A gallery of photographs and poems about wildlife

WILDLIFE

Come in and get closer to nature, it's a perfect way to relax, refresh and feel more connected. Look through the lens into the world of wildlife and enjoy its magical wonders.

Soldier Beetle

An armoured beetle soldiers on,
A force of life in the heat of the sun,
Long and slender with leatherlike wings,
Polllinating flowers in the early spring.
Button
Red Admiral Butterfly

Magnificent butterfly with black velvet wings,
I see your white spotted tips and bright orange bands,
A welcome migrant from northern climes,
A symbol of transformation, joy and happy times.
Button
Honey Bee

Honey scented matico, a magnet for bees,
Bright orange ball flowers attract them with ease,
Bursting with nectar and pollen to please:
A delicious scent on a gentle breeze.
Button
Harlequin Ladybird

Bringer of fortune, innocence and love,
Ladybugs remind us to live life to the full,
A gift to brighten any day,
Transformations with happy resolutions are on their way.
Hover Fly

Hamless hoverfly, gardener's friend,
A suit so glossy with striking bands,
With wings that hover at impossible speeds,
This skilled deceiver mimics bees.

Feeding on aphids, bugs and thrips,
Pollinating flowers where're she goes,
Like a hornet but with larger eyes and lack of sting,
The stunning belted hoverfly is a beautiful thing.
.

Button
Burnet Moth

A red spotted moth found on the dunes,
Resting on a striking Viper's-Bugloss bloom,
Glossy black with six spots on its long, narrow wings,
Slowly fluttering in and around the reeds.
Button
Cotton Thistle

Head down and diving in,
A bee loves nectar rich thistles like these,
They are bright and lucious and sweet as can be,
With fine cotton hairs on their stems and leaves.
Button
Flower Crab Spider

Without a web to catch its food,
The flower crab spider sits and broods,
Laying in wait for an insect, moth or bee,
To land on the flower where they come to feed.
Button
Sleeping Snails

Tiny lemon snail sleeping under a leaf,
Not far from the sea on a sandbar reef;
Tucked up closely to an accommodating friend;
Safe and cosy as the wind blows and the leaves bend.
Button
Gold Ringed Dragonfly

A riverland wonder from the southern glades,
On her way to her breeding place,
Resting to gather warmth in the sun,
Before going on her way.

Fast and angile, sleek and strong,
With stunning markings in black and gold,
Her beauty would be hard to replace,
A living symbol of elegance, happiness, peace and grace.
Button
Busy Bee

A bee can travel ten miles a day to gather food,
Sweet nectar and pollen to feed her brood,
Never a moment's rest for this busy bee,
A joy to hear and a delight to see.
Button
Sacred Snail

Slow to move but steady and true,
Snails know which way to go,
Carrying their home in their spiral shells,
Reminding us to take our time and consider our decisions well.
Button

Daisy Trap - Photograph by Sue Cartwright, Spiral Leaf

Ladybird Bridge - Photograph by Sue Cartwright, Spiral Leaf

Copper Coloured Beetles - Photograph by Sue Cartwright, Spiral Leaf

Soldier Beetle

An armoured beetle soldiers on,
A force of life in the heat of the sun,
Long and slender with leather-like wings,
Pollinating flowers in the early Spring.
Button
Red Admiral

Magnificent butterfly with black velvet wings,
I see your white spotted tips and bright orange bands,
A welcome migrant from northern climes,
A symbol of transformation, joy and happy times.
Button
Honey Bee

Honey scented Matico, magnet for bees,
Bright orange ball flowers attract them with ease,
Bursting with nectar and pollen to please,
A delicious scent on a gentle breeze.
Button
Harlequin Ladybug

Bringer of fortune, innocence and love,
Reminds us to live our lives to the full,
A gift to see on a sunny day,
A sign that good times are on their way.
Hover Fly

Harmless hoverfly, gardener's friend,
A suit so glossy with striking bands,
And wings that hover at impossible speeds,
This skilled deceiver mimics bees.

Feeding on aphids, bugs and thrips,
Pollinating flowers where'er she goes,
Like a hornet but with larger eyes and lack of sting,
The stunning belted hoverfly is a beautiful thing.
.

Button
Burnet Moth

A red spotted moth found on the dunes,
Resting on a striking Viper's-Bugloss bloom,
Glossy black with six spots on its wings,
Gently fluttering around the reeds.
Button
Cotton Thistle

Head down and diving in,
A bee loves nectar rich thistles like these,
They are bright and luscious and sweet as can be,
With fine cotton hairs on their stems and leaves.
Button
Crab Spider

Without a web to catch its food,
The flower Crab Spider sits and broods,
Laying in wait for a moth or a bee,
To land on the flower where they come to feed.
Button
Sleeping Snails

Tiny lemon snail sleeps under a leaf,
Not far from the sea on a sandbar reef,
Tucked up closely to a faithful friend,
Safe together as the wind blows and the leaves bend.
Button
Gold Ringed Dragonfly

A riverland wonder from the southern glades,
On her way to her breeding place,
Resting to gather warmth in the sun,
Before going on her way.

Fast and agile, sleek and strong,
With stunning markings in black and gold,
Her beauty would be hard to replace,
A living symbol of elegance and grace.
Button
Busy Bee

A bee will fly ten miles a day to gather food,
Sweet nectar and pollen for her hungry brood,
Humming and buzzing and gentle and free,
A joy to hear and a pleasure to see.
Button
Sacred Snail

Slow to move but steady and true,
Snails always know which way to go,
Carrying their home in their spiral shells,
They remind us to take time to consider things well.
Button

Ladybird - Photograph by Sue Cartwright, Spiral Leaf

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Thank you for sharing!

for you, for me and for Mother Nature

WILDLIFE

Soldier Beetle

Red Admiral Butterfly

Honey Bee

Harlequin Ladybird

Hover Fly

Burnet Moth

Cotton Thistle

Flower Crab Spider

Sleeping Snails

Gold Ringed Dragonfly

Busy Bee

Sacred Snail

Daisy Trap

Ladybird Bridge

Copper Coloured Beetles