22 Oct 25 - Birch Shieldbug

I saw this Birch Shieldbug by the DWT villa. Birch Shieldbugs are a medium-sized Shieldbug with dark red-brown and black over most of the wing cases. It is a common and widespread species that occurs in parks, gardens, mature hedgerows and woodland.

Birch Shieldbug: Adult

22 Oct 25 - Brownsea Fly Agaric

It's that time of year when the Fungi stalks appear in the leaf litter or grass. During the rest of the year, the Fungi grows underground as it breaks up dead vegetation. I know very little about Fungi and haven't managed to identify more than a handful of species. One of the species I do know is Fly Agaric. This is a common and easily-identifiable species on woodland floors.

Fly Agaric: This Fly Agaric was just appearing above ground. I've no idea about the identity of the neighbouring orange-brown species. Brownsea (30 Oct 24)

One of the DWT wardens, Nicki, said that it had been a good Autumn for Fungi on Brownsea and many stalks were larger than normal.

Fly Agaric: This large Fly Agaric was about five inches across

A side view of the same Fly Agaric

2 Oct 25 - Watching My Apples?

Late afternoon I nipped into my garden and soon after a Ring-necked Parakeet was flying around and it landed in my neighbour's conifer. Five minutes later, it was in another garden's tree and goading me to take some pictures. Finally, I gave in and grabbed the camera.

Ring-necked Parakeet

This is one of the last of the Studland Parakeets which were released by the ex-publican of the Bankes Arms, who released about a dozen or so individuals when he left the area in the early 1990s. Most of the small, stable population were shot on instruction of the Studland golf course a couple of years ago.

Ring-necked Parakeet: Is it eyeing up the apples in my garden?

Will this be the next species to die out in the Isle of Purbeck?