In today's pick 'n' mix: my first Box bug (Gonocerus acuteangulatus), I think - very few Welsh records so hope this is correct; a Common footman larva (Eilema lurideola); & 1 of several Early mining bees (Andrena haemorrhoa) - I tend to avoid bee IDs but these are such beautiful creatures.

I could hear this male Blackcap ticking his way through the scrub but he didn't know I was there until my camera shutter started clicking when he popped out into the open on this branch. Their glorious song seems to be coming from every tree & hedgerow at the moment. #BirdingWales

On the local park railings today a 10-spot ladybird (Adalia decempunctata), which I think has been infected with the fungus Hesperomyces virescens, not something I've seen before; & a tiny mirid bug nymph, Rhabdomiris striatellus.

Cardiff Bay this morning, with hundreds, perhaps thousands of hirundines feeding over the water. Most were Sand martins, though there are also some House martins. I did later see Swallows but I'm not sure I captured them here. Video at half speed. Magical! #BirdingWales youtu.be/rwMqtGh_4dQ

#RecordOfTheWeek today is this delicate Brimstone butterfly (Gonepteryx rhamni) recorded by Annie Irving on the Wales coastal path near Lavernock. Many thanks to Annie for the record and photo, submitted via the LERC Wales App www.sewbrec.org.uk/recording/app

A mix of sunshine & cloud today made for good butterfly watching conditions at Grangemoor, the butterflies less frantic, many perching. Seven species seen: these Small white, Brimstone (fem), Holly blue & Orange-tip (fem), plus Speckled wood, Peacock & Comma. #SouthWalesButterflies

From Cosmeston this morning: mating craneflies, Nephrotoma appendiculata I think; the only migrant I could find, a Whitethroat in full song; & a busy Robin parent with a beak full of food for its chicks.

A lovely meander around Lavernock NR & along the coastal path today produced 48 butterflies of 8 species: 1 Large white, this egg-laying female 1 of 3 Brimstones, 8 Peacocks, 11 Speckled woods, 17 Holly blues (having a good year so far!), 6 Orange-tips, 1 Comma, 1 Small white. #SouthWalesButterflies

The Merlin app has its uses but I'm fed up with people using it who think they're instant experts. Today: 'Are you photographing birds? I can tell you what they are with my app." Well, actually, I know what they are using my ears & my brain! "It's a Bank swallow." In the UK, it's a Sand martin!

After a weekend of rain, hail, & strong winds, it was nice to finish with sunshine & butterflies in Dingle Park, including my first Green-veined whites, lots of Holly blues, Small whites, & a Speckled wood. #SouthWalesButterflies

Happening now, the Coastguard Rescue team in action off Penarth Head. I assume this is a practice exercise as the person being rescued is wearing a helmet and life jacket ... but it may not be. What a brilliant job these people do!

A spider conundrum & not very clear photos to help solve it. Found this on bedroom wall last night, next to an open window so not necessarily a house spider. I live next to a slice of ancient woodland, sth Wales coast (ST17). So, could this be Tegenaria silvestris? @britishspiders.bsky.social

These are my first four Whitethroats of the year, found at Cardiff's Grangemoor Park today. The air was alive with their song (one was even songflighting!), as well as Chiffchaffs, a Willow warbler, Blackcaps, Goldfinches, a Chaffinch, & hirundines were whirling around overhead. #BirdingWales

A walk across the Barrage to Cardiff Bay wetlands & back: 2 handsome Wheatears on the outer rocks; my first Reed warblers singing at the wetlands (not showing though); 2 lingering Goosander (maybe non-breeders?); large numbers of Sand martins; missed the 2 Sandwich terns. #BirdingWales

Best of the butterflies at Cosmeston today this gorgeous female Orange-tip who looked like she had just emerged. Also seen male Orange-tip, several Brimstones, a Comma and a Peacock, a couple of Holly blues. #SouthWalesButterflies

Twelve days later and the tiny Moorhen chicks are out and about ...

Saw my first 2 male Orange-tips today at Grangemoor Park but they weren't stopping for photos. Other butterfly species: several Speckled woods & Brimstones (m & f), 2 Peacocks, 2 Holly blues, 2 Commas & a white species that I couldn't see well enough to ID. #SouthWalesButterflies

A pair of Dark-edged bee-flies (Bombylius major) making more Dark-edged bee-flies today at Cardiff's Grangemoor Park. #BeeflyWatch

Today's sunshine brought out the insects in sheltered spots today: saw my first Small & Large white butterflies, as well as Peacock, Comma, lots of Brimstone & Holly blue; what might be a Meadow ladybird ( @vc40ladybirds.bsky.social help please ). Also, a surprise Slow worm.

I think today's spider is a Woodlouse spider (Dysdera crocata). According to my guide book, D. crocata has 1-3 dorsal spines & 1 ventral spine, which I think I can see in my enlarged image. Please do correct me if I've got this wrong @britishspiders.bsky.social. #arachnids #spiders

Small but feisty! This Zebra spider (Salticus scenicus) was getting annoyed at me trying to get a macro photo & jumped at me a couple of times, but always attached to a piece of silk so when I pulled back, it dangled a while before climbing back up to its perch. #arachnids #spiders

A bit of a mooch around a local park earlier produced some lovely little ladybirds: two 10-spots (Adalia decempunctata), a 14-spot (Propylea quattuordecimpunctata) and a Kidney-spot (Chilocorus renipustulatus). #coccinellidae

Half the Bay & back today: my first 2 Willow warblers of the year, heard singing not seen. Lots more Sand martins about, gathering nesting materials from the Barrage grass & exploring holes in other dock walls. My nest-building Mute swan video was too big to load here. #BirdingWales

It was cool when I walked the coastal path from Penarth to Lavernock early morning but at Lavernock the sun came out & so did the butterflies, both there & on the return walk: 7 Brimstones (including my first 2026 female), 2 Peacocks, 2 Commas, 2 Holly blues, 1 Speckled wood. #SouthWalesButterflies

Although I love to visit Weymouth (& Portland) for the wildlife, I also very much enjoy wandering the streets of the old part of Weymouth, for the architecture & the history. During my recent visit I found some ghost signs & was particularly taken with this one: 'Manures and cakes'! #GhostSigns

A few bits and bobs from today's walk: a Comma, the only butterfly seen; Cuckooflower now in bloom; lots of Alder flies near the rivers Ely and Taff; and one of several of these weevils (photos not good enough for ID, I don't think).

