Annie Irving

I think the word awesome is often overused but this really was awesome, Debbie! :-)

Simply superb!

Pete's incredible photos help me relive the experience of watching these magnificent birds!

The bus stops right by the Ely trail so it's very doable, Andrew. :-)

Imagine being able to fly like a Hobby. :-)

Hobbies!! In recent days, birders & others have been treated to the incredible aerial displays of 2 juvenile Hobbies, expertly catching dragonflies along the River Ely. My photographic attempts are poor but my memories of watching them will remain. ⭐💚 #BirdingWales

Incredible variety of birds and, as always, superb photos. :-)

Wonderful shots, Graham, as usual. :-)

If you're ever over this way, Cosmeston is good for them, especially in and around Cogan Wood.

A few winged creatures from Cosmeston earlier: still a few Speckled woods (& a surprise 3rd brood Holly blue - no pic), a gorgeous European hornet (looking like it's contemplating snacking on the tiny white spider but didn't), a few Common darters & Migrant hawkers flying.

It was and they are. There is a den on the edge of the property where I live so, since I moved here a few months ago, I've seen them quite often. 🦊💚

The foxes were out for a race around the grass this morning & then some tender grooming & nuzzling between the adult male & female. In the first photo, I think that's dad & mum, left to right at the back, & one of this year's cubs in front - just look at the cub's magnificent brush! #foxes

I didn't. Thanks for alerting me, Philip. :-)

Thanks for the advice, Rob. Not sure if you know the story here - found new to Glamorgan this week, on the other side of Cardiff, so George alerted me to keep an eye out on my side of the city. Found C. sexgutella, new to me, yesterday when looking for C. drurella. :-)

Cracking find, George. And distinctive - looks quite different to C. sexgutella.

Thanks, George. Now to look for the other one ...

Alerted by @gmtord.bsky.social to the finding of a rare leafminer yesterday in Cardiff, I went looking earlier. First the possible plants, either Goosefoot or Orache, which I didn't know but found. And I found mines, but not the right ones - I think this is Chrysoesthia sexguttella. #TeamMoth

Cardiff Bay earlier: 2 Wheatears, flitting from place to place as they were constantly disturbed by people, dogs and boat traffic, first on the Barrage, across to the Ely embankment, then on top of a boat mast, from there back to the Barrage. #BirdingWales

www.leafmines.co.uk/html/Lepidop...

That's very kind. Thank you! 🦋💚

It was ... and damn! My email is a gmail address, using the handle I use on here. Hopefully that's not too cryptic. ;-)

A coastal walk today turned up a Wheatear on the beach at St Mary's Well Bay; 4 Stonechats, an elusive Clouded yellow & a more co-operative Painted lady in the coastal fields.
Oh, & this gorgeous moth came hurtling in the window last night, attracted to my desk lamp - a Barred sallow, I believe.

@gmtord.bsky.social I think you may have sent me a message but I can no longer use chat on here. I've emailed you - hopefully you still have the same address you had in 2018. :-)

It's been a pleasure. 🦋💚

That was on the Ely but, yes, Gareth told me recently that he'd seen a lot of dragons in that area.

It was a misty morning in Cardiff Bay, which, I thought, looked good for migrating birds but, apart from a ton of Chiffchaffs, a full circuit produced nothing. A pair of Moorhens had 2 tiny chicks at the wetlands & there are still a lot of Migrant hawkers to be seen. #birdingwales

And just like that #Leptember is over. As butterflies are some of favourite creatures, I've really enjoyed sharing photos of them every day this month. But, for now, many of our beautiful butterflies are also fading away ...

Day 29, the penultimate day of #Leptember, a day to marvel at the gorgeous colouring of Orange-tips, wings open, wings closed. First, the male for which the species is named; then the female who is, I think, just as beautiful.

A lovely coastal walk, though it was distressing to see trees/scrub have been cut to clear an apartment block's views!
Two Curlew, 2 Stonechat, otherwise too many dogs on the beach for any waders to settle. Lots of migrating Red admirals on flowering Ivy.

#Leptember day 28 The browns
They may be considered a bit dull but these 'brown' species are the butterflies I see the most during the summer months, and I'm still seeing Speckled wood beauties now on sunny days. Shown here are Gatekeeper, Ringlet, Meadow brown and Speckled wood.