A beautiful but chilly walk at Wembury this morning, a Red Kite over heading towards Plymouth was a surprise, I eventually found a Water Pipit along the beach and a Black Redstart showed very well at the church #Devonbirds

Hundreds of the "skeletal" remains of By-the-wind Sailors (Vellela vellela) washed up on the beach at Wembury and a near adult Yellow-legged Gull on the roof of Chelson Meadow recycling centre the highlights yesterday on a day out when the sun actually appeared!

Very surprised to find a Dingy Footman attracted to the underpass lights at Marsh Mills Roundabout in Plymouth yesterday #teammoth

A pair of Lesser Scaup at Helston Boating Lake today showed amazingly well, very unconcerned by the numerous people and dogs walking by and looking very smart in the sunshine #cornwallbirds

Despite the grey and claggy skies the Lesser Yellowlegs showed very well at Truro yesterday while at Hayle the highlights were White-rumped Sandpiper, 3 Spoonbill, Spot Red, Curlew Sand, DBBrent Goose, 2 Barnacle Geese, 5 Pintail and a Kingfisher #cornwallbirds

On an enjoyable but often rainy trip to Siracusa in Sicily I managed to see a few butterflies when the sun did shine - Lang's Short-tailed Blue, Cleopatra, Clouded Yellow Sp. and a Swallowtail on a mans foot around the hotel swimming pool!

Very pleased to see the Curlew Sandpiper found yesterday at Wembury by local birder Jenny was still present this morning, busily feeding along the beach in the company of 4 Bar-tailed Godwits and 2 Sanderlings. #devonbirds

After a bit of a wait this morning the juvenile Rose-coloured Starling eventually appeared amongst the mobile Starling flock at Wembury, perching up in the dead tree at Mewstone Avenue/ Brownhill Lane #devonbirds

Fantastic views of the Wryneck at Turf Locks today, present for its 5th day now and still very confiding. #devonbirds

5 Box Tree Moths in the back yard moth box yesterday morning (1 melanic form). The topiary Box Trees in the nearby park are now totally defoliated so these may be the last I'll see in my moth trap #teammoth

Interesting visit to Exmouth yesterday - 4+ Yellow Wagtails and 3 Swift at Orcombe Point, 2 Osprey, Little Tern and Great White Egret from Mudbank and a Yellow-legged Gull in the recycling centre. #devonbirds

Autumn Squill and Autumn Lady's-tresses on a windy bimble around Berry Head yesterday

A Small Blue, a Clouded Yellow and a Wall Brown from a look about around a windy Berry Head this morning #ukbutterflies

Finally found my first Devon Brown Hairstreaks today but 2 White Admirals were more of a surprise #ukbutterflies

The Bowling Green Marsh Spoonbills seen earlier in the week were initially mostly sleeping but eventually became more active as the tide dropped #devonbirds

Finally! My first Clouded Yellows of the year at Saltram today with a pair of mating Dingy Skippers a nice bonus #ukbutterflies

The Herring Gull chick that came down our chimney is almost ready to fly now so hopefully quieter early mornings to come soon. However I've noticed that one of its parents has all dark eyes, maybe a genetic abnormality or possible an indication of previous infection with Avian Flu.

A few showy juvenile Willow Warblers about on Roborough Down yesterday and all looking very lemony yellow. A few Grayling about too. #Devonbirds

1 of the 2 Herring Gull chicks currently in the nest on our chimney stack decided to jump down into our living room grate. Uninjured & placed on the flat roof next door, the adults continue to tend to him along with the remaining sibling up on the stack. Noisey & poop everywhere but great to watch.

No major excitement in the back yard moth box here in Plymouth last night but always a joy to catch 3 of my favourite moths - Mullein Wave, Marbled Green and Coronet (including form coronula) #teammoth

Very flitty Fritillaries today on Dartmoor in the warm, sunny and humid conditions but eventually managed some nice views of 2+High Brown, 2+Dark Green and a surprise Silver-washed.

It's White-letter Hairstreak time again here in Plymouth with the 3 seen yesterday (8th June) being my earliest ever yet, also some lovely Bee Orchids and Pyramidal Orchids in flower nearby. #ukbutterflies

A fantastic day out at RSPB Minsmere this week with a Purple Heron the highlight and a Roseate Tern a close runner-up. Hobby, Marsh Harrier, Bearded Tit, GWEgret, Red Kite and Norfolk Hawker an interesting supporting cast and a Kittiwake nesting tower offshore a welcome initiative.

A good trip down to Cornwall yesterday with a 1st summer Bonaparte's Gull, 2 male Garganey, "Leopard" Orchids and the Tornado steam train the highlights

A good day out at RSPB Ham Wall this week with plenty of Dragon/Damselflies on the wing despite the cool breeze and intermittent sunshine. Banded Demoiselle, Red-eyed Damselfly, Four-spotted Chaser and Scarce Chaser seen along with around 10 Hobby expertly hunting them over the reedbeds.

