Peter Howlett
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cardiffbirder.bsky.social
Peter Howlett
@cardiffbirder.bsky.social
710 followers 100 following 270 posts
Cardiff-based birder and photographer. Posts are my photos of birds, marine mammals and occasionally other critters. Check out @cardiffott.bsky.social for photos of metal flying things
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Reposted by Peter Howlett
nickbris56.bsky.social
#BirdOfTheDay theme for today is #Headshots. I love bearded vultures. Here's one with lunch.
#birds #photography #birding
November 27, 2025 at 1:29 PM
cardiffbirder.bsky.social
The internet is awash with photos of Kingfishers but rather chuffed to get this one today from the boardwalk at the Cardiff wetland reserve, they usually never allow a close approach. Sadly, flushed by folk coming down the boardwalk as I was creeping closer #birdingWales #birds
November 27, 2025 at 6:20 PM
cardiffbirder.bsky.social
Two Common Scoter turned up in the Bay late on Sunday afternoon, a rare bird to be seen actually in the Bay. They're still here 4 days later, despite being flushed numerous times by boats. Caught them returning to the Bay after a brief visit to the Bristol Channel #birdingWales #UKbirding #birds
November 27, 2025 at 6:16 PM
cardiffbirder.bsky.social
There are a few Meadow Pipits lurking around the Bay at the moment and I think they're really lovely birds if you take the trouble to have a good look at one. This one sat nicely for me on the barrage #birdingWales #UKbirding #birds
The Meadow Pipit is the commonest pipit in the UK, sometimes written off as dull brown birds, they are actually very pretty. The whitish breast has very fine white streaks in the middle, getting slightly thicker on the flanks. The olive back has bold dark stripes and the wing coverts are tipped buffy-white giving two wingbars. The Meadow Pipit is the commonest pipit in the UK, sometimes written off as dull brown birds, they are actually very pretty. The whitish breast has very fine white streaks in the middle, getting slightly thicker on the flanks. The olive back has bold dark stripes and the wing coverts are tipped buffy-white giving two wingbars. The Meadow Pipit is the commonest pipit in the UK, sometimes written off as dull brown birds, they are actually very pretty. The whitish breast has very fine white streaks in the middle, getting slightly thicker on the flanks. The olive back has bold dark stripes and the wing coverts are tipped buffy-white giving two wingbars.
November 27, 2025 at 4:40 PM
cardiffbirder.bsky.social
So, @robcrank68.bsky.social theme for today is #headshots I'll go back to last year on the Peltic survey when I got a couple of close ups of 2 Gannet. 1 had the normal blue eye, the other had the dark indicating it had been infected with bird flu but had managed to survive #ukbirding #birds
A close up of the head of a Gannet showing the long, dagger-like beak, the yellow tinged feathers on the head, and a beautiful blue eye Another close up of the head of a Gannet, with the same features as the first photo but this one has dark, almost black eyes. Scientists have discovered that this is caused by bird flu but the bird has luckily survived.
November 27, 2025 at 3:58 PM
cardiffbirder.bsky.social
When you get the chance to get photos of Long-tailed Tits at eye level and close range it's impossible to ignore them. This cutie a couple of days ago around Cardiff Bay #UKbirding #birdingWales #birds
A cute Long-tailed Tit clinging to a twig, with belly towards the photographer. The characteristic black and white crown stripes and small, stubby bill show up well
November 25, 2025 at 6:42 PM
cardiffbirder.bsky.social
Had a wander around Bute Park this morning, in the hope of seeing a Firecrest. Sadly, failed at that but did get some nice pics of its close relative the Goldcrest, fortunately finding a patch of sun for a few seconds. #UKbirding #birdingWales #birds
A tiny Goldcrest, the UKs smallest bird, weighing on average about 4.5g. This one perched on a twig showing the buffy undersides and greenish upperparts. The wings show the characteristic black and white bar across the closed secondaries and its yellow crest is visible flanked by black stripes The UKs smallest bird, the Goldcrest weighs about 4.5g on average This Goldcrest was picking small invertebrates off the stems of a tree, they appear to be Scale Insects which feed off the sap of plants
November 21, 2025 at 5:29 PM
Reposted by Peter Howlett
duckswabber.bsky.social
More work linking irregular iris pigmentation in gannets to prior HPAI infections: likelihood of NP antibody increased with iris pigment irregularity. Moderate correlations for H5 antibodies.
👉 www.biorxiv.org/content/10.1...
November 18, 2025 at 10:52 PM
cardiffbirder.bsky.social
It was lovely to have several Kingfishers zipping backwards and forwards past me on the River Ely today. I was finally able to get on one as it went by - a little distant but great to catch one in flight #birdingWales #ukbirding #birds
A Kingfishers zips past the photographer, wings almost grazing the surface of the river. Wings are caught on the down stroke showing the spotted wing coverts A Kingfisher flies past the photographer, caught with wings raised showing the bright orange undersides
November 18, 2025 at 6:16 PM
cardiffbirder.bsky.social
Back to late October when I was out surveying in the English Channel. Always amazing to see owls at sea on migration - this Short-eared Owl spent a few minutes around the vessel and attempted to land a couple of times #ukbirding #birds
This owl is flying out at sea and in the rain, probably why it checked our vessel out. The bright yellow eyes standing out in the dull light.
