Lovely walk just south of Abergele this morning with 6 Redstarts and 3 Pied Flycatchers holding territories along a 1km section of oak woodland. Later on a 2cy Med Gull and 2 Whimbrel were the highlights at RSPB Conwy. #walesbirding

Low numbers last night but a nice mix including a lovely Scorched Wing plus Brown Silver-lines and Lesser Swallow Prominent, all new for the year. #teammoth #vc50

Nice morning on the Great Orme included passage Redstart, Tree Pipits, Garden Warbler, plenty of Wheatears and a Golden Plover over. Yellow Wag, Lesser Whitethroats and Garden Warbler at RSPB Conwy later on. Great to hear a reeling Gropper in the next field over from the house first thing too!

Good views of Emperor moth near Conwy this morning. Two fairly weathered males came in to a pheromone lure. Great to finally see this beautiful species at last. #teammoth

Another cold night here in north Wales with only 7 individual moths of 2 species to show for it, but that included this lovely Puss Moth. My last one here was in 2020 so I’m glad I persevered! #teammoth #VC50

A cold night with frosty patches meant only 5 moths here this morning but one of them was this smart Brindled Beauty - my first for the garden and another moth caught outside the trap! #teammoth #VC50

Plenty of birds at RSPB Cors Ddyga today included a drake Green-winged Teal, Garganey, reeling Grasshopper Warbler that showed quite well, Marsh Harrier and Little Ringed Plover. Lovely soundtrack of Lapwings, Curlew and Skylarks too.

Nice to get out down the Conwy valley this morning. A Welsh oakwood on a sunny day in spring is hard to beat! Several male Redstarts singing on territory and great views of a male Pied Flycatcher that was repeatedly chasing Blue Tits off his patch were the avian highlights.

Really pleased to find my first Frosted Green for the garden this morning, not in the trap but on a nearby door - glad I checked! #VC50 #teammoth

While in Menorca it was great to have good views of Scopoli’s and Mediterranean shearwaters. The variability of the latter was educational! Most were of the paler ‘Menorcan’ type, but I also saw quite a few ‘classic’ Balearic types and a couple of presumed Yelkouan types with plain white underparts.

A family holiday in Menorca last week gave me some good opportunities to explore the island for the first time. I enjoyed a good mix of wildlife, including Egyptian vultures, my first ‘Balearic’ woodchat shrikes, good views of Scopoli’s & Mediterranean shearwaters, plus a Hermann’s tortoise.

Nice sunrise in Punta Prima, Menorca this morning. Good views of Scopoli’s shearwaters foraging close in the bay. Spring migrants from the coast path included 6 Garganey over the sea, a male Redstart and a singing Willow Warbler. #menorcabirding #birding

Pale Pinion and Dark Sword-grass were new moths for the year last night, amongst 37 of 10 species. Also, some bird movement over the garden today with 1 Fieldfare ‘chuckling’ away in a tree before flying east early on, and 2 Crossbill heading west later. #teammoth #vc50

A nice, bracing walk around RSPB Conwy this morning yielded brief views of the striking leucistic Cetti’s warbler, dark-bellied Brent goose on the estuary, and my first swallow, house martin, sand martin and willow warbler of the year. #birdingwales

Despite the improved weather I was still a bit surprised to catch 224 moths last night, of 9 species. A count of 147 Common Quakers was especially notable! #teammoth #vc50

Had a good first mothing session of the year last night, with 39 moths of 13 species. 4 Oak Beauties were the highlight but also great to see Dotted Border, Mottled Grey, Satellite, Shoulder Stripe and plenty more including 16 Common Quakers. #teammoth #vc50

Nice to have second helpings of the Bufflehead over lunchtime today - this time on Llyn Coron, Anglesey. A bit further away than last time I saw it but great to see this smart little duck again. #birdingwales #ukbirding

Treated to an amazing show from the #auroraborealis here in Llysfaen, north Wales tonight. The best I’ve seen it here yet, with some lovely clear pulsating greens to the south and a red glow to the north. These photos were taken with a 3 second exposure on my phone. #northernlights

One of six Purple Sandpipers that were showing well on the rocks at Rhos on Sea during high tide today. Love it when the winter sun brings out the purple sheen on their feathers. #ukbirding #birdingwales

Nice to see 13 Russian White-fronted Geese during a walk along the Afon Cefni this morning - not often we get to see them in north Wales. 2 Whooper Swans, 3 Egyptian Geese and Great Egret were also notable on the walk #ukbirding #birdingwales

It was great to catch up with the local Lesser Yellowlegs on the Clwyd estuary this morning. My third in Wales but surprisingly my first in the UK since 2012! Top find by @alexhj.bsky.social and Bob

I like how witches’ butter fungus (Tremella mesenterica) always brightens up a winter woodland floor, shining up from the leaf litter. This was found growing on a fallen branch in the back garden today. Green woodpecker heard calling too, quite a scarce species in north Wales. #gardeningforwildlife

After being too busy to take time off work yesterday, it was great to catch up with the drake Bufflehead near Dinas Dinlle this morning. The smart little duck was busily feeding on small fish. Nice to see some familiar faces there too, including the finder Simon H-R! #ukbirding #birdingwales

