iiinova — where your digital self keeps evolving

Mike Gibbons @cloudedyellows.bsky.social · 23/09/2026

Locally to me in the Bournemouth coastal area Clouded Yellows has done pretty well with c.173 seen a few days ago and yesterday I saw around 25 in a short stretch. 3 flew out to sea. On my way back I saw 3 helice females which I did not see on my way out. Here are those 3 plus a regular female.

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Mike Gibbons @cloudedyellows.bsky.social · 23/07/2026

Could not resist a visit to the Gloucester/Oxfordshire border yesterday to see the Long-tailed Shrike. Very well organised gathering and the Shrike showed well after a short wait. Typically it vanished for long periods. A new bird for Britain for me.

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Mike Gibbons @cloudedyellows.bsky.social · 12/07/2026

Scarlet Tiger moths on a trip to see Heath Fritillaries. I rarely get the opportunity to photograph this colourful moth.

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Mike Gibbons @cloudedyellows.bsky.social · 28/06/2026

Made a special visit to Luckett to see the Heath Fritillary. I thought I was pushing it and it was getting a bit late but the majority I saw were surprisingly fresh. A variety interestingly marked individuals.

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Mike Gibbons @cloudedyellows.bsky.social · 29/05/2026

Good time of year in my West Christchurch garden to see Stag Beetles. Had 2 together and another in flight and seen to land. There was quite a difference in size of the 2 males here.

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Mike Gibbons @cloudedyellows.bsky.social · 02/05/2026

Glanville Fritillaries out on the Isle of Wight and it looks like it's going to be a good year. Not only did I see around 10 butterflies but I also saw a caterpillar too. It was a sunny morning but a much cloudier afternoon.

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Mike Gibbons @cloudedyellows.bsky.social · 28/04/2026

Pearl-bordered Fritillary just emerging in the New Forest. Saw around 6 well scattered, immaculate and bright.

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Mike Gibbons @cloudedyellows.bsky.social · 13/04/2026

Male Red-spotted Bluethroat at Swineham, Dorset today. Showed well on and off and reported singing. A very beautiful bird.

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Mike Gibbons @cloudedyellows.bsky.social · 28/01/2026

Nuthatch on the sunflower hearts feeder in my garden. Fascinating to watch as they turn in all directions to feed.

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Mike Gibbons @cloudedyellows.bsky.social · 22/01/2026

Another visit to Ripley Reservoir, Hants today in better weather conditions to see the Kildeer. Still distant but less wind and rain. Nice to see a Little Gull on the water too.

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Mike Gibbons @cloudedyellows.bsky.social · 21/01/2026

A lifer on my doorstep. Distant and cropped photo of the Killdeer which turned up at Ripley Reservoir, Hants. Never thought I would see one in January. 2nd record for Hants I believe but may have been an even earlier record I am informed.

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Mike Gibbons @cloudedyellows.bsky.social · 02/12/2025

Lucky to re-find a Clouded Yellow at Southbourne Undercliff on 2nd December. It was roughly in the same area as it was a few days ago on a seaside daisy. On my walk back it had gone. A nice present for my birthday today.

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Mike Gibbons @cloudedyellows.bsky.social · 25/11/2025

Saw 9 Clouded Yellows with @garyh-56.bsky.social and @andos13.bsky.social along with 3 larvae. Amazing day for late November. Also 2 Red Admirals.

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Mike Gibbons @cloudedyellows.bsky.social · 21/11/2025

Well it's 21st November and I saw 2 male Clouded Yellows today at Southbourne, Bournemouth. There were probably more looking at other photos. Beautiful sunny day on the coast.

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Mike Gibbons @cloudedyellows.bsky.social · 13/11/2025

Good sunny morning for butterflies at Southbourne, Dorset. 4 Clouded Yellows including this big male, 1 Small White seen by others, 1 Red Admiral and a Peacock in my Christchurch garden. Good numbers of Clouded Yellow eggs and larvae too so they may overwinter.

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Mike Gibbons @cloudedyellows.bsky.social · 06/11/2025

Visited Calshot, Hampshire to see the Boat-tailed Grackle which showed well for everyone. An added bonus was this white Starling which showed on and off nearby.

