Castle birdwatch

Yesterday morning, desperate for a change of scenery I headed out to visit the scenic grounds of Aberystwyth Castle, just a 5 minute walk from home and so well within the government guidelines! Despite the lure of yet more bright blue skies and glorious sunshine, the grounds were all but deserted apart from the birds…

The importance of wildflowers: Part 2

You may have seen my previous post about the importance of wildflowers, continuing that theme today I am looking at another small but vital habitat close to home. Just above the high tide line of the harbour is a small patch of rough ground, usually strewn with small rowing boats used by seafarers to reach…

The importance of wildflowers

Stepping just outside my back door is a small wildflower verge, a strip of long grass and a tangle of wildflowers, underappreciated by the regular traffic of dogwalkers. This area is however a small but vital habitat for many species of plants and animals and should be valued and protected. Plantains and grasses growing wild…

Dressed to impress

Whilst the huge migratory flocks of Starlings that form the incredible winter murmurations have long since returned to their summer homes, there are still plenty of resident Starlings who live and breed in the UK year round. As summer approaches the Starlings here in Aberystwyth have now lost their winter covering of white speckles, and…

Burton in bloom

Whilst visiting family in my hometown of Burton on Trent I was able to spare some brief time to visit the local riverside as usual. It was a rather dreary, overcast day and as the evening was approaching, most of the birds were already returning to their roosts. The mute swans and geese here too…