The multimillionaire Nigel Farage rails against climate action, while gliding from one air-conditioned building to another. He knows that he and his ilk will suffer least. But he is prepared to sacrifice everyone else to the demands of his fossil-fuelled funders. So much for "the man of the people".

Tawny Owl at one of my nest boxes #gwentbirds #welshbirds

The end of the notebook era From battered notebooks to eBird lists, David Campbell charts his journey from pen to phone – and wonders why he misses the old ways, even as he embraces the new:

Vote for a bunch of talentless racists,… get bonus unelected talentless racists. #Reform #Wales www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...

Published today! The Biological Recording Handbook by Sarah Whild 📖 This fascinating book brings all the principles of biological recording together in one place, with an emphasis on evidence-based data for conservation biology. Learn more and order your copy ➡️ https://tinyurl.com/mukkahx9

Brexit, Farage’s wet dream, 6-8% loss to GDP, £60-90 *billion* annual reduction in public revenues, investment down by 15-18%, trade with Europe reduced by 15%. observer.co.uk/news/opinion...

'Gwanwyn - Spring' Spring at the Lasgarn Woodland, abersychan has to be one of my favourite times. Wild Garlic defines the path in this part of the wood, which was once dominated by the quarrying of limestone for use by the ironworks. Flowers are beginning to appear as well.

This is a very interesting development...

I'm leading a FREE Wild Pavements plant hunt as part of the Books in the Park festival in Beckenham Place Park, S London. Saturday 25 April at 11:30. Details and how to register for a place here 👇 www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/exploring-... #urbannature #pavementplants #urbanplants

As my impromptu urban naturalizing activities have mostly only gained me quizzical looks and the odd hesitant question, I long thought I was the only person who did such things. Then I recently discovered the writings of @amandatuke.bsky.social. #Booksky www.wellreadnaturalist.com/2026/04/wild...

This is really excellent, I've been using it for a few weeks now. Great job, everyone involved

True patriots, ‘Farmers For Action’, claim to be planning a UK-wide action to blockade roads over fuel prices. Because with Iran and now Trump blockading the strait of Hormuz, let’s all just join in, right?! Never mind that ‘red diesel’ for tractors is already heavily subsidised…

'Dwy Bont - Two Bridges' Looking through the arch of Bridge 51 on the Mon and Brec Canal at Griffithstown to the railway bridge beyond. Beautiful light this morning, in between the downpours!

Revealed: Farage’s farming adviser calls for wheat prices to double - despite cost of living crisis Coupled with Reform’s policies to import US chlorinated chicken & frack rural areas, it’s clear that Farage would be a disaster for the countryside: www.theguardian.com/environment/...

I often use this quote, from Aldo Leopold's, A Sand County Almanac, publish posthumously, in 1949. It is crushing to fight so hard for something, and to be almost totally ignored, even though you're repeating verifiable facts.

"There is a particular kind of exhaustion that does not come from long hours alone. It comes from paying attention." Mind yourselves, people. And each other. Good article, by the way.

'Y gwanwyn ar hyd y gamlas - Spring along the canal' A delightful scene of golden Lesser Celandine along the Mon & Brec Canal, Pencelli, Talybont yesterday.

Looking forward to campaigning tomorrow (Sunday): not too late to sign up! actionnetwork.org/events/big-s...

Happy Darwin Day everyone! #Onthisday 217 years ago, Charles Darwin was born. We mark Darwin Day on 12 February every year, with millions of people across he globe, celebrating the life and legacy of Charles Darwin – humanist, philanthropist, and the most influential biologist in history.

Here's one of two Caspian Gulls from today ~ a chunky 2cy bird that looked smart on the deck & even smarter in flight. This one spent quite a while circling the swirl of gulls in the surf before dropping back in & behaving nicely for us. Love. It. 🙂 @linnetincley.bsky.social #norfolkbirds 1/2

Delighted to find more Snow Fleas (Boreus hyemalis) at Felbrigg today. Train from Norwich to Roughton Road then walk to Felbrigg in smarring rain. Spent nearly 3 hours staring at moss getting cold & damp, finally found 2 females on the last mossy stump as we were leaving, just when the sun came out.

Collister Pill: several thousand calidrids, almost all in the air throughout my visit. Little else of note. The disturbance seemed to be caused by wildfowlers up towards West Pill. Why is any shooting allowed within the SPA? I mean, WTF does the P in SPA stand for? #gwentbirding

Reform risk reviving Thatcher-style 'industrial destruction' in Wales, warns TUC www.mirror.co.uk/news/politic...

Latest Blog about catching up with the Penduline Tits at Aust #avonbirds mountainbirder.blogspot.com/2026/01/pend...

