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.
A rare day off patch today to see the Killdeer at Ripley, Hampshire, always distant & with the sun behind, but nice views thru scope! Had to wait for the Great-tailed Grackle at Holbury to appear, but what a character 'Bluey' is! #HantsBirds
January 23, 2026 at 6:09 PM
A rare day off patch today to see the Killdeer at Ripley, Hampshire, always distant & with the sun behind, but nice views thru scope! Had to wait for the Great-tailed Grackle at Holbury to appear, but what a character 'Bluey' is! #HantsBirds
Reposted by Dave Helliar
Despite more than 86,000 people backing the fourth most signed petition in the Scottish Parliament’s history, the Scottish Government has confirmed it will not change the law to outlaw the Guga hunt.
January 21, 2026 at 5:08 PM
Despite more than 86,000 people backing the fourth most signed petition in the Scottish Parliament’s history, the Scottish Government has confirmed it will not change the law to outlaw the Guga hunt.
Reposted by Dave Helliar
An across-government technical assessment published today recognises that "nature is the foundation of national security" and that "every critical ecosystem is on a pathway to collapse". A rational response to this would be to get very serious about nature recovery.
www.gov.uk/government/p...
www.gov.uk/government/p...
Nature security assessment on global biodiversity loss, ecosystem collapse and national security
This strategic assessment explores how global biodiversity loss and the collapse of critical ecosystems could affect the UK’s resilience, security and prosperity.
www.gov.uk
January 20, 2026 at 6:15 PM
An across-government technical assessment published today recognises that "nature is the foundation of national security" and that "every critical ecosystem is on a pathway to collapse". A rational response to this would be to get very serious about nature recovery.
www.gov.uk/government/p...
www.gov.uk/government/p...
Reposted by Dave Helliar
Sign here to voice your disgust at the annual Guga slaughter. Gannets are magnificent and this old ‘tradition’ needs to end.
petitions.parliament.scot/petitions/PE...
petitions.parliament.scot/petitions/PE...
Petition: Stop the Guga Hunt
Calling on the Scottish Parliament to urge the Scottish Government to amend Section 16 of the Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981 to remove the power to grant licences for taking Gannets on Sula Sgeir.
petitions.parliament.scot
January 19, 2026 at 7:46 PM
Sign here to voice your disgust at the annual Guga slaughter. Gannets are magnificent and this old ‘tradition’ needs to end.
petitions.parliament.scot/petitions/PE...
petitions.parliament.scot/petitions/PE...
Patch gold with this superb drake Goldeneye at #ChardRes today (less than annual here) Bit of waterfowl movement with 5 Wigeon & 5 drake Shoveler also present + 9 'local' Tufties. #PWC2026 @somersetbirds.bsky.social
January 19, 2026 at 3:09 PM
Patch gold with this superb drake Goldeneye at #ChardRes today (less than annual here) Bit of waterfowl movement with 5 Wigeon & 5 drake Shoveler also present + 9 'local' Tufties. #PWC2026 @somersetbirds.bsky.social
A few hrs spent on the Devon/Somerset border today & pleased to find a couple Brambling in a Chaffinch flock, also 140+ Linnet & 955 Lapwing. No GP with them today, but 75+ seen recently. Good to see several fields sown with winter bird food crops & supplementary seed feeders #DevonBirds #PWC2026
January 17, 2026 at 8:01 PM
A few hrs spent on the Devon/Somerset border today & pleased to find a couple Brambling in a Chaffinch flock, also 140+ Linnet & 955 Lapwing. No GP with them today, but 75+ seen recently. Good to see several fields sown with winter bird food crops & supplementary seed feeders #DevonBirds #PWC2026
Watched & listened to this Dipper in full song for several minutes as it perched above a very swollen River Axe near my Dorset patch this afternoon. @dorsetbirdclub.bsky.social #PWC2026
January 15, 2026 at 6:53 PM
Watched & listened to this Dipper in full song for several minutes as it perched above a very swollen River Axe near my Dorset patch this afternoon. @dorsetbirdclub.bsky.social #PWC2026
Red Kite over my house in Chard at 13:00 today in overcast weather. The local Starlings didn't like much! @somersetbirds.bsky.social
January 14, 2026 at 7:54 PM
Red Kite over my house in Chard at 13:00 today in overcast weather. The local Starlings didn't like much! @somersetbirds.bsky.social
The thaw in the weather had a few things moving today. Pair Pintail & a GWE at the Dorset patch & 7 Wigeon at #ChardRes
@dorsetbirdclub.bsky.social & @somersetbirds.bsky.social
@dorsetbirdclub.bsky.social & @somersetbirds.bsky.social
January 12, 2026 at 6:14 PM
The thaw in the weather had a few things moving today. Pair Pintail & a GWE at the Dorset patch & 7 Wigeon at #ChardRes
@dorsetbirdclub.bsky.social & @somersetbirds.bsky.social
@dorsetbirdclub.bsky.social & @somersetbirds.bsky.social
Fluffed-up Stonechat on a frosty morning at the Dorset patch today. 90% of the lakes are still completely frozen, meaning most waterfowl have moved on, just 6 Teal, 8 Tufties, pair Mandarin & a Little Grebe braving it out. 12 LT Tit seeming to find food in the willows. @dorsetbirdclub.bsky.social
January 10, 2026 at 7:08 PM
Fluffed-up Stonechat on a frosty morning at the Dorset patch today. 90% of the lakes are still completely frozen, meaning most waterfowl have moved on, just 6 Teal, 8 Tufties, pair Mandarin & a Little Grebe braving it out. 12 LT Tit seeming to find food in the willows. @dorsetbirdclub.bsky.social
A new trade deal with South America called the EU-Mercosur deal would bring more food grown with banned pesticides into Europe, threatening our health and the livelihood of European farmers. Act NOW to protect Europe’s food standards #StopMercosur action.wemove.eu/sign/2025-02...
Keep Banned Pesticides Out of our Food
A new trade deal with South America called the EU-Mercosur deal would bring more food grown with banned pesticides into Europe, threatening our health and the livelihood of small, local farmers. We ne...
action.wemove.eu
January 9, 2026 at 5:14 PM
A new trade deal with South America called the EU-Mercosur deal would bring more food grown with banned pesticides into Europe, threatening our health and the livelihood of European farmers. Act NOW to protect Europe’s food standards #StopMercosur action.wemove.eu/sign/2025-02...
Reposted by Dave Helliar
The UK's single largest carbon emitter, Drax, has applied for Government support to use its tree burning to power an AI data centre in Yorkshire. 🌳🔥🏭
Please call on your MP to say NO to Drax's AI data centre bid: actionnetwork.org/letters/urge... 👍🌳🔥
#StopBurningTrees #AxeDrax
Please call on your MP to say NO to Drax's AI data centre bid: actionnetwork.org/letters/urge... 👍🌳🔥
#StopBurningTrees #AxeDrax
Urgent action: Please ask your MP to say no to Drax’s AI data centre bid
The UK’s single largest carbon emitter, Drax, has applied with the University of York and North Yorkshire Combined Authority for public support to use its tree burning to power an AI data centre as pa...
actionnetwork.org
January 8, 2026 at 3:34 PM
The UK's single largest carbon emitter, Drax, has applied for Government support to use its tree burning to power an AI data centre in Yorkshire. 🌳🔥🏭
Please call on your MP to say NO to Drax's AI data centre bid: actionnetwork.org/letters/urge... 👍🌳🔥
#StopBurningTrees #AxeDrax
Please call on your MP to say NO to Drax's AI data centre bid: actionnetwork.org/letters/urge... 👍🌳🔥
#StopBurningTrees #AxeDrax
Adult Mediterranean Gull at #ChardRes this morning. NFY #PWC2026 Also GWE still present, 15 Tufties, 30+ Mandarin & GC Grebe are slowly returning after the freeze, now 22 from a low of just 5 (39 present before freeze) @somersetbirds.bsky.social @patchbirding.bsky.social
January 8, 2026 at 12:30 PM
Adult Mediterranean Gull at #ChardRes this morning. NFY #PWC2026 Also GWE still present, 15 Tufties, 30+ Mandarin & GC Grebe are slowly returning after the freeze, now 22 from a low of just 5 (39 present before freeze) @somersetbirds.bsky.social @patchbirding.bsky.social
GW Egret at #ChardRes for its' forth day. At least 4 Blackcap feeding on Mistletoe berries in this impressive tree near Donyatt. Exploring Dowlish Wake STW gave at least 19 Chiffchaff & set-a-side fields held 2 Stonechat, c.100 Linnet, 40+ Chaffinch, Greenfinch & Siskin @somersetbirds.bsky.social
January 7, 2026 at 7:01 PM
GW Egret at #ChardRes for its' forth day. At least 4 Blackcap feeding on Mistletoe berries in this impressive tree near Donyatt. Exploring Dowlish Wake STW gave at least 19 Chiffchaff & set-a-side fields held 2 Stonechat, c.100 Linnet, 40+ Chaffinch, Greenfinch & Siskin @somersetbirds.bsky.social
A couple hours spent at my Dorset 3km #PWC2026 patch gave a cracking Firecrest & Redpoll (both NFY). Teal have increased to 63; a flock of 16 Lapwing over; Water Rail heard & Marsh Tit very vocal, also this Fox seen in a still frozen landscape. @dorsetbirdclub.bsky.social @patchbirding.bsky.social
January 6, 2026 at 5:35 PM
A couple hours spent at my Dorset 3km #PWC2026 patch gave a cracking Firecrest & Redpoll (both NFY). Teal have increased to 63; a flock of 16 Lapwing over; Water Rail heard & Marsh Tit very vocal, also this Fox seen in a still frozen landscape. @dorsetbirdclub.bsky.social @patchbirding.bsky.social
80% of the lakes at my Dorset 3km #PWC2026 are frozen over & covered by overnight snow grains, looks pretty but all wildfowl are crammed on the last open water inc 44 Teal, 4 Gadwall, 2 Shoveler, 11 Tufties, 4 Lt Grebe & 21 Canadas! @dorsetbirdclub.bsky.social @patchbirding.bsky.social
January 5, 2026 at 6:57 PM
80% of the lakes at my Dorset 3km #PWC2026 are frozen over & covered by overnight snow grains, looks pretty but all wildfowl are crammed on the last open water inc 44 Teal, 4 Gadwall, 2 Shoveler, 11 Tufties, 4 Lt Grebe & 21 Canadas! @dorsetbirdclub.bsky.social @patchbirding.bsky.social
Nice afternoon spent on the South Levels, with 4 Tundra Bean Geese at Curry Moor; 5 Bewick's Swan, 17 Egyptian Geese & a Ruddy Shelduck at Muchelney Level; 52 White-fronted Geese & Marsh Harrier at West Sedgemoor & a few Cranes at Southlake Moor. @somersetbirds.bsky.social
January 3, 2026 at 8:26 PM
Nice afternoon spent on the South Levels, with 4 Tundra Bean Geese at Curry Moor; 5 Bewick's Swan, 17 Egyptian Geese & a Ruddy Shelduck at Muchelney Level; 52 White-fronted Geese & Marsh Harrier at West Sedgemoor & a few Cranes at Southlake Moor. @somersetbirds.bsky.social
Reposted by Dave Helliar
The moment you've all been waiting for, the #PWC2026 Sign Up Sheet is here!
We look forward to seeing how many patches take part next year and don't forget to encourage your friends to sign up to keep the challenge alive.
We hope that it is a fun year's birding!
docs.google.com/spreadsheets...
We look forward to seeing how many patches take part next year and don't forget to encourage your friends to sign up to keep the challenge alive.
