Stuart Green

A beautiful but chilly walk at Wembury this morning, a Red Kite over heading towards Plymouth was a surprise, I eventually found a Water Pipit along the beach and a Black Redstart showed very well at the church #Devonbirds

Hundreds of the "skeletal" remains of By-the-wind Sailors (Vellela vellela) washed up on the beach at Wembury and a near adult Yellow-legged Gull on the roof of Chelson Meadow recycling centre the highlights yesterday on a day out when the sun actually appeared!

Very surprised to find a Dingy Footman attracted to the underpass lights at Marsh Mills Roundabout in Plymouth yesterday #teammoth

A pair of Lesser Scaup at Helston Boating Lake today showed amazingly well, very unconcerned by the numerous people and dogs walking by and looking very smart in the sunshine #cornwallbirds

Despite the grey and claggy skies the Lesser Yellowlegs showed very well at Truro yesterday while at Hayle the highlights were White-rumped Sandpiper, 3 Spoonbill, Spot Red, Curlew Sand, DBBrent Goose, 2 Barnacle Geese, 5 Pintail and a Kingfisher #cornwallbirds

On an enjoyable but often rainy trip to Siracusa in Sicily I managed to see a few butterflies when the sun did shine - Lang's Short-tailed Blue, Cleopatra, Clouded Yellow Sp. and a Swallowtail on a mans foot around the hotel swimming pool!

Very pleased to see the Curlew Sandpiper found yesterday at Wembury by local birder Jenny was still present this morning, busily feeding along the beach in the company of 4 Bar-tailed Godwits and 2 Sanderlings. #devonbirds

So sorry Chris, I didn't realise it was you at Blaxton this morning until I saw this post, shame the Curlew Sandpiper had moved on. Love the Osprey photos.

After a bit of a wait this morning the juvenile Rose-coloured Starling eventually appeared amongst the mobile Starling flock at Wembury, perching up in the dead tree at Mewstone Avenue/ Brownhill Lane #devonbirds

Thank you. I didn't get there until around 12:30 so just missed you again too. What a bird though!

Fantastic views of the Wryneck at Turf Locks today, present for its 5th day now and still very confiding. #devonbirds

5 Box Tree Moths in the back yard moth box yesterday morning (1 melanic form). The topiary Box Trees in the nearby park are now totally defoliated so these may be the last I'll see in my moth trap #teammoth

Interesting visit to Exmouth yesterday - 4+ Yellow Wagtails and 3 Swift at Orcombe Point, 2 Osprey, Little Tern and Great White Egret from Mudbank and a Yellow-legged Gull in the recycling centre. #devonbirds

Autumn Squill and Autumn Lady's-tresses on a windy bimble around Berry Head yesterday

A Small Blue, a Clouded Yellow and a Wall Brown from a look about around a windy Berry Head this morning #ukbutterflies

Finally found my first Devon Brown Hairstreaks today but 2 White Admirals were more of a surprise #ukbutterflies

The Bowling Green Marsh Spoonbills seen earlier in the week were initially mostly sleeping but eventually became more active as the tide dropped #devonbirds

Finally! My first Clouded Yellows of the year at Saltram today with a pair of mating Dingy Skippers a nice bonus #ukbutterflies

The Herring Gull chick that came down our chimney is almost ready to fly now so hopefully quieter early mornings to come soon. However I've noticed that one of its parents has all dark eyes, maybe a genetic abnormality or possible an indication of previous infection with Avian Flu.

A few showy juvenile Willow Warblers about on Roborough Down yesterday and all looking very lemony yellow. A few Grayling about too. #Devonbirds

A bemused Herring Gull wrapped in a towel after being rescued from our living room grate

Always curious and watching what we are up to

Ever watchful adult Herring Gull

1 of the 2 Herring Gull chicks currently in the nest on our chimney stack decided to jump down into our living room grate. Uninjured & placed on the flat roof next door, the adults continue to tend to him along with the remaining sibling up on the stack. Noisey & poop everywhere but great to watch.

Mullein Wave

Marbled Green

Coronet

Coronet form coronula

No major excitement in the back yard moth box here in Plymouth last night but always a joy to catch 3 of my favourite moths - Mullein Wave, Marbled Green and Coronet (including form coronula) #teammoth

Snap! And the High Brown Fritillary is my favourite UK butterfly (Green Hairstreak is a very close second).

#ukbutterflies

Silver-washed Fritillary

High Brown Fritillary

Dark Green Fritillary

High Brown Fritillary

Very flitty Fritillaries today on Dartmoor in the warm, sunny and humid conditions but eventually managed some nice views of 2+High Brown, 2+Dark Green and a surprise Silver-washed.

It's White-letter Hairstreak time again here in Plymouth with the 3 seen yesterday (8th June) being my earliest ever yet, also some lovely Bee Orchids and Pyramidal Orchids in flower nearby. #ukbutterflies

Purple Heron - the splodge in the reeds to the left of the wooden post.

Feeding Avocet

Norfolk Hawker - the yellow abdominal mark showing how it got it's Latin name (Aeshna isosceles)

Kittiwake nesting tower off the beach

A fantastic day out at RSPB Minsmere this week with a Purple Heron the highlight and a Roseate Tern a close runner-up. Hobby, Marsh Harrier, Bearded Tit, GWEgret, Red Kite and Norfolk Hawker an interesting supporting cast and a Kittiwake nesting tower offshore a welcome initiative.

A good trip down to Cornwall yesterday with a 1st summer Bonaparte's Gull, 2 male Garganey, "Leopard" Orchids and the Tornado steam train the highlights

A good day out at RSPB Ham Wall this week with plenty of Dragon/Damselflies on the wing despite the cool breeze and intermittent sunshine. Banded Demoiselle, Red-eyed Damselfly, Four-spotted Chaser and Scarce Chaser seen along with around 10 Hobby expertly hunting them over the reedbeds.

Plenty of Pearl-bordered Fritillaries enjoying the sunshine on Dartmoor yesterday. A special trip required to go and see them hence it's been 7 years since my last sighting of one but it was well worth the effort. #ukbutterflies