Ed Horncastle
@edhorncastle.bsky.social
Love all wildlife especially the birds, butterflies and adders of Dartmoor where I live.
Black redstart around the hotel on Rhodes. Beautiful.
November 1, 2025 at 2:41 PM
Black redstart around the hotel on Rhodes. Beautiful.
Last morning in Rhodes and the shots of the long tailed blue I wanted. A pretty fresh specimen too. @europebutterfly.bsky.social
November 1, 2025 at 9:47 AM
Last morning in Rhodes and the shots of the long tailed blue I wanted. A pretty fresh specimen too. @europebutterfly.bsky.social
Plenty of swallowtails around on Rhodes at the minute. A beautiful golden treat in late October. Good views from a tiny hill top monastery too.
October 29, 2025 at 10:12 AM
Plenty of swallowtails around on Rhodes at the minute. A beautiful golden treat in late October. Good views from a tiny hill top monastery too.
Away in Rhodes weather is beautiful, a little brighter and warmer than Dartmoor in late October. Lots of flowers and butterflies still about. And I was very happy to see three red backed shrike this afternoon.
October 26, 2025 at 4:09 PM
Away in Rhodes weather is beautiful, a little brighter and warmer than Dartmoor in late October. Lots of flowers and butterflies still about. And I was very happy to see three red backed shrike this afternoon.
A male adder returned close to its hibernaculum. Dartmoor.
@argroupsuk.bsky.social
@argroupsuk.bsky.social
September 24, 2025 at 1:26 PM
A male adder returned close to its hibernaculum. Dartmoor.
@argroupsuk.bsky.social
@argroupsuk.bsky.social
When searching for Brown Hairstreak eggs in the winter advice is to look between shin and chest height. Is this because that's often where the newer growth is? @savebutterflies.bsky.social @martinswarren.bsky.social On my local hedge I see egg laying above this up to the top of the hedge at 4m.
August 13, 2025 at 2:53 PM
When searching for Brown Hairstreak eggs in the winter advice is to look between shin and chest height. Is this because that's often where the newer growth is? @savebutterflies.bsky.social @martinswarren.bsky.social On my local hedge I see egg laying above this up to the top of the hedge at 4m.
About 10 clouded yellows in a couple of fields on North East Dartmoor. My 2nd highest number up here. In the heat it felt very Mediterranean. @bcdevon.bsky.social
August 12, 2025 at 1:34 PM
About 10 clouded yellows in a couple of fields on North East Dartmoor. My 2nd highest number up here. In the heat it felt very Mediterranean. @bcdevon.bsky.social
My first Brown Hairstreak of the year a mile from my house. This female was searching for the perfect spot on the blackthorn to lay her eggs @bcdevon.bsky.social @savebutterflies.bsky.social
August 12, 2025 at 1:32 PM
My first Brown Hairstreak of the year a mile from my house. This female was searching for the perfect spot on the blackthorn to lay her eggs @bcdevon.bsky.social @savebutterflies.bsky.social
Beautiful Brimstones around today. Lots of peacocks too. Silver-washed fritillaries in the greatest numbers Ive ever seen but the white admiral season is almost over.
July 9, 2025 at 7:38 PM
Beautiful Brimstones around today. Lots of peacocks too. Silver-washed fritillaries in the greatest numbers Ive ever seen but the white admiral season is almost over.
White admirals are my favourite. An absolute pleasure to see so many today in numerous woodland clearings @savebutterflies.bsky.social
July 2, 2025 at 3:08 PM
White admirals are my favourite. An absolute pleasure to see so many today in numerous woodland clearings @savebutterflies.bsky.social
So many butterflies today. 18 species including 50+ silver-washed, 20+ White admirals, 10+ purple hairstreaks, 10+ Red Admirals and 10+ newly emerged peacocks. Feel very lucky. @savebutterflies.bsky.social @bcdevon.bsky.social
July 2, 2025 at 3:06 PM
So many butterflies today. 18 species including 50+ silver-washed, 20+ White admirals, 10+ purple hairstreaks, 10+ Red Admirals and 10+ newly emerged peacocks. Feel very lucky. @savebutterflies.bsky.social @bcdevon.bsky.social
Purple hairstreak numbers increasing. About 30 this evening. 15 in my favourite tree. Far away for my camera. I love watching them fight for sunny spots. A thrill to see them spiral and a treat to see which way around they land and the different shades they appear. @savebutterflies.bsky.social
June 30, 2025 at 8:21 PM
Purple hairstreak numbers increasing. About 30 this evening. 15 in my favourite tree. Far away for my camera. I love watching them fight for sunny spots. A thrill to see them spiral and a treat to see which way around they land and the different shades they appear. @savebutterflies.bsky.social
White admiral females looking for egg laying sites this afternoon at Bovey valley woods. Weaving their way in and out of branches in the shade where honey suckle is growing. Very different to the way I usually see them gliding down from the tops of the trees. @savebutterflies.bsky.social
June 28, 2025 at 4:45 PM
White admiral females looking for egg laying sites this afternoon at Bovey valley woods. Weaving their way in and out of branches in the shade where honey suckle is growing. Very different to the way I usually see them gliding down from the tops of the trees. @savebutterflies.bsky.social
Only a handful of purple hairstreaks out this evening at my local Hotspot. Hoping for many more in the next few weeks. Surprised to see this very confiding female low down on the bracken. Taken with my phone. Closest Ive been to one. Beautiful! @savebutterflies.bsky.social @bcdevon.bsky.social
June 26, 2025 at 5:38 PM
Only a handful of purple hairstreaks out this evening at my local Hotspot. Hoping for many more in the next few weeks. Surprised to see this very confiding female low down on the bracken. Taken with my phone. Closest Ive been to one. Beautiful! @savebutterflies.bsky.social @bcdevon.bsky.social
Approximately 7 White Admirals in Bovey Valley woods today. It is one of my favourite places to be even on an overcast day @bcdevon.bsky.social 3 silver-washed fritillaries bombing about. A great contrast to the more elegant WA.
