Buzzard... before and after noticing me... 🫣👀 #WildBrownsea @dorsetwildlife.bsky.social

Lota of moulting adult and gape-showing juv swallows on the lagoon today. Plus good close views of ringed plover and dunlin. Wader numbers increasing... #WildBrownsea @dorsetwildlife.bsky.social @harbourbirds.bsky.social @dorsetbirdclub.bsky.social

Knowledgeable folks.... am I right in thinking this is a knot grass caterpillar with parasitoid wasp cocoon and that those young will have hatched from their 'zombified' host? #WildBrownsea @dorsetwildlife.bsky.social @dorsetmoths.bsky.social @georgemcgavin.bsky.social @savebutterflies.bsky.social

The rain and cloud cover made for an interesting moth trap last night... large fruit-tree tortrix, beet armyworm, red underwing, golden twin-spot #WildBrownsea @dorsetwildlife.bsky.social @dorsetmoths.bsky.social

Common sand and wood sand offering great comparison on the lagoon this afternoon #WildBrownsea @dorsetwildlife.bsky.social @harbourbirds.bsky.social @dorsetbirdclub.bsky.social

We really do! Dry and cracked mud in Brownsea lagoon says it all 😏

Gorgeous wasp spider... the first I've seen on Brownsea for a long time. Could anyone shed light on the purpose of the zigzag web pls? #WildBrownsea @dorsetwildlife.bsky.social @georgemcgavin.bsky.social #BritishArachnologicalSociety #BAS

Nothing quite like a dip after dinner! Brownsea's newest residents enjoying a cooling bath this evening. These 4mth old Mangalitsa/Berkshire cross piglets are here with a job to do... clearing bracken and allowing reintroduction of wooded heath #WildBrownsea @dorsetwildlife.bsky.social

We've had some great inverts the past few weeks... hornet clearwing moth, golden ringed dragonfly, smudged spot form four spot chaser and Brownsea's first Norfolk hawker (photo credit Ian Feast-Vine) #WildBrownsea @dorsetwildlife.bsky.social @dorsetmoths.bsky.social @britishdragonflies.bsky.social

Meanwhile many of the bh gull chicks are actively flying and can often be found looking like they're contemplating an important question in their own reflection... Although still some small fluffies too #WildBrownsea @dorsetwildlife.bsky.social @harbourbirds.bsky.social @dorsetbirdclub.bsky.social

Common terns have had an odd year too with some noisy new neighbours! But they have quietly got on with it with some chicks near to fledging. Will be interesting to see the species interactions next year #WildBrownsea @dorsetwildlife.bsky.social @harbourbirds.bsky.social @dorsetbirdclub.bsky.social

Variation in size of Sandwich tern chicks this year has been extreme, with some surviving raven egg predation whilst unlucky others laid again. Not the best year for our 'Sarnies' but they're resilient! #WildBrownsea @dorsetwildlife.bsky.social @harbourbirds.bsky.social @dorsetbirdclub.bsky.social

#30DaysWild Day 1: baby beings everywhere! From sika deer to greylag, to black-headed gulls and Sandwich terns. New life is all around #WildBrownsea @dorsetwildlife.bsky.social @the-wildlifetrusts.bsky.social

The first couple of common tern chicks have hatched. Plus Sandwich tern chicks growing fast #WildBrownsea @dorsetwildlife.bsky.social @harbourbirds.bsky.social @dorsetbirdclub.bsky.social

The first Sandwich tern chicks have arrived on Brownsea! At least 8 on the Avocet Hide islands this afternoon 🩵 #WildBrownsea @dorsetwildlife.bsky.social @dorsetbirdclub.bsky.social @harbourbirds.bsky.social @birdguides.bsky.social

This morning's moth trap held one unusual visitor...agrotera nemoralis one of few records for the island, but got away pre-photo! The rest... green silver-lines, beautiful hook-tip, scorched wing and diaperis boleti. Not a bad haul #WildBrownsea @dorsetwildlife.bsky.social @dorsetmoths.bsky.social

Lots of youngsters about at the moment... blue tit, greylag and gs woodpecker parents very busy! #WildBrownsea @dorsetwildlife.bsky.social @harbourbirds.bsky.social @dorsetbirdclub.bsky.social

This year's mixed tern colony getting along ok on the Avocet Hide islands. Not sure what the tidy & organised common terns really think of their chaotic new neighbours though... 🤭 #WildBrownsea @dorsetwildlife.bsky.social @harbourbirds.bsky.social @dorsetbirdclub.bsky.social @birdguides.bsky.social

4 roseate terns on the Brownsea boomerang this afternoon (no proper pics as too far away) #WildBrownsea @dorsetwildlife.bsky.social @dorsetbirdclub.bsky.social @harbourbirds.bsky.social

A bad year for terns... first the gbbgs, now the ravens taking 2-3 eggs every 10 mins. It's all part of the natural ebb and flow of breeding seasons but it's still hard to watch 😫 #WildBrownsea @dorsetwildlife.bsky.social @dorsetbirdclub.bsky.social @harbourbirds.bsky.social

Group of 5 raven flying together over north shore. Could be that our nestling have fledged already? #WildBrownsea @dorsetwildlife.bsky.social @dorsetbirdclub.bsky.social @harbourbirds.bsky.social

Unusual behaviour on the lagoon. Disturbance from gbbg pushed many Sandwich terns onto common tern islands... with over 400 Sandwich there are still plenty to settle but interactions are interesting! #WildBrownsea @dorsetwildlife.bsky.social @dorsetbirdclub.bsky.social @harbourbirds.bsky.social

Common terns moving in, black-headed gulls on eggs, reed warbler and reed bunting singing and willow fluff floating... gorgeous start to the day ✨️ #WildBrownsea @dorsetwildlife.bsky.social @dorsetbirdclub.bsky.social @harbourbirds.bsky.social

Spending a bit of time at Knowlton Henge watching the world pass by. It's not just people coming and going...so far I've seen displaying lapwing, red kite, skylark and my first swallow of the year 🩵✨️ #KnowltonHenge #Dorset @dorsetwildlife.bsky.social

Reed bunting visiting the garden (pls excuse temp fencing!), ducklings out & about, some good moths (early grey) & large red damselflies emerging. Sunny days! 😎 #WildBrownsea @dorsetwildlife.bsky.social

Another murky but mild start. Lots of bh gull activity, plenty of Med gull still present. 2 common tern & 2 Sandwich tern visible at the moment. C.100 blackwit and close views of redshank and greenshank #WildBrownsea @dorsetwildlife.bsky.social @harbourbirds.bsky.social @dorsetbirdclub.bsky.social

A dull start to the day... yesterday saw the return of the first 2 common terns and the forst large red damselfly and holly blue butterfly.... summer is trying its best! #WildBrownsea @dorsetwildlife.bsky.social @dorsetbirdclub.bsky.social @harbourbirds.bsky.social

Huge numbers of bh gull on the lagoon this evening, plus close views of blackwit and barwit. Gulls Nesting islands looking very busy! #WildBrownsea @dorsetwildlife.bsky.social @harbourbirds.bsky.social @dorsetbirdclub.bsky.social

It the best photo but the first common lizard of the year for me on Brownsea yesterday. Lovely! #WildBrownsea @dorsetwildlife.bsky.social @arc-trust.bsky.social

First dark edged bee-fly of the season, a pretty good moth trap, 17 Sandwich terns (and 1 Forsters), 4 WT eagles, 2 crossbill and a red kite. What a day! #WildBrownsea @dorsetwildlife.bsky.social @harbourbirds.bsky.social @dorsetbirdclub.bsky.social