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Reposted by Mark Hipkin 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁷󠁬󠁳󠁿

Paul Grennard @pembsbikingbirder.bsky.social · 20/08/2026

A fantastic seawatch at Strumble Head 06:15-13:30 (personal totals): 1 Wilson's Storm Petrel, 4 Arctic Skua, 1 Bonxie, 2 adult Sabine's Gull, 1 Balearic Shearwater, several Common Dolphins and 2 Ocean Sunfish. Thanks to @markhipkin.bsky.social for the Wilson's Storm Petrel 😀

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Reposted by Mark Hipkin 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁷󠁬󠁳󠁿

Count Binface @countbinface.bsky.social · 06/08/2026

There now follows a party election broadcast by the Count Binface Party, And if I do say so myself, it's a banger. #VoteBinface #Clacton

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Mark Hipkin 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁷󠁬󠁳󠁿 @markhipkin.bsky.social · 14/12/2025

Video of Lesser Created Tern from The Turf Hotel on Fri 12th Dec

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Mark Hipkin 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁷󠁬󠁳󠁿 @markhipkin.bsky.social · 14/12/2025

A great trip to the Exe Estuary with Lukas and Colin to see Lesser Created Tern, on Friday 12th Dec. The bird showed extremely well at The Turf Hotel from what must be one of the best birders beer gardens in the UK. An awesome bird in a fantastic setting

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Mark Hipkin 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁷󠁬󠁳󠁿 @markhipkin.bsky.social · 07/12/2025

11 weeks since my last post, I have managed add 12 new species to my Greater Glamorgan year list. There have been some nice birds among them but last night’s incredible Eurasian Scops Owl easily the best. An amazing experience to see it happily hunting in Dunvant Park, Swansea btwn 22:00 to 23:15

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Mark Hipkin 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁷󠁬󠁳󠁿 @markhipkin.bsky.social · 20/09/2025

The periodic birding hotspot that is Jackstones Pier and more Juvenile Sabine’s Gull shots - did I mention there were a magnificent seven of them at one point #birdingWales

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Mark Hipkin 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁷󠁬󠁳󠁿 @markhipkin.bsky.social · 20/09/2025

Oh and there were Grey Phalaropes at Jackstones Pier, yesterday, too. 3 in fact and later another 4 were seen at the other end of Aberavon Beach at the Neath River mouth so a minimum of 7 in the area. Here’s a few shots of three from my morning visit #birdingWales

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Mark Hipkin 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁷󠁬󠁳󠁿 @markhipkin.bsky.social · 20/09/2025

Oh my goodness! Jackstones Pier, Aberafan delivered another epic bonanza of gull action. 12.5 years after the Ross’s & Little Gull spectacle it’s time for Sabine’s Gulls to take over. Up to 7 birds present since 18/09/25 Every birder I spoke to yesterday could barely believe their eyes #birdingWales

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Reposted by Mark Hipkin 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁷󠁬󠁳󠁿

Wild Cymru @wildcymru.bsky.social · 29/08/2025

Some Excellent News. Thanks to all your support we are able to launch our Nature Investigations Unit. We are currently recruiting for the role of Comms Officer to help us with future investigations. Please Share. Thank you. www.natureconservation.wales/job-advert-c...

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Mark Hipkin 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁷󠁬󠁳󠁿 @markhipkin.bsky.social · 12/09/2025

In many ways I feel Arctic Skuas are like Red Kites. It doesn’t matter how many I see, each one is captivating and cool to watch. Today’s parasitic bundle of joy is a striking pale morph ad that was powering out of Burry Inlet early afternoon. A striking bird seen both sides of estuary since Tues

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Mark Hipkin 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁷󠁬󠁳󠁿 @markhipkin.bsky.social · 11/09/2025

Yesterday’s Black Terns were a mini-milestone in my attempt at the Glamorgan Bird Year List record. They took me to 210, and significantly, is exactly 2 months earlier than in my failed 2024 attempt. Video attached shows the 3 birds feeding in channel off Whiteford Lighthouse beach on falling tide

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Mark Hipkin 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁷󠁬󠁳󠁿 @markhipkin.bsky.social · 24/07/2025

The day after my first ever Pelagic trip in the UK and I’m still absolutely buzzing to see my first Wilson’s Storm-petrel. The excellent trip run by @westcoastbirds.bsky.social from Neyland Harbour was a great adventure and made extra special when this beauty treated us to a fly-by

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Reposted by Mark Hipkin 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁷󠁬󠁳󠁿

West Coast Birdwatching @westcoastbirds.bsky.social · 23/07/2025

First pelagic trip of 2025 off the Pembrokeshire coast today, a really enjoyable day with the highlight being this Wilson's Storm Petrel (thanks to @markhipkin.bsky.social for the excellent photos). #BirdingWales

Wilson's Storm Petrel gliding over the sea (Mark Hipkin)

Wilson's Storm Petrel walking over the sea (Mark Hipkin)

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Reposted by Mark Hipkin 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁷󠁬󠁳󠁿

Dave Goulson @davegoulson.bsky.social · 17/07/2025

No more Beewashing please! Why beekeeping doesn't help conserve bees. Pls RT if you agree. youtu.be/fiBYBmlKSYU

youtu.be

No More Beewashing! Why beekeeping doesn't help conserve bees.

