I almost squashed this cute little Zebra spider (Salticus scenicus) as I leant on the railings of a lookout to scan for birds in Cardiff Bay this morning. There were no unusual birds to be seen so the spider was an even more welcome sight.

My new guide book tells me there are three species of Salticus in the UK and all three have black-and-white stripes that are quite variable so, in theory, ‘microscopic examination of the genitalia is necessary to confirm identification’. However, the maps in the book also show that Salticus scenicus is the only species found in my area so I’m fairly sure this is the correct identification.