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Richard Swinbank

@avocet-richard.bsky.social
90 followers 42 following 55 posts

Retired meteorologist and active birder, living in East Devon.

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Richard Swinbank @avocet-richard.bsky.social · 27/05/2026
A Sarracenia pitcher plant (presumably of horticultural origin) from Colaton Raleigh Common, earlier this week. Plus a supporting cast of other marsh-loving plants: Oblong-leaved Sundew, Cottongrass and Heath Spotted-orchid.
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Richard Swinbank @avocet-richard.bsky.social · 04/05/2026
My first rose flower of the summer! ‘For your eyes only’
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Richard Swinbank @avocet-richard.bsky.social · 28/08/2025
Just adding one of my photos of the Wryneck at Turf Lock (Exminster) this afternoon - its second day, showing very well at times.
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Richard Swinbank @avocet-richard.bsky.social · 23/07/2025
Although I have many more photos from Switzerland, I'll finish with some views of the gorgeous mountain scenery. First, the Eiger, Mönch & Jungfrau. Second, the Jungfrau and Lauterbrunnen valley, from Männlichen. Third, the Wetterhorn and Grindelwald. Last, the Eiger, taken from my room in Mürren.
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Richard Swinbank @avocet-richard.bsky.social · 22/07/2025
Another set of flower photos from my recent trip to Switzerland. This selection includes four flowers from the Buttercup family: Alpine Pasque-flower, Glacier Crowfoot, Narcissus-flowered Anemone and Alpine Buttercup.
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Richard Swinbank @avocet-richard.bsky.social · 22/07/2025
As well as seeing all the beautiful flowers on my recent holiday in Switzerland, we also encountered some lovely butterflies. Here are just four, all photos taken on a walk from Mürren to Grütschalp: Mountain Ringlet, Pearl-bordered Fritillary, Mazarine Blue and Green Hairstreak.
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Richard Swinbank @avocet-richard.bsky.social · 22/07/2025
Four more flower photos from my recent trip to Switzerland - this time four pretty Saxifrages. This selection comprises: Livelong Saxifrage; Scree Saxifrage; Mossy Saxifrage and Round-leaved Saxifrage.
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Richard Swinbank @avocet-richard.bsky.social · 21/07/2025
Four more flowers from my recent holiday in the Swiss Alps. The first two are from Männlichen to Kleine Scheidegg: Snowdon Lily (nowhere near Snowdon!) and Spring Crocus. The other two from Mürren to Grütschalp: Bearded Bellflower and Mountain Houseleek.
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Richard Swinbank @avocet-richard.bsky.social · 20/07/2025
Here is another set of photos from my recent trip to Switzerland - this time they're all species of Primula. These photos show Bird's Eye Primose, Auricula, Hairy Primrose and Oxlip. The first photo was taken at Allmendhubel, and the other three on a walk from Männlichen to Kleine Scheidegg.
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Richard Swinbank @avocet-richard.bsky.social · 20/07/2025
A few more alpine flowers from my recent trip to Switzerland. The first two are from the Schilthorn: Round-leaved Pennycress and Swiss Rock-jasmine. While the other two were taken at Eigergletscher: Chamois Cress and Mt Cenis Pansy.
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Richard Swinbank @avocet-richard.bsky.social · 20/07/2025
Here are a few more photos from my recent trip to Switzerland. This time, some orchids: Broad-leaved Marsh Orchid; Bird's Nest Orchid; Round-headed Orchid and Lady's Slipper Orchid. The latter isn't quite so rare in Switzerland as in Britain!
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Richard Swinbank @avocet-richard.bsky.social · 14/07/2025
I recently returned from a lovely holiday in Switzerland, focusing on flowers, birds & butterflies. I'm sharing just a few of my bird photos here, though I will post some more later. Species shown here are Alpine Accentor, Crested Tit, Spotted Nutcracker, and Alpine Choughs.
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Richard Swinbank @avocet-richard.bsky.social · 28/05/2025
A few pictures from Chew Valley Lake this morning: the Spotted Sandpiper that's been there for a few days now, and a pair of Egyptian Geese with their goslings.
Spotted SandpiperEgyptian Geese with goslings
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Reposted by Richard Swinbank
George Monbiot @georgemonbiot.bsky.social · 11/05/2025
Here, @westcountryvoices.bsky.social have compiled my thread on the utterly bonkers mismanagement of Dartmoor into an easy-to-read article: westcountryvoices.co.uk/prepare-your...
westcountryvoices.co.uk
'Prepare yourselves for a story of breath-taking perversity'
This is Piles Copse, the largest remaining fragment of high-ground temperate rainforest on Dartmoor. It’s a tiny speck of green in a dismal, human-made desert. Prepare yourselves for a story of breath...
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Richard Swinbank @avocet-richard.bsky.social · 08/05/2025
Here are a few more pictures from last week's trip to Dorset - this time from the RSPB nature reserve at Arne: view of Corfe Castle across the heath; Sika Deer; Four-spotted Chaser; and Whimbrel.
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Richard Swinbank @avocet-richard.bsky.social · 06/05/2025
A pair of Black-winged Stilts making themsleves at home at Seaton Wetlands this morning.
