Phil Bentley

Quite. My 13-year old Zeiss Victory 10x42s are optically equal to, if not better than, the contemporary Swaro’s. I compared both at time of purchase & opted for the Zeiss. Ergonomically they suit my 🙌 size better too. Swaro’s may better suit others for the same reason, I guess.
#BirdingGear

Glossy Ibis at Lodmoor NR, Dorset.

My ongoing quest to see a Bittern at Lodmoor drew a blank for the umpteenth time. Compensation came in the form of this Glossy Ibis which came in to roost just after 6 pm, 3 Great Egrets, 1 Curlew Sand, 2 Hobbys dining on dragons, Marsh Harrier, several Beardies & 3+ Kingfishers. Nice! #DorsetBirds

Glossy Ibis dropped in to the Postbox Pool, Lodmoor at 18:04
@dorsetbirdclub.bsky.social
@birdguides.bsky.social

Clouded Yellow butterfly sp, Purbeck, Dorset.

Clouded Yellow butterfly sp, Purbeck, Dorset.

Managed to fire off a handful of pics of this Pale or Helice-form Clouded Yellow on Purbeck (Dorset) y’day, before it inevitably flew off at breakneck speed. Annoyingly, unable to discern extent of black markings on upperwing. Inseparable on underwing markings, me thinks?
@ukbutterflies.bsky.social

Convolvulus Hawk-moth at Portland Bird Observatory, UK.

As a relative neophyte to the moth-bothering business it was quite a thrill to be pointed in the direction of my first Convolvulus Hawk-moth y’day. This monster specimen - about the length of my little finger - was resting up on the patio wall of the Portland bird observatory.
#TeamMoth

Cornwall - 17,000
Dorset - 0
😫

👍

The, or another, Leach’s feeding off the cove.

@birdguides.bsky.social

Just had a v close Leach’s Petrel past Chesil Cove, viewed for at least 5 mins. Looks to be heading towards the bill. (3 Stormies this morning)
@portlandbirdobs.bsky.social

Ha, thanks for the ID tips. I did question it myself but thought that the white tips to the median coverts, the clean unstreaked back/mantle, and the short dark tail favoured Pied. Every day’s a school day, as the saying goes 🤓

Willow Emerald Damselfly, Woods Mill NR, 11 Aug 2025.

One of my target Odonata species on a recent trip to East Sussex was Willow Emerald Damselfly. Woods Mill nature reserve, home of @sussexwildlife.bsky.social, is reputed to be a good site for them. It took me over 2 hours to find a few individuals, but this male posed nicely on its favoured perch.

Southern Migrant Hawker, River Ouse, East Sussex. 10 Aug 2025.

Southern Migrant Hawker, River Ouse, East Sussex. 10 Aug 2025.

Pleased to find 6+ Southern Migrant Hawkers along the R Ouse near Southease (E Sussex) during a recent visit. Having fired off dozens of pretty poor flight shots it was good to eventually stumble across a v smart perched male. Boots were duly filled!
@britishdragonflies.bsky.social

Common Tern (L) and mystery tern (R)

Common Tern (L) and mystery tern (R)

This odd-looking dark-ish juv tern (right hand bird) seen briefly & distantly on Brownsea today. Initial thoughts were of Black Tern, but lack of obvs dark patch on side of breast, head markings, + similar size to nearby juv Cmn Tern, all seem to suggest that species 🤔
@dorsetbirdclub.bsky.social

Chalkhill Blue butterfly.

Brimstone butterfly.

100s if not 1000s of Chalkhill Blues at a parched Martin Down NNR today. They seemed to be everywhere you looked! Elsewhere a showy Brimstone posed nicely for the camera 👇. Avian interest in the form of Turtle Dove & Quail - both heard only.
@ukbutterflies.bsky.social

😂

Juvenile Purple Heron at Little Sea, Studland.

Definitely not the high point of my faltering wildlife photography career to date, but you get the idea! Not easy holding a heavy Kowa ‘scope in one hand while trying to take a photo with your phone in the other 😆 (Note to self: must ALWAYS carry #1 camera with me 🙄)
@dorsetbirdclub.bsky.social

Durlston Head sea watch. Single Cory’s Shearwater west 10:50-11:00. Also 18 Manx, 5 Balearic.

I’m guessing that the Cory’s will have been picked up later passing Portland 🙂
@dorsetbirdclub.bsky.social
@birdguides.bsky.social

That would have been the icing on the cake; but sadly not. Wasn’t even aware that they occurred at Alners, altho’ I did notice plenty of stands of sallows.

Three species of hairstreak butterfly at @dorsetwildlife.bsky.social Alner’s Gorse reserve today, including this lovely fresh Brown Hairstreak (a male, I think, tho not 100% sure).
@ukbutterflies.bsky.social

Purple Hairstreak butterfly on Oak tree.

Didn’t have my bridge camera with me this morning so this slightly out of focus shot of a PH was taken on my iPhone! The same branch - only just above head height - also held a group of 3 PHs mating and/or egg laying. First time I’ve seen this 🙂

Good numbers of Purple Hairstreaks flitting around the Oak tree next to the bench at the end of Cordite Way (Poole Harbour). Some of them are feeding on the lower branches hence good photo opps for those who are of a mind to. 🦋. Nice views of adult WTE over towards Arne.
@dorsetwildlife.bsky.social

Purple Duo! One more photo from Knepp y’day, and perhaps one that I’m unlikely to ever capture again. Both of the UK’s purple-named butterflies in the same camera viewfinder. Purple Emperor at lower left, Purple Hairstreak at upper right. 🦋🦋😍
@kneppwilding.bsky.social
@ukbutterflies.bsky.social

@ukbutterflies.bsky.social

Purple Emperor butterfly.

Purple Emperor butterfly.

Purple Emperor butterfly.

Purple Emperor butterfly.

Pretty damn awesome to witness the Purple Emperor bonanza at @kneppwilding.bsky.social yesterday in perfect conditions. 30+ sightings of 20 or more individuals. Seeing & hearing my first Turtle Doves for several years was a nice bonus. V impressed with Knepp Estate - the landscape & the ethos 🦋👍

3 steps backwards for every 1 step forward. Seems like 400 will soon become the new 500 😆

Ah, yes, I had noticed that weird tip to the abdomen. New to me. Thanks, Steve.

Mystery insect.

Initial thoughts re this handsome critter were of a clearwing species. However, I can’t seem to match it with anything in my moth guide, so perhaps belongs to some other family. Any ID help appreciated, thanks. Photo taken y’day at one of the Shropshire mosses.
#TeamMoth

Oh my days. Wout van Aert. Super-domestique GOAT. No question. 🚵‍♀️🐐💪 #giroditalia

Mixed new growth conifer plantation/heathland…somewhere in Dorset.

Pleased to find a new DW territory on one of my lower grade BTO Heathland Bird Survey squares this a.m. Pair with young on the only patch of suitable habo (as clocked on 1st visit). Backup cast of Tripits, Stonechats, Y’hammers Cuckoos & (early?) SS Blues 🦋. Nice work!
@btobirds.bsky.social