Paul Holt
banner
paulholt303.bsky.social
Paul Holt
@paulholt303.bsky.social
East Kent Birder often found at Samphire Hoe
Saturday morning at Botany Bay gave great views of initially one then two pallid swifts.
November 10, 2025 at 12:01 AM
There are now eight Boer goats at Samphire Hoe, the hope is they will eat the encroaching bramble and scrub.
November 7, 2025 at 7:24 PM
Goose barnacles washed up at Samphire Hoe today.
November 6, 2025 at 7:28 PM
Two wonderful moths in the garden trap, December moth like a miniature buffalo and the stunning Merveille du jour.
November 1, 2025 at 10:29 PM
Circumzenithal arc over Samphire Hoe Dover, Kent, 29th of October. Caused by refraction through ice crystals. #weather
October 30, 2025 at 8:02 PM
Top of the tide at Margate on the 26th of October. Sanderlings and turnstones on the accumulated seaweed. Redshanks and purple sandpipers on the outer edge of the sea wall. #kentbirding
October 29, 2025 at 9:47 PM
If you have ever wondered how small is a buff breasted sandpiper is, here is the Lundy bird on the 19/9 next to a starling. #ukbirding
October 3, 2025 at 5:07 PM
Toadflax brocade moth caterpillar in the garden today, feeding on purple toadflax.
#mothsmatter
August 30, 2025 at 8:41 PM
A different company emptying the cesspit at Samphire Hoe today. Someone has a good sense of humour.
August 29, 2025 at 2:38 PM
We now have Kerry Hill and Soay sheep grazing at Samphire Hoe.
August 25, 2025 at 6:16 PM
Lydden Spout rifle range near Abbots Cliff, Kent. Juvenile cuckoo, hobby, whinchat, lesser whitethroat 5, whitethroat 4, meadow pipit 18. #kentbirding
August 21, 2025 at 5:01 PM
Convolvulus hawk moth attracted to the garden nicotiana this evening. #mothsmatter
August 20, 2025 at 9:24 PM
Birding is not a new activity. Stone Age cave art at Cresswell Crags from 12,800 years ago. Described as an ibis, I wonder if it was a curlew. The beak accentuates a fossil worm burrow. #ukbirding
August 19, 2025 at 8:37 PM
Sound up for this one, tree crickets calling at Samphire Hoe this afternoon.
August 13, 2025 at 8:19 PM
A sunny blue sky Sunday at Samphire Hoe southern oak bush cricket and bordered straw moth. Saturday we had a good count of 6 wheatears and second whinchat of the autumn. #kentbirding #mothsmatter
August 10, 2025 at 8:59 PM
Pale prominent looking remarkably like a flake of dead wood.

#mothsmatter
August 7, 2025 at 8:16 AM
Hornet robber fly on the Lydden Downs near Dover.
August 4, 2025 at 8:07 PM
Saturday evening walk alongside the Swale from Faversham Creek to Castle Coote whimbrel 4, common sand 11, starling 300, pair of yellow wags, pinging beardies and a dusk hunting barn owl. #kentbirding
August 3, 2025 at 6:58 PM
Tree crickets are working their way along the Kent coast. This is the first one I have actually managed to see at Samphire Hoe.
July 16, 2025 at 9:41 PM
Great to see a Kent purple emperor feeding on an oak tree at Orlestone forest today.
July 11, 2025 at 8:01 PM
Fascinating to see a common darter dragonfly emerge from the pond at Samphire Hoe.
July 7, 2025 at 9:48 PM
Part of the circumhorizontal arc currently visible from Samphire Hoe created by refraction through ice crystals. A rare mid summer optical effect.
July 1, 2025 at 11:59 AM
One of the school kids found this on Thursday afternoons minibeast safari at Samphire Hoe. A trapezium shield bug. The size of a match head! Very rare in the UK looks like it is a recent colonist and very likely to spread.
June 26, 2025 at 7:32 PM
Bordered straw and ruddy carpet in the moth trap this morning #teammoth
June 22, 2025 at 9:32 PM
Spotted flycatcher, one of a pair feeding in an East Kent woodland. The dull green light filtering through the canopy gave it a real forest birding feel. @kentishplover.bsky.social
May 26, 2025 at 8:41 PM