Charles Cuthbert

Day 6 LOOK at a swift up close & swooning is a given. Those liquid, liquorice, polished planet eyes. The feathered brow, like a cave, & the protective bristles. Look at the top of Boudica’s head - at the white scalloped feathers that look like a beach when the tide is out.

Another view of some of the Sandwich Tern flock at Minsmere, Suffolk, this week, adults and young, so much going on, and lots of loud calling... for the sound experience watch my video! (21st July 2025) @RSPBMinsmere @RSPBEngland

Sandwich Terns and their recently-fledged young gathering (noisily!) on the South Scrape at Minsmere, Suffolk, 21st July 2025 @RSPBMinsmere @RSPBEngland @suffolkwildlife @coastandheaths

23rd July 2025, Swift update! The larger more dominant juvenile Swift appears to have flown, but one is still visible in my nestbox... and here it is, perhaps for the last time? After three months of watching these amazing birds I will miss them - until next year! @SoSSwifts

Lots of busy Sand Martins of all ages buzzing around their nest burrows at Minsmere yesterday, some with hungry chicks waiting to be fed, others taking a close interest in all the activity! (22nd July 2025) @RSPBMinsmere @suffolkwildlife @RSPBEngland

22nd July 2025: a good day for insects at Minsmere today including White Admiral and Grayling butterflies (on Buddleia), a male Great Green Bush-cricket on Teasel, and a female Emperor Dragonfly egg-laying at the pond... @RSPBMinsmere @BC_Suffolk

19th July 2025, and the juvenile Swifts in my nestbox are taking a keen interest in the outside world, watching a wasp, and pushing forwards as far as possible... it won't be long now before they leave their Suffolk home and the UK! @SoSSwifts @suffolkwildlife @Natures_Voice

18th July: the two juvenile Swifts in my nestbox are now almost ready to fly! Meanwhile adult Swifts are constantly flying overhead, screaming, and any day now the youngsters will join them for a life in the skies... @SoSSwifts @WriterHannahBT @suffolkwildlife @Natures_Voice

A very successful breeding season for Sandwich Terns at Minsmere, Suffolk, as large numbers of recently-fledged young now gather with adults on the South Scrape (15th July 2025) @RSPBMinsmere @RSPBEngland @SuffolkBirdGrp

Wood Sandpipers on the South Scrape at Minsmere today, pausing to feed on their southward migration to sub-Saharan Africa... 15th July 2025 @RSPBMinsmere @GrahamFAppleton @SuffolkBirdGrp

A pristine Painted Lady nectaring on the Greater Knapweed flowers in my mini-meadow garden yesterday (Suffolk Sandlings, 14th July 2025) @BC_Suffolk @savebutterflies @suffolkwildlife

Four Swifts in a (nest) box! Meet the family... firstly two adult Swifts, both leaving the box, and then two well-grown juveniles, silently watching and waiting for their time to fly. Suffolk, 12th July 2025. @SoSSwifts @suffolkwildlife @WriterHannahBT

Suffolk Swift News! I am pleased to confirm that there are now two beautiful Swift chicks in the nestbox on my house, patiently watching and waiting for their parents! (11th July 2025) @SoSSwifts @suffolkwildlife @Natures_Voice @SuffolkBirdGrp @WriterHannahBT

I was pleased to find this White-letter Hairstreak feeding on Greater Knapweed flowers in my mini-meadow this morning (11th July 2025), bringing the garden total to 20 butterfly species for this year. @BC_Suffolk @savebutterflies @SuffolkBIS @suffolkwildlife

Blue Tits (and a Great Tit) coming down for a communal bath in my garden this morning, Suffolk, 8th July 2025.

A Brown Argus butterfly nectaring on Marjoram flowers in my mini-meadow garden, much-loved by many different pollinators! Suffolk Sandlings, 5th July 2025. @BC_Suffolk @savebutterflies @suffolkwildlife

Martins over the Meare, Thorpeness, Suffolk, 6th July 2025

A Hummingbird Hawk-moth feeding on the Lavender in my Suffolk garden today (6th July), along with many Bumblebees. At least a dozen separate sightings of these amazing moths here this year, including egg-laying on 28th June. @BC_Suffolk @savebutterflies @BritishMoths @SuffolkBIS

Sandwich Terns are having an exceptionally good year at Minsmere, Suffolk, with large numbers of young now fledging on the South Scrape (5th July 2025) @RSPBMinsmere @RSPBEngland @Natures_Voice

Low water on the River Deben at Woodbridge, Suffolk, this afternoon, 3rd July 2025