@andymears.bsky.social and @robertkelsh.bsky.social celebrating yesterday evening after seeing a much-wanted Amazon-dwelling heron species.

@andymears.bsky.social, @robertkelsh.bsky.social and I started the day here in Ecuador on the east Andean slope with Barred Antthrush, showing well (these things are relative), and finished it with Andean Potoo and Rufous-banded Owl, with a whole lot else sandwiched between.

The Ecuadorian rainforest, today. Sapayoa, two showing well. With @andymears.bsky.social & @robertkelsh.bsky.social My 3rd of a possible 4 new bird families for the trip, after Oilbird & Dusky-faced Tanager (Mitrospingidae, not a true tanager). #birdsthatphoebedidntsee #whatsabroadbilldoinghere

After an 0030h arrival via Miami yesterday, I was a little shattered … but not too shattered to spend the day enjoying the old city of Quito. @andyfmears.bsky.social and @robertkelsh.bsky.social are en route, ready for a three-and-a-bit-week exploration of N Ecuador’s birding hotspots.

The latest Monmouthshire dragonfly newsletter, a Willow Emerald special edition, is now in your inbox if you’re on the mailing list. If you’re not, and would like to be, please message me or drop a reply below. @britishdragonflies.bsky.social #gwentdragonflies

A Purple Sandpiper this afternoon at Peterstone Pill with a Dunlin flock then flew southwest (also the female Scaup still). #gwentbirds

Hi @churchartnature.bsky.social feel free to DM me here, I’m not using X any more.

Breaking News! Code UFB!!! The three-year running mean for the global surface temperature anomaly now exceeds 1.50°C over the pre-industrial baseline, as of November 8, 2025. Are you there, COP 30? It's me, the Paris Agreement.

Desperately seeking three French hens and a partridge in a pear tree to join these two Oriental Turtle Doves. Yes, it was back to the drawing board overnight and a retrospective ID on one of the 'turtle' doves we'd already retrospectively identified yesterday. A thread...

I thought it worth copying (with a few small edits) my short thread here from 2021 from the platform which shall not be named, on why there are perfectly valid grammar-based reasons for supporting Graeme’s view on this. 1/8

If you're a National Trust member, it's that time of year again: Midnight tonight is the deadline. It's a shame people have to keep doing this to keep a toehold on historical truth in this country, but here we are. Voting link: www.nationaltrust.org.uk/who-we-are/a...

I will take no further questions

Monmouthshire dragonfly newsletter number 12 is now available, with news on Willow Emeralds, Scarce Chaser, Lesser Emperors, Red-veined Darters, Common Hawker and Hairy Dragonfly. DM me if you’re not on the mailing list but would like to be. #gwentdragonflies cc @britishdragonflies.bsky.social

Six juv Sabine’s Gulls and 2 Grey Phals off the end of Jackstone’s pier, Aberavon currently. w3w.co/escape.unrea...

Zitting cisticola Walberswick, Suffolk, 23/08/2025 I thought I was having a good day with an image of one of the juveniles from the 1st recorded breeding of Zitting cisticola in the UK. On review I found four juveniles and the adult female🤯 @suffolkbirdgroup.bsky.social #suffolkbirding #ukbirding

Glos B-w Kite showing on & off this am, up to c1km N & c500m S of Splatt Bridge. Unlikely to be visible from Slimbridge hides when perched though gets quite high when flying so may be visible from estuary tower / summer walkway, but for now, Frampton’s the better bet. Cc @glosterbirder.bsky.social

A Lesser Emperor at Wentwood reservoir this evening along the west shore. #gwentdragonflies

A male Scarce Chaser was seen and photographed on Tuesday just southwest of Magor Marsh: a first record for the county. #gwentdragonflies

The highlight of a day of dragonflying on the Gwent Levels today was a copulating pair of Variable Damselfly on Pont-y-cw-cw reen near West Usk lighthouse, a new site for this species. w3w.co/scrubbing.ru... #gwentdragonflies

Cefn Cadlan Dotterels still present this afternoon chilling out at w3w.co/underway.rew...

Botany peeps: it’s way too early for Fairy Flax (Linum catharticum) to be flowering, isn’t it? If so, I’ve got some head scratching to do over a plant that I’ve found by the River Usk in Newport this afternoon.

The first Monmouthshire dragonfly newsletter of the year is now in your inbox if you’re on the mailing list. If you’re not, and would like to be, please get in touch.

Green Hellebores (Helleborus viridis) in flower in woodland near Lower Kilcott in the Cotswolds in South Gloucestershire yesterday.

"U.S. democracy will likely break down during the second Trump administration, in the sense that it will cease to meet standard criteria for liberal democracy: full adult suffrage, free and fair elections, and broad protection of civil liberties" www.foreignaffairs.com/united-state...

There’s an opportunity to bring about a ban on lead shot in the next few weeks. You can support a ban by emailing Steve Reed, the environment secretary, at the page below. Please also share here and on other social media. Thanks. act.wwt.org.uk/page/160992/...

The latest Monmouthshire dragonfly recording newsletter is now available, including updates on various species including… small red damselflies. If you’re not on the mailing list but would like to be, drop me a message. #gwentdragonflies

The latest Monmouthshire dragonfly recording newsletter is now available, including updates on various species including… small red damselflies. If you’re not on the mailing list but would like to be, drop me a message. #gwentdragonflies

A Firecrest at Fourteen Locks, Newport just now ///chefs.blaze.first #gwentbirds

For a thing I’m doing for the British Dragonfly Society, does anyone have photos of Common Hawker (Aeshna juncea) taken in any of the following counties: Dorset, Hampshire, Wiltshire, Berkshire, Sussex, Orkney and Dunbartonshire. Thanks in advance.

I’m watching a male Southern Hawker & a male Common Hawker in territorial squabbles over a pond at Cleddon Bog. This is the only known site in the eastern half of Monmouthshire/Gwent for Common Hawker. Thanks to Barbara Heys for re-finding after an 8-year gap #gwentdragonflies

Can anyone help me track down any of the following? I’ve received records from them and need more info before I can add them to the British Dragonfly Society database. Thanks. Steve (Monmouthshire county recorder) Stephen Axe Simon Bowles Jennifer Earl Jon Thobroe Paul Treen

I spent some time this afternoon at an excellent dragonfly site near Ebbw Vale. It’s a pond called The Cardi, and it’s not far from Waun-y-pound but I think it’s an even better site. ///moon.flagpole.eruptions #gwentdragonflies 1/3

Just arrived here from the other place. So you know it’s the real me, I like beer and footie and Liz Truss was the best prime minister ever … are the words I would use if ever I’m taken hostage so that you know I’m being made to say things against my will.