Dave Helliar
@dhelliar.bsky.social
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.
The drake & Redhead Goosander showed quite well from the dam at #ChardRes early this am, shame the light was so poor! #PWC2025 @somersetbirds.bsky.social
November 27, 2025 at 10:20 PM
The drake & Redhead Goosander showed quite well from the dam at #ChardRes early this am, shame the light was so poor! #PWC2025 @somersetbirds.bsky.social
Red Kite over the Dorset patch this am, also Brambling heard inflight. Dipper on a Somerset stream near Chard late this pm. @dorsetbirdclub.bsky.social @somersetbirds.bsky.social
November 26, 2025 at 5:27 PM
Red Kite over the Dorset patch this am, also Brambling heard inflight. Dipper on a Somerset stream near Chard late this pm. @dorsetbirdclub.bsky.social @somersetbirds.bsky.social
3 Scaup still present at #ChardRes at dusk. Also drake & redhead Goosander & 14 Tufties. @somersetbirds.bsky.social
November 25, 2025 at 5:20 PM
3 Scaup still present at #ChardRes at dusk. Also drake & redhead Goosander & 14 Tufties. @somersetbirds.bsky.social
The Desert Wheatear at Wyke Regis was a Dorset tick & 8 years since my last, the showy Thurlstone bird in South Devon in Jan 2017. Thx to Brett @luvaducksbutt.bsky.social @dorsetbirdclub.bsky.social
November 24, 2025 at 5:53 PM
The Desert Wheatear at Wyke Regis was a Dorset tick & 8 years since my last, the showy Thurlstone bird in South Devon in Jan 2017. Thx to Brett @luvaducksbutt.bsky.social @dorsetbirdclub.bsky.social
Red Admiral still visiting my Orange Ball Buddleia daily... 23rd November & after several hard frosts! Chard, South Somerset. #inverts @savebutterflies.bsky.social
November 23, 2025 at 2:04 PM
Red Admiral still visiting my Orange Ball Buddleia daily... 23rd November & after several hard frosts! Chard, South Somerset. #inverts @savebutterflies.bsky.social
At least 41 Great Crested Grebe at #ChardRes this am in awful weather. Redhead Goosander also still present (photo taken yesterday in much better conditions!) #PWC2025 @somersetbirds.bsky.social
November 22, 2025 at 11:09 AM
At least 41 Great Crested Grebe at #ChardRes this am in awful weather. Redhead Goosander also still present (photo taken yesterday in much better conditions!) #PWC2025 @somersetbirds.bsky.social
November 20, 2025 at 1:23 PM
Hi Steve, thanks for your input. Here's another photo, all taken into the bright sun unfortunately!
November 20, 2025 at 1:11 PM
Hi Steve, thanks for your input. Here's another photo, all taken into the bright sun unfortunately!
Very productive EuCan Conservation Workday yesterday at my Dorset patch, with meadows & glades brush-cut. 15 Ash dieback felled, 5 Oak with major squirrel damage, 4 large leaning willow soon to block footpath & a few Silver Birch. Also several Hazel coppiced to allow more light. Thx to 11 volunteers
November 19, 2025 at 6:09 PM
Very productive EuCan Conservation Workday yesterday at my Dorset patch, with meadows & glades brush-cut. 15 Ash dieback felled, 5 Oak with major squirrel damage, 4 large leaning willow soon to block footpath & a few Silver Birch. Also several Hazel coppiced to allow more light. Thx to 11 volunteers
Female Pintail on the Dorset patch this morning, only the second record this year after a pair in February (which were the first for 5 years at the site!) #PWC2025 @dorsetbirdclub.bsky.social
November 19, 2025 at 5:53 PM
Female Pintail on the Dorset patch this morning, only the second record this year after a pair in February (which were the first for 5 years at the site!) #PWC2025 @dorsetbirdclub.bsky.social
It might be just 3 Pochard, but they're the first of the year on my 10km #PWC2024 !! Seen at #ChardRes this morning. 131st species for the patch to date (153 points) @somersetbirds.bsky.social @patchbirding.bsky.social
November 18, 2025 at 5:09 PM
It might be just 3 Pochard, but they're the first of the year on my 10km #PWC2024 !! Seen at #ChardRes this morning. 131st species for the patch to date (153 points) @somersetbirds.bsky.social @patchbirding.bsky.social
WTE drifted slowly south, high over my inland Dorset patch at Chard Junction at 11:00 this am. My second record here. @dorsetbirdclub.bsky.social @patchbirding.bsky.social #PWC2025
November 17, 2025 at 12:29 PM
WTE drifted slowly south, high over my inland Dorset patch at Chard Junction at 11:00 this am. My second record here. @dorsetbirdclub.bsky.social @patchbirding.bsky.social #PWC2025
Probably my last moth trap of the year gave 9 species, singles of Rusty-dot Pearl, Dark Arches, Red & Yellow-line Quakers, Beautiful Plume, Epirrita sp & 2 Feathered Thorn. Chard, Somerset VC5 #Teammoth @migrantmothuk.bsky.social
November 16, 2025 at 5:37 PM
Probably my last moth trap of the year gave 9 species, singles of Rusty-dot Pearl, Dark Arches, Red & Yellow-line Quakers, Beautiful Plume, Epirrita sp & 2 Feathered Thorn. Chard, Somerset VC5 #Teammoth @migrantmothuk.bsky.social
Just 5 moths in last nights' trap, this White-point, plus Large Pale Masoner, Yellow-line Quaker, Common Plume & LBAM.
Chard VC5 #Teammoth @migrantmothuk.bsky.social
Chard VC5 #Teammoth @migrantmothuk.bsky.social
November 13, 2025 at 6:14 PM
Just 5 moths in last nights' trap, this White-point, plus Large Pale Masoner, Yellow-line Quaker, Common Plume & LBAM.
