I've recently completed a first draft of a book about birding, a Big Year and mental health. I've approached a number of publishers (with no acknowledgement from any so far) but am wondering about self-publishing. Anyone got any experience with either form? #naturewriting #birds

Don't often see both Roe and Sika Deer together grazing in the same field. Bestwall, Wareham. @dorsetwildlife.bsky.social

Tundra Bean Geese and a few Russian White-fronts at Ridge today just after they flew in to the field from Arne Moors.

Jackie and I took a trip down Wyke Regis today and caught up with the very obliging Desert Wheatear. @dorsetbirdclub.bsky.social

@axebirder.bsky.social Hi Steve I was down at Seaton Wetlands on the 19thcame across a CR Black-tailed Godwit. I seem to recollect that you were colour ringing godwit a while back. You are probably already aware of this individual but thought I would report it just in case you hadn't. Nick

Visit to Shapwick Heath and Decoy Hide was fairly quiet but 2 drake Ring-necked duck showed very nicely & very actively feeding @somersetwildlands.bsky.social

Received a very sinister look from the Boat-tailed Grackle today at Calshot. It walked right up to me before going off and sitting on another birder. Great bird to see just needs to find another ship to get back home.😀

Last night a Brick, was a new for the Upton garden and the December Moth and Red-line Quaker were new for the year.

September birding @lytchettbirder.bsky.social twoowlsbirding.blogspot.com/2025/10/patc...

Birders should be concerned as without as many Insects, we lose our pollinators, food for Birds and a good reason to get out during the quieter Summer months

Last nights moth trap not great but 45 moths of 21 species. Highlight a garden lifer, in not one but 2 Blair's Mocha (Cyclophora puppillaria) a 3rd record of Cherry-bark Moth (Enarmonia formosana) + European Corn Borer, Rush Veneer & White Point were the supporting highlights.

August moths & birding catch-up twoowlsbirding.blogspot.com/2025/09/ @lytchettbirder.bsky.social

Out watering a few plants in the garden and saw movement, My first thought that's a big spider and then getting a closer look you could have knocked me over with a feather. It was only a Raft Spider (Dolomedes fimbriatus) what a species to add to a garden list.

Phone Scoped pic of Black-winged kite at Frampton on seven this Am ✔️👍 #birds

A couple of shots from todays harbour birdboat a jug Sparrowhawk one of two that flew over the boat and a Sandwich Tern checking us out. Plus fishing Osprey and a distant White-tailed Eagle powering away to chase an Osprey with a fish.

Out on the local patch this morning looking for migrants with very little luck in the bird front though an Osprey over the bay was certainly nice to see. Though the highlight of the morning was this Clouded Yellow and my first this year.

Not a big trap this morning but a handful of migrants Vestal(1) Palpita vistrealis (2), Rush Veneer(4), Rusty-dot Pearl(9) White Point(2),Jersey Tiger(4). @dorsetmoths.bsky.social @migrantmothuk.bsky.social

Our friends at the Roy Dennis Wildlife Foundation and Forestry England have some exciting info to share: www.birdsofpooleharbour.co.uk/first-wild-w... @dorsetbirdclub.bsky.social

Jackie was out water the garden and found this female Wasp Spider our second record for this species in the garden.

2 Wood Sandpiper, 1 Green Sandpiper & 1 Common Sandpiper plus 2 Great White Egret. Lodmoor RSPB. @dorsetbirdclub.bsky.social

First Hummer in the garden today and it was little Bug--- to get a shot of but just managed a passable shot.

New in the house tick with Jersey Tiger also three in the trap this morning.

First Hornets in the moth trap this morning. Much prefer them to the Common Wasps which I also had many and one of the little blighters stung me.

Spotted Flycatcher from my walk a couple of days ago.

Well after three blank visits without success we did the triple today with Red-veined Darter, Broad Scarlet (Scarlet Darter) and Lesser Emperor though the emperor isn't the best shot but at least you can see it is one.

Mt latest Blog Post - Starting the day with an Otter birdingpooleharbourandbeyond.blogspot.com/2025/07/19-j...

