I've seen lots of Fieldfares and Redwings in the usual places in the Forest so far this winter. Plenty around Godshill yesterday in the frosty conditions ❄️ 🥶 Godshill New Forest

A nice start to 2026 this lunchtime in the garden through the kitchen window. Grey Wagtail. Alderholt Dorset

White-fronted Geese coming into land Harbridge Hampshire

Nice to get out in the winter sun today to do a bit of birdwatching. A few Redwings about locally which was nice to see but the highlights were these White-fronted Geese (Siberian) at Harbridge. Harbridge Hampshire

After a tip off from @cloudedyellows.bsky.social I went down to Southbourne Undercliff hoping to see (presumably) my last Clouded Yellow on the wing for the year. In the lunchtime sun it popped out, briefly nectaring for a while before disappearing. My first British CY seen in December, amazing.

Another cold but sunny day in Southbourne. But in the lunchtime window the Undercliff had warmed up sufficiently to see 8 Clouded Yellow and 1 Red Admiral on the wing. Plus more CY caterpillars seen. It's been an amazing November. Southbourne Dorset.

A very cold but sunny lunchtime walk at Southbourne Undercliff today, with air temperatures only 6C but probably warmer on the promenade. Yet there was still "Butterfly" activity to see. 4 Clouded Yellow eggs plus 2 caterpillars found and amazingly a Red Admiral out basking. Southbourne Dorset.

Finally got to see for the first time the very rare (for the UK anyway) Boat-tailed Grackle at Holbury today. A great little "Twitch !" Holbury Hampshire

Finally a sunny day at Southbourne Undercliff and it was great to meet up with fellow transect walkers Sue, Andy and Mike G. Highlights 7 Clouded Yellow on the wing with eggs and caterpillars found. Will these survive as we move into winter ? Only time will tell. Southbourne Undercliff Dorset

It's November and despite a stiff westerly breeze and an air temperature of 12c there were still 3 Clouded Yellow on the wing and evidence of egg laying down at Southbourne today. It seems the butterfly season isn't quite over yet on the coast🦋 Southbourne Dorset

I've had a lot of different fungi in the garden over the last few weeks. Including this one which I actually recognise. A "classic" for the autumn, Fly Agaric. Alderholt Dorset

I was in Southbourne today so took the chance to have a look at the undercliff where I had previously seen Clouded Yellow caterpillars earlier in the month. After a bit of a search, I found one. Very low down and battling the elements (wind and rain showers) I hope it makes it adulthood.

Down at Southbourne today to meet up with fellow transect walker Andy M and the weather was glorious ☀️ 20+ Clouded Yellow, 4th gen Small Copper(?) plus whites still flying. Highlights, a mating pair of CY and 1st instar caterpillars. Also reports of Long Tailed Blue towards Hengistbury.

More pictures from Southbourne today. Clouded Yellow and Clouded Yellow f.helice.

I was down at Southbourne today and there was plenty of action from at least 20 Clouded Yellows seen along a mile long strip of the undercliff and getting photos of the females whilst they were egg laying was a top highlight. Fantastic. Southbourne Undercliff Dorset

Week 25 and it was nice to be out on the Southbourne Transect today on a sunny warm day. Butterflies seen. 2 Clouded Yellows, 2 Painted Lady's, an increase in Red Admirals, Whites and a Small Heath. All very flighty perhaps due to the lack of flowers for nectaring ? Southbourne Dorset 📸🦋

Week 23 and out on the Southbourne Transect today. The butterflies were sometimes hard to spot but they were there. Clouded Yellows emerging with Small Coppers, Small Heath, Large and Small Whites plus Painted Lady. Southbourne Dorset

I had a great morning on one of the Birds of Poole Harbour's boat cruises today. Many birds seen, the highlights being 4 Ospreys flying whilst out in the Wareham Channel. Here's a bit of video of one of them. Poole Harbour Dorset

What a great way to start the first day of meteorological autumn. (1 Sept) This Peacock butterfly graced the garden on the Verbena in-between the heavy showers along with some Large and Small Whites. Marvelous. Alderholt Dorset.

Kestrel this week. Hengistbury Head Dorset

The Verbena in the garden is still pulling in plenty of butterflies as we now go into late summer. Including Small White and Small Copper. Also great to see some Peacock caterpillars at Stour Valley Water Meadows this weekend.

It was great today to catch up with fellow Southbourne Transect walkers and find Clouded Yellow eggs layed on Common Bird's-foot-trefoil this afternoon. Fingers crossed they are laying all over the transect and hopefully in other areas along the South coast of Dorset.

