James
@p4rus.bsky.social
Mostly countryside, mostly in Essex. Seasonal obsessions. Terrible photography. Nerd. Another exile from The Other Place.
Posts far too dull to belong to anyone else.
Posts far too dull to belong to anyone else.
Lovely lunch time spent with the purple emperors along the old road at Abberton. Lots of purple hairstreaks too, and white-letter on the dying elms. Really nice numbers of at least 9 species.
June 26, 2025 at 1:40 PM
Lovely lunch time spent with the purple emperors along the old road at Abberton. Lots of purple hairstreaks too, and white-letter on the dying elms. Really nice numbers of at least 9 species.
Lunchtime inverts: first white letter hairstreaks of the summer, and this bee which I'm 95% certain is a brown banded carder. Would appreciate thoughts, if anyone has them. Very ginger on top, which also shows on t.2, no sign of any black/dark hairs...
June 16, 2025 at 3:10 PM
Lunchtime inverts: first white letter hairstreaks of the summer, and this bee which I'm 95% certain is a brown banded carder. Would appreciate thoughts, if anyone has them. Very ginger on top, which also shows on t.2, no sign of any black/dark hairs...
Orchid counting today.
I never did find time to properly explore Chafford when we lived nearby, all the little bits of land alongside roads and so on, but they're stunning places.
Counts are down on last year but perhaps to be expected with the dry start. Some tiny specimens.
I never did find time to properly explore Chafford when we lived nearby, all the little bits of land alongside roads and so on, but they're stunning places.
Counts are down on last year but perhaps to be expected with the dry start. Some tiny specimens.
June 11, 2025 at 7:41 PM
Orchid counting today.
I never did find time to properly explore Chafford when we lived nearby, all the little bits of land alongside roads and so on, but they're stunning places.
Counts are down on last year but perhaps to be expected with the dry start. Some tiny specimens.
I never did find time to properly explore Chafford when we lived nearby, all the little bits of land alongside roads and so on, but they're stunning places.
Counts are down on last year but perhaps to be expected with the dry start. Some tiny specimens.
Two grasshopper warblers, a reed warbler hanging on in the tiniest scrap of reeds in a ditch, and a happy scatter of skylarks and yellowhammers. Final survey visit complete.
June 4, 2025 at 7:11 AM
Two grasshopper warblers, a reed warbler hanging on in the tiniest scrap of reeds in a ditch, and a happy scatter of skylarks and yellowhammers. Final survey visit complete.
Very much enjoyed these orchids hanging out under a thick bracken layer. Something a bit prehistoric when you get down underneath the weird frondy canopy.
June 3, 2025 at 5:30 PM
Very much enjoyed these orchids hanging out under a thick bracken layer. Something a bit prehistoric when you get down underneath the weird frondy canopy.
Poked around the Shropshire Hills today. Bullfinch, dipper and peregrine new for the holiday list. A truly stunning landscape, so much more so than I had expected, or remember, from the childhood daytrips we had here.
May 29, 2025 at 4:42 PM
Poked around the Shropshire Hills today. Bullfinch, dipper and peregrine new for the holiday list. A truly stunning landscape, so much more so than I had expected, or remember, from the childhood daytrips we had here.
I went back for another look at the wood warbler. Two calling and singing this time, both the spinning coin and peeeuuuu songs, sometimes quietly in little fluttery song flights. These are the best photos I managed, but it was raining and dark under the canopy...
May 27, 2025 at 4:05 PM
I went back for another look at the wood warbler. Two calling and singing this time, both the spinning coin and peeeuuuu songs, sometimes quietly in little fluttery song flights. These are the best photos I managed, but it was raining and dark under the canopy...
I spent an hour in a forest on the Herefordshire/Shropshire border this morning. Found a single singing wood warbler, two spotted flycatchers (one "singing"), a marsh tit and a redstart. Perhaps not the best haul, but pretty chuffed all the same. My last WW was 2015!
May 25, 2025 at 5:26 PM
I spent an hour in a forest on the Herefordshire/Shropshire border this morning. Found a single singing wood warbler, two spotted flycatchers (one "singing"), a marsh tit and a redstart. Perhaps not the best haul, but pretty chuffed all the same. My last WW was 2015!
The garden #bees that were good enough to stay still for a photo today. Red mason bee and the fantastically named hairy-footed flower bee.
