Ian Denton
@iand777.bsky.social
I have Grandkids - so no longer use Airport Departure Lounges.
Natural History has been the unbroken story of my life.
Watching wildlife, mostly under Dorset skies.
Wrens; Greenfinches; Little Owls; Raptors & Adders are a preoccupation.
Natural History has been the unbroken story of my life.
Watching wildlife, mostly under Dorset skies.
Wrens; Greenfinches; Little Owls; Raptors & Adders are a preoccupation.
A Robin outside the kitchen window just now, in the gathering gloom.
He peers in and wonders at the way of humans, with their bright lights and warmth, as night falls.
He peers in and wonders at the way of humans, with their bright lights and warmth, as night falls.
November 24, 2025 at 5:07 PM
A Robin outside the kitchen window just now, in the gathering gloom.
He peers in and wonders at the way of humans, with their bright lights and warmth, as night falls.
He peers in and wonders at the way of humans, with their bright lights and warmth, as night falls.
The theme for #BirdoftheDay is #warblers
Here's a Sedge Warbler passing through the garden in late August, on its way to cross the Sahara.
It stopped off here for 3 days, where it enjoyed regular baths in the dustbin lid, deep n the willow scrub.
I hope it returns in the spring.
🦉
Here's a Sedge Warbler passing through the garden in late August, on its way to cross the Sahara.
It stopped off here for 3 days, where it enjoyed regular baths in the dustbin lid, deep n the willow scrub.
I hope it returns in the spring.
🦉
November 24, 2025 at 10:03 AM
The theme for #BirdoftheDay is #warblers
Here's a Sedge Warbler passing through the garden in late August, on its way to cross the Sahara.
It stopped off here for 3 days, where it enjoyed regular baths in the dustbin lid, deep n the willow scrub.
I hope it returns in the spring.
🦉
Here's a Sedge Warbler passing through the garden in late August, on its way to cross the Sahara.
It stopped off here for 3 days, where it enjoyed regular baths in the dustbin lid, deep n the willow scrub.
I hope it returns in the spring.
🦉
Fieldfare's Delight
There was much talk of shrivelled berries back in the drought days of August but Mother Nature seems to have turned things around on the chalk of North Dorset.
The hedgerows are well-supplied with plump fruit at the moment.
🌿🌿
There was much talk of shrivelled berries back in the drought days of August but Mother Nature seems to have turned things around on the chalk of North Dorset.
The hedgerows are well-supplied with plump fruit at the moment.
🌿🌿
November 23, 2025 at 5:16 PM
Fieldfare's Delight
There was much talk of shrivelled berries back in the drought days of August but Mother Nature seems to have turned things around on the chalk of North Dorset.
The hedgerows are well-supplied with plump fruit at the moment.
🌿🌿
There was much talk of shrivelled berries back in the drought days of August but Mother Nature seems to have turned things around on the chalk of North Dorset.
The hedgerows are well-supplied with plump fruit at the moment.
🌿🌿
A walk through a Beech Hanger along a chalk ridge, is hard to beat on a cold winter day.
Today's walk had it all: bright low-angle sunlight hitting the tree trunks, twigs & remaining leaves; wonderful shadows on the woodland floor; & looking up to the edge of the escarpment, a fantastic rainbow.
Today's walk had it all: bright low-angle sunlight hitting the tree trunks, twigs & remaining leaves; wonderful shadows on the woodland floor; & looking up to the edge of the escarpment, a fantastic rainbow.
November 23, 2025 at 4:44 PM
A walk through a Beech Hanger along a chalk ridge, is hard to beat on a cold winter day.
Today's walk had it all: bright low-angle sunlight hitting the tree trunks, twigs & remaining leaves; wonderful shadows on the woodland floor; & looking up to the edge of the escarpment, a fantastic rainbow.
Today's walk had it all: bright low-angle sunlight hitting the tree trunks, twigs & remaining leaves; wonderful shadows on the woodland floor; & looking up to the edge of the escarpment, a fantastic rainbow.
Herald of Spring on a November Day
Lovely to see the male catkins of the Hazel in the bright sunshine of this November afternoon.
Of course, the clusters of male flowers on the catkins won't begin to shed pollen until the late winter/early spring.
@bsbibotany.bsky.social @wildflowerhour.bsky.social
Lovely to see the male catkins of the Hazel in the bright sunshine of this November afternoon.
Of course, the clusters of male flowers on the catkins won't begin to shed pollen until the late winter/early spring.
@bsbibotany.bsky.social @wildflowerhour.bsky.social
November 23, 2025 at 4:23 PM
Herald of Spring on a November Day
Lovely to see the male catkins of the Hazel in the bright sunshine of this November afternoon.
