Andrew Lucas
@andrewlucas103.bsky.social
Retired after nearly 40 years at the coalface of nature conservation in Wales. I have a PhD on hoverflies. Interested in birding, entomology and all things nature.
Siaradwr Cymraeg (ail iaith!)
Clydach, Abertawe/Swansea, Cymru/Wales
Siaradwr Cymraeg (ail iaith!)
Clydach, Abertawe/Swansea, Cymru/Wales
A trip to Aylestone Meadows, Leicester for the Dusky Warbler, which showed well despite its reputation as a 'skulker'. A bogey bird put to rest, my 7th British lifer for 2025.
Thanks to the finder @beidaihebirder.bsky.social for help locating the bird. Photo by @jcbirder.bsky.social
#UKbirding
Thanks to the finder @beidaihebirder.bsky.social for help locating the bird. Photo by @jcbirder.bsky.social
#UKbirding
November 9, 2025 at 12:24 PM
A trip to Aylestone Meadows, Leicester for the Dusky Warbler, which showed well despite its reputation as a 'skulker'. A bogey bird put to rest, my 7th British lifer for 2025.
Thanks to the finder @beidaihebirder.bsky.social for help locating the bird. Photo by @jcbirder.bsky.social
#UKbirding
Thanks to the finder @beidaihebirder.bsky.social for help locating the bird. Photo by @jcbirder.bsky.social
#UKbirding
Stopped off briefly this morning for the American Golden Plover at Eyebrook Reservoir.
Photo by @marlowbirder.bsky.social #UKbirds
Photo by @marlowbirder.bsky.social #UKbirds
November 5, 2025 at 2:29 PM
Stopped off briefly this morning for the American Golden Plover at Eyebrook Reservoir.
Photo by @marlowbirder.bsky.social #UKbirds
Photo by @marlowbirder.bsky.social #UKbirds
Moth trapping near Lostwithiel, Cornwall. The undoubted star was this Radford's Flame Shoulder. Also a Vestal, Green-brindled Crescent and Rush Veneer. #teammoth
October 20, 2025 at 8:46 AM
Moth trapping near Lostwithiel, Cornwall. The undoubted star was this Radford's Flame Shoulder. Also a Vestal, Green-brindled Crescent and Rush Veneer. #teammoth
Recently had an opportunity to drive a Hyundai Ioniq 5 electric car from West Wales to Cornwall. Have to say I was impressed. A bit big for us (we drive a smaller EV) but perfect if you have to get pets or family in the back. Starting to appear on 2nd hand market, so reasonably priced. #EVs
October 19, 2025 at 8:28 AM
Recently had an opportunity to drive a Hyundai Ioniq 5 electric car from West Wales to Cornwall. Have to say I was impressed. A bit big for us (we drive a smaller EV) but perfect if you have to get pets or family in the back. Starting to appear on 2nd hand market, so reasonably priced. #EVs
The White-rumped Sandpiper in the gloom and drizzle at the Hayle, Cornwall today. #UKbirding
October 18, 2025 at 4:48 PM
The White-rumped Sandpiper in the gloom and drizzle at the Hayle, Cornwall today. #UKbirding
The Baird's Sandpiper today distantly at Colliford Lake,Cornwall. #UKbirding
October 17, 2025 at 3:50 PM
The Baird's Sandpiper today distantly at Colliford Lake,Cornwall. #UKbirding
Happy Thanksgiving/Joyeuse Action de Grâce to all our friends and family in Canada. We celebrated last night with the traditional meal!
October 13, 2025 at 12:37 PM
Happy Thanksgiving/Joyeuse Action de Grâce to all our friends and family in Canada. We celebrated last night with the traditional meal!
Cracking views of the Brown Shrike near St David's today. A world lifer! #UKbirds #birdingWales.
October 10, 2025 at 3:58 PM
Cracking views of the Brown Shrike near St David's today. A world lifer! #UKbirds #birdingWales.
A nice selection of autumnal moths this morning, including Lunar Underwing (common but new for the garden), Blair's Shoulder-knot and Black Rustic. Clydach, Swansea. #teammoth
October 7, 2025 at 7:28 AM
A nice selection of autumnal moths this morning, including Lunar Underwing (common but new for the garden), Blair's Shoulder-knot and Black Rustic. Clydach, Swansea. #teammoth
We were passing within a mile or two, so stopped off to see the long-staying Caspian Gull at Naseby Reservoir in Northamptonshire. #UKbirds
October 2, 2025 at 5:16 PM
We were passing within a mile or two, so stopped off to see the long-staying Caspian Gull at Naseby Reservoir in Northamptonshire. #UKbirds
This bird got found purely because it's in a hedge next to a popular birding location. How many more are bumbling around unnoticed in scrub and woodlands across South Wales?
Wryneck. Goldcliff lagoons, Gwent, September 25/25 #birdsinwales
September 26, 2025 at 2:26 PM
This bird got found purely because it's in a hedge next to a popular birding location. How many more are bumbling around unnoticed in scrub and woodlands across South Wales?
