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dunnjons.bsky.social
Jon Dunn
@dunnjons.bsky.social
4.4K followers 960 following 680 posts
Nature writer, photographer, tour leader. FLS.

BSBI Shetland county recorder

Author for Basic Books, Bloomsbury Books, Hachette, Princeton University Press

Rep’d: Peters, Fraser & Dunlop

www.jondunn.com
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dunnjons.bsky.social
Jon Dunn @dunnjons.bsky.social · Nov 14
Blimey. There's suddenly a LOT more people here. Hello! For those who weren't on the bird site and don't already know, amongst other things, I write stuff, and with Christmas coming up, maybe a joyful book about orchids, or one about hummingbirds, might be a colourful antidote to winter and Now?
Cover of 'Orchid Summer' by Jon Dunn. This account of a journey around Britain and Ireland in search of all the wild orchid species found there, their people past and present, and their colourful stories, was one of the Guardian's 'Best Books of the Year' in 2018. Cover of 'The Glitter in the Green' by Jon Dunn. An account of a meandering journey across the Americas, from 60°N in Alaska to the very shores of the Beagle Channel in Argentina's Tierra del Fuego, in search of the most remarkable hummingbirds, their histories and place in culture, their people past and present, and their meaning and place in a world that's fast-changing. This book was long-listed for the Carnegie Medal of Excellence in Non-fiction in 2022.
Reposted by Jon Dunn
mariposanature.bsky.social
Tour news 🚨

We've launched the first tranche of our 2027 butterfly tours on our website today. Lots to choose from, including Andalusia, Morocco, Abruzzo & Serbia, and many more to follow!

All generate donations to support the great work of @europebutterfly.bsky.social

mariposanature.com/calendar
Aetherie Fritillary (Melitaea aetherie), Spring Butterflies of Andalusia © Clive Burrows Fatma's Bavius Blue (Pseudophilotes fatma), Spring Butterflies of Marvellous Morocco © David Moore Italian Marbled White (Melanargia arge), Spring Butterflies in Abruzzo © Marco Bonifacino False Comma (Nymphalis vaualbum) False Comma & Summer Butterflies of Serbia © Janos Olah
February 7, 2026 at 5:05 PM
dunnjons.bsky.social
FFS.
eastangliabylines.co.uk East Anglia Bylines @eastangliabylines.co.uk · 3d
The Dalmatian pelican may be reintroduced to British wetland landscapes including sites across the Norfolk and Suffolk Broads, and Essex marshes...
Dalmatian pelican could be reintroduced to British wetlands
The Dalmatian pelican, once hunted to extinction, could be reintroduced to wetlands in England.
www.bbc.co.uk
February 7, 2026 at 1:05 PM
Reposted by Jon Dunn
mariposanature.bsky.social
Tour update 🚨

Orchids of Crete has now gone live on our website for 2027, and already has two places snapped up. Crete's an incredible orchid-hunting destination, and with @thenewgalaxy.bsky.social as your leader, you'll see the best the island has to offer.

mariposanature.com/tours/botani...
Anacamptis boryi, Orchids of Crete © Dr Richard Bate Ophrys cretica, Orchids of Crete © Dr Richard Bate
February 7, 2026 at 10:10 AM
dunnjons.bsky.social
Morning! It's been a fabulous week - hope yours has been good too.

The #BirdOfTheDay theme today is #SmallBirdSaturday, and while smaller hummingbirds than this White-bellied Woodstar in Ecuador are available, there aren't many tinier birds to be seen out there.

#EastCoastKin #birds #hummingbird
White-bellied Woodstar (Chaetocercus mulsant), Ecuador © Jon Dunn
February 7, 2026 at 9:34 AM
Reposted by Jon Dunn
mariposanature.bsky.social
Tour update 🚨

As of this evening, Orchids of Tenerife is now a guaranteed departure. With the memory of the longest, greyest, wettest January ever fresh in our collective memories, looking forward to orchids in the warmth of Tenerife next year is a balm.

www.mariposanature.com/tours/botani...
Tenerife Giant Orchid (Himantoglossum metlesicsianum), Orchids of Tenerife © Jon Dunn Canary Three-fingered Orchid (Habenaria tridactylites), Orchids of Tenerife © Jon Dunn
February 6, 2026 at 6:15 PM
Reposted by Jon Dunn
mariposanature.bsky.social
Tour news🚨

With our 2026 tours either full or with just a few places remaining available, we're starting to post our 2027 tours on our website, beginning with the orchid tours. Today, Orchids of Cyprus goes live. Watch this space for more tours in coming days.

mariposanature.com/tours/botani...
Ophrys kotschyi, Orchids of Cyprus © Jon Dunn Ophrys umbilicata, Orchids of Cyprus © Jon Dunn
February 6, 2026 at 11:05 AM
dunnjons.bsky.social
Good morning everyone. The alt theme for #BirdOfTheDay is #backlitbeauty, an image with sunlight behind the bird.

