Steve Williams
@valleynature.bsky.social
Naturalist out and about in the South Wales valleys. Ruminator and over-thinker. Prog, classic rock, vinyl and album cover artwork. Now retired ecology professional.
Reposted by Steve Williams
'Fel Nodiadau Aur Bach - Like Little Golden Notes' Autumn leaves, like little golden notes clinging to their branches at The Lasgarn Woodland, Abersychan. An intriguing path, which winds its way through old limestone quarry workings and quite possibly the track bed of an old tramroad.
October 12, 2025 at 8:39 PM
'Fel Nodiadau Aur Bach - Like Little Golden Notes' Autumn leaves, like little golden notes clinging to their branches at The Lasgarn Woodland, Abersychan. An intriguing path, which winds its way through old limestone quarry workings and quite possibly the track bed of an old tramroad.
Reposted by Steve Williams
'Hanes Cudd - Hidden History' Late afternoon at the Lasgarn Woodland, Abersychan yesterday. This old embankment for the horse drawn tramroad built to haul limestone from the quarries to the local ironworks is not so hidden now that the leaves have had their autumn fall.
November 22, 2025 at 12:24 PM
'Hanes Cudd - Hidden History' Late afternoon at the Lasgarn Woodland, Abersychan yesterday. This old embankment for the horse drawn tramroad built to haul limestone from the quarries to the local ironworks is not so hidden now that the leaves have had their autumn fall.
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Did not expect to see a Pied Flycatcher today. Latest Gwent record. Might go back tomorrow to get it on the ‘birds I have seen in the UK in December’ list. Currently attempting to piece together the ring details. Ta to Chris for finding and Matt for passing on the news. #gwentbirding #birdingWales
November 30, 2025 at 5:25 PM
Did not expect to see a Pied Flycatcher today. Latest Gwent record. Might go back tomorrow to get it on the ‘birds I have seen in the UK in December’ list. Currently attempting to piece together the ring details. Ta to Chris for finding and Matt for passing on the news. #gwentbirding #birdingWales
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@teesbirds.bsky.social @durhambirdclub.bsky.social @nybirdnews.bsky.social Caspian Gull at Portrack/Haverton hill Gull roost this morning, thanks to Martyn Sidwell for help with id
November 29, 2025 at 11:00 AM
@teesbirds.bsky.social @durhambirdclub.bsky.social @nybirdnews.bsky.social Caspian Gull at Portrack/Haverton hill Gull roost this morning, thanks to Martyn Sidwell for help with id
Reposted by Steve Williams
The first meeting of the Wood Warblers at Goytre House Wood, our nature reserve, was held today. Volunteers cleared vegetation around tree saplings, planted in 2022. Bird and bat boxes were mapped in preparation for activities next year. The weather was very kind to us. #birdingwales #gwentbirds
November 29, 2025 at 3:41 PM
The first meeting of the Wood Warblers at Goytre House Wood, our nature reserve, was held today. Volunteers cleared vegetation around tree saplings, planted in 2022. Bird and bat boxes were mapped in preparation for activities next year. The weather was very kind to us. #birdingwales #gwentbirds
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'Awyr Dân uwchben yr Hen Dŷ Injan - Fire Sky over the Old Engine House' An industrial glow in the sky above the old engine house at The British, Abersychan yesterday as the sun faded - a lovely moment to look at this relic of the past, evocative and beautiful.
November 9, 2025 at 3:01 PM
'Awyr Dân uwchben yr Hen Dŷ Injan - Fire Sky over the Old Engine House' An industrial glow in the sky above the old engine house at The British, Abersychan yesterday as the sun faded - a lovely moment to look at this relic of the past, evocative and beautiful.
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My first Snow Flea (Boreus hyemalis) of the winter at Cali Heath @yorkswildlife.bsky.social reserve today. Nice of her to pose out in the open on a fallen leaf, so didn't need to spend hours waiting for one to emerge from the Polytrichum moss! @ynuorg.bsky.social #Mecoptera #Boreidae #ukwildlife
November 9, 2025 at 3:41 PM
My first Snow Flea (Boreus hyemalis) of the winter at Cali Heath @yorkswildlife.bsky.social reserve today. Nice of her to pose out in the open on a fallen leaf, so didn't need to spend hours waiting for one to emerge from the Polytrichum moss! @ynuorg.bsky.social #Mecoptera #Boreidae #ukwildlife
One of several Stone Curlew within a 100 metres or so of our hotel accommodation in Corralejo, Fuerteventura recently.
November 8, 2025 at 6:10 PM
One of several Stone Curlew within a 100 metres or so of our hotel accommodation in Corralejo, Fuerteventura recently.