Of course, the clusters of male flowers on the catkins won't begin to shed pollen until the late winter/early spring.
@bsbibotany.bsky.social @wildflowerhour.bsky.social
Lovely to see the male catkins of the Hazel in the bright sunshine of this November afternoon.
Of course, the clusters of male flowers on the catkins won't begin to shed pollen until the late winter/early spring.
@bsbibotany.bsky.social @wildflowerhour.bsky.social
While some of the Goldfinches feed on the teasels below, the greater part of the charm sit in the Ash trees above & preen in the warm glow of the low winter sunlight.
Very large numbers now collecting down by the #weedypond in the late afternoon here.
#Goldfinches #ukbirds 🦉
Very large numbers now collecting down by the #weedypond in the late afternoon here.
#Goldfinches #ukbirds 🦉
November 23, 2025 at 4:00 PM
While some of the Goldfinches feed on the teasels below, the greater part of the charm sit in the Ash trees above & preen in the warm glow of the low winter sunlight.
Very large numbers now collecting down by the #weedypond in the late afternoon here.
#Goldfinches #ukbirds 🦉
Very large numbers now collecting down by the #weedypond in the late afternoon here.
#Goldfinches #ukbirds 🦉
Goldfinches feeding on Teasel heads at sunset.
You had admired the teasels with their heads of purple haze flowers in June & there they still are at the start of winter.
A larder of seeds for the charms.
@dorsetbirdclub.bsky.social
#goldfinches #nature 🦉
You had admired the teasels with their heads of purple haze flowers in June & there they still are at the start of winter.
A larder of seeds for the charms.
@dorsetbirdclub.bsky.social
#goldfinches #nature 🦉
November 23, 2025 at 3:50 PM
Goldfinches feeding on Teasel heads at sunset.
You had admired the teasels with their heads of purple haze flowers in June & there they still are at the start of winter.
A larder of seeds for the charms.
@dorsetbirdclub.bsky.social
#goldfinches #nature 🦉
You had admired the teasels with their heads of purple haze flowers in June & there they still are at the start of winter.
A larder of seeds for the charms.
@dorsetbirdclub.bsky.social
#goldfinches #nature 🦉
The winter roosts of Starlings on the Somerset Levels can be totally breathtaking with the number of birds involved.
From all points of the compass across the west country they converge on a single reedbed at sunset.
#starlings 🦉
From all points of the compass across the west country they converge on a single reedbed at sunset.
#starlings 🦉
November 23, 2025 at 11:35 AM
The winter roosts of Starlings on the Somerset Levels can be totally breathtaking with the number of birds involved.
From all points of the compass across the west country they converge on a single reedbed at sunset.
#starlings 🦉
From all points of the compass across the west country they converge on a single reedbed at sunset.
#starlings 🦉
The North wind doth blow,
And we shall have snow,
And what will poor robin do then, poor thing?
The crepuscular Robin was at the pond in the pitch dark & Ye Gods it was cold for bathing!
By the morning, the pond was frozen over & there was no water there to be had.
I provide other sources...
🦉
And we shall have snow,
And what will poor robin do then, poor thing?
The crepuscular Robin was at the pond in the pitch dark & Ye Gods it was cold for bathing!
By the morning, the pond was frozen over & there was no water there to be had.
I provide other sources...
🦉
November 22, 2025 at 6:16 PM
The North wind doth blow,
And we shall have snow,
And what will poor robin do then, poor thing?
The crepuscular Robin was at the pond in the pitch dark & Ye Gods it was cold for bathing!
By the morning, the pond was frozen over & there was no water there to be had.
I provide other sources...
🦉
And we shall have snow,
And what will poor robin do then, poor thing?
The crepuscular Robin was at the pond in the pitch dark & Ye Gods it was cold for bathing!
By the morning, the pond was frozen over & there was no water there to be had.
I provide other sources...
🦉
Pity the poor Woodpecker...
The Green Woodpecker was here from very first light, (it woke me this am with a brief laugh) to last light of day, searching deep down for ants.
Here it is, about 10 ft away, outside the window.
It noticed me so I slowly backed away, so as not to disturb it.
#ukbirds 🦉
The Green Woodpecker was here from very first light, (it woke me this am with a brief laugh) to last light of day, searching deep down for ants.
Here it is, about 10 ft away, outside the window.
It noticed me so I slowly backed away, so as not to disturb it.
#ukbirds 🦉
November 22, 2025 at 5:31 PM
Pity the poor Woodpecker...
The Green Woodpecker was here from very first light, (it woke me this am with a brief laugh) to last light of day, searching deep down for ants.
