Dave Helliar
@dhelliar.bsky.social
Local patch birding in Somerset, Devon & Dorset & anything to do with natural history. Retired & now trying to do my little bit to help the natural world.
Reposted by Dave Helliar
The UK's single largest carbon emitter, Drax, has applied for Government support to use its tree burning to power an AI data centre in Yorkshire. 🌳🔥🏭
Please call on your MP to say NO to Drax's AI data centre bid: actionnetwork.org/letters/urge... 👍🌳🔥
#StopBurningTrees #AxeDrax
Please call on your MP to say NO to Drax's AI data centre bid: actionnetwork.org/letters/urge... 👍🌳🔥
#StopBurningTrees #AxeDrax
Urgent action: Please ask your MP to say no to Drax’s AI data centre bid
The UK’s single largest carbon emitter, Drax, has applied with the University of York and North Yorkshire Combined Authority for public support to use its tree burning to power an AI data centre as pa...
actionnetwork.org
January 8, 2026 at 3:34 PM
The UK's single largest carbon emitter, Drax, has applied for Government support to use its tree burning to power an AI data centre in Yorkshire. 🌳🔥🏭
Please call on your MP to say NO to Drax's AI data centre bid: actionnetwork.org/letters/urge... 👍🌳🔥
#StopBurningTrees #AxeDrax
Please call on your MP to say NO to Drax's AI data centre bid: actionnetwork.org/letters/urge... 👍🌳🔥
#StopBurningTrees #AxeDrax
Adult Mediterranean Gull at #ChardRes this morning. NFY #PWC2026 Also GWE still present, 15 Tufties, 30+ Mandarin & GC Grebe are slowly returning after the freeze, now 22 from a low of just 5 (39 present before freeze) @somersetbirds.bsky.social @patchbirding.bsky.social
January 8, 2026 at 12:30 PM
Adult Mediterranean Gull at #ChardRes this morning. NFY #PWC2026 Also GWE still present, 15 Tufties, 30+ Mandarin & GC Grebe are slowly returning after the freeze, now 22 from a low of just 5 (39 present before freeze) @somersetbirds.bsky.social @patchbirding.bsky.social
GW Egret at #ChardRes for its' forth day. At least 4 Blackcap feeding on Mistletoe berries in this impressive tree near Donyatt. Exploring Dowlish Wake STW gave at least 19 Chiffchaff & set-a-side fields held 2 Stonechat, c.100 Linnet, 40+ Chaffinch, Greenfinch & Siskin @somersetbirds.bsky.social
January 7, 2026 at 7:01 PM
GW Egret at #ChardRes for its' forth day. At least 4 Blackcap feeding on Mistletoe berries in this impressive tree near Donyatt. Exploring Dowlish Wake STW gave at least 19 Chiffchaff & set-a-side fields held 2 Stonechat, c.100 Linnet, 40+ Chaffinch, Greenfinch & Siskin @somersetbirds.bsky.social
A couple hours spent at my Dorset 3km #PWC2026 patch gave a cracking Firecrest & Redpoll (both NFY). Teal have increased to 63; a flock of 16 Lapwing over; Water Rail heard & Marsh Tit very vocal, also this Fox seen in a still frozen landscape. @dorsetbirdclub.bsky.social @patchbirding.bsky.social
January 6, 2026 at 5:35 PM
A couple hours spent at my Dorset 3km #PWC2026 patch gave a cracking Firecrest & Redpoll (both NFY). Teal have increased to 63; a flock of 16 Lapwing over; Water Rail heard & Marsh Tit very vocal, also this Fox seen in a still frozen landscape. @dorsetbirdclub.bsky.social @patchbirding.bsky.social
80% of the lakes at my Dorset 3km #PWC2026 are frozen over & covered by overnight snow grains, looks pretty but all wildfowl are crammed on the last open water inc 44 Teal, 4 Gadwall, 2 Shoveler, 11 Tufties, 4 Lt Grebe & 21 Canadas! @dorsetbirdclub.bsky.social @patchbirding.bsky.social
January 5, 2026 at 6:57 PM
80% of the lakes at my Dorset 3km #PWC2026 are frozen over & covered by overnight snow grains, looks pretty but all wildfowl are crammed on the last open water inc 44 Teal, 4 Gadwall, 2 Shoveler, 11 Tufties, 4 Lt Grebe & 21 Canadas! @dorsetbirdclub.bsky.social @patchbirding.bsky.social
Nice afternoon spent on the South Levels, with 4 Tundra Bean Geese at Curry Moor; 5 Bewick's Swan, 17 Egyptian Geese & a Ruddy Shelduck at Muchelney Level; 52 White-fronted Geese & Marsh Harrier at West Sedgemoor & a few Cranes at Southlake Moor. @somersetbirds.bsky.social
January 3, 2026 at 8:26 PM
Nice afternoon spent on the South Levels, with 4 Tundra Bean Geese at Curry Moor; 5 Bewick's Swan, 17 Egyptian Geese & a Ruddy Shelduck at Muchelney Level; 52 White-fronted Geese & Marsh Harrier at West Sedgemoor & a few Cranes at Southlake Moor. @somersetbirds.bsky.social
Reposted by Dave Helliar
The moment you've all been waiting for, the #PWC2026 Sign Up Sheet is here!
