Annie Irving
@sconzani.bsky.social
Walker, birder, butterflier, leaf-fossicker, knitter, genealogist
Daily nature blogger : earthstar.blog
Daily nature blogger : earthstar.blog
I didn't deliberately set out to find aphids today but up they popped: 1) Crypturaphis grassii, the Italian alder aphid on, you guessed it, Italian alder; 2) Aphis epilobii, Willowherb aphids on, yep, Great willowherb; 3) & 4) Eriosoma lanigerum, Woolly apple aphids, on Firethorn (Pyracantha sp.).
November 29, 2025 at 4:02 PM
I didn't deliberately set out to find aphids today but up they popped: 1) Crypturaphis grassii, the Italian alder aphid on, you guessed it, Italian alder; 2) Aphis epilobii, Willowherb aphids on, yep, Great willowherb; 3) & 4) Eriosoma lanigerum, Woolly apple aphids, on Firethorn (Pyracantha sp.).
The Collared earthstars (Geastrum triplex) were out at both the old and the new sections of Cathays Cemetery today - always a joy to see these stunning fungi. #FungiFriday
November 28, 2025 at 7:44 PM
The Collared earthstars (Geastrum triplex) were out at both the old and the new sections of Cathays Cemetery today - always a joy to see these stunning fungi. #FungiFriday
At Roath Park Lake today: a ringed Lesser black-backed gull (likely one of Peter Rock's so I've emailed him); only 1 Little egret today; a handsome male Pochard; & the last of the stunning autumn colours in the Japanese maples.
November 28, 2025 at 7:38 PM
At Roath Park Lake today: a ringed Lesser black-backed gull (likely one of Peter Rock's so I've emailed him); only 1 Little egret today; a handsome male Pochard; & the last of the stunning autumn colours in the Japanese maples.
Over the summer I realised how good the solid fencing around this building site alongside the River Taff was for insect finds, & the finds continued today, with 3 Winter moths &, I think, a Mottled umber near the various lights, as well as other creatures. #TeamMoth
November 27, 2025 at 4:32 PM
Over the summer I realised how good the solid fencing around this building site alongside the River Taff was for insect finds, & the finds continued today, with 3 Winter moths &, I think, a Mottled umber near the various lights, as well as other creatures. #TeamMoth
The two Common scoter were still in the Bay today, still distant but looking quite settled. A boat got too close at one point, causing them to fly, but they just circled round & landed back where they'd been. A Common gull was on the orange buoys by the Barrage. #birdingWales
November 26, 2025 at 4:37 PM
The two Common scoter were still in the Bay today, still distant but looking quite settled. A boat got too close at one point, causing them to fly, but they just circled round & landed back where they'd been. A Common gull was on the orange buoys by the Barrage. #birdingWales
I know we should feel sorry for those less fortunate than ourselves, like this Coot that clearly had some problem with its left leg, but I couldn't help laughing out loud when I saw this in Cardiff Bay this morning. I did admire its tenacity though. #birdingWales
November 26, 2025 at 3:41 PM
I know we should feel sorry for those less fortunate than ourselves, like this Coot that clearly had some problem with its left leg, but I couldn't help laughing out loud when I saw this in Cardiff Bay this morning. I did admire its tenacity though. #birdingWales
This will take just a couple of minutes of your time. Will you speak up for Nature?
Last night the Government pulled the rug out from under what little nature remains in the UK. Please tell your MP that this is not OK! #Planning&InfrastructureBill #P&IBill
action.rspb.org.uk/page/180990/...
action.rspb.org.uk/page/180990/...
Tell the UK Government they must do better for nature!
I've just emailed my MP to tell them what nature means to me and that I want it to stay protected. Will you take action too?
action.rspb.org.uk
November 25, 2025 at 8:03 PM
This will take just a couple of minutes of your time. Will you speak up for Nature?
