Birdwatcher for 60 years, dragonflies and all other wildlife followed. Author, wildlife guide, photographer and lecturer. Now moved to Bluesky.

Chudleigh, England
Joined August 2015
🚨 The new Red List for Britain’s dragonflies is here! The 2026 review draws on 1.3 million+ records collected over 20 years. 8 species are now classed as Endangered, twice as many as in 2008. 📖 Read the full review & share: buff.ly/muwGa3Z
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I found the 1973 imm Sora on St Agnes, but it was DIMW who confirmed the ID a few days later after I rang him at the Turks Head!
Remembering autumns on the Fortunate Isles, the Isles-of-Scilly. One of my best finds, this Sora (Sora Rail). No camera in thos days 27-Sep-1982, this my ink-pen sketch in the British Birds Rarities Report.
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🐉 Odonatography – the wonders of dragonfly flight Join Steve Cham at our Annual Meeting to explore how photography can reveal the incredible aerial agility of dragonflies as they hunt, fight and mate. 📅 14 Nov | 📍 Milton Keynes 🎟️ british-dragonflies.org.uk/e…
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Immature female Red-veined Darter, recently emerged from an E Devon Beaver pond - one of 5 within 50m of the pond. Also a female and a mating pair from the previous generation! @BDSdragonflies
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The dragonfly season is not over yet! Red-veined Darter emerging 22 Sept at E Devon Beaver pond. Will this generation migrate back south, as Painted Lady does? @BDSdragonflies
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🔎🐉 Training gives people the skills to identify, record and monitor dragonflies, helping us understand how populations are changing. 💚 Your donation could help us provide more training across the UK! 👉 justgiving.com/campaign/help…
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🐉 Our BDS Youth Panel meets online every two months for training, dragonfly ID and to help shape our plans for the year. We'd love to do more, including bringing the panel together in person each year. 💚 Your support could help make that happen! 👉 justgiving.com/campaign/help…
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Small action. Big Impact. 🐉💚 Your donation could make a big difference for dragonflies! We have launched a fundraising campaign to raise £50,000 as dragonflies and wetlands need our help more than ever. 👉 Donate today - justgiving.com/campaign/help…
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Never seen this before: Southern Hawker egg-laying into Iris leaf 30cm over pond! @BDSdragonflies
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On this day a couple of seasons ago, this Male Black Darter at Priddy mineries. I'm afraid, due to successive droughts to this lowland bog habitat, this species may have been lost at this site.
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5 hours later and this is all that remains of the Southern Hawker! @BDSdragonflies
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Southern Hawker presumed killed by cat while egglaying, now feeding one of nature's recyclers! @BDSdragonflies
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Finally Willow Emerald Damselfly has reached Devon! A male found today in a former quarry pool in East Devon. Long anticipated, but not the easiest species to find. @BDSdragonflies
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Dave Smallshire retweeted
With sightings of Southern Migrant Hawker at NT Croome Court Lake in recent days, I visited all my local patch sand/gravel pits in south Worcestershire & came up trumps with this egg-laying pair. 1st proven breeding for the county #WorcsDragonflies @BDSdragonflies
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Beaver-created pond and flushes at amazing site with restricted access in E Devon held: 11 Scarce Blue-t D (mix of old and new; new site c25km from nearest source); c50 Small Red D; 1 Norfolk Hawker; 5 Lesser Emperor (2 prs egg-laying); & poss 50 Red-v Darters (10 prs egg-laying)
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Saw 6 Southern Migrant Hawkers around muddy, grazed dry ditches at Exminster Marshes today (image shows one with 2 males), while a further 7 males and a female egg-laying alone reported 1km away at Matford Marshes @BDSdragonflies
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3 stunning male Southern Migrant Hawkers again today near Exminster, Devon, but no sign of female. Also 3 Lesser Emperors over Exeter Canal. @BDSdragonflies
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Southern Migrant Hawker is breeding in Devon ! 4+ (inc pr egglaying) at dry pool in Devon Wildfowling and Conservation Association reserve nr Exminster today. 2 previous Devon records, so these prob arrived in earlier year. Thanks DWCA for access & management @BDSdragonflies
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🐉✨ Welcome to #DragonflyWeek! We're celebrating the UK's incredible dragonflies and damselflies. Take a look at the events and activities happening this week: buff.ly/SyIUefv 📸 Tag us in your favourite dragonfly and damselfly pictures!
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Dave Smallshire retweeted
Red-veined Darter at Berrow LNR today (27 June 2026). Notice the egg!
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