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Found in Nature

From August 2025, Found in Nature submissions will be paused to allow for a new photography activity focused on positive ageing. Thank you so much to everyone who submitted photographs during 2025. We have very much enjoyed your creativity.

You can find the selection of Found in Nature photographs for July and August 2025 below.

Photo of two gannets building a nest

Gannets Nest Building

Each year I go to Bempton Cliffs to watch and photograph the Gannets. I was early this year - May - and was able to watch this pair improving their nest before settling down to producing a family.

Joyce
Poynton u3a

Photo of a rockpool

Life's Beach

Skrinkle Haven, Pembrokeshire

Clive
Berwyn and District u3a

Photo of two terns fighting

Terns Fighting

Whilst we were enjoying some time visiting the Farne Islands, staying in Seahouses, we found this Tern colony situated between Beadnell and Newton. They were fascinating to watch.

Joyce
Poynton u3a

Photo of a swimming snake

Grass Snake

Anglesey Abbey, near the water mill.

David
Dustable u3a

Photo of a fly in a purple flower

Beauty and the Beast

It's that time of year when I enjoy taking macro pictures of insects in the garden. While chasing a hoverfly, this hairy beast posed for me.

Alan
Ilkley u3a

Photo of a mallard duck

The Splash

Taken in my local park on one of my daily walks. A lucky capture of the Mallards morning bath.

Karen
Balsall Common u3a

Photo of a seal pup

Seal Pup

On a trip to Norfolk we took a boat trip to see the Seals. I took quite a few photographs and liked this one of the Seal Pup.

Joyce
Poynton u3a

Photo of Mars in a sunset sky

A tiny glimpse of Mars.

Taken on the North Yorkshire Moors- verified it was Mars using a great App! Point it at the sky and it tells you what you’re seeing!

Karen
Balsall Common u3a

Photo of a cygnet snuggling with its mother

Love

This photo was taken on the golf course in Warwickshire. I got the swans trust and they readily showed me their cygnets.

Linda
Balsall Common u3a

Photo of a Dragonfly

Dragonfly

At a Bird Sanctuary near Newquay which has a very interesting lake

Nick
Newquay u3a

Photo of a damselfly

Neon Blue Damselfly

Taken by my pond.

Heather
Sarum u3a

Photo of a dragonfly

Dragonfly

Chris
Balsall Common u3a

Photo of ladybirds

Hare-hare

Barlow, Chesterfield, Derbyshire

Jill
Guildford u3a

Photo of mahonia berries

Holly Grape

Oregon grape/ Beale’s Barberry. An evergreen shrub with ´leathery’ leaves that resemble of holly. I have seen the dense clusters of yellow flowers in early spring, but I do admire the abundance grape - like berries that appear in late summer. Salisbury Area

Andri
Banbury u3a

Photo of two hares

Mountain Hares

These two mountain hares, yes there are two, were spotted in the north of the Isle of Man. They are often called “blue Hares” and were originally native to the Island before they became extinct. Re-introduced in the 1950’s from Scotland they have now spread successfully throughout most of the northern hills of the Island but are not found south of the central valley.

Jim
Balsall Common u3a

Photo of a scabious flower

Scabious Symmetry

This unusual scabious flower head caught my eye on our u3a gardening group trip to Mottisfont Abbey. The display of roses in the walled garden is stunning, also the underplanting with lovely perennial plants. So much to see and to photograph!

Janet
Sarratt and District u3a

Photo of orchids

Man orchids beginning to show

Grays Gorge, Thurrock

Alan
Thurrock u3a

Photo of a large, yellow flower

A beautiful, Large Day Lily

From my garden, these day lily's have huge blooms but only last 24 hours, such a shame.

Elaine
Caterham u3a

Photo of two gannets

Romantic Liaison: Gannet reunion on Bass Rock

From Boat by Bass Rock near North Berwick, Scotland - Gannets are monogamous, pairing up for life and reuniting to breed each year.

Susan
South Manchester u3a

Photo of a shag with open beak

An Unhappy shag

On Lunga in the Treshnish Isles. While walking on the path to Harp Rock to see the ‘guillemot city’ I passed this shag who was guarding its nest which was under a rock.

Richard
Inverness and Black Isle u3a

Close up photo of a puffin

Puffin Portrait

Image taken at RSPB Bempton Cliffs

Chris
Garforth Kippax and District u3a

Photo of a scarlet tiger moth

Scarlet Tiger Moth

Saw this moth on a comfrey leaf at my allotment. It's a day flying moth. The scarlet refers to the colour of the hind wings, not visible until the main wings are open. Took the photograph on my phone as I didn't have my camera with me.

Alan
Solihull Widney u3a

Photo of a red and black moth

Beautiful Spotty moth

The photo was taken at Mundesley, Norfolk at the bottom of cliffs. A number were spotted amongst the grass.

