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Simon Patient @simonpatient1.bsky.social · 29/09/2026

A return visit to the Naze this morning with Steve Entwhistle for the yellow-browed Warbler and we jammed in on Mr Bird finder general ( aka Daryl Stiles ) Red breasted Flycatcher that he had just found. A great morning watching this bird on/ off in main sycamore clump. Plus YBW also #essexbirding

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Simon Patient @simonpatient1.bsky.social · 28/09/2026

This morning I had my first visit to the Naze this autumn. It was fairly quiet bird wise, although my highlights were 1 Yellow browed Warbler still in the main sycamore clump, showing on/ off and calling. Plus 1 Pied Flycatcher still there also. #essexbirding

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Simon Patient @simonpatient1.bsky.social · 18/09/2026

A bike ride across the road to Middlewick south meadows Colchester produced a Spotted Flycatcher which was a nice local record. Plus a female Clouded Yellow. Back home the Wall Brown reappeared flitting around and feeding on the Red Valerian. #essexbirding

Spotted Flycatcher at Middlewick phone binned.

Female Clouded Yellow on Middlewick south meadows

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Simon Patient @simonpatient1.bsky.social · 17/09/2026

Our 30th Butterfly species for our Colchester garden was this male Wall Brown just now. 🎉 Although average in size making the garden attractive to wildlife and being located on the edge of town adjacent to woodland and common land has certainly helped. Next up Clouded Yellow please 🤞

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Simon Patient @simonpatient1.bsky.social · 03/09/2026

Another enjoyable morning at Abberton today with the female Ring necked Duck asleep from LB c’way. Also 9 Curlew Sandpipers (1 ad, 8 Juvs ) in Wig bay. Also this female Wall Brown egg laying at Billets farm entrance gate #essexbirding

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Simon Patient @simonpatient1.bsky.social · 01/09/2026

Just back from a family holiday in Argyll Scotland. Nature highlights for me were Scotch Argus ( my 54th UK butterfly). 3 WTEagles over our house at Loch Goil. Common Dolphins and Hen Harrier on Mull. Lush verdant grass was a joy to see, compared to our dead dry grass down south #birdingscotland

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Simon Patient @simonpatient1.bsky.social · 20/08/2026

The Abberton Res Pectoral Sandpiper was showing very well this morning on the LB c’way, plus at least 1 Garganey still there #essexbirding

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Simon Patient @simonpatient1.bsky.social · 17/08/2026

Unfortunate dead young Slow Worm that my daughter found on our path in our Colchester garden today.

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Simon Patient @simonpatient1.bsky.social · 09/08/2026

A quick excursion onto Mersea island Essex for this Pied Flycatcher this a’noon was enjoyable. Thanks to Dougal for finding it, and after the bird went missing to Steve for his expert bird locating knowledge #essexbirding

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Simon Patient @simonpatient1.bsky.social · 19/07/2026

This morning was operation get the Hudsonian Godwit on my Essex list. And it was a success. Showing well West of White bridge at Cattawade #essexbirding

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Simon Patient @simonpatient1.bsky.social · 17/07/2026

A visit to Abberton this morning in challenging heat haze produced the Osprey perched up in hide bay ( viewed mega distantly and through a pylon ). 2+ Little gulls 2nd cal in hide bay and my first juv Med gull of the year. #essexbirding

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Simon Patient @simonpatient1.bsky.social · 15/07/2026

And breath… after previous dips, fearing it would fly off and being at work today, I’m over the moon that the Caspian Tern stuck around for this evening. At Abberton Res On the bund off Billets screen 18:55 at least. A patch and county tick #essexbirding

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Simon Patient @simonpatient1.bsky.social · 10/07/2026

At Abberton Layer Breton c’way today were 14 Spoonbills on the islands and lots of Odonata including this Red-veined Darter.

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Simon Patient @simonpatient1.bsky.social · 10/07/2026

Enjoyed a visit to Great Wigborough church area Essex where this putative Clouded Yellow ( helice form ) was a surprise. The first I have seen. Plus Wall Brown and many Brown Argus.

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Simon Patient @simonpatient1.bsky.social · 08/07/2026

Enjoyed a visit to Fingringhoe wick EWTtoday with a low gliding female Purple Emperor through the car park. Also spotted this Dark Crimson Underwing on an Oak. Essex field club listing just 37 previous records for Essex. #teammoth. Plus Red-veined Darter at Abberton Res

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Simon Patient @simonpatient1.bsky.social · 04/07/2026

In Fridaywoods Colchester this Purple Emperor was having a great time chasing off dragonfly’s, a tit flock and all-comers (at the start of the video a Nuthatch drops out of the way, a good local bird ). This is the 8th year I have know the Purple Emperors to use this exact territory and trees.