Today's weather turned grim but I've got entertainment happening directly across from my windows, though nest-building action has paused during the worst of the weather. Hoping they continue so I can watch the whole nesting process. #BirdingWales

Delighted to see my first Holly blue of the year today. #UKButterflies

A few birds from today's Cardiff Bay circuit: Canada goose and Coot already sitting on nests, a handsome male Reed bunting, and one of many Chiffchaffs. #BirdingWales

A short walk after the rain cleared produced my first two Hairy-footed flower bees of the year and one handsome Redshank.

A selection from my first walk at Cosmeston for a couple of weeks, shorter than planned as the conservation cows are still in the outer fields - I'm not keen on cows! Moorhens are nesting already; a Dark-edged beefly was enjoying the Hairy violets, & I spotted a Lily beetle on the walk home.

Lots of Sand martins feeding in Cardiff Bay earlier. I couldn't find a House martin or Swallow amongst them but they could well have been there. #BirdingWales

Good old vale of glamorgan council helping to spread Japanese knotweed around the countryside by flailing areas where it grows! If this isn't illegal it should be. 🤬

Back to my home patch today, sunshine gone, annoying drizzle & cool wind returned, but it was nice to see my first local Wheatear on the Barrage rocks (thanks to @ianhartrey.bsky.social), 10+ Sand martins checking out nest holes, & 1 Common sandpiper along the Ely embankment. #BirdingWales

Today was my last day here in Weymouth & Portland, & I couldn't have asked for a sweeter end to a brilliant week. During this morning's circuit of Lodmoor, I heard an unusual ticking call, waited, watched, then this stunning little Bearded tit popped up right in front of me. Magic! #DorsetBirding

During this morning's Lodmoor circuit I finally found Snipe, first one, then a second one appeared. I've been looking for them for ages so was really pleased to see these. Then, later, at Radipole, I spotted a Water rail, well hidden in the reed beds. #DorsetBirding

Drama at Lodmoor this morning: 3 Black-tailed godwits were feeding when another flew in, looking for a fight - no idea why - but 2 of them really went at it, beaks & claws & flapping wings. The interloper flew off, then came back for a second go. A selection of many pics I took. #DorsetBirding

Another wonderful day wandering Portland. As well as many other wonderful birds, today was all about Wheatears: 3 at Ferrybridge, 3 around the heliport at Portland Castle, 5 in just one of the horse fields near the Bill, & 1 at the Bill while I ate my lunch. Sure there were many more #DorsetBirding

As you may have guessed from my earlier lighthouse post, I wandered the fields & clifftops on Portland this afternoon, watching Gannets diving, Razorbills (maybe) flying out & Guillemots (maybe) & a Shag also working the shoals, &, of course, said hello to the Obs quarry Little owl. #DorsetBirding

A wonderful day's birding: at Lodmoor this morning a Cetti's warbler posed well for me; the Black-tailed godwits were closer & looking stunning; one of the many singing Chiffchaffs also posed well; & my first Little ringed plovers in many years. #DorsetBirding

It's been a while ...

A brilliant blue-sky day but the cool wind was relentless & very unpleasant. A Lodmoor circuit first thing, a wander around part of Portland, a circuit of Radipole to finish. Best: the many handsome Greenfinch songsters & 3 Black-tailed godwits at Lodmoor. #Birds #DorsetBirding

Today was the day of the Peacocks - no other species, just Peacocks, with 14 seen on my meanderings: 2 at RSPB Lodmoor & 5 at RSPB Radipole in Weymouth; and 4 in King barrow Quarry & 3 in Tout Quarry on Portland. #UKButterflies @dorsetbutterflies.bsky.social

Now I'm wondering if this was actually a Pale-bellied Brent @portlandbirdobs.bsky.social after seeing your daily blog that mentioned a lone P-b in the harbour? I didn't see the bird out of the water & I'm not very experienced with Brent geese.

Today's best birding was at Ferrybridge, especially once the sun appeared, though a stiff southerly kept things chilly. Skylark song filled the air, I saw my first Wheatear, Stonechats popped up in the shrubs & a single Dark-bellied Brent was just off Hamm Beach. #birds #DorsetBirding

Eventually made it to Weymouth, 45 minutes late but still with time for a circuit of Lodmoor. Lots of nice birds but nothing of particular note. However, I did find my first ever Goose barnacles, attached to a rope, washed up on the beach.

Slowly creeping through the New Forest due to signal failures.

Two more Dark-edged beeflies this morning, at The Kymin in Penarth, before the weather turned to rain, again. #beeflywatch

I was surprised there weren't more butterflies about today but it's always a joy to spot weevils, especially these tiny Gorse weevils (Exapion ulicis). #weevils

My first Dark-edged beefly (Bombylius major) of the year in Dingle Park, Penarth (south Wales coast) this afternoon. @uk-soldierflies.bsky.social #beeflywatch