It’s our AGM next week - Monday 20th October. Bit different this year as minimal formal business followed by talks on Wildlife Gardening. And cake 🍰 All welcome

Only 8 moths of 8 species in the trap for @gardenmothscheme.bsky.social last night but included a Clifden Nonpareil! New for me - delighted. Others weren’t bad either NFY Sallow and Merveille du Jour 😊 VC41 (Dinas Powys, Vale of Glamorgan) #MothsMatter #TeamMoth

Gethin from @btocymru.bsky.social will be running an “Introduction to Garden BirdWatch” online event to promote @bto-gbw.bsky.social on 4 November at 7pm. It is open to all regions. For more information please see the image of the flyer. To book your place go to www.bto.org/our-work/eve...

Just 3 of the 131 moths in the trap last night for @gardenmothscheme.bsky.social A Mocha sandwiched by Emeralds (light and small) #mothsmatter #teammoth

Today’s appallingly bad nature video from the garden. There were about 8 dragonflies hunting over the garden today. Not seen that before. (Also saw no less than three species of birds of prey fly over - worth looking up for 😊).

Looks like a busy day identifying moths in my moth trap. These are just a few on the outside! A day early for #GardenMothSurvey as we have visitors on Saturday and apparently not the done thing to have a kitchen full of escaped moths! #mothsmatter

I did a #BigButterflyCount earlier and almost all the butterflies vanished but just now this happened! I’m guessing one female and a lot of males? Never seen so many together in the garden. @savebutterflies.bsky.social

Nothing to see in this video (it’s for the sound!), these (young?) birds of prey have been around and calling a lot recently. I’ve only had glimpses but my best guess is peregrines? But I’m not very confident on birds of prey? #birds

My favourite of this week’s Six Things. A 2-minute film about the guys employed to drive the route of a Tour de France stage beforehand and alter anything painted on the road by fans that might be unsuitable for broadcast. Here they are turning a cock and balls into an owl. nos.nl/l/2294368

This Thursday- an informal meet up to discuss everything cycling for women from learning to racing. #Cardiff #cycling

Whatever the weather (although hopefully more ☀️ than 🌧️) it’s Pedal Power Cardiff’s Ride for All this Saturday - come and join us. #Cycling #Cardiff

Even on a wet morning there are bumblebees enjoying our patch at Dinas Powys station. Thanks to John who looks after this for us.

This is so important! Dog owners, challenge vets when offered these unnecessary & deeply harmful treatments. I’ve had dogs all my life, & never had to use them. Ticks can be removed easily & safely, & dogs treated (& kept away from water) only IF they get fleas! @davegoulson.bsky.social

Petition against the development of a hugely damaging Aqua Park at one of Glamorgan’s best wildlife sites. chng.it/hBdbBxwLLR

Bird walk this Sunday 4pm, meet Murchfield Community Centre

Also our friends at GPG in Penarth are holding this event on Monday evening and we’ll be there.

Swifts are on their way back...and many are trying to reach the same nest sites they’ve used for years. But scaffolding can block the way. Check before you build & keep entrances clear. ❗ Their active nests are protected by law. Let them in.

It’s our annual Spring Flower walk tomorrow and looks like a lovely day for it. All details in image.

The Network Gaps You Want Fixed Recently at #Cardiff Cycle City, we launched an online survey for our ‘Network Gaps’ campaign to give you the chance to voice your frustrations with #Cycling infrastructure in Cardiff. Find out what people had to say:

Despite coldest night of week (ponds frozen this am) 16 moths of 5 species for my late (as always) @gardenmothscheme.bsky.social Small Quaker, Hebrew Character, Early Grey, Common Quaker and Oak Beauty. #TeamMoth #MothsMatter

Late @gardenmothscheme.bsky.social survey last night (because life 🤷) 22 moths of 14 species including these beauties. #MothsMatter #TeamMoth

Chiffchaffs are back! Spring is getting springier by the day 😊

Care about Dinas? Hate litter? Come and help clear the Ash Path and surrounding area. Tomorrow (Sun 9th) 2pm. Meeting in Tesco car park. All welcome. fb.me/e/2l8efK1TJ

That's 70.000 people who want to see driven grouse shooting banned. We're nearly 3/4 of the way there to our target of 100,000 signatures. Do you want a ban? If so, please like & share this post! Sign here: petition.parliament.uk/petitions/70...

