I learned two things this afternoon. Firstly, the Ewok prefers 1/3rd pints as his paws are still small and it’s a nice way to try different beers. Secondly, if you’re going to repel the Nazi war machine, then an angry, well armoured British growler was the most effective weapon 😉

This is long overdue. The hunters only have themselves to blame. Constant trespass, animal abuse and aggression towards those that just ask them to stay within the law. This has to stop. www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...

x.com/roydenniswf/... The article stops short of foul play but…….”trackers removed with a sharp tool”….😡

Great support at Hillsborough tonight from 🐏 away. A decent performance against a poor side in trouble. Pat was a handful all night and glad he got his goals. Salvesen could have done with more time against that opposition though. Let’s do Portsmouth now 👍🐏 #DCFC

Tony’s farm, Uppertown this morning with the thermal. Ponds are bigger now & it wasn’t easy to find Jack Snipe but 1 in the boggy field. Woodcock also found, 2 Jay, Buzzard, Raven, 60 Redwing, 12 Fieldfare, 1 Yellowhammer, 2 Bullfinch. Nearby, adult Peregrine, juvenile female Goshawk, 6 Crossbill.

Haddon Hall at Christmas is a nice alternative to the madness at Chatsworth! Give it a try #PeakDistrict #Derbyshire

One of my favourites! Two Firecrests all to myself at @rspbtitchwellsnett.bsky.social this afto. Filmed on phone. Also Sibe Chiff here and roosting Tawny Owl, busy Water Rail, 5 Grebes, BT Diver amongst the regulars 👍

First thought - convince me that this isn't generative AI. Where are the Crestie's toes?

Currently a whopping 30% discount on the hardback and flexiback from the publisher (link in post below), just in time for Christmas presents! The Marsh Tit and the Willow Tit, a Poyser #ornithology monograph. #ukbirding

The traditional flood area reappeared over the past day or so in Darley Dale. Good news for Gulls and it was interesting scanning through 100’s of LBBG, BHG & fewer Common for the rarer birds. Nothing picked out before a Peg put them all up. Nice 🍺 with the Ewok though @derbyshirebirds.bsky.social

8 years ago at a misty Wyver Lane with GWE and Barn Owl to show for it. The mist made the photo look like a water colour! It’s still on my wall…. @richardttaylor.bsky.social @willowglass12.bsky.social @belperbirder.bsky.social

Appalling, illegal, unethical, disgusting. Oh, and in the midst of a severe outbreak of Avian Influenza #BirdFlu #H5N1 where free-range poultry are in mandatory lockdown to prevent viral spread. #Ornithology #UKBirding raptorpersecutionuk.org/2025/11/12/s...

x.com/peterstefano... Phew that’s a relief then Rache! Happy budget for all 😏

Not the best phone video but any day with a feeding Otter is a good one! This was Belper river gardens this morning. Not bothered by our presence as I soon gathered a small crowd who enjoyed it too as most had never seen one. It was on the weir but eventually worked its way north to the island 🦦

www.bbc.co.uk/news/article... Drought permit issued for Ogston and Carsington. Is this the new normal? @tg42birder.bsky.social

The Planning & Infrastructure bill is a disaster. It lets ministers overrule councils, scraps proper wildlife surveys, and gives developers a free pass to bulldoze nature. It weakens badger protections, ignores animal welfare, and lets companies pay to destroy habitats. Profit over planet.

Some of the 33 Whoopers that graced Ogston this morning. One family party and one ringed adult (looked like ACI). A fabulous noise! @derbyshirebirds.bsky.social @richardttaylor.bsky.social

The Lesser Yellow Legs was a nice bonus this morning on a random pool next to a new housing estate at South Wooton followed by a good explore at Holme for the Ewok! A beach you can have to yourself! # Norfolk @norfolkbirding.bsky.social

Sadly the worst half of football I’ve seen in ages. How is Matt Clarke our playmaker?! Keeper fills me with dread. Travis looks like someone’s Dad won a competition to get half a game of football ☹️ @richardttaylor.bsky.social @southhamsbirder.bsky.social @stephbirdart.bsky.social

