I am leading a course next year on behalf of Kent Wildlife Trust 'An introduction to Dragonflies and Damselflies'. See below for further details. @britishdragonflies.bsky.social www.kentwildlifetrust.org.uk/events/intro...

Scarce Blue-tailed Damselfly had a good year @ Sandwich Bay with double figures being seen. Hopefully with the right habitat, they can continue to establish themselves. A single seen in West Kent was intriguing. @britishdragonflies.bsky.social #Teamdragonfly #UKwildlife

With colder temperatures here now, I expect my season is over. The Dainty Damselfly had another pleasing season and continues to do well at a few sites. A few to look back on in warmer weather. @britishdragonflies.bsky.social #Teamdragonfly #UKwildlife

Excellent seawatching session off Herne Bay Downs this morning. Highlights included 1 Little Auk, 1196 Brent Geese, 4 Arctic Skua, 1 Great Skua, 70 Little Gull, 48 Kittiwake, 5 Eider and 2 Great Northern Diver. @kentishplover.bsky.social #kentbirding #ukbirding

A few highlights from Herne Bay Downs before thick fog moved in included 2 Grey Partridge, 2 Firecrest, 1 Great Northern Diver, 1 Razorbill, 1 Arctic Skua, 7 Little Gull 17 Kittiwake and 3 Sandwich Tern. @kentishplover.bsky.social #kentbirding

2 year ticks this morning on Herne Bay Downs with a Woodcock at dawn and 2 Reed Bunting west (158 species for the year). Also 3 Brambling, 753 Chaffinch west, 19 Grey Partridge, 3 Firecrest and 1 Great Northern Diver offshore. @kentishplover.bsky.social #kentbirding

The latest BDS Journal is available online, where you can also access previous issues 👉 british-dragonflies.org.uk/bds-journal/

A superb Arctic Tern from Herne Bay Downs this morning. Probably my best ever views of this species. hernebaydownsbirding.blogspot.com. @kentishplover.bsky.social #kentbirding

Another morning on Herne Bay Downs dominated by sheltering from the heavy rain at times. Highlight being this Arctic Tern which landed on the beach for a while. @kentishplover.bsky.social #kentbirding

Thanks to the early alarm system of @tankertonbirder.bsky.social , I was able to add 4 Velvet Scoter to the year list (#156) off Herne Bay Downs. Also 3 Arctic Tern east. @kentishplover.bsky.social #kentbirding

When is this available Richard? I must have a Lewington guide with your superb drawings.

A patch ✔️ female SCAUP west this morning past Herne Bay Downs takes the year list to 155 species. Thankfully @tankertonbirder.bsky.social managed a few shots as it flew by Swalecliffe. Also 1 Great Northern Diver and 31 Golden Plover. @kentishplover.bsky.social #kentbirding

Tankerton. Record shots of the female Scaup that flew west also a Great Northern Diver west. Thanks @marcheath.bsky.social for he early warning system for Herne bay downs. @kentishplover.bsky.social #Kentbirding #UKbirding

Arctic Tern from Herne Bay Downs today. More @ hernebaydownsbirding.blogspot.com. @kentishplover.bsky.social #kentbirding

3 year ticks from a seawatch off Herne Bay Downs today: 1 Knot, 6 Tufted Duck and 3 Red breasted Merganser take the year list to 154 species. @kentishplover.bsky.social #kentbirding

A Wheatear from Herne Bay Downs this morning. More @ hernebaydownsbirding.blogspot.com. @kentishplover.bsky.social #kentbirding

Excellent morning in the Herne Bay Downs area. 4 Brambling heard (150sp for the year) 494 Brent, 1 Pintail, 8 Grey Partridge, 1 Ring Ouzel, 6 Mediterranean Gull and 3 Fieldfare. Despite a good search in the Glen, no YBW. @kentishplover.bsky.social #kentbirding

Highlight this morning seawatching off Herne Bay Downs was a quite distant GLOSSY IBIS flying west in with c40 Brent Geese, (149 species for the year). Also, 434 Brent Geese, 3 Pintail, 1 Pom Skua, 1 Bonxie and 74 Wigeon. @kentishplover.bsky.social #kentbirding

An hour or so watching over Chislet Marshes this evening produced 2 Short eared Owl flying in high from the NE being mobbed, 2 Marsh Harrier, 4 Buzzard, 1 ring tail Hen Harrier towards Grove, 4 Stonechat and 9 Corn Bunting. @kentishplover.bsky.social #kentbirding

Sandwich Tern, Shag and Wheatear from Herne Bay Downs this morning. More @ hernebaydownsbirding.blogspot.com. @kentishplover.bsky.social #kentbirding #ukbirding

Herne Bay Downs highlights this morning included 15 Crossbill West, 1 Shag, 2 Mediterranean Gull, 3 Pomarine Skua and 1 Wheatear. @kentishplover.bsky.social #kentbirding

An excellent couple of mornings in the Herne Bay Downs and Bishopstone area. A patch tick Long eared Owl seen this morning and a Tawny Owl heard. No sight or sound of any Yellow browed Warblers yet in the Glen. @kentishplover.bsky.social #kentbirding

A 2025 highlight. Female form 'aurantiaca' Scarce Blue-tailed Damselfly. NEW photos and exciting Blog stats @ marcheath.blogspot.com. @britishdragonflies.bsky.social @dragonflydamselfly.bsky.social #Teamdragonfly #UKwildlife

A good weekend seawatching off Herne Bay Downs (3 year ticks) takes the year list to 144 species. More @ hernebaydownsbirding.blogspot.com. @kentishplover.bsky.social #kentbirding

