Simon Patient
@simonpatient1.bsky.social
Essex Birder and Abberton Reservoir local patcher. Amateur photographer and artist. Also interests in astronomy and wildlife in general especially Butterflies. Colchester based.
The 2 Firecrests were back in my Colchester garden again today, and showed very well for a few minutes. Also a Redpoll sp flew over #essexbirding
November 7, 2025 at 11:44 AM
The 2 Firecrests were back in my Colchester garden again today, and showed very well for a few minutes. Also a Redpoll sp flew over #essexbirding
Showing Ivy a Raven that just cronked over our Colchester garden this a’noon. 2 Red Admirals still on our Buddliea. Y’day 4 Crossbills flew over plus a pair of Blackcaps in the garden. #essexbirding
November 6, 2025 at 3:30 PM
Showing Ivy a Raven that just cronked over our Colchester garden this a’noon. 2 Red Admirals still on our Buddliea. Y’day 4 Crossbills flew over plus a pair of Blackcaps in the garden. #essexbirding
A nice surprise whilst washing up were 2 Firecrests in our Colchester garden this morning. My first locally this autumn/winter and maybe the same returning pair that overwintered here last year. #essexbirding
November 5, 2025 at 11:13 AM
A nice surprise whilst washing up were 2 Firecrests in our Colchester garden this morning. My first locally this autumn/winter and maybe the same returning pair that overwintered here last year. #essexbirding
A record phone shot of Comet C/2025 A6 Lemmon in yesterday’s evening sky. (Just Below centre) #astronomy
October 25, 2025 at 8:18 AM
A record phone shot of Comet C/2025 A6 Lemmon in yesterday’s evening sky. (Just Below centre) #astronomy
This Great White Egret flew E over our Colchester garden today and was a nice garden ✅. Also our first autumn Siskins and y’day 4 Redwings over #essexbirding
October 8, 2025 at 12:37 PM
This Great White Egret flew E over our Colchester garden today and was a nice garden ✅. Also our first autumn Siskins and y’day 4 Redwings over #essexbirding
Managed to get over and see the Turkestan Shrike y’day at Dunwich. As always with Shrikes an absolute cracker… #rarebirduk
October 7, 2025 at 9:43 AM
Managed to get over and see the Turkestan Shrike y’day at Dunwich. As always with Shrikes an absolute cracker… #rarebirduk
2 Clouded Yellows at Gt Wigborough church this morning also 2 Wall Browns, Small Heath and Common Blues still on the wing. 6 + Goldcrests there also. Water levels still dropping at Abberton #essexbirding
September 30, 2025 at 12:57 PM
2 Clouded Yellows at Gt Wigborough church this morning also 2 Wall Browns, Small Heath and Common Blues still on the wing. 6 + Goldcrests there also. Water levels still dropping at Abberton #essexbirding
I hadn’t check on our garden White Admiral larva for a while, and checking today I noticed its hibernaculum had completely shrivelled up leaving the caterpillar still active outside of it. Hopefully it will make a new one soon.
September 15, 2025 at 1:18 PM
I hadn’t check on our garden White Admiral larva for a while, and checking today I noticed its hibernaculum had completely shrivelled up leaving the caterpillar still active outside of it. Hopefully it will make a new one soon.
A fantastic mad rush to locally twitch the Arctic Warbler in Essex at Great Wigborough church this evening. Initially a no show, i felt a dip coming on and then refound by Stuart. Well done on the finders @snixon66.bsky.social and @chrispoole050.bsky.social. 👍 My 2nd for Essex #essexBirding
September 5, 2025 at 7:07 PM
A fantastic mad rush to locally twitch the Arctic Warbler in Essex at Great Wigborough church this evening. Initially a no show, i felt a dip coming on and then refound by Stuart. Well done on the finders @snixon66.bsky.social and @chrispoole050.bsky.social. 👍 My 2nd for Essex #essexBirding
This very worn male Brown Argus was briefly in our Colchester garden today. And was a long awaited garden tick. In the last 8 years of living here It becomes garden butterfly species number 28.
August 31, 2025 at 11:50 AM
This very worn male Brown Argus was briefly in our Colchester garden today. And was a long awaited garden tick. In the last 8 years of living here It becomes garden butterfly species number 28.
Going through some photos taken in our Colchester garden from last week and this Small White has recaught my eye. It has an interesting concave outer edge to the wing spot ( Southern Small White like? ) but I’m guessing it’s within range and variation of a late summer Small White.
August 26, 2025 at 12:55 PM
Going through some photos taken in our Colchester garden from last week and this Small White has recaught my eye. It has an interesting concave outer edge to the wing spot ( Southern Small White like? ) but I’m guessing it’s within range and variation of a late summer Small White.
This Hummingbird Hawk-moth was still around our Colchester garden today. Plus another Willow Emerald Damselfly this time in our conservatory. Plus a Small Heath on our Water Mint.
August 25, 2025 at 2:29 PM
This Hummingbird Hawk-moth was still around our Colchester garden today. Plus another Willow Emerald Damselfly this time in our conservatory. Plus a Small Heath on our Water Mint.
This Willow Emerald Damselfly was nice to see in our Colchester garden today. ( 1 or 2 annually in last few years ). Plus 2 Hummingbird Hawk-moths together. Our best year by far for this species with almost daily sightings.
