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Annie Irving @sconzani.bsky.social · 11h

Thanks, Adam. Graham is very experienced at vismig so I'm happy to believe him but it's always good to have another opinion. :-)

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Annie Irving @sconzani.bsky.social · 11/10/2026

Thanks, Graham. They were about pigeon size so that makes perfect sense. :-)

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Annie Irving @sconzani.bsky.social · 11/10/2026

Some of the other lovely creatures from today's lovely long walk: 1 of 3 Common blues; 1 of very many Stonechats; a lone Brent goose close in off the west end of Eastbourne beach; & a Hummingbird hawk-moth (both the Common blues & the moth a surprise so late in the year).

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Annie Irving @sconzani.bsky.social · 11/10/2026

This flock of birds flew over when I was at Beachy Head, flying east to west along the coast, and I can't work out what they are, though I'm sure someone will know. Photos cropped but unadjusted and not sharp. Any help much appreciated!

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Annie Irving @sconzani.bsky.social · 11/10/2026

Thanks, Graham. It was as if they were having a conversation. :-)

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Annie Irving @sconzani.bsky.social · 11/10/2026

I saw one this afternoon in Eastbourne, Adam. Very surprised they were still on the wing.

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Annie Irving @sconzani.bsky.social · 11/10/2026

A superb 8.5 mile walk today: East Dean - Birling Gap - Beachy Head - Eastbourne. Couldn't find a Ring ouzel but I had just been thinking that, given how many Stonechats there were & how much Gorse, there really should be a Dartford warbler, when, just below Belle Tout, boom! #UKbirding #Birds

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Annie Irving @sconzani.bsky.social · 11/10/2026

Another classic view, the Beachy Head light ...

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Annie Irving @sconzani.bsky.social · 10/10/2026

Lifeguards may not be on duty in this area but the many Herring gulls are always keeping an eye out.

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Annie Irving @sconzani.bsky.social · 10/10/2026

Had to be done. The classic shot of the fabulous Seven Sisters. So good to be back here.

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Annie Irving @sconzani.bsky.social · 09/10/2026

A bit inclement but nice to blow the cobwebs away after 6 hours on 4 trains!

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Annie Irving @sconzani.bsky.social · 08/10/2026

Five weeks to the day since the Cardiff Harbour Authority ecologist told me Defra was coming the following week to remove the invasive Water-primrose from the River Ely, and what's happened? Nothing. Nada. Zilch. Zero. Why am I not surprised?

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Annie Irving @sconzani.bsky.social · 07/10/2026

Fabulous! And what a star that bird was, bringing enjoyment to birders and locals alike.

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Annie Irving @sconzani.bsky.social · 07/10/2026

My first time looking for a Firecrest this autumn & up one popped. Well, actually, it took about an hour of looking & listening in Penarth's Alexandra Park but I got there eventually. My photos are soft but, with these little tykes, I'm happy to get anything recognisable. #birdingWales #birds

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Annie Irving @sconzani.bsky.social · 07/10/2026

Thanks again. I'll certainly be checking the waders carefully in case anything special pops in. Also hoping Beachy Head might produce a Ring ouzel, as well as the Corn bunting, though, to be honest, any day out walking and birding is a good day regardless of the finds. :-)

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Annie Irving @sconzani.bsky.social · 07/10/2026

Thanks for the info. I'll be on foot but plan on spending quite a bit of time walking the paths around Cuckmere, Birling Gap and Beachy Head.

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Annie Irving @sconzani.bsky.social · 07/10/2026

I'll be in the area next week - definitely hoping for one of these beauties as we never see them where I live in south Wales. 🤞

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Annie Irving @sconzani.bsky.social · 06/10/2026

I'm no expert - just telling what I've seen. Could be total baloney. 😆

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Annie Irving @sconzani.bsky.social · 06/10/2026

Here in my area of south Wales there seemed to be a lot of leaf shedding during the last heatwave, but the rain since then has helped trees to hold the remainder of their leaves and they're only just getting their autumn colour now.

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Annie Irving @sconzani.bsky.social · 06/10/2026

Thanks, Jeremy. Been reading up a little - seems the mast cycles can be affected by the weather at different times of the year, e.g. spring heat can help flowers but later drought might stop seeds developing fully, but also seems a lot more research is needed to understand climate change effects.

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Annie Irving @sconzani.bsky.social · 06/10/2026

I haven't seen any for a while either, Della, so let's hope they turn up in good numbers. 🤞

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Annie Irving @sconzani.bsky.social · 06/10/2026

It's interesting the effect this year's drought & heatwaves have had on some trees. I'm seeing hardly any acorns but there seems to be an abundance of Beech mast. (I know Beeches have cycles of heavy yield - so not weather related?) If anyone has any insights on this, I'd be interested to read them.

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Annie Irving @sconzani.bsky.social · 04/10/2026

It certainly is, as they're such lovely little birds.