The first holly blue and a handful of green-veined whites around - but where are the orange tips? Usually the most numerous spring butterfly at ours...
The first holly blue and a handful of green-veined whites around - but where are the orange tips? Usually the most numerous spring butterfly at ours...
April 19, 2025 at 6:16 PM
The garden #bees that were good enough to stay still for a photo today. Red mason bee and the fantastically named hairy-footed flower bee.
The first holly blue and a handful of green-veined whites around - but where are the orange tips? Usually the most numerous spring butterfly at ours...
The first holly blue and a handful of green-veined whites around - but where are the orange tips? Usually the most numerous spring butterfly at ours...
Some high quality digi-binned footage of a singing cirl bunting this morning. Buntings are the best.
April 8, 2025 at 1:14 PM
Some high quality digi-binned footage of a singing cirl bunting this morning. Buntings are the best.
Just found two singing cirl buntings in near-coastal scrub in decidedly *east* Dorset. Probably a known site, but I had no idea they'd spread this far. That counts as self-found, right?!
Willow warbler, whitethroat new for the year. Again no wheatear.
Willow warbler, whitethroat new for the year. Again no wheatear.
April 8, 2025 at 11:19 AM
Just found two singing cirl buntings in near-coastal scrub in decidedly *east* Dorset. Probably a known site, but I had no idea they'd spread this far. That counts as self-found, right?!
Willow warbler, whitethroat new for the year. Again no wheatear.
Willow warbler, whitethroat new for the year. Again no wheatear.
A new one for me - early spider orchid at Durlston CP. Chiffs everywhere and a firecrest singing by the castle, but seemingly no other migrants in the hour-long, child-wrangling visit we made. Auks as fun as ever and enjoyed a feral pig pretending it has better genetics than it does.
April 6, 2025 at 10:34 AM
A new one for me - early spider orchid at Durlston CP. Chiffs everywhere and a firecrest singing by the castle, but seemingly no other migrants in the hour-long, child-wrangling visit we made. Auks as fun as ever and enjoyed a feral pig pretending it has better genetics than it does.
One of three males on a survey this morning. Always feels like striking gold, especially when unexpected.
April 3, 2025 at 2:17 PM
One of three males on a survey this morning. Always feels like striking gold, especially when unexpected.
Spring.
Hares, corn bunting, yellowhammers and my first singing blackcaps hiding around the far edges of work.
Hares, corn bunting, yellowhammers and my first singing blackcaps hiding around the far edges of work.
April 1, 2025 at 7:35 PM
Spring.
Hares, corn bunting, yellowhammers and my first singing blackcaps hiding around the far edges of work.
Hares, corn bunting, yellowhammers and my first singing blackcaps hiding around the far edges of work.
Details came back today for a colour ringed redshank we had on the Colne at Fingringhoe Wick EWT in January. It was ringed in Jan of 2012 (!) on the Orwell and recorded 29 times since, all of which before our sighting were on the Orwell. Not a bird that moves far, then.
February 24, 2025 at 11:15 AM
Details came back today for a colour ringed redshank we had on the Colne at Fingringhoe Wick EWT in January. It was ringed in Jan of 2012 (!) on the Orwell and recorded 29 times since, all of which before our sighting were on the Orwell. Not a bird that moves far, then.
Merlin and barn owl at Tollesbury this morning. #bestphotography.
Also 20+ corn buntings, stacks of beardies, short eared owl, spotted redshank, mergansers... And none of the forecast rain.
Also 20+ corn buntings, stacks of beardies, short eared owl, spotted redshank, mergansers... And none of the forecast rain.
January 22, 2025 at 10:13 PM
Merlin and barn owl at Tollesbury this morning. #bestphotography.
Also 20+ corn buntings, stacks of beardies, short eared owl, spotted redshank, mergansers... And none of the forecast rain.
Also 20+ corn buntings, stacks of beardies, short eared owl, spotted redshank, mergansers... And none of the forecast rain.
Work bird race today. Difficult start with thick fog and ice, but we managed 92 species across three of our north Essex sites. GG Shrike, corn bunting, SEO, woodcock, bullfinch and hen harrier among the best birds, and a pint at the end. A good day.
January 11, 2025 at 8:13 PM
Work bird race today. Difficult start with thick fog and ice, but we managed 92 species across three of our north Essex sites. GG Shrike, corn bunting, SEO, woodcock, bullfinch and hen harrier among the best birds, and a pint at the end. A good day.
