Jon Dunn 🇺🇦 (@dunnjons) header
Jon Dunn 🇺🇦 (@dunnjons) profile picture

Jon Dunn 🇺🇦

@dunnjons

Nature writer, photographer, tour leader. FLS. @BSBIbotany Shetland county recorder Author for @BasicBooks @BloomsburyBooks @PrincetonUPress c/o @PFDagents

 Shetland
jondunn.com
Joined February 2016
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Photo by Jon Dunn 🇺🇦 (@dunnjons)Photo by Jon Dunn 🇺🇦 (@dunnjons)Photo by Jon Dunn 🇺🇦 (@dunnjons)Photo by Jon Dunn 🇺🇦 (@dunnjons)Photo by Jon Dunn 🇺🇦 (@dunnjons)Photo by Jon Dunn 🇺🇦 (@dunnjons)Photo by Jon Dunn 🇺🇦 (@dunnjons)Photo by Jon Dunn 🇺🇦 (@dunnjons)Photo by Jon Dunn 🇺🇦 (@dunnjons)Photo by Jon Dunn 🇺🇦 (@dunnjons)
Along with a great many folk, I've made myself at home over in The Other Place, where the skies are blue. I've been there a while now, and can affirm it's a lovely place to hang out and share wildlife stuff. Hope to see you there. This is me: tinyurl.com/Jon-Dunn-Bluesky
Image from Jon Dunn 🇺🇦 (@dunnjons)
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No no no no NO! Just seen the 2026 AviList updates. Wren has been changed from Troglodytes troglodytes to 'Nannus troglodytes'. Nannus? I don't bloody think so. Forever Troglodytes. And this is the hill I will die on.
Eurasian Wren (Troglodytes troglodytes ssp. zetlandicus) © Jon Dunn

ALT Eurasian Wren (Troglodytes troglodytes ssp. zetlandicus) © Jon Dunn

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Jon Dunn 🇺🇦 retweeted
Mariposa Nature Tours (@Mariposa_Nature) profile picture
Mariposa Nature Tours@Mariposa_Nature9h
The Orchids of Tenerife are pretty special, but the landscape isn't half bad either! As dramatic stages go for some special mid-winter orchid-hunting, this beautiful island doesn't disappoint. mariposanature.com/tours/bot…
Tenerife landscape © Dr Richard Bate

ALT Tenerife landscape © Dr Richard Bate

Tenerife landscape © Rick B

ALT Tenerife landscape © Rick B

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The skies were blue, and the chaffinches too... Tenerife Blue Chaffinch were as obliging and confiding as ever earlier this year, another pleasant distraction from orchid-hunting on the island with my @Mariposa_Nature group.
Tenerife Blue Chaffinch (Fringilla teydea) © Jon Dunn

ALT Tenerife Blue Chaffinch (Fringilla teydea) © Jon Dunn

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While the orchids of Tenerife earlier this year were the stars of the show, it was hard to ignore other flowers on that botanical treasure island - not least Canary Bellflower, whose fiery bells dangled at eye level above flowering Canary Three-fingered Orchid.
Canary Bellflower (Canarina canariensis) © Jon Dunn

ALT Canary Bellflower (Canarina canariensis) © Jon Dunn

Canary Three-fingered Orchid (Habenaria tridactylites) © Jon Dunn

ALT Canary Three-fingered Orchid (Habenaria tridactylites) © Jon Dunn

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Jon Dunn 🇺🇦 retweeted
Mariposa Nature Tours (@Mariposa_Nature) profile picture
Mariposa Nature Tours@Mariposa_NatureOct 25
Tour update 🚨 The 2027 edition of the spectacular Butterflies of the Spanish Pyrenees took another booking today, making it now a guaranteed departure next July. And another guaranteed donation to Butterfly Conservation Europe. mariposanature.com/tours/but…
Iberian Scarce Swallowtail (Iphiclides feisthamelii) © Jon Dunn