June 25, 2025 at 3:37 PM
Approximately 7 White Admirals in Bovey Valley woods today. It is one of my favourite places to be even on an overcast day @bcdevon.bsky.social 3 silver-washed fritillaries bombing about. A great contrast to the more elegant WA.
More High Browns and Dark Green fritillaries bombing around and occasionally stopping to fuel up on Dartmoor this morning. @bcdevon.bsky.social @savebutterflies.bsky.social
June 15, 2025 at 1:06 PM
More High Browns and Dark Green fritillaries bombing around and occasionally stopping to fuel up on Dartmoor this morning. @bcdevon.bsky.social @savebutterflies.bsky.social
First Ringlet of the year. So pretty. Also first and only one white admiral seen at Hisley Wood. Distant shot @bcdevon.bsky.social @savebutterflies.bsky.social
June 15, 2025 at 1:01 PM
First Ringlet of the year. So pretty. Also first and only one white admiral seen at Hisley Wood. Distant shot @bcdevon.bsky.social @savebutterflies.bsky.social
All three of the larger fritillaries out now on Dartmoor and I love them! @savebutterflies.bsky.social @bcdevon.bsky.social @ukbutterflies.bsky.social
June 11, 2025 at 2:04 PM
All three of the larger fritillaries out now on Dartmoor and I love them! @savebutterflies.bsky.social @bcdevon.bsky.social @ukbutterflies.bsky.social
Mainly the male feeding chicks this morning. A morning of different eating speeds. The smaller insects they devour in seconds. The larger (unknown to me, any thoughts @lesserspotnet.bsky.social ?) morsels taking a while for them to grab. How many days to fledging?
June 8, 2025 at 6:03 PM
Mainly the male feeding chicks this morning. A morning of different eating speeds. The smaller insects they devour in seconds. The larger (unknown to me, any thoughts @lesserspotnet.bsky.social ?) morsels taking a while for them to grab. How many days to fledging?
Hole at the back of the lesser spot nest barely visible and not increasing in size. 16 visits in one hour between 9 and 10 this morning (before the rain). 9 male 7 female. Working hard. I think they'll fledge by Wednesday. @lesserspotnet.bsky.social #Birds
June 7, 2025 at 1:23 PM
Hole at the back of the lesser spot nest barely visible and not increasing in size. 16 visits in one hour between 9 and 10 this morning (before the rain). 9 male 7 female. Working hard. I think they'll fledge by Wednesday. @lesserspotnet.bsky.social #Birds
Lesser spots are so beautiful and charismatic. You might have already guessed but I'm totally addicted. @lesserspotnet.bsky.social #Birds
June 4, 2025 at 8:23 PM
Lesser spots are so beautiful and charismatic. You might have already guessed but I'm totally addicted. @lesserspotnet.bsky.social #Birds
One Lesser Spot nest has fully fledged. The other quite a way to go. Slight concerns over a small hole in the back of the nest. Noticed by both Male and Female this morning. @lesserspotnet.bsky.social @angusrobin.bsky.social #birds @stuckateur.bsky.social
June 4, 2025 at 2:49 PM
One Lesser Spot nest has fully fledged. The other quite a way to go. Slight concerns over a small hole in the back of the nest. Noticed by both Male and Female this morning. @lesserspotnet.bsky.social @angusrobin.bsky.social #birds @stuckateur.bsky.social
Reposted by Ed Horncastle
LesserSpotNet special pin badges presented by @angusrobin.bsky.social to volunteers Stuart @stuckateur.bsky.social (left) & Ed @edhorncastle.bsky.social (right) who found and monitored breeding outcomes at LSW nests in Devon - many thanks both
June 3, 2025 at 9:07 PM
LesserSpotNet special pin badges presented by @angusrobin.bsky.social to volunteers Stuart @stuckateur.bsky.social (left) & Ed @edhorncastle.bsky.social (right) who found and monitored breeding outcomes at LSW nests in Devon - many thanks both
Reposted by Ed Horncastle
Just to see these birds is a privilege these days sadly,truly wonderful birds i could watch all day SW Uk
June 3, 2025 at 9:30 PM
Just to see these birds is a privilege these days sadly,truly wonderful birds i could watch all day SW Uk