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

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

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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.

Just over halfway through April and I clocked up my 180th Glamorgan year tick. No quite as stunning as yesterdays Yellow Wagtail at Sker Pool, but today’s Bonxie past Overton was equally enjoyable to watch. A couple of record shots of both are attached

In terms at scarcity seeing a Red-necked Grebe at Rhossili, yesterday, was even more noteworthy than the nearby Hoopoe. It showed at distance on a flat calm sea and was one of six new ticks to add to my Glam year list

Yesterday, afternoon I was very pleased to catch up with the Hoopoe that had been found at Tears Point, Rhossili, Gower. It was wary of people using the Coastal Path but also happy to feed in full view at the far side of the field. This Hoopoe became my 170th species in Glamorgan in 2025 😎

This recent spell of early Spring sunshine has certainly been a joy to be out in. Recently arrived Little Ringed Plovers at Crymlyn Burrows while resident Stonechats collected nesting material. And at Castell-du Redwings bulking up before heading north for the summer. Happy days.

Lovely day, albeit a tad breezy, at Whiteford, yesterday. A female White Wagtail with Mipits near Berges Island hide. 2 Slavs (1 in full sum plum) from hide. While my first Sandwich Terns (4) on Mussel Beds near Lighthouse on falling tide. Lots of Chiffies too with some feeding on open salt marsh

While out birding today it was nice to see my 3rd and 4th species of butterfly of 2025. A Small White was at Foel Fynyddau (above Cwmafan). During a brief lunch stop at home (Neath) a recently emerged Speckled Wood in the garden. Also 4 Orange Underwing flying above Birch at Kenfig River this arvo.

Second year running it was great to pick up passage Ring Ouzel at local patch. She initially kept her distance but eventually showed well on lower western slope of Foel Fynyddau. A Swallow flew overhead there & later a Wheatear @ Baglan Bay took my Glam list to 152 (9 days ahead compared 2024)

It was very nice to catch up with the Avocet at Kenfig earlier in the week. Typically, as most good birds at this are, this was found by @neild1962.bsky.social It only stayed for the day (18/03/25) and I was fortunate to get good views of it on the east pool shore.

It was nice to spend some time with the stunning 1st winter Bonaparte’s Gull at the Ogmore River earlier in the week. I’d thought a lazy Sunday morning had cost me a year tick a few weeks ago when one turned up briefly at Wernffrwd but luckily for me @tomwright1.bsky.social relocated it on his patch

Hey @eastglambto.bsky.social I saw ‘A32’ at Fforestganol yesterday (8/3/25) at 15:55. It would be great if there is any info you can share about the history of this bird. Thanks

It was a great privilege to meet Hawfinch ‘A32’ at Fforestganol this afternoon. I notice from my timeline that at least 2 others (one ringed) were also seen at the feeding area today. Hopefully, they will have a successful breeding season this year

Glorious morning birding on Gower had generous sprinkling of Spring about it. My first Sand Martin of 2025 over Salthouse Point. A vocal Whimbrel showed well from Dalton’s Point and delightful Firecrest at Wernffrwd. Oh and summer plumage Slavonian Grebe in the estuary sadly too distant for photos

Nice haul of 5 year ticks y/day which takes my Glam Year List to #136. The pick of them 17 (16 ads + 1juv) Russian White-fronted Geese that @bazstewart.bsky.social had found day before. This photo show all 17 near Llangennech Station and luckily I’d seen them fly into Glamorgan airspace earlier

It was a real treat to have the company of a hunting Barn Owl in mid-Glamorganshire, yesterday. One of my best ever views of one in South Wales where I’ve very rarely seen them venture out before dusk

Blast from the not too distant past - the wintering female Ring-necked Duck at Lisvane Reservoir was showing well on a gloomy day last Saturday (15/2/25). Presumably a returning bird from last winter it was nice to get a comparison shot of it with a female Tufted Duck

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Willow Tit from Saturday morning in mid-Glamorganshire. This bird became No 131 on the VC41 year list in 2025 which is 3 fewer than what I’d seen by the same date in 2024. Presumably there’ll be a run of scarce birds locally over the next few months. Hopefully a white-winged gull or two

I always look forward to seeing my first Bumble Bee of the year. This queen Buff-tailed Bumble Bee was flying around the car park at Mumbles yesterday. There was plenty of Heather in flower nearby but she was busy looking for a place to nest or shelter.

Managed to get the photos of the Booted Eagle from the weekend on to the computer. I only managed 5 shots of it as it left its roost early Saturday morning. This one is the best of them and following a bit of processing has turned out ok. A great bird to see in UK

Nice to start the day with a Booted Eagle in Cornwall. A lovely pale morph too although you can hardly make that out from the record shot. Hope it gets accepted in the future and avoids getting lumped 😬