Spain made that semi final look ridiculously easy. It’s their World Cup to lose, for me

A work colleague found this Striped Hawk-moth Caterpillar on some Hebes at the Nursery last week. I had a look today but couldn’t find it. This is her image;

Hudsonian godwit, River Stour, Manningtree #essexbirding

Went over to put some flowers on my father’s grave on what would have been his 80th birthday today. He would’ve been very happy with the wildlife in the area too, which included a Bee-Wolf going in to a hole to the right of his plot and a female Common Blue Butterfly on a wildflower nearby 💚

Red-veined Darter, Abberton Reservoir, Essex @britishdragonflies.bsky.social

Marbled White, Great Wigborough, Essex @savebutterflies.bsky.social @bc-cambs-essex.bsky.social

Putative Helice female Clouded Yellow near Great Wigborough, Essex. A great find by @simonpatient1.bsky.social. Unfortunately from my photos you can’t see just how pale the upper wings were @savebutterflies.bsky.social @bc-cambs-essex.bsky.social

Arthur Fery is playing some phenomenal Tennis! 🎾 #wimbledon

Spent the morning watching Odonata at Abberton Reservoir, which included Lesser Emperor, Red-Veined Darter, Black-tailed Skimmers, Emperor, Ruddy Darter, Southern Hawker, Southern Migrant Hawker, Migrant Hawker, Brown Hawker, Common Emerald Damsel, Common Blue & Azure Blue Damsels & a Willow Emerald

Nigel Farage vs "the establishment" He went to private school, worked as a stockbroker, has been a professional politician for 31 years, has his own TV show, is a brand ambassador for gold, is mates with POTUS, accepted a secret £5m gift, and owns five houses bought outright with cash What a rebel

Honey Buzzard, Gt. Wigborough, Essex 5/7/26 @essexbirdnews.bsky.social

I can’t figure out whether I really like Angine De Poitrine or absolutely despise them.. 🤔

Thinking of you today, Dad. We miss you.

The worst possible way to honour the memory of Henry Nowak, victim of a horrible murder and a grave misjudgement by the police, is to do what Nigel Farage appears to want: turn it into an excuse for racial conflict.

Black-winged Stilts, central Essex @essexbirdnews.bsky.social #recordshot

ArsenaLOLOLOLOL.

Red-veined Darter, Abberton Reservoir, Essex 30/5/26 @britishdragonflies.bsky.social #odonata

Lesser Emperor pair ovipositing at EWT Abberton Reservoir today @britishdragonflies.bsky.social #recordshot

Cracking day at Abberton reservoir for Odonata. 7 Lesser Emperors, at least 6 Red Veined Darters, 3-4 Black-tailed Skimmers, 4 Emperor, 6+ Four-spotted Chasers, Hairy Hawker, Azure and Common Blue Damselflies and Large Red Damselfly @britishdragonflies.bsky.social

HONEY BUZZARD drifted NNW over Wagtail Drive, Heybridge at 8:40am today, being harassed by 2 Herring Gulls. The bird looked like it was a heavily/well marked female (without binoculars) @essexbirdnews.bsky.social

Pink Floyd Radiohead Tool Rush Muse Foo Fighters Faithless White Stripes REM Sigur Ros

I hate football 🤬

Cracking morning birding across a couple of local sites today. AMERICAN GOLDEN PLOVER still present at RSPB Old Hall marshes, along with Pec Sand, Curlew Sand, Spotshank, Glossy Ibis, 2 LRP, 2cy Little Gull, Corn Bunting, Cuckoo, loads of juv. Avocet amongst other regulars @essexbirdnews.bsky.social

Nigel Farage tells The Sun's Harry Cole that Elon Musk offered to give Reform loads of money "if we said certain things" and he refused. "I can't be bought." Two things: 1. This is an allegation of attempted bribery. Very serious. 2. It shows the obvious: donors expect something for their money.

Pile of shite #oldfirm

I see James Cleverly is as deluded as ever on #BBCLauraK

So Keir Starmer won’t walk away and “plunge the country into chaos” People are voting Reform in waves. What part of that is not chaos?!

So after having a flu like virus the last few days, my lower back decides it wants in on the act of pain and suffering. FML, as they say.. 😩

Had my first Swift of the year this morning. A single bird hawking over Hebden Bridge just before we left for home

Nice slow morning wander through Hebden Bridge before brekkie yielded excellent views of a Dipper by the Watergate café. A very pleasant surprise! Also 2 Grey Wags and a singing Willow Warbler of note #Notbirdingbirding

Butterflying around the Colchester area. Green-veined White, Orange-tip, Brimstone and Green Hairstreak @savebutterflies.bsky.social

Bluebells, Chalkney Wood, Essex

“How can anybody be enlightened?” “Truth is after all so poorly lit”

Current status of the Strait of Hormuz dispute

Cracking day at Abberton reservoir; 2cy Bonaparte’s Gull, Little Gull, Ring Ouzel, 6 Corn Bunting, 6 Spoonbill, c40 Yellow Wagtail, 5 Med Gulls, 2 LRP, 2 Cuckoo, 2 Sedge Warbler, 4 Marsh Harrier, 2 Nightingale, 3 Whitethroat, c100 Sand Martin, 30+ Swallow & a House Martin @essexbirdnews.bsky.social

Cracking Ring Ouzel. The photo, not so much. Abberton Reservoir.

However stupid you may feel sometimes, you can never be as stupid as somebody who bought a Cybertruck

Moody Mull #oldbutgold

Top 5 summer migrants; Garganey Yellow Wagtail Swift Nightingale Common Redstart #birding

How long before Trump claims he deserves another prize for bringing peace to the Middle East? 🤔

Lovely wander around @rspb.bsky.social Minsmere today. Highlights; 2 Garganey, 10+ Marsh Harrier, 25+ Sandwich Tern, 2 Common Cranes, Bittern, 4 Bearded Tit, Red Kite, Sedge Warbler, 12 Cetti’s Warbler, several Chiffchaff & Blackcap, plus a singing Firecrest. Nice to see @david-walsh.bsky.social too

I don’t like where this planet is going, can I get off now? 😔

Had my FFY Orange-Tip butterfly near Hadleigh, Suffolk today. Which was nice.

Minsmere trip on Tuesday. The weather is looking good for it too

Time for an Instagram break. I really wish I could just ditch Meta altogether.

Happy HBO Max day, UK!

Hill Top farm, Cumbria #VisitBritain

I think April fools should be cancelled this year. There is no prank imaginable that can best our current reality.

I honestly don’t know what to celebrate the most.. 1. The Greens winning 👏👏👏 2. Reform losing 😁 3. The Tories finishing fourth 😂 4. Labour being exposed as the rudderless ship that they currently are and scoring a spectacular own goal because of leadership meanderings 🤔 #byelection

Congratulations to @greenpartyhan.bsky.social and @greenparty.org.uk 👏👏👏 #hopenothate