@garyh-56.bsky.social
Nature & Wildlife watcher/photographer, volunteer butterfly transect walker.🦋 📸
White-fronted Geese coming into land
Harbridge
Hampshire
Harbridge
Hampshire
December 27, 2025 at 5:32 PM
White-fronted Geese coming into land
Harbridge
Hampshire
Harbridge
Hampshire
Nice to get out in the winter sun today to do a bit of birdwatching.
A few Redwings about locally which was nice to see but the highlights were these White-fronted Geese (Siberian) at Harbridge.
Harbridge
Hampshire
A few Redwings about locally which was nice to see but the highlights were these White-fronted Geese (Siberian) at Harbridge.
Harbridge
Hampshire
December 27, 2025 at 5:30 PM
Nice to get out in the winter sun today to do a bit of birdwatching.
A few Redwings about locally which was nice to see but the highlights were these White-fronted Geese (Siberian) at Harbridge.
Harbridge
Hampshire
A few Redwings about locally which was nice to see but the highlights were these White-fronted Geese (Siberian) at Harbridge.
Harbridge
Hampshire
After a tip off from @cloudedyellows.bsky.social
I went down to Southbourne Undercliff hoping to see (presumably) my last Clouded Yellow on the wing for the year.
In the lunchtime sun it popped out, briefly nectaring for a while before disappearing.
My first British CY seen in December, amazing.
I went down to Southbourne Undercliff hoping to see (presumably) my last Clouded Yellow on the wing for the year.
In the lunchtime sun it popped out, briefly nectaring for a while before disappearing.
My first British CY seen in December, amazing.
December 3, 2025 at 5:19 PM
After a tip off from @cloudedyellows.bsky.social
I went down to Southbourne Undercliff hoping to see (presumably) my last Clouded Yellow on the wing for the year.
In the lunchtime sun it popped out, briefly nectaring for a while before disappearing.
My first British CY seen in December, amazing.
I went down to Southbourne Undercliff hoping to see (presumably) my last Clouded Yellow on the wing for the year.
In the lunchtime sun it popped out, briefly nectaring for a while before disappearing.
My first British CY seen in December, amazing.
Another cold but sunny day in Southbourne.
But in the lunchtime window the Undercliff had warmed up sufficiently to see 8 Clouded Yellow and 1 Red Admiral on the wing.
Plus more CY caterpillars seen.
It's been an amazing November.
Southbourne
Dorset.
But in the lunchtime window the Undercliff had warmed up sufficiently to see 8 Clouded Yellow and 1 Red Admiral on the wing.
Plus more CY caterpillars seen.
It's been an amazing November.
Southbourne
Dorset.
November 25, 2025 at 4:37 PM
Another cold but sunny day in Southbourne.
But in the lunchtime window the Undercliff had warmed up sufficiently to see 8 Clouded Yellow and 1 Red Admiral on the wing.
Plus more CY caterpillars seen.
It's been an amazing November.
Southbourne
Dorset.
But in the lunchtime window the Undercliff had warmed up sufficiently to see 8 Clouded Yellow and 1 Red Admiral on the wing.
Plus more CY caterpillars seen.
It's been an amazing November.
Southbourne
Dorset.
A very cold but sunny lunchtime walk at Southbourne Undercliff today, with air temperatures only 6C but probably warmer on the promenade.
Yet there was still "Butterfly" activity to see.
4 Clouded Yellow eggs plus 2 caterpillars found and amazingly a Red Admiral out basking.
Southbourne
Dorset.
Yet there was still "Butterfly" activity to see.
4 Clouded Yellow eggs plus 2 caterpillars found and amazingly a Red Admiral out basking.
Southbourne
Dorset.
November 20, 2025 at 5:19 PM
A very cold but sunny lunchtime walk at Southbourne Undercliff today, with air temperatures only 6C but probably warmer on the promenade.
Yet there was still "Butterfly" activity to see.
