Phil Saunders
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beardybirder.bsky.social
Phil Saunders
@beardybirder.bsky.social
1.1K followers 1K following 550 posts
Professional bird botherer & bug chaser (not like that), based in Dorset. Freelance ecologist / leader for Wildlife Travel #LGBTQinSTEM. Mainly birds, inverts, & plants, with the occasional arty photo. All views my own.
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beardybirder.bsky.social
A brace of Rusty-dot Pearl were the only migrants in the Upton garden trap this morning, with Crocidosema plebejana and Caloptilia azaleella also nice to see #TeamMoth @dorsetmoths.bsky.social @migrantmothuk.bsky.social
A Crocidosema plebejana (Tree-mallow Tortrix) rests on the pale wooden wall of a moth trap. A Caloptilia azaleella (Azalea Leaf-miner) rests on grey egg box. A Rusty-dot Pearl rests on a checked black fabric backdrop.
November 13, 2025 at 6:14 PM
beardybirder.bsky.social
St Aldhelm's Head hasn't had a great autumn compared to other local headlands, so today's Pine Bunting felt well deserved. I never saw it again after the initial find, but know it was seen again briefly by others late afternoon. I'm still struggling to sex the bird (1/n) @dorsetbirdclub.bsky.social
Poor view of a Pine Bunting, viewed through Elder branches, but showing a chestnut throat and supercilium. Poor view of a Pine Bunting, viewed through Elder branches, but showing a grey nape and chestnut ear covert surrounds. Poor view of a Pine Bunting, viewed through Elder branches, but showing extensive white in the crown as the bird preens.
November 13, 2025 at 5:12 PM
beardybirder.bsky.social
Pine Bunting seen briefly with mobile Yellowhammer flock at St Aldhelm's Head Quarry at 1030hrs & not relocated as of 1250hrs. Ltd parking available in Renscombe car park, otherwise park in Worth Mattravers village car park and walk down, staying out of private fields @dorsetbirdclub.bsky.social
Apparent Pine Bunting perched amongst Elder twigs. Apparent Pine Bunting perched amongst Elder twigs.
November 13, 2025 at 12:58 PM
beardybirder.bsky.social
A fantastic morning at St Aldhelm's Head, with an immense 26,400 Woodpigeon through in the first 2hrs of daylight, alongside 260+ Stock Dove, a Hawfinch (site 1st), a "raspy" flava Wag' (sadly not refound), a juv Marsh Harrier, 3 Brambling, 450 Starling, & 300 Skylark @dorsetbirdclub.bsky.social
View across Emmets Hill & Chapman's Pool from the top of Pier Bottom at St Aldhelm's Head.
November 8, 2025 at 2:35 PM
beardybirder.bsky.social
I've really missed Big Pigeon Days since my move away from the main autumn flightpath, so it was fab to count 4,390 Woodpigeon over the Upton garden in 2hrs this morning before the cloud set in (plus 2 Brambling, 7 Snipe, 5 Redpoll & flocks of Wigeon, Pintail, & Shoveler) @harbourbirds.bsky.social
A flock of c.150 migrating Woodpigeon fly high against a blue sky, with a Yukka, TV aerial, & two phone lines in the foreground.
November 7, 2025 at 10:11 AM
beardybirder.bsky.social
After another fairly fruitless trudge around St Aldhelm's Head (with nary a sniff of a stripy Phyllosc or ticking bunting) I made an afternoon detour to Portland, where the Pallid Swift found earlier in the day performed superbly over the Top Fields - my first in Dorset @dorsetbirdclub.bsky.social
November 6, 2025 at 6:07 PM
beardybirder.bsky.social
Experience once again won over expectation last night, with my 1st remote trapping session at St Aldhelm's Head prod'g 1 RDP (& 11 Fe.Ranunculus), with a measly count of 2 RDP in the Upton garden trap saved by my 6th (prob locally bred) Golden Twin-spot of 2025 #TeamMoth @migrantmothuk.bsky.social
A tatty Golden Twin-spot rests on a grey egg box. A brightly lit moth trap rests on grassy pasture, with a night time horizon visible in the background.
