Thought I’d rattle the peanut tin, to see how many badgers are around this spring, now that evenings are drawing out, and the bird feeders are packed away until October. Not disappointed, with seven coming in. Here’s some of them…..

Always nice to get a local ‘rare’ and the Night Heron, not 30 mins from my place was a real stunner! Saw it well this afternoon, and went back this evening, where re-found down by the riverbank. Good to see & catch-up with many local birders too…

So, after a day out yesterday, taking in the Great Bustards on Salisbury Plain, we went to Winterbourne Down, to view the Stone Curlews. Where have they gone…and why is there no fenced off area anymore? Viewpoint still there…but seems the RSPB have given up on maintenance/conservation at this site?

Though I was lucky enough to find my earliest ‘patch’ Sand Martin at Bathampton Mill yesterday, I couldn’t find any other migrants today above Bath…but it was great to find Green-Tiger Beetle, Lesser Bloody-nosed Beetle and both Dark-edged and Dotted Bee-flies at Browns-Folly..in the sun!

Anyone out there able to identify this egg, found yesterday whilst walking around the Forest at Stockhill in Somerset? Quite large, but what would be breeding at this time of year? 🤔

Excellent day in the New Forest on Friday, with highlights including Goshawk, Woodlark, Firecrest, Crossbill, and the star of the morning, this Lesser spot! Excuse the brief iPhone video…

Decided on a short walk, as wind abated (slightly)….and gave an opportunity for quick pic of the Obs as a shower moved through…. @portlandbirdobs.bsky.social

Well, what a way to brighten up a dreary, wet and cool Sunday morning! Finally after a poor Autumn for moths in my garden…this beauty turned up… Merveille du Jour!

A really nice sunny autumn day visit to @slimbridge-wild.bsky.social yesterday. Expected three species of Egret, Spoonbill and two Glossy Ibis were good to see, though lots of noisy maintenance kept waders and wildfowl numbers low..however, even I managed a few record shots of this Bittern!

Nice to see a few good moths here on Portland, including this stunning Passenger!

….and with amazing influx of Glossy Ibis too, it was a pretty amazing day to be out in the late summer sunshine. Butterflies still out in numbers, with 8 species seen, including pristine Painted Lady….

Nice day out around the l levels, and Cheddar Reservoir yesterday. Nearly 100 Gt White Egrets, good numbers of Little and Cattle Egret too. Wood & Green Sandpiper, Greenshank & Hobby among the sightings. But, the hot summer certainly taken its toll on Cheddar Reservoir!

Enjoyable day at Slimbridge yesterday, with plenty waders to view from the comfort of hides, out of the breeze! 17 Cranes and 3 Spoonbills, plus lots of Ruff, Black-tailed Godwits and a couple Spotted Redshank, Greenshank, Green-Sandpiper and flyover Yellow Wagtails…all distant unfortunately!

….and I found this Hornet Robberfly tucking into a small Dung beetle at Batheaston …which seems to be a very unusual sighting around here? @bathnature.bsky.social

Some very cool invertebrates seen around Tidworth and Shipton Bellinger yesterday…and though we couldn’t find any Silver-spotted Skippers, the Brown Hairstreaks showed well…. 3-4 females seen… Pics from me and members of @bathnature.bsky.social

Pretty quiet in the trap this morning….but a garden first for me! Small Mottled Willow….

Not forgetting two species of Robber-fly. Both always tricky to find, let alone get a pic…but today, was lucky on both counts… Hornet and Kite-tailed…. Birds well represented too. Wheatear, male Redstart and 13 + Spotted Flycatchers were notable!

Another wonderful, full day visit around Martin Down. Highlights were many, and included, Hunmingbird Hawkmoth, Silver-washed Fritillary, Adonis & Chalkhill blues..

…but seeing three Bedstraw Hawkmoths takes some beating. Here’s the best of the three…

Belter of a long weekend at the @portlandbirdobs.bsky.social with friends. Butterflies, moths, birds and great company! Adonis Blue, Painted Lady, Golden-twin spot and Beautiful Marbled for starters…..

Great and unexpected find by Jodie at @portlandbirdobs.bsky.social this morning. The Angular Orbweaver spider (Araneus angulatus). Not one for the Arachnophobists!

Arrived at @portlandbirdobs.bsky.social this afternoon, for the weekend AGM. Thought I’d post two of the moths I’d trapped at home first…. My second ever Gypsy moth, and the smart little micro,Ethmia quadrillella (Comfrey Ermine)….a first for me!

