A few more pics from Thursday before I went in for my back procedure at long last. A Curlew at bowling Green Marsh with leg rings on. A azure damselfly i believe & a Essex skipper at bystock pools and the meadow above. 15 other butterfly species seen there which was amazing. #UKBirding #Devonbirds.

First visit to Bowling Green Marsh for quite a while. Cracking sum plum spot red,2 different looking green sandpipers, 3 whimbrel,2 spoonbill,20 Curlew , 80 redshank,4 stockdove a few teal and a mix of hirundines made for a great morning. #UKBirding #Devonbirds.

@robmurphy.bsky.social Happy Birthday Rob have a good one.

Local this morning,1st stop stantaway farm to see if reported quail last night were around but no sign. Then down to Otter NR for a potter. 3 spoonbill, 12 stockdove, 1 Curlew, lots of banded demoiselle,small skippers,gate keepers & 3 purple hairstreak. #UKBirding #Devonbirds.

Trip up to south Wales at last for the western reef heron with the boys (@somersetbirder.bsky.social & @middevonbirder.bsky.social). Cracking bird which we saw straight away but then lost it as it flew.Then the journey home !! 4hrs on way, 9hrs+ on way home thanks to M5 !! #UKBirding #Walesbirding.

Trip over to a mates patch today, Ashcylst Forest & great to see so many silver washed fritillary. Could only find 1 white admiral though the heat got me in the end.Also lots of ringlets & 4 purple hairstreak flitting around top of small oak.Spot flys best on bird front. #UKBirding #UKButterflies

High brown fritillary on Dartmoor this morning & huge thanks to Bob Bailey for his help, Then off to Plymouth for white hairstreak at eye level in their favorite tree amazing !. Again huge thanks to @stuartgreen.bsky.social for info #UKBirding #Devonbirds #Butterflies.

First time I've ever managed to get pics of a wren & didn't even see what was in its mouth until I got home. Was trying to get RL partridge when wren landed on post near me. Also from yesterdays potter about salcombe Regis some wood whites. #UKBirding #Devonbirds.

Trip to Greenscombe wood on the edge of the Tamar today for the endangered heath fritillary. Fantastic wood looks managed well & 30 plus fritillary seen. Huge thanks to @andrewpbf.bsky.social with his info wouldn't of found it otherwise !!. 6 spot fly best birds seen. #UKBirding #Cornwallbutterflys.

Good day on Portland started with couple hrs of sea watching, hundreds of manx, quite a few Balearic & a artic skua & sooty. Then pottered around different parts of the island for some butterflies which were abit easier to get pictures of. #UKBirding #Dorsetbirds

Got my 1st blue winged teal this morning at Ham Wall, 2nd attempt at this bird & boy isn't it wary & elusive!. No sooner had it been found and we all got eyes on it, off it flew over the reed beds. Doesn't seem to like being seen. My 10 seconds view was good though 🙄. #UKBirding #Somersetbirds.

Early morning start at dawlish Warren for the broad billed sandpiper my first ever & it was nice & close but time I got scope set up it had moved further away !. Then shot up to ham wall for the blue winged teal but no sign in a 4hr stint. Savi's again plus loads more though. Great day #UKBirding .

Great early morning visit to Otter NR Budleigh salterton. Was surprised to have a barn owl right next to the path 20ft away from me at first, was watching it for a few mins & trying to get some pics with phone then jogger & dog ran by that was that !. Spoonbill & peregrine best of rest. #UKBirding

One of 3 spoonbill at the great Otter NR Budleigh salterton this morning. Lovely and cool first thing and the birds were singing their hearts out. It's fast becoming a cracking nature reserve. #UKBirding #Devonbirds.

Great morning Weymouth & Portland today, common terns always good watch at lodmoor & also a few med gulls.Little terns at ferrybridge always distant, little owl, turtle dove, kittiwakes, guillemots, razorbills & Adonis,chalkhill blues & large skipper rounded off a great day. #UKBirding #Dorsetbirds.

Good time to walk into Portland bird obs as the turtle dove that has been around for couple of days popped out onto the grass. What ever its origins it was great to watch it at close quarters. #UKBirding #Dorsetbirds.