YouTube video by Dave Goulson

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Mark Hipkin 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁷󠁬󠁳󠁿 @markhipkin.bsky.social · 11/07/2025

I have been surprised to see a number of species that I know well at high altitudes on this trip. Swallowtails have been seen on most days with the highest observation just above Col de l’Iseran @ 2780m. Today I managed a photo of one ( looking NW) at Fort de la Turra above Col de Mont Cenis @ 2500m

Swallowtail Butterfly @ 2500m at Fort de la Turra which is a climb above Col du Mont Cenis on the old France Italy border in the Alps

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Mark Hipkin 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁷󠁬󠁳󠁿 @markhipkin.bsky.social · 11/07/2025

Only three more nights left in Bonneval-sur-Arc in the French Alps. It’s been extremely enjoyable with 3 world ticks for me. But tonight I’m hoping for a few moths to photograph and ID, if possible, in the future.

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Mark Hipkin 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁷󠁬󠁳󠁿 @markhipkin.bsky.social · 05/07/2025

So the Bonneval-sur-Arc chalet patio wildlife experience has progressed to another level. First a Lammergeier & 4 Griffons overhead were very welcome, but then they headed to roost on the cliffs down the valley. Then more vultures arrived - min counts 4+ Lammergeier, 2+ Euro Black & 12+ Griffon. 😮MG

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Mark Hipkin 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁷󠁬󠁳󠁿 @markhipkin.bsky.social · 01/07/2025

Arrived in Bonneval-sur-arc yesterday for a two week stay and some Alpine therapy with Hipkin Senior. Among the highlights so far are Lammergeier, 4 Black Vultures, 2+ Snow Finch and Pyrenean Whitlow Grass. But the highlight has been watching 12 battling Alpine Ibex @5km from the Chalet patio

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Mark Hipkin 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁷󠁬󠁳󠁿 @markhipkin.bsky.social · 20/06/2025

The first few Purple Hairstreaks of the year were on show from the back garden in Neath early evening, today. They usually keep to the very top of the mature Oaks on the right of the photo and if I’m lucky they choose a spot to alight which is not obscured by leaves

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Mark Hipkin 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁷󠁬󠁳󠁿 @markhipkin.bsky.social · 17/06/2025

A great day birding in Glamorgan with Lukas today. Started off with a distant Honey Buzzard this AM. Next to The Worm over Low Tide where 2 Puffins were nice but a 1st Sum Sabine’s Gull with large mixed feeding flock off Outer Head was stunning - video grabs by Lukas attached show the little stunner

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Mark Hipkin 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁷󠁬󠁳󠁿 @markhipkin.bsky.social · 16/06/2025

The garden in Neath is not particularly good at attracting migrant moths eg no Dark Sword-grass in five years of trapping. Therefore it was a real treat to find a Four-spotted Footman in the trap, yesterday. I like seeing the more common Footman’s in any catch but this species is super cool 😎

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Mark Hipkin 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁷󠁬󠁳󠁿 @markhipkin.bsky.social · 11/06/2025

A Clay Triple-lines was the pick of the moths from last night’s trap in Neath. And my first Marbled White of 2025 was on the wing at Whiteford Burrows during an otherwise fairly quiet day.

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Mark Hipkin 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁷󠁬󠁳󠁿 @markhipkin.bsky.social · 06/06/2025

What a wonderful few hours I have ahead of me watching breeding seabirds on Worms Head, Gower. Hopefully there’ll be some non-breeding Puffins about too

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Mark Hipkin 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁷󠁬󠁳󠁿 @markhipkin.bsky.social · 05/06/2025

My UK birding year list hit 200, today, and 196 of them have been in Glamorgan. It was a Spotted Flycatcher, 3 of them in fact, at Cwm Clydach. But the real stars today were a couple of recently fledged Pied Flycatchers being by the male.

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Mark Hipkin 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁷󠁬󠁳󠁿 @markhipkin.bsky.social · 29/05/2025

Amazing seawatch @ Overton Cliff today with Lukas Le Grice for company. Initially a diver picked out at roughly 2km was quickly dismissed as a Great Northern but when sighted again much closer it revealed a striking pale yellow bill. Panic as Glamorgan’s first White-billed Diver flew past

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Mark Hipkin 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁷󠁬󠁳󠁿 @markhipkin.bsky.social · 09/05/2025

Swifts have lost more than half their population in 20 years. A simple £35 brick in new builds could help save them. Labour used to support this – now they’re planning to backtrack. Sign the petition now to show them the public still backs this nature-friendly fix: 38d.gs/cdpr

38d.gs

Sign the petition: Save Our Swifts

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Reposted by Mark Hipkin 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁷󠁬󠁳󠁿

Daniel Jenkins-Jones @apushapus.bsky.social · 09/05/2025

I've signed this open letter calling on the Prime Minister to give more time for the #CANBill debate—and deliver the #REALChange we need. We need action for a greener, healthier, happier future—where people and nature can thrive. Will you add your name too? action.zerohour.uk @zero-hour.bsky.social

action.zerohour.uk

Climate and Nature Bill Campaign

Take action to support the Climate and Nature Bill

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Mark Hipkin 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁷󠁬󠁳󠁿 @markhipkin.bsky.social · 02/05/2025

After a long and eventful week I think I might treat myself to a ruby 🥘 😋

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Mark Hipkin 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁷󠁬󠁳󠁿 @markhipkin.bsky.social · 01/05/2025

I started the month of May by dipping a Wood Sandpiper at Kenfig, but my 2025 Glamorgan year list is in good shape at 189 by end of April. I’ve dipped 4 birds this year but still 9 ahead at the same point last year. And I don’t have to look back very far for the bird for the year to date.

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Mark Hipkin 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁷󠁬󠁳󠁿 @markhipkin.bsky.social · 30/04/2025

Today, I found 2 pairs of stunning Dotterel @ Cwm Cadlan. The limestone pavement here has been a reliable place to see Dotterel on Spring passage in the past but these are first here since 30 APR 2013. To say I was pleased to find them this year is a massive understatement. It was a real OMG moment❤️

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Mark Hipkin 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁷󠁬󠁳󠁿 @markhipkin.bsky.social · 28/04/2025

By the time I arrived at Goldcliff this morning (06:50) to try and see the superb Broad-billed Sandpiper this morning mist had set in. Following a wait of over an hour visibility improved dramatically and then the bird found new ways to stay hidden. This video is an example of ‘giving good views’

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Mark Hipkin 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁷󠁬󠁳󠁿 @markhipkin.bsky.social · 21/04/2025

I ran my first moth trap of the year last night and was pleased to get two of my favourites moths waiting for me this morning. A Poplar Hawk-moth seemed quite early and a Herald. Also a Least Black Arches is always a nice one to catch.

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Mark Hipkin 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁷󠁬󠁳󠁿 @markhipkin.bsky.social · 16/04/2025

Just over halfway through April and I clocked up my 180th Glamorgan year tick. No quite as stunning as yesterdays Yellow Wagtail at Sker Pool, but today’s Bonxie past Overton was equally enjoyable to watch. A couple of record shots of both are attached

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Mark Hipkin 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁷󠁬󠁳󠁿 @markhipkin.bsky.social · 12/04/2025

In terms at scarcity seeing a Red-necked Grebe at Rhossili, yesterday, was even more noteworthy than the nearby Hoopoe. It showed at distance on a flat calm sea and was one of six new ticks to add to my Glam year list

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Mark Hipkin 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁷󠁬󠁳󠁿 @markhipkin.bsky.social · 12/04/2025

Yesterday, afternoon I was very pleased to catch up with the Hoopoe that had been found at Tears Point, Rhossili, Gower. It was wary of people using the Coastal Path but also happy to feed in full view at the far side of the field. This Hoopoe became my 170th species in Glamorgan in 2025 😎

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Mark Hipkin 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁷󠁬󠁳󠁿 @markhipkin.bsky.social · 25/03/2025

This recent spell of early Spring sunshine has certainly been a joy to be out in. Recently arrived Little Ringed Plovers at Crymlyn Burrows while resident Stonechats collected nesting material. And at Castell-du Redwings bulking up before heading north for the summer. Happy days.