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Mike Gibbons @cloudedyellows.bsky.social · 25/09/2025

One of 27 Clouded Yellows heading west this afternoon, including 2 helice and 2 in off the sea and landing on the slopes.

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Mike Gibbons @cloudedyellows.bsky.social · 03/09/2025

A beautiful male Eros Blue from the Austrian Alps. A favourite of mine.

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Mike Gibbons @cloudedyellows.bsky.social · 11/08/2025

Another new Fritillary butterfly for me this year on my Scandinavian trip was this Frejya's Fritillary (Boloria freija). These fritillaries were few and far between especially on cloudy days. A stunning underside as well.

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Mike Gibbons @cloudedyellows.bsky.social · 08/08/2025

Small Red-eyed Damselfly at Silverlake in Dorset.

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Mike Gibbons @cloudedyellows.bsky.social · 06/08/2025

Frigga's Fritillary in northern Sweden. Seen in a boggy area of Abisko National Park.

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Mike Gibbons @cloudedyellows.bsky.social · 01/08/2025

A Pale Arctic Clouded Yellow from my recent trip to Northern Sweden. Resting on a cloudy day, they normally rarely stop flying when it is sunny.

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Mike Gibbons @cloudedyellows.bsky.social · 31/07/2025

Male Silver-washed Fritillary on bramble blossom. This was earlier in the season and it cannot have been out long.

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Mike Gibbons @cloudedyellows.bsky.social · 30/07/2025

A male Brown Hairstreak nectaring on Wild Parsnip at Shipton Bellinger, Hants.

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Mike Gibbons @cloudedyellows.bsky.social · 29/07/2025

An interesting female Gatekeeper aberration. Possibly caused by temperature variation as a chrysalis. A striking butterfly.

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Mike Gibbons @cloudedyellows.bsky.social · 28/07/2025

Great to see Wall Brown butterflies in number at Shipton Bellinger. This area is a stronghold for a butterfly that has become local in many areas. Seems to be doing well in parts of the south coast but there is a welcome improvement at inland areas as well.

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Mike Gibbons @cloudedyellows.bsky.social · 27/07/2025

Female Brown Hairstreak with open wings and male nectaring at Shipton Bellinger, Hampshire. Always a big climax to the summer butterfly season

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Mike Gibbons @cloudedyellows.bsky.social · 08/07/2025

A female White-faced Darter dragonfly seen in Northern Sweden in a boggy area. The only dragonfly I saw on the trip.

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Mike Gibbons @cloudedyellows.bsky.social · 22/06/2025

On 19th and 20th June I was at Alice Holt Forest in Hampshire searching in the heat for Purple Emperor. One male was seen down on the track on 19th, then 4 males were seen down on 20th, including 2 together later in the day. It did mean however getting close to dog mess for some photos!

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Mike Gibbons @cloudedyellows.bsky.social · 21/06/2025

A White-letter Hairstreak came down on bramble from elms at our local Christchurch recreation ground. Do not always get to see this secretive species this close, usually up high.

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Mike Gibbons @cloudedyellows.bsky.social · 04/06/2025

I saw up to 50 Black Hairstreak were seen in Ditchling Common, Sussex on Monday. They were very active until I left at 18.00. Some had recently emerged but there were a fair few that were faded or bits of wing missing. A stunning butterfly.

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Mike Gibbons @cloudedyellows.bsky.social · 19/05/2025

A Common Tern showing beautifully at Titchfield Haven. Wonderful view from the hide.

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Mike Gibbons @cloudedyellows.bsky.social · 16/05/2025

Visited Titchfield Haven this afternoon to see the Hudsonian Godwit. It spent a lot of time feeding and some time asleep. It then returned to feed closer to the hide before I left at 17.00. Managed to get this photo showing some key features in the plumage, especially the underwing.

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Mike Gibbons @cloudedyellows.bsky.social · 14/05/2025

Incredibly found a Glanville Fritillary at Southbourne Undercliff, Bournemouth,Dorset. Could well have flown in from the Isle of Wight in these warm, still conditions.Sunning itself on path to beach.My first coastal mainland record since the Hampshire coast colonies at Hordle Cliff and Hurst Spit.