I was down at the Southbourne Butterfly Transect this morning for a quick look to see what was about. Despite the early start it was great to see 3 Clouded Yellows around 9am before the cloud rolled in. 2 females and one male seen. Presumably there are more about. Southbourne Dorset

Soon as the sun popped out in-between the showers this afternoon, it was great to see this 2nd generation Holly Blue egg laying on Ivy while I was working in the garden this afternoon. Just goes to show what an important plant it is for wildlife. Alderholt Dorset

Week 17 and out on the Southbourne Butterfly Transect today, good to see Mike O out there aswell. Fairly quiet, mainly Gatekeepers, Whites, the odd Small Copper and a solitary Common Blue seen. Small Skipper still about and Six-spot Burnet Moths. Very dry conditions with insects jossling for nectar.

Great to meet up with fellow walker Andy M on the Southbourne Butterfly Transect today. Stand out moments from this morning were this stunning Common Blue and this "darker" Small Copper. No Clouded Yellows seen since the solitary migrant was recorded back in mid June.

Very hot at Martin Down today and the butterflies there were very flighty from early on . Plenty of Dark Green Fritillary Chalkhill Blue and Small Blue seen. Also Turtle Dove and Quail heard before calling it a day at 12 noon ☀️ 🥵 Hampshire

Nice to see this pristine Brown Argus on my walk today , looks as though it's just emerged. Alderholt Dorset

If it's July in the butterfly world in England it can only mean one thing, Gatekeepers. You've got a good chance of seeing them almost anywhere. Alderholt Dorset.

Week 14 and out on the Southbourne Butterfly Transect this morning. Gatekeepers now on the wing with 2nd brood Common Blue and Six-spot Burnet moths now appearing. Plenty of Whites, Small Skipper and Large Skipper about plus the usual Meadow Browns.

Ringlets in big numbers in the woods and Marbled White now on the wing. Alderholt Dorset

Silver-washed Fritillary, Large Skipper and Small Skipper, all seen over the weekend. Alderholt Dorset.

Week 12 and out on the Southbourne transect walk today. First migrant Clouded Yellow of the season seen, 2nd brood Small Copper emerging and Small Skipper also now on the wing. Plus well done BCP Council for not cutting the grass its making a real positive difference for biodiversity in the area.

I had a good morning at the Southbourne Butterfly transect today meeting up with fellow walkers. We saw Small Heath, Whites, Meadow Brown and 2 Painted Lady's. Dartford Warbler was also showing well plus a Wall Lizard on top of a Hebe bush "nectaring" or eating pollen ? Never seen that before !

It was great to find a tiny colony of Silver-studded Blues whilst out in my morning walk today. Isolated and a little way from Cranborne Common, presumably they have been there a long time . King Barrow, Cripplestyle Alderholt.

Nice to see these three common butterflies doing well on one of my local patches this June. Red Admiral, Meadow Brown and Green-veined White. Alderholt Dorset

Wonderful to see a family of Redstarts this morning foraging and already fledged, and it's only early June. Island Thorns Inclosure New Forest Hampshire

4 Cuckoo's seen various locations around the New Forest today, 3 males and 1 female. Fingers crossed they are having a good year. New Forest , Hampshire

I walked the Southbourne Butterfly transect this lunchtime. Only Painted Lady's were strong enough to be on the wing in a moderate sea breeze (8 in total), with a solitary Small Heath tucked in low, into the grass. No other species seen. I think the "June gap" is well under way .

I saw my first Small Tortoiseshells of the season yesterday (2) Double the amount I saw for the whole of last summer ! Bonfire Hill Alderholt Dorset 📸

I always feel the name Common Blue doesn't quite do justice for this stunning little butterfly. I much prefer the Old English names like the Caerulean or Ultramarine Blue. Photos taken this week in the meadows around Alderholt,Dorset .🦋 📸

Sedge Warbler and Reed Warbler. One of the many natural sounds of spring in Britain. Longham Lakes, Dorset 📸

Nice to see so many House Martins around whilst out for my walk today. Including this pair who were busy nest building. Alderholt, Dorset 📸

Great to meet up with fellow transect walkers Mike O and Mike G on the Southbourne Butterfly transect this morning. Quite a few butterflies about including Painted Lady, Green Hairstreak and Brown Argus with Common Blues busy egg laying.

Beautiful morning on the Southbourne Transect, Common Blue out in good numbers and new this week Brown Argus.

The last of my Gibraltar photos. Painted Lady at Europa Point, Spanish Festoon on the Rock, Geranium Bronze and Lang's Short-tailed Blue both at the Botanical Gardens. 📸

More bird pictures from my trip to Gib. Melodious Warbler seen at Europa Point and a Woodchat Shrike seen in the Botanic Gardens, both firsts for me .

In the spring Gibraltar is an excellent place to watch raptors coming through on migration. The volunteers at the Bird Observatory were very informative when I visited the nature reserve pointing out what was coming through. Good views were had of Booted Eagle, Honey Buzzard and Kites among others.

I went to Gibraltar last week and there was plenty of wildlife to see. Including these Monarch butterflies in the Botanical Gardens opposite the Rock Hotel. Butterfly watching at its easiest. Just sit on a park bench and let them fly over to you. 🇬🇮 🇬🇧 🦋📸