There were still quite a lot of butterflies on the wing at Cosmeston today but the drought means wildflowers aren't producing much nectar & larval food plants are shrivelled. Long term? Who knows. Common blue, Brown argus, Holly blue, Small copper. #SouthWalesButterflies

At Cosmeston this morning a racing pigeon that was only ringed this year but has already made a break for freedom. Unfortunately (or fortunately, depending on your point of view) I couldn't read the number on its ring to report its location. #BirdingWales

Three Grey herons at Roath Park Lake this morning ... not sure what the first one thought it was doing. #BirdingWales

Spent a magical hour in this enchanting wildflower meadow today, spellbound at the sight of at least 20, probably more Painted ladies. Some were faded, probably migrants; others were bright & fresh, likely locally bred & newly emerged. Also 7 other species, inc Clouded yellow. #SouthWalesButterflies

As the UN Secretary General says, every new fossil fuel project approved today makes tomorrow’s heatwaves more dangerous & our world less secure. I hope Andy Burnham is listening. Caving in to the fossil fuel lobby as the planet burns would be unforgivable

Burnham risks first revolt as PM over apparent support for North Sea drilling

Labour MPs fear No 10 team lack up-to-date energy insight and don’t fully recognise voters’ climate concerns

theguardian.com

Here's a slightly better photo of those Jersey tigers in cop. They were on the ground & I almost stood on them when checking something else. Also today a lot of Migrant hawkers around - this is 1 of 5 active in one small local garden & 3 were hawking along a path at Grangemoor. #TeamMoth #odonata

New for me - mating Jersey tigers

Enjoyed a good mooch around Cardiff's Parc Tredelerch this morning. Though I didn't find anything of particular note, there were some nice bits & bobs: lots of Reed warblers; a Jersey tiger; a Brown argus; a family of juvenile Black-headed gulls with a parent. #BirdingWales #SouthWalesButterflies

Govt planning c. 100 new data centres by early 2030s, mostly in already water stressed areas. They have no legal obligation to disclose how much water they use. Meanwhile Govt launches £75m publicity campaign to urge us to reduce water use & privatised water companies waste 19% thro leaks. Madness

A tale of three emperors, in which some dragonflies are more co-operative than others. Two Lesser emperors on the River Taff where it flows in to Cardiff Bay & later, on the Ely Trail near Grangemoor Park, an Emperor that flew as I approached but then settled nicely. #odonata

The third brood of the year for the Moorhens of Cosmeston's dipping pond are now out foraging with their parents and second-brood siblings, who also help to feed them. Cute! #BirdingWales

I couldn't find the Brown hawker that's been seen a couple of times now around the Bay (it was always a long shot) but I did spot several Emperors & Black-tailed skimmers along the way, & another Jersey tiger that left its undergarments exposed when it settled. 😜 #odonata #teammoth

First time ...

My first Jersey tigers of the year came fluttering along, displaying their stunning red underwings, before settling on vegetation, happily for me. Two separate locations during a wander around Penarth. #TeamMoth

These are 2 of the 3 Common sandpipers that were sitting chattering together along the Ely embankment this morning, before flying off north-west across Cardiff Bay. My first of the ... um, autumn! #BirdingWales

A 'few' of my local Jersey Tiger Moths for #mothweek

Da iawn Scotland. The previous Welsh Government blew the chance to be first despite cross-party support in the Senedd. Can a new Government do better, @plaidcymru.bsky.social @llyrgruffydd.bsky.social?

ANJEC@anjec.bsky.social · 2w ago

Scotland has just done something quietly brilliant for its birds. New buildings across the country will now have to include "swift bricks", hollow bricks built straight into the walls that give birds a safe place to nest. Scotland is the first country in the UK to write this into law.

The novelty of seeing Clouded yellows zipping around the fields at Cosmeston hasn't worn off yet, and I intend to enjoy these beauties as long as I can. Today's total = 11, plus a nice fresh second generation Brown argus. #SouthWalesButterflies

I had better luck dragon-hunting around Forest Farm this morning, with my first Migrant hawker & Emerald damselflies of the year, as well as lots of Common darters, Banded & Beautiful demoiselles, Common blue & Azure damsels, & a female Emperor ovipositing. #odonata

Trained up to Maesteg this morning to check the ponds for dragons. Though not entirely unexpected, still hugely disappointed to find them mostly dried out & dragon-less. 2 Common darters & a single Blue-tailed damsel were all I could find. IF we get rain, will check again in a month or so. #odonata

Ban them. www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...

Disposable BBQ was likely cause of fire in Macclesfield forest

Fire crews worked through the night to tackle the wildfire in Macclesfield, Cheshire.

bbc.co.uk

Another day, a different location (Lavernock NR), more Clouded yellows (2 seen), plus a pristine Dingy skipper, only the second time in 10 years I've seen a second generation of this species. #SouthWalesButterflies

Two more Clouded yellows today, this time at Cardiff's Grangemoor Park & again I'm sure there were more. Plus a Small tortoiseshell was a delight to see, as were Small red-eyed damselflies on a different part of the River Ely - amazing how quickly they're spreading.

I spotted 8 Clouded yellows during my wander around Cosmeston Lakes Country Park this morning but, as I didn't walk every possible path, I'm sure there were more. What a summer this has been for them! #SouthWalesButterflies

Several Chiffchaffs & a pair of Stonechat feeding up in the coastal fields this morning before their next big flight. #BirdingWales

Humming-bird hawk-moths are gorgeous but tricky to photograph I find. This one was at Grangemoor Park this morning.

A refreshingly cool breeze & lots of juvenile birds to enjoy during my early morning walk in Cardiff Bay: a Pied wagtail; 2 Goldfinches harvesting seeds; & a late brood of Mallard ducklings, with their mum. #BirdingWales

Couldn't resist a final wander around Portland's Tout Quarry before heading home tomorrow. Good numbers of Chalkhill blues now - stunning butterflies! Delighted to get some better photos, more open-winged males & an obliging female. Also, another Small blue surprise! @dorsetbutterflies.bsky.social

A bonus find on my last day here in Weymouth - my first (2) male Ruddy darters at Radipole (& I've only seen female/immatures twice before). What stunning little dragons they are! #odonata

Lodmoor first thing, where I had a closer, though still distant view of the Greenshank. Then Portland, a circuit of the west cliffs, Bill, the paths above the Obs leading to Sweet Hill farm - the Little owl showed briefly; a couple of Marbled whites; a new moth for me, Dusky sallow, I think.