Dave Barnett spotted this pretty ladybird on an Acer palmatum leaf in his garden and managed to photograph it. It is Adalia decempunctata (10-spot Ladybird) which has three colour forms, this being the ‘chequered’ form (f. decempustulatus). It had him …

Susan Limbrey writes: “I was watching a Holly Blue butterfly by the house, when I saw this female Common Lizard, plus a juvenile which I couldn’t get a good photo of, popping in and out of a hole in the house wall. When I first saw it, it was lined up vertically … ”

March 5 was the first real sunny day of spring and a stroll in Ribbesford Wood today produced a clutch of seasonal sightings : a Peacock butterfly fluttering around a brash-pile, a Comma in a sunlit glade and Zebra jumping spiders scampering over a stony …

Shoots of the acrocarpous moss Polytrichum juniperinum Juniper haircap showing the small terminal “flowers” of the male plant at the shoot ends.

Found as a pioneer moss on acidic heathy ground throughout the Wyre Forest.

Its the first of March and there is much speculation about it being the wettest February on record. Well i am sure it will have been somewhere in the UK but in Wyre Forest the local Meteorological Station in Kidderminster has measured 112.3mm …

February is the time of year when the male flowers of Hazel, the long bunches of flowers we know as catkins, are frequently seen. But, the smaller female flower is rather less obvious but just as important if the species is to perpetuate!

Male Tufted Ducks, Trimpley Reservoir, 11 Jan 2024. These ducks are seen every year during the winter, often in groups of 10 or 12 of males and females. Although the UK’s smallest diving duck, Tufted ducks are skilled swimmers and divers. They can dive to …

5. Winter Heliotrope Petasites fragrans in flower, Tickenhill, Bewdley 4 Jan 2024. Only male flowers are found in the UK and so it spreads vegetatively. It flowers from November through the winter to February and can often be seen in large patches …

Male Sparrowhawk with a tit for breakfast, 22 Nov 2023. The tit had been caught at the bird feeder and Sparrowhawks are frequent visitors to this food source. Sparrowhawks are incredibly agile and swift hunters, often chasing their prey prey through dense …

Box-tree Moth Cydalima perspectalis found on the grass in a garden, Bewdley town, 12 Oct 2023. Introduced to the UK accidentally in 2007, and originally from SE Asia. The caterpillars feed on Box and can defoliate the shrub.Flies from late July to September.

The Guelder-rose (Viburnum opulus), is a deciduous shrub that boasts beautiful clusters of flowers, vibrant berries, and striking foliage. It typically grows to a height of 10-15 feet, with a spread of 8-12 feet. The plant’s deep green, maple-like …

Little Egret, Bewdley, River Severn, 2 Sept 2023. These birds are becoming increasing frequent along the river, especially when the water is low. This one has caught a Bullhead. It first appeared in the UK in significant numbers around 1989 and bred in Dorset …

This fabulous longhorn beetle was found along the riverside at Blackstone by Ellie Reast on our August field meeting. This localised beetle takes 3 years to complete its life cycle. Eggs are laid on the bark of live willows and the larvae burrow in, ….

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.