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Steve Clark

@zippyclark

Bedfordshire based birder and naturalist. Interested in all wildlife.

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13.03.2025
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Latest posts by Steve Clark @zippyclark

Enjoying some #birding in #Fife. No divers but plenty of “Scottish” birds. Eiders, long-tailed ducks, and goldeneyes along with Fulmars and Shags. Not many waders though, a few barwits and sanderlings on the beach and some turnstones and purple sands on the rocks in St Andrews.

25.02.2026 15:46 👍 1 🔁 0 💬 0 📌 0

Looks a bit gloomy Jim. I’ll be doing the same in a fortnight!

10.02.2026 20:20 👍 0 🔁 0 💬 1 📌 0

Some good local birds today. 43 Russian white-fronts this morning gave excellent views, 4 shorties this evening gave poor views! A smew at lunchtime was a bonus. #birding

08.02.2026 18:25 👍 0 🔁 0 💬 0 📌 0

Another great day of #Norfolk birding. GND and RTDs passed Weybourne first thing in the drizzle, then purple sands, a single knot, cranes, whooper and Bewick swans in the broads later on. Couldn’t be arsed with the trek to see the kite though, not really my bag.

02.02.2026 17:18 👍 0 🔁 0 💬 0 📌 0

Had a decent days birding in #Norfolk. Eastern black redstart with two ‘traditional’ ones in Sheringham, Twite and a plethora of waders at Blakeney, Snow buntings and Merlin at Cley, oodles of Brent’s (a favourite of mine) and a showy barn owl at dusk in the drizzle!

01.02.2026 17:22 👍 1 🔁 0 💬 0 📌 0

Dipped the YBW at St Albans this morning, as did everyone else apparently, however a water rail along the river and the Med gull were a nice compensation. The kingfisher and peregrines were showy too. #Hertsbirds.

04.01.2026 18:20 👍 0 🔁 0 💬 0 📌 0

Having a birthday break in Bath. First bird of the trip was a yellow-browed warbler in a hedge from the car while sitting in traffic! Spotted by my wife. #avonbirds

15.11.2025 15:29 👍 2 🔁 0 💬 0 📌 0
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Jersey tiger seen in #Bedfordshire today @vc30moths.bsky.social

03.08.2025 12:50 👍 1 🔁 0 💬 0 📌 0
Preview
Off-lead dogs damage Little Tern colony A colony of rare Little Terns on Norfolk's east coast has suffered after off-lead dogs attacked the birds, killing at least four chicks. The RSPB and Norfolk Police have issued urgent pleas to dog owners, warning of potential prosecution as the breeding season reaches its most critical stage.

Wardens and police have issued an urgent plea to dog owners after uncontrolled pets attacked a colony of Little Terns on the Norfolk coast, killing at least four chicks and endangering dozens more:

02.08.2025 06:20 👍 16 🔁 11 💬 0 📌 2
The first page of an article about Cley and Norfolk Rare Bird Archive taken from The Norfolk Natterjack

The first page of an article about Cley and Norfolk Rare Bird Archive taken from The Norfolk Natterjack

The second page of an article about Cley and Norfolk Rare Bird Archive taken from The Norfolk Natterjack

The second page of an article about Cley and Norfolk Rare Bird Archive taken from The Norfolk Natterjack

The third page of an article about Cley and Norfolk Rare Bird Archive taken from The Norfolk Natterjack

The third page of an article about Cley and Norfolk Rare Bird Archive taken from The Norfolk Natterjack

Norfolk birder & photographer Steve Gantlett is collating an archive of photos of rare birds in Norfolk. The aim is to ensure that the best possible pictures of each species are preserved for use in future publications - if you think you can contribute then please get in touch with Steve.

29.07.2025 20:00 👍 24 🔁 18 💬 1 📌 2
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Broad-leaved helleborine in #Bedfordshire this morning @ukorchids.bsky.social

13.07.2025 12:32 👍 7 🔁 1 💬 0 📌 0

Had a nice few days in #Derbyshire. Lots of dippers and redstarts, dark-green fritillaries, a hummingbird hawk-moth, a family of stoats, a weasel, wheatear with young, treecreepers with young, marsh-fragrant orchids and a profusion of meadow cranesbill. #Summer

05.07.2025 06:13 👍 0 🔁 0 💬 0 📌 0

Now re-identified as Marsh-fragrant, thanks to the knowledge of @ukorchids.bsky.social and reference to his book once I returned home.

