Dave Helliar
@dhelliar
Local patch birding in Somerset, Devon & Dorset & anything to do with natural history. Retired & now trying to do my little bit to help the natural world.
Certainly looks like it, Martin. Here's a photo of one I caught recently (Had 2 records this month)
Busier trap last night here in Chard, South Somerset VC5, with 104/32 Migrants: Vestal, European Corn-borer, 5 Small Mottled Willow, 4 Rush Veneer & a Diamond-back. The bulk was made up with 22 Vine's Rustic & 14 Shuttle-shaped Dart! #teammoth
#PartialSolarEclipse over Chard, Somerset at maximum cover (about 94%) I was lucky to see the 1999 Total Solar Eclipse at Start Point, Devon, so good to compare the two.
Pleased to find a Brown Hairstreak at the Dorset patch today that was nectaring on Water Mint & Hemp Agrimony giving good prolonged views. A worn individual though! @dorsetbutterflies.bsky.social @savebutterflies.bsky.social #inverts
Small Ranunculus NFM in last nights trap. Also 3 Small Mottled Willow & a Silver-Y amongst 53/23 Chard, South Somerset VC5 #teammoth
A new insect for me that I almost missed on the house wall near the moth trap this am - Spectacled Berry Fly (Anomoia purmunda), not good photos unfortunately & it flew before I could pot it! #inverts
Brown Argus seen on the Dorset patch this morning. Also Brown Hairstreak photographed on 28th July by visitor after I'd seen one flying in crown of Ash tree the same morning. @dorsetbutterflies.bsky.social
Had one on 10th July, not sure why I didn't upload here, they're rather smart!
Been suffering severe Sciatica for 10 days now & obviously it's restricting any activities! Can't even use the Moth trap, because I can't check & release! A couple brief visits to the Dorset patch gave my first Hobby & another Green Sandpiper. Hopefully the Osteopath sessions will soon cure it! 🤞
Incredible numbers of Clouded Yellow seen at my inland Dorset patch this morning....at least 19 including this 'helice' form. 14 were counted on just one quarry bank! Also Ruddy Darter (my first here for 5 years) @dorsetbutterflies.bsky.social @britishdragonflies.bsky.social
Is this species of Ear Moth identifiable please? Canary-shouldered Thorn (NFG) Knot Grass & Bird's-nest Moth (both NFM) Only migrants; 9 Small Mottled Willow & a Diamond-back. 13/07/26 (75/32) Chard, South Somerset VC5 #teammoth @thedetermin8or.bsky.social
Green Sandpiper at the Dorset patch this am & now 3 Teal. Just over the border in Somerset, 2 Egyptian Geese at #ChardRes at noon @dorsetbirdclub.bsky.social @somersetbirds.bsky.social #Somersetbirding
Marbled Green & Hawthorn Drab (NFM) in last nights trap. Rosy Footman (NFY) 9 Small Mottled Willow & a Silver Y the only migrants (75/34) Chard, South Somerset VC5 #teammoth
I guess a 2nd brood Dingy Skipper on the Dorset patch this morning & at least 4 Clouded Yellow still belting around. @dorsetbutterflies.bsky.social @savebutterflies.bsky.social
2 juvenile Lapwing on the Dorset patch this morning. Marsh Tit heard after a month or so of no sightings. Treecreeper singing & Raven over. @dorsetbirdclub.bsky.social
First returning Shoveler on the Dorset patch this evening & another Green Sandpiper. #PWC2026 @dorsetbirdclub.bsky.social
3, possibly 4 Clouded Yellow at the Dorset patch in 32C! Even this Grass Snake seemed too hot to bother to move! 🐍🥵 @dorsetbutterflies.bsky.social #herps
This is just a single Ragwort plant that self seeded in my patio! I never realised they could grow so large! Bee magnet & the Gatekeepers seem to like it too. 🪰🐝🦋 #nativeplants
3 Green Sandpiper & the first returning Teal on the Dorset patch today. @dorsetbirdclub.bsky.social ( & 2 Common Sandpiper at #ChardRes just over the border!)
Not sure on these 2 micros: Four-spot Dot (Bohemannia quadrimaculella) & Poplar Roller (Anacampsis populella) ?? #teammoth
Clear-winged Terellia (Terellia serratulae) & several Painted Lady caterpillars on Spear Thistle at the Dorset patch today. #inverts @dorsetbutterflies.bsky.social
Almost didn't bother with the trap last night, as clear & cool, but glad I did with Vestal & 9 Small Mottled Willow in 57/24. Previous night had 2 NFG: Beautiful Golden Y & Shark. Chard, South Somerset VC5 #teammoth
Female Silver-washed Fritillary, 'Helice' form Clouded Yellow & second brood Holly Blue (3) on the Dorset patch this morning. @dorsetbutterflies.bsky.social @savebutterflies.bsky.social #inverts
Fairly quiet trap last night, but Sharp-angled Carpet NFG. 2 Silver Y & a Diamond-back the only migrants. 80/22 Chard, South Somerset VC5 #teammoth
NFM in last nights' trap, Least Carpet. Recent migrants: Small Marbled on the 26th June & European Corn Borer on 26th June. Chard, South Somerset VC5 #teammoth
The first Gatekeeper at the Dorset patch yesterday (27th June) including one just emerged & still inflating its' wings. @dorsetbutterflies.bsky.social @savebutterflies.bsky.social
Red-veined Darter posing nicely in cloudier weather today at the Dorset patch. #inverts #dragonflies @britishdragonflies.bsky.social
7 Common Sandpiper at #ChardRes this ridiculously hot evening! Still 30 C at 20:50 here in Chard! 🥵 3 Mandarin, 7 juvenile GC Grebe, 1 Tufted Duck & a Kingfisher. #SomersetBirding
Nice to be able to confirm, with a photo, breeding Red-veined Darters at the Dorset patch, present for their second year, they have been ovipositing on & off since 28th May. @britishdragonflies.bsky.social
Got to love #patchbirding ! On the hottest June day on record I find a drake Pochard which is first of year & getting as rare as hens teeth locally! @dorsetbirdclub.bsky.social #PWC2026