Cactus Frank
@cactusfranks.bsky.social
📤 283
📥 229
📝 174
Neuroscientist, cactophile, wildlife photographer
Today is International Puffin Day, celebrating the arrival of Atlantic puffins back at their coastal breeding colonies and raising awareness for their conservation. Last year there were a record >43,000 puffins on Skomer Island, I can't wait to visit again!
#BirdingWales
@wtsww.bsky.social
22 days ago
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For today’s
#BirdOfTheDay
theme
#ManMadePerch
set by
@alan678.bsky.social
I have chosen a Common Redstart on a fence, I look forward to their return any day now!
#birdingWales
#ukbirding
#birdphotography
26 days ago
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The Hawfinches haven't had a great year so far in my local woods in north Cardiff, but this morning I got lucky with a male that posed very nicely!
#BirdsSeenIn2026
#BirdingWales
26 days ago
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I got very lucky at Forest Farm this morning: my first otter there!
#wildlifephotography
@bbcspringwatch.bsky.social
2 months ago
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It's been a poor winter for Short-eared Owls in the southwest of the UK, so I was glad to see three at Steart Marshes, without any rain!
#BirdsSeenIn2026
#UKbirding
#birds
2 months ago
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I was beginning to wonder whether I'd manage to photograph a Firecrest this winter... Alexandra Park, Penarth
#BirdingWales
#birds
#BirdsSeenIn2026
3 months ago
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Glossy Ibis at Catcott NR yesterday afternoon, looking great in the light coming from the strange yellow object in the sky!
#UKbirding
#birds
#BirdsSeenIn2026
3 months ago
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reposted by
Cactus Frank
Mariposa Nature Tours
3 months ago
A mouthwatering variety of butterflies are on the wing at this time of year, and we've the opportunity to see some of Europe's most charismatic species. Led by Mariposa founder David Moore and
@cactusfranks.bsky.social
, our guests have a dream team at the helm for an memorable holiday (2/2)
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The Willow Tit is one of the most endangered breeding birds in the UK (90% decline in the last 30 years); I was happy to see two at Garwnant in the Brecon Beacons yesterday, my first in a few years.
#BirdingWales
#birds
#BirdsSeenIn2026
@bannaubrycheiniog.bsky.social
3 months ago
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🚨 An undercover sting just exposed alarming loopholes in Westminster’s weak lobbying system: a fake Chinese company bought meetings with ministers and MPs, and it may not have even broken any rules! ✍️ Sign & share:
you.38degrees.org.uk/petitions/st...
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Stop foreign interference in British politics
British politics has a foreign interference problem. An undercover investigation by Democracy for Sale and Led By Donkeys has revealed how shockingly easy it is for secretive Chinese interests to pene...
https://you.38degrees.org.uk/petitions/stop-foreign-lobbying-in-british-politics?source=bluesky&utm_campaign=blast143835&utm_medium=socialshare&utm_source=bluesky&share=44cea060-c605-498d-a4b7-f21a2595686e
4 months ago
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I revisited the Aust Wetlands with
@kev4nature.bsky.social
yesterday, in much better weather than the first time (before Christmas) - the 3 Penduline Tits were still there and looking great!
#UKbirding
#birds
#🪶#BirdsSeenIn2026
4 months ago
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Christmas Kingfisher at Forest Farm, Cardiff posing very nicely in the sun
#BirdingWales
#birds
#🪶#BirdsSeenIn2025
4 months ago
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Great to see 3 Penduline Tits at Aust today, with
@kev4nature.bsky.social
- first time I've seen this species since January 2022! Didn't get a photo of the male, first 3 show a female, 4th a first-year bird.
#UKbirding
#birds
#🪶#BirdsSeenIn2025
5 months ago
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It was fantastic to watch a pair of Dippers displaying to each other at Forest Farm, Cardiff today, only the second time ever I've witnessed that.