Finally got the shrike! Showed well if distantly at dusk.
Only lost two fingers to frostbite. Worth it.
Only lost two fingers to frostbite. Worth it.
January 8, 2025 at 6:11 PM
Finally got the shrike! Showed well if distantly at dusk.
Only lost two fingers to frostbite. Worth it.
Only lost two fingers to frostbite. Worth it.
Two attempts at seeing the GG Shrike today, both failed. Hard to feel too upset though, with four hen harriers on site, 5 cattle egrets, c12 corn buntings, 2 barn owls and a little owl. Some of my very best photography is attached.
January 6, 2025 at 6:02 PM
Two attempts at seeing the GG Shrike today, both failed. Hard to feel too upset though, with four hen harriers on site, 5 cattle egrets, c12 corn buntings, 2 barn owls and a little owl. Some of my very best photography is attached.
One of four great northern divers seen with a sandwich tern and a handful of pale bellied brents while waiting for the Studland ferry. Bye until Easter, #dorsetbirds
January 5, 2025 at 10:24 AM
One of four great northern divers seen with a sandwich tern and a handful of pale bellied brents while waiting for the Studland ferry. Bye until Easter, #dorsetbirds
Sigh. Time off for a Dorset jaunt and great grey shrike appears at work!
Still, a lovely evening to fail at finding my own at Durlston. Not an ideal site for the task, sure, and I could have tried somewhere with form like Morden Bog, but I've a soft spot for Durlston. Barn owl almost the only bird.
Still, a lovely evening to fail at finding my own at Durlston. Not an ideal site for the task, sure, and I could have tried somewhere with form like Morden Bog, but I've a soft spot for Durlston. Barn owl almost the only bird.
January 2, 2025 at 4:07 PM
Sigh. Time off for a Dorset jaunt and great grey shrike appears at work!
Still, a lovely evening to fail at finding my own at Durlston. Not an ideal site for the task, sure, and I could have tried somewhere with form like Morden Bog, but I've a soft spot for Durlston. Barn owl almost the only bird.
Still, a lovely evening to fail at finding my own at Durlston. Not an ideal site for the task, sure, and I could have tried somewhere with form like Morden Bog, but I've a soft spot for Durlston. Barn owl almost the only bird.
The shorelark at East Mersea will be the last good bird of the year. Who doesn't love a shorelark? This one as previous is pretty happy to poke around just a few metres from you (and your noisy children ffs)
December 24, 2024 at 11:24 AM
The shorelark at East Mersea will be the last good bird of the year. Who doesn't love a shorelark? This one as previous is pretty happy to poke around just a few metres from you (and your noisy children ffs)
Spent my first Christmas day off poking around Hanningfield, a childhood haunt for which I'll always have a soft spot. The velvet scoter showed nicely but finding a yellow legged gull interesting showed how few other birds there were. At least I didn't vomit while looking at it, so that was nice.
December 20, 2024 at 4:15 PM
Spent my first Christmas day off poking around Hanningfield, a childhood haunt for which I'll always have a soft spot. The velvet scoter showed nicely but finding a yellow legged gull interesting showed how few other birds there were. At least I didn't vomit while looking at it, so that was nice.
I watched the tide come up the channel at lunchtime today. Two great northern divers new for the year, with 18 RB mergs, peregrine, barn owls, kingfisher, two dozen marsh harriers, hen harrier, 3 egret sp, redpoll over... A real privilege to have this at work.
December 17, 2024 at 6:56 PM
I watched the tide come up the channel at lunchtime today. Two great northern divers new for the year, with 18 RB mergs, peregrine, barn owls, kingfisher, two dozen marsh harriers, hen harrier, 3 egret sp, redpoll over... A real privilege to have this at work.
Late lunch view. Avocets, godwits, snipe and all the ducks. Hen harrier and great white egrets hunting the uncut meadows on the way back up the hill.
Little owl at a regular roadside haunt this morning.
Little owl at a regular roadside haunt this morning.
November 20, 2024 at 3:20 PM
Late lunch view. Avocets, godwits, snipe and all the ducks. Hen harrier and great white egrets hunting the uncut meadows on the way back up the hill.
Little owl at a regular roadside haunt this morning.
Little owl at a regular roadside haunt this morning.