November 6, 2025 at 9:02 AM
beardybirder.bsky.social
Whilst not exactly the hoped for migrant-fest, single Silver Y, Palpita vitrealis & 2 RDP (amongst a refreshing 21/11) were welcome in the Upton garden trap this morning, alongside a late Vine's Rustic & a brace of Monopis crocicapitella #TeamMoth @dorsetmoths.bsky.social @migrantmothuk.bsky.social
A Silver Y rests on a grey-green egg box. A Monopis crocicapitella (Pale-backed Detritus Moth) rests on a grey-green egg box.
November 5, 2025 at 9:17 AM
beardybirder.bsky.social
I've wanted to see Purseweb Spider since I was a kid, but've never managed to find one despite much searching, so I was overjoyed when one of the other volunteers found this amazing arachnid during this morning's survey work - just look at the size of those chelicerae! @britishspiders.bsky.social
A Purseweb Spider rests on the bottom of a plastic pot, set upon a stony path.
November 4, 2025 at 2:20 PM
beardybirder.bsky.social
A morning well spent helping survey the critically endangered Speckled Footman caterpillar population on the Dorset heaths, with a great group of volunteers brought together by Durwyn at @footprintecology.bsky.social #TeamMoth @dorsetmoths.bsky.social
A spiny black and white Speckled Footman caterpillar walking across a granular orange rock. A spiny black and white Speckled Footman caterpillar rests amongst many-branched, off white, Cladonia lichen.
November 4, 2025 at 2:14 PM
beardybirder.bsky.social
Lovely to see my first double figure UK flock of 12 Glossy Ibis just now at Sunnyside, with the video below showing some of the group as viewed through a frustratingly ungappy hedge. The birds were feeding well by the looks of things, despite regular flushing by canines @dorsetbirdclub.bsky.social
November 4, 2025 at 9:09 AM
beardybirder.bsky.social
After 25 years employment in the environment & education sector, today is my 1st day working as a freelance ecologist, facilitator, & educator! I'm really excited at the start of this new journey - please do drop me a line if you have any bird survey, facilitation, or environmental education needs.
A bearded & bespectacled bird surveyor sits staring across Christchurch Harbour, wearing numerous layers and set against a backdrop of gorse, grassland, and distant estuary.
November 3, 2025 at 8:12 AM
beardybirder.bsky.social
A trio of beautiful migrant moths, courtesy of the @portlandbirdobs.bsky.social trap this morning: Ni Moth, Small Marbled, & Blair's Mocha #TeamMoth
A Ni Moth rests on a white stone. A Small Marbled rests on a white stone. A Blair's Mocha rests on a white stone.
November 1, 2025 at 12:08 PM
beardybirder.bsky.social
Absolutely gorgeous 1st year Caspian Gull in the Culverwell gull flock currently @portlandbirdobs.bsky.social @dorsetbirdclub.bsky.social
A 1st year Caspian Gull rests on a bright green grass sward, with out of focus wire fencing in the foreground.
November 1, 2025 at 11:34 AM
beardybirder.bsky.social
Single RT Diver, 4,850 auks (based on timed counts), & 220 Med Gulls the only birds of note south out of Chesil Cove during a 3hr seawatch this morning @portlandbirdobs.bsky.social
A rainbow stretches across Chesil Cove, with a sliver of shingle beach viewable on the right, enshadowed scrub in the immediate foreground, and a sea behind eminently lacking in Leach's Petrels.
November 1, 2025 at 10:30 AM
beardybirder.bsky.social
The 1st record of Bittersweet Moth at Cold Harbour this morning was quite apt, as it may be some time before I next trap @ the site. My 2nd Oak Rustic, a brace of Streak, & a single Diamondback Moth were the other highlights amongst a welcome 66/20 after a wet & windy night @dorsetmoths.bsky.social
An Oak Rustic rests on the metal rim of a moth trap funnel, sat upon a damp, moss-dusted, wooden tabletop. A Streak rests on a grey-green egg box. A Merveille du Jour rests on a red-brown oak leaf set upon a damp, moss-sprinkled, wooden tabletop. Close up of a Diamondback Moth resting on a grey-green egg box.
