Video of Lesser Created Tern from The Turf Hotel on Fri 12th Dec

A great trip to the Exe Estuary with Lukas and Colin to see Lesser Created Tern, on Friday 12th Dec. The bird showed extremely well at The Turf Hotel from what must be one of the best birders beer gardens in the UK. An awesome bird in a fantastic setting

11 weeks since my last post, I have managed add 12 new species to my Greater Glamorgan year list. There have been some nice birds among them but last night’s incredible Eurasian Scops Owl easily the best. An amazing experience to see it happily hunting in Dunvant Park, Swansea btwn 22:00 to 23:15

The periodic birding hotspot that is Jackstones Pier and more Juvenile Sabine’s Gull shots - did I mention there were a magnificent seven of them at one point #birdingWales

Oh and there were Grey Phalaropes at Jackstones Pier, yesterday, too. 3 in fact and later another 4 were seen at the other end of Aberavon Beach at the Neath River mouth so a minimum of 7 in the area. Here’s a few shots of three from my morning visit #birdingWales

Oh my goodness! Jackstones Pier, Aberafan delivered another epic bonanza of gull action. 12.5 years after the Ross’s & Little Gull spectacle it’s time for Sabine’s Gulls to take over. Up to 7 birds present since 18/09/25 Every birder I spoke to yesterday could barely believe their eyes #birdingWales

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In many ways I feel Arctic Skuas are like Red Kites. It doesn’t matter how many I see, each one is captivating and cool to watch. Today’s parasitic bundle of joy is a striking pale morph ad that was powering out of Burry Inlet early afternoon. A striking bird seen both sides of estuary since Tues

Yesterday’s Black Terns were a mini-milestone in my attempt at the Glamorgan Bird Year List record. They took me to 210, and significantly, is exactly 2 months earlier than in my failed 2024 attempt. Video attached shows the 3 birds feeding in channel off Whiteford Lighthouse beach on falling tide

The day after my first ever Pelagic trip in the UK and I’m still absolutely buzzing to see my first Wilson’s Storm-petrel. The excellent trip run by @westcoastbirds.bsky.social from Neyland Harbour was a great adventure and made extra special when this beauty treated us to a fly-by

First pelagic trip of 2025 off the Pembrokeshire coast today, a really enjoyable day with the highlight being this Wilson's Storm Petrel (thanks to @markhipkin.bsky.social for the excellent photos). #BirdingWales

No more Beewashing please! Why beekeeping doesn't help conserve bees. Pls RT if you agree. youtu.be/fiBYBmlKSYU

No More Beewashing! Why beekeeping doesn't help conserve bees.

YouTube video by Dave Goulson

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I have been surprised to see a number of species that I know well at high altitudes on this trip. Swallowtails have been seen on most days with the highest observation just above Col de l’Iseran @ 2780m. Today I managed a photo of one ( looking NW) at Fort de la Turra above Col de Mont Cenis @ 2500m

Only three more nights left in Bonneval-sur-Arc in the French Alps. It’s been extremely enjoyable with 3 world ticks for me. But tonight I’m hoping for a few moths to photograph and ID, if possible, in the future.

So the Bonneval-sur-Arc chalet patio wildlife experience has progressed to another level. First a Lammergeier & 4 Griffons overhead were very welcome, but then they headed to roost on the cliffs down the valley. Then more vultures arrived - min counts 4+ Lammergeier, 2+ Euro Black & 12+ Griffon. 😮MG

Arrived in Bonneval-sur-arc yesterday for a two week stay and some Alpine therapy with Hipkin Senior. Among the highlights so far are Lammergeier, 4 Black Vultures, 2+ Snow Finch and Pyrenean Whitlow Grass. But the highlight has been watching 12 battling Alpine Ibex @5km from the Chalet patio

The first few Purple Hairstreaks of the year were on show from the back garden in Neath early evening, today. They usually keep to the very top of the mature Oaks on the right of the photo and if I’m lucky they choose a spot to alight which is not obscured by leaves

A great day birding in Glamorgan with Lukas today. Started off with a distant Honey Buzzard this AM. Next to The Worm over Low Tide where 2 Puffins were nice but a 1st Sum Sabine’s Gull with large mixed feeding flock off Outer Head was stunning - video grabs by Lukas attached show the little stunner

The garden in Neath is not particularly good at attracting migrant moths eg no Dark Sword-grass in five years of trapping. Therefore it was a real treat to find a Four-spotted Footman in the trap, yesterday. I like seeing the more common Footman’s in any catch but this species is super cool 😎

A Clay Triple-lines was the pick of the moths from last night’s trap in Neath. And my first Marbled White of 2025 was on the wing at Whiteford Burrows during an otherwise fairly quiet day.

What a wonderful few hours I have ahead of me watching breeding seabirds on Worms Head, Gower. Hopefully there’ll be some non-breeding Puffins about too

My UK birding year list hit 200, today, and 196 of them have been in Glamorgan. It was a Spotted Flycatcher, 3 of them in fact, at Cwm Clydach. But the real stars today were a couple of recently fledged Pied Flycatchers being by the male.

Amazing seawatch @ Overton Cliff today with Lukas Le Grice for company. Initially a diver picked out at roughly 2km was quickly dismissed as a Great Northern but when sighted again much closer it revealed a striking pale yellow bill. Panic as Glamorgan’s first White-billed Diver flew past

Swifts have lost more than half their population in 20 years. A simple £35 brick in new builds could help save them. Labour used to support this – now they’re planning to backtrack. Sign the petition now to show them the public still backs this nature-friendly fix: 38d.gs/cdpr

Sign the petition: Save Our Swifts

Swifts have lost more than half their population in 20 years. A simple £35 brick in new builds could help save them. Labour used to support this – now they’re planning to backtrack. Sign the petition ...

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I've signed this open letter calling on the Prime Minister to give more time for the #CANBill debate—and deliver the #REALChange we need. We need action for a greener, healthier, happier future—where people and nature can thrive. Will you add your name too? action.zerohour.uk @zero-hour.bsky.social

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After a long and eventful week I think I might treat myself to a ruby 🥘 😋

I started the month of May by dipping a Wood Sandpiper at Kenfig, but my 2025 Glamorgan year list is in good shape at 189 by end of April. I’ve dipped 4 birds this year but still 9 ahead at the same point last year. And I don’t have to look back very far for the bird for the year to date.

Today, I found 2 pairs of stunning Dotterel @ Cwm Cadlan. The limestone pavement here has been a reliable place to see Dotterel on Spring passage in the past but these are first here since 30 APR 2013. To say I was pleased to find them this year is a massive understatement. It was a real OMG moment❤️

By the time I arrived at Goldcliff this morning (06:50) to try and see the superb Broad-billed Sandpiper this morning mist had set in. Following a wait of over an hour visibility improved dramatically and then the bird found new ways to stay hidden. This video is an example of ‘giving good views’

I ran my first moth trap of the year last night and was pleased to get two of my favourites moths waiting for me this morning. A Poplar Hawk-moth seemed quite early and a Herald. Also a Least Black Arches is always a nice one to catch.