4 Clouded Yellow eggs plus 2 caterpillars found and amazingly a Red Admiral out basking.
Southbourne
Dorset.
Yet there was still "Butterfly" activity to see.
4 Clouded Yellow eggs plus 2 caterpillars found and amazingly a Red Admiral out basking.
Southbourne
Dorset.
Finally got to see for the first time the very rare (for the UK anyway) Boat-tailed Grackle at Holbury today.
A great little "Twitch !"
Holbury
Hampshire
A great little "Twitch !"
Holbury
Hampshire
November 17, 2025 at 9:00 PM
Finally got to see for the first time the very rare (for the UK anyway) Boat-tailed Grackle at Holbury today.
A great little "Twitch !"
Holbury
Hampshire
A great little "Twitch !"
Holbury
Hampshire
Finally a sunny day at Southbourne Undercliff and it was great to meet up with fellow transect walkers Sue, Andy and Mike G.
Highlights 7 Clouded Yellow on the wing with eggs and caterpillars found.
Will these survive as we move into winter ?
Only time will tell.
Southbourne Undercliff
Dorset
Highlights 7 Clouded Yellow on the wing with eggs and caterpillars found.
Will these survive as we move into winter ?
Only time will tell.
Southbourne Undercliff
Dorset
November 13, 2025 at 3:56 PM
Finally a sunny day at Southbourne Undercliff and it was great to meet up with fellow transect walkers Sue, Andy and Mike G.
Highlights 7 Clouded Yellow on the wing with eggs and caterpillars found.
Will these survive as we move into winter ?
Only time will tell.
Southbourne Undercliff
Dorset
Highlights 7 Clouded Yellow on the wing with eggs and caterpillars found.
Will these survive as we move into winter ?
Only time will tell.
Southbourne Undercliff
Dorset
It's November and despite a stiff westerly breeze and an air temperature of 12c there were still 3 Clouded Yellow on the wing and evidence of egg laying down at Southbourne today.
It seems the butterfly season isn't quite over yet on the coast🦋
Southbourne Dorset
It seems the butterfly season isn't quite over yet on the coast🦋
Southbourne Dorset
November 2, 2025 at 3:57 PM
It's November and despite a stiff westerly breeze and an air temperature of 12c there were still 3 Clouded Yellow on the wing and evidence of egg laying down at Southbourne today.
It seems the butterfly season isn't quite over yet on the coast🦋
Southbourne Dorset
It seems the butterfly season isn't quite over yet on the coast🦋
Southbourne Dorset
I've had a lot of different fungi in the garden over the last few weeks. Including this one which I actually recognise.
A "classic" for the autumn, Fly Agaric.
Alderholt Dorset
A "classic" for the autumn, Fly Agaric.
Alderholt Dorset
October 28, 2025 at 4:37 PM
I've had a lot of different fungi in the garden over the last few weeks. Including this one which I actually recognise.
A "classic" for the autumn, Fly Agaric.
Alderholt Dorset
A "classic" for the autumn, Fly Agaric.
Alderholt Dorset
I was in Southbourne today so took the chance to have a look at the undercliff where I had previously seen Clouded Yellow caterpillars earlier in the month.
After a bit of a search, I found one.
Very low down and battling the elements (wind and rain showers) I hope it makes it adulthood.
After a bit of a search, I found one.
Very low down and battling the elements (wind and rain showers) I hope it makes it adulthood.
October 20, 2025 at 3:01 PM
I was in Southbourne today so took the chance to have a look at the undercliff where I had previously seen Clouded Yellow caterpillars earlier in the month.
After a bit of a search, I found one.
Very low down and battling the elements (wind and rain showers) I hope it makes it adulthood.
After a bit of a search, I found one.
Very low down and battling the elements (wind and rain showers) I hope it makes it adulthood.
Down at Southbourne today to meet up with fellow transect walker Andy M and the weather was glorious ☀️
20+ Clouded Yellow, 4th gen Small Copper(?) plus whites still flying.
