Some nice local #Bedfordshire birding this morning. Swifts and House martins my first for the year. Yellow and white wagtails across the border in #Hertfordshire along with a signing lesser whitethroat. #Spring
Great local #spring #birding around #Bedfordshire this morning: Nightingales, garden warbler, lesser throat, reed & sedge warblers, common terns all seen, cuckoo heard. Not a bad morning’s work!
#Spring is in the air for me in #Bedfordshire this week. Had 3 wheatear, 1 male and 2 female yesterday, a male ring ouzel and a male Redstart today in a local hotspot. (Redstart not found by me). Already a much better showing than last year!
Scarlet tiger caterpillars at Flitton moor, #Bedfordshire yesterday @vc30moths.bsky.social @savebutterflies.bsky.social
Enjoying some #birding in #Fife. No divers but plenty of “Scottish” birds. Eiders, long-tailed ducks, and goldeneyes along with Fulmars and Shags. Not many waders though, a few barwits and sanderlings on the beach and some turnstones and purple sands on the rocks in St Andrews.
Looks a bit gloomy Jim. I’ll be doing the same in a fortnight!
Some good local birds today. 43 Russian white-fronts this morning gave excellent views, 4 shorties this evening gave poor views! A smew at lunchtime was a bonus. #birding
Another great day of #Norfolk birding. GND and RTDs passed Weybourne first thing in the drizzle, then purple sands, a single knot, cranes, whooper and Bewick swans in the broads later on. Couldn’t be arsed with the trek to see the kite though, not really my bag.
Had a decent days birding in #Norfolk. Eastern black redstart with two ‘traditional’ ones in Sheringham, Twite and a plethora of waders at Blakeney, Snow buntings and Merlin at Cley, oodles of Brent’s (a favourite of mine) and a showy barn owl at dusk in the drizzle!
Dipped the YBW at St Albans this morning, as did everyone else apparently, however a water rail along the river and the Med gull were a nice compensation. The kingfisher and peregrines were showy too. #Hertsbirds.
Having a birthday break in Bath. First bird of the trip was a yellow-browed warbler in a hedge from the car while sitting in traffic! Spotted by my wife. #avonbirds
Jersey tiger seen in #Bedfordshire today @vc30moths.bsky.social
Wardens and police have issued an urgent plea to dog owners after uncontrolled pets attacked a colony of Little Terns on the Norfolk coast, killing at least four chicks and endangering dozens more:
The first page of an article about Cley and Norfolk Rare Bird Archive taken from The Norfolk Natterjack
The second page of an article about Cley and Norfolk Rare Bird Archive taken from The Norfolk Natterjack
The third page of an article about Cley and Norfolk Rare Bird Archive taken from The Norfolk Natterjack
Norfolk birder & photographer Steve Gantlett is collating an archive of photos of rare birds in Norfolk. The aim is to ensure that the best possible pictures of each species are preserved for use in future publications - if you think you can contribute then please get in touch with Steve.
Broad-leaved helleborine in #Bedfordshire this morning @ukorchids.bsky.social
Had a nice few days in #Derbyshire. Lots of dippers and redstarts, dark-green fritillaries, a hummingbird hawk-moth, a family of stoats, a weasel, wheatear with young, treecreepers with young, marsh-fragrant orchids and a profusion of meadow cranesbill. #Summer
Now re-identified as Marsh-fragrant, thanks to the knowledge of @ukorchids.bsky.social and reference to his book once I returned home.
Thanks. The location threw me off the scent.
Interesting, normally associate the dense flowers with marsh, these are in Millers dale quarry DWT reserve. It would be late for chalk I guess but the site is very dry.
One of only two scarlet tigers seen along the river at Flitton Moor #Bedfordshire this afternoon @vc30moths.bsky.social
Let's hope nobody mows the verge!!
Marbled white on a thistle this morning. #Summer #Insects #Butterflies
Who doesn’t love a lizard? Close up they smell awful (actually I quite like it!). This one was being visited by many insects who appear to agree! @ukorchids.bsky.social
Our local Marsh helleborines are now coming into flower in good numbers. Good numbers of common spotted also, including this striking example @ukorchids.bsky.social
Marbled white at Maulden wood, #Bedfordshire today @savebutterflies.bsky.social
Had a great morning in a #Bedfordshire wood looking for butterflies. 3 Emperors, a single white admiral, 6 silver washed, and a few hairstreaks (unidentifiable at the tops of trees) accompanied the more common species. #Summer
Why is this not a crime? Appalling and upsetting to see road verges strimmed to the ground. Beautiful species-rich grassland destroyed at its peak. Yet, just up the road is a verge left aside for nature, supporting @mariecurieuk.bsky.social
What is the absurd reason behind this @highland.gov.uk ?
A lovely pale coloured common spotted orchid in a #Bedfordshire wood this morning @ukorchids.bsky.social
Our #Bedfordshire broad-leaved helleborines are about 2 weeks ahead of their normal flowering time, I’m hoping that this trinity will be quite showy in about 10 days time @ukorchids.bsky.social
