Odonata around Fethiye was dominated by Red-veined Darters in their 00’s + lower nos of Migrant Hawker, Vagrant Emperor & Violet Dropwing. Other wildlife included many sightings of Roughtail Rock Agama, Caucasian Squirrel, Loggerhead Turtles & a fantastic opportunity to hold a young Balkan Terrapin.

Butterflies were few & far between, presumably due to being late in the season & following heavy rainfall the week prior to our arrival. The tiny Dark Grass Blue & Eastern Bath White were frequent along roadsides. Tree Grayling & Pale Small-branded Swift were also pleasing to see.

Local walks north of Çaliş regularly found Crested Larks at the roadsides as well as an abundance of Spanish Sparrows, Laughing Doves, Spotted Flycatchers plus many examples of the subspecies ‘Anatolian’ Jay. A Red-backed Shrike on our final day was the only one of the trip.

Recently returned from 10 days honeymoon in Fethiye, SW Turkey 🇹🇷 Birding opportunities were limited, but trips to Tlos ancient city & Gemiler Island offered good views of Blue Rock Thrush & Western Rock Nuthatch, plus singles of Sardinian Warbler, Long-legged Buzzard & many Black Kite.

Fantastic to see the Blood Moon Eclipse last night, viewed from the former RAF Tarrant Rushton. A few Grey Partridge heard only whilst on site.

After a very long wait, the (likely Western) Subalpine Warbler at Weymouth showed well on & off today from 4:10-4:30pm in its favoured Blackthorn. Many thanks to @remblax.bsky.social for a fantastic find.

Finally made the effort to see the long-staying drake Lesser Scaup at Longham Lakes (Dorset) today. Typically it was in the last place I looked, tucked-in against the island at the far end of South Lake.

This is the bird I had at Avon Tyrrell on 17th Nov which I assumed to be the same as the Cowards Marsh bird (R pic, per Scott Usher). Looked tidy when I saw it. LHS stripe much less prominent.

Mudeford Quay (Dorset) 1330-1630 this afternoon was a gamble that paid-off. 1 Cory’s Shearwater (first CHOG area record since 1988), 1 Little Gull, 5 Kittiwake, 7 Med Gull, 2 Com Gull, 18 Com Scoter & 3 Brent Geese. #DorsetBirds

Highlights from my WeBS counts in the Hampshire Avon Valley this morning. Green-winged Teal (perhaps the one I found in January returning), Goshawk, 3 GWE, 2 Marsh Harrier, 2 Green Sand, 109 Blackwit. At nearby Ripley Gravel Pit, 181 Egyptian Geese was a new site record. #UKBirding

Finally managed to catch up with the very active Pied Wheatear at Splash Point (Seaford) in E Sussex today. A stunning day for a visit to the seaside for the only new bird I’ve managed to see this year. A single Black Redstart was also showing well there at times along with several Mipits.

Excellent performance today by the Isabelline Shrike sp at Gillingham, Dorset. Glad it stuck around so long & thanks to the finder for a brilliant inland find. Bird looked to have at least 3 or 4 ticks concealed beneath its feathers on the nape & ear coverts (not visible in video). #DorsetBirds

Made a brief visit to Dunyeats ARC Reserve in Poole yesterday, for the first time in six years! Still as pleasant as ever & good to catch-up with a handful of Grayling butterflies, some expected Odonata & a rare chance to study the long-winged form of Roesel’s bush-cricket.

Bickerley Common at Ringwood (Hampshire) continues to look great for wildfowl. Sadly, no sign of the long-staying Garganey. Best of the rest were 3 GWE (1 in full breeding plumage), 2 Red Kite, 5 Tufted Duck & 5 drake Shoveler. At least 3 Garden Warbler singing further west along the old railway.

Langley Wood NNR in Wiltshire today was a stunning place to be amongst the dazzling display of Bluebells. Goshawk & Hawfinch were the best birds, but a Blackbird nest was a good spot by the girlfriend & just as nice to see. (The female bird returned almost as soon as we’d retreated)

First proper post on here. Admittedly, trying to keep things on here just about birding/wildlife in general & simply haven’t had time for much of that lately. Anyway, first decent day out for a while today & found this very tame Orange-tip near home.