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Simon Patient @simonpatient1.bsky.social · 01/07/2026

This male Marbled White briefly landed on our Buddliea here in Colchester. Yippee do !! And becomes butterfly species number 29 for our house list. Plus an egg laying Small Copper which becomes our 8th species to lay eggs here that I have seen. Plus the Hummingbird-hawk moth is still egg laying.

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Simon Patient @simonpatient1.bsky.social · 30/06/2026

3 Southern Migrant Hawkers patrolling our Colchester garden today. Plus Gatekeeper my FFY, 3 fresh Peacocks and Purple Hairstreaks also. Female Common Blue Damselfly ( blue form ).

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Simon Patient @simonpatient1.bsky.social · 30/06/2026

A quick stop at Abberton EWT entrance gates produced this Marbled White briefly today which was nice. An Abberton patch tick for me. With 3/4 seen by other observers at nearby Wigborough church today also, it’s a species spreading in to our area.

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Simon Patient @simonpatient1.bsky.social · 25/06/2026

One of the Hummingbird-hawk Moth eggs. They blend in so well to the Lady’s Bedstraw flowers. Also a Beautiful Demoiselle here in our Colchester garden.

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Simon Patient @simonpatient1.bsky.social · 25/06/2026

This Hummingbird-hawk moth was back in our Colchester garden today laying multiple eggs on the Lady’s Bedstraw. Also a male Silver-washed Fritillary through and 2 teneral Southern Migrant Hawkers patrolling overhead.

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Simon Patient @simonpatient1.bsky.social · 23/06/2026

A couple of Banded Demoiselles hanging around our Colchester garden today.

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Simon Patient @simonpatient1.bsky.social · 22/06/2026

On a walk around the Cherrytree lane / Berechurch common area of Fridaywoods Colchester this morning I was treated to some great views of this fresh as a daisy male Purple Emperor. Also in the area 3 male Silver-washed Fritillaries. And c30 teneral Southern Migrant Hawkers

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Simon Patient @simonpatient1.bsky.social · 21/06/2026

A quick walk through the cherry tree lane area of Fridaywoods Colchester produced c15 teneral Southern Migrant Hawkers patrolling the wooded clearings , 2 Silver-washed Fritillaries, White Admiral and White-letter Hairstreaks.

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Simon Patient @simonpatient1.bsky.social · 21/06/2026

Here in our Colchester garden I just had a female Hummingbird hawk-Moth lay an egg on our Ladies Bedstraw. I specifically planted it in the off chance this would happen which is nice. 2 Male WLH combating plus a female here and White Admiral sneaking low amongst the Honeysuckle 🤞 for some more eggs

Hummingbird-hawk Moth egg. Small, round and lime green in colour. Fortuitously I saw her lay it otherwise I prob would not of found it.

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Simon Patient @simonpatient1.bsky.social · 17/06/2026

2 White-letter Hairstreaks in our Colchester garden today favouring the Elder bush. Plus this Purple Hairstreak my FFY. Also White Admiral through again. Plus Painted lady and Hummingbird-hawk Moth still. Mid summer is definitely my favourite time of year in the garden.

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Simon Patient @simonpatient1.bsky.social · 16/06/2026

2 FFY here in our Colchester garden, a White Admiral that flicked and glided through also a White-letter Hairstreak that dropped onto our Elder bush. A couple of Painted Ladies also.

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Simon Patient @simonpatient1.bsky.social · 12/06/2026

Just now in our Colchester garden my daughter says “ Dad there’s a giant creature in my play house “ I take a look, male Stag Beetle! My first this year on the deck. A glorious beast. And well done Ivy, great spottering.

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Simon Patient @simonpatient1.bsky.social · 09/06/2026

After a storm had passed we had 3 Hummingbird-hawk Moths together in our postage stamp sized front garden here in Colchester. The Red Valerians doing the job.

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Simon Patient @simonpatient1.bsky.social · 31/05/2026

Enjoyable visit to the in-laws in Deal Kent. The pool NW of the Sandown castle site produced 2-3 Green eyed Hawkers, a few Variable Damselflies and Blue tailed Damselflies #KentDragonflies

Not sure about this one, presumably Variable damselfly female

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Simon Patient @simonpatient1.bsky.social · 31/05/2026

Enjoyable visit to the in-laws in Deal Kent. The pool NW of the Sandown castle site produced 2-3 Green eyed Hawkers, a few Variable Damselflies and Blue tailed Damselflies #KentDragonflies

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Simon Patient @simonpatient1.bsky.social · 25/05/2026

My FFY Stag Beetle a male flew over our Colchester garden this evening. My earliest ever. Also a Comma pupae on Elm and a second Comma caterpillar has just started to hang upside down. Orange tip Caterpillar on Garlic Mustard also.

