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Dave Helliar @dhelliar.bsky.social · 27/09/2026

New for garden L-album Wainscot in last nights feeble 16/6 Also a Rusty Dot Pearl. Chard, South Somerset VC5 #teammoth

L-album Wainscot photo taken under artificial light & beginning to warm up.

L-album Wainscot on bramble leaf, photo taken in natural light.

Dave Helliar @dhelliar.bsky.social · 22/09/2026

An amazing 10 Vestal in last nights trap, bringing the total to 35 for the year! Chard, South Somerset VC5 Also 2 Small Mottled Willow & Small Fan-footed Wave 82/11 #teammoth

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Dave Helliar @dhelliar.bsky.social · 19/09/2026

An hour stroll around set-a-side fields nr Chard gave 3 Whinchat, 6 Stonechat, 16 Skylark, 8 Stock Dove & c.100 Linnet in murky, windy weather. Earlier at #ChardRes the Kingfisher brightened the morning. 12 Mandarin are gaining colour too, 4 Lt Egret & the 'resident' Cetti's Warbler #Somerestbirding

One of three Whinchat hunkering down in set-a-side fields

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Dave Helliar @dhelliar.bsky.social · 17/09/2026

A couple new insects for me today: A Stonefly (Leuctra fusca) & I think Knapweed Rhopalid (Stictopleurus abutilon)? #inverts

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Dave Helliar @dhelliar.bsky.social · 17/09/2026

Very nice John, a species I've yet to see in the UK.

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Dave Helliar @dhelliar.bsky.social · 14/09/2026

The second Dunlin this autumn at my inland Dorset patch, I was hoping for something American when I spied it on the far side of the lake! Still 2 Green Sandpiper present & a unwelcome 96 Canada Geese! @dorsetbirdclub.bsky.social

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Dave Helliar @dhelliar.bsky.social · 14/09/2026

Old Lady was NFM in last nights' busy trap. 2 more Vestal (23rd & 24th of year) singles of Silver Y & Cypress Pug, 2 Rosy-striped Knot-horn ('Rhubarb & Custard'). 83 LYU! made up 110/17 Chard, South Somerset VC5 #teammoth

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Dave Helliar @dhelliar.bsky.social · 12/09/2026

Clifden Nonpareil literally flew into the trap as I was inspecting it tonight! New for garden & only the 2nd I've seen. Chard, South Somerset VC5 #teammoth @migrantmothuk.bsky.social

Clifden Nonpareil in very large glass jar!

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Dave Helliar @dhelliar.bsky.social · 11/09/2026

Rewarding 2 hours on The Blackdowns this pm: Whinchat, 5 Wheatear, Redstart, 8 Stonechat, 7 Meadow Pipit, 6 Skylark, 11+ Pied Wagtail, 2 Linnet & 1 Hare @somersetbirds.bsky.social

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Dave Helliar @dhelliar.bsky.social · 10/09/2026

6 Yellow Wagtail feeding around cattle this evening at the Dorset patch. Linnet this am was 1st of year here & getting scarce on patch. Meadow Pipits heard. 3 Green Sandpiper still. @dorsetbirdclub.bsky.social 3km #PWC2026

Two (of six present) Yellow Wagtail feeding around cattle

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Dave Helliar @dhelliar.bsky.social · 07/09/2026

2 more Vestal in last nights trap (19th/20th of year!), also singles of Small Mottled Willow & Silver Y. Centre-barred Sallow was NFM. Total included 39 LYUW! 74/21 Chard, South Somerset VC5 #teammoth

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Dave Helliar @dhelliar.bsky.social · 07/09/2026

Juvenile Hobby at the Dorset patch this morning, otherwise quiet with singles of Green Sandpiper, Spotted Flycatcher & Kingfisher. @dorsetbirdclub.bsky.social

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Dave Helliar @dhelliar.bsky.social · 06/09/2026

Olive-tree Pearl, 2 Vestal (17th & 18th of year!), 1 Silver Y & 1 Rusty Dot Pearl were last nights' migrants. Feathered Gothic was NFG. 85/26. Chard, South Somerset VC5 #teammoth

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Dave Helliar @dhelliar.bsky.social · 05/09/2026

Now 4 Whinchat on set-a-side fields near Chard. Stonechat still. On the dwarf Sunflower field, at least one Yellow Wagtail. Red Kite high over my garden later. @somersetbirds.bsky.social

Dwarf Sunflower field held at least one Yellow Wagtail, plus small flocks of Linnet, Goldfinch & Greenfinch

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Dave Helliar @dhelliar.bsky.social · 05/09/2026

Two (of three found) Brown Hairstreak eggs in a casual look at Blackthorn at the Dorset patch today. @dorsetbutterflies.bsky.social @savebutterflies.bsky.social

Two Brown Hairstreak eggs on twig of Blackthorn.