The juvenile Dotterel is still feeding well on Burbage Moor this afternoon 👍 it’s been a while since I saw one so confiding #ukbirds @birdguides.bsky.social

@rspbtitchwellsnett.bsky.social was good this week with plenty of waders inc several fresh Little Stint, Ruff, Dunlin, LRP’s, Green Sands and loads of Blackwits. One of which was carrying the leg flags. Phonescoped with mini Swaro scope 👍 #waders

Unbelievable! Zoppi has just had a Hobby chasing House Martins over his house on Over Lane and it’s landed in his tree!! Well jealous 😬 @richardttaylor.bsky.social @willowglass12.bsky.social @stephbirdart.bsky.social

A lovely evening over Beeley tonight. Adult Hobby for company but nothing else. Bliss! @derbyshirebirds.bsky.social @peakdistrict.bsky.social

It was all going so well 🙈😬🐏 well played Morris though! Great goal. We need a fit squad….

Good to see numbers of young Avocet at Titchwell last week, clearly a good breeding season. Spoonbills always good and 400+ Blackwits one evening. Bearded Tits, Harriers, Egrets, Med Gulls…always something to watch @rspb.bsky.social @rspbtitchwellsnett.bsky.social

More Hummingbird Hawk Moth action today at the fab Buddleia outside @cleyspy.bsky.social at least 3 plus several Painted Ladies #mothsmatter#teammoth @norfolkmoths.bsky.social What a Summer for them! @timallwood.bsky.social @norfolkbirding.bsky.social

I’ve seen lots of HBHawk Moths this week which has been lovely and the phone managed to catch this one reasonably well. Holkham was very busy with whites following the big influx & plenty of Meadow Brown, Small Skipper, Peacock, Red Admiral, Ringlet…..etc

@NorfolkWT #mothsmatter #teammoth moth trapping this morning gave some lovely results at Holme! Some new ones for me coming from Derbyshire @norfolkbirding.bsky.social

A few goodies #teammoth in Scarlet Tiger, Peach Blossom, Buff Arches, Bordered Beauty and Blood Vein amongst many more - Matlock #Derbyshire #mothsmatter @willowglass12.bsky.social @cliveaderbys.bsky.social @richardttaylor.bsky.social

It seems that my lucky streak continues with potential Small Marbled causing quite a stir for my lil old garden patch in #Matlock! #mothsmatter @willowglass12.bsky.social @norfolkbirding.bsky.social @richardttaylor.bsky.social @cliveaderbys.bsky.social Tony is quite excited 😬 happy with Hawks!

butterfly-conservation.org/moths/palpit... @norfolkbirding.bsky.social Have you had this faded one? Palpita Vitrealis has been put forward but it’s faded. The article suggested coastal rather than Matlock! #mothsmatter #teammoth Also Scarce Silver Lines NFG 👍 see you Tuesday

Beautiful Golden Y and a pristine Elephant last night amongst many others #teammoth @willowglass12.bsky.social @cliveaderbys.bsky.social

Almost the longest day & as still warm a perfect opportunity for ears instead of eyes around Matlock tonight. Quail & Gropper singing in the same field on Screetham with another Quail near Gladwins Mark. Curlew,Lapwing, Snipe,Skylark all in voice & Woodcock & Nightjars @derbyshirebirds.bsky.social

Come on guys do your thing! Not great as taken on iPhone but in Greece - ID help! A ‘large’ Skipper last off. Is the Dragon Azure? Managed the bee interaction amazingly! @willowglass12.bsky.social @richardttaylor.bsky.social @norfolkbirding.bsky.social 🐝 🦋 🇬🇷

Lots of the usual suspects last night but Oak Hook Tip was pretty unusual for me. Got to love Buff Ermine (3) and always good numbers of Willow Beauty (7) and a Magpie Moth did one without posing #mothsmatter @willowglass12.bsky.social @richardttaylor.bsky.social

Zimbabwe are making a fight of this after all! @trentbridge.co.uk 🍺🍺

An all-too-familiar pattern. They're provided safe haven at Geltsdale, but as soon as they cross the boundary to hunt... Again and again and again and again. #RaptorResearch #WildlifeCrime #UKBirding raptorpersecutionuk.org/2025/05/20/t...