You can keep your Sabine's Gulls and your phalaropes. Our first grandchild arrived on Thursday and he's totally adorable.
September 20, 2025 at 4:29 PM
You can keep your Sabine's Gulls and your phalaropes. Our first grandchild arrived on Thursday and he's totally adorable.
Reposted by Andrew Lucas
Well done Lib Dems. Reform's 5 (now 4) MPs but clocked up 353,660 mentions, which is 70,732 mentions per MP, highest of any party with thier 14.3% vote share in 2024
Lib Dems returned 72 MPs with 12.2% of the vote in 2024. They received 46,468 mentions; their coverage works out at only 645 per MP
Lib Dems returned 72 MPs with 12.2% of the vote in 2024. They received 46,468 mentions; their coverage works out at only 645 per MP
🔴BBC Accused of Pro-Reform Bias as Lib Dems Launch Campaign to End ‘Wall to Wall’ Farage Coverage
They accuse the BBC of “following Farage around like a lost puppy” and have complained to Ofcom to demand fair coverage
bylinetimes.com/2025/09/09/b...
They accuse the BBC of “following Farage around like a lost puppy” and have complained to Ofcom to demand fair coverage
bylinetimes.com/2025/09/09/b...
BBC Accused of Pro-Reform Bias as Lib Dems Launch Campaign to End 'Wall to Wall' Farage Coverage
They accuse the BBC of "following Farage around like a lost puppy” and have complained to Ofcom to demand fair coverage
bylinetimes.com
September 9, 2025 at 4:49 PM
Well done Lib Dems. Reform's 5 (now 4) MPs but clocked up 353,660 mentions, which is 70,732 mentions per MP, highest of any party with thier 14.3% vote share in 2024
Lib Dems returned 72 MPs with 12.2% of the vote in 2024. They received 46,468 mentions; their coverage works out at only 645 per MP
Lib Dems returned 72 MPs with 12.2% of the vote in 2024. They received 46,468 mentions; their coverage works out at only 645 per MP
Bit of a fiasco today in South Wales, when someone misidentified a Buzzard near Newport as a Black-winged Kite, setting off a major twitch.
Thanks to birders on the South Wales WhatsApp group, who arrived and quickly established the bird's true identity. I'd only got 25 miles down the M4!
Thanks to birders on the South Wales WhatsApp group, who arrived and quickly established the bird's true identity. I'd only got 25 miles down the M4!
September 4, 2025 at 12:42 PM
Bit of a fiasco today in South Wales, when someone misidentified a Buzzard near Newport as a Black-winged Kite, setting off a major twitch.
Thanks to birders on the South Wales WhatsApp group, who arrived and quickly established the bird's true identity. I'd only got 25 miles down the M4!
Thanks to birders on the South Wales WhatsApp group, who arrived and quickly established the bird's true identity. I'd only got 25 miles down the M4!
Reposted by Andrew Lucas
Have photos of multiple moths on egg trays from the UK?
At @ukceh.bsky.social we're training & testing AI to detect multiple moths in a single image
Reply with your images to help us reach our goal - make sure most moths are roughly identifiable
#mothsmatter #TeamMoth
Terms tinyurl.com/5xrjbv3r
At @ukceh.bsky.social we're training & testing AI to detect multiple moths in a single image
Reply with your images to help us reach our goal - make sure most moths are roughly identifiable
#mothsmatter #TeamMoth
Terms tinyurl.com/5xrjbv3r
September 4, 2025 at 10:51 AM
Have photos of multiple moths on egg trays from the UK?
At @ukceh.bsky.social we're training & testing AI to detect multiple moths in a single image
Reply with your images to help us reach our goal - make sure most moths are roughly identifiable
#mothsmatter #TeamMoth
Terms tinyurl.com/5xrjbv3r
At @ukceh.bsky.social we're training & testing AI to detect multiple moths in a single image
Reply with your images to help us reach our goal - make sure most moths are roughly identifiable
#mothsmatter #TeamMoth
Terms tinyurl.com/5xrjbv3r
My first lifer of our Isles of Scilly trip, and a long-standing bogey bird. Melodious Warbler at the Garrison, St Mary's.
Photo by Mark B. #UKbirding
Photo by Mark B. #UKbirding
August 25, 2025 at 9:59 AM
My first lifer of our Isles of Scilly trip, and a long-standing bogey bird. Melodious Warbler at the Garrison, St Mary's.
Photo by Mark B. #UKbirding
Photo by Mark B. #UKbirding
A day with @scillypelagics.bsky.social never disappoints. Great, Cory's, Sooty and Manx Shearwater, Euro and Wilson's Storm-petrel, Sabine's Gull, Arctic and Great Skua, Arctic and Black Tern plus dozens of Common Dolphin playing around the boat.