Enjoyed catching up with the Great Orme Shorelark this afternoon. Initially elusive it eventually dropped in to feed for a good spell in the usual spot near the cairn. Only the second one I’ve seen in Wales. Felt pretty fresh in the wind up there today! #birding #birdingwales

Enjoyed great views of the Malltraeth White-rumped Sandpiper this afternoon, feeding along a channel close to the path. My first one in Wales - the last one I saw was in Texas, 2016! #ukbirding #birdingwales

A nice selection of moths last night despite the cold temperatures included Figure of Eight, Pine Carpet and a fresh Satellite (VC50). #teammoth

Sure I’d heard a Brambling in the garden yesterday, so it was great that the pond cam confirmed it with these two taking a drink later in the afternoon. Several Skylark moving east too, and Redwings have arrived this morning. #ukbirding

No needletail for me today, but it was good to see this Caspian gull in Scarborough harbour as we don’t get many in north Wales. Snow bunting showed well on the outer harbour wall too, and a skein of pinkfeet went south. #ukbirding

Pleased to catch my first Large Wainscot last night. Also Dark Swordgrass, Rusty Dot Pearl and 4 Feathered Ranunculus among the rest. #VC50 #teammoth

Quick visit to Llanfairfechan this morning yielded 6 Brent geese, a late Sandwich tern and this juvenile Peregrine trying to blend in on the sandflats, perhaps eyeing up its next meal. #ukbirding

Nice chilly seawatch off Rhos Point this morning included Leach’s and European Storm-petrel, 3 Sabine’s Gulls, 2 Pomarine Skuas, Arctic Skua, 2 Manxie plus Whooper Swan and Golden Plover. Sandwich Terns still on the move too and plenty of Kittiwakes and Gannets. #ukbirding

Really pleased to have caught my first Bordered Straw last night. First moth I saw as I opened the trap! Thought I’d missed the recent influx. #VC50 #teammoth

A Gold Spot was a nice surprise this morning - seemed rather appropriate in the damp conditions though. Also Frosted Orange and Feathered Gothic were notable for the garden. #VC50 #teammoth

After hearing one calling close outside the other night it was exciting to capture this Tawny Owl on the pond cam in the early hours of the morning. The bird hung around for about 40 minutes on and off, even sitting in the pond for a bathe.🦉

An eclectic catch last night included 2 Dark Sword-grass, a Ruby Tiger (scarce here) and 2 Rosy Rustics. Also 52 Setaceous Hebrew Characters in what seems like a good year for them locally, and 8 Centre-barred Sallows. #VC50 #teammoth

Finally caught my first Scarce Bordered Straw last night - great to get in on the action with these at last! A Canary-shouldered Thorn and 7 Centre-barred Sallow also added some autumnal hues to the trap. #VC50 #teammoth

After missing my chance there last summer it was great to see my first Small Red-eyed Damselflies today, with a few on the wing at Parc Menai - including an egg-laying female. Still rare in north Wales I think, but presumably overlooked. #ukodonata @cofnod.org.uk

After a quiet few weeks on the moth front it was nice to catch a couple of interesting geometers last night - Barred Rivulet (NFG) and the nationally scarce Cloaked Carpet. Also a new micro for me - Acrobasis Advenella. Plenty of Setaceous Hebrew Characters appearing too. #teammoth #vc50

Nice to start the day with a lovely Oak Eggar in the moth trap this morning. VC50 #teammoth

This juvenile Green Woodpecker was sharing the bath with a Blackbird in our garden this morning. Blackbird wasn’t too impressed but Green Wood are pretty scarce here in north Wales. Great to see what’s going on while I’m working!

Nice to see a juvenile Green Woodpecker outside our house today. Still scarce in north Wales, I presume they bred somewhere nearby but no sign until now.

Nice fresh juvenile Redstart in the garden this morning. Didn’t notice any adults here this spring but presume they bred somewhere nearby (bird is on the left in video) #birding

No scarce migrant moths for me last night but Middle-barred Minor was nfg. Beautiful Hook-tip, July Belle and Mullein Wave among the other highlights (Colwyn Bay, VC50) #teammoth

Great to see some Common Spotted Orchids growing in our little meadow today. Plenty of Selfheal too and the first Ringlet of the year.

Some stunning Knot justifying the red in their full name at #rspbburtonmerewetlands today, including a couple with leg flags that I managed to read. A lone Curlew Sandpiper showed pretty well too, as did Spoonbill and Great Egret. #ukbirding

A decent catch last night resulted in my first Poplar and Elephant Hawkmoths of the year, plus Buff-tip, True Lovers Knot and Vine’s Rustic among the highlights (VC50) #teammoth

The Ceanothus bush in our back garden has been quite literally buzzing with insects in the fine weather recently - even drawing in a Painted Lady for a couple of days. #gardeningforwildlife

Highlights from last night included a Dark Sword-grass, while 77 Treble Lines was a notable count for me here in VC50. #teammoth

Nice visit to RSPB Cors Ddyga after work this evening. The Pectoral Sandpiper was elusive but eventually gave itself up and the Spoonbill was the opposite, showing well throughout. #birding

Pale Prominent, Broken-barred Carpet and Coronet were all NFY from last night’s garden catch #teammoth