Despite its common name, there was a good deal of excitement among the members of the WFSG, when several specimens of this day-time flying moth were recorded during a recent visit to the Wyre. The Drab Lopper moth (Minoa murinata) is a small …

On a recent July field meeting of the WFSG to the Wyre, we were treated to the sight of one of the UK’s spectacular dragonflies – the Golden-ringed dragonfly.

The Golden-ringed dragonfly (Cordulegaster boltonii) is a very large …

Bryophilous fungi growing on Leucobryum glaucum – Large White-moss, growing at base of tree in acid woodland in May 2023.

Leucobryum glaucum, with its characteristic tufted …

The Club-tailed Dragonfly emergence period is almost over now after two weeks and already it looks like a better year than 2022.
The only way to assess how well this dragonfly is doing is to count the …

One of our special Forest plants flowers in May and can be surprisingly difficult to see in dappled shade.

The Narrow-leaved Helleborine is a botanical treasure that exudes elegance.

This attractive beetle feeds on small insects and pollen. Eggs are laid under bark of dead trees in which the larvae feed for at least 2 years. These beetles can be found across Europe, inhabiting woodlands, forests, meadows, and gardens.

Dicranum majus Greater Fork-moss found growing along Bell Brook valley, Wyre on Sunday 23 April 2023.

Dicranum majus plays a significant role in its ecosystem. As a moss, it helps retain moisture in the soil, preventing erosion …

On a recent visit to Habberley Valley by the Wyre Forest Study Group, Ann Hill found Orthotrichum pulchellum – Elegant Bristle-moss growing on a hazel branch. Orthotrichum pulchellum, commonly known as Elegant Bristle-moss, is a species …

The Harlequin ladybird (Harmonia axyridis) is a species of ladybird beetle that is native to Asia but has been introduced to many other regions of the world, including Europe, North America, and South America. It is a highly variable species in terms of colour …

The fate and status of the freshwater crayfish in the streams of the Wyre Forest has been the subject of detailed research by members of the WFSG team for several years. Sadly, the populations of the native …

One of the many delights of being able to visit Wyre Forest each year is being able to witness the ebb and flow of the seasons, along with the changing faces of the cast and characters that nature provides for each seasonal ‘act’. …

Scabious Sawfly (Abia sericea) is a distinctive looking cimbicid sawfly often found feeding on the nectar of flowering meadow plants such as Devil’s-bit Scabious. The equally distinctive larvae also feed on Devil’s-bit Scabious in …

On a fresh late spring day, the Wyre Forest Study Group was fortunate enough to be given permission to visit a relatively undisturbed and privately owned part of the forest. As is usual, members of the group had initially met and …

Mick Farmer was fortunate enough to not only observe but also photograph this Dipper (Cinclus cinclus) in Dowles Brook in early May. It’s always a thrill to see Dippers in the Wyre Forest, especially along Dowles Brook.

A single female Kestrel had been observed and recorded regularly over the past 12 months on the Wilden Marsh SSSI. She would often sit high on a powerline strung between pylons overlooking the marsh below.

Recent forestry woodland work had resulted in compacted banks of exposed soil due to heavy vehicle traffic removing diseased Ash trees. One such spot created the ideal environment for a small colony of …

It is good to know that Pied Flycatchers returned to the Wyre Forest again this year to breed in the nest boxes provided. Mick Farmer managed to successfully photograph a male collecting insects for his young – but can anyone identify the catch?

After many rumors and false starts, it was finally possible to observe and photograph the incredulous sight of a terrapin. Sightings of this individual had been reported, often with an air of disbelief, …

I recently came across this handsome Longhorn Beetle hiding among the undergrowth in an area of marshland. Despite its photogenic appearance, it’s quite often …

It’s difficult not to be impressed with the formidable nature of the Waterscorpion – Nepa cinerea. An accomplished predator often found in shallow, still water.

On Saturday 17th April 2021 six members of the WFSG went on the postponed winter bird walk, but we don’t only look for birds! After our lunch stop near Arley we spotted Toothwort (Lathraea squamaria) growing …

I recently came across a large carpet of these tiny spring flowers growing on a dry bare trackway. These plants, only a few centimetres tall, flower and fruit by April, and are not easy to find later in the year.

Spring is coming soon we trust, although winter is hanging on with more snow falling this week. But Great Tits are singing, Song Thrush males are proclaiming their territories and Winter Aconites and Snowdrops …

I passed this Hazel tree growing near Dowles Brook recently and was reminded about the many difficulties we’ve experienced in 2020 when the ground seems to have been taken from under our feet and there has …

On a walk in Wyre recently I spotted a nibbled Funnel Cap toadstool, so stopped to search underneath for the elusive Lemon Slug. Under the leaves I found this tiny young toad so carefully popped it on top of the …

It is good to see that there are still a few plants in flower in October like this Meadow Cranesbill found down by the River Severn near Blackstone on a sunny autumn day.

