YOUR WILD ESSEX

Our Essex wildlife come in all shapes, sizes and colours. Some species prefer to hide away, and some are happy to flutter, fly and flaunt their beauty alongside us. Our members and supporters always manage to capture incredible wildlife moments. We hope you enjoy this selection of some of our favourite snaps submitted by you over the past few months.

Ol’ blue eyes! A juvenile jay enjoying snacks provided by W P Butcher of Lexden.

White beauty. This marbled white was spotted at Willow Park, Langdon by Steve Snook, @scsdesignuk.

Just keep s-s-swimming! A grass snake popped up to say hello to photographer Jason Hicks, @jayhicksphoto. Hang on a minute! These migrant hawker dragonflies were spotted clinging on to a branch at Fingringhoe Wick Nature Discovery Park by Rob Farrow, @robfarrow16.

If you would like to feature in our next edition of WILD, please email your favourite images of Essex’s wildlife and wild places to magazine@essexwt.org.uk or tag Essex Wildlife Trust on social media.

No fake tan needed for these orange common seals spotted sunbathing at Hamford Water National Nature Reserve by Eve Ingram, @Stay_wild_hurricane.

A winning streak. These uncommon white-letter hairstreak butterflies were enjoying the marjoram in the Ashen village garden of Chris Blackman.

Peek-a-boo! This tawny owl’s camouflage wasn’t quite good enough to escape the keen eyes of photographer Joanne Harkup, @jharkup. Looks like it’s been a hare-y week for this longeared beauty spotted in Braintree by Dave Allen, @one.of.daves.