It was nice to see a few distant birds (Oystercatcher, Turnstone, Ringed plover, Dunlin, Little egret, gulls) along Sully Beach this morning as it's mostly been empty since the new housing estate was built - too many people & dogs. A Red admiral was a nice surprise. #birdingWales
November 25, 2025 at 7:02 PM
It was nice to see a few distant birds (Oystercatcher, Turnstone, Ringed plover, Dunlin, Little egret, gulls) along Sully Beach this morning as it's mostly been empty since the new housing estate was built - too many people & dogs. A Red admiral was a nice surprise. #birdingWales
This morning I walked past the location where I found the female Vapourer last week. She was still there, but dead. I knew the females died soon after laying their eggs but I guess she had emerged too late in the year to attract a male as there were no eggs. #TeamMoth
November 24, 2025 at 5:02 PM
This morning I walked past the location where I found the female Vapourer last week. She was still there, but dead. I knew the females died soon after laying their eggs but I guess she had emerged too late in the year to attract a male as there were no eggs. #TeamMoth
Very distant shots of the 2 Common scoter found in Cardiff Bay late yesterday by Mat Meehan, still there this morning. My first view was from the Barrage when they were behind the Ice rink. By the time I walked round there, they'd moved closer to the Barrage. Annie's law! #birdingWales
November 24, 2025 at 2:27 PM
Very distant shots of the 2 Common scoter found in Cardiff Bay late yesterday by Mat Meehan, still there this morning. My first view was from the Barrage when they were behind the Ice rink. By the time I walked round there, they'd moved closer to the Barrage. Annie's law! #birdingWales
My local park railings produced some goodies today, including 2 tiny nymphs that are probably Issus coleoptratus, as I've had several adults here lately, & what I think, from the dark bar down its face, is Acericerus vittifrons. #cicadellidae
November 23, 2025 at 7:11 PM
My local park railings produced some goodies today, including 2 tiny nymphs that are probably Issus coleoptratus, as I've had several adults here lately, & what I think, from the dark bar down its face, is Acericerus vittifrons. #cicadellidae
A sign of how seriously weird our weather has been this year - Hawthorn flowering in late November with berries also on the tree.
November 23, 2025 at 10:39 AM
A sign of how seriously weird our weather has been this year - Hawthorn flowering in late November with berries also on the tree.
A double-dipper today but there are always birds to see: a Kestrel on the lookout for lunch; a Robin ditto; a Tufted duck (someone was feeding seed to the birds on the concrete & Mr Tufty was tempted out of the water to get some); & I'd heard about Beaky but not seen him till today. #birdingWales
November 21, 2025 at 6:43 PM
A double-dipper today but there are always birds to see: a Kestrel on the lookout for lunch; a Robin ditto; a Tufted duck (someone was feeding seed to the birds on the concrete & Mr Tufty was tempted out of the water to get some); & I'd heard about Beaky but not seen him till today. #birdingWales
These railings alongside the River Ely look clean & empty but, if you look more closely, you'll find the undersides are covered in thick green lichen &, feeding there, tens of Ramshorn bagworms (Luffia lapidella) in their lichen-covered casings. I even found what looks like empty pupae. #TeamMoth
November 20, 2025 at 5:35 PM
These railings alongside the River Ely look clean & empty but, if you look more closely, you'll find the undersides are covered in thick green lichen &, feeding there, tens of Ramshorn bagworms (Luffia lapidella) in their lichen-covered casings. I even found what looks like empty pupae. #TeamMoth
While one of the local Common sandpipers that will most likely overwinter in Cardiff Bay again was working the chilly water along Ely river edge, the other was taking a break on a yacht in the marina, basking in the sunshine, preening. #birdingWales
November 20, 2025 at 5:20 PM
While one of the local Common sandpipers that will most likely overwinter in Cardiff Bay again was working the chilly water along Ely river edge, the other was taking a break on a yacht in the marina, basking in the sunshine, preening. #birdingWales
THIS! Every single word of this!
dorseteye.com/if-we-are-ho...
dorseteye.com/if-we-are-ho...
If We Are Honest We All Know Who Is To Blame - Dorset Eye
They Broke It. Now They Want Us Blaming Each Other Let’s be straight about what has happened to this country. For decades the powerful have squeezed working people from every angle. They slashed publi...
dorseteye.com
November 19, 2025 at 3:42 PM
THIS! Every single word of this!
dorseteye.com/if-we-are-ho...
dorseteye.com/if-we-are-ho...
Paging my fungi experts @jeremybartlett.bsky.social and @lukaslarge.bsky.social - is this Oak mazegill (Daedalea quercina) please? Growing on a huge old fallen Oak in a Cardiff park today. Looks like a mazegill. Just not sure 'cause the caps of mature specimens were rather hairy.
November 18, 2025 at 6:13 PM
Paging my fungi experts @jeremybartlett.bsky.social and @lukaslarge.bsky.social - is this Oak mazegill (Daedalea quercina) please? Growing on a huge old fallen Oak in a Cardiff park today. Looks like a mazegill. Just not sure 'cause the caps of mature specimens were rather hairy.
