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Simon Patient

@simonpatient1.bsky.social

440 followers 470 following 120 posts

Essex Birder and Abberton Reservoir local patcher. Amateur photographer and artist. Also interests in astronomy and wildlife in general especially Butterflies. Colchester based.

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Simon Patient @simonpatient1.bsky.social · 1d

This Great White Egret flew E over our Colchester garden today and was a nice garden ✅. Also our first autumn Siskins and y’day 4 Redwings over #essexbirding

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Simon Patient @simonpatient1.bsky.social · 2d

10+ Crossbills flew low east over my garden here in Colchester, NE end of Fridaywoods just gone 11am. #essexbirding

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Simon Patient @simonpatient1.bsky.social · 2d

Managed to get over and see the Turkestan Shrike y’day at Dunwich. As always with Shrikes an absolute cracker… #rarebirduk

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Simon Patient @simonpatient1.bsky.social · 7d

That’s ace 👍. And bird in the landscape photo, for the win.

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Simon Patient @simonpatient1.bsky.social · 8d

Thanks John, me too

Simon Patient @simonpatient1.bsky.social · 9d

2 Clouded Yellows at Gt Wigborough church this morning also 2 Wall Browns, Small Heath and Common Blues still on the wing. 6 + Goldcrests there also. Water levels still dropping at Abberton #essexbirding

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Simon Patient @simonpatient1.bsky.social · 23d

I hadn’t check on our garden White Admiral larva for a while, and checking today I noticed its hibernaculum had completely shrivelled up leaving the caterpillar still active outside of it. Hopefully it will make a new one soon.

Simon Patient @simonpatient1.bsky.social · Sep 6

Nice one Chris 👍

Simon Patient @simonpatient1.bsky.social · Sep 6

Superb shots Sean. What a cracker. Wonderful orangey legs 👍

Simon Patient @simonpatient1.bsky.social · Sep 5

Unlucky with the warbler, but with your rare bird finding prowess you’ll strike gold soon.

Simon Patient @simonpatient1.bsky.social · Sep 5

Thanks Sean. Top find. 👍

Simon Patient @simonpatient1.bsky.social · Sep 5

Top work Sean. 👍 well done on the find.

Simon Patient @simonpatient1.bsky.social · Sep 5

A fantastic mad rush to locally twitch the Arctic Warbler in Essex at Great Wigborough church this evening. Initially a no show, i felt a dip coming on and then refound by Stuart. Well done on the finders @snixon66.bsky.social and @chrispoole050.bsky.social. 👍 My 2nd for Essex #essexBirding

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Simon Patient @simonpatient1.bsky.social · Aug 31

This very worn male Brown Argus was briefly in our Colchester garden today. And was a long awaited garden tick. In the last 8 years of living here It becomes garden butterfly species number 28.

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Simon Patient @simonpatient1.bsky.social · Aug 30

Lovely write up Howard.

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Simon Patient @simonpatient1.bsky.social · Aug 26

Thank you. I’m quite enjoying trying to look at as many ’whites’ as I can, considering the recent arrival of SSW into the UK

Simon Patient @simonpatient1.bsky.social · Aug 26

Going through some photos taken in our Colchester garden from last week and this Small White has recaught my eye. It has an interesting concave outer edge to the wing spot ( Southern Small White like? ) but I’m guessing it’s within range and variation of a late summer Small White.

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Simon Patient @simonpatient1.bsky.social · Aug 25

This Hummingbird Hawk-moth was still around our Colchester garden today. Plus another Willow Emerald Damselfly this time in our conservatory. Plus a Small Heath on our Water Mint.

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Simon Patient @simonpatient1.bsky.social · Aug 17

This Willow Emerald Damselfly was nice to see in our Colchester garden today. ( 1 or 2 annually in last few years ). Plus 2 Hummingbird Hawk-moths together. Our best year by far for this species with almost daily sightings.

Simon Patient @simonpatient1.bsky.social · Aug 17

On the 27th July our garden White Admiral larva had already made its hibernaculum. First photo. The leaf cut off squarely and symmetrically folded over and joined by silk. I believe it started hibernating soon after. Today’s photo shows it all still intact. @bc-cambs-essex.bsky.social

Photo from 27.7.25 WA larva with newly constructed hibernaculum

The WA feeding leaf is in foreground blurred and the hibernaculum was made on the next set of leaves along.

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Simon Patient @simonpatient1.bsky.social · Aug 8

30 years ago this week, that was Mark 😳

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Simon Patient @simonpatient1.bsky.social · Jul 28

Nice shots Jon 👍

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Simon Patient @simonpatient1.bsky.social · Jul 28

Digi Binned photo of the smart and very showy Juv Wood Sand at Abberton this morning. NE corner of LDLH c’way. Typically i left my camera at home on this morning’s visit there with the kids. #essexbirding

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Simon Patient @simonpatient1.bsky.social · Jul 25

And now a Jersey Tiger in our Colchester garden just now. My 2nd garden record.

Simon Patient @simonpatient1.bsky.social · Jul 24

Yes will be interesting to see what happens.