Mandy Forde
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mandyforde.bsky.social
Mandy Forde
@mandyforde.bsky.social
Avid wildlife recorder.
Proudly manage my 11 acres for wildlife.
Joint VCR for BSBI VC52.
Co-ordinator of RSPB Anglesey Chough Count.
Owner of Cerrig Cottages, holiday rentals on the Isle of Anglesey.
Now I know why the garden birds are hiding this morning, female Sparrowhawk on the garden fence.
Very pleased to manage some photos through a rain drenched window
@angbirdnews.bsky.social
December 1, 2025 at 9:47 AM
Common stork's-bill, Erodium cicutarium still managing to flower on a bitterly cold November day.
The plant contains saponins which are toxic to fish and amphibians, but are apparently beneficial for several human health conditions.
#Wildflowerhour
November 30, 2025 at 8:03 PM
Thought I'd have a go at #TheWinter10 for this week's #Wildflowerhour
Absolutely amazed to find not just 10 but a whopping 25 species in flower in my meadow today
November 16, 2025 at 8:04 PM
Thought this was Moth eggs at first glance, but now convinced it's #Sllmemould
Can anyone help with an id please? I thought possibly Physarum cinereum.
November 6, 2025 at 5:14 PM
A grey drizzly day brightened by 3 Whooper Swans amongst 300+ Lapwings in the field opposite my house #Anglesey
@birdsinwales.bsky.social @angbirdnews.bsky.social
November 5, 2025 at 12:33 PM
Hare's-foot clover, Bugloss and Yarrow still flowering in my meadow today.
#Wildflowerhour
November 2, 2025 at 8:15 PM
The incredibly dainty Thyme-leaved Speedwell, it always makes me think of Faeries 🧚
#Wildflowerhour
October 12, 2025 at 7:05 PM
Mid October but White Campion is still flowering on the edge of the meadow this week
#Wildflowerhour
October 12, 2025 at 7:01 PM
Reposted by Mandy Forde
Great to read this short article about the Cors Ddyga Glossy Ibises. Written by naturalist Nigel Brown and illustrated with a truly stunning image by @jmjbirding.bsky.social

apple.news/AsgfWVGZMQu6...
Country diary: The marshes are graced with a little catwalk glamour — The Guardian
Ynys Môn (Anglesey): What a pleasure it is to watch a pair of glossy ibis – true head-turners, and an increasingly common sight
apple.news
October 8, 2025 at 9:45 AM
Haven't seen a Green Sheildbug all year, until I spotted this one on Bramble earlier this week
#Wildwebswednesday
October 8, 2025 at 11:45 AM
I know I've said it before but I definitely need a longer fence 😲
It's getting to peak garden #Chough numbers now and it's only early October.
I'm guessing the daily count might top 70 this Winter.
Photos taken with my phone about 2 foot from the fence line.
#Anglesey
#WildWebsWednesday
October 8, 2025 at 11:40 AM
Fantastic Barn Owl image captured by Collin at Curlew Cottage last week as it flew over our wildflower meadow right past cottage door
With 85 species of birds recorded on site on the farm & 3 fantastic RSPB reserves nearby we're an ideal base for #birdwatching holidays
#Anglesey #naturephotography
September 24, 2025 at 9:01 PM
A quick look just now in the Willow tree by my pond revealed three species.
Lackey moth eggs, a beautiful Herald moth and a gall presumably created by a moth or a fly.
#Wildwebswednesday
#TeamMoth
September 24, 2025 at 3:37 PM
Rock Samphire on a survey with @angleseyfloragroup.bsky.social this week in Rhoscolyn
#Wildflowerhour
Just realised it's edible, so will have to try some next time I see it.
September 21, 2025 at 7:07 PM
Reposted by Mandy Forde
With several sites in Wales hosting multiple Grey Phalaropes over the weekend, 2025 is now the best year this century, with 112. #BirdingWales

The best-ever year will take some beating, however. 227 were seen from The Smalls lighthouse alone in just 12 days, during 18-29 September 1960.
September 21, 2025 at 6:32 PM
Could I get id help with this #Lichen please.
Growing on rock at the edge of a beach #Anglesey
@britishlichensociety.org.uk
September 17, 2025 at 11:49 AM
Small Copper #butterfly struggling to keep upright in the gusty wind just now #WildWebsWednesday
#Anglesey
September 17, 2025 at 10:57 AM
It was a difficult choice for #FavouritePlant but I'll never forget how squeakingly excited I was when I spotted my first ever Sundew at Cors Bodeilio #Anglesey in June.
#Wildflowerhour
@angleseyfloragroup.bsky.social
September 14, 2025 at 7:13 PM
Reposted by Mandy Forde
‘Hares are the only game species in England and Wales that can be shot all year round. It has been reported that the UK brown hare population could have fallen by more than 80% in the past 100 years.’

petition.parliament.uk/petitions/72...
September 11, 2025 at 11:34 AM
First #fungi have appeared in the meadow.
Every year I say I'm going to try eating them, but always chicken out.
Young Parasols with a few days to go before they're fully open.
September 9, 2025 at 9:19 AM
Be careful what you wish for.....after the delight of finding Fennel growing wild a few years ago I collected some seeds and grew two plants.
Now I've got an absolute forest of them, 6ft giants taking over my garden 😯
They are beautiful though.
#Seedheads #Wildflowerhour
September 7, 2025 at 7:07 PM
A selection of
#Seedheads seen this week on #Anglesey
Wild Carrot, Musk-mallow, Selfheal,
Evening Primrose, Greater Bird's-foot Trefoil, Yellow Iris & Wild Teasel
#Wildflowerhour
September 7, 2025 at 7:01 PM
Really difficult to get a photo in the 52mph winds today but this is Tutsan, a member of St John's-wort family, with almost fully ripened #Fruits
#Wildflowerhour
August 31, 2025 at 7:38 PM
I suspected these two might pair up when they were perched close together on the garden fence a fortnight ago.
Here they are this morning allopreening to enforce their bond.
#Chough #Anglesey
@rspbcymru.bsky.social
August 25, 2025 at 9:01 AM
Too desperate to get a photo before it flew off so no time to get anything for scale. But this fly in the garden last night was HUGE.
Think it's Tabanus sudeticus, Dark Giant Horsefly, the heaviest fly in Europe apparently.
#flies #Diptera
August 25, 2025 at 7:05 AM