Roger Harding

Lesser Fiery Copper (Lycaena thersamon), Butterflies of North Greece © Jon Dunn

Ophrys ortuabis, Orchids of Sardinia © Michele Vigano

Our January sale on 2026 tours with remaining spaces available to book upon them finishes tomorrow - any week-long 2026 tour booked before 1 February qualifies for £100 off the list price.

Full list of tours & availability of places here on our website:

www.mariposanature.com/calendar

#BirdOfTheDay
@alan678.bsky.social
#EyeContact
Shoebill in Uganda a few years back. Unforgettable.

I think it is amazing that people happily wait 2 1/2 years for one of your incredible tours.
Well done 👏

😁

Now, that is special.

Melissa
I cannot tell you how furious I am at the appalling news Tantrump is causing. The parallel to '30s Germany are shocking.
I feel for you guys.
I was planning visiting the US this year to visit some lovely friends.
Sadly I cannot do it.
Evil mam.

#BirdOfTheDay
@alan678.bsky.social
#Walking
Actually running i think?

Every day is National Hug Dsy for me!
🤗

🖐

If you have any interest in European orchids you MUST visit Rhodes.
It is the finest location
If you visit Rhodes you MUST go with Mariposa.
They are the finest guides.
You will have an amazing experience.

#BirdOfTheDay
@alan678.bsky.social
#FeedingTime
Berthelot's Pipit
Lunch in Fuerteventura

It's no exaggeration to say the #OrchidsOfRhodes tour that my good pal @thenewgalaxy.bsky.social and I have developed is something of a love story. We love looking for orchids all over Europe and beyond. We love sharing them with guests. And we love seeing the joy the tours bring to all involved.

It's a privilege to lead tours for @mariposanature.bsky.social and all of the #orchid tours I'm leading abroad for 2026 are fully booked 😎

If you want to join me in Tenerife, Cyprus, Crete or the Alps in 2027 then please drop us an enquiry - we are also taking bookings for #OrchidsOfRhodes in 2027

#BirdOfTheDay
@alan678.bsky.social
#TwoOfAKind
Spoonbills, Fuerteventura. Jan 2026

@alan678.bsky.social
#BirdOfTheDay
#PerfectPerch
#waterwings
Two from Fuerteventura the other week.
Sanderling and the Fuerteventura Stonechat.

Fuerteventura Jan 2026

#BirdOfTheDay
@alan678.bsky.social
Cream-coloured Courser

Fly past F.G-s
No Babul I'm afraid.

Yellow-legged Herring Gull

Spoonbills

Ruddy Shelduck

Black-winged Stilt

Last few

Little Egret

Ruddy Shelduck

Monk Parakeet

Spoonbill

A penultimate few

Grey Plover

Sanderling

Whimbrel

Black-winged Stilt

and more waders

Bar-tailed Godwit

Kentish Plover

Greenshank

Ringed Plover

Just about every beach and small body of water had waders in abundance

Mediterranean (Lesser) Short-toed Lark

Cream- coloured Courser

Black-bellied Sand Grouse

Great Grey Shrike

Now some desert specialities
Ok - I admit it - I dipped on Houboura!!

Sardines Warbler

Spectacled Warbler

A couple of Warblers

Fuerteventura Stonechat

Spanish Sparrow

African Blue-tit

Berthelot's Pippit

Now some classic Passerines

Greenish Black-tip

Plain Tiger

Just returned from a relaxing, warm holiday in Fuerteventura.
This was primarily a holiday to escape British winter - however, you can't keep a keen naturalist down.
Firstly Butterflies. Saw half a dozen species, but dipped on the endemic Red Admiral.
Photos of these two

Seems like a good Christmas present then.
📖📖❤️

Greater Tongue-orchid (Serapias lingua), Essex © Jon Dunn

Ploughshare Tongue-orchid (Serapias vomeracea), Kent © Jon Dunn

Right then, tongue-orchids, let's be having you. Today I #amwriting all about the various twists and turns of tongues in England in recent decades. There's a LOT to get licked before the 5pm whistle...

#orchids

It's the Mariposa January Sale!

All of our butterfly holidays generate a donation to support the valuable conservation work of Butterfly Conservation Europe; and all of our orchid holidays generate a donation to support the equally important conservation work of Botanical Society of Britain & Ireland. Providing financial support for the great work both charities and their respective staff and volunteers perform is extremely important to us all here at Team Mariposa, and we know it's just as important to our guests too.

Planning on hitting the sales this weekend?

We've got an offer for you! There's just a few places left on our 2026 week-long holidays - so we're offering £100 off the list price of them if booked before 1 February. All generate donations to conservation, to BSBI & BCE.

mariposanature.com/calendar

For my good friend @stevieparsons.bsky.social
A Raven Day is always a good day. 🩶

and today a Cattle Egret joined me for breakfast.
"You're not going to eat that last bit of bacon are you!"