Closer views of the Abberton RING-NECKED DUCK this afternoon off Layer Breton causeway plus LITTLE STINT still from Billetts Farm screen. #BirdsSeenIn2026 #essexbirding #birds #birding #ukbirding @britishnatureguide.bsky.social

My final Turtle Dove survey of 2026 failed to produce any but there was still lots to see on my North Essex farm site. Such a joy to be out on a sunny, summer morning! #BirdsSeenIn2026 #essexbirding #birds #birding #ukbirding #wildlife #mammals @britishnatureguide.bsky.social

A nice few hours at Abberton yesterday morning before it got too hot. Highlights inc fem RING-NECKED DUCK, 3 RC POCHARD, WHEATEAR, OSPREY, COMMON & GREEN SANDS, SPOONBILLS, RUDDY SHELDUCK, CATTLE EGRETS + more #BirdsSeenIn2026 #essexbirding #birds #birding #ukbirding @britishnatureguide.bsky.social

A major highlight of our tour to Bulgaria was the rare BOSNIAN BLUE on the high barren slopes of Mount Orolek, and we had exceptional views! #butterflies #lepidoptera #insects #europebutterflies #Bulgaria @britishnatureguide.bsky.social @europebutterfly.bsky.social

WHINCHAT, GOLDEN ORIOLE, HAWFINCH & PALLID SWIFT (the latter 3 by @simonwood42.bsky.social) taken on our superb tour of Bulgaria. #BirdsSeenIn2026 #Bulgaria #birds #birding @britishnatureguide.bsky.social @tonyrinaud.bsky.social

Some more birds from our recent tour to Bulgaria: MIDDLE-SPOTTED WOODPECKER, WILLOW TIT, WOODCHAT & RED-BACKED SHRIKES & CIRL BUNTING. #BirdsSeenIn2026 #Bulgaria #birds #birding @britishnatureguide.bsky.social @tonyrinaud.bsky.social

HORNED LARK, SHORT-TOED EAGLE, LEVANT SPARROWHAWK & SOMBRE TIT from our recent tour to Bulgaria, #BirdsSeenIn2026 #Bulgaria #birds #birding @britishnatureguide.bsky.social @tonyrinaud.bsky.social

Some of the great birds we saw on our recent tour of Bulgaria: NUTCRACKER, BLACK STORK, HONEY BUZZARD & RED-BACKED SHRIKE. #BirdsSeenIn2026 #Bulgaria #birds #birding @britishnatureguide.bsky.social @tonyrinaud.bsky.social

Cracking morning at Abberton Reservoir yesterday when finally caught up with RUDDY SHELDUCK & OSPREY plus WILLOW EMERALD and bonus SILVER-STRIPED HAWKMOTH, the latter a first for Abberton! #BirdsSeenIn2026 #essexbirding #birds #birding #ukbirding @britishnatureguide.bsky.social #wildlife #UKmoths

Glad the Oxon/Glos LONG-TAILED SHRIKE did the decent thing and hung around to enable @esbr-essex.bsky.social @olicwildlife.bsky.social, Dan H and myself to see this superb bird! #BirdsSeenIn2026 #oxonbirding #birds #birding #RareBirdsUK #ukbirding @britishnatureguide.bsky.social

Arrived home last night after an amazing tour of Bulgaria where we recorded 127 species of butterfly including the wonderful DUSKY LARGE BLUE. #butterflies #macrophotography #bulgaria @europebutterfly.bsky.social @britishnatureguide.bsky.social

We kicked off our evening with a visit to Hollesley Marshes where 26 EURASIAN SPOONBILL, 2 GW EGRET, 7 GREENSHANK, 1 WOOD SANDPIPER and a male RUFF were among the highlights. #BirdsSeenIn2026 #suffolkbirding #birds #birding #ukbirding @britishnatureguide.bsky.social @suffolkbirdgroup.bsky.social

Here's the second EUROPEAN NIGHTJAR that was roosting just before dusk last night in coastal Suffolk. #BirdsSeenIn2026 #suffolkbirding #birds #birding #ukbirding @britishnatureguide.bsky.social @suffolkbirdgroup.bsky.social

The warm sunshine certainly helped yesterday with stack of butterflies on the wing around Hollesley, Suffolk with GRAYLING, SILVER-STUDDED BLUE, RINGLET and large numbers of PAINTED LADY. #wildlife #suffolkwildlife #butterflies #suffolk @britishnatureguide.bsky.social @bc-suffolk.bsky.social

Back up to Suffolk last night for our second and final EUROPEAN NIGHTJAR trip of the year and we struck gold finding 2 roosting birds! #BirdsSeenIn2026 #suffolkbirding #birds #birding #ukbirding @britishnatureguide.bsky.social @suffolkbirdgroup.bsky.social