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Yesterday I went to a very dry Goldcliff to see this beauty. My first Willow Emerald. In the ditch, just past the humpback bridge.
September 7, 2025 at 4:35 PM
Yesterday I went to a very dry Goldcliff to see this beauty. My first Willow Emerald. In the ditch, just past the humpback bridge.
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Our last post on X...
September 14, 2025 at 8:52 PM
Our last post on X...
Reposted by Steve Williams
Migrating Whinchat from last week.
#birding #birds #naturelovers #birdphotography #Naturephotography
#Wildlifephotography
#birding #birds #naturelovers #birdphotography #Naturephotography
#Wildlifephotography
September 12, 2025 at 7:16 PM
Migrating Whinchat from last week.
#birding #birds #naturelovers #birdphotography #Naturephotography
#Wildlifephotography
#birding #birds #naturelovers #birdphotography #Naturephotography
#Wildlifephotography
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Grey Phalarope still Llandegfedd res distantly from Dam, also Little Grebe #gwentbirding
September 5, 2025 at 4:45 PM
Grey Phalarope still Llandegfedd res distantly from Dam, also Little Grebe #gwentbirding
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AQUATIC WARBLER!!! Still can’t believe we caught this stunner at Carey this morning! Made it worthwhile giving it a go between weather fronts. The bird was interestingly a good weight of 15g! #ukbirding
September 2, 2025 at 3:54 PM
AQUATIC WARBLER!!! Still can’t believe we caught this stunner at Carey this morning! Made it worthwhile giving it a go between weather fronts. The bird was interestingly a good weight of 15g! #ukbirding
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More than three years have passed since the UK Government announced that it would ban the sale of peat for gardening, yet official documentation is still to appear and peat extraction continues:
UK peat extraction continues three years on from ban being announced
More than three years have passed since the UK Government announced that it would ban the sale of peat for gardening, yet official documentation is still to appear and peat extraction continues. On 27 August 2022, the Conservative Government promised to ban the sale of horticultural peat by 2024
bit.ly
September 3, 2025 at 6:16 AM
More than three years have passed since the UK Government announced that it would ban the sale of peat for gardening, yet official documentation is still to appear and peat extraction continues:
Reposted by Steve Williams
A pleasent evening watching the rising tide at Peterstone, Gwent, turned a little manic in the final minutes before the mud was covered, when looking through the Redshank flock I found a Marsh Sandpiper, ooossh, County 1st!!!! Manage to relocate the bird about 45 mins later
August 24, 2025 at 8:45 PM
A pleasent evening watching the rising tide at Peterstone, Gwent, turned a little manic in the final minutes before the mud was covered, when looking through the Redshank flock I found a Marsh Sandpiper, ooossh, County 1st!!!! Manage to relocate the bird about 45 mins later
Reposted by Steve Williams
The society is devastated after a grass fire damaged a significant part of Goldcliff Lagoons. However, the reserve remains open, and there are plenty of birds showing.
www.gwentbirds.org.uk/2025/08/29/f... #birdingwales #gwentbirds
www.gwentbirds.org.uk/2025/08/29/f... #birdingwales #gwentbirds
August 29, 2025 at 7:07 PM
The society is devastated after a grass fire damaged a significant part of Goldcliff Lagoons. However, the reserve remains open, and there are plenty of birds showing.
www.gwentbirds.org.uk/2025/08/29/f... #birdingwales #gwentbirds
www.gwentbirds.org.uk/2025/08/29/f... #birdingwales #gwentbirds
Reposted by Steve Williams
Diolch yn fawr iawn @nation.cymru and Jon Gower for this lovely opportunity to share a little about the fascinating landscape that is The Canada Tips, Blaenavon nation.cymru/feature/y-fi...
Y Filltir Sgwâr Revisited - the Canada Tips
Tom Maloney It’s been a little while since writing the last of the articles for the series ‘Y Filltir Sgwâr’, but I think I knew that a time would come when I would want to put pen to paper again and ...
nation.cymru
August 24, 2025 at 3:30 PM
Diolch yn fawr iawn @nation.cymru and Jon Gower for this lovely opportunity to share a little about the fascinating landscape that is The Canada Tips, Blaenavon nation.cymru/feature/y-fi...
Reposted by Steve Williams
'Golygfa o'r drws blaen - View from the front door' - It's been many a year since someone lived in this dwelling alongside the Hill's Tram Road, just below The Keeper's Pond, Blaenavon, but this view from what would have been the front door remains magnificent. So evocative on many levels.