We look forward to seeing how many patches take part next year and don't forget to encourage your friends to sign up to keep the challenge alive.
We hope that it is a fun year's birding!
docs.google.com/spreadsheets...
We look forward to seeing how many patches take part next year and don't forget to encourage your friends to sign up to keep the challenge alive.
We hope that it is a fun year's birding!
docs.google.com/spreadsheets...
docs.google.com
December 28, 2025 at 12:35 PM
The moment you've all been waiting for, the #PWC2026 Sign Up Sheet is here!
We look forward to seeing how many patches take part next year and don't forget to encourage your friends to sign up to keep the challenge alive.
We hope that it is a fun year's birding!
docs.google.com/spreadsheets...
We look forward to seeing how many patches take part next year and don't forget to encourage your friends to sign up to keep the challenge alive.
We hope that it is a fun year's birding!
docs.google.com/spreadsheets...
Redhead Goosander at the Dorset patch yesterday (only the 3rd record here this year) & what was probably the same bird, seen briefly just over the border in Somerset at Perry Street Pond the day before. #PWC2025 @dorsetbirdclub.bsky.social & @somersetbirds.bsky.social
December 15, 2025 at 1:01 PM
Redhead Goosander at the Dorset patch yesterday (only the 3rd record here this year) & what was probably the same bird, seen briefly just over the border in Somerset at Perry Street Pond the day before. #PWC2025 @dorsetbirdclub.bsky.social & @somersetbirds.bsky.social
A rewarding day of #LocalPatchBirding visiting several sites all within 5 miles of home gave 2 Jack Snipe & 12 Common Snipe; 2 female Blackcap; a Firecrest & a total of 15+ Chiffchaff at two WWTW. @dorsetbirdclub.bsky.social & @somersetbirds.bsky.social @patchbirding.bsky.social
December 13, 2025 at 8:43 PM
A rewarding day of #LocalPatchBirding visiting several sites all within 5 miles of home gave 2 Jack Snipe & 12 Common Snipe; 2 female Blackcap; a Firecrest & a total of 15+ Chiffchaff at two WWTW. @dorsetbirdclub.bsky.social & @somersetbirds.bsky.social @patchbirding.bsky.social
A couple of hours spent on The Blackdowns, Somerset today, gave close views of Dipper & Grey Wagtail, also Kingfisher & a pair of Wigeon, but only 4 Teal. Nearby 2 Stonechat, 6 Skylark & a good count of 34 Snipe, but no Golden Plover or winter thrushes seen! @somersetbirds.bsky.social
December 12, 2025 at 8:45 PM
A couple of hours spent on The Blackdowns, Somerset today, gave close views of Dipper & Grey Wagtail, also Kingfisher & a pair of Wigeon, but only 4 Teal. Nearby 2 Stonechat, 6 Skylark & a good count of 34 Snipe, but no Golden Plover or winter thrushes seen! @somersetbirds.bsky.social
Reposted by Dave Helliar
An important read for anyone who cares about nature in the UK!
Labour seem determined to wreck what’s left of our natural world. So many broken promises.
www.wildlifetrusts.org/news/nightma....
www.wildlifetrusts.org/news/nightma....
Nightmare before Christmas: worst environmental regression in decades looms | The Wildlife Trusts
Labour’s list of broken promises mounts
www.wildlifetrusts.org
December 11, 2025 at 7:49 PM
An important read for anyone who cares about nature in the UK!