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Dave Helliar @dhelliar.bsky.social · 05/09/2026

2 Yellow Wagtail, 7 White Wagtail & c.15 Pied Wagtail feeding at the Dorset patch this am. 2 Spot Fly & 2 Green Sand still. Meadow Pipit heard & flock c.30 Greenfinch over recently cut maize fields @dorsetbirdclub.bsky.social

One of two Yellow Wagtail feeding around lake & cattle.

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Dave Helliar @dhelliar.bsky.social · 04/09/2026

My 15th Vestal this year in the trap last night, also 6 Silver Y, my second Dark Sword-grass & my first Cypress Pug. 66/15 Chard, South Somerset VC5 #teammoth

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Dave Helliar @dhelliar.bsky.social · 04/09/2026

Seaton Wetlands was a wader fest today. Pectoral Sandpiper dropped in at around noon (great find by visiting birders) Singles of Curlew & Wood Sandpipers, Ruff, plus 2 Spotted Redshank made a very special visit! #DevonBirds

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Dave Helliar @dhelliar.bsky.social · 03/09/2026

Set-a-side fields near Chard providing good habitat for 3 Whinchat, 1 Stonechat, 2 Whitethroat, 3 Chiffchaff, c.200 Linnet, 2 Yellowhammer & a Kestrel @somersetbirds.bsky.social

Linnets in Hawthorn hedge (c.200 present)

View across one of three set-a-side fields near Chard

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Dave Helliar @dhelliar.bsky.social · 03/09/2026

Hi, it's Chard Junction GP, most of the site is a private quarry hence why I don't broadcast details on here. I'm fortunate to have permission to access these restricted areas & all records are sent to DBC for annual report. No problem if you wish to include Green Sandpiper on blog.

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Dave Helliar @dhelliar.bsky.social · 02/09/2026

GBB Gull with carp supper! Kingfisher with slightly smaller fry! #ChardRes this evening @somersetbirds.bsky.social

Adult GBB Gull eating the remains of a dead carp!

GBB Gull managed to shake off the bones eventually!

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Dave Helliar @dhelliar.bsky.social · 02/09/2026

Dunlin present for its' 3rd day at my inland Dorset patch. 2 Green Sand, 5 Teal, 7 Tufties, 1 Grey & 8 Pied Wagtail, 2 Spot Fly. 25 adult/imm Lt Grebe + 2 juv. 10 Coot @dorsetbirdclub.bsky.social

Dunlin & Green Sandpiper on muddy shoreline

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Dave Helliar @dhelliar.bsky.social · 31/08/2026

First Dunlin of the year at the Dorset patch this evening, 3 Green Sandpiper, 16 Teal & at least 5 Spotted Flycatcher still. @dorsetbirdclub.bsky.social #PWC2026

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Reposted by Dave Helliar

Sarah Finch @sarahfinch.bsky.social · 29/08/2026

The Isles of Scilly is home to amazing marine life, but South West Water plans to pump untreated sewage straight into these protected waters. Scilly deserves the best sewage treatment, not a cheap fix. Help protect this beautiful ecosystem and add your name: you.38degrees.org.uk/petitions/gi...

you.38degrees.org.uk

Stop untreated sewage polluting the Isles of Scilly

South West Water plans to pump untreated sewage into one of the UK's most protected marine environments. Add your name to demand the highest standard of sewage treatment for the Isles of Scilly and he...

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Dave Helliar @dhelliar.bsky.social · 29/08/2026

The second Black Tern to grace #ChardRes this month! It dropped in during heavy rain at 11 am, but seems to have moved on by this evening. At the Dorset patch now 7 Spotted Flycatcher feeding along fence line & a Green Sandpiper still. @somersetbirds.bsky.social @dorsetbirdclub.bsky.social

Record shot of Black Tern in awful weather at Chard Res.

4 of 7, Spotted Flycatcher perched on wire fence where they did sorties catching insects in pretty awful weather!

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Dave Helliar @dhelliar.bsky.social · 29/08/2026

The heavy rain didn't arrive here until about 6am, so emptying the trap was under a brolly ☔

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Dave Helliar @dhelliar.bsky.social · 29/08/2026

Almost didn't bother with moth trap due to heavy rain forecast, but glad I did with my 11th Vestal of the year, European Corn Borer, Flounced Rustic & (NFM) Fleabane Pearl. just 22/10. Chard, South Somerset VC5 #teammoth

Fleabane Pearl, a NFM species, unfortunately it escaped before I could pot it!