We always have a few ragwort grow in the wildlife garden which as many of you will know are great for insect Hoverflies and bees. Though it's our first time we have recorded Cinnabar caterpillars on any of the plants, even though I've caught the odd adult in the moth trap.

No more Beewashing please! Why beekeeping doesn't help conserve bees. Pls RT if you agree. youtu.be/fiBYBmlKSYU

As with other who moth trap I get bycatch and I like to identify what I can some are easier than others. Here are a few of the easy ones. Dolichovespula media_Median Wasp Vespula vulgaris_Common Wasp Amphimallon solstitiale_Summer Chafer Melolontha melolontha_Cockchafer

over the last week or so we've been hearing Peregrine calling & when we get outside & scan nothing not a bird in sight. Yesterday was different, we caught this juvenile soaring over the house. Quick dash back in change lens from macro to 500mm and back out just in time to take a few quick shots.

A new odonata species for the garden well the first I've seen visiting, a very green female Emperor Dragonfly.

Went out in search of Quail last evening and failed but this Corn Bunting sang nicely for us in the evening sun. @dorsetbirdclub.bsky.social

Moth blog for June @lytchettbirder.bsky.social twoowlsbirding.blogspot.com/2025/07/new-...

Wildlife birding in June blog twoowlsbirding.blogspot.com/2025/07/june... @lytchettbirder.bsky.social

The wildlife garden is doing good proved that we have 2 male and a single female Common Blue and added our 14th butterfly species with Essex Skipper.

Best trap ever for my Upton garden with 272 moths 104 species. Of note for me were Vestal, Dark Sword-grass, Rusty Dot-pearl, 2 Diamond-back and 2 Purple Marblerd. @migrantmothuk.bsky.social @dorsetmoths.bsky.social

Best trap of the year so far 189 moth of 75 species. Best moth in the trap were Small Marbled and Diasemiopsis ramburialis the latter a first for me.

Well after seeing Phil @beardybirder.bsky.social success yesterday I thought I'd try my garden today. No luck with Yellow-legged but success with a single Currant Clearwing. to pheromone.

Out on the Purbeck NNR on survey this morning lots of Stonechat activity and came across a pair of Spotted Flycatcher which was the highlight of the morning.

Catch-up on our May birding at home and East Yorkshire @lytchettbirder.bsky.social twoowlsbirding.blogspot.com/2025/06/home...

I think this must constitute a near miss - Bempton Cliffs RSPB #CommonGuillemot dives in front of #Kittiwake

Today's Blog Post - the lower slopes around Demirkazik on Day 5 of the short Turkish trip in June 15 There were also some very cute & approachable Taurus Sousliks birdingpooleharbourandbeyond.blogspot.com/2025/05/1-ju...

Shot of one of the many singing Common Whitethroat at Durlston a couple of days ago.

Just 28 moth of 19 species 9 new for the year but for me top spot went to Pale Pinion only my second record here the last was in 2014.

Today's Blog Post - A Dotted Bee Fly from early Apr. A bizarre-looking, but great, Insect birdingpooleharbourandbeyond.blogspot.com/2025/05/6-ap...

Last part of our Cyprus trip showing the many orchids and some of the other beautiful plants @lytchettbirder.bsky.social twoowlsbirding.blogspot.com/2025/05/cypr...

Pretty good moth trap last night 24 species two second records for the garden Waved Umber & Dark Spectacle and top place goes to a Flame Wainscot the first since 2020.

2nd part of our Cyprus trip @lytchettbirder.bsky.social twoowlsbirding.blogspot.com/2025/04/marc...

The trap didn't produce much in the way of numbers just ten species this morning, but it did produce a new species for the garden in this Blossom Underwing. Also NFY Silver Y and an early Eudonia augustea.

Did our Heathland Bird survey this morning with @lytchettbirder.bsky.social on Purbeck NNR and great to record a family party of Woodlark, several Tree Pipit, Linnet, Stonechat but not even one Dartford! A singing Redstart was a nice surprise. @dorsetbirdclub.bsky.social