The ferocious looking Rove Beetle (Staphylinus olens), commonly known as the Devil’s Coach Horse, isn’t slow in showing that it means business! When caught out in the open it will …

It’s autumn and grassland fungi are beginning to appear! Pink Waxcaps are an indicator species for what could be a special site for fungi, and if this is found it is worth returning to see what else comes up …

A new damselfly species (the 24th ) has arrived in the Wyre Forest area. The Small Red-eyed Damselfly has been in Worcestershire since 2006  (this species was new to the UK in 1999) …

Whilst walking along the riverside near Bewdley Rosemary Winnall spotted a female Mute Swan swimming upstream with her 3 small cygnets swimming alongside. As she watched, the cygnets climbed up …

This year the flight periods of Pearl-bordered Fritillary butterflies and Small Pearl-bordered Fritillaries have overlapped and they have been flying together in the hot sunshine. This has given us the chance to look ….

The very loud urgent singing above my head attracted my attention to this determined little male Goldcrest that was trying hard to impress a female that was intend on feeding near by. She didn’t seem to take much notice.

Susan Limbrey was surprised to see this impressive cranefly in her greenhouse at The Newalls in Far Forest. It is a male Tanyptera atrata and the Wyre Forest is a hotspot for this attractive fly.

Mary Singleton was delighted to see 2 male Emperor Moths coming to her pheromone lure which she’d hung from her washing line in her Bewdley garden. She recorded them on 20th April 2020 at 3.50pm….

Mick Farmer from Bewdley saw this male Sparrowhawk in his garden on 17th April 2020. Mick was very pleased to see it at such close quarters, but the small birds in his garden were not so enthusiastic!

On 15th April 2020 Rosemary spotted her first damselfly of the year by her garden pond at Bliss Gate. She writes “I thought it was a bit early, so sent my Large Red Damselfly photo to Mike Averill, the county recorder …”

This hot spring weather has hastened the emergence of many insects. The Red Mason Bee (Osmia bicornis) males are out and flying around their tubes in my garden at Bliss Gate, waiting for the females to emerge.

Susan Limbrey writes “The Great Easter Egg Hunt (grass snake version) is under way.  It’s slow because the compost is very claggy, and the slow worms who regard the heap as home keep getting in the way.”

The Swan Goose has arrived in Bewdley town, says Pauline Lowe who took these photos from near her house by the riverside on 29th March 2020. It is a Swan Goose which, in the wild, normally inhabits Mongolia in ….

Liam Crowley spotted 2 of these tiny ladybirds Nephus quadrimaculatus on the ivy in his back garden on 22nd March 2020. As these beetles measure only 1.5 – 2mm he did well to photograph it. These beetles must be easily ….

The December day was still and calm. In the woodland the mist was forming, clearing and reforming throughout the day. When the sun broke through for a short time, the forest was filled with colour and sparkle, until …

In early October, Andrew Curran found these tiny creatures called Nettle Ensign Scales Orthezia urticae, a type of scale insect in the Superfamily Coccoidea. They are related to aphids and mealy bugs and …

This small green spider may be found in sheltered spots on Ivy, Holly and other garden shrubs. The females are all green and the males have green abdomens and a reddish carapace.

Sometimes referred to as the Blue Underwing, the Clifden Nonpareil is a very large and impressively beautiful, rare moth. This indiviual was photographed by Jon Cartwright when it obligingly turned up …

Jon Cartwright was able to photograph an elusive Nightjar (Caprimulgus europaeus) in Fastings Coppice. As a summer visitor to the UK, Nightjars arrive to breed in mid-May and have normally left for their …

On a sunny August day members of the Wyre Forest Study Group gathered to visit and survey several wildflower meadows in the forest. On this occasion the group were also joined by several members of the …

These delightful birds are regular summer visitors to the Wyre Forest, although sadly their numbers have fallen in recent decades. The droughts of the 1960s and 1970s resulted in a dramatic fall in their …

A somewhat unusual sighting has been reported of a male Black Redstart (Phoenicurus ochruros) in its 1st summer plumage. Craig Reed has observed and photographed this …

The Forest is home to many species of insects, some inconspicous and difficult to find and others vivid and easily sighted. An example of the latter are the Pearl-bordered Fritillary and the Small Pearl-bordered …