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Richard Swinbank @avocet-richard.bsky.social · 06/05/2025
A few photos from my trip to Brownsea Island last week: a Red Squirrel, Sandwich Terns (behind wire netting protecting their nest site), Common Tern and a Little Gull (with a Black-headed Gull).
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Richard Swinbank @avocet-richard.bsky.social · 27/04/2025
Visiting #SeatonWetlands this morning, I was surprised by this flock of 14 Cranes that flew over Colyford Common, heading towards Seaton.
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Richard Swinbank @avocet-richard.bsky.social · 22/04/2025
A second Early-purple Orchid has now started to flower in my meadow, to join the one that I discovered the other day. The Cowslips are also in flower at the moment. Photos show: the original orchid, the new one, orchid with cowslips, just some cowslips.
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Richard Swinbank @avocet-richard.bsky.social · 16/04/2025
A new species of orchid has appeared in the meadow in my garden! Early-purple Orchid? The leaves of the Common Spotted Orchids are only just starting to appear.
Early-purple(?) Orchid in flower
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Reposted by Richard Swinbank
Birds of Poole Harbour @harbourbirds.bsky.social · 26/03/2025
It's wonderful to see the return of longstanding female Osprey CJ7 back at the nest site at Careys Secret Garden, having arrived yesterday evening. She has now ousted the prospecting female 1H1 and is enjoying her place back on the nest with male 022.
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Richard Swinbank @avocet-richard.bsky.social · 20/03/2025
Here are a second set of photos from my recent visit to Cornwall, this time around Sennen Cove & Lands End. Photos show: view from Sennen Cove, Longships lighthouse, Cape Cornwall from Lands End, a Cornish Chough.
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Richard Swinbank @avocet-richard.bsky.social · 20/03/2025
Here are a few photos from a quick visit that I made to Cornwall earlier this month. These four photos are from around the Lizard peninsula, showing Southerly Point, Housel Bay, Grey Seals and Kynance Cove.
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Richard Swinbank @avocet-richard.bsky.social · 17/03/2025
These Dendrobium Nobile orchids are amazing. I bought the one on the left a year ago, and this is its second prolific flowering. The one on the right is older, and a was given to me as a present. It’s been in flower for over 3 months now!
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Richard Swinbank @avocet-richard.bsky.social · 14/02/2025
Four photos of owls and a harrier from my bird-filled trip to Norfolk last week. They are: Tawny Owl roosting at the Nene Washes, Marsh Harrier at Cley, Barn Owl at Titchwell and Long-eared Owl at Deeping Lakes.
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Richard Swinbank @avocet-richard.bsky.social · 27/11/2024
Four more photos from my recent trip to Namibia - this time four bustards, in the order we first saw them. First is Rüppell's Koorhan, then Northern Black Koorhan. Kori Bustard (supposed to be the heaviest flying bird in the world), and finally Red-crested Koorhan.
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Richard Swinbank @avocet-richard.bsky.social · 22/11/2024
Another few photos from my trip to Namibia. This time, here are some big cat photos: Lions and a Cheetah from Etosha, and two different Leopards from Okonjima. I wish I was still there!
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Richard Swinbank @avocet-richard.bsky.social · 21/11/2024
Another taste of Namibia, this time some randomish reddish smallish birds. Red-breasted Swallow, Rufous-eared Warbler (both from Etosha, near Okaukuejo), and Pririt Batis and Crimson-breasted Gonolek (both from Okonjima nature reserve). All four were lifers for me.
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Richard Swinbank @avocet-richard.bsky.social · 19/11/2024
Another taste of Namibia - four more photos from my recent trip. These photos were all taken at the excellent waterhole at Okaukuejo, in Etosha National Park. The animals featured are: a group of Gemsbok; Common Eland and a Springbok; a Black Rhino and African Elephants.
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Richard Swinbank @avocet-richard.bsky.social · 17/11/2024
A few more photos from Namibia. This time, here are four photos from the "Living Desert" tour that we did one morning from Swakopmund. The creatures are three of the "little five": Sidewinder (Peringuey's Adder), Palmato Gecko and Namaqua Chameleon, with the final photo showing some dune scenery.
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Richard Swinbank @avocet-richard.bsky.social · 17/11/2024
Some more of my photos from Namibia, this time four pictures taken on a boat trip from Walvis Bay. The photos show: Hartlaub's Gull, Greater Crested Tern (Swift Tern), African Penguin (Jackass Penguin) and Cape Fur Seal.
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Richard Swinbank @avocet-richard.bsky.social · 17/11/2024
A few more pictures from my trip to Namibia, all taken near Sesriem: Dune Lark, Gemsbok, Double-banded Sandgrouse, view from Elim Dune.
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Richard Swinbank @avocet-richard.bsky.social · 16/11/2024
I’m just back from two great weeks holiday in Namibia. The dunes at Sossusvlei were spectacular. See photos attached - more on Facebook!
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