Every British birder should do this once. #UKbirds
Every British birder should do this once. #UKbirds
August 24, 2025 at 4:48 PM
A day with @scillypelagics.bsky.social never disappoints. Great, Cory's, Sooty and Manx Shearwater, Euro and Wilson's Storm-petrel, Sabine's Gull, Arctic and Great Skua, Arctic and Black Tern plus dozens of Common Dolphin playing around the boat.
Every British birder should do this once. #UKbirds
Every British birder should do this once. #UKbirds
Far right buy land near Llanafan Fawr in Powys, to set up their own little fascist community.
"We need our own areas, we need our own land..."
Seriously? I wonder how many can correctly pronounce 'Llanafan Fawr'?!
www.theguardian.com/politics/202...
"We need our own areas, we need our own land..."
Seriously? I wonder how many can correctly pronounce 'Llanafan Fawr'?!
www.theguardian.com/politics/202...
‘Why here?’: inside mid-Wales village where far-right figure has created a settlement
Woodlander Initiative provokes mixed reactions in Llanafan Fawr as critics say aim is to build racially exclusive communities
www.theguardian.com
August 23, 2025 at 6:01 PM
Far right buy land near Llanafan Fawr in Powys, to set up their own little fascist community.
"We need our own areas, we need our own land..."
Seriously? I wonder how many can correctly pronounce 'Llanafan Fawr'?!
www.theguardian.com/politics/202...
"We need our own areas, we need our own land..."
Seriously? I wonder how many can correctly pronounce 'Llanafan Fawr'?!
www.theguardian.com/politics/202...
22 species this morning in my Clydach, Swansea garden, including the immigrant moth Small Mottled Willow. New for the garden and first SN60 record since 1998. #teammoth
August 16, 2025 at 7:05 AM
22 species this morning in my Clydach, Swansea garden, including the immigrant moth Small Mottled Willow. New for the garden and first SN60 record since 1998. #teammoth
My 4th and final @pomscheme.bsky.social survey yesterday at my site in north Carmarthenshire. 15000 steps. Data entered this morning, samples parcelled up for posting and owners thanked. And that's me done for 2025.
August 11, 2025 at 8:18 AM
My 4th and final @pomscheme.bsky.social survey yesterday at my site in north Carmarthenshire. 15000 steps. Data entered this morning, samples parcelled up for posting and owners thanked. And that's me done for 2025.
Tom Lehrer, brilliant satirist, has poisoned his last pigeon.
"When they see us coming the birdies all try and hide,
But they still go for peanuts, when coated with cyanide."
www.theguardian.com/music/2025/j...
"When they see us coming the birdies all try and hide,
But they still go for peanuts, when coated with cyanide."
www.theguardian.com/music/2025/j...
Tom Lehrer, acclaimed musical satirist of cold war era, dies aged 97
A child prodigy in mathematics who graduated Harvard at just 19, his darkly prophetic and cynical show tunes won him a cult following in the 50s and 60s
www.theguardian.com
July 28, 2025 at 9:31 AM
Tom Lehrer, brilliant satirist, has poisoned his last pigeon.
"When they see us coming the birdies all try and hide,
But they still go for peanuts, when coated with cyanide."
www.theguardian.com/music/2025/j...
"When they see us coming the birdies all try and hide,
But they still go for peanuts, when coated with cyanide."
www.theguardian.com/music/2025/j...
A great day of birding with @struthjones.bsky.social yesterday at Slimbridge. Tundra Bean Goose, Ruff, Spotted Redshank and Wood Sandpiper, then even the Bluethroat put in an appearance. Finally on to Grimley and cracking views of the Night Heron. #UKbirding
July 27, 2025 at 6:50 AM
A great day of birding with @struthjones.bsky.social yesterday at Slimbridge. Tundra Bean Goose, Ruff, Spotted Redshank and Wood Sandpiper, then even the Bluethroat put in an appearance. Finally on to Grimley and cracking views of the Night Heron. #UKbirding
This is depressing. The Senedd environment committee interviewing the next NRW chair. In an hour, no mention of biodiversity, the nature emergency or science.
"What are your connections to Wales?"
"I've opened several supermarkets here, and I live in Bristol."
www.senedd.tv/Meeting/Arch...
"What are your connections to Wales?"
"I've opened several supermarkets here, and I live in Bristol."
www.senedd.tv/Meeting/Arch...
Climate Change, Environment, and Infrastructure Committee - 11/06/2025
The Senedd is the democratically elected body that represents the interests of Wales and its people, makes laws for Wales, agrees Welsh taxes and holds the Welsh Government to account.
www.senedd.tv
July 16, 2025 at 5:54 AM
This is depressing. The Senedd environment committee interviewing the next NRW chair. In an hour, no mention of biodiversity, the nature emergency or science.
"What are your connections to Wales?"
"I've opened several supermarkets here, and I live in Bristol."
www.senedd.tv/Meeting/Arch...
"What are your connections to Wales?"
"I've opened several supermarkets here, and I live in Bristol."
www.senedd.tv/Meeting/Arch...