Lightnews — Scholar-powered news

Peter Howlett @cardiffbirder.bsky.social · 15h

Rock Pipit on the Cardiff Bay barrage, really nice to be able to see these every time I go out #birdingWales #UKbiriding #birds

A Rock Pipit perched on foliage. The heavy brown breast streaking and buff white underparts readily distinguish it from Meadow Pipit, which in the autumn has black breast streaks and a yellower ground colour to underparts

1 34

Peter Howlett @cardiffbirder.bsky.social · 2d

White Tern against a clear blue sky near St Helena back in April this year #superseabirdsunday #birds

3 12 140

Peter Howlett @cardiffbirder.bsky.social · 3d

Well, the good news is, it's still going strong. Peeping away, following its parents and seemingly still being largely ignored but obviously finding enough food to stay alive

Peter Howlett @cardiffbirder.bsky.social · 5d

A very late Moorhen chick out and about at the wetland reserve this morning. It was peeping away and when an adult came past swam up to it but was ignored - may not bode well for its future #birdingWales #UKbirding #birds

A Moorhen chick still covered in black down but with an almost bald head, walks along a floating piece of wood.

A downy Moorhen chick paddles towards the photographer, its head reflected in the calm water

A downy Moorhen chick rests on a piece of litter. It's covered in black down apart from its head which is almost bald (naturally)

7

Peter Howlett @cardiffbirder.bsky.social · 3d

Always a little surprised at how readily a bird like a Chiffchaff feeds on the ground. Yesterday there were several doing so at the Cardiff wetland reserve, they were very confiding too #birdingWales #UKbirding #birds #naturephotography

A Chiffchaff, a bird you might think of as living in trees and bushes, readily feed on the ground. This one reaching up to take a small insesct from the underside of a leaf

A Chiffchaff, a bird you might think of as living in trees and bushes, readily feed on the ground.

A Chiffchaff, a bird you might think of as living in trees and bushes, readily feed on the ground. This one facing the photographer and looking for food on the ground

4 35

Peter Howlett @cardiffbirder.bsky.social · 5d

I wouldn't have put this one at 10+ days old but must be one of them. Never know, it was feeding itself

1

Peter Howlett @cardiffbirder.bsky.social · 5d

No, and trying to catch it would likely be tricky too

Peter Howlett @cardiffbirder.bsky.social · 5d

A very late Moorhen chick out and about at the wetland reserve this morning. It was peeping away and when an adult came past swam up to it but was ignored - may not bode well for its future #birdingWales #UKbirding #birds

3 6 98

Peter Howlett @cardiffbirder.bsky.social · 6d

Very good, it's the person wielding that matter usually - though good tracking autofocus certainly helps! Yes - have the Z8 and 180-600

1

Reposted by Peter Howlett

Mark D @seaskywatch.bsky.social · 6d

Atlantic Bluefin Tuna and their Garfish prey, South Devon

1 2 19

Peter Howlett @cardiffbirder.bsky.social · 6d

Great photos Mark

1

Peter Howlett @cardiffbirder.bsky.social · 6d

Some more blue sky this afternoon so a quick visit to see the Hobbies again, only a couple of passes this afternoon but the light a little more even than Monday. Settled weather for the next few days so they could be on their way south #birdingWales #UKbirding #birds

1 2 30

Peter Howlett @cardiffbirder.bsky.social · 7d

Watching some vis mig on Cardiff barrage this morning and a Raven lands in the grass a few metres away. Even in dull light it's always worth taking a photo of one of these splendid beasts #birdingWales #ukbirding #birds #naturephotography

A Raven stands on some grass, the light catching the feathers to reveal the metallic sheen to the feathers

A Raven faces the photographer with throat feathers slightly puffed out and the light accentuating the metallic sheen of the feathers

26

Peter Howlett @cardiffbirder.bsky.social · 8d

Lots of Migrant Hawkers mainly I think

1

Peter Howlett @cardiffbirder.bsky.social · 8d

Two juv Hobbies turned up on the River Ely last week while I was away, I really didn't expect them to still be there today in some lovely light and blue skies #birdingWales #ukbirding #birds #naturephotography