#birdingwales
#birds
#🪶
5 months ago
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A few highlights from a visit to Newton Point, Porthcawl a couple of days ago, when the weather was much nicer than it is today... Grey Plover, Common Redshank, Ruddy Turnstone, Oystercatcher
#birdingwales
#birds
#🪶
5 months ago
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🚨 Nigel Farage’s Reform UK just opened the floodgates to dark money in our politics by becoming the first UK party to accept untraceable crypto donations. Join me and sign the petition to stop shady crypto donations flooding our politics:
38d.gs/xvqe
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Shady billionaires can quietly pour money into our elections, completely hidden from view.
Join me and add your name to the petition to stop this.
https://38d.gs/xvqe
5 months ago
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1
0
reposted by
Cactus Frank
Mark Simmonds
5 months ago
Lovely to have the Bluethroats back at my local spring near Pinoso. Such beautiful birds. In a few months time all of the little white tips to the feathers will wear off leaving the stunning spring plumage.
#birds
#birdphotography
#birdsseenin2025
#canonphotography
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On the way to the
@physoc.bsky.social
150th anniversary celebrations I stopped off in Kensington Gardens yesterday to have some fun with the Rose-ringed Parakeets, they love apples!
#birds
#🪶
#wildlifephotography
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5 months ago
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Buzzard in Cathays Cemetery, Cardiff today: it perched low down in a tree, unusually approachable, and then swooped down onto the grass right in front me but failed to make the catch.
#birdingwales
#birds
#🪶
#wildlifephotography
5 months ago
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I'll never tire of photographing kingfishers! Forest Farm, Cardiff
#birdingwales
#birds
#🪶
#wildlifephotography
5 months ago
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If you want to meet me IRL and hear me sing the praises of the wildlife of north Cardiff, here is your opportunity! 📷
6 months ago
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I had some great views of the Red-throated Diver at the Cardiff Bay barrage this afternoon, plus a bonus Grey Seal!
#birds
#BirdsSeenIn2025
#birdingwales
#🪶
#wildlifephotography
6 months ago
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Kestrel keeping an eye on me, at Aberthaw Nature Reserve with
@kev4nature.bsky.social
#birds
#birdingwales
#🪶
#wildlifephotography
6 months ago
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A nice hike in the Dare Valley Country Park, no Ring Ouzel but a fine Badger Face Welsh Mountain Sheep
#Autumn
#sheep
6 months ago
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Ring Ouzel at
@rspb.bsky.social
Ham Wall, a lifer for Kevin
@kev4nature.bsky.social
and me! Great to meet
@carlbovisnature.bsky.social
too
#BirdsSeenIn2025
#UKbirding
#birds
#wildlifephotography
6 months ago
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Fantastic visit to Westhay Moor with Kevin
@kev4nature.bsky.social
yesterday: first we saw half a dozen Bearded Reedlings along the main track and then at the North Hide a Bittern flew straight towards us from the far side of the lake!
@somersetwt.bsky.social
#UKbirding
#birds
#wildlifephotography
6 months ago
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An hour before high tide with Kevin
@kev4nature.bsky.social
at Trecco Bay, Porthcawl: a small flock of Sanderling and a large flock of Ringed Plover kept us entertained!
#UKbirding
#BirdingWales
7 months ago
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Great morning at Forest Farm (Cardiff), light was poor but Kingfisher and Goldcrest were very cooperative!
#BirdingWales
#wildlifephotography
7 months ago
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The Government has revealed plans for a new mandatory digital ID. It’s invasive and could mean millions of people unable to go about their daily lives. Right now it's just an idea - we need to stop it becoming a reality. Join me and sign the petition now!
you.38degrees.org.uk/petitions/re...
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Reject plans for a mandatory BritCard (digital ID)
Sir Keir Starmer is considering a mandatory digital ID scheme called “BritCard” that would make us all reliant on a digital pass to go about our daily lives. Mandatory digital IDs give the state enor...
https://you.38degrees.org.uk/petitions/reject-plans-for-a-mandatory-britcard-digital-id?source=bluesky&utm_campaign=blast140265&utm_medium=socialshare&utm_source=bluesky&share=51a95bb3-7f53-4fcf-ac24-e3a4ed1f4ab7
7 months ago
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Part 2 of Saturday's trip to the Somerset Levels: at
@rspb.bsky.social
Ham Wall the 'ballet dance' moves of a Little Egret catching fish kept us entertained.