ALT Iberian Scarce Swallowtail (Iphiclides feisthamelii) © Jon Dunn

Lesser Purple Emperor (Apatura ilia) © Clive Burrows

ALT Lesser Purple Emperor (Apatura ilia) © Clive Burrows

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Jon Dunn 🇺🇦 retweeted
Mariposa Nature Tours (@Mariposa_Nature) profile picture
Mariposa Nature Tours@Mariposa_NatureOct 26
The clocks went back over the weekend, and something else is back too - @wildflower_hour's #TheWinter10! Woop! We'll be heading out with a spring in our steps in the fading days of autumn to find at least 10 wildflower species in bloom this week. What will you find?
wildflowerhour (@wildflower_hour) profile picturewildflowerhour@wildflower_hourOct 25
It’s getting harder to spot those wild blooms so it must be time to launch our challenge for the colder months - #thewinter10! Can you spot ten wild or naturalised blooms in time for #wildflowerhour next Sunday? Let’s meet again then to find out! 😀
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Jon Dunn 🇺🇦 retweeted
Mariposa Nature Tours (@Mariposa_Nature) profile picture
Mariposa Nature Tours@Mariposa_NatureOct 26
Good morning and welcome to a new week! Our featured tour this week is Orchids of Tenerife, a great winter break to this subtropical island in search of a small, desirable array of orchids. Naturally, the tour generates a donation to support @BSBIbotany. mariposanature.com/tours/bot…
Tenerife Giant Orchid (Himantoglossum metlesicsianum) © Jon Dunn

ALT Tenerife Giant Orchid (Himantoglossum metlesicsianum) © Jon Dunn

Canary Three-finger Orchid (Habenaria tridactylites) © Jon Dunn

ALT Canary Three-finger Orchid (Habenaria tridactylites) © Jon Dunn

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Back from the AGM of the European Butterflies Group held yesterday in Birmingham. Great to catch up with so many old friends, and to hear updates on survey work being done on some imperilled species. As always, a terrific exchange of news and insights.
Southern Hermit (Chazara prieuri), Spain © Jon Dunn

ALT Southern Hermit (Chazara prieuri), Spain © Jon Dunn

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Jon Dunn 🇺🇦 retweeted
Mariposa Nature Tours (@Mariposa_Nature) profile picture
Mariposa Nature Tours@Mariposa_NatureOct 24
Tour update 🚨 Bookings are coming thick and fast for the 2028 editions of our tours - first two places secured today for glorious Spring Butterflies in Abruzzo. This, like all our butterfly tours, generates a donation to Butterfly Conservation Europe. mariposanature.com/tours/but…
Italian Marbled White (Melanargia arge) © Marco Bonifacino

ALT Italian Marbled White (Melanargia arge) © Marco Bonifacino

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Jon Dunn 🇺🇦 retweeted
Mariposa Nature Tours (@Mariposa_Nature) profile picture
Mariposa Nature Tours@Mariposa_NatureOct 24
We're proud that we were the very first wildlife tour company to commit to supporting Butterfly Conservation Europe with a donation made straight after every butterfly tour we operate. The scale of their vital conservation work is spreading worldwide: butterfly-monitoring.net/bms…
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Jon Dunn 🇺🇦 retweeted
Mariposa Nature Tours (@Mariposa_Nature) profile picture
Mariposa Nature Tours@Mariposa_NatureOct 23
Tour update 🚨 Things move fast around here, and as of this afternoon the 2028 edition of Spring Butterflies of Marvellous Morocco now has just one place left available to book to join us for the unique chance to see some very special species indeed: mariposanature.com/tours/but…
Vogel's Blue (Maurus vogelii) © Harry F

ALT Vogel's Blue (Maurus vogelii) © Harry F

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Jon Dunn 🇺🇦 retweeted
Mariposa Nature Tours (@Mariposa_Nature) profile picture
Mariposa Nature Tours@Mariposa_NatureOct 23
'An amazing week of great food, great tour leaders and orchids, orchids and more orchids!' A lovely guest testimonial for Orchids of Rhodes, thanks Steph! Did we mention there may be lots of orchids?! While we don't neglect the rarities, we're there for the sheer spectacle too.
Guest testimonial for our Orchids of Rhodes tour

ALT Guest testimonial for our Orchids of Rhodes tour

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Who's it going to be?!
Mariposa Nature Tours (@Mariposa_Nature) profile pictureMariposa Nature Tours@Mariposa_NatureOct 22
With several bookings received today for 2028 orchid tours, we're wondering who'll secure the last two places available on Orchids of Rhodes led by Orchid Summer author @dunnjons & professional plant photographer Sarah Cuttle on 24-31 March 2028? mariposanature.com/tours/bot…
Naked Man Orchid (Orchis italica), Orchids of Rhodes © Jon Dunn