After a superb 8 hours in the heat of Martin Down yesterday, I came across this. We all know that Purple Emperors like feeding on all sorts of unpalatable things, but this is the first time I’ve seen Chalkhill Blues doing the same! Was up to 9 feeding on this fresh dog-poo on the path.

….and this lovely Poplar Hawkmoth too….

Been an excellent few days for garden moths. Numbers way up on last year, and good photo opportunities. Like these Elephant Hawkmoths……

What an excellent morning at Ravensroost Wood. Just one White-Admiral, amongst the flora and fauna, but it showed rather well!

What a magical place, the Dorset Heaths are. Loved the Nightjars last night, and the supporting daytime cast was just as impressive. Loads of Silver-studded Blues, Rose Chafers, Wood Tigers and interesting to find these Oblong-leaved Sundew plants too..

And of course, the butterfly species were well represented. Ones I could get pics of were, unexpectedly Silver-studded Blue, Dark-Green Fritillary, Small Copper and a hiding Blackneck moth!

A few excellent species to add to a wonderful butterfly list from Martin Down yesterday. This Tachinid fly is a parasite of the Hairy or Sloe Shieldbug. Think I’m correct, but not a lot of info out there?

Just throwing this out there too…. I catch plenty Caddis and Stoneflies,but this Caddis seems to be Notidibia ciliaris, and I can’t find much info on it? Any ideas out there, guys?

Much busier few days on the moth-front, down by the river. Best were first ever Varied Coronet, and the rather lovely Small Ranunculus…

Top day out on a scorching Daneway on Thursday. Thanks to Katie for getting better pics than mine of, Large Blue (low numbers) Marbled White, Silver-washed Fritillary and a Drab Looper moth… Good numbers of Meadow Browns and Ringlets too….

….and it was great to be able to capture this superb Golden-ringed Dragonfly tucking into a wasp….

Top day out yesterday, and luckily picked a weather-window! A ‘first’ for me in the form of Heath Fritillary, with good numbers of Small Pearl-bordered Fritillaries nearby.

Seems like the badgers and the fox are getting used to each other. Parents letting foxy eat near eldest cub… @bbcspringwatch.bsky.social

Though we expected to see a good number of these dainty little Wood Whites near the Forest of Dean, they were hard to pin down in cool, cloudy conditions…so many thanks to Katie for managing to get a couple pics….

Good to see a decent number of butterflies over the last few days, but still not many Small Tortoishell on the wing. Meadow Browns newly emerged, but this stunning Adonis Blue stole the show!

Well, back to the local stuff and of course, my moth trap, after arriving home from Cumbria last night. Great to get my first Eyed-Hawkmoth for two years!

Superb scenery too…..

Though almost drought conditions up here in Silverdale, still found a few butterflies, including this Northern Brown Argus, Small Pearl-bordered Fritillary and Large Skipper… @savebutterflies.bsky.social

Three new badger cubs have finally appeared with part of the clan this evening! @bbcspringwatch.bsky.social

As the afternoon wears on, our resident Fox is out…waiting for a snack!

But on the downside…not a sight nor sound of any Turtle Doves! Hope somebody can tell me that they are present…? 🤷🏻‍♂️

Some great moths too… with Treble-bar, Five-spot Burnet, Mother Shipton and ‘Geoff’!

…but loads of butterflies on the wing. Many Small Blue, Green Hairsteaks, Small Heaths, and Adonis outnumbering Common Blues, 3-1! Marsh Frits everywhere!

Excellent day on Martin Down. Huge increase in butterfly numbers this spring, but the downside seems to be the lack of wildflowers and in particular, orchids. This example of Burnt-tip orchid. This year two tiny spikes, compared to last years multiple large spikes….

Excellent impromptu day out on Keyhaven marsh, with @pepper1961.bsky.social Lots to see, including Little, Common and Sandwich Terns,Dunlin, both Red & Greenshank, Eider off shore and Black-headed Gull colony. Rubbish pics, but good to attempt Little & Common Terns, and lovely Curlew Sandpiper.

After a top couple of weeks with the team and friends at @portlandbirdobs.bsky.social I didn’t fancy resting up, so a day out looking for butterflies with ex-work colleagues, visiting West Yatton and Hazlebury Comon gave us… Marsh Fritillary,Green Hairstreak and the day flying moth 5-spot burnet.

I’ll try that again… Excellent two weeks in Portland coming to an end, and though the weather has been cold, breezy, sunny and clear, the birding has been hard work. Night Heron, Poms and Osprey highlights, with this Striped Hawkmoth, and Cream Spot Tiger also of note…(1)

…and last, but not least….this Portland Spurgebug… (Dicranocephalus agilis).. @portlandbirdobs.bsky.social