John Walters
@johnwalterswildife.bsky.social
Wildlife artist and ecologist based in Buckfastleigh, Devon, UK
A successful Life on the Edge @southdevonnl walk last night searching for Mediterranean Oil Beetles Meloe mediterraneus at Start Point, Devon. The group found 9 along the coast path and we managed to dodge the showers!
November 11, 2025 at 6:13 PM
A successful Life on the Edge @southdevonnl walk last night searching for Mediterranean Oil Beetles Meloe mediterraneus at Start Point, Devon. The group found 9 along the coast path and we managed to dodge the showers!
Devil's Coach Horse Ocypus olens feeding on a slug on the Life on the Edge @southdevonnl walk last night at Start Point, Devon.
November 11, 2025 at 6:06 PM
Devil's Coach Horse Ocypus olens feeding on a slug on the Life on the Edge @southdevonnl walk last night at Start Point, Devon.
A few Common Carder Bees Bombus pascuorum still active in the garden yesterday nectaring on Mahonia - the latest I have ever recorded them. Also a few Honeybees and a Marmalade Hoverfly Episyrphus balteatus, Buckfastleigh, Devon
November 11, 2025 at 5:51 PM
A few Common Carder Bees Bombus pascuorum still active in the garden yesterday nectaring on Mahonia - the latest I have ever recorded them. Also a few Honeybees and a Marmalade Hoverfly Episyrphus balteatus, Buckfastleigh, Devon
A few years ago we planted some Hebe and Mahonia especially for winter active bees in our garden. In the mild weather this week there were plenty of Common Carder Bees Bombus pascuorum plus a few Honeybees Apis mellifera and Buff-tailed Bumblebees Bombus terrestris visiting the flowers.
November 6, 2025 at 9:27 PM
A few years ago we planted some Hebe and Mahonia especially for winter active bees in our garden. In the mild weather this week there were plenty of Common Carder Bees Bombus pascuorum plus a few Honeybees Apis mellifera and Buff-tailed Bumblebees Bombus terrestris visiting the flowers.
A few butterflies out in the sunshine at Start Point, Devon last Sunday. This Clouded Yellow Colias croceus and 2 Red Admirals Vanessa atalanta, one of which set off on a migration south across the sea about midday.
November 4, 2025 at 1:06 PM
A few butterflies out in the sunshine at Start Point, Devon last Sunday. This Clouded Yellow Colias croceus and 2 Red Admirals Vanessa atalanta, one of which set off on a migration south across the sea about midday.
Nemastoma bimaculatum - one of the UKs commonest harvestmen often found under rocks lying on the ground. Orley Common, Devon
October 30, 2025 at 6:17 PM
Nemastoma bimaculatum - one of the UKs commonest harvestmen often found under rocks lying on the ground. Orley Common, Devon
Freshly moulted Dicranopalpus larvatus harvestman at Radford Woods, Plymouth. Devon
October 28, 2025 at 8:37 PM
Freshly moulted Dicranopalpus larvatus harvestman at Radford Woods, Plymouth. Devon
The harvestman Nelima gothica in Plymouth, Devon last week
October 27, 2025 at 12:58 PM
The harvestman Nelima gothica in Plymouth, Devon last week
Hedgehog Harvestman Nemastomella bacilliferum, Plymouth, Devon, this very distinctive but tiny harvestman is found at several sites around the city. It has not been found anywhere else in the UK but may be overlooked? It is usually found sat on the underside of rocks lying on the ground.
October 27, 2025 at 12:52 PM
Hedgehog Harvestman Nemastomella bacilliferum, Plymouth, Devon, this very distinctive but tiny harvestman is found at several sites around the city. It has not been found anywhere else in the UK but may be overlooked? It is usually found sat on the underside of rocks lying on the ground.
Male Horrid Ground Weaver Nothophantes horridus in Plymouth, Devon. This UK endemic usually peaks in December but I found 16 (mostly adults) one day last week so seems to be having an earlier season this year.
October 27, 2025 at 12:42 PM
Male Horrid Ground Weaver Nothophantes horridus in Plymouth, Devon. This UK endemic usually peaks in December but I found 16 (mostly adults) one day last week so seems to be having an earlier season this year.