Brenda
Shenfield u3a

Photo of a yellow and pink moth

Small Elephant Hawk Moth

What a surprise to find this beauty on my car tyre the other morning.

Tony
St Ives u3a

Close up photo of a ladybird

Up Close

Taking a walk with my grandchildren along the coast south of Scarborough, we were pleasantly mobbed by ladybirds, and enjoyed looking at them with a hand lens. I never realised before that they have a different appearance depending on the stage of their lifecycle.

Sandy
Tweeddale u3a

Photo of a dragonfly on a lilypad

So lucky to see!

An Emperor Dragonfly laying her eggs in one of the pools on the Mapperton estate in Dorset.

Jenny
Honiton u3a

Photo of a longhorn beetle

Mating pair of spotted long horn beetles

Warren gorge, Thurrock, Essex

Alan
Thurrock u3a

Photo of pale blue wild chicory in a field

A Field of Wild Chicory

June, Leicestershire. I have never seen Chicory growing wild before It is used to make Camp coffee.

Amanda
Isle of Skye u3a

Photo of baobab tree

Baobab

Baobab trees are native to Africa, but this one I photographed in Recife, Brazil. I understand that the Eden project has 5 growing tin the Rainforest Biome. The bark regenerates space between the stems which is unique to the baobab. They can live for 2,500 years.

Eileen
Sidmouth u3a

Photo of red poppies

Poppies by the Roadside

This group of poppies adds a splash of colour to the roadside on the outskirts of Stonehaven.

Eric
Forfar and District u3a

Photo of a red squirrel

Red Squirrel

This red squirrel scampers through woodland in the Angus countryside on the hunt for food.

Eric
Forfar and District u3a

Photo of a squirrel swinging on a bird feeder

Cheeky Squirrel Pinching Bird Food

Taken in my garden, squirrel jumped from the wall and hung on for dear life to the pinecone feeder.

Elaine
Caterham u3a

Photo of a squirrel on a bird feeder

It doesn't say Birds Only

In my back garden. Very infrequent visitor but loves sunflower hearts.

Alastair
Northallerton u3a

Photo of two kittiwakes fighting in flight

Battle of the Kittiwakes

Observed from the cliffs at RSPB Bempton as the two birds battled over territory.

Chris
Garforth, Kippax and District u3a

Photo of a drift of seed heads

Heron on the Llangollen Canal

Sue
Crickhowell u3a

Photo of a bird taking off from water

Lift Off

Shenfield Common, Brentwood, Essex

Brian
Hutton u3a

Photo of an orange beetle

The Climb

Brian
Hutton u3a

Photo of a fieldfare

Young Fieldfare (I think!)

Taken in Narborough just outside Swaffham in Norfolk. It was just hopping down the side of the lane in front of me and my dog.

Alan
Wissey u3a

Photo of a cricket

Cricket by the Hedgerow

Narborough,Norfolk, hopped across in front of me and sat still while I took the picture.

Alan
Wissey u3a

Photo of a kingfisher catching a fish

Got It

Near Toft in Cambridgeshire at a hide

Peter
St Neots and District u3a

Photo of a robin

Robin Searching for Food

Taken just outside Narborough, Norfolk. The Robin was searching through the leaf litter at the side of the road.

Alan
Wissey u3a

Photo of a kingfisher

Breakfast Sorted

Male Kingfisher with its morning catch. Taken at RSPB Fairburn Ings.

Chris
Garforth, Kippax and District u3a

Photo of rock formations

Dancing Bear

The Dancing Bear at Brimham Rocks near Harrogate. This is an example of water and weather eroded Millstone Grit rocks, which were formed over 325 million years ago. The weathering can be seen clearly in the layers which makes up this structure.

Jim
Balsall Common u3a

Photo of a Jackdaw on a fountain

Just Cooling Down

Several Jackdaws taking advantage of the fountain in Royal Avenue Gardens, Dartmouth.

Eileen
Sidmouth u3a

Photo of rock formations

Druid's Writing Table

The Druid’s Writing Desk at Brimham Rocks near Harrogate. The Victorians thought that the Druids had created these rock formations made of Millstone Grit, hence its name.

Jim
Balsall Common u3a

Photo of a lizard

How do I Look Like

Whilst out hiking in Bulskin Gulch, Utah, USA came across this lizard sunning himself.

Paul
Torridge u3a

Photo of two puffins - one flying over the other

Duck

Two Puffins (Fratercula arctica), Inner Farne, Farne Islands, Northumberland, UK. 24.06.2025.

Jane
Crouch End u3a

Photo of a Howler Monkey

A Howler Watching Me

Taken in Costa Rica

Chris
Balsall Common u3a

Photo of a heron next to a road sign

No Speeding Herons

A u3a trip, aboard a Mississippi boat on the Norfolk broads. We saw many herons but this one was special he could read the sign.

