Early this morning, whilst photographing the Parsonage Farm swallows settlling on the telegraph wires, this large bird flew slowly and effortlessly past. The swallows weren't at all concerned by it. Following similar sightings reported on an earlier newspost, it is tempting to identify it as a White Tailed Eagle. (I will ask more knowledgeable people.) the odd markings in the lower part of the image are window reflections (taken from indoors)

According to Royal Museums Greenwich, This will be the most 'coverage' seen from the UK and Ireland since the 1999 solar eclipse, The Royal Observatory Greenwich will be live-streaming this event, "we will be live streaming the eclipse using one of our modern telescopes, giving you a chance to watch this big event safely. Coverage will start live on YouTube and Facebook from 6.10pm." Here is a link to the YouTube stream: https://www.youtube.com/live/X_lWDBTZdrY Do you have a

2026 Reported sighting in or near Stratford sub Castle 22 August Tentatively suggested as a WTE See Newspost 6 August Another sighting of a Jersey Tiger moth Details added to the Fauna 2 photo album 23 July Jersey Tiger moth see the second part of this newspost 14 July Queen red-tailed bumblebee Image added to Fauna 2 photo album 3 July Japanese knotweed - not good news.. Details in the newspost 22 June Another brood of swallows fledged today https://www.stratfordsubcastle.or

The Salisbury Wildlife Spotters' Group arrange regular sessions to observe and record wildlife in the Avon Valley Nature Reserve. Dates and details are in the poster below.

Probably not a butterfly hidden in this image, but a dead leaf.. Over the past few days, several butterfly enthusiasts have visited Stratford sub Castle hoping to obtain a clear sighting of a Hairstreak butterfly thought to be resting in a tree near Parsonage Farm, Stratford Road. You may have seen the visitors standing patiently at the roadside with binoculars focused at the upper branches of the tree. Meanwhile, a beautiful Jersey Tiger moth came willingly into our house ye

One of our readers has sent these five images with the comment - "I took these photos to capture the impact of the dry summer and heat waves of 2026. Feel free to use them if you think it would serve as a good record on the website." The images above were taken on 21 July 2026. I have stopped counting how many days there have been since there was any significant rainfall in Stratford sub Castle. The photo below - taken from Mill Lane bridge today - demonstrates the low water

In a shady willow carr at the River Park end of the Avon Valley Nature Reserve boardwalk hides this unwelcome plant, Fallopia japonica. Over twenty five years Salisbury City council have tried to eradicate it but have only managed to contain it. Let’s hope it never crosses the river. This is Japanese Knotweed. If you spot it do NOT try to poison it or cut it back or dig it up or dispose of it yourself. See https://www.gov.uk/guidance/prevent-japanese-knotweed-from-spreading

22 June 2026 Latest photo and report from the stables (KMOC) - The last five nestlings of the first brood of Swallows at Parsonage Farm have fledged and want to know, “ Is Africa far?” Newspost from 18 June This is a first brood but a couple of weeks behind two other nests in adjacent stables, whose broods have already fledged. KMOC Newspost from 5 June There are three nest sites in the stables and this brood ventured out onto the telephone lines on Stratford Road early this

Over the past few days there have been reports of the Painted Lady butterfly Vanessa cardui appearing in parts of Wiltshire. This morning several were seen on the sunny side of a hedge on Stratford Road. The species originates from North Africa and is unable to survive UK winters. It is probable that the ones we are seeing now have crossed the channel from France. The image below from https://www.ukbutterflies.co.uk/species.php?species=cardui is a better indication of what

Jim Platt reports having seen four swallows near Parsonage Farm early evening on 2 May. One of them may be this one .... Image KMOC There are currently three pairs of swallows, one pair in each stable. Last autumn 12 of them assembled on a wire for their migration so there must have been six successful fledglings. Kerry O'Connor comments "We had at least TWO broods last year, some years it’s three. (I mean sequential broods per nest/ pair). All depends on how many flying ins