I had a real yearning for some ‘proper’ birding weekend before last. Not a walk with some birds thrown in for good measure but a full on, telescope out, find as much as we possibly can expedition. Ideally that would have involved a trip to my favourite reserve on the Read more…
We joined the annual mass pilgrimage to Rhossili on August bank holiday along with what seemed like the entire population of south Wales. And who can blame them really. In a complete break from centuries of bank holiday tradition conditions were simply glorious with sunshine, blue sky and just enough Read more…
Well I had planned to finish blogging August’s fun and games today but it seems that autumn has arrived instead and boy did mother nature want us to sit up and take note. In terms of weather you’d be forgiven from thinking that it was still mid summer but down Read more…
Bank holiday Sunday dawned wet and wild, justification if any were needed for ending our camping trip when we had. If there’s one thing I could do without ever having to experience again it’s taking down a tent in the rain. We took the opportunity for a leisurely start and Read more…
Despite our small tent being a little worse for wear thanks to many years of use we enjoyed two well rested nights under a spectacular Pembrokeshire sky. Being so far from light pollution meant that the Milky Way shone brilliantly and we were also treated to a couple of shooting Read more…
Back at work Tuesday before last then on the road again just two days later. Bags still unpacked but simply restocked with clean underwear and loaded into the car. Tent? Check. More importantly perhaps, tent poles? Check (never going to make that mistake again!). And then something new compared to Read more…
Back to last Sunday for this one where my parents luck with the weather continued to prevail. Remember all that sun and blue sky of late? Gone. Instead we had low, thick cloud casting a gloom more reminiscent of winter than the heights of summer. The only thing spoiling that Read more…
High drama graced our garden last night following the discovery of a grounded juvenile Goldfinch. This is not a wise move in an area plagued by feral cats and our concerns were rightly raised that were it to stay there it would not be long for this world. Physically it Read more…
Last night’s ascent of Pen y Fan was easily my best to date. A few colleagues and I had been kicking around the idea of an after work climb for the last couple of years but, as is often the case, great ideas tend to fizzle out unless someone grabs Read more…
A chance comment on a recent post alerted me to the fact that last weekend was our final opportunity to take part in the Big Butterfly Count. There was a time when I wouldn’t have been able to think of anything worse but times change, interests shift and the prospect Read more…