Destinations

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Nature notes

Most of these pages feature nature from Honeyguide holiday destinations, plus three more related to Norfolk. We hope they give insights into some favourite wildlife.

Keep an eye out for new 'nature notes' pages. Naturally, there is lots of information about nature everywhere on www.honeyguide.co.uk!

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Crete orchids

Left: Ophrys cretica - Cretan bee orchid.
Right: Orchis boryi

... and Crete orchid gallery

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Dordogne butterflies and Dordogne bugs

Black-veined white (L), field cricket.

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Autumn in Poland

Photos by Piotr Tałałaj.

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The Cévennes and Causses
– a wild flower wonder

The text and photos about this 'flowery place' by Bob Gibbons, from his book Wildflower Wonders of the World.
Read more here>

Pasque flowers (Bob Gibbons)

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The Norfolk Cranes' Story

Cranes arrived at Horsey in Norfolk in 1979. When they nested in 1981 it was the first time in the UK for some 400 years, the first step of their recolonisation.

This book, by their guardian John Buxton and Honeyguide's Chris Durdin, tells their story. More here.

Crane silhouettes (Nick Upton)

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asparagus pea

Cretan flora through a macro lens

Reflections on a Honeyguide wildlife trip to Crete, 6-13 April 2011, by Honeyguider Phil Brew, here.

Asparagus pea (Phil Brew)

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Winter in Poland

Honeyguide’s Poland host and leader, Artur Wiatr, has sent us some winter nature notes.

Waxwings, grey partridges and European bison here

Bison (Artur Wiatr)

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truffle

Timber and truffles in Istria

Discover the link between Venice, oak woodland and truffles here

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WW
Wildlife where a WW or W-W features in their names. Can you add to our collection here?

Above: slow-worms (Stan Lovett)
Right: Outeniqua yellowwood, South Africa

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Mystery lily, Extremadura

It's a mystery. Can anyone identify this bug (below) and this flower (left)? More here.

Amazing armoured beetle or weevil in Extremadura, March 2010

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Crown daisies: for three years, a Mediterranean flower thrived in Norfolk.
How come? >

Crown daisy with 7-spot ladybird

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Orchids are often centre stage on our Dordogne holiday, not least at our holiday base at Castang. Read more >

Sombre bee orchid Ophrys fusca

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A cuckoo's song in spring is a minor third. But this musical interval crops up elsewhere in nature too. Can you shed light on this mystery? Read more >

cuckoo
Cuckoo

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brebis sheep

Brebis sheep. Our nature notes feature, for the first time, livestock. Rachel and Robin Hamilton look at how brebis sheep shape the landscape, wildlife and cuisine of the Cévennes. Read more >

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Wallcreepers in Bulgaria.
How September has proved – perhaps surprisingly – good for this sometimes tricky-to-find bird.
Read more >

Right: wallcreeper in Trigrad gorge

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Monarch butterflies in Europe and South Africa Read more >

African monarch

Above: African monarch.
Left: Monarch on pride-of Madeira

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Beavers created this wonderful habitat in the celebrated primeval forest at Białowieża, Poland. Read more >

gnawed by beavers

flooded forest

Left: Evidence of beavers!

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froghopper

Red and black bugs often feature on holidays, and here's a selection.
Read more >

Left: Froghopper Cercopis vulnerata

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Painted ladies: 2009 was a bumper year for this gorgeous migrant butterfly.
Read more >

Right: painted lady on marguerite at home in Thunder Lane

painted lady

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Iberian orchids: trips in Spain and Portugal reminded me that the names of orchids change overtime and it can get quite confusing.

We hope this web page will help. Read more >.

Left: Lusitanian mirror orchid Ophrys vernixia

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Glanville fritillaries have fascinated me since I read in the Mitchell Beazley pocket guide that the species is named after Mrs Eleanor Glanville, a butterfly enthusiast of the late 17th/early 18th century "whose Will was contested on the grounds that nobody of sound mind would have such a hobby!"