Wasp Spider - Panshanger Park (Hertfordshire) 1/8/26 #ukspiders #ukwildlife #uknature @hnhsoc.bsky.social @hertswildlifetrust.bsky.social @britishnatureguide.bsky.social @royentsoc.bsky.social
Simon West
@simonwest26.bsky.social
Wildlife sightings & photographs from around the U.K.
Hummingbird Hawkmoth - Panshanger Park (Hertfordshire) 1/8/26 #ukmoth #hawkmoth #ukwildlife #teammoth @bc-hertsmiddx.bsky.social @hnhsoc.bsky.social @hertswildlifetrust.bsky.social @britishnatureguide.bsky.social
Panshanger Park (Hertfordshire) for #odonata - 1 Scarce Emerald & 4+ Common Emerald Damselflies, 5+ Southern Migrant Hawkers. Also 2 Wasp Spiders & 2 Hummingbird Hawkmoths @britishdragonflies.bsky.social @hnhsoc.bsky.social @britishnatureguide.bsky.social @britishecologicalsociety.org
Lesser Emperor & Clouded Yellow at Silverlake, Knighton Reserve (Dorset) 28/7/26 #ukdragonfly #ukbutterfly #ukwildlife #uknature @britishdragonflies.bsky.social @dorsetbutterflies.bsky.social @savebutterflies.bsky.social @dorsetwildlife.bsky.social @the-wildlifetrusts.bsky.social
I was passing near to Crossways so I popped in to Silverlake this evening on the chance of a Scarlet Darter (last reported on BirdGuides on the 20th) but no joy. A few Lesser Emperors about including 2 pairs in cop & seen ovipositing. Also on site a single Clouded Yellow. #ukwildlife #ukbutterflies
Hudsonian Godwit - Cattawade (Essex) 18/7/26 #ukrarity #ukrarebird #ukbirding #ukbirds #bird #essexbirds @essexbirdnews.bsky.social @btoengland.bsky.social @britishbirds.bsky.social
Please have your say on banning fireworks! It's not just animals that suffer from the noise, but humans with health conditions like dementia, PTSD as well. Plus fire risks, air pollution and physical pollution (litter and microplastics). www.gov.uk/government/c...
Fireworks and pyrotechnics in the UK
gov.uk
HUDSONIAN GODWIT still at Cattawade on N bank of River Stour viewed from White Bridge #ukrarity #ukrarebird #ukbirding #ukbirds #bird #essexbirds @essexbirdnews.bsky.social @btoengland.bsky.social @britishbirds.bsky.social
4+ Clouded Yellows seen yesterday (15th July) at a site I was working at in West Harptree (Somerset) @savebutterflies.bsky.social @ukbutterflies.bsky.social @europebutterfly.bsky.social
The BBC cancelling Winterwatch is such a shame, especially when we need to be connecting with nature more than ever. If we want people to protect our wildlife, we have to show them it! Add your name to ask the BBC to reconsider. you.38degrees.org.uk/petitions/do...
Tell the BBC: Save Winterwatch!
The UK is losing its wildlife, and shows like Winterwatch are vital for connecting us to nature. The BBC's decision to cancel it makes no sense. Let's ask them to rethink this! Add your name here:
you.38degrees.org.uk
On the way home from Scotland stopped of at Aviemore. Didn’t find what I was looking for but did find 100+ Creepling Lady’s-tresses growing on a roadside verge #ukorchids #wildflowerhour @ukorchids.bsky.social @bsbiscotland.bsky.social @europeanorchids.bsky.social @wildflowerhour.bsky.social
First Swift taxi of the year for me. This Swift was found in the street in Sawbridgeworth with a wound on the back. I took it to the brilliant South Essex Wildlife Hospital, where it joins 25 other Swifts already in their care. Grounded Swifts always need an expert rehabber
Day 4 in Scotland - 20+ Bottlenosed Dolphins again off Lossiemouth Harbour (Moray) between 7.45 - 9.30 p.m. #ukwildlife #ukmammals @mammalsociety.bsky.social @marinemammalogy.bsky.social @whaletalesorg.bsky.social
Appeal for Identification We’re seeking to identify the individual pictured after the disturbance of a Sche 1 protected bird at an active nest. Their presence caused the adult birds to leave the nest potentially putting vulnerable chicks at risk during the current extreme heat.
