Phil Saunders
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beardybirder.bsky.social
Phil Saunders
@beardybirder.bsky.social
1.4K followers 1.3K following 970 posts
Professional bird botherer & bug chaser (not like that), based in Dorset. Freelance ecologist / leader for Wildlife Travel #LGBTQinSTEM. Mainly birds, inverts, & plants, with the occasional arty photo. All views my own.
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beardybirder.bsky.social
Phil Saunders @beardybirder.bsky.social · Aug 14
As the ONLY natural history travel company donating ALL of its profits to nature conservation, & having provided expert guided holidays for nearly 40 years, it's great to see the @wildlifetraveller.bsky.social 2027 brochure up on the website wildlife-travel.co.uk/wp-content/u... Do take a look.
beardybirder.bsky.social
An enjoyable morning @ St Aldhelm's Head after several weeks absence, with highlights of Woodlark (2nd site record), Dartford Warbler, Merlin, 120 Skylark, 82 alba Wag, c.340 apiece of W'pigeon & Linnet, 10 Siskin, Reed Bunting, & a new barn @dorsetbirdclub.bsky.social @staldhelmsbirder.bsky.social
A newly constructed (white roofed and green walled) barn lies along the low "Old Barn Hedge" at St Aldhelm's Head, with short cropped green grass in the foreground and cloudy grey sky above.
October 11, 2026 at 4:02 PM
Reposted by Phil Saunders
jacob-wood.bsky.social
Wembury rock pooling today- 2 Babakina anadoni, 8 Spurilla neapolitana, 2 Aeolidiella alderi, 1 Aeolidia filomenae, 1 Rostanga rubra and 3 Elysia viridis.
These new species are definitely becoming well established in the Wembury area now.
October 10, 2026 at 5:09 PM
Reposted by Phil Saunders
debalmer.bsky.social
Nutrackers building up in the low countries. Occurrences in pink, counts in blue for week 1-7 Oct

www.eurobirdportal.org/ebp/en/#home...
October 9, 2026 at 8:37 PM
beardybirder.bsky.social
Well that wasn't on my bingo card for this morning - a fab' Radde's Warbler caught by @narwhalsh.bsky.social & the hardworking local ringing group at the end of my street on Lytchett Heath! A characterful 1st for the Poole Harbour recording area @harbourbirds.bsky.social @dorsetbirdclub.bsky.social
Side view of an olive-brown Radde's Warbler, facing right as it is held in a ringer's hand. The bird's stubby, Great Tit-esque, bill and long yellowish supercilium are obvious. The blue ringer's coat and blurred heathland vegetation can be seen in the background. Front view of an olive-brown Radde's Warbler, facing slightly right as it is held in a ringer's hand. The bird's stubby, Great Tit-esque, bill and long yellowish supercilium are obvious. Blurred heathland vegetation can be seen in the background.
October 10, 2026 at 8:53 AM
Reposted by Phil Saunders
sarahlambert7.bsky.social
After a tip-off from a friend, I was pleased to re-find the Striated Bird's-nest fungi at @wildlifebcn.org Old Sulehay Forest. First seen by me late last autumn, it was interesting to see them at an earlier stage, when the fruiting bodies are covered with brownish hairs

#figifriends #fungi
Five Striated Bird's-nest Cyathus striatus fungi on buried wood, three unopened ones covered with light-brown curled hairs, and two just opened showing the 'eggs' Close-up of four Striated Bird's-nest Cyathus striatus fungi , three unopened ones covered with light-brown curled hairs, and one just opened showing the 'eggs' Close-up of two mature Striated Bird's-nest Cyathus striatus fungi, the now hairless brown 'nests' containing the 'eggs' or peridioles
September 27, 2026 at 6:48 AM
Reposted by Phil Saunders
wildlifetraveller.bsky.social
the second Harpy Eagle encounter in two days, in the Sierra de la Macarena

words fail. just an awesome beast, in an awesome location, thanks to some awesome people, who have brought us to a place where tourism was unimaginable just a decade ago.

