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
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.
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
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.
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 rather unimpressive moth is Marsh Oblique Barred. Although common on bogs and moorland in the west, it is nationally scarce. It somehow found its way to my garden moth trap in Clydach, Swansea but perhaps no big surprise as suitable habitat is only 1km away. #teammoth
July 12, 2025 at 7:14 AM
This rather unimpressive moth is Marsh Oblique Barred. Although common on bogs and moorland in the west, it is nationally scarce. It somehow found its way to my garden moth trap in Clydach, Swansea but perhaps no big surprise as suitable habitat is only 1km away. #teammoth
Charging our #EV at the Tafarnaubach charger point, just off the newly completed A465 Heads of the Valleys road in South Wales. With its own wind turbine, driving doesn't get much greener. A very competitive 55p/kWh with electroverse. Looks like this will be a regular stop in future.
July 6, 2025 at 3:08 PM
Charging our #EV at the Tafarnaubach charger point, just off the newly completed A465 Heads of the Valleys road in South Wales. With its own wind turbine, driving doesn't get much greener. A very competitive 55p/kWh with electroverse. Looks like this will be a regular stop in future.
Despite our strong family connections to Canada, we don't normally do much for Canada Day.
But these are not normal times, so we went all out. A party for friends with burgers, hot dogs, poutine, pumpkin pie, timbits and some very nice maple whisky.
Bonne fête du Canada !
#CanadaDay #ElbowsUp
But these are not normal times, so we went all out. A party for friends with burgers, hot dogs, poutine, pumpkin pie, timbits and some very nice maple whisky.
Bonne fête du Canada !
#CanadaDay #ElbowsUp
July 1, 2025 at 9:17 PM
Despite our strong family connections to Canada, we don't normally do much for Canada Day.
But these are not normal times, so we went all out. A party for friends with burgers, hot dogs, poutine, pumpkin pie, timbits and some very nice maple whisky.
Bonne fête du Canada !
#CanadaDay #ElbowsUp
But these are not normal times, so we went all out. A party for friends with burgers, hot dogs, poutine, pumpkin pie, timbits and some very nice maple whisky.
Bonne fête du Canada !
#CanadaDay #ElbowsUp
76 species from a marshy grassland site near Cwmgors, Glamorgan. The west Wales speciality Double Line, also Small Seraphim, Beautiful Snout and True Lover's Knot. Migrants represented by Rush Veneer, Dark Sword-Grass and Silver Y. Also, a single insularia form of Peppered Moth. #teammoth
June 22, 2025 at 8:24 AM
76 species from a marshy grassland site near Cwmgors, Glamorgan. The west Wales speciality Double Line, also Small Seraphim, Beautiful Snout and True Lover's Knot. Migrants represented by Rush Veneer, Dark Sword-Grass and Silver Y. Also, a single insularia form of Peppered Moth. #teammoth
And after a long day in the heat, "Ice Cold in Quebec"!
June 17, 2025 at 1:32 AM
And after a long day in the heat, "Ice Cold in Quebec"!
Last full day of birding in Canada today, at the Marais Réal D. Carbonneau wetlands near Sherbrooke. 40 species recorded, including Tree Swallow, