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Ed Horncastle @edhorncastle.bsky.social · 11/08/2026

And finally the super bright Scarce Copper.

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Ed Horncastle @edhorncastle.bsky.social · 11/08/2026

More on the copper theme of the Spanish pyrenees. I believe these are purple shot coppers. Male and female.

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Ed Horncastle @edhorncastle.bsky.social · 11/08/2026

A great two weeks in the Spanish pyrenees. The butterfly highlights were the coppers. I believe these are all Sooty Coopers. Feels a rather drab name for a wonderful beautiful butterfly. Male and female. Am I correct @dunnjons.bsky.social ?

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Ed Horncastle @edhorncastle.bsky.social · 14/07/2026

The fields of North East Dartmoor feel pretty Mediterranean at the minute. A couple of Clouded Yellows around today. @bcdevon.bsky.social @savebutterflies.bsky.social

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Ed Horncastle @edhorncastle.bsky.social · 14/07/2026

Painted Lady in a wild and beautiful meadow on Dartmoor. Left by the farmer and full with hundreds of butterflies flying around. @bcdevon.bsky.social @savebutterflies.bsky.social

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Ed Horncastle @edhorncastle.bsky.social · 13/07/2026

First Clouded yellow on my local summer butterfly patch. So many meadow browns. Good numbers of common blues and gatekeepers and a few marbled whites.

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Ed Horncastle @edhorncastle.bsky.social · 08/07/2026

More purple hairstreaks low down and almost on the ground than I ever seen. Perhaps staying out of the heat. Loads of beautiful demoiselles and good numbers of Brimstones around too.

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Ed Horncastle @edhorncastle.bsky.social · 08/07/2026

White admiral males have set up territories near shady honeysuckle. Lots of fighting and courting going on in the heat today. At one point there were 5 spinning around each other above my head. Magical day @savebutterflies.bsky.social @bcdevon.bsky.social

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Reposted by Ed Horncastle

RSPB Science @rspbscience.bsky.social · 08/07/2026

Good news: #NaturalEngland have offered RSPB funding through the #SpeciesRecovery Programme Working in partnership, this funding will allow the RSPB to take action for 25 threatened species in England - from Turtle Dove & House Martin to Lesser Spotted Woodpecker & Shrill Carder Bee #wildagain

Caption: One of the 25 threatened species set to benefit from this new funding - Lesser Spotted Woodpecker

Alt text: Small woodpecker with a red crown and black-and-white wings clinging to a pale tree trunk, against a soft green forest background.

Credit: RSPB / Ben Andrew

Caption: One of the 25 threatened species set to benefit from this new funding - Turtle Dove

Alt text: A small dove with mottled chestnut and black wings, a black and white neck pattern and an orange eye, against an out-of-focus green background.

Credit: RSPB / Ben Andrew

One of the 25 threatened species set to benefit from this new funding - House Martin

Alt text: Four House Martin clustered on muddy ground, showing glossy blue-black heads and wings and bright white bellies, with a soft beige foreground and greenish background.

Credit: RSPB / Ben Andrew

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Reposted by Ed Horncastle

Ed Horncastle @edhorncastle.bsky.social · 02/07/2026

Purple hairstreak numbers building. About 30 on my favourite few oaks at 630 this evening. Fighting for the best spots in the sun. @bcdevon.bsky.social @savebutterflies.bsky.social Mainly males but the bottom left picture is a female. A great site to see.

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Ed Horncastle @edhorncastle.bsky.social · 02/07/2026

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Ed Horncastle @edhorncastle.bsky.social · 01/07/2026

Im going to the woods every chance I get to spend time with the white admirals. @savebutterflies.bsky.social @bcdevon.bsky.social

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Ed Horncastle @edhorncastle.bsky.social · 28/06/2026

Spotted flycatchers in the garden this morning. A rare treat. #Birds

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Ed Horncastle @edhorncastle.bsky.social · 28/06/2026

Such pleasure watching white admirals glide into forest glades. Perching high on leaves and surveying the area. @savebutterflies.bsky.social @bcdevon.bsky.social The most graceful of UK butterflies

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Ed Horncastle @edhorncastle.bsky.social · 27/06/2026

The magnificent white admiral in the wonderful woods of Dartmoor. Heaven on Earth. @bcdevon.bsky.social @savebutterflies.bsky.social

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Reposted by Ed Horncastle

Lesser Spot Network @lesserspotnet.bsky.social · 21/06/2026

Watch BBC Countryfile tonight, BBC One at 7:15. Woodpecker Network and @lesserspotnet.bsky.social volunteers, Ken and Linda Smith, will be in the New Forest talking about and looking for Woodpeckers.

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Ed Horncastle @edhorncastle.bsky.social · 21/06/2026

An explosion of male Silver Washed Fritillaries in the woods of Dartmoor this weekend. Lots of fighting for territories. Numbers of Red and White Admirals growing. @bcdevon.bsky.social @savebutterflies.bsky.social

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Ed Horncastle @edhorncastle.bsky.social · 20/06/2026

7 high brown fritillaries at a small site on Dartmoor today. Good to see they are still hanging on in a few different spots @bcdevon.bsky.social @savebutterflies.bsky.social

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Ed Horncastle @edhorncastle.bsky.social · 17/06/2026

White admirals are my favourite UK butterfly. They live in the woods, are black and white, elusive, beautiful and if you put in the work can be very rewarding. A lot like my favourite bird! 5 seen this afternoon as the sun came out. @bcdevon.bsky.social @savebutterflies.bsky.social

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Ed Horncastle @edhorncastle.bsky.social · 17/06/2026

A very overcast humid morning hard to find the silver studded blues on the East Devon Pebbled Heaths. But I managed to find 3 including this beautiful female on the heather. @bcdevon.bsky.social @savebutterflies.bsky.social

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Ed Horncastle @edhorncastle.bsky.social · 10/06/2026

Freshly emerged High Brown fritillaries on Dartmoor. Not many out yet. 2 seen in the sunny spells between the rain this morning. A magnificent butterfly. Let's hope for many more very the next few weeks. @bcdevon.bsky.social @savebutterflies.bsky.social

Concave forewing and indented black spots are a tell that you are looking at the rare high brown fritillary

Under wing showing the brown red spots that help distinguish the high brown from the dark green fritillary

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Ed Horncastle @edhorncastle.bsky.social · 07/06/2026

The only Wood Warbler I have seen in Devon this year and I am in the woods a lot! Great to see and hear but always make me think when will I have seen my last in Devon #Birds

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Ed Horncastle @edhorncastle.bsky.social · 03/06/2026

4 species of fritillary today but didn't capture the ragged pearl bordered fritillary. 3 in @bcdevon.bsky.social and 1 in @bc-cornwall.bsky.social . Gotta love the fritillaries in the south west. @savebutterflies.bsky.social

Marsh fritillary at my local site on Dartmoor.

Small Pearl Bordered fritillary on a heath spotted orchid just down the road.

Two heath wishing there was more sun in the Tamar Valley today.

Marsh fritillary trying to stay dry in the rain on Dartmoor.

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Ed Horncastle @edhorncastle.bsky.social · 03/06/2026

A yearly adventure across the border to @bc-cornwall.bsky.social to look for heath fritillaries. Over 50 seen today even in mixed conditions. They were easier to photograph in between the rain. One of my favourite butterflies and favourite places to see them.

Heath fritillary on beautiful flowing bracken.

A female with a large abdomen basking in the occasional break in the clouds

Most of the heath fritillaries were closed wings on bramble.

You can see the rain drop on this heath fritillary

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Reposted by Ed Horncastle

Pied Sandpiper @piedsandpiper.bsky.social · 31/05/2026

Looking for the exits. The LSW chicks are very restless now - sticking their heads out the hole and yelling at their parents. Fecal sacs are no longer being removed. A chance they could fledge today at ≈22 days old. Both appear to be female #HantsBirds #NewForest @lesserspotnet.bsky.social

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Pied Sandpiper @piedsandpiper.bsky.social · 02/06/2026

There are now two more female Lesser Spotted Woodpeckers out in the world! What a joy it’s been to share this patch of woodland with these incredible birds for the last 11 days. Thanks to @lesserspotnet.bsky.social for the guidance. The clearing feels very quiet now! #HantsBirds #NewForest

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Ed Horncastle @edhorncastle.bsky.social · 27/05/2026

Here's a slow mo of the first two flights for this young male. Not elegant but beautiful none the less. I hope to see the 3 chicks again as adult birds over the coming years. @lesserspotnet.bsky.social

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Reposted by Ed Horncastle

Ed Horncastle @edhorncastle.bsky.social · 26/05/2026

Back this morning to see if the nest was empty. Surprised to see the male chick. Watched for an hour. No feeding from adults. One quick visit followed by a close visit and the Male fledged! Female checked the empty nest and then they were off together. Absolute joy. @lesserspotnet.bsky.social #Birds

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Ed Horncastle @edhorncastle.bsky.social · 26/05/2026

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Ed Horncastle @edhorncastle.bsky.social · 25/05/2026

What a wonderful spring Ive had following these lesser spots from drumming to fledging. Fun video from one of the few visits today. The parents were trying to force them out through hunger. Got a bit competitive in the nest. @lesserspotnet.bsky.social

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Ed Horncastle @edhorncastle.bsky.social · 25/05/2026

The lesser spots have finally fledged! Want to see it don't watch this video! Watching through my bins and didn't notice my camera had frozen in the heat. Watch the pre-behaviour and you can hear the bird fly away calling at 31 secs. Then her siblings realise at 37 secs @lesserspotnet.bsky.social

