The BBC cancelling Winterwatch is such a shame, especially when we need to be connecting with nature more than ever. If we want people to protect our wildlife, we have to show them it! Add your name to ask the BBC to reconsider. you.38degrees.org.uk/petitions/do...

Lots of Swift action this morning by the boxes in Rayne @essexbirdnews.bsky.social #birds #ukbirding @sosswifts.bsky.social

Some phone video of a Small Tortoiseshell thats been in my Rayne garden all day today. A garden year tick as well @bc-cambs-essex.bsky.social #nature

Our colony of Gatekeepers have emerged in last few days. Only about half a dozen individuals seen annually but I always look forward to them. Wild garden has got a bit unruly this year due to the rattle failure but still loads of action going on @bc-cambs-essex.bsky.social #insects

Gt Holland Pits NR, Essex: congrats to Bob Seago for his management work here who I spent time with looking for Purple Emperor, 1 was seen near Tarn Pond. Also 3+ White Admirals, an elusive Hobby overhead and much more @britishnatureguide.bsky.social @bc-cambs-essex.bsky.social #nature #insects

Heddon’s Mouth, Devon: failed to get adequate views of High Fritillary though many rapid-flying large Fritillaries seen including Dark Green and a Silver Washed. 2 Golden-ringed Dragonflies noted and at least 10 Hummingbird Hawkmoths, all around stone walls. Stunning area. #nature

Melbury Plantation, Devon: return visit to see if Crossbills present following breeding in 2025. Unfortunately, many trees taken down including nesting tree but a surprise, unseen Nightjar heard churring for about half an hour at 2pm. Can just hear it in 📹 #birds #ukbirding @birdtrack.bsky.social

More Exmoor birding: Lynmouth then Chetsford Water. No sign of Whinchats but pair but pair of Siskins showed with male displaying, lots of Stonechats and Grey Wagtails and single Dipper #birds #ukbirding

My Swiftmapper app has taken a bit of a bashing during our West Country trip with numerous entries for Devon, Gloucestershire, Wiltshire, Somerset and Oxfordshire #birds #ukbirding

Dipper at Lynmouth in north Devon yesterday #birds #ukbirding

Attempted to video some of the numerous Manx Shearwaters off Lundy island from the MS Oldenburg ferry #birds #ukbirding

Lundy Is. introduced Sika Deer, a few Red Admiral and many Painted Ladies on the island, including a couple of small, pale individuals, Navelwort and an inquisitive Grey Seal #wildlife #nature

Some of the auks at Jenny’s Cove, Lundy Island yesterday plus a colour-ringed Wheatear (orange/red on right leg, yellow with black ring on left leg), Shag and Linnet #birds #ukbirding

A visit to Collard Hill, Somerset yesterday failed to reveal any Large Blues. The award seemed quite tall and it was quite blowy though. Painted Lady, Marbled Whites and Common Spotted Orchids seen #nature #wildlife

Glastonbury Tor, Somerset yesterday with numerous 6-spot Burnets and several fresh Large Skippers seen #nature

Peregrine on St John’s Church, Glastonbury yesterday with accompanying church bells 🔔 #birds #ukbirding

I have set up a “Save our Essex Swifts!” Facebook group. www.facebook.com/groups/80184... I want to raise awareness of this declining species and any initiatives and projects in Essex. If you are interested in following progress, follow the link above and click on “join group” 😊 #essexbirding

Hummingbird Hawkmoth during our visit to Lacock Village and Abbey in Wiltshire today. Also struck by the high number of nesting House Martins and Swifts nesting, the latter added to Swiftmapper #nature

Mullien Moth caterpillars munching on Verbascum food plant in my garden. The decline in Yellow Rattle in my wild garden, first noticed last year, continues with plenty of colour though rather tall vegetation. #nature #insects #moths

Some rather wobbly, distant video of a pair of Garganey on my mid-Essex patch over the weekend @essexbirdnews.bsky.social #Essexbirding #birds #Ukbirding

Good idea Richard 👍

It's finally voting time in the EBwS Spring 2026 Bird Photography Competition quarter-finals, apologies for the delay! Here are the entries in the first - please choose your favourite photo from these four and vote here: strawpoll.com/B2ZB9OmEBgJ #essexbirding

It's finally voting time in the EBwS Spring 2026 Bird Photography Competition quarter-finals, apologies for the delay! Here are the entries in the second - please choose your favourite photo from these four and vote here: strawpoll.com/wby5QLvA7yA #essexbirding

It's finally voting time in the EBwS Spring 2026 Bird Photography Competition quarter-finals, apologies for the delay! Here are the entries in the fourth - please choose your favourite photo from these four and vote here: strawpoll.com/ajnE1mY1BnW #essexbirding

It's finally voting time in the EBwS Spring 2026 Bird Photography Competition quarter-finals, apologies for the delay! Here are the entries in the third - please choose your favourite photo from these four and vote here: strawpoll.com/mpnb1831Py5 #essexbirding

