I had a great time birdwatching in Dorset today with two "Top Birds" -the highlights.
A White tailed eagle seen roadside between Wimborne and Cranborne plus the Red-spotted Bluethroat at Wareham.
What a day !

👏 Hurray the cycle is complete. Adult Clouded Yellow x3 on our Southbourne transect today. All stages monitored overwinter to demonstrate successful overwintering. Thanks to all who helped 👍 @dorsetbutterflies.bsky.social

It was 3rd time lucky over the last couple of weeks as I finally saw my first ever Large Tortoiseshell at Hengistbury Head this morning after years of always missing out.
Blooming Marvellous! 🦋

Hengistbury Head
Dorset

I was out at Southbourne Undercliff this lunchtime with Andy M, for our first week 1 transect walk of the season.
In reasonably warm, calm conditions we saw Small Whites, Peacock and this lovely Small Copper.
Plus a Common Lizard (according to A.I.) sunbathing without its tail !

In Andalusia I also saw some familiar looking Butterflies.
Green Hairstreak, Brimstone and Wall.

The site of a little Green Hairstreak chasing off Spanish Festoons from his patch (and winning) was a highlight of the trip.

Mijas
Spain

Two classic Iberian butterflies seen last week.
The Western Dappled White and Spanish Festoon.
The Festoon my favourite Spanish butterfly.

Mijas
Spain.

More pictures of some "top" birds whilst travelling through the mountains last week.
The impressive Griffon Vulture and White Stork, magnificent birds.

Serrania de Ronda
Spain

The "Southern Cousin" of our Orange Tip.
The Provence Orange Tip was in big numbers on the hills and mountain slopes in Spain last week.

Mijas
Spain

They are also incredible acrobats !

Choughs
El Tajo Gorge
Ronda
Spain

I spent last week in southern Spain and managed to take time out to do a bit of wildlife watching.
Starting with these Choughs in Ronda.
A first for me as I've never seen one before.

Ronda
Spain

A great way to start the month of March down at the Undercliff today.

Met up with Andy M and saw my first Peacock of the year 4 in total.
Male Kestrel displaying well, plus another Clouded Yellow caterpillar found.

Southbourne
Dorset

Spring is not far away.🌾
I found the first lot of frog spawn in my garden pond this morning, last day of February. 🐸

I met up with fellow transect walker Andy M at Southbourne today to see if we could find any Clouded Yellow caterpillars.
We found one, its great to see this individual is still surviving well into mid February.
Fingers crossed there are more in the areas of the cliff which are inaccessible 🤞🐛

I found the first Clouded Yellow caterpillars of 2026 today on the transect.
Only 2 seen, but clear evidence that they continue to overwinter at Southbourne despite what the British winter weather is throwing at them.

Southbourne
Dorset

It was great to see the Killdeer today, local and not far from me, also a lifetime tick.

A very rare one in Britain and Europe as it's a North American bird who's a very long way from home .

Between Avon and Ripley
Hampshire

I see them locally but they rarely come into my garden.
But this one has been a regular so far this January.
The lovely Song Thrush.

I've seen lots of Fieldfares and Redwings in the usual places in the Forest so far this winter.
Plenty around Godshill yesterday in the frosty conditions ❄️ 🥶

Godshill
New Forest

A nice start to 2026 this lunchtime in the garden through the kitchen window.
Grey Wagtail.

Alderholt
Dorset

White-fronted Geese coming into land

Harbridge
Hampshire

Nice to get out in the winter sun today to do a bit of birdwatching.
A few Redwings about locally which was nice to see but the highlights were these White-fronted Geese (Siberian) at Harbridge.

Harbridge
Hampshire

After a tip off from @cloudedyellows.bsky.social
I went down to Southbourne Undercliff hoping to see (presumably) my last Clouded Yellow on the wing for the year.
In the lunchtime sun it popped out, briefly nectaring for a while before disappearing.

My first British CY seen in December, amazing.

Fingers crossed for December

Another cold but sunny day in Southbourne.
But in the lunchtime window the Undercliff had warmed up sufficiently to see 8 Clouded Yellow and 1 Red Admiral on the wing.
Plus more CY caterpillars seen.
It's been an amazing November.

Southbourne
Dorset.

Getting into late November and there's still adults flying, fantastic.

A very cold but sunny lunchtime walk at Southbourne Undercliff today, with air temperatures only 6C but probably warmer on the promenade.
Yet there was still "Butterfly" activity to see.
4 Clouded Yellow eggs plus 2 caterpillars found and amazingly a Red Admiral out basking.

Southbourne
Dorset.

Finally got to see for the first time the very rare (for the UK anyway) Boat-tailed Grackle at Holbury today.
A great little "Twitch !"

Holbury
Hampshire

Finally a sunny day at Southbourne Undercliff and it was great to meet up with fellow transect walkers Sue, Andy and Mike G.
Highlights 7 Clouded Yellow on the wing with eggs and caterpillars found.
Will these survive as we move into winter ?
Only time will tell.

Southbourne Undercliff
Dorset

It's November and despite a stiff westerly breeze and an air temperature of 12c there were still 3 Clouded Yellow on the wing and evidence of egg laying down at Southbourne today.

It seems the butterfly season isn't quite over yet on the coast🦋

Southbourne Dorset

I've had a lot of different fungi in the garden over the last few weeks. Including this one which I actually recognise.
A "classic" for the autumn, Fly Agaric.

Alderholt Dorset

I was in Southbourne today so took the chance to have a look at the undercliff where I had previously seen Clouded Yellow caterpillars earlier in the month.
After a bit of a search, I found one.
Very low down and battling the elements (wind and rain showers) I hope it makes it adulthood.