we will be back.
September 29, 2026 at 11:02 AM
beardybirder.bsky.social
A few nice bits and bobs encountered around the Danube Delta during this week's @wildlifetraveller.bsky.social holiday: Cardinal, Flower-of-an-hour, and Eastern/European Tree Frog.
A boldly brown and dull orange chequered Cardinal butterfly rests, wings spread, as it nectars on a bank of thistles. There is an obvious greenish sheen across the butterfly's entire upperwing. The white outer petals of a Flower-of-an-hour (Hibiscus trionum) flower strongly contrast with the deep purple inner petals and gold-dusted stamens, against a blurred backdrop of green, red, and yellow vegetation. A bright green Eastern or European Tree Frog shows off its' golden eyes and brown "mask" as it clambers amongst dead brown stems.
October 7, 2026 at 1:39 PM
beardybirder.bsky.social
Superlative views of White-tailed Eagles were had on a daily basis during the @wildlifetraveller.bsky.social Danube Delta holiday this past week. There're few places in the world where you can get up so close and personal with truly wild individuals amongst an astounding wetland setting.
October 7, 2026 at 1:28 PM
beardybirder.bsky.social
I'm just back from 9 days' leading on the @wildlifetraveller.bsky.social autumn exploration of the Danube Delta in wonderful Romania - a truly magical place at any time of the year that spoiled us rotten (both weather and natural history-wise)!
October 7, 2026 at 1:22 PM
Reposted by Phil Saunders
portlandbirdobs.bsky.social
Barred Warbler trapped at the Obs
September 26, 2026 at 7:35 AM
Reposted by Phil Saunders
mikarantane.bsky.social
Radar image of Tuesday's mass crane migration. A 100 km long line of migrating cranes was clearly visible on weather radar. It is estimated that around 10,000 (?) cranes were involved in that formation. The highest count observed was 26,000 migrating cranes on that day in Kangasala (near Tampere).
September 24, 2026 at 1:20 PM
beardybirder.bsky.social
Just ooof
kevin-clements.bsky.social Kevin Clements @kevin-clements.bsky.social · 22d
Khurkh Bird Ringing Station day 3: brief session due to rain: 78 birds incl 20 Black-faced Bunting, 9 Siberian Rubythroat, 4 Dusky (p1), 4 Pallas's & 1 Pallas's Grasshopper Warbler (p2), 2 Daurian Redstart, Eyebrowed Thrush (p3) & White's Thrush (p4) www.facebook.com/share/14sZ2s... #BelvideRingers
Dusky Warbler Pallas's Grasshopper Warbler Eyebrowed Thrush White's Thrush
September 23, 2026 at 4:14 PM
beardybirder.bsky.social
Durwyn and I ran 6 traps at Durlston CP last night, record'g 50 spp, incl'g Sombre Brocade, Beautiful Gothic, Hoary Footman, Jersey Mocha, & many Mecyna asinalis, plus Bordered & SB Straw, Pearly U'wing, & P.vitrealis on the migrant front #TeamMoth @dorsetmoths.bsky.social @migrantmothuk.bsky.social
An arrowhead shaped Sombre Brocade moth is viewed from above as it rests, facing upwards, on a sheet of grey card. The moth is patterned in shades of brown and black, with several diffuse stigma visible on the upperwing. An arrowhead shaped Beautiful Gothic moth is viewed from above as it rests, facing upwards, on a sheet of grey card. The moth is boldly chequered with brown polygons offset by cream lines of varying thickness, & two warmer brown stigma are also present. The moth is spreading its finely feathered antennae. A Jersey Mocha moth is viewed from above as it rests, wings spread and facing upwards, on a sheet of grey card. The moth is pale orange-buff in colour, with dense darker speckling across the upperwings and has single, hard to spot, white dots present in the centre of each wing. A cylindrical Hoary Footman moth is viewed from above as it rests, facing right, on a sheet of grey card. The moth has a dull orange head and long orange-yellow legs, whilst its tightly rolled wings are a very pale grey.
September 23, 2026 at 9:26 AM
beardybirder.bsky.social
My 1st ever Many-lined in the Upton garden trap last night was much appreciated, after several other local records recently, with 2 Golden Twin-spot, Dewick's Plusia, Deep-brown Dart, 3 Blair's Mocha, & 10 Vestal the best of the rest #TeamMoth @dorsetmoths.bsky.social @migrantmothuk.bsky.social
A Many-lined moth rests, wings spread and bathed in MV light, on the pale wooden inner wall of a moth trap. The moth is finely striped/lined in shades of brown and grey, with a single small black stigma visible in each forewing. The moth had unfortunately exited the trap overnight, so no better photos were taken. A roughly arrowhead shaped, and somewhat tatty, Deep-brown Dart moth rests, facing upwards and slightly to the left, on a grey-green egg box. The moth is largely coloured dark brown, with a broad darker band noticeable across the middle of each forewing. A triangular shaped Vestal moth is viewed in profile as it faces left on a grey-green egg box. The moth's creamy base colour is strongly suffused with pink, and a thick pink band runs across the middle of its upperwing.
September 22, 2026 at 8:38 AM
Reposted by Phil Saunders
saloplarus.bsky.social
Magical morning on the Wirral with 36 Leach's Storm-petrels heading west into the wind, some more offshore than others 😍 #seawatching #superseabirdSunday
September 20, 2026 at 10:21 AM
Reposted by Phil Saunders
wildlifetraveller.bsky.social
Brazil, where even the small cats are big

our group are now headed back along the Transpantaneira, having spent three amazing days with the Jaguars of Porto Jofre

but the trip is far from over, as this Ocelot (our 2nd of the trip!) would like to point out

