Kyle Smith 🏴
@jkylesmith
A Scot, living in Banbury - crossroads of Oxon, Bucks, Northants, Warks. Birder & amateur photographer. If at first you don't succeed, we have a lot in common.
While walking through RSPB Freiston Shore yesterday, Kev Heath and I were treated to a flypast by an RAF Douglas C-47 Dakota wearing the distinctive brown and green South East Asia Command (SEAC) camouflage scheme. It certainly had a busy schedule yesterday!
Not what Kev Heath and I were hoping to see yesterday, but it's never a bad day when you're watching a pair of black-winged stilts @birdguides.bsky.social @btobirds.bsky.social @rspbframptonmarsh.bsky.social.
A stop at RSPB Otmoor yesterday with Kev & Karen Heath paid off with excellent views of brown hairstreak butterflies. A great bonus to our day! 🦋 @ukbutterflies.bsky.social @savebutterflies.bsky.social.
While waiting for views of the black-crowned night heron at Miller's Pond, Sholing, this morning, Kev Heath spotted this lovely fox.
Redemption! Views of black-crowned night heron at Miller's Pond, Sholing with Kev Heath this morning after dipping on Saturday. After 1½ hours we picked it out in a tree, then watched it relocate before flying over the trees to our right @birdguides.bsky.social @btobirds.bsky.social.
Trip to Cattawade, Suffolk this morning with Kev and Karen Heath for the adult male Hudsonian godwit @birdguides.bsky.social @btobirds.bsky.social @suffolkbirdgroup.bsky.social.
Further dragonflies and damselflies through the day with Kev Heath, in Hampshire and Oxfordshire: female emperor and ruddy darter dragonflies, plus red-eyed and white-legged damselflies.
Managed to pick the window where Kev Heath and I would dip the black-crowned night heron at Sholing, Hampshire, but were kept entertained by black-tailed skimmers.
Managed to get to Crail for the long tailed shrike on Wednesday - had good scope views before the bird went awol - it looks like I should have been there early morning. Then stopped at Musselburgh for surf scoters. Won't win any prizes for photos @birdguides.bsky.social @btobirds.bsky.social.
A few extras at Bucknell Woods today @ukbutterflies.bsky.social @savebutterflies.bsky.social @wildlifebcn.org.
White admiral butterflies at Bucknell Woods today @ukbutterflies.bsky.social @savebutterflies.bsky.social @wildlifebcn.org.
Silver-washed fritillary butterflies at Bucknell Woods today @ukbutterflies.bsky.social @savebutterflies.bsky.social @wildlifebcn.org.
Painted lady butterflies at Bucknell Woods today @ukbutterflies.bsky.social @savebutterflies.bsky.social @wildlifebcn.org.
Gatekeeper butterflies at Bucknell Woods today @ukbutterflies.bsky.social @savebutterflies.bsky.social @wildlifebcn.org.
Lots of ringlets and meadow browns for Kev Heath and I yesterday, but also: Essex, small, and large skippers, holly blue, a couple of white admirals, a few silver-washed fritillaries, and lots of gatekeepers, amongst others @ukbutterflies.bsky.social @savebutterflies.bsky.social @bbowt.bsky.social.
It was all about purple yesterday - after the purple emperors Kev Heath and I saw lots of purple hairstreaks @ukbutterflies.bsky.social @savebutterflies.bsky.social @bbowt.bsky.social.
Out again with Kev Heath yesterday watching butterflies and another chance to see purple emperor butterflies @ukbutterflies.bsky.social @savebutterflies.bsky.social @bbowt.bsky.social.
While out watching butterflies yesterday Kev Heath and I came across a sparrowhawk nest with what appeared to have three chicks in very different stages of development @birdguides.bsky.social @btobirds.bsky.social #UKbirding.
Also some stunning supporting cast to the purple emperor butterfly today: European hornet, large skipper, and silver-washed fritillary.
A memorable visit to the woods today with my first-ever male purple emperor. I've seen females before, but the male has eluded me - until now @ukbutterflies.bsky.social @savebutterflies.bsky.social #PurpleEmperor #Butterflies.
With few new bird species on offer yesterday, Kev Heath and I decided to do a bit more butterfly watching and decided to try for some British mainland Glanville fritillaries - success, and amazing given that we are novices, but with good intel @savebutterflies.bsky.social @ukbutterflies.bsky.social.
After the Caspian tern at Hickling Broad NNR yesterday Kev Heath & I went chasing to see our first swallowtail butterflies @ukbutterflies.bsky.social @savebutterflies.bsky.social.
After the Caspian tern at Hickling Broad NNR yesterday Kev Heath & I went chasing to see our first swallowtail butterflies @ukbutterflies.bsky.social @savebutterflies.bsky.social.
Visited to see the Caspian tern at Brendan’s Marsh, Hickling Broad NNR with Kev Heath this morning. Distant for photos but a lovely bird to see - not had one in recent years @birdguides.bsky.social @btobirds.bsky.social @norfolkbirds.bsky.social.
Out on Sunday with Kev Heath and spent time watching butterflies and insects for a change, but still birding where possible with good views of marsh tit and this family of garden warblers @birdguides.bsky.social @btobirds.bsky.social.
Out on Sunday with Kev Heath and spent time watching butterflies and insects for a change, here two fairy-ring longhorn beetles mating on an oxeye daisy.
Out on Sunday with Kev Heath and spent time watching butterflies and insects for a change, lots of other species - silver-washed fritillary, comma, large skipper, and meadow brown amongst others @ukbutterflies.bsky.social.
Out on Sunday with Kev Heath and spent time watching butterflies and insects for a change, including common blues @ukbutterflies.bsky.social.
Out on Sunday with Kev Heath and spent time watching butterflies and insects for a change, including these white admiral butterflies @ukbutterflies.bsky.social.
Out on Sunday with Kev Heath and spent time watching butterflies and insects for a change, including these white admiral butterflies @ukbutterflies.bsky.social.