Baird's Sandpiper Calidris bairdii with Ringed Plover and Dunlin this afternoon at Colliford Reservoir, Cornwall thanks to the finder Jennie Hale
October 13, 2025 at 8:40 PM
Baird's Sandpiper Calidris bairdii with Ringed Plover and Dunlin this afternoon at Colliford Reservoir, Cornwall thanks to the finder Jennie Hale
Atlantic Bluefin Tuna Thunnus thynnus chasing Garfish Belone belone in the race at Start Point, Devon yesterday
October 12, 2025 at 1:23 PM
Atlantic Bluefin Tuna Thunnus thynnus chasing Garfish Belone belone in the race at Start Point, Devon yesterday
Sketches of moths caught at light this week: Merveille du Jour, Common Marbled Carpet, The Vestal and Red-green Carpet, Buckfastleigh, Devon
October 12, 2025 at 12:11 PM
Sketches of moths caught at light this week: Merveille du Jour, Common Marbled Carpet, The Vestal and Red-green Carpet, Buckfastleigh, Devon
Yes yellow scutellum is diagnostic for Staphylinus erythropterus
October 10, 2025 at 12:48 PM
Yes yellow scutellum is diagnostic for Staphylinus erythropterus
Classic seawatching at St Ives, Cornwall yesterday 1000s of birds including Gannets, Sooty Shearwater, Bonxie, Grey Phalarope, Storm and Leach's Petrels, Arctic and Long-tailed Skuas and Sabine's Gull thanks to the locals for giving directions on the birds before they disappeared around the corner
October 5, 2025 at 11:17 AM
Classic seawatching at St Ives, Cornwall yesterday 1000s of birds including Gannets, Sooty Shearwater, Bonxie, Grey Phalarope, Storm and Leach's Petrels, Arctic and Long-tailed Skuas and Sabine's Gull thanks to the locals for giving directions on the birds before they disappeared around the corner
A magical evening watching the Atlantic Bluefin Tuna Thunnus thynnus hunting Garfish Belone belone in almost flat calm conditions, Start Point, Devon
October 2, 2025 at 8:58 AM
A magical evening watching the Atlantic Bluefin Tuna Thunnus thynnus hunting Garfish Belone belone in almost flat calm conditions, Start Point, Devon
Atlantic Bluefin Tuna Thunnus thynnus showing well as they chased Garfish Belone belone in a calm sea at Start Point, Devon yesterday
October 1, 2025 at 9:07 AM
Atlantic Bluefin Tuna Thunnus thynnus showing well as they chased Garfish Belone belone in a calm sea at Start Point, Devon yesterday
Mediterranean Stick Insect Bacillus rossius, Hayling Island, Hampshire
October 1, 2025 at 8:43 AM
Mediterranean Stick Insect Bacillus rossius, Hayling Island, Hampshire
Leiobunum blackwalli harvestman Bovey Heath, Devon today
September 25, 2025 at 8:30 PM
Leiobunum blackwalli harvestman Bovey Heath, Devon today
Heath Bristletail Dilta littoralis Bovey Heath, Devon today
September 25, 2025 at 8:24 PM
Heath Bristletail Dilta littoralis Bovey Heath, Devon today
Sub-adult Horrid Ground Weaver Nothophantes horridus in Plymouth, Devon today. The first record for September of this UK endemic spider. They mature in November with a peak of activity for the adults in December.
September 25, 2025 at 7:25 PM
Sub-adult Horrid Ground Weaver Nothophantes horridus in Plymouth, Devon today. The first record for September of this UK endemic spider. They mature in November with a peak of activity for the adults in December.
Cave Bristletail Trigoniophthalmus alternatus Buckfastleigh Devon
September 24, 2025 at 2:25 PM
Cave Bristletail Trigoniophthalmus alternatus Buckfastleigh Devon
Although usually found amongst Marram Grass on the coast the jumping spider Marpissa nivoyi also occurs amongst Purple Moor Grass on heathland. Bovey Heath @devonwildlifetrust today
September 22, 2025 at 6:59 PM
Although usually found amongst Marram Grass on the coast the jumping spider Marpissa nivoyi also occurs amongst Purple Moor Grass on heathland. Bovey Heath @devonwildlifetrust today
The adorable Marpissa muscosa also known as the Fencepost Jumping Spider on some standing deadwood in our garden today. Buckfastleigh, Devon
September 21, 2025 at 12:42 PM
The adorable Marpissa muscosa also known as the Fencepost Jumping Spider on some standing deadwood in our garden today. Buckfastleigh, Devon
Zebra Jumping Spider Salticus scenicus feeding on a small cranefly on the wall of our house yesterday. Buckfastleigh, Devon
September 20, 2025 at 2:25 PM
Zebra Jumping Spider Salticus scenicus feeding on a small cranefly on the wall of our house yesterday. Buckfastleigh, Devon