Highlights, a mating pair of CY and 1st instar caterpillars.
Also reports of Long Tailed Blue towards Hengistbury.
20+ Clouded Yellow, 4th gen Small Copper(?) plus whites still flying.
Highlights, a mating pair of CY and 1st instar caterpillars.
Also reports of Long Tailed Blue towards Hengistbury.
October 9, 2025 at 3:47 PM
Down at Southbourne today to meet up with fellow transect walker Andy M and the weather was glorious ☀️
20+ Clouded Yellow, 4th gen Small Copper(?) plus whites still flying.
Highlights, a mating pair of CY and 1st instar caterpillars.
Also reports of Long Tailed Blue towards Hengistbury.
20+ Clouded Yellow, 4th gen Small Copper(?) plus whites still flying.
Highlights, a mating pair of CY and 1st instar caterpillars.
Also reports of Long Tailed Blue towards Hengistbury.
More pictures from Southbourne today.
Clouded Yellow and Clouded Yellow f.helice.
Clouded Yellow and Clouded Yellow f.helice.
September 30, 2025 at 7:33 PM
More pictures from Southbourne today.
Clouded Yellow and Clouded Yellow f.helice.
Clouded Yellow and Clouded Yellow f.helice.
I was down at Southbourne today and there was plenty of action from at least 20 Clouded Yellows seen along a mile long strip of the undercliff and getting photos of the females whilst they were egg laying was a top highlight.
Fantastic.
Southbourne Undercliff
Dorset
Fantastic.
Southbourne Undercliff
Dorset
September 30, 2025 at 3:39 PM
I was down at Southbourne today and there was plenty of action from at least 20 Clouded Yellows seen along a mile long strip of the undercliff and getting photos of the females whilst they were egg laying was a top highlight.
Fantastic.
Southbourne Undercliff
Dorset
Fantastic.
Southbourne Undercliff
Dorset
Week 25 and it was nice to be out on the Southbourne Transect today on a sunny warm day.
Butterflies seen.
2 Clouded Yellows, 2 Painted Lady's, an increase in Red Admirals, Whites and a Small Heath.
All very flighty perhaps due to the lack of flowers for nectaring ?
Southbourne Dorset 📸🦋
Butterflies seen.
2 Clouded Yellows, 2 Painted Lady's, an increase in Red Admirals, Whites and a Small Heath.
All very flighty perhaps due to the lack of flowers for nectaring ?
Southbourne Dorset 📸🦋
September 19, 2025 at 7:24 PM
Week 25 and it was nice to be out on the Southbourne Transect today on a sunny warm day.
Butterflies seen.
2 Clouded Yellows, 2 Painted Lady's, an increase in Red Admirals, Whites and a Small Heath.
All very flighty perhaps due to the lack of flowers for nectaring ?
Southbourne Dorset 📸🦋
Butterflies seen.
2 Clouded Yellows, 2 Painted Lady's, an increase in Red Admirals, Whites and a Small Heath.
All very flighty perhaps due to the lack of flowers for nectaring ?
Southbourne Dorset 📸🦋
Week 23 and out on the Southbourne Transect today.
The butterflies were sometimes hard to spot but they were there.
Clouded Yellows emerging with Small Coppers, Small Heath, Large and Small Whites plus Painted Lady.
Southbourne
Dorset
The butterflies were sometimes hard to spot but they were there.
Clouded Yellows emerging with Small Coppers, Small Heath, Large and Small Whites plus Painted Lady.
Southbourne
Dorset
September 5, 2025 at 2:47 PM
Week 23 and out on the Southbourne Transect today.
The butterflies were sometimes hard to spot but they were there.
Clouded Yellows emerging with Small Coppers, Small Heath, Large and Small Whites plus Painted Lady.
Southbourne
Dorset
The butterflies were sometimes hard to spot but they were there.
