Drinker Moth (Euthrix potatoria)

The drinker is apparently so named due to the habit of the larvae sucking up water droplets after rainfall. This particular caterpillar was found amongst the grassy dunes near a beach in Northumberland. It pupates on grass stems in a yellowish cocoon (unfortunately didn't take a photo of one of these) that look similar to that of a Burnet moth. The imago (adult form) is pale brown in colour.

European Robin (Erithacus rubecula)

The European Robin is a small insectivorous songbird with a beautiful song. The birds are quite happy in the company of humans, and are believed to have a relationship with us going back thousands of years. This began when farmers first started tilling the land, turning the soil to reveal protein rich grubs for hungry and opportunistic birds. This specimen was spotted at Windemere Rail Station, Cumbria in April.

European Shag (Phalacrocorax aristotelis)

The European Shag nests every year in extremely large numbers on the Farne Islands. I couldn't resist putting two photos up for this bird. The first is of what seems a nice family unit on Inner Farne. The second, a beautiful profile taken on Lindisfarne.

The Lackey Moth (Malacosoma neustria)

This is the larvae of the Lackey Moth. I fell in love with these iridescent tent caterpillars, after seeing them on a warm May day near Marloe Sands in Pembrokeshire. They form vast silken tents for temperature regulation on hawthorn and blackthorn. The imago, by comparison is a dull brown colour.

Leopard Moth (Zeuzera pyrina)

Zeuzera pyrina, a member of the Cossidae family and commonly known as the Leopard Moth. It has a wide distribution over the woodlands, gardens and orchids of Southern England and Wales. They are known for having a particularly veracious and therefore destructive larval stage, eating the heartwood of a variety of deciduous trees especially apples, pears and plums.

This one was spotted in the garden of a pub in Chelmsford on a very warm evening between 22.00 - 23.00 attracted to the bare bulb above our table.

Least Carpet (Idaea rusticata)

This small moth was found last night (well, early hours of this morning) on the well-lit stairwell of the block of flats I am currently resident of. It has a wingspan of less than 2cm. I found it easy to identify thanks to many prominent markings; the dots on the perimeter of the wings, the relatively central dots on each hind- and forewing, and of course the big blotch of colour spreading across a great deal of the forewing.

Common Pheasant (Phasianus colchicus)

This was taken on the Isle of Arran. I think it was November 2008. Camping on Arran I saw plenty of these pretty birds stalking around.