Phil Bentley
@bikingbirder.bsky.social
Bikes. Birds. Coffee. Cake. Not always in that order!
Bittern seen in flight at 16:09h over #LodmoorRSPB. Dropped down into the reeds c50 m out from the western footpath and about halfway along. Plus the usual supporting cast of GWEs, Beardies, Cetti’s, Water Rails, Marsh Harrier, etc etc.
@dorsetbirdclub.bsky.social
@dorsetbirdclub.bsky.social
November 6, 2025 at 4:55 PM
Bittern seen in flight at 16:09h over #LodmoorRSPB. Dropped down into the reeds c50 m out from the western footpath and about halfway along. Plus the usual supporting cast of GWEs, Beardies, Cetti’s, Water Rails, Marsh Harrier, etc etc.
@dorsetbirdclub.bsky.social
@dorsetbirdclub.bsky.social
The prospect of adding Goosander to my non-motorised list (+ some much-needed exercise!) lured me to undertake the 38mi round trip to Silverlake. 5 juv Goosander duly ✅. Several 100 large gulls would have merited close scrutiny, only I was w/o ‘scope 🙄. ☕️🍰 on the way home 😋🚴🏼♂️
#lowcarbonbirding
#lowcarbonbirding
October 28, 2025 at 4:12 PM
The prospect of adding Goosander to my non-motorised list (+ some much-needed exercise!) lured me to undertake the 38mi round trip to Silverlake. 5 juv Goosander duly ✅. Several 100 large gulls would have merited close scrutiny, only I was w/o ‘scope 🙄. ☕️🍰 on the way home 😋🚴🏼♂️
#lowcarbonbirding
#lowcarbonbirding
Baikal Teal still present among Teal flock in western embayment.
@birdguides.bsky.social
@birdguides.bsky.social
I can’t find the Baikal Teal in the western embayment this morning, where the bulk (500+) of the Teal are. Eastern embayment completely burnt out by strong sun light currently. Our first Scaup of the autumn however. 1cy ♂. @joestockwell.bsky.social @dorsetbirdclub.bsky.social
October 21, 2025 at 9:46 AM
Baikal Teal still present among Teal flock in western embayment.
@birdguides.bsky.social
@birdguides.bsky.social
My ongoing quest to see a Bittern at Lodmoor drew a blank for the umpteenth time. Compensation came in the form of this Glossy Ibis which came in to roost just after 6 pm, 3 Great Egrets, 1 Curlew Sand, 2 Hobbys dining on dragons, Marsh Harrier, several Beardies & 3+ Kingfishers. Nice! #DorsetBirds
September 29, 2025 at 7:55 PM
My ongoing quest to see a Bittern at Lodmoor drew a blank for the umpteenth time. Compensation came in the form of this Glossy Ibis which came in to roost just after 6 pm, 3 Great Egrets, 1 Curlew Sand, 2 Hobbys dining on dragons, Marsh Harrier, several Beardies & 3+ Kingfishers. Nice! #DorsetBirds
Glossy Ibis dropped in to the Postbox Pool, Lodmoor at 18:04
@dorsetbirdclub.bsky.social
@birdguides.bsky.social
@dorsetbirdclub.bsky.social
@birdguides.bsky.social
September 29, 2025 at 5:07 PM
Glossy Ibis dropped in to the Postbox Pool, Lodmoor at 18:04
@dorsetbirdclub.bsky.social
@birdguides.bsky.social
@dorsetbirdclub.bsky.social
@birdguides.bsky.social
Managed to fire off a handful of pics of this Pale or Helice-form Clouded Yellow on Purbeck (Dorset) y’day, before it inevitably flew off at breakneck speed. Annoyingly, unable to discern extent of black markings on upperwing. Inseparable on underwing markings, me thinks?
@ukbutterflies.bsky.social
@ukbutterflies.bsky.social
September 24, 2025 at 4:42 PM
Managed to fire off a handful of pics of this Pale or Helice-form Clouded Yellow on Purbeck (Dorset) y’day, before it inevitably flew off at breakneck speed. Annoyingly, unable to discern extent of black markings on upperwing. Inseparable on underwing markings, me thinks?
