Joe Stockwell
@joestockwell.bsky.social
Birds and Moths. Weymouth, Portland and Abbotsbury Swannery. Sometimes further afield.
A Siberian Chiffchaff trapped this afternoon was the highlight from the Swannery. 5 Firecrest dotted around the site. Autumn doesn't feel anywhere near over yet! @swannerysteve.bsky.social
November 10, 2025 at 6:13 PM
A Siberian Chiffchaff trapped this afternoon was the highlight from the Swannery. 5 Firecrest dotted around the site. Autumn doesn't feel anywhere near over yet! @swannerysteve.bsky.social
While perhaps not hitting the heady heights of last November just yet, I have had 3 additions to my trapping list with White-speck and Caloptillia semifasca yesterday and a Blair's Mocha this morning. I'm still hopeful of tonight, there were moths all over the place around the MV this morning!
November 6, 2025 at 5:09 PM
While perhaps not hitting the heady heights of last November just yet, I have had 3 additions to my trapping list with White-speck and Caloptillia semifasca yesterday and a Blair's Mocha this morning. I'm still hopeful of tonight, there were moths all over the place around the MV this morning!
Apologies for the non-wild post but today I am incredibly proud to watch Frances graduate as a Mental Health Nurse 👏
November 4, 2025 at 6:21 PM
Apologies for the non-wild post but today I am incredibly proud to watch Frances graduate as a Mental Health Nurse 👏
Sat in the garden with a glass of wine and just a jumper on! @migrantmothuk.bsky.social
November 3, 2025 at 7:40 PM
Sat in the garden with a glass of wine and just a jumper on! @migrantmothuk.bsky.social
I'm not entirely sure why this should even bother me, but it really does - sorry that I can't furnish absolutely every sighting with blistering photos backing up every single bird, stupid game this birdwatching!
October 20, 2025 at 1:54 PM
I'm not entirely sure why this should even bother me, but it really does - sorry that I can't furnish absolutely every sighting with blistering photos backing up every single bird, stupid game this birdwatching!
Had to move fast on a text from @swannerysteve.bsky.social this afternoon, although he'd confirmed it by the time I was mobile it was a real joy to see this Baikal Teal at work on day two of my October holiday!
October 14, 2025 at 6:20 PM
Had to move fast on a text from @swannerysteve.bsky.social this afternoon, although he'd confirmed it by the time I was mobile it was a real joy to see this Baikal Teal at work on day two of my October holiday!
Ring-tail Hen Harrier South through top fields/strips
October 13, 2025 at 1:02 PM
Ring-tail Hen Harrier South through top fields/strips
Wryneck beside the obs quarry west side brambles @portlandbirdobs.bsky.social
October 13, 2025 at 9:21 AM
Wryneck beside the obs quarry west side brambles @portlandbirdobs.bsky.social
126 Cattle Egret left the Swannery roost just before sunrise this morning - a new record for us and presumably a new highest for the county
October 2, 2025 at 2:55 PM
126 Cattle Egret left the Swannery roost just before sunrise this morning - a new record for us and presumably a new highest for the county
Yellow-browed Bunting trapped, ringed and released at the Swannery. It's flown to the hedge which runs alongside the Swannery grounds and the bird may be viewable from the permissive path heading west from Grove Lane.
September 29, 2025 at 8:06 AM
Yellow-browed Bunting trapped, ringed and released at the Swannery. It's flown to the hedge which runs alongside the Swannery grounds and the bird may be viewable from the permissive path heading west from Grove Lane.
Little Bittern sound recorded over Weymouth last night at 1:06am - that ones blown my mind a bit! macaulaylibrary.org/asset/642530...
September 27, 2025 at 4:09 PM
Little Bittern sound recorded over Weymouth last night at 1:06am - that ones blown my mind a bit! macaulaylibrary.org/asset/642530...
Pink-footed Goose was present up until around 13:30 seen by Kev but it had gone by 14:00 and hadn't returned when we all went home @swannerysteve.bsky.social
September 24, 2025 at 4:54 PM
Pink-footed Goose was present up until around 13:30 seen by Kev but it had gone by 14:00 and hadn't returned when we all went home @swannerysteve.bsky.social
Juv Pink-footed Goose in the Swannery overflow carpark.
