Stuart Green

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

At least 2 Dingy Skippers seen today at a site in Devon, one very not Dingy and one very much so #ukbutterflies

Absolutely delighted to find 3 Green Hairstreaks at Wembury today, probably my favourite UK butterfly and I think my earliest ever sighting of them. #ukbutterflies

Managed to get brief but good views of the reeling Savi's Warbler at Marazion Marsh early this morning. The Azorean-race Yellow-legged Gull showed very well at Newlyn Harbour as well as a flock of 60 Purple Sandpipers roosting on the rocks at Jubilee Pool.

A smart male Black Redstart along the beach at Wembury this morning was the highlight of a sunny but very windy walk. Also 9+Sand Martin and 5+Swallow in off the sea despite the wind, a Mistle Thrush & 2 RLPartridge of note plus a Large White and a 2 headed Canada Goose! #devonbirding

Sunny but breezy around The Plym today with a pair of Shoveler, a Wheatear, the pair of Red-crested Pochard, the female Wood Duck, a Swallow and a very tame Stock Dove the highlights #devonbirding

Distant and flighty in heat haze and glarey light but pleased to see the reported Great Grey Shrike on Dartmoor this morning, my first since 2017. Siskins, 5 Crossbill and 2 Redpoll also seen. #devonbirding #ukbirding

Hoopoe

Hoopoe

With an influx of Hoopoes into the UK over the last few days I was very pleased to catch up with one at Marazion today. Jack Snipe, House and Sand Martin, Swallow and Green Sandpiper also seen in the chilly wind. #ukbirding

Peacock Butterfly

First Peacock of the year, 20th March 2025. #UKbutterflies

Small Tortoiseshell

Adder

Common Lizard

Dartford Warbler

A glorious early spring walk today in Devon with Small Tortoiseshell, Comma, 2 Adders, 3 Common Lizards and Dartford Warbler the highlights.

A Spoonbill at Copperhouse Creek, Hayle, and 100+ Grey Seals hauled out at nearby Godrevy the highlights on a day trip to Cornwall today. #ukbirding

My first moth of 2025 was a surprise Angle Shades, found in an underpass at Marsh Mills in Plymouth on 8th February #teammoth

Whoops! 🤦

The wintering River Exe Long-tailed Dowitcher has settled at Turf Locks for the moment where it showed very well yesterday in the company of a Greenshank. #Devonbirds

2 Whooper Swans in with the Bewick's the highlight on a visit to Slimbridge 1/2/25 with Glossy Ibis, Little Stint, Red Kite, Marsh Harrier, Spoonbill, 3 GWEgret and 6 Common Crane a fantastic supporting cast #ukbirding

A Double Dip on a day out to Marazion on 25/1, no Booted Eagle or Pacific Diver for me but Marsh Harrier, Black Redstart, Purple Sandpiper, Snipe, Sparrowhawk and Sanderling year ticks and some lovely views of 5 very confiding Ravens made for a good day out. #ukbirding

Curlew Sandpiper with Redshank - Photo courtesy of Mave

Great Northern Divers

Curlew Sandpiper on The Plym 9/1/25, mostly hidden amongst a feeding flock of c.200 Dunlin & presumably the spring bird from last year back for winter. Also 3 GNorthern Divers gave some great views & a pair of RBMerganser were a welcome sight as their numbers here continue to decline. #devonbirds