 9, 2025 at 9:44 AM
Ophrys lindia and Ophrys eptapigiensis from this year's @mariposanature.bsky.social Orchids of Rhodes tour that, as usual, I co-led with my good friend @thenewgalaxy.bsky.social. Just two of the many rarities we saw that week - we know the island's secret places and hidden taxa treasures intimately.
Meanwhile, this coming January, I've the Up Helly Aa winter tour I co-lead here in Shetland for Shetland Nature with my good pal Kate to look forward to. There are still some places available if you fancy a wild and wintery #Shetland adventure with us.
www.shetlandnature.net/holidays/she...
www.shetlandnature.net/holidays/she...
November 7, 2025 at 7:14 PM
Meanwhile, this coming January, I've the Up Helly Aa winter tour I co-lead here in Shetland for Shetland Nature with my good pal Kate to look forward to. There are still some places available if you fancy a wild and wintery #Shetland adventure with us.
www.shetlandnature.net/holidays/she...
www.shetlandnature.net/holidays/she...
A break from writing today for a short local walk near my Shetland home - hoping for a decent late migrant bird, Woodcock the best I could manage. But delighted to find Smoky Spindles, a fine grassland coral fungus, the first time I’ve seen this on the isle.
#FungusFriday
#FungusFriday
November 7, 2025 at 3:27 PM
A break from writing today for a short local walk near my Shetland home - hoping for a decent late migrant bird, Woodcock the best I could manage. But delighted to find Smoky Spindles, a fine grassland coral fungus, the first time I’ve seen this on the isle.
#FungusFriday
#FungusFriday
Am seriously excited at the prospect of joining my @mariposanature.bsky.social co-leader, János Oláh, in August 2026 for the Romania Mammal tour operated by his superb company, Saker Tour. A few places remain available to join us...
sakertour.com/mammal-watch...
sakertour.com/mammal-watch...
November 7, 2025 at 9:57 AM
Am seriously excited at the prospect of joining my @mariposanature.bsky.social co-leader, János Oláh, in August 2026 for the Romania Mammal tour operated by his superb company, Saker Tour. A few places remain available to join us...
sakertour.com/mammal-watch...
sakertour.com/mammal-watch...
When it comes to #orchids, Rhodes really is the island that keeps on giving. There are dozens of Ophrys bee orchid species to be seen there, and the variation within some of those is considerable. Here are a few Ophrys reinholdii from recent years. I find them seriously addictive!
November 6, 2025 at 11:39 AM
When it comes to #orchids, Rhodes really is the island that keeps on giving. There are dozens of Ophrys bee orchid species to be seen there, and the variation within some of those is considerable. Here are a few Ophrys reinholdii from recent years. I find them seriously addictive!
A very welcome sight here at home in #Shetland lately - only the second house record of Jackdaw in some 25 years here. What began as one bird grew, over three days, to eleven birds present. And then, suddenly, they'd all moved on.
November 3, 2025 at 2:26 PM
A very welcome sight here at home in #Shetland lately - only the second house record of Jackdaw in some 25 years here. What began as one bird grew, over three days, to eleven birds present. And then, suddenly, they'd all moved on.
Sorry Richard. Warm, comforting mimsy will resume forthwith.
Have a baby bunny.
Have a baby bunny.
November 3, 2025 at 10:52 AM
Sorry Richard. Warm, comforting mimsy will resume forthwith.
Have a baby bunny.
Have a baby bunny.
And in a 2024 postscript, my #orchid-hunting pal @thenewgalaxy.bsky.social finally tracked the woodland wraith down last year. How long will we have to wait for another haunting encounter?
October 31, 2025 at 7:46 AM
And in a 2024 postscript, my #orchid-hunting pal @thenewgalaxy.bsky.social finally tracked the woodland wraith down last year. How long will we have to wait for another haunting encounter?
Hugely enjoyable AGM yesterday of the European Butterflies Group in Birmingham - great to catch up with so many friends, swap butterfly observations, and lay plans for the future. A presentation on Atlantic island endemism by Martin Davies was particularly thought-provoking and inspiring...
October 26, 2025 at 9:12 AM
Hugely enjoyable AGM yesterday of the European Butterflies Group in Birmingham - great to catch up with so many friends, swap butterfly observations, and lay plans for the future. A presentation on Atlantic island endemism by Martin Davies was particularly thought-provoking and inspiring...
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.
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.
October 24, 2025 at 6:26 AM
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.
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.
Been exploring the countryside in Umbria this week. All sorts of lovely things to be found there.
October 18, 2025 at 7:12 AM
Been exploring the countryside in Umbria this week. All sorts of lovely things to be found there.
Something exciting is prowling towards us - publication of @jonathanslaght.com's superb new book, Tigers Between Empires, a riveting account of conservation of the Amur Tiger, a story set in the Cold War and cold forests of NE Asia. Publishing soon, on 4 November, it's a brilliant, compelling read.