Clouded Yellows emerging with Small Coppers, Small Heath, Large and Small Whites plus Painted Lady.
Southbourne
Dorset
I had a great morning on one of the Birds of Poole Harbour's boat cruises today.
Many birds seen, the highlights being 4 Ospreys flying whilst out in the Wareham Channel.
Here's a bit of video of one of them.
Poole Harbour
Dorset
Many birds seen, the highlights being 4 Ospreys flying whilst out in the Wareham Channel.
Here's a bit of video of one of them.
Poole Harbour
Dorset
September 4, 2025 at 3:43 PM
I had a great morning on one of the Birds of Poole Harbour's boat cruises today.
Many birds seen, the highlights being 4 Ospreys flying whilst out in the Wareham Channel.
Here's a bit of video of one of them.
Poole Harbour
Dorset
Many birds seen, the highlights being 4 Ospreys flying whilst out in the Wareham Channel.
Here's a bit of video of one of them.
Poole Harbour
Dorset
What a great way to start the first day of meteorological autumn. (1 Sept)
This Peacock butterfly graced the garden on the Verbena in-between the heavy showers along with some Large and Small Whites.
Marvelous.
Alderholt Dorset.
This Peacock butterfly graced the garden on the Verbena in-between the heavy showers along with some Large and Small Whites.
Marvelous.
Alderholt Dorset.
September 1, 2025 at 5:58 PM
What a great way to start the first day of meteorological autumn. (1 Sept)
This Peacock butterfly graced the garden on the Verbena in-between the heavy showers along with some Large and Small Whites.
Marvelous.
Alderholt Dorset.
This Peacock butterfly graced the garden on the Verbena in-between the heavy showers along with some Large and Small Whites.
Marvelous.
Alderholt Dorset.
Kestrel this week.
Hengistbury Head
Dorset
Hengistbury Head
Dorset
August 29, 2025 at 9:29 AM
Kestrel this week.
Hengistbury Head
Dorset
Hengistbury Head
Dorset
The Verbena in the garden is still pulling in plenty of butterflies as we now go into late summer.
Including Small White and Small Copper.
Also great to see some Peacock caterpillars at Stour Valley Water Meadows this weekend.
Including Small White and Small Copper.
Also great to see some Peacock caterpillars at Stour Valley Water Meadows this weekend.
August 17, 2025 at 3:02 PM
The Verbena in the garden is still pulling in plenty of butterflies as we now go into late summer.
Including Small White and Small Copper.
Also great to see some Peacock caterpillars at Stour Valley Water Meadows this weekend.
Including Small White and Small Copper.
Also great to see some Peacock caterpillars at Stour Valley Water Meadows this weekend.
It was great today to catch up with fellow Southbourne Transect walkers and find Clouded Yellow eggs layed on Common Bird's-foot-trefoil this afternoon.
Fingers crossed they are laying all over the transect and hopefully in other areas along the South coast of Dorset.
Fingers crossed they are laying all over the transect and hopefully in other areas along the South coast of Dorset.
August 8, 2025 at 3:21 PM
It was great today to catch up with fellow Southbourne Transect walkers and find Clouded Yellow eggs layed on Common Bird's-foot-trefoil this afternoon.
Fingers crossed they are laying all over the transect and hopefully in other areas along the South coast of Dorset.
Fingers crossed they are laying all over the transect and hopefully in other areas along the South coast of Dorset.
I was down at the Southbourne Butterfly Transect this morning for a quick look to see what was about.
Despite the early start it was great to see 3 Clouded Yellows around 9am before the cloud rolled in.
2 females and one male seen. Presumably there are more about.
Southbourne Dorset
Despite the early start it was great to see 3 Clouded Yellows around 9am before the cloud rolled in.
2 females and one male seen. Presumably there are more about.
Southbourne Dorset
August 5, 2025 at 12:10 PM
I was down at the Southbourne Butterfly Transect this morning for a quick look to see what was about.