@ukbutterflies.bsky.social
@ukbutterflies.bsky.social
As a relative neophyte to the moth-bothering business it was quite a thrill to be pointed in the direction of my first Convolvulus Hawk-moth y’day. This monster specimen - about the length of my little finger - was resting up on the patio wall of the Portland bird observatory.
#TeamMoth
#TeamMoth
September 22, 2025 at 4:56 PM
As a relative neophyte to the moth-bothering business it was quite a thrill to be pointed in the direction of my first Convolvulus Hawk-moth y’day. This monster specimen - about the length of my little finger - was resting up on the patio wall of the Portland bird observatory.
#TeamMoth
#TeamMoth
Cornwall - 17,000
Dorset - 0
😫
Dorset - 0
😫
Lizard Point 19th Sep ‘25.
I switched location as road closed to Porthgwarra. Incredible movement of 17000 Great Shearwater plus 46 Sooty, 59 Balearic, ad Long-tailed Skua and 300+ Gannet.
Video shows constant movement 1 mile offshore. Video quality has been dumbed down by platform prividers.
I switched location as road closed to Porthgwarra. Incredible movement of 17000 Great Shearwater plus 46 Sooty, 59 Balearic, ad Long-tailed Skua and 300+ Gannet.
Video shows constant movement 1 mile offshore. Video quality has been dumbed down by platform prividers.
September 19, 2025 at 2:04 PM
Cornwall - 17,000
Dorset - 0
😫
Dorset - 0
😫
Just had a v close Leach’s Petrel past Chesil Cove, viewed for at least 5 mins. Looks to be heading towards the bill. (3 Stormies this morning)
@portlandbirdobs.bsky.social
@portlandbirdobs.bsky.social
September 3, 2025 at 3:21 PM
Just had a v close Leach’s Petrel past Chesil Cove, viewed for at least 5 mins. Looks to be heading towards the bill. (3 Stormies this morning)
@portlandbirdobs.bsky.social
@portlandbirdobs.bsky.social
One of my target Odonata species on a recent trip to East Sussex was Willow Emerald Damselfly. Woods Mill nature reserve, home of @sussexwildlife.bsky.social, is reputed to be a good site for them. It took me over 2 hours to find a few individuals, but this male posed nicely on its favoured perch.
August 14, 2025 at 6:53 PM
One of my target Odonata species on a recent trip to East Sussex was Willow Emerald Damselfly. Woods Mill nature reserve, home of @sussexwildlife.bsky.social, is reputed to be a good site for them. It took me over 2 hours to find a few individuals, but this male posed nicely on its favoured perch.
Pleased to find 6+ Southern Migrant Hawkers along the R Ouse near Southease (E Sussex) during a recent visit. Having fired off dozens of pretty poor flight shots it was good to eventually stumble across a v smart perched male. Boots were duly filled!
@britishdragonflies.bsky.social
@britishdragonflies.bsky.social
August 12, 2025 at 2:16 PM
Pleased to find 6+ Southern Migrant Hawkers along the R Ouse near Southease (E Sussex) during a recent visit. Having fired off dozens of pretty poor flight shots it was good to eventually stumble across a v smart perched male. Boots were duly filled!
@britishdragonflies.bsky.social
@britishdragonflies.bsky.social
This odd-looking dark-ish juv tern (right hand bird) seen briefly & distantly on Brownsea today. Initial thoughts were of Black Tern, but lack of obvs dark patch on side of breast, head markings, + similar size to nearby juv Cmn Tern, all seem to suggest that species 🤔
@dorsetbirdclub.bsky.social
@dorsetbirdclub.bsky.social
July 23, 2025 at 7:21 PM
This odd-looking dark-ish juv tern (right hand bird) seen briefly & distantly on Brownsea today. Initial thoughts were of Black Tern, but lack of obvs dark patch on side of breast, head markings, + similar size to nearby juv Cmn Tern, all seem to suggest that species 🤔
@dorsetbirdclub.bsky.social
@dorsetbirdclub.bsky.social
100s if not 1000s of Chalkhill Blues at a parched Martin Down NNR today. They seemed to be everywhere you looked! Elsewhere a showy Brimstone posed nicely for the camera 👇. Avian interest in the form of Turtle Dove & Quail - both heard only.