October 17, 2025 at 6:26 AM
Something exciting is prowling towards us - publication of @jonathanslaght.com's superb new book, Tigers Between Empires, a riveting account of conservation of the Amur Tiger, a story set in the Cold War and cold forests of NE Asia. Publishing soon, on 4 November, it's a brilliant, compelling read.
Like pleading, desperate hands clutching at thin air, Madre-de-louro, or Mother of laurel fungus stretches away from the trunks of laurel trees in the lush green laurisilva forests of Madeira. It's a fabulous, enigmatic fungus - its closest relative is found in Japan. #fungi
October 6, 2025 at 3:35 PM
Like pleading, desperate hands clutching at thin air, Madre-de-louro, or Mother of laurel fungus stretches away from the trunks of laurel trees in the lush green laurisilva forests of Madeira. It's a fabulous, enigmatic fungus - its closest relative is found in Japan. #fungi
It’s been pure joy to spend time with Madeiran and regular Speckled Wood today. Madeiran is larger and darker and, with just a little practice, readily distinguished in flight.
October 5, 2025 at 4:06 PM
It’s been pure joy to spend time with Madeiran and regular Speckled Wood today. Madeiran is larger and darker and, with just a little practice, readily distinguished in flight.
It’s not all been about orchids this past 24 hours in Madeira - @thenewgalaxy.bsky.social and I have been enjoying all the wildlife. Ferns, fungi, lichen, birds and, of course, butterflies. Yesterday we met some box-fresh Long-tailed Blue.
October 5, 2025 at 8:32 AM
It’s not all been about orchids this past 24 hours in Madeira - @thenewgalaxy.bsky.social and I have been enjoying all the wildlife. Ferns, fungi, lichen, birds and, of course, butterflies. Yesterday we met some box-fresh Long-tailed Blue.
One of the very best days, #orchid -hunting with my good mate and fellow @mariposanature.bsky.social leader @thenewgalaxy.bsky.social in Madeira. We found over 20 flowering plants of European über-rarity, Goodyera macrophylla. A day of amazing plants, great company, good laughs, and muddy boots!
October 4, 2025 at 8:08 PM
One of the very best days, #orchid -hunting with my good mate and fellow @mariposanature.bsky.social leader @thenewgalaxy.bsky.social in Madeira. We found over 20 flowering plants of European über-rarity, Goodyera macrophylla. A day of amazing plants, great company, good laughs, and muddy boots!
I think it’s time for an adventure…
October 3, 2025 at 6:02 AM
I think it’s time for an adventure…
Out into the woods this afternoon. Some really pleasing Fly Agaric on the forest floor and, once they’ve been roasted, some pleasing Sweet Chestnut too.
October 2, 2025 at 5:32 PM
Out into the woods this afternoon. Some really pleasing Fly Agaric on the forest floor and, once they’ve been roasted, some pleasing Sweet Chestnut too.
Today would have been my beautiful Red’s 10th birthday. Missed with every fibre of my being every single day.
Happy birthday, Peggy. 🐾
Happy birthday, Peggy. 🐾
October 1, 2025 at 8:57 AM
Today would have been my beautiful Red’s 10th birthday. Missed with every fibre of my being every single day.
Happy birthday, Peggy. 🐾
Happy birthday, Peggy. 🐾
A morning to remember out on the Swale estuary, on the fabulous Thames barge Greta. One of the surviving Little Ships from the Dunkirk evacuation of 1940, today she was the perfect birding platform, gliding quietly past shores bustling with waders, egrets, wildfowl, and a fine Spoonbill.
September 29, 2025 at 4:38 PM
A morning to remember out on the Swale estuary, on the fabulous Thames barge Greta. One of the surviving Little Ships from the Dunkirk evacuation of 1940, today she was the perfect birding platform, gliding quietly past shores bustling with waders, egrets, wildfowl, and a fine Spoonbill.
An unforgettable day with my @mariposanature.bsky.social group.
I found Desert Babul Blue on the European mainland!
There are a mere handful of past claims of it - this is an African species that's an ultra-rarity in Europe. I'm in a state of some shock.
#butterflies @europebutterfly.bsky.social
I found Desert Babul Blue on the European mainland!
There are a mere handful of past claims of it - this is an African species that's an ultra-rarity in Europe. I'm in a state of some shock.
#butterflies @europebutterfly.bsky.social
September 27, 2025 at 5:05 PM
An unforgettable day with my @mariposanature.bsky.social group.
I found Desert Babul Blue on the European mainland!
There are a mere handful of past claims of it - this is an African species that's an ultra-rarity in Europe. I'm in a state of some shock.
#butterflies @europebutterfly.bsky.social
I found Desert Babul Blue on the European mainland!
There are a mere handful of past claims of it - this is an African species that's an ultra-rarity in Europe. I'm in a state of some shock.
#butterflies @europebutterfly.bsky.social