Paul Grennard
@pembsbikingbirder.bsky.social
Ageing punk, birder, cyclist, vegan and all-around nature obsessive. Birding by bicycle, bus and train.
I caught the bus to St Davids and had a little cycle around on my folder. The highlights were 2 Common Quail singing, a Green Sandpiper, 2 Clouded Yellow butterflies, a Hummingbird Hawkmoth and 4 Migrant Hawkers.
A two day visit by train and bike to Esher Common, Surrey for Brilliant Emerald was successful with 6 seen. Also 12 Brown Hawkers, 1 Willow Emerald, Ring-necked Parakeets, Black-tailed Skimmers and Emperors.
A little adventure around south Pembrokeshire by bus: 2 Clouded Yellows Penally. Pembroke: Med Gull, 6 Red-veined Darters and a pair of Lesser Emperors ovipositing on Pembroke Millpond.
Male Red-veined Darter Burry Port, Carmarthenshire
It has been a great year for the scarce Lesser Emperor and Red-veined Darter. Today was no exception with 12 Lesser Emperors and 6 Red-veined Darters on a bike ride checking the water bodies from Burry Port to Llanelli..
Pair of Small Red Damselflies Dowrog Common, St Davids
I cycled from Brawdy to St Davids via Middle Mill listening for Quail in the many crop fields without success. My first Red-veined Darter in the St Davids area at the Dowrog Pool was rather nice.
Today i put the folder on the Cardigan bus to Crosswell turn and cycled from there to Pensarn Corner, Brynberian, Pembrokeshire..
The Great Reed Warbler was singing from Noah's Hide, Shapwick Heath this morning and another Lesser Emperor was hunting outside the hide.
Earlier at Bason Bridge White-legged Damselfly and a single Small Red-eyed Damselfly.
Fantastic day at Catcott Lows with at least 30 Scarce Chasers, 1 Lesser Emperor and 2 Norfolk Hawkers. A brief distance view of the possible Savi's Warbler in my binoculars but too brief to confirm its identification 😌
First train out of Haverfordwest for a day on the Somerset Levels..
I put the Mule on the train today and headed for Burry Port to check the waterbodies for scarce Odonata and i wasn't disappointed. 2 Lesser Emperor & 5 Red-veined Darter were the highlights. Also 5 Marbled White, 1 Common Sandpiper and 5 Med Gull.
Tropical heron spotted in UK for first time as more exotic birds arrive to thrill birdwatchers
Tropical heron spotted in UK for first time as more exotic birds arrive to thrill birdwatchers
Appearance of a western reef heron in north Wales is unlikely to be the last, as heating temperatures mean species can survive Britain’s winter, say experts It is a tropical bird typically encountered between west Africa and India, but last week a western reef heron arrived in north Wales in what is believed to be the first ever sighting in the UK. The heron was first spotted in Foryd Bay at the weekend before flying to nearby Caernarfon harbour where it fed among the boats. Continue reading...
theguardian.com
I wish i had known about this at the time as it would of saved me a trip to North Wales 😕 Nevertheless a stunning bird that was worth the effort 😁
2 Traws Cymru buses later and i am back home. Not a bus journey i would like to do too often.
I put the folder on the St Davids bus and had a cycle around. The Dowrog Common was the best site i visited with a Quail singing, a Cuckoo and several Common Odonata species.
I caught the bus to Cardigan yesterday with the folding bike and had a cycle around the Teifi Marshes. Unfortunately there were more people than wildlife there and Kingfisher Hide was standing room only. A Hummingbird Hawk-moth saved the day on the riverside Valerian. Plenty of Painted Ladies too.
A record shot of a pair of lesser emperors ovipositing at Ivor's Pond St Davids. I counted 6 in total. The first lesser emperors i have seen in my home county of Pembrokeshire and nice to have found them myself.
I put the folder on the bus and cycled from Letterston to Puncheston Common for Marsh Fritillary. 30+ Marsh Fritillary on Puncheston Common were the most I have ever recorded there. Around 40 Painted Ladies were seen at many sites. A Cuckoo and a Garden Warbler at Puncheston Common.
A great day out around Pembrokeshire with my birding buddy Brian Southern started off at Bosherston with 10 Small Blues, at Castlemartin Corse a Quail was heard and finally at Marloes Mere at least 10 Red-veined Darters.😀 The first time in a car for many months 😳
I took my new ride along the Neath Canal in search Odonata and it didn't disappoint once the cloud broke and the sun appeared. 5 variable damselfly, 2 hairy dragonfly and 10 common blue damselfly.It was nice to hear a singing cuckoo when i first arrived and at least 6 reed warblers as well.
Another visit to Minwear Wood and Canaston Wood Pembrokeshire and again no Wood Warblers for a second year 😌
