Author: Amanda Scott

  • Migrant Hawker

    Migrant Hawker

    This dragonfly species is on the wing well into the autumn, and can often be seen away from the ponds where it breeds. Photo: Ray Surridge

  • Golden-haired Longhorn Beetle

    Golden-haired Longhorn Beetle

    This lovely and somewhat rare longhorn beetle species was spotted at Erisey Barton in July a few years ago.   Photo: Sarah Board

  • Woodchat Shrike

    Woodchat Shrike

    The Woodchat Shrike is a lovely species from further south that is an occasional vagrant to our shores. Photo: Dougy Wright

  • Spiny Starfish

    Spiny Starfish

    The spiky Spiny Starfish can grow up to 70 cm but this one, spotted in Mount’s Bay on a kayaking trip, was a more modest 20 cm. Photo: Steve Townsend

  • Teal

    Teal

    In the colder months, watch out for overwintering Teal on pools and marshes around The Lizard. Windmill Farm is a good place to look. Photo: Dougy Wright

  • Autumn Lady’s-tresses

    Autumn Lady’s-tresses

    You may be lucky and find the last blooms of this lovely, and relatively rare, member of the orchid family into October. Photo: © Melanie Chadwick 

  • Wasp Spider

    Wasp Spider

    There’s no mistaking a Wasp Spider. Photo: © Natural England/Allan Drewitt

  • Keeled Skimmer

    Keeled Skimmer

    Keeled Skimmers can be spotted near the pools at Higher Bochym in summer. Photo: Kate Dalziel

  • Fragrant Orchid

    Fragrant Orchid

    Fragrant Orchids are close to the end of flowering by July, but they (and their lovely scent) still linger on in some spots on The Lizard. Photo: © Natural England/Peter Wakely

  • Bloody Crane’s-bill

    Bloody Crane’s-bill

    The meadows above Kynance Cove are a good place to see Bloody Crane’s-bill in the summer, following recent habitat restoration and scrub clearance. Photo: Steve Townsend

  • Creeping Buttercup

    Creeping Buttercup

    Not much beats a meadow full of golden buttercups. Photo: Jörg Hempel, CC BY-SA 2.0 DE, via Wikimedia Commons  

  • Ruby-tailed Wasp

    Ruby-tailed Wasp

    What a jewel of an insect! This Ruby-tailed Wasp was spotted at Poltesco. Photo: Andy Pay

  • Ragged-robin

    Ragged-robin

    Tousled pink flowers of Ragged-robin sway on their tall stems from late spring through to summer’s end. Photo: © Natural England/Chris Gomersall

  • Red Valerian

    Red Valerian

    The rich magenta and ruby hues of Red Valerian are a lovely sight in the summer, whispering of the Mediterranean. Photo: Amanda Scott

  • Common Crab Spider

    Common Crab Spider

    This little crab spider was spotted scuttling across the beach at Church Cove, near Gunwalloe, but they can be found in many habitats, especially open, undisturbed ground. Photo: Amanda Scott

  • Jumping Spider

    Jumping Spider

    This attractive little species of Jumping Spider was spotted at Kennack Sands. Photo: Tony Blunden