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Simon Patient @simonpatient1.bsky.social · 22/05/2026

No surprises given the current weather, a Hummingbird Hawk moth in our Colchester garden today. Also 2 ad Sum Med gulls overhead hawking insects

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Simon Patient @simonpatient1.bsky.social · 21/05/2026

Our local Carrion Crows are still the best early warning system for spotting approaching Ravens over our Colchester garden. The crows alarm calls make sure I always look up. Also Garden Warbler still singing daily often competing with our Blackcap #essexbirding

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Simon Patient @simonpatient1.bsky.social · 13/05/2026

It’s been my best year for Garden Warbler locally here in South Colchester. Within half a mile of home in the Fridaywoods / Berechurch common area I have 6 singing males including this one from my garden. And I haven’t check all areas yet. #essexbirding

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Simon Patient @simonpatient1.bsky.social · 07/05/2026

2 Turtle Doves purring at Fingringhoe Wick EWT this morning. #essexbirding

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Simon Patient @simonpatient1.bsky.social · 02/05/2026

Thought I would join in with the current Painted Lady arrivals with this one in our Colchester garden today ( I also had 1 fly through Abberton res ). Young Grass Snake in our pond and a Rose Chafer FFY.

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Simon Patient @simonpatient1.bsky.social · 28/04/2026

A couple of quick visits to Abberton today produced 1 Black Tern from Billets screen, 30+ Swifts in blustery conditions. Also 2 Hobbies hawking insects LB c’way #essexbirding

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Simon Patient @simonpatient1.bsky.social · 26/04/2026

Enjoyable visit to Abberton Res with the Black Terns being great to watch. Often grouping up high in the sky only to then tumble down low over the water. 49 counted in my photo. Plus Hobby over my FFY #essexbirding

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Simon Patient @simonpatient1.bsky.social · 26/04/2026

Another one from yesterday in Fridaywoods Colchester, singing Garden Warbler with bursts of Nightingale. So lucky to have these locally #essexbirding

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Simon Patient @simonpatient1.bsky.social · 25/04/2026

4 Swifts screaming over our Colchester garden this morning #essexbirding

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Simon Patient @simonpatient1.bsky.social · 25/04/2026

An enjoyable if foggy/ chilly walk into Fridaywoods area this morning at dawn produced Nightingales, Cuckoo and 2 pairs of Garden warbler using the same territories as last year. Here a Nightingale and Garden Warbler are singing together #essexbirding

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Simon Patient @simonpatient1.bsky.social · 18/04/2026

Today a Holly Blue in our Colchester garden was my FFY. Then at Abberton Res 4+ Green Hairstreaks were showing well between Gwen’s and Island hides

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Simon Patient @simonpatient1.bsky.social · 16/04/2026

Enjoyed seeing my 4th Adder of the year with this male on Mersea island Essex today. Attempting to climb a sandy cliff face.

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Simon Patient @simonpatient1.bsky.social · 15/04/2026

This Hummingbird hawk-moth in our Colchester garden today was our 2nd this year. Plus a Small White butterfly our FFY during brief sunny intervals.

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Simon Patient @simonpatient1.bsky.social · 12/04/2026

Enjoyable day yesterday with the Bonaparte’s gull at Abberton, and the Ring Ouzel on Billets flood fields. Also 2 Cattle Egrets, my first Cuckoo and Common Terns of the year. And great to see lots of familiar faces there #essexbirding

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Simon Patient @simonpatient1.bsky.social · 20/03/2026

We’ve been having almost daily visits by this Fox. It’s in great condition and generally unfazed by garden life, and here it’s having a snooze. P.s it is in the photo #foxoftheday

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Simon Patient @simonpatient1.bsky.social · 18/03/2026

Right on cue my FFY Dark-edged bee-fly in our Colchester garden this a’noon, equalling previous years of 2022, and 2024 when my earliest sightings were also on the 18th March.

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Simon Patient @simonpatient1.bsky.social · 17/03/2026

Abberton this morning. The Drake Canvasback still at Billets screen. and 2 Lesser Scaup (m&f) still from St Andrews church viewpoint. #essexbirding

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Simon Patient @simonpatient1.bsky.social · 06/03/2026

After getting some more photos of the ringed Lesser Redpoll in our Colchester garden, we have managed to read the number and have found out where it was ringed. It was ringed as a first year bird on the 26/10/25 at non other than just down the road at Abberton Reservoir #essexbirding

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