New course open for booking! An introduction to moth trapping for complete beginners. Attendees can also borrow a trap to try at home. Saturday 5th April at our office in Talbot Green #SouthWales Please email [email protected] to book a free space. #TeamMoth #MothsMatter

Signs of Spring 😊🐸

Grey Herons are in decline. It’s important we know where they breed. We know of only 5 heronries in our region. Are there others out there we don’t know about? This spring, when you’re out birding, please keep an eye out for heronries and message us if you find one. Thanks 🙏

Plenty of amphibians on the move in the garden tonight, frogs, couple of toads and (palmate I think) newts.

Dead otter seen on the way to work 🙁 Turns out friend of a colleague works on an otter project so hopefully corpse will be collected and used for research. Also another unseen benefit of cycling - easy to stop to take photos of roadkill! Poor otter though - such a waste.

Not really surprising that a book about reducing car use & saving wildlife is right up my alley. It’s not just roadkill & climate change the impacts of road traffic are huge. Drive less and drive slower fits in very well with #20sPlenty.

Nice to find Jelly Ear Fungus on dead wood in the garden.

Nice article on Pedal Power’s Lantern Ride on Saturday. ‘Swanning through the city’… combining birds & bikes - perfect 😍 cardiffjournalism.co.uk/thecardiffia...

I’m hoping the official photographers got better pictures but Pedal Power lantern ride 1/3 went very well. Nothing like cycling round Cardiff with a giant swan 😂

My very inaccurate weather stats for Dinas Powys, Vale of Glamorgan, South Wales, UK 😂 Max temp 12.3 oC Min temp -2.1 oC Rainfall 132mm Sunny days 15* Grey days 9 Rainy days 7 *I find this surprising and I noted them down but at least partially sunny!

First moths of 2025! After no empty traps in 2024 I’ve had a run of empties this year but at last two micros. #gardenmothscheme #mothsmatter

Weather looks hopeful for Pedal Power’s first lantern ride this Saturday. If you’re in Cardiff and fancy cycling with a giant swan do join us!

#RecordOfTheWeek today is our first Frog spawn (Rana temporaria) record of the year, spotted in Dinas Powys by Hilary May. Great to see further #SignsOfSpring appearing as we finally say bye to January! Many thanks for the record & photo, submitted via LERC Wales App www.sewbrec.org.uk/recording/app

New research from SSRP's Professor @davegoulson.bsky.social and colleagues has found high levels of harmful chemicals from pet flea treatment in bird's nests, endangering unhatched eggs and chicks. Read more below 👇

This is my most anticipated review of the year. Especially as it waits until it’s actually a full year! @bto-gbw.bsky.social

More frogspawn this morning and actually saw the frogs rather than just hearing the splash! #MyWildGarden

Pet fur found in songbird nests contains high levels of pesticides, study finds

Rise and shine, it's the final day of #BigGardenBirdwatch! Remember, you can still take part even if you haven't signed up. Help us spread the word: share this post, text someone, or tell the whole table over your Sunday roast. The more data we get, the better 🧑‍🔬

10 species for #BigGardenBirdwatch the blackbirds hid but otherwise pretty pleased.

This was a surprise this morning! Frozen on top but hopefully some will survive. Previous earliest date 29th Jan #Frogspawn #Winterwatch

A Great Tit checking out our nest box on Dinas Powys library. Last year used by Blue Tits who successfully fledged 5 young.

The government are currently consulting on their plans to tax private jets. We must call on them to increase the tax on private jets NOW, which is the only way to reduce emissions to protect the climate and fund public services. Join us: action.wearepossible.org/page/163960/...

I finished the Christmas jigsaw - no thanks to the cat. There is an extra piece - not something I’ve come across before. I wonder if someone else was missing the hare’s legs!

Great morning birdwatching with friends at Aberthaw Nature Reserve. Including great views of my first ever firecrest (or at least first that I remember/identified). No photos of birds just the frozen lake.

Sunshine! Charms of goldfinches in the field and a buff tailed bumblebee enjoying the gorgeously scented winter honeysuckle. Neither in shot (or at least not obviously as I am rubbish at photography!)

My first (& probably only) New Year’s Resolution. First species will be woodpigeon - not very exciting but there are lots feeding on ivy berries in Cross Common Woods.