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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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Mark Hipkin 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁷󠁬󠁳󠁿 @markhipkin.bsky.social · 20/08/2026

Thanks for the mention Paul and great to see you earlier. A really enjoyable seawatch from a Strumble today. Some really great birds and a great crowd too. See you later in the season for more of the same I hope 😎

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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 · 24/01/2026

Well done Paul. A nice supporting cast there too. My 400th was a Richardson’s Canada Goose which although lovely I’d wished for something more glamorous to bring in the milestone. Your journey to 500 should be full of more gems like the Killdeer

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Mark Hipkin 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁷󠁬󠁳󠁿 @markhipkin.bsky.social · 06/01/2026

That Smew could do with coming down to Glamorgan for a bit 🤞

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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 · 03/10/2025

Wow, what an amazing moment that must have been to set eyes on them. Stunning birds and lovey photos capturing them together. Another great find, Dave 👏

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Mark Hipkin 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁷󠁬󠁳󠁿 @markhipkin.bsky.social · 01/10/2025

Hopefully, better photos from others to follow over the next days/weeks/months #birdingWales

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Mark Hipkin 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁷󠁬󠁳󠁿 @markhipkin.bsky.social · 01/10/2025

Excellent work again Frank! No doubt difficult call in fading light. I, along with a few others, managed to connect with it this AM. It quartered the brambles on and off btwn 10:00 to 12:50 offering decent views in variable light. I make it a sub-ad Fem, so poss returning bird, but I’m not an expert

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

We were almost certainly there at the same time Frank and yet I managed not to meet. You are my bogey birder 🤣 Great photos as always capturing the scenes really well. And what an amazing scene it was!!

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

I wouldn’t mind a big feeding group of Great Shears off Gower either 😊. I’m listing Glamorgan this year so not leaving the area much but looking forward to a few seawatching trips to Cornwall in 2026. My best seawatching experience ever was at Pendeen over a decade ago so want another one of those

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

Nice to get the Sabs with breaking waves in the background. Lovely shots!

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Mark Hipkin 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁷󠁬󠁳󠁿 @markhipkin.bsky.social · 19/09/2025

Oh what I would do for just one of those Great Shears to come up and have a look at the Gower coastline in South Wales 🤣 Great video as always

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Mark Hipkin 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁷󠁬󠁳󠁿 @markhipkin.bsky.social · 18/09/2025

A few photos of the juv Sabs off Mumbles this afternoon . What an absolute stunner!!

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Mark Hipkin 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁷󠁬󠁳󠁿 @markhipkin.bsky.social · 18/09/2025

Snap! I saw this bird too. In fact I saw it at 14:35 first much further out but it must have decided to turn back and head into Swansea Bay with the wind as I lost it while taking the waterproof covers off my camera. Very pleased that it came past again later

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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 · 13/09/2025

Ok thanks Peter, that’s really sad and worrying trend. It would be good to see them where their numbers are healthy so perhaps a visit to see them among other cool birds in Iceland, Norway or Finland is in order

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

Not done that yet Mike, but thanks for alerting me to a missing entry to my bucket list 🪣📋

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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 · 12/09/2025

Absolutely shocking that this goes on year on year. I guess it all comes down to folk with money, power and influence who like holding guns and killing things

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

Thanks mate, the next few weeks look a bit tasty. I’ve been busily making note of coastal locations with Cypress trees and Tamarisks

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

Not sure about expected but listed below are species that I still need that might expect to be recorded in Glam most years. Grey Part Red- L Part Whooper Swan Long-t Duck Turtle Dove Little Tern Iceland Gull Leach’s Glossy Ibis Purple Heron Wryneck LSW Woodlark YBW Brambling Lapland Bunt Snow Bunt

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

Thanks Bernie. If feels like the Autumn is delivering locally fairly frequently so hope that continues to the end of the year 🤞

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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 · 06/09/2025

Well done buddy, that’s a great effort. I’m super pleased you were rewarded for chancing it late in the day. And what a bird. Credit goes to Lukas who picked it out and managed to shout at me 100m away to let me know he had it without flushing the birds. It was a great birding day in Glamorgan 😎

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Mark Hipkin 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁷󠁬󠁳󠁿 @markhipkin.bsky.social · 25/08/2025

Fantastic find Chris!! And great record shot too 👏

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

Nice one Frank. Not absolutely but this might be the first sighting of any deer on Gower for an extremely long time. I did a mammal course a few years back and the tutor mentioned that they thought it odd Deer absent from Gower but also mentioned that Roe Deer would probably turn up at some stage

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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

12 battling Alpine Ibex bucks at various ages. This was so cool to watch with a cuppa & Jaffa cake

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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 · 20/06/2025

Thanks Adam, I always forget the #BirdingWales bit. Yeah I’ve had a bit of luck recently having not being able to find much early on in the year. Hopefully, there’ll a few more finds before the year is out 🤞

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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

Cheers Mike. I’ve only seen MW at Whiteford and Oxwich but not at the latter site for more than 10 years. However, I don’t visit Oxwich as often as the site deserves so I’m not sure how they are doing there. I suspect Marbled White isn’t confined to 2 locations on Gower but I’m not absolutely sure.

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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

Go on the rib! And pass up on the chance of finding a late summer migrant lurking, or preferably on top of the bushes. No chance…

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

Thanks Mike. No Puffins for me this time. It might be first time I’ve failed to connect in June. There seemed to be far fewer auks on the water (compared 2024) but the ledges were full. At least 2 lots of 2 fledged Wheatear young out there was nice. And it’s not exactly a hardship needing to go back

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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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