We retuned from a week away yesterday noting a certain Long-tailed Shrike (Tracey’s #400, again) and a couple of ‘almost over’ Violet Helleborines en route. A hybrid was unfortunately more than just past its best! 3 Grey Wagtails and a Firecrest were a good start before work today.

A casual 58 species by 8:30am this morning at two local sites including a couple of Turtle Doves, Hobby, Kingfishers, Bullfinches, Common Sand’ and stuff.

Trustee meetings can be quite good. Striped Hawk-moth @dungenessbirdobs.bsky.social

I was pleased to find six Broad-leaved Helleborines (mostly gone over, one just way past its best) nr Pembury water works before work this week but was more surprised to find two frazzled plants in Dunorlan’ this morning. They may have looked better two weeks ago! @ianbeavis.bsky.social #orchids

An enjoyable weekend. An unseasonal Meadow Pipit the best from Tonbridge station on Saturday. The land and wildlife at Balfour Winery is well respected - quite impressed. I failed to resist a little shrike spotting yesterday afternoon with plenty of other wildlife - more great farmland.

Long-tailed Shrike this afternoon at Eastleach Martin, Gloucestershire.

Last year we had a White-rumped Sandpiper at Oare Marshes just before the east flood dried out completely. This year it’s a pristine American Golden Plover.

A casual day started with a walk around Rye Harbour NR where Whimbrel, two Greenshank & Little Terns obliged. A tearoom in Rye next for old times sake before we headed to Dungeness. A few bits noted there: female Garganey, Red-veined Darter and several Lesser Emperors the best.

I let my brother in Scotland know about the Long-tailed Shrike last Sunday - as it was his birthday. He lives 28.8 miles from the farm shop apparently - and popped down to see it. His first species of shrike in the UK 😳 The only one I haven’t seen!

Dungeness next stop for the moth day @dungenessbirdobs.bsky.social This is just a small selection of a large number of moths seen. Hopefully not too many errors in the ALT 🤷🏻‍♂️

My first ever garden moth trap last weekend thanks to @davidnorgate.bsky.social Nothing too unusual but good all the same! Although I’m not sure most people would agree Box Moths are good round here. #TunbridgeWells

Dark Red Helleborines at their most southerly UK location in Peak District. Thankfully, I'm not too frazzled by the recent heat! @europeanorchids.bsky.social @ukorchids.bsky.social #Orchids #Helleborines #Botany

Extraordinary numbers of butterflies on my farm survey for @nationaltrust.org.uk on semi-improved but ungrazed field. Literally thousands of Gatekeepers and Marbled Whites, 100s Meadow Brown, Small Skipper and tens Brown Argus. Shows what riches could be out there. @savebutterflies.bsky.social

5/7/26 #Cumbria - The Dark Red Helleborines (Epipactis atrorubens) on the limestone pavements of #HuttonRoof never fail to delight. Among my favourites are var. bicolor, or "lemon petal" examples, with fabulous two-tone flowers @bsbibotany.bsky.social @mariposanature.bsky.social #wildflowerhour

Not in Sussex...but my first Sussex Emeralds (many!) at an excellent Dungenes Bird Obs moth extravaganza this morning! Thanks to the Obs team for organising @dungenessbirdobs.bsky.social

The last Dunorlan Park walk of June was unexpectedly productive: 40 species in 47 minutes included, rather surprisingly, my first Garden Warbler of 2026 - not annual here and I would usually say if not recorded by mid-May that’s it. Peregrine and Grey Wagtail also new for month, so ending on #53

45 years ago I saw my first Caspian Tern, at Minsmere (I’d not heard of such a thing beforehand). On this day 39 years ago I cycled to Dungeness and found a Spoonbill on ARC. Later I jammed in on the Black-headed Bunting near the old lighthouse - 1 of only 2 that I’ve seen, both in Kent.

57 minutes round Dunorlan Park this morning got me 36 species including, um, a low pass from a (silent) Red Kite #50 for June there. Tip next, more for domestic reasons this time.

We are just one week away from our annual #moth event. Have you signed up to join us? Last year over 200 species were seen during the event! We hope to see you there.

I sat in a friends garden near us yesterday evening listening to Firecrest and watching Hummingbird Hawk-moth: it was good. Not sure how many Firecrests there are locally now, but my unscientific estimate is ‘quite a few’ Goldcrest seems to still be doing okay, at least one youngster this morning.

Dunorlan Park today: 2 calls from Curlew or at least that’s what they sounded like andnot a lot else does. I didn’t see them, it’s June and I’ve rejected that record of mine as ‘unsafe’. I also rejected Rook that Merlin advised 🤷🏻‍♂️ But: Siskins most visits, contrary to what E-bird thinks likely.

Friday evening: I had a distant (half a mile away) view of the Western Reef Heron on the beach near Conwy. Saturday: I casually started by walking to the Aber Falls before heading to the Conwy Estuary for much better views of the heron. Whixall Moss: several Large Heath and a single Black Darter.

The charismatic Long-horned Bee at Grosvenor & Hilbert Park today. First record for this site of a scarce species that is doing very well in Tunbridge Wells' open spaces.

Final post, phew. Some more fauna at Braunton Burrows at the weekend.

I’m not very good at my non-orchid fauna so it was great to have someone pointing bits out… ... I have an awful lot to learn. @rogercharding.bsky.social

A few other critters and the views aren’t too shabby from Braunton Burrows either. @rogercharding.bsky.social

A few Bee Orchids, Ophrys apifera, at Braunton Burrows. A couple certainly looked as if they were tending towards var. belgarum with the amount of yellow although the lips are all quite rounded @rogercharding.bsky.social @kirstyevans.bsky.social @lizlouise.bsky.social

Various shades of Southern Marsh Orchid, Dactylorhiza praetermissa, at Braunton Burrows last weekend. Thank you to @rogercharding.bsky.social

I need a five minute break so here are a few random photo’s from Kent taken over the last couple of weeks. Oh, no Welsh heron photo - mainly as I haven’t left Kent… …yet.

Great cause, super butterfly, do it!

Butterfly Conservation@savebutterflies.bsky.social · 2mo ago

220 miles, eight days, one special butterfly! 🚲🦋 In less than a week, Butterfly Conservation Chair Simon sets off on an epic journey to raise funds to protect the rare Northern Brown Argus in the Scottish Borders. Support Simon on his Bike for Butterflies 👉 buff.ly/dRT82n6 📷: Iain Cowe