#wildlifephotography
#UKbirding
7 months ago
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Great day with Kevin Knowles on the
#Somerset
Levels yesterday; at Westhay NNR a flock of Bearded Reedlings kept us on our toes (at times literally) for 40 minutes!
#BirdsSeenIn2025
#wildlifephotography
#UKbirding
7 months ago
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It's that time of year again when the Goldcrests come out to play... at Forest Farm, Cardiff
#BirdingWales
7 months ago
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I never thought I'd photograph Hobbies within the City of Cardiff, until this week! On the River Ely at Leckwith.
#BirdsSeenIn2025
#BirdingWales
7 months ago
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I'm sorry I've been missing in action for a while. By way of a catch-up, here are two photos I managed to get of the Wryneck at Goldcliff Lagoons last week, my first Wryneck since 2019!
#BirdingWales
#BirdsSeenIn2025
7 months ago
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Great to see the local Redstarts provide a varied diet for their brood; fingers crossed the current weather lasts till they fledge!
#BirdingWales
#BirdsSeenIn2025
12 months ago
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Plenty of Pied Flycatcher singing at RSPB Gwenffrwd-Dinas, also a few Spotted, but the highlight was a Wood Warbler that sang almost non-stop for half an hour, the first I've ever managed to photograph.
@rspbcymru.bsky.social
#BirdingWales
12 months ago
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I've fallen behind a bit... so here are some of my photos of the 4 gorgeous Dotterels at Cwm Cadlan earlier this week
#BirdingWales
12 months ago
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A lovely spring day on the Gower, gorse flowering everywhere, and my first ever Dartford Warbler! Also my first Wheatear of the year
#BirdingWales
#BirdsSeenIn2025
about 1 year ago
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I never tire of photographing Hawfinches, one of my favourite birds. Luckily there are more of them around this winter/spring than usual!
#BirdingWales
#UKbirding
about 1 year ago
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Great Spotted Woodpecker in my local forest
#BirdingWales
about 1 year ago
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Long-tailed Tits are so acrobatic!
#BirdingWales
about 1 year ago
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Some more highlights of a great afternoon in the Cotswolds
#BirdsSeenIn2025
#UKBirding
about 1 year ago
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Going to Oxford on the 'scenic route' through the Cotswolds, I came across this Barn Owl, the first one I've seen out hunting for a couple of years. Light not great but who cares!
#BirdsSeenIn2025
#UKBirding
about 1 year ago
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Portrait of a Goldcrest, one that actually sat still for a few seconds to catch its breath!
#BirdingWales
over 1 year ago
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Seeing my first Chiffchaff of 2025 in Bute Park this afternoon it almost felt like spring.
#BirdsSeenIn2025
#BirdingWales
over 1 year ago
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When the fog had cleared it was great to see the Yellowhammers doing well in the Vale of Glamorgan this morning!
#BirdsSeenIn2025
#BirdingWales
over 1 year ago
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Two firsts for me with Mr Kingfisher at Forest Farm today: he caught what looked like a water boatman (how does that fill a stomach?) and then I managed to photograph him hovering (although my shutter speed was way too slow)!
#BirdingWales
over 1 year ago
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A very close encounter with a Treecreeper at Forest Farm, Cardiff
#BirdsSeenIn2025
#BirdingWales
over 1 year ago
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#Winterwatch
@bbcspringwatch.bsky.social
@iolowilliams.bsky.social
add a skeleton here at some point
over 1 year ago
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Peregrine Falcon on the Cardiff City Hall clock tower, a sunny day for a change yesterday...
#BirdsSeenIn2025
#BirdingWales
over 1 year ago
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33
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