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Dave Helliar @dhelliar.bsky.social · 27/08/2026

3 Green & 1 Common Sandpiper at #ChardRes this morning. Adult Reed Warbler feeding 2 fledged young. 3 Teal @somersetbirds.bsky.social

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Dave Helliar @dhelliar.bsky.social · 26/08/2026

Really don't know, it's in a pot & all other flower spikes are pink, as normal.

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Dave Helliar @dhelliar.bsky.social · 26/08/2026

Just 3 Spot Flies at my Dorset patch today. Then 1st autumn visit to The Blackdowns, Somerset to find acres of awful maize fields replacing the usual wheat crops! Only found 1 Whinchat, 8 Stonechat & Whitethroat in the much deteriorated habitat I've birded since 2011 @somersetbirds.bsky.social

Two of three Spotted Flycatchers on fence line at Dorset patch

Record shot of Whinchat before it disappeared! The Blackdown Hills, Somerset

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Dave Helliar @dhelliar.bsky.social · 26/08/2026

Veronica Moody Blues Dark Pink isn't sure what colour to be! Half pink, half purple! 🤔All the other flowers are pink. #hardyperennials #flowers

Veronica Moody Blues Dark Pink flower showing exactly half in pink & the other half purple!

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Dave Helliar @dhelliar.bsky.social · 25/08/2026

Nice one Tim. Equally rare at my Dorset patch, I've yet to find one this year!

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Dave Helliar @dhelliar.bsky.social · 25/08/2026

True, furthest I've driven for awhile! Can't manage the Long-tailed Shrike unfortunately, but at least I've seen them in Goa!

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Dave Helliar @dhelliar.bsky.social · 25/08/2026

Just getting mobile again after suffering 6 weeks of sciatica! Hope all's good with you.

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Dave Helliar @dhelliar.bsky.social · 24/08/2026

Cheers Leon, yes, i was surprised when I checked at home! Good to see you earlier.

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Dave Helliar @dhelliar.bsky.social · 24/08/2026

Deserted my local patches to pop down to #SeatonWetlands for this Red-necked Phalarope this am. Didn't realise at the time it was a Devon tick! 2 Spotted Redshank were my first of the year. Good to meet lots of local birders too. #DevonBirds

Red-necked Phalarope always into the sun while I was there!

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Reposted by Dave Helliar

David @daverino.bsky.social · 20/08/2026

“The South Australian premier, Peter Malinauskas, has declared a “significant escalation” in H5 bird flu in the state after the detection of three mass mortality events involving more than 1,000 greater crested terns” www.theguardian.com/world/2026/a...

theguardian.com

More than 1,000 birds found dead in three mass mortality events amid ‘significant’ H5 escalation in Australia

South Australian premier Peter Malinauskas says there have still been no detections in poultry or livestock and no mass deaths involving mammals

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Dave Helliar @dhelliar.bsky.social · 20/08/2026

Black Tern still present at #ChardRes this morning, also a Greenshank briefly & Green Sandpiper @somersetbirds.bsky.social @birdguides.bsky.social

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Dave Helliar @dhelliar.bsky.social · 19/08/2026

The much needed heavy showers worked their magic & dropped this Greenshank on to the Dorset patch this morning. Also present, the long staying 3 Green Sandpiper & a single Common Sand. @dorsetbirdclub.bsky.social #PWC2026 In south Somerset, the Black Tern is still at #ChardRes (for its' 4th day)

Greenshank on muddy shoreline at my inland Dorset patch

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Dave Helliar @dhelliar.bsky.social · 19/08/2026

Pleased you've seen it Viv & lovely video too. That seems to be it's favourite perching spot, it was there yesterday evening, but in the shade, so my video was awful 🤣

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Dave Helliar @dhelliar.bsky.social · 17/08/2026

A change in the weather brought a nice movement of migrants to my local patches with Whinchat yesterday & Tree Pipit today in Dorset & a Black Tern at #ChardRes Somerset present for its' second day. @dorsetbirdclub.bsky.social @somersetbirds.bsky.social #PWC2026

Black Tern settled on rocky shore with BH Gulls & Mallards

Black Tern inflight over Chard Reservoir....record shot!

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Dave Helliar @dhelliar.bsky.social · 17/08/2026

Black Tern still present this morning ##SomersetBirding @birdguides.bsky.social

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Dave Helliar @dhelliar.bsky.social · 15/08/2026

Very true Steve, those special rarities seem a distant memory now since the quarry closed!

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