Ed O’Connor
@edoconnor.bsky.social
Naturalist interested in most things (mainly plants, heathlands, birds). Agri-environment adviser based in Devon & Cornwall. Formerly of the Lizard NNR
Amazed to find this Common Redstart flicking around the cherry tree in our Exeter garden this afternoon. We hardly get anything in our garden and have now had both redstarts! #devonbirds
October 29, 2025 at 3:58 PM
Amazed to find this Common Redstart flicking around the cherry tree in our Exeter garden this afternoon. We hardly get anything in our garden and have now had both redstarts! #devonbirds
What a crazy sight. 43 Glossy Ibises bombing around over Kynance Cove this afternoon. They were later joined by 5 more over Lizard Village before heading off east. Also in the area: Wryneck, 5 Pied Fly, Spot Fly, 3 Whinchat, Marsh Harrier and 2 Small Pearl-bordered Fritillaries #cornwallbirding
September 7, 2025 at 7:24 PM
What a crazy sight. 43 Glossy Ibises bombing around over Kynance Cove this afternoon. They were later joined by 5 more over Lizard Village before heading off east. Also in the area: Wryneck, 5 Pied Fly, Spot Fly, 3 Whinchat, Marsh Harrier and 2 Small Pearl-bordered Fritillaries #cornwallbirding
Heath Lobelia (Lobelia urens) flowering in Devon this morning. What a stunning thing!
June 30, 2025 at 7:13 PM
Heath Lobelia (Lobelia urens) flowering in Devon this morning. What a stunning thing!
Pigmy Rush (Juncus pygmaeus) starting to appear in the dried up temporary pools on the Lizard peninsula yesterday.
May 10, 2025 at 1:02 PM
Pigmy Rush (Juncus pygmaeus) starting to appear in the dried up temporary pools on the Lizard peninsula yesterday.
I’ve had worse starts to a mornings birding. Hoopoe at Kynance Farm. Red-veined Darters and Prostrate Broom on the cliffs at Vellan Head #cornwallbirding
May 9, 2025 at 8:48 AM
I’ve had worse starts to a mornings birding. Hoopoe at Kynance Farm. Red-veined Darters and Prostrate Broom on the cliffs at Vellan Head #cornwallbirding
Just sat down for some lunch when this female Red-footed Falcon appeared at Kynance Cove. Also Hobby, Whinchat and 3 Wheatear #cornwallbirding
May 8, 2025 at 1:16 PM
Just sat down for some lunch when this female Red-footed Falcon appeared at Kynance Cove. Also Hobby, Whinchat and 3 Wheatear #cornwallbirding
Inspired by the #anthills movement @waxcapscooch.bsky.social. I found this amazing ant hill at Kynance, Cornwall a couple of years back with three national rarities growing on it (Twin-headed Clover, Dwarf Rush and Land Quillwort) amongst a community of annuals and other threatened/scarce taxa.
April 29, 2025 at 9:09 AM
Inspired by the #anthills movement @waxcapscooch.bsky.social. I found this amazing ant hill at Kynance, Cornwall a couple of years back with three national rarities growing on it (Twin-headed Clover, Dwarf Rush and Land Quillwort) amongst a community of annuals and other threatened/scarce taxa.
Kynance this morning. Nice to finally get in on the Hoopoe action, although a bit flighty after being chased by a Sparrowhawk. Also two Whinchats, five Grasshopper Warblers, three Cuckoos, 17 Wheatears in the area as well. #cornwallbirds
April 19, 2025 at 9:05 PM
Kynance this morning. Nice to finally get in on the Hoopoe action, although a bit flighty after being chased by a Sparrowhawk. Also two Whinchats, five Grasshopper Warblers, three Cuckoos, 17 Wheatears in the area as well. #cornwallbirds
Stunning traditional cherry orchard at Ludwell Valley Park in Exeter. So many great features for wildlife. Best thing was an Elder growing out of one of the Cherry trees
April 8, 2025 at 5:47 PM
Stunning traditional cherry orchard at Ludwell Valley Park in Exeter. So many great features for wildlife. Best thing was an Elder growing out of one of the Cherry trees
My first Whitethroat of the year along the cliffs near Budleigh Salterton this morning. Quite a number of Chiffs and Willow Warblers in the patches of alexanders on the clifftop as well.
April 6, 2025 at 1:36 PM
My first Whitethroat of the year along the cliffs near Budleigh Salterton this morning. Quite a number of Chiffs and Willow Warblers in the patches of alexanders on the clifftop as well.
Some of the woodland flora at Stoke Woods SSSI near Exeter this afternoon. Lost count of the number of ancient woodland indicator species
April 5, 2025 at 6:19 PM
Some of the woodland flora at Stoke Woods SSSI near Exeter this afternoon. Lost count of the number of ancient woodland indicator species
Sand Crocus dotting the turf at Dawlish Warren this afternoon. Stunning little things.
April 4, 2025 at 5:59 PM
Sand Crocus dotting the turf at Dawlish Warren this afternoon. Stunning little things.
Spotted Cat’s-ear, Hypochaeris maculata rosettes starting to emerge from the turf at Kynance yesterday
March 21, 2025 at 5:27 PM
Spotted Cat’s-ear, Hypochaeris maculata rosettes starting to emerge from the turf at Kynance yesterday
Two little ringed plovers at Exminster marshes #devonbirds
March 18, 2025 at 5:06 PM
Two little ringed plovers at Exminster marshes #devonbirds
I don’t think I’d ever get tired of watching our garden Black Redstart, such a fantastic bird. Now been visiting us for a week. #devonbirds
March 16, 2025 at 1:22 PM
I don’t think I’d ever get tired of watching our garden Black Redstart, such a fantastic bird. Now been visiting us for a week. #devonbirds
A chilly spring morning stroll around Exminster marshes: Red Kite, Pale-bellied Brent Goose, Green Sandpiper, at least 30 Chiffchaffs, displaying Lapwings and my first White Wagtail of the year the highlights.
March 16, 2025 at 11:26 AM
A chilly spring morning stroll around Exminster marshes: Red Kite, Pale-bellied Brent Goose, Green Sandpiper, at least 30 Chiffchaffs, displaying Lapwings and my first White Wagtail of the year the highlights.
Black Redstart flicking around in our Exeter garden again this morning. #devonbirds
March 11, 2025 at 1:44 PM
Black Redstart flicking around in our Exeter garden again this morning. #devonbirds
A Grayling sat on a gabbro boulder at Crousa Downs, Cornwall last July
March 2, 2025 at 10:54 AM
A Grayling sat on a gabbro boulder at Crousa Downs, Cornwall last July
Fringed Rupturewort (Herniaria ciliolata subsp. ciliolata) from the Lizard, Cornwall last summer.
March 2, 2025 at 10:28 AM
Fringed Rupturewort (Herniaria ciliolata subsp. ciliolata) from the Lizard, Cornwall last summer.
Lesser butterfly-Orchid from July this year at Crousa Downs, Lizard, Cornwall. Lovely creamy coloured flowers on these plants that grow in the better grazed areas of wet heath.
December 31, 2024 at 1:25 PM
Lesser butterfly-Orchid from July this year at Crousa Downs, Lizard, Cornwall. Lovely creamy coloured flowers on these plants that grow in the better grazed areas of wet heath.
And some of my favourite swarms of summer wildflowers.
December 16, 2024 at 10:07 PM
And some of my favourite swarms of summer wildflowers.
A couple of my notable Lizard plant(ish) finds from this year.
December 16, 2024 at 10:07 PM
A couple of my notable Lizard plant(ish) finds from this year.