August 17, 2025 at 4:46 PM
'Golygfa o'r drws blaen - View from the front door' - It's been many a year since someone lived in this dwelling alongside the Hill's Tram Road, just below The Keeper's Pond, Blaenavon, but this view from what would have been the front door remains magnificent. So evocative on many levels.
Reposted by Steve Williams
Climate denier buffoon gets a reality check - his damage already done.
www.telegraph.co.uk/business/202...
www.telegraph.co.uk/business/202...
British farmers face ‘catastrophic’ harvest, warns Jeremy Clarkson
Former Top Gear host says a lack of rainfall is severely affecting UK crops
www.telegraph.co.uk
August 11, 2025 at 9:04 AM
Climate denier buffoon gets a reality check - his damage already done.
www.telegraph.co.uk/business/202...
www.telegraph.co.uk/business/202...
Reposted by Steve Williams
Reposted by Steve Williams
These pieces of shit manage to bring Hezbollah into a disagreement about ecology in Hertfordshire because they are knee-jerk islamophobes and racists
Chris Hinchliffe (MP for NE Herts) was suspended from Labour for tabling an amendment to protect the ecologically unique chalk streams in his constituency - with other Labour MPs branding him the 'Hedgehog Hezbollah'.
The last days of Stalin had a healthier political culture than the Labour Party.
The last days of Stalin had a healthier political culture than the Labour Party.
‘It’s all a game’ to some politicians, says Labour MP suspended for rebellion over planning bill
Chris Hinchliff says language used is indicative of ‘private schoolboy drinking club’ culture within government
www.theguardian.com
July 26, 2025 at 7:57 AM
These pieces of shit manage to bring Hezbollah into a disagreement about ecology in Hertfordshire because they are knee-jerk islamophobes and racists
Reposted by Steve Williams
I wrote about John “Ozzy” Osbourne—a working class lad made good, who rose from a slaughterhouse killing floor to the highest echelons of rock stardom in spite of himself, who gave us heavy metal and left a more complex legacy than many realize—for @thenation.com www.thenation.com/article/cult...
Ozzy Osbourne, Rock God Despite Himself (1948–2025)
The Prince of Darkness, who gave us heavy metal as we know it, has been laid to rest.
www.thenation.com
July 25, 2025 at 2:40 PM
I wrote about John “Ozzy” Osbourne—a working class lad made good, who rose from a slaughterhouse killing floor to the highest echelons of rock stardom in spite of himself, who gave us heavy metal and left a more complex legacy than many realize—for @thenation.com www.thenation.com/article/cult...
Reposted by Steve Williams
Last week, @olds_liam led a guided walk for staff & students from University of Bristol at Coity Tips, Blaenavon.
We explored the unique habitats and species of colliery spoil — which included sightings of iconic species such as Bilberry Bumblebee, Mottled Grasshopper, Fairy-flax & Bee Orchid.
We explored the unique habitats and species of colliery spoil — which included sightings of iconic species such as Bilberry Bumblebee, Mottled Grasshopper, Fairy-flax & Bee Orchid.
June 23, 2025 at 9:44 AM
Last week, @olds_liam led a guided walk for staff & students from University of Bristol at Coity Tips, Blaenavon.
We explored the unique habitats and species of colliery spoil — which included sightings of iconic species such as Bilberry Bumblebee, Mottled Grasshopper, Fairy-flax & Bee Orchid.
We explored the unique habitats and species of colliery spoil — which included sightings of iconic species such as Bilberry Bumblebee, Mottled Grasshopper, Fairy-flax & Bee Orchid.
Reposted by Steve Williams
Good morning, and welcome to a new week!
Our featured tour this week is Fabulous Fuerteventura, a wonderful late-winter escape to a warm Canary Island naturalist's paradise, home to an enticing mix of birds, butterflies and wildflowers. (1/2)
mariposanature.com/tours/wildli...
Our featured tour this week is Fabulous Fuerteventura, a wonderful late-winter escape to a warm Canary Island naturalist's paradise, home to an enticing mix of birds, butterflies and wildflowers. (1/2)
mariposanature.com/tours/wildli...
June 23, 2025 at 5:16 AM
Good morning, and welcome to a new week!
Our featured tour this week is Fabulous Fuerteventura, a wonderful late-winter escape to a warm Canary Island naturalist's paradise, home to an enticing mix of birds, butterflies and wildflowers. (1/2)
mariposanature.com/tours/wildli...
Our featured tour this week is Fabulous Fuerteventura, a wonderful late-winter escape to a warm Canary Island naturalist's paradise, home to an enticing mix of birds, butterflies and wildflowers. (1/2)
mariposanature.com/tours/wildli...
Reposted by Steve Williams