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Mark Hipkin 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁷󠁬󠁳󠁿 @markhipkin.bsky.social · 24/03/2025

Lovely day, albeit a tad breezy, at Whiteford, yesterday. A female White Wagtail with Mipits near Berges Island hide. 2 Slavs (1 in full sum plum) from hide. While my first Sandwich Terns (4) on Mussel Beds near Lighthouse on falling tide. Lots of Chiffies too with some feeding on open salt marsh

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Mark Hipkin 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁷󠁬󠁳󠁿 @markhipkin.bsky.social · 22/03/2025

While out birding today it was nice to see my 3rd and 4th species of butterfly of 2025. A Small White was at Foel Fynyddau (above Cwmafan). During a brief lunch stop at home (Neath) a recently emerged Speckled Wood in the garden. Also 4 Orange Underwing flying above Birch at Kenfig River this arvo.

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Mark Hipkin 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁷󠁬󠁳󠁿 @markhipkin.bsky.social · 22/03/2025

Second year running it was great to pick up passage Ring Ouzel at local patch. She initially kept her distance but eventually showed well on lower western slope of Foel Fynyddau. A Swallow flew overhead there & later a Wheatear @ Baglan Bay took my Glam list to 152 (9 days ahead compared 2024)

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Mark Hipkin 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁷󠁬󠁳󠁿 @markhipkin.bsky.social · 22/03/2025

It was very nice to catch up with the Avocet at Kenfig earlier in the week. Typically, as most good birds at this are, this was found by @neild1962.bsky.social It only stayed for the day (18/03/25) and I was fortunate to get good views of it on the east pool shore.

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Mark Hipkin 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁷󠁬󠁳󠁿 @markhipkin.bsky.social · 15/03/2025

It was nice to spend some time with the stunning 1st winter Bonaparte’s Gull at the Ogmore River earlier in the week. I’d thought a lazy Sunday morning had cost me a year tick a few weeks ago when one turned up briefly at Wernffrwd but luckily for me @tomwright1.bsky.social relocated it on his patch

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Mark Hipkin 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁷󠁬󠁳󠁿 @markhipkin.bsky.social · 09/03/2025

Hey @eastglambto.bsky.social I saw ‘A32’ at Fforestganol yesterday (8/3/25) at 15:55. It would be great if there is any info you can share about the history of this bird. Thanks

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Mark Hipkin 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁷󠁬󠁳󠁿 @markhipkin.bsky.social · 08/03/2025

It was a great privilege to meet Hawfinch ‘A32’ at Fforestganol this afternoon. I notice from my timeline that at least 2 others (one ringed) were also seen at the feeding area today. Hopefully, they will have a successful breeding season this year

Male Hawfinch with a ring on its left leg that reads ‘A32’

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Mark Hipkin 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁷󠁬󠁳󠁿 @markhipkin.bsky.social · 05/03/2025

Glorious morning birding on Gower had generous sprinkling of Spring about it. My first Sand Martin of 2025 over Salthouse Point. A vocal Whimbrel showed well from Dalton’s Point and delightful Firecrest at Wernffrwd. Oh and summer plumage Slavonian Grebe in the estuary sadly too distant for photos

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Mark Hipkin 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁷󠁬󠁳󠁿 @markhipkin.bsky.social · 23/02/2025

Nice haul of 5 year ticks y/day which takes my Glam Year List to #136. The pick of them 17 (16 ads + 1juv) Russian White-fronted Geese that @bazstewart.bsky.social had found day before. This photo show all 17 near Llangennech Station and luckily I’d seen them fly into Glamorgan airspace earlier

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Mark Hipkin 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁷󠁬󠁳󠁿 @markhipkin.bsky.social · 23/02/2025

It was a real treat to have the company of a hunting Barn Owl in mid-Glamorganshire, yesterday. One of my best ever views of one in South Wales where I’ve very rarely seen them venture out before dusk

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Mark Hipkin 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁷󠁬󠁳󠁿 @markhipkin.bsky.social · 23/02/2025

Blast from the not too distant past - the wintering female Ring-necked Duck at Lisvane Reservoir was showing well on a gloomy day last Saturday (15/2/25). Presumably a returning bird from last winter it was nice to get a comparison shot of it with a female Tufted Duck

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Mark Hipkin 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁷󠁬󠁳󠁿 @markhipkin.bsky.social · 17/02/2025

Willow Tit from Saturday morning in mid-Glamorganshire. This bird became No 131 on the VC41 year list in 2025 which is 3 fewer than what I’d seen by the same date in 2024. Presumably there’ll be a run of scarce birds locally over the next few months. Hopefully a white-winged gull or two

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Mark Hipkin 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁷󠁬󠁳󠁿 @markhipkin.bsky.social · 03/02/2025

I always look forward to seeing my first Bumble Bee of the year. This queen Buff-tailed Bumble Bee was flying around the car park at Mumbles yesterday. There was plenty of Heather in flower nearby but she was busy looking for a place to nest or shelter.

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