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Mike Gibbons @cloudedyellows.bsky.social · 06/05/2025

Male Lesser Spotted Woodpecker in the New Forest today showing exceptionally well. Likely to have a nest nearby. Feeding low down in a small tree close to the track.

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Mike Gibbons @cloudedyellows.bsky.social · 09/04/2025

A very difficult butterfly to photograph because it never seems to stop flying, the Greenish Black-tip is ever active in the warm sunshine of Fuerteventura, on the Canaries. I managed this shot in the late part of the day when it was cooler. A beautiful delicate yellow. A first for me. #butterflies

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Mike Gibbons @cloudedyellows.bsky.social · 26/03/2025

Pairing of Small Whites at the local Christchurch Recreation Ground today. My earliest ever pairing I think. Seem to be having a good early season from local observations today.

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Mike Gibbons @cloudedyellows.bsky.social · 23/03/2025

Male Firecrest singing and displaying in the garden today. Very aggressive towards a Goldcrest which strayed in. Hoping a pair will nest again like last year.

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Mike Gibbons @cloudedyellows.bsky.social · 16/03/2025

Great to see a Long eared Owl yesterday after waiting many years since the last one. A long wait for it to open those big orange eyes. The location has been witheld on request.

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Mike Gibbons @cloudedyellows.bsky.social · 07/03/2025

A trip to Bordon, North Hampshire was rewarded by seeing the male Black-throated Thrush which was frequenting some local gardens. Special permission was obtained to see this first for the county.

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Mike Gibbons @cloudedyellows.bsky.social · 30/01/2025

Saw 3 Short-eared Owls flying around Wyke Down, Dorset this afternoon. First sunny day for a while, so pretty good views.

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Mike Gibbons @cloudedyellows.bsky.social · 17/01/2025

The Lesser Scaup at Longham Lakes, Dorset. It was not always easy to see because it spent a lot of time diving under water to feed.

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Mike Gibbons @cloudedyellows.bsky.social · 24/12/2024

Wishing all my followers on Bluesky a very Merry Christmas and a Happy 2025. A male Purple Emperor to brighten up the winter.

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Mike Gibbons @cloudedyellows.bsky.social · 01/12/2024

The late October Isabelline Shrike in Gillingham, north Dorset. An attractive shrike which was difficult to observe at first but later ventured closer to observers.

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Mike Gibbons @cloudedyellows.bsky.social · 26/11/2024

The lingering dark-phase Arctic Skua at Stanpit Marsh, Dorset yesterday. Most of the time distantly swimming in Christchurch Harbour but it did come in for a long afternoon rest on land whilst not harrassing the gulls. @dorsetbirdclub.bsky.social

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Mike Gibbons @cloudedyellows.bsky.social · 10/11/2024

Very unusual looking Yellow-browed Warbler I saw in Shetland on my autumn trip. I could not believe how stunning this bird was. Really beautiful, probably a one off.

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Mike Gibbons @cloudedyellows.bsky.social · 03/09/2024

Female Brown Hairstreak at Shipton Bellinger, Hampshire.

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Mike Gibbons @cloudedyellows.bsky.social · 10/05/2024

Saw 4 or 5 active Pearl-bordered Fritillaries in the New Forest today,

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Mike Gibbons @cloudedyellows.bsky.social · 18/04/2024

Bumper day for butterflies at Iford Golf Course, Bournemouth, 14 Peacock, 2 Small Tortoiseshell (in picture), 3 Comma, 1 Red Admiral, 1 Speckled Wood, 2 Small Whites, 4 Orange Tip (1 female), 1 Holly Blue. Also a report of a Green Hairstreak at nearby Hengistbury Head.

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Mike Gibbons @cloudedyellows.bsky.social · 13/04/2024

Yesterday was a fantastic day for singing Willow Warblers in the Holmsley area of the New Forest. Far outnumbering singing Chiffchaff. I imagine that many have moved on today.

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