Here it is, about 10 ft away, outside the window.
It noticed me so I slowly backed away, so as not to disturb it.
#ukbirds 🦉
The Green Woodpecker was here from very first light, (it woke me this am with a brief laugh) to last light of day, searching deep down for ants.
Here it is, about 10 ft away, outside the window.
It noticed me so I slowly backed away, so as not to disturb it.
#ukbirds 🦉
As if aware that the temperature was about to seriously plunge, this charm of Goldfinches sat atop the Ash tree by the #weedypond & soaked-up the last of the rays of the sun.
#ukbirds 🦉 #nature
#ukbirds 🦉 #nature
November 20, 2025 at 6:52 PM
As if aware that the temperature was about to seriously plunge, this charm of Goldfinches sat atop the Ash tree by the #weedypond & soaked-up the last of the rays of the sun.
#ukbirds 🦉 #nature
#ukbirds 🦉 #nature
Another reason the Greenfinches do well here, are the Field Maples in the hedgerows.
These finches love both the winged seeds & the buds.
They switch from eating the seeds to the buds, depending on what looks most attractive in the moment.
The vigour of the tree isn't affected by the bud pruning.
🦉
These finches love both the winged seeds & the buds.
They switch from eating the seeds to the buds, depending on what looks most attractive in the moment.
The vigour of the tree isn't affected by the bud pruning.
🦉
November 20, 2025 at 5:05 PM
Another reason the Greenfinches do well here, are the Field Maples in the hedgerows.
These finches love both the winged seeds & the buds.
They switch from eating the seeds to the buds, depending on what looks most attractive in the moment.
The vigour of the tree isn't affected by the bud pruning.
🦉
These finches love both the winged seeds & the buds.
They switch from eating the seeds to the buds, depending on what looks most attractive in the moment.
The vigour of the tree isn't affected by the bud pruning.
🦉
Thanks Ann, your point is well made. I get large nos of migrant thrushes here & last yr I had circa 14 'black' B'birds, which arrived with but left before, the r'wings & 'fares.
I also have resident juv males here but none are as black as the winter arrivals.
The BTO describes it as a myth, but...
I also have resident juv males here but none are as black as the winter arrivals.
The BTO describes it as a myth, but...
November 20, 2025 at 12:28 PM
Thanks Ann, your point is well made. I get large nos of migrant thrushes here & last yr I had circa 14 'black' B'birds, which arrived with but left before, the r'wings & 'fares.
I also have resident juv males here but none are as black as the winter arrivals.
The BTO describes it as a myth, but...
I also have resident juv males here but none are as black as the winter arrivals.
The BTO describes it as a myth, but...
The #birdoftheday theme for today is Thrushes.
Here are 4 members of the thrush family at the #weedypond
The first 3 are all winter migrant visitors - notice the totally black Blackbird - both beak & eye-ring.
Fieldfare; Redwing; Blackbird; Song Thrush.
#thrushes
@ianparsons.bsky.social
Here are 4 members of the thrush family at the #weedypond
The first 3 are all winter migrant visitors - notice the totally black Blackbird - both beak & eye-ring.
Fieldfare; Redwing; Blackbird; Song Thrush.
#thrushes
@ianparsons.bsky.social
November 20, 2025 at 9:59 AM
The #birdoftheday theme for today is Thrushes.
Here are 4 members of the thrush family at the #weedypond
The first 3 are all winter migrant visitors - notice the totally black Blackbird - both beak & eye-ring.
Fieldfare; Redwing; Blackbird; Song Thrush.
#thrushes
@ianparsons.bsky.social
Here are 4 members of the thrush family at the #weedypond
The first 3 are all winter migrant visitors - notice the totally black Blackbird - both beak & eye-ring.
Fieldfare; Redwing; Blackbird; Song Thrush.
#thrushes
@ianparsons.bsky.social
I know that I have developed an obsession with Greenfinches. I would say that they are the biggest success story of the #weedypond - I hadn't foreseen that at all, 10 years ago.
Here they are this morning, sheltered from the bitter northerly wind.
Bear with me, I'll work through it.
#Greenfinches
Here they are this morning, sheltered from the bitter northerly wind.
Bear with me, I'll work through it.
#Greenfinches
November 19, 2025 at 5:48 PM
I know that I have developed an obsession with Greenfinches. I would say that they are the biggest success story of the #weedypond - I hadn't foreseen that at all, 10 years ago.
Here they are this morning, sheltered from the bitter northerly wind.
Bear with me, I'll work through it.
#Greenfinches
Here they are this morning, sheltered from the bitter northerly wind.
