David Hatton

Inquisitive birder, natural-history fan & 'meteor detectorist'!
Rare gdn moths/insects.
Images of nature, astro, sports, RAF & 'digiscoping'.
#NotBB ❤️ CYPRUS

[David Hatton @davidhhatton]

After enjoying the birds of prey (‘hawks’) at Fowlmere RSPB yesterday, I slipped away shortly before 17.00 hrs. My target? The arrival of the incomparable BAE Hawks of the @RAFredarrows of the @RoyalAirForce, who gave a fine display at @IWMDuxford ! @canonUKandIE @SigmaImagingUK

[David Hatton @davidhhatton]

@peediepuss Happy new year to you Martin!

[David Hatton @davidhhatton]

@HughHarrop @RareBirdAlertUK @ScottishBirding @BirdTrack @MarkAvery @RaptorPersUK @NLFerries @SunnysidePri @SaversSea @ShetlandWild @WildlifeMag Excellent & a really fine angle Hugh!
I vaguely recall seeing one passing south through central Mainland in ~Oct. 2021 in bad weather - I think that one narrowly missed being 'ticked' perhaps by the 'yearlisting' goings-on that were then at their very peak that year! cheers dave

[David Hatton @davidhhatton]

@CursonSimon @botolphsbirder @folkestonebirds Wow, that must have been a truly exciting, never-forgotten find... v well done!

[David Hatton @davidhhatton]

@sferguk V nice! What approx range was the grass snake BTW, ie was that a big crop?
Asking as this stimulated memory – along with mum I used to keep an Indian Python at home while my bro was doing vet med uni for 5 yrs – it reached a length of over 3m (10+ feet) & ate just twice per yr!

[David Hatton @davidhhatton]

@JLowenWildlife Brings back v nice memories James! Great set all round. Cheers!

[David Hatton @davidhhatton]

@AdrianBrockless @HughHarrop @RareBirdAlertUK @ScottishBirding @BirdTrack @ShetlandWild Doubtless for you Hugh (& v lucky me too!)
It's surely a rare case of:
'...Least bitten, twice shy'

[& come to think of it, I /we saw a Eurasian Bittern nearby at Loch of Spiggie many autumns ago, so have been 'bitten by the bird bug' & had 2 'shetland bitte(r)ns'...!] Cheers!

[David Hatton @davidhhatton]

@appleton_andy err in Cornwall even!?
Even better, at say ...Cape Cornwall of course, this morning... !
Cheers DHH

[David Hatton @davidhhatton]

@SteveBDunge Wonderful Steve!
(& I think fellow Cyprus-phile, moth-man & author, James (@JLowenWildlife) refers to the females as 'swoonsome Empresses' !)
[Here's the first I got in my garden in N Herts 5 yrs ago, which came to my wee WEM light. Had a few males since.]
Have a gr8 May Steve!

[David Hatton @davidhhatton]

@cogie_s Oh dear, do hope that you return, if X ever sorts itself out in the future.
Maybe by the end of the yr, when I guess it might even be renamed the 'Xmas xMusk' app or suchlike!
Overall I like to think that the advantages outweigh (narrowly) the disadvantages...! All best David

[David Hatton @davidhhatton]

@sjb_astro Same here Steve, nothing in the way of an aurora in past hour or so from my Royston gdn, N Herts, UK. Skies look good, clearish.
Was superb however last night over nearby SSSI heath. Bedtime beckons! Cheers D

[David Hatton @davidhhatton]

@tw__astro Brilliant, have u checked the Shetland one from I think it was Oct.2021? I did. I'm a bit slow presently as on a dangerous medication owing to a certain unexpected illness, but I can send u link u the video I made of that one that twitched around for ~30 mins, ~ 1500km in length!

[David Hatton @davidhhatton]

@JLowenWildlife V well done James!

[David Hatton @davidhhatton]

@JLowenWildlife Really nice James! Wld love to get back to Lesvos & its v friendly people, scenery & great wildlife again soon, lucky you! Cheers D
PS really lucky to see yet another 'PS Pug' close by. Like u?, can't wait to get one in my gdn too. If only time, weather & other issues allowed...

[David Hatton @davidhhatton]

@peediepuss V nice shot of you all Martin! That's inspirational I'm sure for me & many of your numerous followers... BTW Hope you have a terrific late spring & many interesting visitors (and, who knows, maybe even a memorable YBB-type within sight of those legendary dialyt 7x42s ?!). ATB DHH

[David Hatton @davidhhatton]

@CamStu Ahh, what a beautie, lovely, how sad she's gone!
[& if u ever try to replace her & need any expert advice, dont hesitate to send me a DM, as I have 3 great veterinary docs in my closest family, all freshly retired & happy to advise friends freely...]

[David Hatton @davidhhatton]

@SteveBDunge Would love to see one of those beauties one day Steve! You are v lucky!
(Here, away from my gdn, it was v nice yday to see 2 male Emperors emerging on my local heath (an SSSI), which was v cool indeed as 2 Natural England inspectors arrived unexpectedly to do the annual review!)

[David Hatton @davidhhatton]

@JLowenWildlife @mcbuckland Excellent James... rubbing hands in anticipation! Cheers D

[David Hatton @davidhhatton]

@BBCLookEast Hi, in 1990s I did in Cambridge a PhD on Human Melanoma chemo-resistance. Sadly many results were 'suppressed' then, as lab was in huge rivalry with grps that later won 2015 Nobel Prize for DNA repair models that we worked on too in our cell lines. DM me to interview my heroes?

[David Hatton @davidhhatton]

@JLowenWildlife @mcbuckland Owl-fly is a truly great insect, isn't it! Think this is a female.
We had a pair a few mm apart nr the Paphos Airport in our final seconds.
(BTW think it has lost a 'u' – specific name slightly different: Libelloides macaronius, i.e. not the plural of the pasta tubes!?) Cheers DH