My favourite beetle from a recent trip to Luberon: Hungarian Anthaxia Anthaxia hungarica

Gamekeeper Francis Addison receives suspended jail sentence in relation to five shot goshawks in Suffolk/Norfolk ⚖️ Excellent investigation by Suffolk Rural, Wildlife and Heritage Policing UK National Wildlife Crime Unit (NWCU) RSPB Birders Crap sentence tho - no deterrent whatsoever. Details ⬇️⬇️ raptorpersecutionuk.org/2023/06/29/gam…

I couldn’t believe it when I found a ghost orchid today. A magical moment in the beech woods of the Spanish Pyrenees. UK next ? Naturetrek

July dragonfly survey at Carlton Marshes was outstanding today with 18 species found including a male Lesser Emperor and a male Red-veined Darter. There were huge numbers of Black-tailed Skimmers and still plenty of Norfolk Hawkers

Still looking for people to team up for this.

Up to ten Queen of Spain Fritillaries were showing late morning, despite the weather not being great, today (22/7/23) at East End, Brantham. Park around TM103349 and walk north along footpath

With a Brown Hairstreak being seen in Landseer Park, Ipswich and a rather strange sighting of a High Brown Fritillary in Stutton that is 34 species of butterfly seen in Suffolk in July. see suffolkbutterflies.org.uk/sightings.html

Request for id help with this Tortrix from Suffolk 8/5/23. UK Moth Identification

Can any birding friends recommend a tripod head? I want to get rid of my 128RC as it wobbles terribly. I want it light but steady. It will be used with both a 65mm scope and a 82mm one.

The NHS is by no means perfect, but no one in the UK has ever been declared bankrupt because of medical bills. Yet. We must never take our NHS for granted - please RT if you agree.

Next up for passing on is this very good field guide. A bit dated (published last millennium!) but free to a young naturalist keen to start out on Odonata. The life history, distribution and habitats pages are really useful.

As a bit of an experiment, I've put together a custom Google Map showing access, parking and view points for birding at Abberton Reservoir: google.com/maps/d/edit?mi… . With the Waterthrush / Canvasback duo still around, hope this will help visitors!

A trip to Heybridge, yesterday with Paul Holmes to see the Northern Waterthrush.

The well-publicised otter from Holywells Park, Ipswich 13/1/24. Holywells Park @GiGrieco

Calvin Robinson joins a growing number of far right (and radical right) commentators who don’t believe a non-white person can be British citizens. In the old days we called this out for what it is - racism

Back to Holywells Park again today.

My cat list has only gone up one in the last 7 years so my new year's resolution was to do something about that. Hopefully more will follow. Cat no. 15: Bobcat, Point Reyes, California.

Long shot and a long time away but if any mammal watching followers are interested I am keen to get a group together to do a 4 - 6 person trip to Mongolia in August 25.

Anyone help with this from Bolivia? I think Andean slaty thrush. Refugio Los Volcanes Aug 24. Neotropical Birding and Conservation