@ukbutterflies.bsky.social
@ukbutterflies.bsky.social
July 18, 2025 at 7:04 PM
100s if not 1000s of Chalkhill Blues at a parched Martin Down NNR today. They seemed to be everywhere you looked! Elsewhere a showy Brimstone posed nicely for the camera 👇. Avian interest in the form of Turtle Dove & Quail - both heard only.
@ukbutterflies.bsky.social
@ukbutterflies.bsky.social
Definitely not the high point of my faltering wildlife photography career to date, but you get the idea! Not easy holding a heavy Kowa ‘scope in one hand while trying to take a photo with your phone in the other 😆 (Note to self: must ALWAYS carry #1 camera with me 🙄)
@dorsetbirdclub.bsky.social
@dorsetbirdclub.bsky.social
July 15, 2025 at 4:37 PM
Definitely not the high point of my faltering wildlife photography career to date, but you get the idea! Not easy holding a heavy Kowa ‘scope in one hand while trying to take a photo with your phone in the other 😆 (Note to self: must ALWAYS carry #1 camera with me 🙄)
@dorsetbirdclub.bsky.social
@dorsetbirdclub.bsky.social
Durlston Head sea watch. Single Cory’s Shearwater west 10:50-11:00. Also 18 Manx, 5 Balearic.
I’m guessing that the Cory’s will have been picked up later passing Portland 🙂
@dorsetbirdclub.bsky.social
@birdguides.bsky.social
I’m guessing that the Cory’s will have been picked up later passing Portland 🙂
@dorsetbirdclub.bsky.social
@birdguides.bsky.social
July 15, 2025 at 11:10 AM
Durlston Head sea watch. Single Cory’s Shearwater west 10:50-11:00. Also 18 Manx, 5 Balearic.
I’m guessing that the Cory’s will have been picked up later passing Portland 🙂
@dorsetbirdclub.bsky.social
@birdguides.bsky.social
I’m guessing that the Cory’s will have been picked up later passing Portland 🙂
@dorsetbirdclub.bsky.social
@birdguides.bsky.social
Three species of hairstreak butterfly at @dorsetwildlife.bsky.social Alner’s Gorse reserve today, including this lovely fresh Brown Hairstreak (a male, I think, tho not 100% sure).
@ukbutterflies.bsky.social
@ukbutterflies.bsky.social
July 11, 2025 at 3:52 PM
Three species of hairstreak butterfly at @dorsetwildlife.bsky.social Alner’s Gorse reserve today, including this lovely fresh Brown Hairstreak (a male, I think, tho not 100% sure).
@ukbutterflies.bsky.social
@ukbutterflies.bsky.social
Good numbers of Purple Hairstreaks flitting around the Oak tree next to the bench at the end of Cordite Way (Poole Harbour). Some of them are feeding on the lower branches hence good photo opps for those who are of a mind to. 🦋. Nice views of adult WTE over towards Arne.
@dorsetwildlife.bsky.social
@dorsetwildlife.bsky.social
July 8, 2025 at 9:39 AM
Good numbers of Purple Hairstreaks flitting around the Oak tree next to the bench at the end of Cordite Way (Poole Harbour). Some of them are feeding on the lower branches hence good photo opps for those who are of a mind to. 🦋. Nice views of adult WTE over towards Arne.