#WildlifeTravelling in the #Pantanal
September 20, 2026 at 8:42 AM
beardybirder.bsky.social
Some interesting bycatch from the Upton garden moth traps this morning in the form of the bugs Eremocoris fenestratus & Kleidocerys resedae, & the parasitic wasp Diplazon laetatorius.
A Diplazon laetatorius wasp rests, facing upwards and seen obliquely in profile, on the pale wooden wall of a moth trap. The moth has a black head, thorax, & long curled antennae. It's first two oairs of legs are red-orange, whilst its hind pair are mostly ringed black and red, but with a diagnostic single white band. A tiny Kleidocerys resedae bug rests, facing upwards, alongside the thumbnail of a pale pink coloured thumb. The bug has long black and orange banded antennae, orange legs, and a triangular shaped head and thoracic region. The animal is boldly patterned in shades of brown, black, and umber. A darkly chunky Eremocoris fenestratus bug rests, facing upwards, on a grey egg box. The insect is mostly blackish in colouration, with reddish tibia and wing patches. Two large whitish patches can be seen towards the end of the abdomen.
September 20, 2026 at 8:42 AM
beardybirder.bsky.social
104/30 in the Upton garden traps this morning, albeit 1/2 of which were LYU. Notables incl'd another Golden Twin-spot, plus Pediasia contaminella & Acrobasis suavella, whilst Autumnal Rustic & Brindled Green were NFY. A box fresh SM Willow was my 1st in a while too #TeamMoth @dorsetmoths.bsky.social
A grey coloured and narrowly arrowhead shaped Small Mottled Willow moth rests, facing the camera, on a grey egg box. The moth is marbled with black & brown tones, and has a large orange-brown stigma in the centre of each forewing. A capuchino coloured Autumnal Rustic moth rests, facing upwards, on a grey egg box. The moth has several rectangular dark brown marks along the edge of each forewing and large black eyes. A densely vermiculated black, green, and brown Brindled Green moth rests, facing upwards and seen obliquely in profile, on a grey egg box. A cylindrical and brown coloured Pediasia contaminella (Rolled Grass-moth) rests, facing right, on a grey egg box. Seen in profile, the moth is diagnostically holding its abdomen raised up at a shallow angle.
September 20, 2026 at 8:33 AM
beardybirder.bsky.social
I can't wait to lead this @wildlifetraveller.bsky.social holiday to the amazing #Pantanal in September 2027 - check out wildlife-travel.co.uk/our-holidays... if you fancy joining us in exploring one of the world's most amazing wild places.
wildlifetraveller.bsky.social Wildlife Travel @wildlifetraveller.bsky.social · 23d
the Jaguars of the Three Brothers rivers have been putting on an amazing show for our group in the #Pantanal this week

Something tells me we will be back here next year...

#WildlifeTravelling #MammalWatching
September 20, 2026 at 4:09 AM
beardybirder.bsky.social
Another 3hr seawatch from Durlston CP this morning, in the company of several of the Purbeck great & good, produced 3 Balearic Shearwater, an Arctic Skua, 4 apiece of Common Scoter & Sandwich Tern, & a dribble of auks, Kittiwakes, & Gannet @dorsetbirdclub.bsky.social
September 19, 2026 at 2:59 PM
Reposted by Phil Saunders
patrickbarkham.bsky.social
Rest in peace, Joe Harkness. I was shocked and gutted when I heard the news. He was a generous, inspirational teacher and such an important writer. He was brutally honest, inclusive and funny too. When I interviewed him last summer (below) he was so full of life. www.theguardian.com/environment/...
‘Intrinsically connected’: how human neurodiversity could help save nature
Biodiversity is linked to people’s diversity, and nature lends itself to people who are different, says author Joe Harkness
www.theguardian.com
September 18, 2026 at 4:28 PM
Reposted by Phil Saunders
purbeckpilgrim.bsky.social
Highlights from Middlebere watch with @beardybirder.bsky.social @jolmitchell.bsky.social @moorebirdsbybike.bsky.social
2 Osprey, 4 poss 5 Spotted Redshank, 22 Knot, 10 Greenshank, 4 Great White Egret, 296 Blackwit, 29 Dunlin and a Yellow-legged Gull.
@harbourbirds.bsky.social
September 18, 2026 at 5:12 PM
Reposted by Phil Saunders
wildlifetraveller.bsky.social
The Pantanal is living up to the hype...

#WildlifeTravelling in #Brazil
September 17, 2026 at 7:53 PM
Reposted by Phil Saunders
dungenessowen.bsky.social
A wonderful spectacle of the thousands of House Martins gathering on wires and on the Power Station at Dungeness early this morning

I reckon 8,000+

#KentBirding
September 18, 2026 at 9:44 AM
beardybirder.bsky.social
This Wall butterfly was living up to its name when I found it resting alongside the actinic trap in the Upton garden this morning. Always a lovely species to encounter and a (perhaps overdue) first for the site.
A Wall butterfly rests in profile, facing upwards, on a weathered red brick and white mortar wall. The butterfly's rounded wings are tightly closed and the underwings are banded/streaked in shades of brown and black. Six large "eye spots" are located around the termen of the hindwing.
September 18, 2026 at 8:34 AM