05.07.2025 06:09 👍 1 🔁 0 💬 0 📌 0

Thanks. The location threw me off the scent.

03.07.2025 11:47 👍 0 🔁 0 💬 1 📌 0

Interesting, normally associate the dense flowers with marsh, these are in Millers dale quarry DWT reserve. It would be late for chalk I guess but the site is very dry.

03.07.2025 08:41 👍 0 🔁 0 💬 1 📌 0
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Chalk-fragrant and common-spotted orchids in #Derbyshire today @ukorchids.bsky.social

02.07.2025 17:28 👍 10 🔁 1 💬 1 📌 1
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One of only two scarlet tigers seen along the river at Flitton Moor #Bedfordshire this afternoon @vc30moths.bsky.social

29.06.2025 16:47 👍 2 🔁 0 💬 0 📌 0

Let's hope nobody mows the verge!!

27.06.2025 18:42 👍 2 🔁 0 💬 1 📌 0
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Marbled white on a thistle this morning. #Summer #Insects #Butterflies

24.06.2025 16:26 👍 1 🔁 0 💬 0 📌 0
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Who doesn’t love a lizard? Close up they smell awful (actually I quite like it!). This one was being visited by many insects who appear to agree! @ukorchids.bsky.social

24.06.2025 16:24 👍 5 🔁 1 💬 0 📌 0
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Our local Marsh helleborines are now coming into flower in good numbers. Good numbers of common spotted also, including this striking example @ukorchids.bsky.social

24.06.2025 12:13 👍 7 🔁 1 💬 0 📌 0
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Marbled white at Maulden wood, #Bedfordshire today @savebutterflies.bsky.social

22.06.2025 15:30 👍 0 🔁 0 💬 0 📌 0

Had a great morning in a #Bedfordshire wood looking for butterflies. 3 Emperors, a single white admiral, 6 silver washed, and a few hairstreaks (unidentifiable at the tops of trees) accompanied the more common species. #Summer

22.06.2025 13:50 👍 0 🔁 0 💬 0 📌 0
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Why is this not a crime? Appalling and upsetting to see road verges strimmed to the ground. Beautiful species-rich grassland destroyed at its peak. Yet, just up the road is a verge left aside for nature, supporting @mariecurieuk.bsky.social
What is the absurd reason behind this @highland.gov.uk ?

14.06.2025 13:58 👍 7 🔁 2 💬 0 📌 0
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A lovely pale coloured common spotted orchid in a #Bedfordshire wood this morning @ukorchids.bsky.social

17.06.2025 12:20 👍 8 🔁 1 💬 0 📌 0
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Our #Bedfordshire broad-leaved helleborines are about 2 weeks ahead of their normal flowering time, I’m hoping that this trinity will be quite showy in about 10 days time @ukorchids.bsky.social

17.06.2025 12:18 👍 5 🔁 1 💬 0 📌 0
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Our local #Bedfordshire Bee orchids are now just showing off! They don’t seem too bothered by the drought @ukorchids.bsky.social nearly 20 spikes on my street.

15.06.2025 11:31 👍 24 🔁 1 💬 0 📌 0
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Our local #Bedfordshire county flowers are starting to show off @ukorchids.bsky.social I was concerned that the drought had done for them this year but luckily they are doing ok. I just hope @lutoncouncil.bsky.social don’t mow them now!! #favourite #orchid

10.06.2025 08:19 👍 9 🔁 1 💬 0 📌 0

Had a nice visit to @rspb.bsky.social Fen Drayton lakes #Cambs this morning. Always enjoy visiting, especially when there’s a pristine male Red-backed shrike on guard along the entrance road. Loads of birds seen and heard on this fantastic reserve.

08.06.2025 16:46 👍 1 🔁 0 💬 0 📌 0
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Common spotted #orchid and common Twayblade in #Bedfordshire this afternoon @ukorchids.bsky.social

08.06.2025 16:23 👍 6 🔁 1 💬 0 📌 0