My first Pyramidal Orchid of the year and a Lizard Orchid about to be unleashed Mid-Essex 31/5/26 #orchids #nature #wildflowers

Hummingbird Hawkmoth in my Rayne, Essex garden yesterday #nature #moths

Having ummed & ahhed about whether to go for the Hanningfield Black-winged Stilts, I decided instead to stay local in central Essex and was fortunate to find this pair. Supporting cast of of 12 Little Ringed Plovers @essexbirdnews.bsky.social #Essexbirding #birds #ukbirding

Hot off the press. Cambs & Essex Branch Newsletter No. 85 (sorry it's taken a while) tinyurl.com/3w97szb6

You know the summer has really begun when the Hollyhock Weevils are out. Here’s some in Rayne including this rather nice threesome #nature #bugs #wildlife

Been seeing a lot of Painted Ladies during my travels around west Essex today probably totalling about 15 individuals. All flying rapidly across roads and countryside @bc-cambs-essex.bsky.social @ukbutterflies.bsky.social #nature

My first Bee Orchids of the year on a local verge plus Common Broomrape, Yellow-wort and three Painted Ladies @bc-cambs-essex.bsky.social #nature

This is Charlotte’s Grotto, Berechurch in Colchester. Whenever I’m birding in the area, I visit here but now, sadly, it’s used as a rubbish dump. I remember years ago, still being able to find the odd decorative shell or two

Highlights of a few hours at threatened Middlewick Ranges, Colchester: 15 Green Tiger Beetles, Brown-tail Moth caterpillar tents, Small Copper, Small Heaths, Brimstone, Common Blue and Brown Argus butterflies, Raven over and singing Garden Warbler and, of course, Nightingales and Skylarks #nature

Short video of Green Tiger Beetles mating at Middlewick Ranges, Essex. At least 15 others seen at this fantastic and still threatened site #nature #wildlife

Visit to Fingringhoe Wick NR, Essex. Couldn’t locate any Turtle Doves but Cuckoo and Garden Warbler heard and this particularly showy Nightingale was enjoyed. Another good year for this species in the Colchester area @essexbirdnews.bsky.social #Essexbirding #birds

Old Hall, RSPB, 20/5/26: many of the waders had departed but bale field full of Avocet chicks. Highlight, this drake Garganey which fed busily often with two spanking Mediterranean Gulls calling overhead. @essexbirdnews.bsky.social @rspb.bsky.social @rspbengland.bsky.social #essexbirding #birds

Presumed Common Broomrape (Orobanche minor) along the seafront at Brighton recently. #nature

Had this singing Firecrest during a lunchtime walk break from work near Henley, Oxfordshire the other day. Piercingly loud even with the passing traffic. I couldn’t see it but it’s in there somewhere! #birds #ukbirding

Old Hall Marshes RSPB: fine visit, lots of birds. American Golden Plover, Wood Sand, Little Stint, 2 ♂ Ruff, Spotted Redshank and many more First Common Blue, Brown Argus and Small Heath butterflies of the year @essexbirdnews.bsky.social #Essexbirding #ukbirds #birds @bc-cambs-essex.bsky.social

Some of the butterflies at Berechurch Common, Colchester yesterday: Holly Blue, Speckled Wood, a good emergence of Small Coppers and a Painted Lady. No sign of any green hairstreaks despite searching @bc-cambs-essex.bsky.social

Berechurch Common, Colchester: located 13 singing ♂ Garden Warblers (this one slightly drowned out by other species), in former times arriving in late April, now already widespread at start of May. Also Cuckoo and excellent number of Nightingales @essexbirdnews.bsky.social #essexbirding #ukbirding

More patch watching in Essex, this time at Bradwell Gravel Pit: highlight a Whimbrel calling overhead plus Marsh Harrier and Little Ringed Plover, Cuckoo and 3 Lesser Whitethroats @essexbirdnews.bsky.social #birds #Essexbirding #ukbirding

Great visit to my favourite Breckland Heath: pre fledge Raven at nest, 2 ♂ Redstart, 17 Crossbill, ♂ Goshawk, Tree & Meadow Pipit, Curlew, Lapwing, 6 Woodlark, 8 Stonechat, 2 Nuthatch and bonus flyover Marsh Harrier and Oystercatcher. 1/3 @suffolkbirdgroup.bsky.social #ukbirding #birds

Flog of local gravel pit patch near Braintree. Plaudits to gravel works company who’ve again agreed to avoid Sand Martin colony. No LRPs yet but Lapwing pair, Snipe, Garden Warbler and 3 Lesser Whitethroats in area plus 2 Green Hairstreaks, not had here before #Essexbirding #ukbirding #birds

England wildlife watchdog ‘has stopped designating special sites for protection’... www.theguardian.com/environment/...

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.