September 24, 2025 at 12:28 PM
Juv Pink-footed Goose in the Swannery overflow carpark.
Radio message from @swannerysteve.bsky.social to say there was a Caspian Gull on the bund, I was tied up with a net full of Blue Tits, thankfully it stayed long enough for me to process them and gross out on this stunning Cachinnans!
September 24, 2025 at 6:24 AM
Radio message from @swannerysteve.bsky.social to say there was a Caspian Gull on the bund, I was tied up with a net full of Blue Tits, thankfully it stayed long enough for me to process them and gross out on this stunning Cachinnans!
10 Glossy Ibis east past the Swannery quite a good way out to sea
September 23, 2025 at 8:01 AM
10 Glossy Ibis east past the Swannery quite a good way out to sea
The perils of trapping at the Swannery. Last nights by-catch of millions of midge type insects is a real hazard this time of year, last night was truly exceptional though with the MV trap so thick with them the bottom egg trays were buried! Single Convolvulous in the actinic best.
September 19, 2025 at 9:33 AM
The perils of trapping at the Swannery. Last nights by-catch of millions of midge type insects is a real hazard this time of year, last night was truly exceptional though with the MV trap so thick with them the bottom egg trays were buried! Single Convolvulous in the actinic best.
A contrasting day, started serenely calm where 550 House Martin, 250 Swallow, 80 Meadow Pipit and 15 Grey Wagtail moved east between dawn at 8am. A Little Tern and 2 Great Egrets best from the bay before the weather collapsed! @swannerysteve.bsky.social
September 14, 2025 at 7:20 PM
A contrasting day, started serenely calm where 550 House Martin, 250 Swallow, 80 Meadow Pipit and 15 Grey Wagtail moved east between dawn at 8am. A Little Tern and 2 Great Egrets best from the bay before the weather collapsed! @swannerysteve.bsky.social
I waited a while hoping the large gulls would come into the bund at 5pm but they stayed put in the lee of the beach, today's Caspian Gulls were numbers 5 and 6 this autumn, another 1cy but also a 2cy(I think, the light was crap!)
September 12, 2025 at 6:36 PM
I waited a while hoping the large gulls would come into the bund at 5pm but they stayed put in the lee of the beach, today's Caspian Gulls were numbers 5 and 6 this autumn, another 1cy but also a 2cy(I think, the light was crap!)
Lovely views of this un-ringed juv Osprey this last couple of days - a very rare sight of a perched bird at the Swannery.
September 10, 2025 at 7:03 PM
Lovely views of this un-ringed juv Osprey this last couple of days - a very rare sight of a perched bird at the Swannery.
Another 4pm feed, another Caspian Gull @swannerysteve.bsky.social
September 8, 2025 at 5:40 PM
Another 4pm feed, another Caspian Gull @swannerysteve.bsky.social
Today's Arctic Tern was first seen feeding in the bay this morning before getting hammered by a Peregrine. It then circled up and flew inland! It was quite a surprise to see it again at 12:30 when it promptly landed on the bund for a rest before flying out to sea!
September 3, 2025 at 5:42 PM
Today's Arctic Tern was first seen feeding in the bay this morning before getting hammered by a Peregrine. It then circled up and flew inland! It was quite a surprise to see it again at 12:30 when it promptly landed on the bund for a rest before flying out to sea!
I think I can count on one hand how many 1cy Arctic Terns I've seen well over the years. Various storm blown individuals on seawatches are never to be sniffed at in these parts but views like this are much better!
September 1, 2025 at 7:13 PM
I think I can count on one hand how many 1cy Arctic Terns I've seen well over the years. Various storm blown individuals on seawatches are never to be sniffed at in these parts but views like this are much better!
Juv Arctic Tern this morning with @swannerysteve.bsky.social
September 1, 2025 at 8:37 AM
Juv Arctic Tern this morning with @swannerysteve.bsky.social
Second Caspian Gull of the Autumn for the Swannery at 4:30. An absolute ripsnorter this one! @swannerysteve.bsky.social
August 31, 2025 at 6:03 PM
Second Caspian Gull of the Autumn for the Swannery at 4:30. An absolute ripsnorter this one! @swannerysteve.bsky.social