@dorsetwildlife.bsky.social
@dorsetwildlife.bsky.social
Purple Duo! One more photo from Knepp y’day, and perhaps one that I’m unlikely to ever capture again. Both of the UK’s purple-named butterflies in the same camera viewfinder. Purple Emperor at lower left, Purple Hairstreak at upper right. 🦋🦋😍
@kneppwilding.bsky.social
@ukbutterflies.bsky.social
@kneppwilding.bsky.social
@ukbutterflies.bsky.social
June 30, 2025 at 6:21 PM
Purple Duo! One more photo from Knepp y’day, and perhaps one that I’m unlikely to ever capture again. Both of the UK’s purple-named butterflies in the same camera viewfinder. Purple Emperor at lower left, Purple Hairstreak at upper right. 🦋🦋😍
@kneppwilding.bsky.social
@ukbutterflies.bsky.social
@kneppwilding.bsky.social
@ukbutterflies.bsky.social
Pretty damn awesome to witness the Purple Emperor bonanza at @kneppwilding.bsky.social yesterday in perfect conditions. 30+ sightings of 20 or more individuals. Seeing & hearing my first Turtle Doves for several years was a nice bonus. V impressed with Knepp Estate - the landscape & the ethos 🦋👍
June 30, 2025 at 5:43 PM
Pretty damn awesome to witness the Purple Emperor bonanza at @kneppwilding.bsky.social yesterday in perfect conditions. 30+ sightings of 20 or more individuals. Seeing & hearing my first Turtle Doves for several years was a nice bonus. V impressed with Knepp Estate - the landscape & the ethos 🦋👍
June 30, 2025 at 5:40 PM
Pretty damn awesome to witness the Purple Emperor bonanza at @kneppwilding.bsky.social yesterday in perfect conditions. 30+ sightings of 20 or more individuals. Seeing & hearing my first Turtle Doves for several years was a nice bonus. V impressed with Knepp Estate - the landscape & the ethos 🦋👍
3 steps backwards for every 1 step forward. Seems like 400 will soon become the new 500 😆
Looks like many UK twitchers will lose 3 - 4 ticks:
Yelkouan & Balearic Shearwaters
Green-winged Teal & Teal
Hooded & Carrion Crows
Sibe & Stejneger's Stonechats
But on a big positive, those idiots who broke multiple UK/Irish C19 rules to twitch the Cabot's Tern have seen it lumped with Sandwich
Yelkouan & Balearic Shearwaters
Green-winged Teal & Teal
Hooded & Carrion Crows
Sibe & Stejneger's Stonechats
But on a big positive, those idiots who broke multiple UK/Irish C19 rules to twitch the Cabot's Tern have seen it lumped with Sandwich
A unified global taxonomy has been published for the first time via the launch of AviList this week, with the British list to be impacted:
June 13, 2025 at 11:00 AM
3 steps backwards for every 1 step forward. Seems like 400 will soon become the new 500 😆
Initial thoughts re this handsome critter were of a clearwing species. However, I can’t seem to match it with anything in my moth guide, so perhaps belongs to some other family. Any ID help appreciated, thanks. Photo taken y’day at one of the Shropshire mosses.
#TeamMoth
#TeamMoth
June 12, 2025 at 6:15 PM
Initial thoughts re this handsome critter were of a clearwing species. However, I can’t seem to match it with anything in my moth guide, so perhaps belongs to some other family. Any ID help appreciated, thanks. Photo taken y’day at one of the Shropshire mosses.
#TeamMoth
#TeamMoth
Oh my days. Wout van Aert. Super-domestique GOAT. No question. 🚵♀️🐐💪 #giroditalia
May 31, 2025 at 6:44 PM
Oh my days. Wout van Aert. Super-domestique GOAT. No question. 🚵♀️🐐💪 #giroditalia
Pleased to find a new DW territory on one of my lower grade BTO Heathland Bird Survey squares this a.m. Pair with young on the only patch of suitable habo (as clocked on 1st visit). Backup cast of Tripits, Stonechats, Y’hammers Cuckoos & (early?) SS Blues 🦋. Nice work!
@btobirds.bsky.social
@btobirds.bsky.social
May 30, 2025 at 12:37 PM
Pleased to find a new DW territory on one of my lower grade BTO Heathland Bird Survey squares this a.m. Pair with young on the only patch of suitable habo (as clocked on 1st visit). Backup cast of Tripits, Stonechats, Y’hammers Cuckoos & (early?) SS Blues 🦋. Nice work!
@btobirds.bsky.social
@btobirds.bsky.social
Good hair day, bad hair day. Durlston Country Park, Dorset, 22.5.2025.
@dorsetbirdclub.bsky.social
@dorsetbirdclub.bsky.social
May 23, 2025 at 3:33 PM
Good hair day, bad hair day. Durlston Country Park, Dorset, 22.5.2025.
@dorsetbirdclub.bsky.social
@dorsetbirdclub.bsky.social