Excellent seawatching session off Herne Bay Downs this morning. Highlights included 10 Little Gull, 2 Little Tern, 5 Manx Shearwater and 59 Arctic Skua all west. @kentishplover.bsky.social #kentbirding

Had to seawatch from the shelter once the thunder and rain moved in at Herne Bay Downs. Highlights included 22 Little Tern feeding offshore, 1 Arctic Skua, 111 Swallow in off, 1 Hobby in off and 1 Shag west. @kentishplover.bsky.social #kentbirding

On probably the last hot (25'C), calm & sunny day of the year, 2♂️Scarce Blue-tailed Damselflies on territory at Sandwich Bay beating last year's final sighting on 3rd Sept. Amazing how such fragile creatures have survived the recent storms & cool evenings. @britishdragonflies.bsky.social #KentNature

Red throated Diver from Herne Bay Downs Saturday. NEW photos @ hernebaydownsbirding.blogspot.com. @kentishplover.bsky.social #kentbirding

A perched Short eared Owl at dawn at Bishopstone takes the Herne Bay Downs year list to 141 species. Also, 2 Shag west and 1 Grey Partridge heard. @kentishplover.bsky.social #kentbirding

Sunshine and heavy rain at times at Herne Bay Downs this morning. Highlight was a very close Red throated Diver still in partial summer plumage drifting west. Also 3 Arctic Skua east and 325 Swallow west. @kentishplover.bsky.social #kentbirding

Thinking of expanding my Herne Bay Downs patch West up to the pier. A good piece of mud in the harbour when the tides out. Has anyone ever had any good birds in the harbour over the years? @kentishplover.bsky.social #kentbirding

Migrant Hawker and Willow Emerald Damselfly from the weekend at Nethergong. NEW photos @ marcheath.blogspot.com. @britishdragonflies.bsky.social #Teamdragonfly

A Spotted Flycatcher eyeing up lunch! and a Willow Warbler from Nethergong. NEW photos @ ngbirding.blogspot.com. @kentishplover.bsky.social #kentbirding

An Osprey at sunrise this morning over Herne Bay Downs preparing to dive. NEW photos @ hernebaydownsbirding.blogspot.com. @kentishplover.bsky.social #kentbirding

Excellent morning seawatching off Herne Bay Downs. An Osprey early morning against the rising sun, 2 Black Tern, 5 Arctic Skua, 11 Grey Heron west and a few Shoveler, Teal and Wigeon. @kentishplover.bsky.social #kentbirding

Nice to see a good number of Migrant Hawkers still on the wing at the weekend. @britishdragonflies.bsky.social @britishnatureguide.bsky.social @smallshire.bsky.social #Teamdragonfly

The addition of 2 Shag today takes the Herne Bay Downs year list to 139 species. More @ hernebaydownsbirding.blogspot.com/?m=0. @kentishplover.bsky.social #kentbirding

Could these be Shags? Sloping forehead, thin bill and neck. Flew East off Herne Bay Downs this morning. @kentishplover.bsky.social @birdingbazzer.bsky.social @tankertonbirder.bsky.social #kentbirding

A 5 acre reservoir is well underway in the field directly east of Nethergong Campsite. Photos taken by the blue dot. Could help with a few more Duck, Grebe and wader species over the next few years. @kentishplover.bsky.social #kentbirding

3 Raven flew East over Herne Bay Downs this morning, which takes the year list to 138 species. Still plenty to play for. @kentishplover.bsky.social #kentbirding

Male and female Willow Emerald Damselflies in tandem prior to mating. Just look at the size difference. NEW photos @ marcheath.blogspot.com. @britishdragonflies.bsky.social @dragonflydamselfly.bsky.social @smallshire.bsky.social #Teamdragonfly

Any interesting record of a male SCARCE BLUE-TAILED DAMSELFLY seen on the 10th August at RSPB Higham Marshes by Mark Gurney. Perhaps there are other small colonies waiting to be found. @britishdragonflies.bsky.social @smallshire.bsky.social #Teamdragonfly

1 of 3 Reed Warbler seen this morning on Herne Bay Downs. More @ hernebaydownsbirding.blogspot.com. @kentishplover.bsky.social #kentbirding

Highlights from Herne Bay Downs once the mist lifted included 1 Sedge Warbler, 3 Reed Warbler, 1 Whinchat and 1 Common Sandpiper. @kentishplover.bsky.social #kentbirding

It was nice to find 3 Southern Migrant Hawker near Nethergong this afternoon. Seems to have been a poor year for them away from their Stronghold in the Cliffe area. Also concerned for Willow Emerald Damselfly. None seen! @britishdragonflies.bsky.social @smallshire.bsky.social #Teamdragonfly

The addition of Snipe and Wood Sandpiper take the Herne Bay Downs Year list to 136 species. More @ hernebaydownsbirding.blogspot.com. @kentishplover.bsky.social #kentbirding

Excellent morning on the Herne Bay Downs patch. Highlights included 1 Wood Sandpiper (patch ✔️) 2 Snipe, 1 Firecrest, 1 Tree Pipit (photo) and 14 Mediterranean Gull. @kentishplover.bsky.social #kentbirding

Highlights from Herne Bay Downs this morning included 95 Sandwich Tern east, 5 Mediterranean Gull, 1 Firecrest, 1 Reed Warbler, and... 2 Mute Swan drifting east offshore. @kentishplover.bsky.social #kentbirding

Juvenile Firecrest from this morning at Herne Bay Downs. More @ hernebaydownsbirding.blogspot.com. @kentishplover.bsky.social #kentbirding

The addition of Common Redstart today takes the Herne Bay Downs year list to 134 species. More @ hernebaydownsbirding.blogspot.com/?m=0. @kentishplover.bsky.social #kentbirding