Short video of the bittern at ham wall this morning amazing it stayed up in view for so long. But focus isn't great probably just me but also the reeds in front of it could be a reason 🙄. #UKBirding #Somersetbirds.

Ham Wall early this morning for the savi's warbler, it was reeling away & showed on & off but couldn't get pics. Barn owl and especially this bittern were different. Bittern stayed out in open for 20 mins. Swifts, Bearded tits & much more seen on a very cold morning #UKBirding #Somersetbirding.

Good early morning visit to southern dartmoor today cuckoo's were star birds also pied flys, redstarts,crossbills,tree pipits but still no wood warbler. Amazing to see a frost on 12th May !!. #UKBirding #Devonbirds.

A hairy caterpillar dispatched by this cuckoo on Southern Dartmoor this morning. Amazing to watch it get the toxic part out. #UKBirding #Devonbirds.

Good early morning in Somerset first stop cogload junction & 2nd try for nightingale & at least one singing it's heart out on & off for 3 hrs & even got a few brief views.But just couldn't get a pic.Then Ham wall for distant wood sand & lots of hobby. #UKBirding #Somersetbirding.

Some pics of the stunning lesser kestrel at goonhilly Downs Cornwall this morning. Well worth the early morning wake up call & the wait it gave us all. Nice to meet simon @rockinbirder.bsky.social. #UKBirding #CBWPS1. #UKWildlife.

Trip down to goonhilly Downs, Cornwall this morning with Marc @somersetbirder.bsky.social for this stunning lesser kestrel & what a performance it put on for many a birder. #UKBirding #CBWPS1. #UKWildlife.

Good morning in Somerset dipped the nightingales at cogload but garganey & cranes at greylake then ruff,bittern & garden warblers at ham wall. Then on to tealham moor area for yellow wags,channel wag, whinchat,reed bunting,sedge's & wheatear. #UKBirding #Somersetbirding .

What a spoon this spoonbill has & nice to see it closer for a change also a few more whimbrel about now and the intricate feather pattern on this male gadwall !! Wow. Again a nice few birds on the Otter NR Budleigh salterton recently. #UKBirding. #Devonbirds. #Birds.

This spoonbill was having a good preen at the fabulous Otter NR, Budleigh salterton recently. Normally it's behind some reed beds so was nice to see it out in the open. #UKBirding #Devonbirds. #Birds.

Great early morning visit to southern dartmoor, while waiting for one of 3 cuckoo to land (they didn't !) on one of the low trees I had scope on some crossbills kept coming down so nice to get video. Also saw redpoll,redstart,tree pipit,garden warbler & pied fly. #UKBirding #Devonbirds. #Birds.

Stantaway farm this morning teamed greater whitethroat, No lesser though. Also 7 stock dove & best count of hares yet 14 !!.Then little marsh otter NR where there was 1 yellow wag,1 wheatear.Then got message about a lesser whitethroat at white bridge which was still there. #UKBirding. #Devonbirds.

Couple of pics of the dusky warbler in cornwall today one in shade, one in sun. Then has I got home news of a bonaparte's gull at seaton wetlands nice to finally get one in Devon. #UKBirding. #CBWPS1. #Devonbirds.

Trip down to cornwall mainly for this dusky warbler (my first) at boscathnoe reservoir, amazed to see it within 2 mins of walking in & the bird itself hoping around the slipway. Also saw a elusive Pallas warbler, chough, red kite & YLG. #UKBirding #CBWPS1. #UKWildlife.

A very confiding tree pipit at mutters moor this morning lovely to watch & listen to it singing, also more tree pipit there than I've ever seen. #UKBirding #Devonbirds. #UKWildlife. #Birds.

Some pics from a early morning visit to dartmoor. Cold start but sun soon got working and birds responded. #UKBirding #Devonbirds. #UKWikdlife. #Birds.

Good morning up on dartmoor best bird was this grasshopper warbler reeling away this was one of 3 seen, Also saw pied flys, tree pipits, wheatear, cuckoo and red kite. #UKBirding #Devonbirds. #UKWildlife. #Birds.

A couple pics of the black crowned night heron at the Borrow Pit pond seaton marshes this morning. #UKBirding #Devonbirds. #UKWildlife. #Birds.

