@lesserspotnet.bsky.social parents busy this morning - at least 18 feed visits in a 50min period

Windy nest hole monitored for 95 mins 21 visits (4.5 mins per visit). 11 from F 10 from M. At least 15 times aphids were brought in. Interesting behaviour when female was reluctant to go in whilst watching a roe deer pass by. Also a bit of beak cleaning from the male. @lesserspotnet.bsky.social

Some shots of lesser spotted woodpecker monitoring the invertebrates in SW big thanks to @edhorncastle.bsky.social @lesserspotnet.bsky.social

Looks like 4 chicks doing well in the lesser spot nest. Parents working hard. 16 visits in one hour of monitoring today @lesserspotnet.bsky.social #Birds Perhaps a week to go. Beginning to be able to hear the chicks from outside so get out looking people.

First spotted flycatchers on patch today. 3 seen. Good to have them back #Birds

A windy day on Dartmoor but in the sunny intervals I did 3 counts of Pearl Bordered fritillaries for @savebutterflies.bsky.social . The next generation were being produced. Im pretty sure I saw one being taken by a swift! Should I add that to the count? First small Pearl-bordered too.

Lesser spots doing well. Lots of aphids to feed young. Female has been staying close to the nest for long periods. Could be because she has been keeping brood warm or she was worried about the local great spot who was nearby @lesserspotnet.bsky.social #Birds

Lesser spots doing well. Lots of aphids to feed young. Female has been staying close to the nest for long periods. Could be because she has been keeping brood warm or she was worried about the local great spot who was nearby @lesserspotnet.bsky.social #Birds

My first @savebutterflies.bsky.social survey last weekend. Pearl bordered fritillaries at small local sites. I was very happy with 32 in 20 minutes with some egg laying going on. It was hard not to get distracted by the painted ladies. @bcdevon.bsky.social

May LSW nesting update. Go out now to look for Lesser Spotted Woodpecker nests. Adults actively feeding their young become more detectable. To find a nest this year, get out into the woods now, it will all be over in 4 weeks. Latest update on nests www.woodpecker-network.org.uk/index.php/news

Whilst monitoring a lesser spot nest yesterday the male would often feed with 5 metres of me. Lovely to watch. @lesserspotnet.bsky.social #Birds

Our LesserSpotNet volunteers have data on 4 LSW nests so far, all with 5 or 6 eggs, a good number. 3 have hatched which is very early, they will fledge around 21 May (average 30 May). So look out for adults bringing food to the nest & let regional co-ordinators know www.woodpecker-network.org.uk

Pleased to monitor our first 2026 Lesser Spotted Woodpecker nest on 2 May, found by a LesserSpotNet volunteer in the Home Counties. Nest camera showed 3 chicks just hatched + 3 eggs waiting, both adults feeding. Good to get data on clutch size. Another very early nest & the highest at 16 metres

Lesser spots male keep young warm overnight. He was still doing so until 10 today. Kept popping out to feed. Female arrived to much relief about 10. A privilege to monitor these nests for @lesserspotnet.bsky.social #Birds The birds then were swapping over every 12 minutes on average.

Lesser spot eggs all hatched now. How many blind naked young can you count. I think 5 but Im not sure #Birds @lesserspotnet.bsky.social @bbcspringwatch.bsky.social

Lesser Spotted Wdpkr nests monitored across Southern England are generally early this year, with several already hatching. Some nests will fledge from mid-May, with young birds audible preceding week. @lesserspotnet.bsky.social @somersetbirds.bsky.social @btobirds.bsky.social @ukrbbp.bsky.social

Pearl bordered fritillary numbers increasing on Dartmoor. Classic shot on a bluebell. @bcdevon.bsky.social @savebutterflies.bsky.social Let's hope the sun keeps shining and more and more continue to emerge.

Left the lesser spots alone for a while. Came back this morning to watch one of the holes. Changeover observed! Nest being used. Very excited! @lesserspotnet.bsky.social

Pearl-bordered fritillaries flying at multiple sites this afternoon on Dartmoor. I say it every year but their undersides are my favourite of any uk butterfly. Or do I just say that about every butterfly Im watching! @savebutterflies.bsky.social @bcdevon.bsky.social

I just saw 2 swifts over the church in the village on Dartmoor. Pretty sure these are my earliest ever #Birds

The pearl bordered fritillaries out on Dartmoor, most were hunkered down out of the wind this morning. Its a real treat to live so close to such beautiful spring butterflies @savebutterflies.bsky.social @bcdevon.bsky.social Tree pipits, willow warblers and redstarts all singing in the background.

I've managed to find 3 lesser spots excavating 3 holes this spring. And I've found two other new holes nearby. Here's hoping the birds use one or two of these for nests. This male like the others has almost finished. @lesserspotnet.bsky.social #Birds The birds are now very quiet and elusive.