MOTTLED BEE-FLY, HEATH SMALL-PALP, BEEWOLF & WOOD TIGER BEETLE from our wonderful day at Thursley Common, Surrey yesterday. #insects #surreywildlife @britishnatureguide.bsky.social @flygirlnhm.bsky.social

A few more of the 17 species of Odonata we found at Thursley Common, Surrey yesterday: FOUR-SPOTTED CHASER, COMMON EMERALD, BROAD-BODIED CHASER & RED-EYED DAMSELFLY. #DragonflyWeek #surreywildlife #dragonflies #odonata @britishnatureguide.bsky.social @britishdragonflies.bsky.social

Lots of Dragonflies and Damselflies on the wing at Thursley Common yesterday inc BLACK DARTER, SMALL RED DAMSEL, KEELED SKIMMER & SMALL RED-EYED DAMSELS. #DragonflyWeek #surreywildlife #dragonflies #odonata @britishnatureguide.bsky.social @britishdragonflies.bsky.social

Hot but very enjoyable day guiding at Thursley Common, Surrey where there were stacks of insects and the highlight bird was a WOOD SANDPIPER found by @esbr-essex.bsky.social #BirdsSeenIn2026 #surreybirds #birds #birding #ukbirding @britishnatureguide.bsky.social @tonyrinaud.bsky.social

The first of our Nightjar guided walks got off to a cracking start last night with amazing views of this male EUROPEAN NIGHTJAR! #BirdsSeenIn2026 #suffolkbirding #birds #birding #ukbirding @britishnatureguide.bsky.social @tonyrinaud.bsky.social @suffolkbirdgroup.bsky.social

Also at Gt Wigborough were MARBLED WHITE, the delightful Sitochroa palealis, LARGE SKIPPER and SMALL HEATH. #wildlife #essexwildlife #butterflies @britishnatureguide.bsky.social @bc-cambs-essex.bsky.social

Then onto the excellent wildflower fields at Gt Wigborough which were full of butterflies including BROWN ARGUS, ESSEX SKIPPER, PAINTED LADY, GATEKEEPER and more. #wildlife #essexwildlife #butterflies @britishnatureguide.bsky.social @bc-cambs-essex.bsky.social

An early morning visit to Abberton Res yesterday produced 11 SPOONBILL, 12 CATTLE EGRET, 3 GT EGRET plus first GREEN SANDS & GREENSHANK of the autumn plus HOBBY, MARSH HARRIERS and more. #BirdsSeenIn2026 #essexbirding #birds #birding #ukbirding @britishnatureguide.bsky.social

Wonderful evening mooching around Wrabness EWT reserve with @esbr-essex.bsky.social 2 TURTLE DOVE, 5+ YELLOWHAMMER, 2 BARN OWL, 2 LITTLE OWL plus 1st RINGLETS of the year! #BirdsSeenIn2026 #essexbirding #birds #birding #ukbirding @britishnatureguide.bsky.social @bc-cambs-essex.bsky.social

Then spent some time with @olicwildlife.bsky.social in Hide Bay hide where finally caught up with an Essex LESSER EMPEROR! #dragonflies #essex #wildlife @britishdragonflies.bsky.social @britishnatureguide.bsky.social

Then spent an enjoyable few hours along 'the old road' at Abberton where 2 PURPLE EMPEROR plus WHITE-LETTER & PURPLE HAIRSTREAKS were seen plus PAINTED LADY, COMMA & SMALL SKIPPER among others. #wildlife #essexwildlife #butterflies @britishnatureguide.bsky.social @bc-cambs-essex.bsky.social

Postponed my day trip to Surrey yesterday due to the heat so headed down to Abberton Res before the heat got too bad. Nice to see CATTLE EGRETS, CUCKOO, COMMON TERN and 9 OYSTERCATCHER, my biggest ever number. #BirdsSeenIn2026 #essexbirding #birds #birding #ukbirding @britishnatureguide.bsky.social

ROSEATE TERNS, DIPPER, LITTLE TERNS & SANDERLING from our recent tour to Northumberland. #BirdsSeenIn2026 #NEbirding #birds #birding #ukbirding @britishnatureguide.bsky.social @ntbirdclub.bsky.social

ARCTIC TERN, COMMON EIDER with chick, ATLANTIC PUFFIN & LITTLE GULL all from our recent tour to Northumberland. #BirdsSeenIn2026 #NEbirding #birds #birding #ukbirding @britishnatureguide.bsky.social @ntbirdclub.bsky.social

We were pleased to catch up with the AMERICAN BLACK TERN at Long Nanny @nationaltrust.org.uk during our visit to Northumberland. #BirdsSeenIn2026 #NEbirding #birds #birding #ukbirding @britishnatureguide.bsky.social @ntbirdclub.bsky.social