'Blwyddyn Newydd Dda - Happy New Year' Rainbow over The British, Abersychan this morning. It didn't last long, in fact it was gone in the blink of an eye ... but it was lovely to see at the beginning to the New Year.

Redwing at lisvane reservoir. 1/1/2026 #birds🪶 #birdingwales #birdsSeenIn2026 #Naturephotography #NatureTherapy🏴󠁧󠁢󠁷󠁬󠁳󠁿

A new survey has revealed that conservation grazing by heritage Dartmoor ponies is delivering strong results, with several rare and vulnerable bird species now breeding on restored heathland:

'Bore Nadolig - Christmas Morning' Christmas morning at The British, Abersychan. How lovely this old industrial site looks, even in the winter. Nadolig Llawen i bawb / Happy Christmas to all.

A Somerset caravan park owner has been ordered to pay £116,263 after being convicted of disturbing a SSSI:

Labour seem determined to wreck what’s left of our natural world. So many broken promises. www.wildlifetrusts.org/news/nightma....

Natural Resources Wales has published a pioneering report identifying more than 3,000 species in Wales that now occur in five or fewer locations – putting them at very high risk of extinction in the country:

UK Biodiversity Indicators 2025 are now live jncc.gov.uk/our-work/uk-... With contributions from nearly 100 organisations, they are useful tools for summarising & communicating broad trends 🧵 #TogetherForNature

'Fel Nodiadau Aur Bach - Like Little Golden Notes' Autumn leaves, like little golden notes clinging to their branches at The Lasgarn Woodland, Abersychan. An intriguing path, which winds its way through old limestone quarry workings and quite possibly the track bed of an old tramroad.

'Hanes Cudd - Hidden History' Late afternoon at the Lasgarn Woodland, Abersychan yesterday. This old embankment for the horse drawn tramroad built to haul limestone from the quarries to the local ironworks is not so hidden now that the leaves have had their autumn fall.

Did not expect to see a Pied Flycatcher today. Latest Gwent record. Might go back tomorrow to get it on the ‘birds I have seen in the UK in December’ list. Currently attempting to piece together the ring details. Ta to Chris for finding and Matt for passing on the news. #gwentbirding #birdingWales

@teesbirds.bsky.social @durhambirdclub.bsky.social @nybirdnews.bsky.social Caspian Gull at Portrack/Haverton hill Gull roost this morning, thanks to Martyn Sidwell for help with id

The first meeting of the Wood Warblers at Goytre House Wood, our nature reserve, was held today. Volunteers cleared vegetation around tree saplings, planted in 2022. Bird and bat boxes were mapped in preparation for activities next year. The weather was very kind to us. #birdingwales #gwentbirds

'Awyr Dân uwchben yr Hen Dŷ Injan - Fire Sky over the Old Engine House' An industrial glow in the sky above the old engine house at The British, Abersychan yesterday as the sun faded - a lovely moment to look at this relic of the past, evocative and beautiful.

My first Snow Flea (Boreus hyemalis) of the winter at Cali Heath @yorkswildlife.bsky.social reserve today. Nice of her to pose out in the open on a fallen leaf, so didn't need to spend hours waiting for one to emerge from the Polytrichum moss! @ynuorg.bsky.social #Mecoptera #Boreidae #ukwildlife

One of several Stone Curlew within a 100 metres or so of our hotel accommodation in Corralejo, Fuerteventura recently.

Yesterday I went to a very dry Goldcliff to see this beauty. My first Willow Emerald. In the ditch, just past the humpback bridge.

Our last post on X...

Migrating Whinchat from last week. #birding #birds #naturelovers #birdphotography #Naturephotography #Wildlifephotography

Grey Phalarope still Llandegfedd res distantly from Dam, also Little Grebe #gwentbirding

AQUATIC WARBLER!!! Still can’t believe we caught this stunner at Carey this morning! Made it worthwhile giving it a go between weather fronts. The bird was interestingly a good weight of 15g! #ukbirding

More than three years have passed since the UK Government announced that it would ban the sale of peat for gardening, yet official documentation is still to appear and peat extraction continues:

A pleasent evening watching the rising tide at Peterstone, Gwent, turned a little manic in the final minutes before the mud was covered, when looking through the Redshank flock I found a Marsh Sandpiper, ooossh, County 1st!!!! Manage to relocate the bird about 45 mins later

The society is devastated after a grass fire damaged a significant part of Goldcliff Lagoons. However, the reserve remains open, and there are plenty of birds showing. www.gwentbirds.org.uk/2025/08/29/f... #birdingwales #gwentbirds

Diolch yn fawr iawn @nation.cymru and Jon Gower for this lovely opportunity to share a little about the fascinating landscape that is The Canada Tips, Blaenavon nation.cymru/feature/y-fi...