This distinctive bug is often seen basking on low-growing plants in spring and summer.

The bright purple flowers of this perennial herb can be seen in a range of grassy places.

As the name suggests, this tall, white heron is considerably larger than the similar little egret. Once a rare visitor to the UK, sightings have become more common over the last few decades, with…

A well-travelled migrant, the painted lady arrives here every summer from Europe and Africa. This beautiful orange-and-black butterfly regularly visits gardens.

Look out for the small, yellow flowers of Celery-leaved buttercup in wet meadows and at the edges of ponds and ditches. It flowers from May to September.

This tiny wading bird is most often seen in autumn, feeding on the muddy margins of wetlands.

This metallic green beetle can be seen visiting flowers on sunny days in spring and summer.

Frogbit looks like a mini water-lily as it floats on the surface of ponds, lakes and still waterways. It offers shelter to tadpoles, fish and dragonfly larve.

A common moth across most of the UK. The large, hairy caterpillars are often seen in late summer.

These globe-spanning seabirds can often be seen offshore in autumn, shearing low over the waves.