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Alastair Swinnerton @alswinn.bsky.social · 05/10/2026

Last lot from @wwtsightings.bsky.social Slimbridge - Marsh Harrier, Little Egret from the Waterscapes Aviary, Common Darter and a distant Crane flypast. @gloswildlife.bsky.social @britishdragonflies.bsky.social

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Alastair Swinnerton @alswinn.bsky.social · 05/10/2026

More from @wwtsightings.bsky.social Slimbridge - Snipe, Ruff, Black-Tailed Godwit and the obligatory Lapwing. @gloswildlife.bsky.social

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Alastair Swinnerton @alswinn.bsky.social · 05/10/2026

The Green Sandpiper was a life tick.

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Alastair Swinnerton @alswinn.bsky.social · 05/10/2026

@wwtsightings.bsky.social Slimbridge earlier - Spotted Redshank, Green Sandpiper and Greenshank - with apologies to the other guy in the hide, we thought it was the Wood Sandpiper when it was asleep, and I thought it was when it had a stretch, but no, it was a Greenshank. @gloswildlife.bsky.social

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Alastair Swinnerton @alswinn.bsky.social · 04/10/2026

Saw two more in the field this morning, of different shades of yellow to yesterday's.

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Alastair Swinnerton @alswinn.bsky.social · 03/10/2026

Clouded Yellow still around in the back field, very pink Vestal Moth and the currently ubiquitous Common Crane Fly - love Crane Flies, you could imagine H.R. Giger using them as inspiration for Alien. @teamdiptera.bsky.social @dorsetwildlife.bsky.social @dorsetbutterflies.bsky.social

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Alastair Swinnerton @alswinn.bsky.social · 15/09/2026

I felt the same about my first Great White Egret, ten years or so ago, when it dropped out of the air right in front of the Avalon hide at RSPB Ham Wall. I think they'd just started ringing them. Of course, they're all over the Levels now, but they're still magnificent creatures.

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Alastair Swinnerton @alswinn.bsky.social · 15/09/2026

Best of the rest from RSPB Ham Wall yesterday. I was hoping the Osprey was still there, but it didn't show - but as I was having a cup of tea back at the Welcome Hut, one of the regulars noticed it flying high over the car park towards Shapwick. @somersetbirds.bsky.social @btosomerset.bsky.social

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Alastair Swinnerton @alswinn.bsky.social · 14/09/2026

Adult and juvenile Glossy Ibises going at it, Ham Wall this morning (despite appearances, the adult eventually won). #rspbhamwall @somersetbirds.bsky.social @btosomerset.bsky.social

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Alastair Swinnerton @alswinn.bsky.social · 02/09/2026

2/2 from today's grey, wet @harbourbirds.bsky.social trip - the Sandwich Terns, brightening up a dull afternoon. @dorsetwildlife.bsky.social @dorsetbirdclub.bsky.social

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Alastair Swinnerton @alswinn.bsky.social · 02/09/2026

1/2. A very grey, wet @harbourbirds.bsky.social trip this pm, with a surprise - a Bittern. They only see a couple a year apparently, team very excited. Very distant, even with a 600mm, as were the Marsh Harrier, Osprey, and Whimbrel and Curlew. @dorsetwildlife.bsky.social

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Alastair Swinnerton @alswinn.bsky.social · 01/09/2026

Tree Bumblebee, first I've photographed in the garden, and a nice Vestal Moth from the Yetminster Mill Walk. @bumblebeetrust.bsky.social @dorsetbutterflies.bsky.social @ukbutterflies.bsky.social

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Alastair Swinnerton @alswinn.bsky.social · 23/08/2026

Saw the Dipper at Ninesprings again this morning, about 9.15, it disappeared into the foliage before I could get a shot though. So it looks like it might have stuck around.

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Alastair Swinnerton @alswinn.bsky.social · 12/08/2026

Yes, pretty sure they just winter there - all my photos are in the winter anyway.

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Alastair Swinnerton @alswinn.bsky.social · 12/08/2026

Yes, like the Water Rail - I know it's still there because people have seen it, but I haven't seen it in years.

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Alastair Swinnerton @alswinn.bsky.social · 12/08/2026

Went early this morning with the camera, but no sign, but then there were a lot of people and dogs avoiding the heat.

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Alastair Swinnerton @alswinn.bsky.social · 12/08/2026

Checking the trailcam on return from holiday and found this fox, not just a one off either, it was here three separate nights. Looks like a young one. @dorsetwildlife.bsky.social

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Alastair Swinnerton @alswinn.bsky.social · 11/08/2026

The Dipper is back at Ninesprings - apologies for the shaky video, only had my phone with me @btosomerset.bsky.social #yeovilcountrypark @somersetbirds.bsky.social

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Alastair Swinnerton @alswinn.bsky.social · 08/08/2026

Also at Castle Drogo, my first ever Clouded Yellow, and a f. helice to boot. Thought it was just a Small White until it landed. No dorsal shots I'm afraid, too flighty, but it was white with heavy black markings. I'll record it when I'm home. @savebutterflies.bsky.social @ukbutterflies.bsky.social

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Alastair Swinnerton @alswinn.bsky.social · 08/08/2026

Could I have some ID help please...? Google AI seems to think this is a Chalkhill Blue, but I'm not convinced. A good few seen in the gardens of Castle Drogo earlier. Phone shot I'm afraid. Any thoughts? @ukbutterflies.bsky.social @savebutterflies.bsky.social #devonwildlife

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Alastair Swinnerton @alswinn.bsky.social · 19/07/2026

Yetminster Mill Walk this morning, Small Copper again, seems to like that spot. @dorsetbutterflies.bsky.social @dorsetwildlife.bsky.social

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Alastair Swinnerton @alswinn.bsky.social · 14/07/2026

Didn't want to freeze the blur of its wings completely, so 'only' used 1/2000th shutter speed!