Another territory and this male was frantically drumming and calling all over the slope. Hope he has a female but she was conspicuous by her absence this morning @lesserspotnet.bsky.social #Birds

Brief visit yesterday to check in on how the lesser spot pair were doing. Males hole seems finished. He was hanging around the females hole what she was inside trying to finish it off. @lesserspotnet.bsky.social #Birds

Such fun to watch the male pied flycatchers sing and protect their favourite holes then the females come and check them out @piedflynet.bsky.social #Birds

Back in the woods and so happy to see the pied flycatchers and redsrarts back on patch #Birds

Another day of research in the woods and another Lesser Spotted Woodpecker found. A female caught, measured, weighed, ringed and released. Pest County, Hungary, this morning.

Lesser Spotted Woodpeckers were detected at Bowyers Wood in East Sussex by acoustic monitoring. Chris Packham (Chief Ecologist for Ecotalk, who are restoring the woodland) interviews @kenandlindasmith.bsky.social & @mallalieum.bsky.social about all things LSW www.ecotalk.co.uk/community-st...

Found a new lesser spot hole today being excavated by a female with a little help from the male. 2nd hole Ive found from this pair so let's hope they use one of them! @lesserspotnet.bsky.social #Birds

In the mixed cold conditions of sun, hail and wind the adders were searching for sun and each other to keep warm. I love watching them move. @argroupsuk.bsky.social

I saw some early signs of excavating at the weekend and come hail or shine this male lesser spot was busy excavating today. My earliest views of excavation. @lesserspotnet.bsky.social #Birds @angusrobin.bsky.social

3 pairs of lesser spots on a beautiful spring day. This is a new favourite tree for a local female. A wonderful day. @lesserspotnet.bsky.social @angusrobin.bsky.social

Feeding Lesser Spot this week on Dartmoor @lesserspotnet.bsky.social #Birds

@lesserspotnet.bsky.social action hotting up on Dartmoor. Lots of drumming by a pair this morning. Lots of calling too and the best views of the courtship butterfly flight Ive ever had (not on video). Excited for the weeks ahead @angusrobin.bsky.social

Felt like spring this morning. Lesser spots seemed to think so with lots of calling some displaying and then some calm feeding in the beautiful light. @lesserspotnet.bsky.social @angusrobin.bsky.social #Birds

Something to celebrate - our 2025 Lesser Spotted Woodpecker report - successful breeding season, the most nests monitored & highest number of chicks fledged per nest since we started in 2015. Acoustic monitoring giving amazing results too, download here www.woodpecker-network.org.uk/images/L_S_W...

Black redstart around the hotel on Rhodes. Beautiful.

Last morning in Rhodes and the shots of the long tailed blue I wanted. A pretty fresh specimen too. @europebutterfly.bsky.social

Plenty of swallowtails around on Rhodes at the minute. A beautiful golden treat in late October. Good views from a tiny hill top monastery too.

Away in Rhodes weather is beautiful, a little brighter and warmer than Dartmoor in late October. Lots of flowers and butterflies still about. And I was very happy to see three red backed shrike this afternoon.

A male adder returned close to its hibernaculum. Dartmoor. @argroupsuk.bsky.social

When searching for Brown Hairstreak eggs in the winter advice is to look between shin and chest height. Is this because that's often where the newer growth is? @savebutterflies.bsky.social @martinswarren.bsky.social On my local hedge I see egg laying above this up to the top of the hedge at 4m.

About 10 clouded yellows in a couple of fields on North East Dartmoor. My 2nd highest number up here. In the heat it felt very Mediterranean. @bcdevon.bsky.social

My first Brown Hairstreak of the year a mile from my house. This female was searching for the perfect spot on the blackthorn to lay her eggs @bcdevon.bsky.social @savebutterflies.bsky.social

Spotted flycatchers in the garden on the power cable this morning. A beautiful sight #Birds

Beautiful Brimstones around today. Lots of peacocks too. Silver-washed fritillaries in the greatest numbers Ive ever seen but the white admiral season is almost over.

White admirals are my favourite. An absolute pleasure to see so many today in numerous woodland clearings @savebutterflies.bsky.social

So many butterflies today. 18 species including 50+ silver-washed, 20+ White admirals, 10+ purple hairstreaks, 10+ Red Admirals and 10+ newly emerged peacocks. Feel very lucky. @savebutterflies.bsky.social @bcdevon.bsky.social

Purple hairstreak numbers increasing. About 30 this evening. 15 in my favourite tree. Far away for my camera. I love watching them fight for sunny spots. A thrill to see them spiral and a treat to see which way around they land and the different shades they appear. @savebutterflies.bsky.social

White admiral females looking for egg laying sites this afternoon at Bovey valley woods. Weaving their way in and out of branches in the shade where honey suckle is growing. Very different to the way I usually see them gliding down from the tops of the trees. @savebutterflies.bsky.social