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Annie Irving @sconzani.bsky.social · 04/10/2026

This seems to have been the scenario in my area in south Wales, where there was constant feeding of small birds in the woodland at Cosmeston Lakes CP, and this year the already small Marsh tit population has vanished. Tragic!

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Annie Irving @sconzani.bsky.social · 04/10/2026

I hadn't swung past any of the local Rook populations for a while so walked that way today. Numbers looked - and sounded - healthy, though the birds were mostly keeping to the trees.

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Annie Irving @sconzani.bsky.social · 03/10/2026

Sometimes they scurry, in a hurry, to somewhere. Today they were plodding, and stone-flipping, and poking about in the moss and other low vegetation. One of the local Turnstones.

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Annie Irving @sconzani.bsky.social · 03/10/2026

Sorry you missed it, Della. Running is definitely NOT recommended. ;-)

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Annie Irving @sconzani.bsky.social · 02/10/2026

First, I had to run for the train (I'm old, I NEVER run), then, when I got to Llanishen Reservoir, I was told the Arctic tern had just flown off high to the south. Fortunately, after about 10 mins, it reappeared & delighted me & other birders with its aerial display. #birdingWales #BirdsSeenIn2026

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Annie Irving @sconzani.bsky.social · 02/10/2026

Cardiff Bay Wetland Reserve.

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Annie Irving @sconzani.bsky.social · 01/10/2026

Well caught! Love that second shot.

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Annie Irving @sconzani.bsky.social · 01/10/2026

Your find is obviously well deserved. I've certainly not been so thorough. And thank you. :-)

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Annie Irving @sconzani.bsky.social · 01/10/2026

Well found, Matt. I've looked and never seen one.

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Annie Irving @sconzani.bsky.social · 01/10/2026

Difficult to tell as there were 3 adults & 3 young about, & one of the other adults had a long bit of grass in its mouth & appeared to be building a nest further along at the waterline. Maybe it was just enjoying a rest in the sunshine away from the kids!

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Annie Irving @sconzani.bsky.social · 01/10/2026

CBWR this morning: a record shot of the distant female Pintail that's been at the wetlands since 24 September, & a close Moorhen in a tree that seems to think it has time for yet another brood of babies. Where do they get the energy?

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Annie Irving @sconzani.bsky.social · 30/09/2026

Some nice fungi from today's walk in north Cardiff, around Cefn Onn Park and down to Roath Park Lake: new-to-me Wood cauliflower (Sparassis crispa), an abundance of Porcelain fungus (Oudemansiella mucida), & Shaggy inkcap (Coprinus comatus). #fungi

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Annie Irving @sconzani.bsky.social · 29/09/2026

Super shots, Graham. He's modelling like a pro.

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Annie Irving @sconzani.bsky.social · 29/09/2026

A wander around part of Cardiff Bay today: a Wheatear on the Barrage grass, & a couple of juvenile Greenfinches nibbling, messily, on Herb Robert seeds along the Ely embankment. #birdingWales

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Annie Irving @sconzani.bsky.social · 28/09/2026

Back home after an excellent week's birding in Weymouth & on Portland, with my best trip list so far at 85 species, including a lifer (those WT eagles!). Here's a small reminder why that area's so special: the Obs quarry Little owl having a preen (hand held so a bit jerky). Now where to go next?

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Annie Irving @sconzani.bsky.social · 27/09/2026

Walked to Lodmoor: no birds of note. It rained. Back to town, now dry, so Radipole: no birds of note. Rain forecast for noon didn't happen so walked to Lodmoor again. It rained. Soaked walking back to town. So, here's a lovely Dunnock, taken during a dry spell. Sadly, heading home tomorrow ...

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Annie Irving @sconzani.bsky.social · 26/09/2026

Superb, Della. We're so lucky to have them nearby.

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Annie Irving @sconzani.bsky.social · 26/09/2026

Thanks, Graham. Wish they hadn't spooked though.

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Annie Irving @sconzani.bsky.social · 26/09/2026

Also at Lodmoor this morning: I was standing watching 2 Stonechats when this pair of Sika deer appeared from behind some bushes. Not sure who was most surprised but, sadly, he bolted. Great to get close views of them though, & what lovely bottoms!

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Annie Irving @sconzani.bsky.social · 26/09/2026

Lodmoor early doors: female Marsh harrier on her lookout post; Woodpigeon fluffed up against the chill; Kingfisher mid flight; & a Little egret mid shake. #UKBirding #birds

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Annie Irving @sconzani.bsky.social · 25/09/2026

Late afternoon at Lodmoor: a Lapwing having a stretch. Annoyed I chopped the top of the wings when it was at full stretch but still happy to have got some reasonable shots of this beautiful bird.

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Annie Irving @sconzani.bsky.social · 25/09/2026

From this morning on the Isle of Portland ... More House martins than I've ever seen in one place before, in the fields around the Obs. I didn't pop in as I figured everyone, especially the ringers, were being kept very busy. @portlandbirdobs.bsky.social

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