Plenty of Pearl-bordered Fritillaries enjoying the sunshine on Dartmoor yesterday. A special trip required to go and see them hence it's been 7 years since my last sighting of one but it was well worth the effort. #ukbutterflies

At least 2 Dingy Skippers seen today at a site in Devon, one very not Dingy and one very much so #ukbutterflies

Absolutely delighted to find 3 Green Hairstreaks at Wembury today, probably my favourite UK butterfly and I think my earliest ever sighting of them. #ukbutterflies

Managed to get brief but good views of the reeling Savi's Warbler at Marazion Marsh early this morning. The Azorean-race Yellow-legged Gull showed very well at Newlyn Harbour as well as a flock of 60 Purple Sandpipers roosting on the rocks at Jubilee Pool.

A smart male Black Redstart along the beach at Wembury this morning was the highlight of a sunny but very windy walk. Also 9+Sand Martin and 5+Swallow in off the sea despite the wind, a Mistle Thrush & 2 RLPartridge of note plus a Large White and a 2 headed Canada Goose! #devonbirding

Sunny but breezy around The Plym today with a pair of Shoveler, a Wheatear, the pair of Red-crested Pochard, the female Wood Duck, a Swallow and a very tame Stock Dove the highlights #devonbirding

Distant and flighty in heat haze and glarey light but pleased to see the reported Great Grey Shrike on Dartmoor this morning, my first since 2017. Siskins, 5 Crossbill and 2 Redpoll also seen. #devonbirding #ukbirding

With an influx of Hoopoes into the UK over the last few days I was very pleased to catch up with one at Marazion today. Jack Snipe, House and Sand Martin, Swallow and Green Sandpiper also seen in the chilly wind. #ukbirding

First Peacock of the year, 20th March 2025. #UKbutterflies

A glorious early spring walk today in Devon with Small Tortoiseshell, Comma, 2 Adders, 3 Common Lizards and Dartford Warbler the highlights.

A Spoonbill at Copperhouse Creek, Hayle, and 100+ Grey Seals hauled out at nearby Godrevy the highlights on a day trip to Cornwall today. #ukbirding

My first moth of 2025 was a surprise Angle Shades, found in an underpass at Marsh Mills in Plymouth on 8th February #teammoth

The wintering River Exe Long-tailed Dowitcher has settled at Turf Locks for the moment where it showed very well yesterday in the company of a Greenshank. #Devonbirds

2 Whooper Swans in with the Bewick's the highlight on a visit to Slimbridge 1/2/25 with Glossy Ibis, Little Stint, Red Kite, Marsh Harrier, Spoonbill, 3 GWEgret and 6 Common Crane a fantastic supporting cast #ukbirding

A Double Dip on a day out to Marazion on 25/1, no Booted Eagle or Pacific Diver for me but Marsh Harrier, Black Redstart, Purple Sandpiper, Snipe, Sparrowhawk and Sanderling year ticks and some lovely views of 5 very confiding Ravens made for a good day out. #ukbirding

Curlew Sandpiper on The Plym 9/1/25, mostly hidden amongst a feeding flock of c.200 Dunlin & presumably the spring bird from last year back for winter. Also 3 GNorthern Divers gave some great views & a pair of RBMerganser were a welcome sight as their numbers here continue to decline. #devonbirds

The Long-billed Dowitcher showed very well at Bowling Green Marsh today along with a Spotted Redshank, a Ruff, 16 Avocet, a Scaup and a Pochard amongst the usuals. 2 Egyptian Geese flying over were a surprise #Devonbirds

Azores Gull at Newlyn Harbour, Snow Bunting at Long Rock and Slavonian Grebe, Avocet and Spoonbill at Hayle the highlights on a dull and claggy day out to West Cornwall yesterday #ukbirding

My first Purple Sandpiper of this winter season at Wembury today #devonbirds #ukbirding

There were 2 Black Redstarts on the roof of Saltram House yesterday (13/11), the 5 Brent Geese were still on Blaxton Meadow but the Wood Duck had disappeared. A Ring-necked Parakeet was also enjoying the sunshine as much as I was. #UKBirding

A female Wood Duck hidden amongst the Madarins on the duck pond at Saltram yesterday (11/11/24). 5 DBBrent Geese on nearby Blaxton Meadow had better wild bird credentials. A female type Black Redstart on the roof of Saltram House completed a triple of new birds for me on The Plym. #ukbirding

Mothing is pretty much over for the year now but these were 4 of the best seen in Devon in 2024 - Alabonia geoffrella or "Geoff" (Exminster Marsh), Thrift Clearwing (Wembury), Six Spot Burnet (Dawlish Warren), Oak Eggar (Saltram)

A very confiding Whooper Swan at Broadsands on 26/10/24, only my second ever sighting of one in Devon. It would occassionally quietly call to itself while being ignored by 2 Mute Swans nearby. #ukbirding

The 2 Snow Buntings at Budleigh Salterton in Devon yesterday were, as usual, ridiculously confiding #ukbirding