August 17, 2025 at 12:12 PM
This Willow Emerald Damselfly was nice to see in our Colchester garden today. ( 1 or 2 annually in last few years ). Plus 2 Hummingbird Hawk-moths together. Our best year by far for this species with almost daily sightings.
On the 27th July our garden White Admiral larva had already made its hibernaculum. First photo. The leaf cut off squarely and symmetrically folded over and joined by silk. I believe it started hibernating soon after. Today’s photo shows it all still intact. @bc-cambs-essex.bsky.social
August 17, 2025 at 12:09 PM
On the 27th July our garden White Admiral larva had already made its hibernaculum. First photo. The leaf cut off squarely and symmetrically folded over and joined by silk. I believe it started hibernating soon after. Today’s photo shows it all still intact. @bc-cambs-essex.bsky.social
Digi Binned photo of the smart and very showy Juv Wood Sand at Abberton this morning. NE corner of LDLH c’way. Typically i left my camera at home on this morning’s visit there with the kids. #essexbirding
July 28, 2025 at 5:36 PM
Digi Binned photo of the smart and very showy Juv Wood Sand at Abberton this morning. NE corner of LDLH c’way. Typically i left my camera at home on this morning’s visit there with the kids. #essexbirding
And now a Jersey Tiger in our Colchester garden just now. My 2nd garden record.
July 25, 2025 at 9:20 AM
And now a Jersey Tiger in our Colchester garden just now. My 2nd garden record.
My first Jersey Tiger of the year unexpectedly alighted on my daughters head on a visit to Colchester zoo just now.
July 24, 2025 at 2:34 PM
My first Jersey Tiger of the year unexpectedly alighted on my daughters head on a visit to Colchester zoo just now.
Today one of our White Admiral larva in our Colchester garden was still present whilst the second one has gone AWOL. Its leaf mostly eaten with what maybe its latrine left behind in silk? Maybe wandered off to find a new leaf, I did have a look but still can’t find it. @bc-cambs-essex.bsky.social
July 22, 2025 at 12:50 PM
Today one of our White Admiral larva in our Colchester garden was still present whilst the second one has gone AWOL. Its leaf mostly eaten with what maybe its latrine left behind in silk? Maybe wandered off to find a new leaf, I did have a look but still can’t find it. @bc-cambs-essex.bsky.social
Some better shots of our garden White Admiral larvae here in Colchester. 2 caterpillars found so far. @bc-cambs-essex.bsky.social @ukbutterflies.bsky.social
July 13, 2025 at 2:41 PM
Some better shots of our garden White Admiral larvae here in Colchester. 2 caterpillars found so far. @bc-cambs-essex.bsky.social @ukbutterflies.bsky.social
Just found larvae number 2. Both only 1 ft above the ground in partial shade
July 13, 2025 at 11:06 AM
Just found larvae number 2. Both only 1 ft above the ground in partial shade
About 3 weeks ago we had a White Admiral lay eggs on our garden Honeysuckle here in Colchester.This morning I’ve had a look again and we have this larvae sitting on the end of its ‘pier’ which has made my day. I’ve never seen their larvae before and had always wanted to. @bc-cambs-essex.bsky.social
July 13, 2025 at 8:07 AM
About 3 weeks ago we had a White Admiral lay eggs on our garden Honeysuckle here in Colchester.This morning I’ve had a look again and we have this larvae sitting on the end of its ‘pier’ which has made my day. I’ve never seen their larvae before and had always wanted to. @bc-cambs-essex.bsky.social
A walk into Fridaywoods Colchester, Cherry tree lane area produced a male Purple Emperor in the usual territory NE side of gravel crater. ( This territory has now been used for the last 8 years that I know of ). Plus 3 Silver-washed Fritillaries and a White Admiral in that same area.
July 9, 2025 at 7:51 PM
A walk into Fridaywoods Colchester, Cherry tree lane area produced a male Purple Emperor in the usual territory NE side of gravel crater. ( This territory has now been used for the last 8 years that I know of ). Plus 3 Silver-washed Fritillaries and a White Admiral in that same area.
15 species of butterfly in our Colchester garden today including this Silver-washed Fritillary some WLH including this female on bramble flowers. The Lavender was alive with Large Whites and Bees, now the sky is filling with flying Ants
July 9, 2025 at 5:11 PM
15 species of butterfly in our Colchester garden today including this Silver-washed Fritillary some WLH including this female on bramble flowers. The Lavender was alive with Large Whites and Bees, now the sky is filling with flying Ants
We found this Purple Hairstreak on our trampoline which had seen better days also
July 8, 2025 at 5:26 PM
We found this Purple Hairstreak on our trampoline which had seen better days also
Not a bad day in our Colchester garden, started with 5 Crossbills flying east calling early morning. Then WLH and this Silver-washed fritillary on our Buddliea. A pristine Painted Lady and our first Migrant Hawker of the year
July 8, 2025 at 2:05 PM
Not a bad day in our Colchester garden, started with 5 Crossbills flying east calling early morning. Then WLH and this Silver-washed fritillary on our Buddliea. A pristine Painted Lady and our first Migrant Hawker of the year