Olly Frampton

Red-veined Darter dragonfly perched atop a stick.

A Roughtail Rock Agama keeping a watch from atop a rock.

A Loggerhead Turtle surfacing whilst surrounded by small fish.

A young Balkan Terrapin or West Caspian Turtle.

Odonata around Fethiye was dominated by Red-veined Darters in their 00’s + lower nos of Migrant Hawker, Vagrant Emperor & Violet Dropwing. Other wildlife included many sightings of Roughtail Rock Agama, Caucasian Squirrel, Loggerhead Turtles & a fantastic opportunity to hold a young Balkan Terrapin.

A Dark Grass Blue (Zizeeria karsandra) butterfly resting on rocks with its wings folded

An Eastern Bath White (Pontia edusa) butterfly feeding on a yellow plant.

A Tree Grayling (Hipparchia statlinus) doing its namesake by perching on a pine tree.

A Pale Small-branded Swift (Pelopidas thrax) butterfly posing nicely in the sunlight.

Butterflies were few & far between, presumably due to being late in the season & following heavy rainfall the week prior to our arrival. The tiny Dark Grass Blue & Eastern Bath White were frequent along roadsides. Tree Grayling & Pale Small-branded Swift were also pleasing to see.

Red-backed Shrike

Crested Lark

Local walks north of Çaliş regularly found Crested Larks at the roadsides as well as an abundance of Spanish Sparrows, Laughing Doves, Spotted Flycatchers plus many examples of the subspecies ‘Anatolian’ Jay. A Red-backed Shrike on our final day was the only one of the trip.

A Blue Rock Thrush perched atop some ruins at Tlos Ancient City in Turkey.

A Western Rock Nuthatch clinging to a wall at Tlos Ancient City in Turkey.

Recently returned from 10 days honeymoon in Fethiye, SW Turkey 🇹🇷 Birding opportunities were limited, but trips to Tlos ancient city & Gemiler Island offered good views of Blue Rock Thrush & Western Rock Nuthatch, plus singles of Sardinian Warbler, Long-legged Buzzard & many Black Kite.

That’s a corker!

Fantastic to see the Blood Moon Eclipse last night, viewed from the former RAF Tarrant Rushton. A few Grey Partridge heard only whilst on site.

Yes, definitely a Red-veined Darter

Whiskered Tern still at Durleigh Reservoir (Somerset) as of 09:20. Favouring buoy 7 near the Sailing Club. Also 2 GWE on northern edge of reservoir. #SomersetBirding @rarebirder.bsky.social @birdguides.bsky.social

After a very long wait, the (likely Western) Subalpine Warbler at Weymouth showed well on & off today from 4:10-4:30pm in its favoured Blackthorn. Many thanks to @remblax.bsky.social for a fantastic find.

Thanks Luke, just had it after I moved round to the NW side. 5-10 second view after 2 hours wait 😬

Hi Nick, just out of curiosity, were you viewing from north, south or west of what I assume is its favoured clump?

Finally made the effort to see the long-staying drake Lesser Scaup at Longham Lakes (Dorset) today. Typically it was in the last place I looked, tucked-in against the island at the far end of South Lake.

That’s great to hear. I never realised they could hatch young so early until now. You learn something new everyday.

Very early in the year to see a well grown juvenile like this. Must’ve hatched late Jan or early Feb. Surprising considering the weather/temperature.

This is the bird I had at Avon Tyrrell on 17th Nov which I assumed to be the same as the Cowards Marsh bird (R pic, per Scott Usher). Looked tidy when I saw it. LHS stripe much less prominent.

Apologies both for the confusion, I clearly didn’t read the post properly. All what I said is correct for Willow Emerald. Not aware of any Southern Emerald records for Dorset.

Great record for so far west in the county. There’s a small breeding population at Hengistbury Head & probably also Mudeford Woods but only recently established. Records from west of there appear to be few & far between (unless someone can correct me). One at Holes Bay in September springs to mind.

Mudeford Quay (Dorset) 1330-1630 this afternoon was a gamble that paid-off. 1 Cory’s Shearwater (first CHOG area record since 1988), 1 Little Gull, 5 Kittiwake, 7 Med Gull, 2 Com Gull, 18 Com Scoter & 3 Brent Geese. #DorsetBirds

Highlights from my WeBS counts in the Hampshire Avon Valley this morning. Green-winged Teal (perhaps the one I found in January returning), Goshawk, 3 GWE, 2 Marsh Harrier, 2 Green Sand, 109 Blackwit. At nearby Ripley Gravel Pit, 181 Egyptian Geese was a new site record. #UKBirding

Finally managed to catch up with the very active Pied Wheatear at Splash Point (Seaford) in E Sussex today. A stunning day for a visit to the seaside for the only new bird I’ve managed to see this year. A single Black Redstart was also showing well there at times along with several Mipits.

That would be very good 🤞

Excellent Roly. Feather detail on the eagle confirms my suspicions that it’s G818, a 3 year old female which has spent recent weeks in the Avon Valley & some time on most mornings in Christchurch Harbour.

That is annoying. Assembled crowd was stood on the grass about 30 yards beyond where the muddy track dipped through the hedge. Was flitting between brambles by the maize, then went off towards the large Oak tree further east when I left.

Excellent performance today by the Isabelline Shrike sp at Gillingham, Dorset. Glad it stuck around so long & thanks to the finder for a brilliant inland find. Bird looked to have at least 3 or 4 ticks concealed beneath its feathers on the nape & ear coverts (not visible in video). #DorsetBirds

That’s a shame Steve. I must’ve just missed you as I was there at 3:30 when it was showing quite close. It did gradually move away to the east of the field without anyone getting closer to it.

Velvet Scoter (fem or juv drake) still showing well at NE corner of South Lake at Longham Lakes now. #DorsetBirds

Nice one Steve, don’t suppose you could encourage it further south please, or get it to tell its mates all about what a great place Dorset is for warblers 😬😜

I think I know what the answer is, but anyone out there interested in a complete set if Twitching/Birding World? Free obviously...

A Roesel’s Bush Cricket (Roeseliana roeselii) perched on some Gorse.

A Grayling butterfly (Hipparchia semele) settled on a gravel path.

A view across a large pond at Dunyeats Amphibian & Reptile Conservation Reserve.

North facing view looking at the landscape of Dunyeats ARC Reserve.

Made a brief visit to Dunyeats ARC Reserve in Poole yesterday, for the first time in six years! Still as pleasant as ever & good to catch-up with a handful of Grayling butterflies, some expected Odonata & a rare chance to study the long-winged form of Roesel’s bush-cricket.

Nice one Nick. Perhaps it’s just me but I’m finding Garden Warblers in a lot of places this year (and I’ve not been looking much). The old railway line past Ringwood has at least 3-4 singing at present. A very underrated bird in my opinion.