Matlock tonight shared with these churring beauties, roding Woodcock and squeaking Owlets. May is a great month to be out all hours 👍 #phonescoped @derbyshirebirds.bsky.social #Nightjars

Two Nightjars churring and chasing each other with wing clapping, 2 Hobby taking moths close in, Gropper reeling, 4 Cuckoo, 6 Woodcock, Curlew, Lapwing this evening in a fab few hours in Derbyshires Peak District 👍 @derbyshirebirds.bsky.social

1. This is Piles Copse, the largest remaining fragment of high-ground temperate rainforest on Dartmoor. It’s a tiny speck of green in a dismal, human-made desert. Prepare yourselves for a story of breathtaking perversity, told in this thread. (There’s a one-page version at the bottom). 🧵

One of my favourite times of year locally is to get amongst returning Wood Warbler (2), Redstart, Tripits, Cuckoo and Pied Fly’s around Matlock. Not a soul seen but lots of bird life to enjoy and chill amongst. Bluebell woodlands aren’t bad either 👍 #ukbirds @derbyshirebirds.bsky.social

Thanks to Mick for the heads up local to me - remarkable showing of Field Pansy, Viola arvensis this PM. Colours are unusual, the dark purple spur. Hybrid with Wild Pansy is possible but best recorded as Field Pansy. Never seen them there before! Cropped up out of the blue #Derbyshire #PeakDistrict

Phonescoped pics from #RSPBTitchwell Spring waders were excellent, plus 800 Sandwich Terns roosting! Ring Ouzel, Goshawk, 4 Whimbrel, Wheatears, Woodlark, LWhite nearby at Holme, Thornham & Ken Hill. Spoonies, 3 Egrets Holkham, 30 YWags Hunstanton, Kites & Harriers doing very well, pos wader issue 😬

Rounded off a great day with #Aurora watch near @rspbtitchwellsnett.bsky.social got better around 10pm then gone!

Holme bird obs today - Spring is all around! 4 Whimbrel, 5 Wheatear, 5 LRP, 32 Med Gulls, LWThroat, YWags, CEgret, Kites and Harriers everywhere

Had 6 Red Kites near home this morning, one pair nesting. An area with significant density for them. 9 Fieldfare, Raven, 14 Buzzard, 8 Greenfinch, 4 Chiffs singing. Phone scoped at a safe distance calling to its mate. Plus 3 pale phase Buzzard - one looks like a Gyr at range! (Not the one in photo)

Helping the search for Crossbills in the Peak with the @derbyshirebirds.bsky.social group. Awful conditions didn’t help! So only heard in the fog. Raptor watch was also a non starter sadly. We need some weather help! Ground hog day ☹️ the atmosphere seems to be full of vapour trails then this….#birds

Tried a Goshawk site this morning but sadly it’s being felled. Maybe useful for Nightjar this time instead? @derbyshirebirds.bsky.social @richardttaylor.bsky.social @willowglass12.bsky.social #derbyshirebirds

Mopping up #Norfolk for a week with the Ewok. HH & 48 MH into roost oppo base, Brant & Glauc Thornham, Snow Bunts, Shorelark Holme, LTDuck, Velvets, RNGrebe, GND, Merlin, WatPip, Spotshank, BTits, T & BOwl, Woodcock, CEgrets #RSPBTitchwell Whitefronts & Lessers, Gos Snettisham

Female Blackcap in the garden with 4 Siskins in poor light! Phonescoped through #Swarovski 4 Siskin, 2 Nuthatch, 8 Greenfinch, 2 GSW, 3 Chaffinch, Goldcrest with usual suspects @richardttaylor.bsky.social @willowglass12.bsky.social @derbyshirebirds.bsky.social handy size comparison with Goldfinch