Bear with me, I'll work through it.
#Greenfinches
Burdock plants watch the full-face of the sunset, on the banks of the Stour.
#wildflowerhour in the #goldenhour
#wildflowerhour in the #goldenhour
November 19, 2025 at 5:28 PM
Burdock plants watch the full-face of the sunset, on the banks of the Stour.
#wildflowerhour in the #goldenhour
#wildflowerhour in the #goldenhour
Just back from a very cold walk along the Dorset Stour.
Goldfinches were looking magnificent in the Goat Willows & there were large flocks of Fieldfares on manoeuvres in the Hawthorns.
It definitely felt like the edge of winter.
#DicktheShepherdBlowshisNails #MilkcomesFrozenHomeinPail
Goldfinches were looking magnificent in the Goat Willows & there were large flocks of Fieldfares on manoeuvres in the Hawthorns.
It definitely felt like the edge of winter.
#DicktheShepherdBlowshisNails #MilkcomesFrozenHomeinPail
November 19, 2025 at 5:09 PM
Just back from a very cold walk along the Dorset Stour.
Goldfinches were looking magnificent in the Goat Willows & there were large flocks of Fieldfares on manoeuvres in the Hawthorns.
It definitely felt like the edge of winter.
#DicktheShepherdBlowshisNails #MilkcomesFrozenHomeinPail
Goldfinches were looking magnificent in the Goat Willows & there were large flocks of Fieldfares on manoeuvres in the Hawthorns.
It definitely felt like the edge of winter.
#DicktheShepherdBlowshisNails #MilkcomesFrozenHomeinPail
There's a Buzzard here today.
The Rooks tried to mob it out of the Oak so that they could continue with their acorn collection undisturbed, but this bird is persistent & stayed in the tree.
There are 3 young rabbits in the hedge opposite who are I think, the object of this bird's desire.
🦉 #raptors
The Rooks tried to mob it out of the Oak so that they could continue with their acorn collection undisturbed, but this bird is persistent & stayed in the tree.
There are 3 young rabbits in the hedge opposite who are I think, the object of this bird's desire.
🦉 #raptors
November 19, 2025 at 10:51 AM
There's a Buzzard here today.
The Rooks tried to mob it out of the Oak so that they could continue with their acorn collection undisturbed, but this bird is persistent & stayed in the tree.
There are 3 young rabbits in the hedge opposite who are I think, the object of this bird's desire.
🦉 #raptors
The Rooks tried to mob it out of the Oak so that they could continue with their acorn collection undisturbed, but this bird is persistent & stayed in the tree.
There are 3 young rabbits in the hedge opposite who are I think, the object of this bird's desire.
🦉 #raptors
November 19, 2025 at 9:02 AM
The large male tuskers are very impressive beasts.
As far as bears are concerned, even the bare necessities are beyond my ken.
As far as bears are concerned, even the bare necessities are beyond my ken.
November 18, 2025 at 10:01 PM
The large male tuskers are very impressive beasts.
As far as bears are concerned, even the bare necessities are beyond my ken.
As far as bears are concerned, even the bare necessities are beyond my ken.
I was in the Forest of Dean last month - it was a MAST year of notable proportions there.
Even these enthusiasts had made no impression on them at all. I would be interested to see if they have yet made a dent in the massive numbers under the oaks.
Even these enthusiasts had made no impression on them at all. I would be interested to see if they have yet made a dent in the massive numbers under the oaks.
November 18, 2025 at 9:00 PM
I was in the Forest of Dean last month - it was a MAST year of notable proportions there.
Even these enthusiasts had made no impression on them at all. I would be interested to see if they have yet made a dent in the massive numbers under the oaks.
Even these enthusiasts had made no impression on them at all. I would be interested to see if they have yet made a dent in the massive numbers under the oaks.
Here they are (along with some 'daws) coming to one of the small oaks today, Vanna.
Interestingly, the acorns still in the tree are often cracked open there & then. The ones on the ground are taken for caching.
That might be because the tree branches are readily available on site, as anvils...
Interestingly, the acorns still in the tree are often cracked open there & then. The ones on the ground are taken for caching.
That might be because the tree branches are readily available on site, as anvils...
November 18, 2025 at 5:40 PM
Here they are (along with some 'daws) coming to one of the small oaks today, Vanna.
Interestingly, the acorns still in the tree are often cracked open there & then. The ones on the ground are taken for caching.
That might be because the tree branches are readily available on site, as anvils...
Interestingly, the acorns still in the tree are often cracked open there & then. The ones on the ground are taken for caching.
That might be because the tree branches are readily available on site, as anvils...
