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Simon Patient @simonpatient1.bsky.social · 06/10/2026

Enjoyed views of 2 Firecrests next to our Colchester garden this morning. In Holly bushes. Had an unsuccessful trip for the Mersea island Dartford Wblr which presumably has moved on. A nice catch up with the birds finder Dougal. And 2 Raven over the garden this a’noon #essexbirding

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Simon Patient @simonpatient1.bsky.social · 05/10/2026

This Firecrest was my first locally this autumn and the highlight of a late a’noon bike ride with my daughter in the woods today. Just next to our Colchester garden. Hopefully one of last winters birds returning. #essexbirding

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Simon Patient @simonpatient1.bsky.social · 05/10/2026

That’s superb. Well done Andy. Great find 👍

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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

Thanks Jim, yeah I had a Clouded Yellow fly through our housing estate last week, about 200 yds away from the garden 😩.

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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

Thanks Jon, good luck if you go.

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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

Nice one Jim, glad you caught up with it. Here’s my blurry upper wing shot.

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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

That’s great. They seem to be converging in and around the Colchester area probably from all directions, especially from the south and west.

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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 · 29/06/2026

That’s a great total Laurence.

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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

Thanks Jon. By far my best views and experience of a local Emperor.

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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

Obviously should be spelt * Lady’s Bedstraw. I think the Sun has melted my brain today.

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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

Thanks Annie, yes i definitely don’t take it for granted.

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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 · 10/06/2026

Oh no. That’s a shame. For the last few weeks they have been daily visitors here. But 3 is the most I have had together. I have Lady’s Bedstraw planted especially for them in the back garden and hope that there’s an outside chance they could lay eggs. 🤞

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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 · 30/05/2026

Nice, I’m gonna get over tomorrow morning and have a gander

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Simon Patient @simonpatient1.bsky.social · 30/05/2026

Haha yes, forgot to mention those. One of the best reserves for Nightingales 30-40 singing males there this spring.

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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

These are the updates I’ve been waiting for all spring. 👍

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