October 31, 2025 at 9:06 AM
beardybirder.bsky.social
A single Palpita vitrealis amongst a paltry 15/3 in the Upton garden trap this morning was the sole migrant, alongside a handful of LBAMs & Black Rustic. Fingers crossed for the Canary airflow later this week! #TeamMoth @dorsetmoths.bsky.social
A Palpita vitrealis (Olive-tree Pearl) rests on the pale wooden wall of a moth trap.
October 29, 2025 at 7:33 AM
beardybirder.bsky.social
Nice to find a showy female Velvet Scoter off the Princes Golf Course in Sandwich Bay this afternoon. My first in Kent for a very long time @kentishplover.bsky.social
October 25, 2025 at 3:43 PM
beardybirder.bsky.social
An unexpectedly cold night @ Cold Harbour prod'd 80/17 in the office trap, albeit incl'g 44 Pine Carpet. The 1st Mottled Umber of the season were welcome, plus Grey Shoulder-knot & Acleris cristana, with single Vestal, RDP, & 3 White-point the only migrant interest #TeamMoth @dorsetmoths.bsky.social
A Mottled Umber rests on a dark wooden wall. A Vestal rests on a grey egg box. A Grey Shoulder-knot rests on a grey egg box. An Acleris cristana (Tufted Tortrix) rests on the flaky metal wall of a metallic moth trap.
October 21, 2025 at 8:04 AM
beardybirder.bsky.social
An unsurprising 18/9 in an absolutely sodden Upton garden trap this morning did include the 5th(!), extremely tatty, Golden Twin-spot of the year, plus a rather fine Large Wainscot, Barred Sallow, Green-brindled Crescent, & Cypress Carpet #TeamMoth @dorsetmoths.bsky.social @migrantmothuk.bsky.social
A weather-beaten Golden Twin-spot rests on a grey egg box. A Large Wainscot rests on a pale wooden surface. A Barred Sallow rest on a grey-green egg box. A Green-brindled Crescent rests on the palm of a pinkish hand.
October 20, 2025 at 8:13 AM
beardybirder.bsky.social
A dawn check of the Worth Mattravers toilet block this morning produced a (sadly somewhat squished) Flame Brocade; the first time I've seen this beautiful species away from Portland, with 10 (more lively) Feathered Ranunculus providing ample back up #TeamMoth @dorsetmoths.bsky.social
A slightly trampled Flame Brocade "rests" on a concrete floor. A Feathered Ranunculus rests on a rough grey wall.
October 18, 2025 at 4:02 PM
beardybirder.bsky.social
The Baikal Teal at Abbotsbury did the decent thing and hung around until the weekend. The first female-type individual I've seen, with a striking face pattern even at range & big chestnut thumbprints across the breast. An altogether lovely beast @dorsetbirdclub.bsky.social
October 18, 2025 at 2:19 PM
beardybirder.bsky.social
There were some real beauties amongst the autumnal selection in the Cold Harbour office trap this morning #TeamMoth @dorsetmoths.bsky.social
A Merveille du Jour rests on a weathered wooden tabletop. An Autumnal Rustic rests on a grey egg box. A Red-green Carpet rests on a grey egg box. A Green-brindled Crescent rests on a grey egg box.
October 17, 2025 at 9:29 AM
beardybirder.bsky.social
An excellent 166/36 in the Cold Harbour office trap today incl'd a nice mix of migrants & heathland specialities, with highlights of the site's 1st Blair's Mocha, Scarce Bordered Straw, Streak, & an exceptional 7 Flounced Chestnut, plus a nice mix of seasonal fare #TeamMoth @dorsetmoths.bsky.social
A Blair's Mocha rests on a dark brown wooden wall. A Scarce Bordered Straw rests amongst grass and leaf litter. A Streak rests, head downward, on a grey egg box. A Flounced Chestnut rests, head downward, on a grey egg box.
October 17, 2025 at 8:53 AM
beardybirder.bsky.social
A couple of moth lifers in Shetland last night/today included an unexpected Brindled Ochre (courtesy of @jameslowenwild.bsky.social portable trap, alongside a brace of Dark Sword-grass) & several day-flying Acleris effractana, with single Silver Y & RDP also seen #TeamMoth
A Brindled Ochre rests on a pale-grained wooden tabletop. An Acleris effractana rests on a bright green grass blade, against a backdrop of blurred grass.
October 7, 2025 at 7:10 PM