Ruth
Leigh Estuary u3a

Photo of a swan with cygnets

Pond Life

King’s Pond, Alton

John
Alton u3a

Photo of a flower head with many insects

Crowded

Popular flower head in the hedgerow.

Alan
Wissey u3a

Photo of swallows in a nest

Open Wide

Boxmoor Trust barn, Hemel Hempstead. I was there for a walk when a park ranger pointed to the nest. I have never been so close to a swallow before.

Laura
Dacorum u3a

Photo of a watery landscape

A Drop of Light

Taken on the Isle of Harris, the Outer Hebrides. A moment of light caught the base of Ceapabhal as I drove by.

Kate
u3a

Photo of a female sparrowhawk

It's Behind You

Female Sparrowhawk on my allotment beanpoles, with the remarkable ability to turn her head through 360 degrees. Cheered me up on a cold winter’s day!

Mike
Reading u3a

Photo of a rust coloured fly

Rusty Fly

I love bumble bees and spend much of my time photographing and recording them. But I am equally fascinated by this beautifully grotesque fly -- a Ferrugineus Bee-grabber (the latin is shorter!). This common conopid fly settles on the back of a worker bumble and injects its egg into the bee's abdomen. Think 'Alien' (or perhaps don't). Photographed in a local rewilded churchyard that I visit often.

Richard
Leigh Estuary u3a

Photo of a cormorant

Drying my Wings

This was taken at Peverill Point in Swanage, he/she sat there for ages just posing for the camera.

Tina
Balsall Common u3a

Photo of a marbled white butterflies

Marbled Love

Mating Marbled White butterflies in the in the herb garden at Chawton House in Hampshire. We visited the house, where Jane Austen wrote many of her novels, while on a Leigh Estuary u3a holiday. Capturing two of my favourite butterflies in this pose was an added bonus and I confess I was the last to rejoin the bus! And I think Miss Austen would have appreciated the discrete pose (well, maybe not!).

Richard
Leigh Estuary u3a

Photo of a dragonfly

Taking a rest

This dragon fly was seriously big, I couldn't believe how see through their wings are. It was taken in a wooded area in Poole Harbour.

Tina
Balsall Common u3a

Photo of a swimming mink

A Mink Swimming with the Tide

This mink was swimming from Vancouver Island to Quadra Island and passed by our boat while we were out fishing for salmon.

Richard
Inverness and Black Isle u3a

Photo of pink water lilies

Lilypond

This was taken on a secluded lake in a wooded area in Poole Harbour. There were lots of pink lilies, but the cropped version shows them at their best.

Tina
Balsall Common u3a

Photo of a bee on an allium flower

Busy Bees

The Gardeners Cottage Garden at Castle Howard, which was filled with such wonderful, natural, fragrant, floral displays, attracting a vast number of busy hard working bees . A sight to behold . They were so hard at work we were able to get really close to them and capture them on camera.

Diane
Sale u3a

Photo of a Carder bee

Thrill Carder

Shrill Carder bee (Bombus sylvarum) is the most endangered of the twenty-four species of bumble bee remaining in UK and I am very lucky that the Thames Estuary is its major stronghold. I was thrilled to photograph this one while wandering on Two Tree Island in the River Ray, South Essex. And even more pleased to find them on my nearby local BeeWalk transect the very next day. Good enough for ID purposes, that picture is definitely not fit for publication, however.

Richard
Leigh Estuary u3a

Photo of a wasps nest

Active Wasps Nest Underground

Taken this week, I have never before come across a wasps nest situated underground - with wasps continuously coming and going - as can be seen in the photograph which also shows the size of the nest.

Alastair
Northallerton u3a

Photo of a song thrush

Singing for their supper?

Red-listed Song Thrush is a very rare bird where I live, so I was delighted to find a very co-perative pair at a site in Keswick, where I was on holiday. Intent on gathering food for their young, I had ample opportunity to take lots of pictures. And if you take enough, some are almost bound to be decent! Well that's my theory.

Richard
Leigh Estuary u3a

Photo of bindweed

Granny, granny, pop out of bed

Hedge Bindweed It is one of the garden's most aggressive, invasive plants. For me, it reminds me of my childhood. It is known as ‘Granny-pop-out-of-bed’ as well. It comes from a game where children would pretend the flower was a "granny" and make it "pop" out of bed by squeezing the base. Taken in Bloxham.

Andri
Banbury u3a

Photo of a hydrangea

Natural Wreath of Colour

Lace-cap Hydragea.I had to have a second look when I passed this cluster of flowers. Dainty lace up flower heads with a ring of more showy outer florets. Chipping Norton.

Andri
Banbury u3a

Photo of the first autumn leaves

The cinematic autumn is coming …

Less than few weeks until autumn. The season reminds us that everyone and everything need some quiet time after a hot, fun and colourful summer. Enjoy! Bloxham

Andri
Banbury u3a

Previous Found in Nature submissions

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