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Ed Horncastle @edhorncastle.bsky.social · 24/05/2026

Lesser Spots still not fledged. Typical behaviour this morning. Chicks calling from the hole, Female brings a quick feed then tries to call them out. They didn't want to come out. Has to be tmrw but I've been saying that since Thursday! @lesserspotnet.bsky.social

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Ed Horncastle @edhorncastle.bsky.social · 23/05/2026

Some more footage of the lesser spot pair Ive been following since February. Ive loved every minute. Hopefully tmrw I will see the chicks, these two have been working incredibly hard to raise, fledge. @lesserspotnet.bsky.social

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Ed Horncastle @edhorncastle.bsky.social · 23/05/2026

I cant believe the lesser spot chicks haven't fledged yet. The female kept calling at them to come out this morning. At one point for over 6 minutes straight. The adults are tired and want the chicks to forage for themselves. They are doing there best to avoid the lunges! @lesserspotnet.bsky.social

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Ed Horncastle @edhorncastle.bsky.social · 23/05/2026

Local Marsh Fritillaries are out on Dartmoor. Counts done for @savebutterflies.bsky.social Beautiful butterflies.

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angusrobin.bsky.social @angusrobin.bsky.social · 23/05/2026

Here’s an example of LSW young calling from a nest (there were three young not far off fledging in this nest) @ukrbbp.bsky.social @lesserspotnet.bsky.social

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Stuart keenor @stuckateur.bsky.social · 21/05/2026

Between the 100s of images of invertebrates being brought in a few “ flight shots “ @edhorncastle.bsky.social @kenandlindasmith.bsky.social @lesserspotnet.bsky.social

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Ed Horncastle @edhorncastle.bsky.social · 21/05/2026

Female was briefly spooked tonight by a strange noise which meant she stayed a while. Not many days to go until fledging. Could be tmrw @lesserspotnet.bsky.social If this is the last I see of them this year, good luck its been a beautiful spring. #Birds

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Ed Horncastle @edhorncastle.bsky.social · 20/05/2026

Pied flycatchers are everywhere in the woods of Dartmoor. Doing so well. A real pleasure to be near. @piedflynet.bsky.social

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Ed Horncastle @edhorncastle.bsky.social · 20/05/2026

Checked lesser spot nest today for @lesserspotnet.bsky.social with help from @stuckateur.bsky.social . Looks like only two female chicks have survived out of the 4 or 5 @angusrobin.bsky.social and I saw a week ago. This despite incredible efforts from the parents. 30+ visits in an hour this morning.

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Tom Williams @pterodaktyl.bsky.social · 17/05/2026

Monitoring a Lesser Spotted Woodpecker nest this morning for @lesserspotnet.bsky.social @edhorncastle.bsky.social using a remote camera to get detailed footage of food sources with minimal disturbance. Adults averaging a feed every 3.6 minutes, with a mix of invertebrates, predominantly aphids.

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Paul Cox @paulc090316.bsky.social · 16/05/2026

@lesserspotnet.bsky.social parents busy this morning - at least 18 feed visits in a 50min period

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Ed Horncastle @edhorncastle.bsky.social · 14/05/2026

Windy nest hole monitored for 95 mins 21 visits (4.5 mins per visit). 11 from F 10 from M. At least 15 times aphids were brought in. Interesting behaviour when female was reluctant to go in whilst watching a roe deer pass by. Also a bit of beak cleaning from the male. @lesserspotnet.bsky.social

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Stuart keenor @stuckateur.bsky.social · 14/05/2026

Some shots of lesser spotted woodpecker monitoring the invertebrates in SW big thanks to @edhorncastle.bsky.social @lesserspotnet.bsky.social

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Ed Horncastle @edhorncastle.bsky.social · 13/05/2026

Looks like 4 chicks doing well in the lesser spot nest. Parents working hard. 16 visits in one hour of monitoring today @lesserspotnet.bsky.social #Birds Perhaps a week to go. Beginning to be able to hear the chicks from outside so get out looking people.

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Ed Horncastle @edhorncastle.bsky.social · 13/05/2026

First spotted flycatchers on patch today. 3 seen. Good to have them back #Birds

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Ed Horncastle @edhorncastle.bsky.social · 13/05/2026

A windy day on Dartmoor but in the sunny intervals I did 3 counts of Pearl Bordered fritillaries for @savebutterflies.bsky.social . The next generation were being produced. Im pretty sure I saw one being taken by a swift! Should I add that to the count? First small Pearl-bordered too.

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Ed Horncastle @edhorncastle.bsky.social · 10/05/2026

Lesser spots doing well. Lots of aphids to feed young. Female has been staying close to the nest for long periods. Could be because she has been keeping brood warm or she was worried about the local great spot who was nearby @lesserspotnet.bsky.social #Birds

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Ed Horncastle @edhorncastle.bsky.social · 10/05/2026

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