We hope that it is a fun year's birding!
docs.google.com/spreadsheets...
docs.google.com
December 28, 2025 at 12:35 PM
The moment you've all been waiting for, the #PWC2026 Sign Up Sheet is here!
We look forward to seeing how many patches take part next year and don't forget to encourage your friends to sign up to keep the challenge alive.
We hope that it is a fun year's birding!
docs.google.com/spreadsheets...
We look forward to seeing how many patches take part next year and don't forget to encourage your friends to sign up to keep the challenge alive.
We hope that it is a fun year's birding!
docs.google.com/spreadsheets...
Redhead Goosander at the Dorset patch yesterday (only the 3rd record here this year) & what was probably the same bird, seen briefly just over the border in Somerset at Perry Street Pond the day before. #PWC2025 @dorsetbirdclub.bsky.social & @somersetbirds.bsky.social
December 15, 2025 at 1:01 PM
Redhead Goosander at the Dorset patch yesterday (only the 3rd record here this year) & what was probably the same bird, seen briefly just over the border in Somerset at Perry Street Pond the day before. #PWC2025 @dorsetbirdclub.bsky.social & @somersetbirds.bsky.social
A rewarding day of #LocalPatchBirding visiting several sites all within 5 miles of home gave 2 Jack Snipe & 12 Common Snipe; 2 female Blackcap; a Firecrest & a total of 15+ Chiffchaff at two WWTW. @dorsetbirdclub.bsky.social & @somersetbirds.bsky.social @patchbirding.bsky.social
December 13, 2025 at 8:43 PM
A rewarding day of #LocalPatchBirding visiting several sites all within 5 miles of home gave 2 Jack Snipe & 12 Common Snipe; 2 female Blackcap; a Firecrest & a total of 15+ Chiffchaff at two WWTW. @dorsetbirdclub.bsky.social & @somersetbirds.bsky.social @patchbirding.bsky.social
A couple of hours spent on The Blackdowns, Somerset today, gave close views of Dipper & Grey Wagtail, also Kingfisher & a pair of Wigeon, but only 4 Teal. Nearby 2 Stonechat, 6 Skylark & a good count of 34 Snipe, but no Golden Plover or winter thrushes seen! @somersetbirds.bsky.social
December 12, 2025 at 8:45 PM
A couple of hours spent on The Blackdowns, Somerset today, gave close views of Dipper & Grey Wagtail, also Kingfisher & a pair of Wigeon, but only 4 Teal. Nearby 2 Stonechat, 6 Skylark & a good count of 34 Snipe, but no Golden Plover or winter thrushes seen! @somersetbirds.bsky.social
Reposted by Dave Helliar
An important read for anyone who cares about nature in the UK!
Labour seem determined to wreck what’s left of our natural world. So many broken promises.
www.wildlifetrusts.org/news/nightma....
www.wildlifetrusts.org/news/nightma....
Nightmare before Christmas: worst environmental regression in decades looms | The Wildlife Trusts
Labour’s list of broken promises mounts
www.wildlifetrusts.org
December 11, 2025 at 7:49 PM
An important read for anyone who cares about nature in the UK!
youtu.be/LVLhbtVVVTk Spectacular Starling murmuration over my Dorset patch after Storm Bram cleared through. Anyone care to estimate numbers? #PWC2025 @dorsetbirdclub.bsky.social
Starling murmuration
YouTube video by Dave Helliar
youtu.be
December 10, 2025 at 6:05 PM
youtu.be/LVLhbtVVVTk Spectacular Starling murmuration over my Dorset patch after Storm Bram cleared through. Anyone care to estimate numbers? #PWC2025 @dorsetbirdclub.bsky.social
Decided to try the moth trap last night (7/12) as it was so mild, but only a Rusty-dot Pearl & 2 December Moth for the effort! South Somerset VC5 #Teammoth
December 8, 2025 at 5:36 PM
Decided to try the moth trap last night (7/12) as it was so mild, but only a Rusty-dot Pearl & 2 December Moth for the effort! South Somerset VC5 #Teammoth