Day 3 in Scotland - Coralroot Orchids gone to seed, a single Weasel running across the road & a pod of 10+ Bottlenosed Dolphins, in the Lossiemouth area of Moray #ukorchids #ukmammlas #ukwildlife @ukorchids.bsky.social @bsbibotany.bsky.social @mammalsociety.bsky.social @marinemammalogy.bsky.social
Day 2 in Scotland this time with Lesser Twayblades & Creeping Lady’s-tresses in the Highlands & Moray #orchids #ukorchids #wildflowers #wildflowerhour @durhamwildlife.bsky.social @northwildlife.bsky.social @ukorchids.bsky.social @bsbibotany.bsky.social @wildflowerhour.bsky.social
SOSSwifts have donated this Swift Community Set to Abbeygate 6th form in Bury St Edmunds. Swifts’ calls are being played to help attract the younger Swifts above looking for a future place to breed. Swift conservation works. @suffolkbirdgroup.bsky.social @suffolkwildlife.bsky.social #SuffolkBirding
Heading back to Scotland with work & a few stops on the way. A helleborine day with Dark-red, Marsh & Lindisfarne seen #orchids #ukorchids #wildflowers #wildflowerhour @durhamwildlife.bsky.social @northwildlife.bsky.social @ukorchids.bsky.social @bsbibotany.bsky.social @wildflowerhour.bsky.social
Long-tailed Shrike just shown again (19.05) in usual hedgerow after an hour & a half wait #ukrarity #ukrarebird #birdingscotland #fifebirds @scottishbirding.bsky.social @btoscotland.bsky.social @britishbirds.bsky.social
Osprey with its catch at Lossiemouth (Moray) 10/6/26 #birdindscotland #ukbirds #ukbirding #birds @rspb.bsky.social @btoscotland.bsky.social @scottishbirding.bsky.social @britishbirds.bsky.social
Common Terns in a heavy rain shower at Loch Spynie RSPB (Moray) 10/6/26 #birdindscotland #ukbirds #ukbirding #birds @rspb.bsky.social @btoscotland.bsky.social @scottishbirding.bsky.social @britishbirds.bsky.social
A few Odonata from a couple of recent outings in Hertfordshire #hertsdamselflies #ukdragonflies @britishdragonflies.bsky.social @hertswildlifetrust.bsky.social @hnhsoc.bsky.social
A few butterflies from a couple of recent outings in Hertfordshire #hertsbutterflies #ukbutterflies @bc-hertsmiddx.bsky.social @savebutterflies.bsky.social @europebutterfly.bsky.social @hertswildlifetrust.bsky.social @hnhsoc.bsky.social
Autumn migration is underway! 7 Black-tailed Godwits @TyttGP yesterday & a Whinchat at Stanborough GPs today. #hertsbirds
It’s Swift Awareness Week! Sadly, the iconic Swift (Apus apus) dropped in numbers across the UK by over two thirds between 1995 and 2024. Find out more about this aerobatic species on our BirdFacts pages: www.bto.org/learn/about-... @btobirds.bsky.social @jncc.bsky.social @rspbscience.bsky.social
Of the 5 Marsh Helleborines starting to flower last week 3 have flowered & 2 have struggled. The rosettes haven’t made any progress with no signs of them producing flowers #hertsorchids @ukorchids.bsky.social @hertswildlifetrust.bsky.social @bsbibotany.bsky.social @hnhsoc.bsky.social
Another young satellite-tagged Golden Eagle from south Scotland translocation project found injured with 17 shotgun pellets embedded in wings & body. Police Scotland press release + commentary from me ⬇️ #RaptorResearch #WildlifeCrime raptorpersecutionuk.org/2026/06/27/a...
Another young satellite-tagged Golden Eagle from south Scotland translocation project found injured with 17 shotgun pellets embedded in wings & body
Press release from Police Scotland (26 June 2026), followed by my commentary: POLICE APPEAL AFTER SQUEAGLE THE GOLDEN EAGLE FOUND WITH SHOTGUN INJURIES Police Scotland is appealing for information …
raptorpersecutionuk.org
Yesterday spent late evening in the Forest of Dean looking for Nightjars & Woodcock. Saw & heard 4 churring Jars, 2+ roding Woodcock, a Tawny Owl. 2 Roe Deer & 1 Bat sp. #FOD #GloucsBirding #ukbirding #ukbirds #ukwildlife @gloswildlife.bsky.social @btoengland.bsky.social @britishbirds.bsky.social
A very quick stop at Morgan’s Hill (Wiltshire) on Sunday. Not enough time to find the hybrids but still nice to see plenty of other orchids #ukorchids #orchids #wildflower #wildflowerhour @ukorchids.bsky.social @bsbibotany.bsky.social @europeanorchids.bsky.social
