Freshly emerged female Beautiful Demoiselle (Caleopterix virgo)

A sunny afternoon along the banks of the river Wye in herefordshire and a memorable encounter with a truly beautiful insect.

A Southern Hawker, boldest of Dragonflies, mechanically patrols the fruit trees. On the ground a fat hornet hunts stunted, late season wasps

Above the garden, four Ravens lazily, noisily, wheeling. Perhaps a reminder that this brief sunny spell, like the Summer, will soon be gone.

Common Toad discovered under one of our reclaimed sleepers #herps http://twitpic.com/2ezs09

@littledesigner My money is still on Natrix natrix our tautonymous friend the Grass Snake

After mummy’s exciting badger encounter on her way home late last night, we wake to find a fox cub in our bed