A Hobby clasps a headless dragonfly in its right talon, it has just bitten the head off and is chewing on it

A Hobby holds a dragonfly in its right talon and is pecking at it

A Hobby holds a dragonfly in its right talon and is about to take a bite of the body

A Hobby soars past the photographer, wings outstretched, against blue sky, showing off the dark eye masks, spotted underwings, striped underside and striped tail

4 7 140

Peter Howlett @cardiffbirder.bsky.social · 9d

Just back from two weeks wildlife guiding for Ocean Wildlife Encounters on @fredolsencruise.bsky.social ship Borealis to the Azores and Madeira. The blog for the trip can be read here:
www.oceanwildlifeencounters.co.uk/post/s2526-v... #birds #marinelife #mammals

S2526 – Volcanic Vistas of the Azores and Madeira on board Borealis

The OWE adventures on the Azores and Madeira cruise

www.oceanwildlifeencounters.co.uk

1 11

Peter Howlett @cardiffbirder.bsky.social · 10d

Desertas Petrel between the Desertas Islands and Madeira on a Madeira Wind Birds tour last week #SuperSeabirdSunday #birds #naturephotography

The bird banks away from the photographer showing the mainly dark underwing contrasting with the white undersides and a triangle of white at the base of the wing

3 10 110

Peter Howlett @cardiffbirder.bsky.social · 17d

There was a huge feeding flock of c5000 Cory's Shearwater off of Ponta Delgada on Wednesday (along with several 1000 Atlantic Spotted Dolphin) a spectacular sight #birds #SuperSeabirdSunday

A Cory's Shearwater banks towards the photographer on stiff but slightly bowed wings

A huge flock of feeding Cory's Shearwater, this is just a small part of the 5000 or so that were feeding

2 6 66

Peter Howlett @cardiffbirder.bsky.social · 23d

Great Shearwaters seen from the M/V Borealis in the western approaches yesterday #superseabirdSunday #birds

2 45

Peter Howlett @cardiffbirder.bsky.social · 23d

Very pleased to see my second Red-necked Phalarope in Cardiff in the space of few days #superseabirdsunday #birdingwales #birds

3 10 180

Reposted by Peter Howlett

Paul Roberts @npaulroberts.bsky.social · 25d

A spellbinding display from six Sabine's Gulls at Jackstones Pier, Aberavon. Incredible to witness at close quarters. Little Tern, Black Tern and two Grey Phalaropes also present.

1 4 35

Reposted by Peter Howlett

Adam @atmylifeoutside.bsky.social · 25d

A tense day at work was rewarded with all 7 Sabine’s Gulls still present off Aberavon this eve, together with a supporting cast of 3 Grey Phalarope (of course). Sensational views down to a few feet at times. Hell of a way to bag a lifer. #birdingWales #UKWildlife #birds @birdsinwales.bsky.social

6 13 190

Peter Howlett @cardiffbirder.bsky.social · 26d

A rubbish record shot in comparison to the photos I got at Lisvane the other day but special none the less as this bird was in Cardiff Bay so on my patch - a nice year tick #birdingWales #ukbirding #birds

2 55

Peter Howlett @cardiffbirder.bsky.social · 26d

Nice to finally year tick Common Tern, a 2nd yr bird, in the bay yesterday. Spent a little while hunting close to the shore near the sails on the barrage #birdingWales #ukbirding #birds #naturephotography

This 2nd year bird shows a dark bar on the forewing and the upper side of the primaries are all dark, an adult wouldn't have these features

The tern had just dipped into the water and caught a fish, here flying away with the fish still in its beak

1 2 48

Peter Howlett @cardiffbirder.bsky.social · 28d

The 2 Grey Phalaropes keeping the Red-necked company. 1 of the Greys appeared to only have one eye, I didn't see the left open at any time #birdingWales #ukbirding #birds #naturephotography

2 5 66

Peter Howlett @cardiffbirder.bsky.social · 28d

Hot on the heels of Cardiff's first Red-necked Phalarope a second turned up on Lisvane res yesterday, along with 2 Greys. Still there this morning , so a visit was required - Red-necked first, Greys will be in a 2nd post #birdingWales #ukbirding #birds #naturephotography

2 53