Barry Stewart
@bazstewart.bsky.social
Nature bod living in Wales, fairweather Sunderland AFC supporter
Top Turdids! Autumn birding in Mongolia is crazily good for Sibes 😍
September 25, 2025 at 8:41 PM
Top Turdids! Autumn birding in Mongolia is crazily good for Sibes 😍
More Mongolian Magic: 'Calliope' the Goddess of epic poetry. 'Plesch'anka, a bald spot on the head and 'Isabella', who promised not to change her knickers until Spain was freed from the Moors!
September 25, 2025 at 8:13 PM
More Mongolian Magic: 'Calliope' the Goddess of epic poetry. 'Plesch'anka, a bald spot on the head and 'Isabella', who promised not to change her knickers until Spain was freed from the Moors!
A few of Mongolia's magical emberizids from a recent trip
September 25, 2025 at 7:53 PM
A few of Mongolia's magical emberizids from a recent trip
There's been a light trickle of commoner migrants into Gorseinon this week, including Gem, Olive Pearl, Small Mottled Willow, etc, but Chris Brewer, who lives a couple of streets away, caught this rather splendid Toadflax Pearl.
August 16, 2025 at 5:15 PM
There's been a light trickle of commoner migrants into Gorseinon this week, including Gem, Olive Pearl, Small Mottled Willow, etc, but Chris Brewer, who lives a couple of streets away, caught this rather splendid Toadflax Pearl.
A boggy gulley near Arthur's Stone, on Cefn Bryn, Gower was busy with Keeled Skimmers and Golden-ringed Dragonflies today. Together with the heady scent of Bog Myrtle and the golden haze of Bog Asphodel in the humid, boggy air I almost felt poetic, but thankfully I wasn't!
August 2, 2025 at 10:21 PM
A boggy gulley near Arthur's Stone, on Cefn Bryn, Gower was busy with Keeled Skimmers and Golden-ringed Dragonflies today. Together with the heady scent of Bog Myrtle and the golden haze of Bog Asphodel in the humid, boggy air I almost felt poetic, but thankfully I wasn't!
There were lots of juvenile Skylark at Margam Burrows today, some being chased by a group of 3 juvenile Kestrels, recently fledged from the steelworks.
July 30, 2025 at 9:48 PM
There were lots of juvenile Skylark at Margam Burrows today, some being chased by a group of 3 juvenile Kestrels, recently fledged from the steelworks.
The Small Scabious in the garden has been appreciated by a good variety of insect species recently
July 29, 2025 at 7:24 AM
The Small Scabious in the garden has been appreciated by a good variety of insect species recently
We visited similar habitat in the Neath catchment this evening - all your species plus other goodies such as Butterwort, Marsh Lousewort, Meadow Thistle, Saw-wort, Whorled Caraway, plus super-abundant Devil's-bit Scabious. A proper Saturday night out 😉
July 26, 2025 at 9:32 PM
We visited similar habitat in the Neath catchment this evening - all your species plus other goodies such as Butterwort, Marsh Lousewort, Meadow Thistle, Saw-wort, Whorled Caraway, plus super-abundant Devil's-bit Scabious. A proper Saturday night out 😉
There were both male and female Four-spotted Footman in the Gorseinon garden trap this morning, though they were reluctant to be photographed as a couple. The darker orange left wing, shows this individual always tucks its left wing under when at rest.
July 19, 2025 at 6:47 AM
There were both male and female Four-spotted Footman in the Gorseinon garden trap this morning, though they were reluctant to be photographed as a couple. The darker orange left wing, shows this individual always tucks its left wing under when at rest.
There were 3 Double Kidney in the garden (Gorseinon) trap two nights ago, along with other wetland wanderers such as Small Rufous, Marsh Oblique Barred 3 and Brown-veined Wainscot. A total of 15 Scalloped Oak was higher than usual count
July 14, 2025 at 9:00 PM
There were 3 Double Kidney in the garden (Gorseinon) trap two nights ago, along with other wetland wanderers such as Small Rufous, Marsh Oblique Barred 3 and Brown-veined Wainscot. A total of 15 Scalloped Oak was higher than usual count
More Shrill Carder Bee activity this week, this time on the Gwent levels. They really, really love Narrow-leaved Everlasting-pea, but were also noted on Marsh Woundwort, Bramble, Great Willowherb, Creeping Thistle and Spear Thistle. Small Coppers on the wing too
July 8, 2025 at 8:57 PM
More Shrill Carder Bee activity this week, this time on the Gwent levels. They really, really love Narrow-leaved Everlasting-pea, but were also noted on Marsh Woundwort, Bramble, Great Willowherb, Creeping Thistle and Spear Thistle. Small Coppers on the wing too
Noted a couple of Shrill Carder Bees today on Margam Landfill site (a capped landfill with an artificial dune system on top of it!), feeding on Yellow-rattle and Selfheal. Lots of Six-spot Burnets on Wild Thyme, also recently hatched Ringed Plovers, scoring highly on the cuteness scale 😍
July 2, 2025 at 9:01 PM
Noted a couple of Shrill Carder Bees today on Margam Landfill site (a capped landfill with an artificial dune system on top of it!), feeding on Yellow-rattle and Selfheal. Lots of Six-spot Burnets on Wild Thyme, also recently hatched Ringed Plovers, scoring highly on the cuteness scale 😍
2 Olive-tree Pearl and 2 Pearly Underwing were the best of the migrants last night in our Gorseinon garden, with Adelphocoris seticornis the best of the non-leps.
