Luke Phillips
@lukephillips.bsky.social
Nature stuff!! Mainly birds, bird ringing and moths but probably other stuff as well. Based in west Dorset.
Had an interesting ask from @bexbirder.bsky.social to help with catching some juv Little Grebe that were living on a pool that is rapidly drying out. Drought it pretty serious when you can't fly, walk and need to be on water! Thankfully we got one thanks to lots of muddy helpers as well some luck.
Just two nights ago our all time largest catch of Small Mottled Willows saw the 500 mark exceeded, last night that was more than doubled to 1007 - barmy times! Busy traps for everything else as well last night incl obvious arrivals of Diamond-backs and Beet Moths; 9 Small & a Purple Marbled of note
Jersey Tigers are having a blast on the Hemp Agrimony in my Dorset garden. At least 7 just now during a quick look. They outnumbered the butterflies! @dorsetmoths.bsky.social
New research reveals a substantial decline in the number of European Storm-petrels caught by researchers over the course of a 27-year study Read on for a summary Full paper: doi.org/10.1080/0006... @one-cardiffuni.bsky.social @robthomasbirds.bsky.social @kirstyfranklin.bsky.social #seabird 🪶🧪
Stop scrolling!!! A puffling* has been spotted in Purbeck, Dorset for the first time in 30 years! *Baby puffin (yes, they have the cutest name)
Under a Binface government, anyone who doesn’t accept human-made climate change as fact will be sent back to school, from Year 1 right the way to A Levels, to see if anything goes in the second time round. #VoteBinface
Avocet seen at Middleton Lakes, Staffs, 36 years after fledging - a record age markavery.info/2026/07/06/o... Plz repost if you were born after 2 July 1990 when this Avocet was ringed in Norfolk. 📷 Steve Pick/RSPB Looks as good as new, doesn't it? Coloured leg rings enabled identification.
Who said moths are dull and eat clothes? Royal Mail stamps issue, release date 9th July
A diary date for Obs members: it's only a fortnight until this year's AGM that'll be held at the Obs at 4:30pm on Saturday 18th July - if the mental stimulation of the meeting isn't enough for you then we will have very good refreshments on offer afterwards! drive.google.com/file/d/1437W...
AGM agenda 2026.pdf
drive.google.com
Imagine travelling thousands of miles just to spend your evenings doing zoomies over the same few houses... It's hard not to be impressed 👇 #SwiftAwarenessWeek
New in #BirdStudy and the media today: Swifts are very faithful to nest sites, partners & colonies. Providing nest sites could help maintain populations. High fidelity to nest sites and partners in the Common Swift Apus apus: doi.org/10.1080/0006... www.theguardian.com/environment/... #ornithology
Migrating swifts loyally return every year to nests in buildings, study finds
Conservationists emphasise importance of protecting nesting sites used by ‘strongly faithful’ red-listed species
theguardian.com
Migrating swifts loyally return every year to nests in buildings, study finds
Migrating swifts loyally return every year to nests in buildings, study finds
Conservationists emphasise importance of protecting nesting sites used by ‘strongly faithful’ red-listed species
theguardian.com
BIG NEWS for some of Scotland's most iconic seabird islands 📣 Bass Rock and Craigleith are now part of our nature reserve network! Together with @seabirdcentre.bsky.social we’re taking an exciting step forward to deliver a more secure future for seabirds. youtube.com/watch?v=WHxVpCh5E-Q
Amazing news as RSPB adds iconic seabird islands to its reserves
YouTube video by RSPB
youtube.com
The Government is considering planning loopholes that could strip nature from England’s most deprived communities. ❌
This afternoon North Yorkshire Police announced the suspicious disappearance of young male White-tailed Eagle G834, the first to fledge from Dorset in centuries. This eagle was special for multiple reasons, not only his historic status but also wowing visitors & school children around Poole Harbour
Kicked off the Barn Owl ringing season yesterday with a brood of three but going by earlier checks, there are lots more bigger broods to do over the next few weeks. They seem to be having a bumper year after a very duff 2025! Also a brood of fiesty Kestrels ringed. Cute!
Totting up the Eastern Bordered Straw (H nubigera) records from the past week: 70 so far & counting! To put that into context there are 39 previous British records. The record count for a singe year was 19 in 2006 (previously considered the best year for migrants this century Not any more! #teammoth
Incredible views of a migrating Common Quail as it flew past the ship in the English Channel! @sophieshrike.bsky.social
britainsfavouritebutterfly.co.uk/butterfly/da... Dark Green Fritillary... took a while to decide but distinctly remember my first one of these and was my first frit ever. Was pretty exciting!
Dark Green Fritillary - Britain’s Favourite Butterfly
The Dark Green Fritillary is one of the 60 beautiful butterflies found across the UK. Will it be Britain's Favourite Butterfly?
britainsfavouritebutterfly.co.uk
No Mow May is here! 🌼 The #NoMowMovement can look different for everyone. Here are some of the places you can let it grow! 🏡 Gardens 🪴 Plant pots or window boxes 🛣️ Verges 🏫 Schools 🎓 Campuses 🏘️ Community spaces How are you taking part? Not signed up? Join us! 👉 https://loom.ly/RW0t-fw
🦉Birdwatching is now the second fastest growing hobby for Gen Z! Among millennials it has risen by 216% alongside a 66% increase in gen X birders. Welcome to a world of wonder! www.theguardian.com/environment/... #nature #birds
Gen Z leads birdwatching boom as more Britons reach for the binoculars
Birdwatching no longer niche, old-fashioned pastime, says RSPB as research shows 47% increase in hobby since 2018
theguardian.com
The lawnmower is out of office. The grass can grow!🌱 Add your name to the No Mow Movement and pledge to give the mower a holiday - https://loom.ly/XjkGVRE Who’s put the mower away already?✋ #NoMowMay #NoMowMovement #NoMowMay2026
Very telling from the birdfood industry. Despite new RSPB/BTO advice on birdfeeding based on a solid scientific review, and RSPB taking a ££ hit themselves, EVERY major birdfood company is attacking/rejecting the guidance, claiming to know better, putting their incomes over conservation. Shameful.
RareBirdAlert@rarebirder.bsky.social · 4mo agoRSPB advice to cut summer feeding sparks backlash from suppliers RSPB has said it will stop sales of seed and peanuts during breeding season but bird food companies push back against new advice www.rarebirdalert.co.uk/v2/Content/R...
Black Redstarts nesting in a Swift brick in Winchester!! We advocate for these as universal nest bricks and they really are. No other types of integrated bird box are required @hannahbournetaylor.bsky.social @ukrbbp.bsky.social @sosswifts.bsky.social
Shocking footage, captured by a covert RSPB camera, shows gamekeeper Russell Mason brutally killing a Goshawk in a crow cage trap in Perthshire. After pleading guilty, today he was given a 200-hour Community Payback Order for killing the Goshawk and fined £890 for firearm offences.
To reduce disease, we all need to make some urgent but simple changes to how we feed our garden birds. See our website for the latest guidance: brnw.ch/21x1t4w
Really excellent to see this boost in government funding for nature - doubling the species recovery fund to £60m and investing £30m in wildlife restoration on the public forest estate www.gov.uk/government/n...
Largest ever Government investment in threatened species recovery
A total £90 million funding for species recovery across England
gov.uk