youtu.be/LVLhbtVVVTk Spectacular Starling murmuration over my Dorset patch after Storm Bram cleared through. Anyone care to estimate numbers? #PWC2025 @dorsetbirdclub.bsky.social
Starling murmuration
YouTube video by Dave Helliar
youtu.be
December 10, 2025 at 6:05 PM
youtu.be/LVLhbtVVVTk Spectacular Starling murmuration over my Dorset patch after Storm Bram cleared through. Anyone care to estimate numbers? #PWC2025 @dorsetbirdclub.bsky.social
Decided to try the moth trap last night (7/12) as it was so mild, but only a Rusty-dot Pearl & 2 December Moth for the effort! South Somerset VC5 #Teammoth
December 8, 2025 at 5:36 PM
Decided to try the moth trap last night (7/12) as it was so mild, but only a Rusty-dot Pearl & 2 December Moth for the effort! South Somerset VC5 #Teammoth
The photos not going to win any prizes, but the Dawlish Warren Lesser Crested Tern was my first British tick since the Baikal Teal in 2022 (I don't twitch much these days!) #DevonBirds
December 4, 2025 at 5:47 PM
The photos not going to win any prizes, but the Dawlish Warren Lesser Crested Tern was my first British tick since the Baikal Teal in 2022 (I don't twitch much these days!) #DevonBirds
Lesser Crested Tern still at Dawlish Warren, settled on mud, best viewed from hide 10:50 @birdguides.bsky.social
December 4, 2025 at 10:51 AM
Lesser Crested Tern still at Dawlish Warren, settled on mud, best viewed from hide 10:50 @birdguides.bsky.social
Now two Redhead & a drake Goosander at #ChardRes Photo taken at dusk this evening. @somersetbirds.bsky.social
December 3, 2025 at 6:12 PM
Now two Redhead & a drake Goosander at #ChardRes Photo taken at dusk this evening. @somersetbirds.bsky.social
A rather tatty Red Admiral in my garden in Chard today 3rd Dec!
@savebutterflies.bsky.social
@savebutterflies.bsky.social
December 3, 2025 at 6:09 PM
A rather tatty Red Admiral in my garden in Chard today 3rd Dec!
@savebutterflies.bsky.social
@savebutterflies.bsky.social
A rather dapper Peregrine enjoying the sun after the earlier frost at the Dorset patch today. #PWC2025 @dorsetbirdclub.bsky.social
December 3, 2025 at 5:59 PM
A rather dapper Peregrine enjoying the sun after the earlier frost at the Dorset patch today. #PWC2025 @dorsetbirdclub.bsky.social
The drake & Redhead Goosander showed quite well from the dam at #ChardRes early this am, shame the light was so poor! #PWC2025 @somersetbirds.bsky.social
November 27, 2025 at 10:20 PM
The drake & Redhead Goosander showed quite well from the dam at #ChardRes early this am, shame the light was so poor! #PWC2025 @somersetbirds.bsky.social
Red Kite over the Dorset patch this am, also Brambling heard inflight. Dipper on a Somerset stream near Chard late this pm. @dorsetbirdclub.bsky.social @somersetbirds.bsky.social
November 26, 2025 at 5:27 PM
Red Kite over the Dorset patch this am, also Brambling heard inflight. Dipper on a Somerset stream near Chard late this pm. @dorsetbirdclub.bsky.social @somersetbirds.bsky.social
No sign of Scaup this am. Didn't realise the significance of my find yesterday...this is the first record at #ChardRes for 24 years & the largest group since the 1950's! #PWC2025Mega @patchbirding.bsky.social #LocalPatchBirding
3 Scaup still present at #ChardRes at dusk. Also drake & redhead Goosander & 14 Tufties. @somersetbirds.bsky.social
November 26, 2025 at 12:06 PM
No sign of Scaup this am. Didn't realise the significance of my find yesterday...this is the first record at #ChardRes for 24 years & the largest group since the 1950's! #PWC2025Mega @patchbirding.bsky.social #LocalPatchBirding
3 Scaup still present at #ChardRes at dusk. Also drake & redhead Goosander & 14 Tufties. @somersetbirds.bsky.social
November 25, 2025 at 5:20 PM
3 Scaup still present at #ChardRes at dusk. Also drake & redhead Goosander & 14 Tufties. @somersetbirds.bsky.social
Reposted by Dave Helliar
Planning and Infrastructure Bill - sadly about to clear its final hurdle. With disastrous implications for our already nature-depleted land
#Biodiversity #Planning
#Biodiversity #Planning
November 24, 2025 at 6:29 PM
Planning and Infrastructure Bill - sadly about to clear its final hurdle. With disastrous implications for our already nature-depleted land
#Biodiversity #Planning
#Biodiversity #Planning
The Desert Wheatear at Wyke Regis was a Dorset tick & 8 years since my last, the showy Thurlstone bird in South Devon in Jan 2017. Thx to Brett @luvaducksbutt.bsky.social @dorsetbirdclub.bsky.social
November 24, 2025 at 5:53 PM
The Desert Wheatear at Wyke Regis was a Dorset tick & 8 years since my last, the showy Thurlstone bird in South Devon in Jan 2017. Thx to Brett @luvaducksbutt.bsky.social @dorsetbirdclub.bsky.social