November 17, 2025 at 6:12 PM
cardiffbirder.bsky.social
How about a superb sub-adult Great Black-backed Gull for #SuperSeabirdSunday these pirates of the seas always look mean #ukbirding #birds
This gull is jet black above and white below, the dark mark on the bill indicate a sub-adult, an adult would have a red spot
November 16, 2025 at 12:57 PM
cardiffbirder.bsky.social
The season for seeing these beauties may have passed but an adult Mediterranean Gull takes some beating (not saying it's the best gull but up there). This one photographed near Portsmouth back in June #superseabirdsunday #ukbirding
November 9, 2025 at 8:03 AM
cardiffbirder.bsky.social
A lot of grey days recently around the bay, seems to barely get light at times. Anyway, this gorgeous Long-tailed Tit got close enough that a bit of high iso didn't matter. Always great to watch these close up #birdingWales #ukbirding #birds
November 6, 2025 at 7:23 PM
cardiffbirder.bsky.social
Cardiff Bay mega for #SuperSeabirdSunday - Red-throated Diver. It turned up on the 29th (I was away again), really didn't think it was going to stay but got home at 16:15 and was watching it at 16:30 - just enough light for photos #birdingWales #ukbirding #birds
November 2, 2025 at 8:10 PM
cardiffbirder.bsky.social
Short blog covering the last couple of days surveying on the CEFAS Endeavour, may be a further update if we see anything interesting on the way back to Lowestoft #ukbirding #marinelife #birds
marine-life.org.uk/survey-repor...
October 31, 2025 at 1:44 PM
cardiffbirder.bsky.social
A busy spell first thing with loads of shearwaters around us but obviously no time to take any photos! Latest blog from the CEFAS Endeavour - only a coulple of days to go now before we head back to Lowestoft. #ukbirding #birds #marinelife
marine-life.org.uk/survey-repor...
October 29, 2025 at 10:21 AM
cardiffbirder.bsky.social
A link to my blog for the 27 October from the CEFAS Endeavour. Some fantastic Common Dolphin photo ops along with some gulls #ukbirding #birds #marinelife
marine-life.org.uk/survey-repor...
October 27, 2025 at 10:30 PM
cardiffbirder.bsky.social
Here's a link to a blog covering the last 3 days on board the CEFAS Endeavour. Not many birds, unfortunately, and some pretty ropey surveying conditions today #ukbirding #birds #marinelife
marine-life.org.uk/survey-repor...
October 26, 2025 at 9:28 PM
cardiffbirder.bsky.social
Mind you a couple of Great Shearwater put on a good show last week too #superseabirdSunday #ukbirding #birds
October 26, 2025 at 6:43 PM
cardiffbirder.bsky.social
Know the date but forget what day it is surveying on the CEFAS Endeavour. Image for #superseabirdSunday this week has to be the Desertas/Fea's Petrel seen on Thursday #birds
October 26, 2025 at 6:41 PM
cardiffbirder.bsky.social
No surveying from the CEFAS Endeavour today but great excitement onboard re: the Fea's-type Petrel. A short blog for the day can be found here:
marine-life.org.uk/survey-repor...
October 23, 2025 at 8:38 PM
cardiffbirder.bsky.social
Blog for the 22 Oct surveying from the CEFAS Endeavour for the PELTIC 2025. Some fantastic birding between Land's End and the Isles of Scilly #UKbirding #birds #marinelife
marine-life.org.uk/survey-repor...
October 23, 2025 at 8:35 PM
cardiffbirder.bsky.social
@scillypelagics.bsky.social
cardiffbirder.bsky.social Peter Howlett @cardiffbirder.bsky.social · Oct 23
Bit of excitement on the CEFAS Endeavour this morning when we saw this Fea's-type Petrel 17nm off the Cornish coast as we were heading towards Lundy to shelter for the next day or so.
#ukbirding #birds
October 23, 2025 at 1:12 PM
cardiffbirder.bsky.social
Bit of excitement on the CEFAS Endeavour this morning when we saw this Fea's-type Petrel 17nm off the Cornish coast as we were heading towards Lundy to shelter for the next day or so.
#ukbirding #birds
October 23, 2025 at 12:33 PM
cardiffbirder.bsky.social
First day of surveying on the CEFAS Peltic 2025 survey, here's a link to a short blog on the day's activities:
marine-life.org.uk/survey-repor...
A real shame the 7000 Great Shearwater didn't occur on transect! #ukbirding #birds #marinelife
October 21, 2025 at 9:28 PM