ALT Naked Man Orchid (Orchis italica), Orchids of Rhodes © Jon Dunn

Ophrys reinholdii, Orchids of Rhodes © Jon Dunn

ALT Ophrys reinholdii, Orchids of Rhodes © Jon Dunn

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Jon Dunn 🇺🇦 retweeted
Mariposa Nature Tours (@Mariposa_Nature) profile picture
Mariposa Nature Tours@Mariposa_NatureOct 22
Tour update 🚨 Another 2028 orchid tour booking today, this one for Orchids of Sardinia, led by our brilliant Italian naturalist and renowned orchid-hunter Michele Viganò, and Dave Fairhurst. The varied habitats of the 'mini-continent' of Sardinia await! mariposanature.com/tours/bot…
Ophrys normanii, Orchids of Sardinia © Michele Viganò

ALT Ophrys normanii, Orchids of Sardinia © Michele Viganò

Ophrys panattensis, Orchids of Sardinia © Michele Viganò

ALT Ophrys panattensis, Orchids of Sardinia © Michele Viganò

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Still one of my favourite of all the European Ophrys bee orchids.
Mariposa Nature Tours (@Mariposa_Nature) profile pictureMariposa Nature Tours@Mariposa_NatureOct 22
Tour update 🚨 Today's proving to be an excellent day for orchid tour bookings for 2028. First out of the blocks, a booking for Orchids of Cyprus, led by the dynamic, friendly, and highly knowledgeable naturalist duo of @thenewgalaxy & Dave Fairhurst... mariposanature.com/tours/bot…
Ophrys kotschyi, Orchids of Cyprus © Jon Dunn

ALT Ophrys kotschyi, Orchids of Cyprus © Jon Dunn

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A (very) small selection of the notable orchid hybrids and unusual forms found earlier this year during the month I spent out on Rhodes for @Mariposa_Nature. Looking forward very much to doing this again in 2027, both for Team Mariposa and with another project on the cards... 🤫
A selection of orchids, both hybrid and colour forms, found in March-April 2026 on Rhodes © Jon Dunn

ALT A selection of orchids, both hybrid and colour forms, found in March-April 2026 on Rhodes © Jon Dunn

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Jon Dunn 🇺🇦 retweeted
Mariposa Nature Tours (@Mariposa_Nature) profile picture
Mariposa Nature Tours@Mariposa_NatureOct 21
'Orchids of Rhodes was excellent. It surpassed my expectations in the number, quantity and quality of species... the 'bang for my buck' was very large' On all of our tours we believe there's no sacrifice to be made in quality or quantity of species seen. Value for money matters!
Guest testimonial for our Orchids of Rhodes tour

ALT Guest testimonial for our Orchids of Rhodes tour

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An insect from a different tribe altogether that's pretending to be something it isn't. Eurasian Bee Beetle, as the name suggests, is rocking a bumblebee look this season to deter bird predators that don't fancy dealing with a sting in the tail.
Eurasian Bee Beetle (Trichius fasciatus), Estonia © Jon Dunn

ALT Eurasian Bee Beetle (Trichius fasciatus), Estonia © Jon Dunn

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It means the world to me that the orchid tours I lead for Mariposa are accessible for all. We've had guests join us from age 12 to 91, and with all levels of orchid knowledge, from absolute beginner to world-renowned professor of botany. Everyone's welcome!
Mariposa Nature Tours (@Mariposa_Nature) profile pictureMariposa Nature Tours@Mariposa_NatureOct 20
'Everyone was really friendly, welcoming and inclusive... we saw a huge variety of orchids and other plants endemic to Rhodes' A lovely testimonial from guest Wendy P, who was pleased to find our Orchids of Rhodes tour great fun no matter how much prior orchid knowledge one had.
Guest testimonial for our Orchids of Rhodes tour

ALT Guest testimonial for our Orchids of Rhodes tour

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The most startling example I can find of Batesian mimicry involves Danaid Eggfly, a completely palatable (if you're a bird) butterfly that's evolved to look uncannily like the toxic, foul-tasting, and unrelated Plain Tiger. The former trades heavily on the latter's reputation...
Top : Danaid Eggfly (Hypolimnas misippus) © Haneesh K M., CC0, via Wikimedia Commons Bottom : Plain Tiger (Danaus chrysippus) © Bob M

ALT Top : Danaid Eggfly (Hypolimnas misippus) © Haneesh K M., CC0, via Wikimedia Commons Bottom : Plain Tiger (Danaus chrysippus) © Bob M

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