Adult black crowned night heron in nr summer plumage this morning at the Borrow Pit pond seaton marshes. #UKBirding #Devonbirds #UKWildlife.

Mutters moor, sidmouth this morning & my first tree pipit of yr & had trouble getting pic of yellowhammer this yr until today when this bird just walked up to me !!. Also saw 4 crossbills,2 redpoll,6 Dartford warbler.Also had 1st whimbrel of yr at Otter NR yesterday. #UKBirding #Devonbirds. #Birds.

Trip out to Dorset this morning and what a stunner the red-spotted blue throat is, watching that small beautiful bird & then look up & see a WTE !!. Good to meet @nickurch.bsky.social. Also called in Hartland moor to see the Hoopoe. #UKBirding #Dorsetbirds. #Birds.

Started at Otter NR this morning but was very quiet then up to stantaway farm and 2nd field scanning the hedges found this stunning male Redstart was always at distance but great to watch it for a while. Also Skylarks,4 Whitethroats,1 white wagtail and hares. #UKBirding #Devonbirds. #UKWildlife.

Went Continental today with this sub species black tailed godwit at exminster marshes. Always nice to see something different. Also today there were lots of Reed and sedge warbler arriving great to see them working their way up the marsh.Also a couple of spoonbill. #UKBirding. #UKWildlife. #Birds.

Good sunrise this morning at sidmouth, then down to stantaway farm again, scanning the ploughed fields found 8 wheatear,12 hares,6 RL Partridge, lots of Skylark,linnet & cirl bunting, Also a group of wagtail flew in & at least 2 were good candidate for white wagtail. #UKBirding #UKWildlife.

While watching a willow warbler at mutters moor sidmouth I heard a buzzard or so I thought !! Then noticed this jay so swung scope towards that and saw it was mimicking a buzzard had me and Merlin fooled. 🙄😂. #UKBirding #Devonbirds. #Birds.

First of 4 willow warbler of yr at mutters moor sidmouth today,also 6 Dartford warbler,8 yellow hammer,2 Raven,2 jay,8 Crossbills,1 Redwing amongst lots of more local fare. #UKBirding #Devonbirds. #Birds.

Been very quiet of late, migration is just a trickle of birds. Female wheatear was tucked behind a bank shivering, sky looked amazing the other morning ! And my local Jackdaws looking stunning but one had had enough and was resting it's head 🙄😂. #UKBirding #Devonbirds. #Birds.

Good morning at stantaway farm with Mid Devon birder, shame about lack of migrants but seems quiet everywhere today.Hares showed well,was 8 in this group but 4 saw me and in hedge asap🙄.Great views looking back towards sidmouth.Quick look at frogmore scrape and 1 shelduck. #UKBirding. #Devonbirds

Local today quick look at sidmouth sea front,getting out of car heard sarnie terns some fishing some on sewer bouy. Quick look at little marsh otter NR still a few teal about.Then stantaway farm & Brandy head distant GND & razorbills also single wheatear & swallow in off. #UKBirding #Devonbirds

More colour from saltram and right partner, wrong partner landing at nest hole. 😲. I wouldn't want to mess with a beak like that !!. #UKBirding #Devonbirds

Great morning at saltram but dipped bonaparte's and just had one shot of GWT at exminster marshes when birds were flushed towards sun. Loads of colour in the other species at saltram. The blue parakeet was different !!!.And RCP always close, only 2 mandarin seen. #UKBirding #Devonbirds.

Good views of the local peregrine think we both had same idea ie waiting for wheatear to come in off the sea.!! Which a few did eventually, such stunning birds, worth the pain going out there as couldn't get pic of sidmouth ones.Cracking close up of a dunnock I've ever had. #UKBirding #Devonbirds.

Perigrine on the lookout early this morning at Beer head, Devon.Great couple of hours waiting for the wheatear to come in off sea. Nice to catch up and chat to Mike. #UKBirding. #Devonbirds.

Local again today birds started close but got further away as day went by,Back to Otter NR this morning the 2 spoonbill were asleep,Oyster catcher was close, little egret & first cattle egret of yr further away then was at Sidbury when this distant barn door went by. ! #UKBirding #Devonbirds. .