Author: raysurridge

  • Galium Carpet

    Galium Carpet

    Watch out round the coast for the prettily-patterned Galium Carpet moth throughout the summer. Although nocturnal, it can be spotted when disturbed from its daytime resting places. Photo: Leon Truscott

  • Marsh Fritillary

    Marsh Fritillary

    This small and delicate butterfly is a protected species due to its serious decline in numbers, but The Lizard is one of its strongholds. Find them on Mullion Cliffs or Goonhilly. Photo: Amanda Scott

  • Red Kite

    Red Kite

    Red Kites are magnificent raptors – watch out for them soaring above the Lizard. Photo: © Richard Birchett

  • Subterranean Clover

    Subterranean Clover

    Lizard ‘clover season’ is from spring to early summer. One to look out for is the small and unassuming Subterranean Clover, found on shallow soils or amongst short turf close to the sea. Photo: Steve Townsend

  • The Drinker

    The Drinker

    Caterpillars of the Drinker moth can be seen emerging in the spring, getting ready to pupate in June. Look for the tuft of hair at each end. Photo: Charles J Sharp (via Wikimedia Commons)

  • Legacy of the Lizard (article)

    Legacy of the Lizard (article)

    You might well remember that, on a magical day in 2001, three red-billed Choughs arrived on the Lizard after being absent from Cornwall for nearly 30 years. This article is the 2014 update on the Choughs’ story.Photo: Andy Hay (rspbimages.com) 

  • Wild Chives

    Wild Chives

    Lovely Chives can be found flowering from May to July. Mullion Cliffs is a good place to spot them. Photo: © Natural England/Neil Pike

  • In the land of the Goatsucker (article)

    In the land of the Goatsucker (article)

    With winter finally retreating into history and warmer days once more with us, many people will be noting their favourite signs of the coming of Spring and Summer. For some it will be the sight of bluebells in the woods or the arrival of swallows and other summer migrants. One of my favourites comes late…

  • Oystercatcher

    Oystercatcher

    Oystercatchers are often spotted round The Lizard’s shoreline. Photo: © Allan Drewitt/Natural England

  • Swallow

    Swallow

    Swallows are always an uplifting sight in the spring and throughout the summer. Photo: © Richard Birchett

  • Early-purple Orchid

    Early-purple Orchid

    Early-purple Orchids enjoy the serpentine soils of the Lizard. Photo: © Natural England/Allan Drewitt

  • Opposite-leaved Golden-saxifrage

    Opposite-leaved Golden-saxifrage

    Opposite-leaved Golden-saxifrage is a low, spreading plant that lights up damp shady places with a golden glow in spring. Photo: Steve Townsend

  • Wood Anemone

    Wood Anemone

    Also known as Windflower, the Wood Anemone is a flower of early spring, found in woodland glades and old hedgerows.Photo: © Natural England/Allan Drewitt

  • Rock Pipit

    Rock Pipit

    This olive-brown bird is well-camouflaged on the stony beaches it calls home, but watch out for it perching on rocks or feeding along the tidewrack. Photo: MPF / CC BY-SA

  • Golden Hair-lichen

    Golden Hair-lichen

    It is always a pleasure to find the rare and beautiful Golden Hair-lichen. Kynance is a good place to search. Photo: Björn S…, CC BY-SA 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons

  • Lesser Celandine

    Lesser Celandine

    The bright buttery glint of Lesser Celandine in the hedgerows and fields is a welcome early sign of spring.  Photo: Amanda Scott