July 1, 2025 at 8:17 PM
2 Olive-tree Pearl and 2 Pearly Underwing were the best of the migrants last night in our Gorseinon garden, with Adelphocoris seticornis the best of the non-leps.
Dotted Sedge was noted in at least 4 locations at Kenfig rivermouth this week, so well established it appears. So surprised to find out has not been recorded at this well recorded site previously #wildflowerhour
June 22, 2025 at 7:37 PM
Dotted Sedge was noted in at least 4 locations at Kenfig rivermouth this week, so well established it appears. So surprised to find out has not been recorded at this well recorded site previously #wildflowerhour
With a bit of perseverance, we managed to locate two Wild Cats, such little beauties 😍
May 15, 2025 at 10:41 PM
With a bit of perseverance, we managed to locate two Wild Cats, such little beauties 😍
The Guggenheim, very entertaining, even for modern art philistines!
May 15, 2025 at 10:34 PM
The Guggenheim, very entertaining, even for modern art philistines!
A few bonus birds seen during the Picos Wild Cat trip.
May 15, 2025 at 10:19 PM
A few bonus birds seen during the Picos Wild Cat trip.
Riaño, at the heart of Wild Cat country
May 15, 2025 at 10:10 PM
Riaño, at the heart of Wild Cat country
It's been a good day for Cats: Wild ones in the Picos de Europa and Black ones on Wearside (pretty wild also, I suspect!). Sandra's pic from today 😍
May 13, 2025 at 9:57 PM
It's been a good day for Cats: Wild ones in the Picos de Europa and Black ones on Wearside (pretty wild also, I suspect!). Sandra's pic from today 😍
41 spp in the garden trap this morning here in Gorseinon. It's not that often we get a new species these days, so 2 new macros in one go was unexpected, namely Light Knot Grass (which seems early) and Chocolate-tip (long overdue) @sewbrec.org.uk
April 30, 2025 at 6:49 AM
41 spp in the garden trap this morning here in Gorseinon. It's not that often we get a new species these days, so 2 new macros in one go was unexpected, namely Light Knot Grass (which seems early) and Chocolate-tip (long overdue) @sewbrec.org.uk
Some nice urban moths in the garden trap here in Gorseinon this morning: 33 spp in total, including Alder Kitten, Pale Pinion, Puss and Mullein
April 25, 2025 at 9:39 PM
Some nice urban moths in the garden trap here in Gorseinon this morning: 33 spp in total, including Alder Kitten, Pale Pinion, Puss and Mullein
This Marsh Harrier in the Burry Inlet was fixated on something in the reeds this evening. @gowerbirds.bsky.social
April 13, 2025 at 8:51 PM
This Marsh Harrier in the Burry Inlet was fixated on something in the reeds this evening. @gowerbirds.bsky.social
Late to the party, but I saw my first Wheatear today at Margam Burrows. Plus, great views of Lapwings, which in full sun are just sublime. Lots of fruiting Bladder Moss and more fruiting Drooping Thread-moss than I can ever recall seeing, with swathes of it in the dunes.
April 1, 2025 at 10:05 PM
Late to the party, but I saw my first Wheatear today at Margam Burrows. Plus, great views of Lapwings, which in full sun are just sublime. Lots of fruiting Bladder Moss and more fruiting Drooping Thread-moss than I can ever recall seeing, with swathes of it in the dunes.
Primroses and Common Dog-violets are simply made for each other. With a male Brimstone bouncing around on the bank and Willow Warblers in song, Spring truly feels like it's arrived.
March 30, 2025 at 8:00 PM
Primroses and Common Dog-violets are simply made for each other. With a male Brimstone bouncing around on the bank and Willow Warblers in song, Spring truly feels like it's arrived.
Awkward! Sandra's photo
March 18, 2025 at 8:26 PM
Awkward! Sandra's photo