Chard VC5 #Teammoth @migrantmothuk.bsky.social
Chard VC5 #Teammoth @migrantmothuk.bsky.social
Surprised to see this Comma nectaring on Orange Ball Buddleia in my Somerset garden today in total cloud cover, still mild though at 14C!
@savebutterflies.bsky.social
@savebutterflies.bsky.social
November 12, 2025 at 5:18 PM
Surprised to see this Comma nectaring on Orange Ball Buddleia in my Somerset garden today in total cloud cover, still mild though at 14C!
@savebutterflies.bsky.social
@savebutterflies.bsky.social
Spectacular aerial display by these two Goshawk this morning in glorious sunshine! An adult & juvenile/immature?
November 8, 2025 at 6:49 PM
Spectacular aerial display by these two Goshawk this morning in glorious sunshine! An adult & juvenile/immature?
Olive-tree Pearl, 6 Rusty-dot Pearl, Dark Chestnut (NFM), 3 Feathered Thorn, 2 Silver-Y & 2 Barred Sallow were the best of 14 species last night. Chard VC5 #Teammoth @migrantmothuk.bsky.social
November 7, 2025 at 12:37 PM
Olive-tree Pearl, 6 Rusty-dot Pearl, Dark Chestnut (NFM), 3 Feathered Thorn, 2 Silver-Y & 2 Barred Sallow were the best of 14 species last night. Chard VC5 #Teammoth @migrantmothuk.bsky.social
Fairly quiet mothing last night in Chard VC5, just 2 Rusty-dot Pearl, Turnip Moth, 3 Red-green Carpet, 2 Yellow-line Quaker among the 10 species. #Teammoth
November 6, 2025 at 5:34 PM
Fairly quiet mothing last night in Chard VC5, just 2 Rusty-dot Pearl, Turnip Moth, 3 Red-green Carpet, 2 Yellow-line Quaker among the 10 species. #Teammoth
One of 2 Black Redstart at Chard Cemetery this morning (only taken 11 visits to find one & then two are present!😂) #PWC2025 @somersetbirds.bsky.social @birdguides.bsky.social
November 1, 2025 at 2:49 PM
One of 2 Black Redstart at Chard Cemetery this morning (only taken 11 visits to find one & then two are present!😂) #PWC2025 @somersetbirds.bsky.social @birdguides.bsky.social
Redhead Goosander flew into #ChardRes at 16:20. Record count of 44 Mandarin on the 29th, also recently up to 49 Teal, 5 Shoveler, 32 GC Grebe, Water Rail & Cetti's Warbler heard. Pied Wagtail & Starling roost just starting to get underway. @somersetbirds.bsky.social
October 31, 2025 at 6:02 PM
Redhead Goosander flew into #ChardRes at 16:20. Record count of 44 Mandarin on the 29th, also recently up to 49 Teal, 5 Shoveler, 32 GC Grebe, Water Rail & Cetti's Warbler heard. Pied Wagtail & Starling roost just starting to get underway. @somersetbirds.bsky.social
I found three Brown Hairstreak eggs today during a casual search at the Dorset patch....still too much leaf on the Blackthorn bushes at present to search for more! @dorsetbutterflies.bsky.social
October 30, 2025 at 7:45 PM
I found three Brown Hairstreak eggs today during a casual search at the Dorset patch....still too much leaf on the Blackthorn bushes at present to search for more! @dorsetbutterflies.bsky.social
Amazing Simon! just 12 miles further SOUTH at Chard & it was rubbish! Just 4 moths: White-point, Silver-Y, Red-line Quaker & a LBAM....very odd & very disappointing! VC5 South Somerset #Teammoth
October 29, 2025 at 12:24 PM
Amazing Simon! just 12 miles further SOUTH at Chard & it was rubbish! Just 4 moths: White-point, Silver-Y, Red-line Quaker & a LBAM....very odd & very disappointing! VC5 South Somerset #Teammoth
Nice to see some late autumn butterflies enjoying the sunshine in the shelter from the cold NW wind today. South Somerset @savebutterflies.bsky.social
October 25, 2025 at 6:01 PM
Nice to see some late autumn butterflies enjoying the sunshine in the shelter from the cold NW wind today. South Somerset @savebutterflies.bsky.social
Late afternoon sunshine at my Dorset patch after 5 days of total cloud cover & a Clouded Yellow, Migrant Hawker hunting & a Peregrine perched at dusk.....lovely! Also present: 47 Teal, 3 Shoveler, drake Gadwall & Wigeon, 2 Green Sandpiper @dorsetbutterflies.bsky.social @dorsetbirdclub.bsky.social
October 16, 2025 at 7:00 PM
Late afternoon sunshine at my Dorset patch after 5 days of total cloud cover & a Clouded Yellow, Migrant Hawker hunting & a Peregrine perched at dusk.....lovely! Also present: 47 Teal, 3 Shoveler, drake Gadwall & Wigeon, 2 Green Sandpiper @dorsetbutterflies.bsky.social @dorsetbirdclub.bsky.social
Another good moth trap last night with White-point & Green-brindled Crescent both NFM + Blair's Shoulder-knot & Treble Brown Spot both NFG. Also Black Rustic, Brindled Green & Red-line Quaker of note. South Somerset VC5 #Teammoth
October 14, 2025 at 4:51 PM
Another good moth trap last night with White-point & Green-brindled Crescent both NFM + Blair's Shoulder-knot & Treble Brown Spot both NFG. Also Black Rustic, Brindled Green & Red-line Quaker of note. South Somerset VC5 #Teammoth