The lily and the voles

Merendera montana (L.) is a small, autumn-flowering plant, largely endemic to the Iberian Peninsula (Spain and Portugal). It is a member … More

Zebra doves: an appreciation

Zebra doves (Geopelia striata) are small ground doves found throughout South East Asia.  They are commonly seen in parks and … More

In praise of LBJs (Tree sparrows)

Tree sparrows (Passer montanus) are rather special birds in the Family ‘little brown jobs’ (!), having declined drastically in numbers … More

How to build an oven (bird)

Thai Cruiser feeding on poinsettia flowers

I came across these butterflies feeding on poinsettias in early November (2013) when I visited the headquarters of the Doi … More

Jacintha Eggfly (Hypolimnas bolina)

I chased this butterfly along a road in Chiang Mai Zoo, last November (2013). It eventually landed on a fallen … More

Ang Ka Nature Trail – Doi Inthanon

The Ang Ka Nature Study trail is a ca. 360 mm wooden boardwalk near the top of Doi Inthanon, the … More

A potter wasp – Phimenes flavopictus

Potter wasps make beautifully crafted pot-shaped nests out of mud and saliva: nature’s own potters! They are solitary insects and … More

Camouflage – in whose eyes?

When we look at beautifully camouflaged insects, such as certain butterfly species which look so much like the leaves or … More

Predation on butterflies

Many butterflies we see happily flying around are not perfect specimens! Far from it; they often have chunks missing from … More