Here's a Swallow-tailed Hummingbird in Brazil, stretching at sunset after a long day of fury and feeding.

#birds #photography #EastCoastKin #hummingbird #naturephotography
Swallow-tailed Hummingbird (Eupetomena macroura), Brazil © Jon Dunn
February 6, 2026 at 8:09 AM
dunnjons.bsky.social
Today's #BirdOfTheDay theme is #Pigeons&Doves, so for something a little quirky and different, here's a couple of quail-doves from Cuba - Grey-fronted & Blue-headed. Hope you feel the dove love that I do for these charismatic birds.

#EastCoastKin #birds #NaturePhotography #Cuba #Caribbean
Grey-fronted Quail-Dove (Geotrygon caniceps), Cuba © Jon Dunn Blue-headed Quail-Dove (Starnoenas cyanocephala), Cuba © Jon Dunn
February 5, 2026 at 2:19 PM
Reposted by Jon Dunn
mariposanature.bsky.social
Tour update 🚨

Next year's Orchids of Tenerife is already taking bookings, with 2 places booked. If this year's tour is anything to go by, it'll fill quickly. Join a dream team of @thenewgalaxy.bsky.social & Dave Fairhurst for a feast of orchids & other wildlife:

mariposanature.com/tours/botani...
Tenerife Giant Orchid (Himantoglossum metlesicsianum), Orchids of Tenerife © Jon Dunn Canary Three-fingered Orchid (Habenaria tridactylites), Orchids of Tenerife © Jon Dunn
February 5, 2026 at 11:35 AM
Reposted by Jon Dunn
thenewgalaxy.bsky.social
I’m delighted that the #orchid tour of #Tenerife went as planned. Well, nearly - I had to drop out at the last minute because my wife decided to have a baby, and not quite when we expected him to arrive either! Our guests had a great time, expertly led by @dunnjons.bsky.social and Dave Fairhurst
February 3, 2026 at 9:54 PM
Reposted by Jon Dunn
mariposanature.bsky.social
That's a wrap on our Orchids of Tenerife tour - with all our orchid targets found and enjoyed, plus much further bonus wildlife including all endemic bird species possible.

The 2027 tour, with @thenewgalaxy.bsky.social & Dave Fairhurst, is now available to book:

mariposanature.com/tours/botani...
Habenaria tridactylites, Orchids of Tenenrife © Jon Dunn Himantoglossum metlesicsianum, Orchids of Tenenrife © Jon Dunn Orchis canariensis, Orchids of Tenerife © Jon Dunn Gennaria diphylla, Orchids of Tenerife © Jon Dunn
February 3, 2026 at 4:23 PM
Reposted by Jon Dunn
mariposanature.bsky.social
New tour alert 🚨

And it's an exciting one! We're delighted to announce that our popular leader Dave Fairhurst is leading a long weekend tour to the Netherlands this coming late autumn to look for Wolf on 12-16 November. Places available to join him:

mariposanature.com/tours/mammal...
Wolf (Canis lupus), the Netherlands © Dr Will Miles Wolf (Canis lupus), the Netherlands © Dr Will Miles
February 3, 2026 at 7:20 AM
dunnjons.bsky.social
There have been lots of non-orchid wildlife highlights in the past few days here on Tenerife, including two species I particularly enjoyed seeing - Canary Bellflower, and Tenerife Blue Chaffinch. After a January that seemed 331 days long, this @mariposanature.bsky.social tour's been a welcome tonic!
Canary Bellflower (Canarina canariensis) © Jon Dunn Tenerife Blue Chaffinch (Fringilla teydea) © Jon Dunn
February 3, 2026 at 6:50 AM
Reposted by Jon Dunn
mariposanature.bsky.social
Up in the clouds, hanging out with the rainbows that dropped hundreds of feet below us, our Orchids of Tenerife tour found a pot of gold today - Canary Orchid (Orchis canariensis). Sharp eyes from leader Dave Fairhurst, and superb tour preparation from @thenewgalaxy.bsky.social. Much joy!
Canary Orchid (Orchis canariensis) in habitat © Jon Dunn Canary Orchid (Orchis canariensis) © Jon Dunn
February 2, 2026 at 6:10 PM
dunnjons.bsky.social
I just couldn't resist another dose of the island endemic Tenerife Giant Orchid (Himantoglossum metlesicsianum) today with my @mariposanature.bsky.social Orchids of Tenerife group. What an outrageous species this is!

#orchid #NaturePhotography #EastCoastKin
Tenerife Giant Orchid (Himantoglossum metlesicsianum) © Jon Dunn Tenerife Giant Orchid (Himantoglossum metlesicsianum) © Jon Dunn
February 2, 2026 at 6:20 PM
Reposted by Jon Dunn
mariposanature.bsky.social
The array of butterflies possible to see during the week is truly enticing, and guests will be in the best of hands with Mariposa founder David Moore, and European butterfly expert Martin Davies leading the holiday. Full tour details on our website: (2/2)

mariposanature.com/tours/butter...
Freyer's Purple Emperor (Apatura metis) © Jon Dunn Balkan Marbled White (Melanargia larissa) © Jon Dunn
February 2, 2026 at 7:34 AM
Reposted by Jon Dunn
mariposanature.bsky.social
Good morning & welcome to a new week!