Despite the early start it was great to see 3 Clouded Yellows around 9am before the cloud rolled in.
2 females and one male seen. Presumably there are more about.
Southbourne Dorset
Despite the early start it was great to see 3 Clouded Yellows around 9am before the cloud rolled in.
2 females and one male seen. Presumably there are more about.
Southbourne Dorset
Soon as the sun popped out in-between the showers this afternoon, it was great to see this 2nd generation Holly Blue egg laying on Ivy while I was working in the garden this afternoon.
Just goes to show what an important plant it is for wildlife.
Alderholt Dorset
Just goes to show what an important plant it is for wildlife.
Alderholt Dorset
July 29, 2025 at 4:06 PM
Soon as the sun popped out in-between the showers this afternoon, it was great to see this 2nd generation Holly Blue egg laying on Ivy while I was working in the garden this afternoon.
Just goes to show what an important plant it is for wildlife.
Alderholt Dorset
Just goes to show what an important plant it is for wildlife.
Alderholt Dorset
Week 17 and out on the Southbourne Butterfly Transect today, good to see Mike O out there aswell.
Fairly quiet, mainly Gatekeepers, Whites, the odd Small Copper and a solitary Common Blue seen.
Small Skipper still about and Six-spot Burnet Moths.
Very dry conditions with insects jossling for nectar.
Fairly quiet, mainly Gatekeepers, Whites, the odd Small Copper and a solitary Common Blue seen.
Small Skipper still about and Six-spot Burnet Moths.
Very dry conditions with insects jossling for nectar.
July 25, 2025 at 3:08 PM
Week 17 and out on the Southbourne Butterfly Transect today, good to see Mike O out there aswell.
Fairly quiet, mainly Gatekeepers, Whites, the odd Small Copper and a solitary Common Blue seen.
Small Skipper still about and Six-spot Burnet Moths.
Very dry conditions with insects jossling for nectar.
Fairly quiet, mainly Gatekeepers, Whites, the odd Small Copper and a solitary Common Blue seen.
Small Skipper still about and Six-spot Burnet Moths.
Very dry conditions with insects jossling for nectar.
Great to meet up with fellow walker Andy M on the Southbourne Butterfly Transect today.
Stand out moments from this morning were this stunning Common Blue and this "darker" Small Copper.
No Clouded Yellows seen since the solitary migrant was recorded back in mid June.
Stand out moments from this morning were this stunning Common Blue and this "darker" Small Copper.
No Clouded Yellows seen since the solitary migrant was recorded back in mid June.
July 11, 2025 at 6:39 PM
Great to meet up with fellow walker Andy M on the Southbourne Butterfly Transect today.
Stand out moments from this morning were this stunning Common Blue and this "darker" Small Copper.
No Clouded Yellows seen since the solitary migrant was recorded back in mid June.
Stand out moments from this morning were this stunning Common Blue and this "darker" Small Copper.
No Clouded Yellows seen since the solitary migrant was recorded back in mid June.
Very hot at Martin Down today and the butterflies there were very flighty from early on .
Plenty of Dark Green Fritillary Chalkhill Blue and Small Blue seen.
Also Turtle Dove and Quail heard before calling it a day at 12 noon ☀️ 🥵
Hampshire
Plenty of Dark Green Fritillary Chalkhill Blue and Small Blue seen.
Also Turtle Dove and Quail heard before calling it a day at 12 noon ☀️ 🥵
Hampshire
July 10, 2025 at 6:39 PM
Very hot at Martin Down today and the butterflies there were very flighty from early on .
Plenty of Dark Green Fritillary Chalkhill Blue and Small Blue seen.
Also Turtle Dove and Quail heard before calling it a day at 12 noon ☀️ 🥵
Hampshire
Plenty of Dark Green Fritillary Chalkhill Blue and Small Blue seen.
Also Turtle Dove and Quail heard before calling it a day at 12 noon ☀️ 🥵
Hampshire