7.35 this morning, the sun had just risen above the Mendips, & the Woodpigeons have begun moving northwards again, along the south Wales coast, reversing the journey they made a week or so ago. Did they get to Land's End & think 'You've gotta be kidding me?' #birdingWales
November 17, 2025 at 8:22 AM
7.35 this morning, the sun had just risen above the Mendips, & the Woodpigeons have begun moving northwards again, along the south Wales coast, reversing the journey they made a week or so ago. Did they get to Land's End & think 'You've gotta be kidding me?' #birdingWales
When I first saw these birds flying across Cosmeston today, I thought they must be something exciting.
After looking more closely, I realised that I've never seen gulls flying in formation like this before. So, yes, I was a little disappointed but I still learnt something.
After looking more closely, I realised that I've never seen gulls flying in formation like this before. So, yes, I was a little disappointed but I still learnt something.
November 16, 2025 at 8:01 PM
When I first saw these birds flying across Cosmeston today, I thought they must be something exciting.
After looking more closely, I realised that I've never seen gulls flying in formation like this before. So, yes, I was a little disappointed but I still learnt something.
After looking more closely, I realised that I've never seen gulls flying in formation like this before. So, yes, I was a little disappointed but I still learnt something.
Today's colour is black: my Crow friends, female & male; a pair of Rooks; & a Jackdaw - handsome birds all.
Also, saw my first Redwings of the season, lots of them, & first Fieldfare of the year - for some reason they weren't around at the start of the year. #birdingWales
Also, saw my first Redwings of the season, lots of them, & first Fieldfare of the year - for some reason they weren't around at the start of the year. #birdingWales
November 16, 2025 at 5:29 PM
Today's colour is black: my Crow friends, female & male; a pair of Rooks; & a Jackdaw - handsome birds all.
Also, saw my first Redwings of the season, lots of them, & first Fieldfare of the year - for some reason they weren't around at the start of the year. #birdingWales
Also, saw my first Redwings of the season, lots of them, & first Fieldfare of the year - for some reason they weren't around at the start of the year. #birdingWales
The highlight of today's walk was finding my first female Vapourer moth, sitting on her cocoon, presumably newly emerged. Ominously, there were tiny parasitic wasps hanging around, presumably waiting to inject her eggs.
And, very close by, another cocoon, this one covered in eggs. #TeamMoth
And, very close by, another cocoon, this one covered in eggs. #TeamMoth
November 15, 2025 at 5:31 PM
The highlight of today's walk was finding my first female Vapourer moth, sitting on her cocoon, presumably newly emerged. Ominously, there were tiny parasitic wasps hanging around, presumably waiting to inject her eggs.
And, very close by, another cocoon, this one covered in eggs. #TeamMoth
And, very close by, another cocoon, this one covered in eggs. #TeamMoth
I've seen viviparous Teasels before but these viviparous umbellifers, spotted during yesterday's walk around Cardiff Bay, were a first for me and a result, I'm sure, of how warm and wet this autumn has been.
November 14, 2025 at 12:59 PM
I've seen viviparous Teasels before but these viviparous umbellifers, spotted during yesterday's walk around Cardiff Bay, were a first for me and a result, I'm sure, of how warm and wet this autumn has been.
From a circuit of the Bay today: Metellina mengei (judging by its leg hairs), a Zebra spider (Salticus scenicus), 3 webs characteristic of the Missing sector orb web spider (Zygiella x-notata) & no idea about the final large beast, busy wrapping its latest catch. #arachnids #spiders
November 13, 2025 at 7:44 PM
From a circuit of the Bay today: Metellina mengei (judging by its leg hairs), a Zebra spider (Salticus scenicus), 3 webs characteristic of the Missing sector orb web spider (Zygiella x-notata) & no idea about the final large beast, busy wrapping its latest catch. #arachnids #spiders
Today's weather has been dreich so I've been out-the-window birding, through raindrop-covered double-glazed windows so my photos aren't sharp, but it was great to watch all the birds - Song thrush, male & female Blackbirds, & Woodpigeons - scoffing Buckthorn berries. #birdingWales
November 12, 2025 at 3:15 PM
Today's weather has been dreich so I've been out-the-window birding, through raindrop-covered double-glazed windows so my photos aren't sharp, but it was great to watch all the birds - Song thrush, male & female Blackbirds, & Woodpigeons - scoffing Buckthorn berries. #birdingWales