Just 3 places remain available on our featured tour this week, Butterflies of North Greece. And naturally, like all our butterfly holidays, it's a tour that generates a donation to support
@europebutterfly.bsky.social. (1/2)

mariposanature.com/tours/butter...
Lesser Fiery Copper (Lycaena thersamon) © Jon Dunn Blue Argus (Aricia anteros) © David Moore
February 2, 2026 at 7:30 AM
Reposted by Jon Dunn
mariposanature.bsky.social
Green with envy... we've spent today exploring the wooded areas and forest margins of Tenerife, in search of two special green orchids - Canarian endemic Habenaria tridactylites, and shy Mediterranean & Macaronesian specialty Gennaria diphylla. Both seen very well indeed! 💚
Canary Island Three-fingered Orchid (Habenaria tridactylites), Orchids of Tenerife © Jon Dunn Gennaria diphylla, Orchids of Tenerife © Jon Dunn
February 1, 2026 at 6:05 PM
Reposted by Jon Dunn
mariposanature.bsky.social
A few shots of Tenerife Giant Orchid (Himantoglossum metlesicsianum), taken by @dunnjons.bsky.social on the first day of our Orchids of Tenerife tour - we're straight into the outstanding orchids thanks to the thorough pre-tour preparation undertaken by @thenewgalaxy.bsky.social.
Tenerife Giant Orchid (Himantoglossum metlesicsianum), Orchids of Tenerife © Jon Dunn Tenerife Giant Orchid (Himantoglossum metlesicsianum), Orchids of Tenerife © Jon Dunn Tenerife Giant Orchid (Himantoglossum metlesicsianum), Orchids of Tenerife © Jon Dunn
January 31, 2026 at 6:09 PM
Reposted by Jon Dunn
mariposanature.bsky.social
Tour update 🚨

We know we're the #1 choice for orchid-hunting holidays, and our guests know it too. Four more places on our flagship #OrchidsOfRhodes went today, just three places left available for 2028. The 2026 & 2027 tours are both long fully booked...

www.mariposanature.com/tours/botani...
Ophrys lucis, Orchids of Rhodes © Jon Dunn Naked Man Orchid (Orchis italica), Orchids of Rhodes © Jon Dunn
January 31, 2026 at 6:19 PM
Reposted by Jon Dunn
mariposanature.bsky.social
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
Lesser Fiery Copper (Lycaena thersamon), Butterflies of North Greece © Jon Dunn Ophrys ortuabis, Orchids of Sardinia © Michele Vigano
January 31, 2026 at 8:46 AM
dunnjons.bsky.social
Today's #BirdOfTheDay theme is #FavouriteOfTheMonth - a January bird photo I like.

Craving sunshine presently, here's a throwback to warmer, sunnier days of January past, and a Cuban Trogon.

#EastCoastKin #birds #naturephotography #birdphotography #cuba
Cuban Trogon (Priotelus temnurus), Cuba © Jon Dunn
January 30, 2026 at 12:15 PM
Reposted by Jon Dunn
mariposanature.bsky.social
It's #FrohawkFriday, the day we celebrate the butterfly studies and artwork of FW Frohawk.

Today features Dingy and Small Skipper - while the latter remains widespread, the former species has sadly declined markedly in Britain in recent decades.
Plate 56 of FW Frohawk's 'Natural History of British Butterflies', featuring Dingy Skipper (Erynnis tages) & Small Skipper (Thymelicus sylvestris)
January 30, 2026 at 7:52 AM
dunnjons.bsky.social
Not an obvious choice for today's #BirdOfTheDay theme of #EyeContact. The eye of the bird, a Snowy Owl, is small in the image.

But look closer. There's a story unfolding here. It's hunting, and it's just noticed a terrified Starling. Moments later, dinner.

#EastCoastKin #naturephotography #birds
A hunting Snowy Owl (Bubo scandiacus) that's just noticed a fleeing Common Starling (Sturnus vulgaris), Shetland © Jon Dunn
January 29, 2026 at 10:19 AM
Reposted by Jon Dunn
mariposanature.bsky.social
Orchids of Rhodes is fully booked for both 2026 & 2027, unsurprisingly as it's the ultimate orchid tour on the island.

The 2028 tour is nearly half-full. All these tours generate @bsbibotany.bsky.social donations. We're the first choice in orchid-hunting holidays.
mariposanature.com/tours/botani...
Ophrys ferrum-equinum in Rhodes landscape, Orchids of Rhodes © Jon Dunn Ophrys polyxo, Orchids of Rhodes © Jon Dunn
January 28, 2026 at 5:40 PM