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Alastair Swinnerton @alswinn.bsky.social · 13/07/2026

Small Copper, Yetminster Mill Walk earlier. First time I've taken the camera on a dog walk since the heatwave began, way too hot to have even a kg of kit strapped around you. @dorsetbutterflies.bsky.social @dorsetwildlife.bsky.social

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Alastair Swinnerton @alswinn.bsky.social · 04/07/2026

Skylark, and Stonechat and young, Ham Hill this morning. You can tell there's been a lot of perching on that wall! @somersetbirds.bsky.social @btosomerset.bsky.social #hamhillcountrypark #somersetwildlifetrust

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Alastair Swinnerton @alswinn.bsky.social · 03/07/2026

Hi Jack, I'm confused by the entry form. At the top it says pictures should be no more than 10mb, but under the submission part it says 100mb. Which is it?

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Alastair Swinnerton @alswinn.bsky.social · 02/07/2026

Nice - I think it's compulsory to take at least one bird-on-sign photo on BOPH tours!

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Alastair Swinnerton @alswinn.bsky.social · 02/07/2026

Thanks to Dan and the team at @dorsetwildlife.bsky.social for a great Little Tern Walk this morning. Serious heat haze on the beach, however, as you'll see from some of the photos, but not so bad in the air. @dorsetbirdclub.bsky.social @btobirds.bsky.social

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Alastair Swinnerton @alswinn.bsky.social · 01/07/2026

Loads of Silver-Washed Fritillaries at Duncliffe Woods earlier, as well as my first and second ever White Admirals. Quite exciting. A good supporting cast as well. @dorsetbutterflies.bsky.social @dorsetwildlife.bsky.social #ukwildlife #'ukbutterflies #uknature

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Alastair Swinnerton @alswinn.bsky.social · 25/06/2026

They're wonderful. You don't always see eagles or Ospreys, but this time of year it's a fair bet. The Terns off Brownsea Island are worth it regardless.

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Alastair Swinnerton @alswinn.bsky.social · 25/06/2026

1st wild eagle ever was a Tawny Eagle on a trip to South Africa, winter '75. They were everywhere to be honest - I remember seeing one on a telegraph pole, roughly at our eye level as we went up a hill. First ever in this country, however, was on a Poole Harbour trip last summer. Very special.

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Alastair Swinnerton @alswinn.bsky.social · 23/06/2026

Thanks Eve - yes, so I gather. I misread the comparison site I was using, thought it was a key for Willow Tit. D'oh.

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Alastair Swinnerton @alswinn.bsky.social · 23/06/2026

Spotted this tiny gold beetle at Ninesprings earlier, which turned out to be a Rough-Haired Darkling Beetle (Lagria hirta). Didn't spot the Plant Bug (Orthonotus rufifrons) until I got it on the computer. Nice twofer! @colsocbi.bsky.social #somersetbeetles #somersetwildlifetrust #yeovilcountrypark

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Alastair Swinnerton @alswinn.bsky.social · 23/06/2026

Ah, must have been reading the wrong pages then. Thanks. Nice to see Marsh Tits anyway (there were two)!

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Alastair Swinnerton @alswinn.bsky.social · 23/06/2026

Also the darker cutting edges on the beak.

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Alastair Swinnerton @alswinn.bsky.social · 23/06/2026

Need help please. Highland Water, New Forest, what I think might be a Willow Tit? Looked at comparison pages - messy bib, white spot on beak, whiter cheeks etc. Any thoughts? @btobirds.bsky.social @rspb.bsky.social #ukbirding #hiwwt

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Alastair Swinnerton @alswinn.bsky.social · 22/06/2026

A week around the New Forest. Day 1, went to #Lymington Marshes. The other photos will go in a blog, but these were my first ever Little Tern Photos. I was going to bin the 3rd one, but kept it, missing wingtip and all, as it shows the reality of photographing Terns! @btobirds.bsky.social #hiwwt

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Alastair Swinnerton @alswinn.bsky.social · 16/06/2026

Ninesprings this morning - male Mandarins transitioning into eclipse plumage, and who doesn't love a Scorpionfly? @somersetbirds.bsky.social #yeovilcountrypark #somersetwildlifetrust #ukwildlife #uknature #ukbirding

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Alastair Swinnerton @alswinn.bsky.social · 15/06/2026

Ok, thanks Martin, much appreciated

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Alastair Swinnerton @alswinn.bsky.social · 15/06/2026

I know they're very common, but they're still an impresive Beetle - Black-and-Yellow Longhorn Beetle, Rutpela maculata, staring into the abyss at Ninesprings this morning. @teamdiptera.bsky.social @colsocbi.bsky.social #ukbeetles #ukwildlife #closeenoughphotography #notquitemacro

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Alastair Swinnerton @alswinn.bsky.social · 15/06/2026

Could I have some ID help, please? I think this is Andrena semilaevis, and a couple of different Scraptiidae? I know it's not an uber-sharp photo. Ninesprings this morning. @bumblebeetrust.bsky.social @uk-soldierflies.bsky.social @britishbugs.bsky.social

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