Blimey! Great patch record

England wildlife watchdog ‘has stopped designating special sites for protection’ Exclusive: Report finds Natural England has created no new SSSIs, which protect areas from development, since 2023

England wildlife watchdog ‘has stopped designating special sites for protection’...

www.theguardian.com/environment/...

Thanks Rob

Some insects from the Colchester area at weekend: Green Hairstreak, Speckled Wood and Misumena vatia spider
#nature #wildlife #insects

Pincey Brook, Hatfield Broad Oak, Essex with @paulebirder.bsky.social
2 LRPs, 6 Yellow Wags, White Wag, 30 Sand Martin, 28 Snipe and a slightly bemused ♀️Mallard rejecting the advances of her Mandarin suitor
#Essexbirding
#ukbirding
#birds

Rehabilitation of the Dandelion!
No other plant in the Netherlands attracts as many bee species: 107. In early spring, when nothing else is blooming, it is simply there. Meadow bird chicks that have just hatched depend on the insects that are drawn to dandelions. No dandelion, no insect, no chick.

Sat having my lunch in the car earlier when this partially leucistic Jackdaw happened along
#birds

I took our vacuum cleaner to the tip only yesterday. It came with the house we’ve lived in since 1998 and was old and worn then. Because of this, it wasn’t really treated with respect it deserved and was somewhat abused. I persisted in its repair until the motor succumbed. It served me well

My Sunday afternoon has been greatly enlivened by your fridge-related musings!

Where to see butterflies in Cambridgeshire Edward Pollard, the Cambridgeshire recorder, has put together a handy guide to the best places to see butterflies in Cambridgeshire. Please click the link below to download it.

Want to know where to see butterflies in Cambridgeshire?
I prepared a short guide to many of the best sites across the county. From the Small Blues of Magog Down, to Wall Brown in the Fens, to the Skippers of Swaddywell.
butterfly-conservation.org/in-your-area...

2 of the Abberton Res. Spoonbills showed nicely at Layer Breton causeway today. Makes a nice change to actually see them doing something as opposed to sleeping
#essexbirding
#birds
#ukbirding

1st stage of breeding bird survey at Copt Hall then snuck in at Abberton where the Bonaparte’s and Little Gull flew somewhat distantly past Billets. Nice ♂ Ring Ousel nearby (courtesy @greyhairstreak.bsky.social) followed by Spoonbills, not only awake, but busy at Layer Breton
#essexbirding #birds

A Little Ringed Plover ‘foot trembling’ at Pincey Brook in Essex, a behaviour known in small plovers for creating ground vibrations in order to bring food to the surface
@essexbirdnews.bsky.social
#birds #essexbirding #ukbirding

Pincey Brook, mid-Essex: LRP, Gn Sand, 62 Snipe, 1 probable Jack, Mandarin pair, singing Willow and Sedge Warblers plus Whitethroat. 43 Teal and bubbling
♀️Cuckoo heard. Fox once again on the marsh.
A small oasis of nature in a surround of near dross
@essexbirdnews.bsky.social #essexbirding #birds

Having looked unsuccessfully through winter for the Bishop’s Stortford’ Peregrine, news came that it, or rather they, had returned to the town church. Here’s one peering down occasionally and seemingly contemptuous at the humans rushing about foolishly below
@hertsbirds.bsky.social #birds
#ukbirding

Early Purple Orchid at Blake’s Wood, Danbury Ridge, Essex from the weekend. Also a rather below average shot of one of 7 Jays that were noisily squabbling with each other for about 10 minutes. Eventually I left them to it
#wildlife
#nature

🙏

Superb Essex Birdwatching Society conference today in Chelmsford. Some great talks and exhibits and nice to bump into some old (!) friends
@essexbirdnews.bsky.social
@swallowbirding.bsky.social

Nice to see you Jon and done great talks

Indeed! Thanks 🙏

Thanks 🙏

Thanks Peter

One of the Fillingham’ Great Grey Shrike hovering forays, some of which lasted for well over a minute, whilst hunting over its favoured field
#birds
#ukbirding

Great Grey Shrike at Fillingham yesterday
#ukbirding
#birds

Some views of the Great Grey Shrike at Fillingham in Lincolnshire yesterday.
Grey Partridge also heard in the area.
@lincsbirding.bsky.social
#birds
#ukbirding

Great Grey Shrike still at Fillingham, Lincs 11.10
@lincsbirding.bsky.social

Red Grouse near Goathland, North Yorkshire Moors today
@northyorksbirds.bsky.social
#ukbirding
#birds

Searching the North Yorkshire Moors for Red Grouse eventually produced this close individual near Goathland. Also bubbling Curlew, nervous Lapwing, Stonechat, Woodcock with Marsh Tit, numerous Siskin and Nuthatch in the woods. Fleeting glimpse of Dipper
@northyorksbirds.bsky.social
#ukbirds
#birds

Thanks Arash 🙏

Hi Maisie. Many thanks for that. That’s great 🙏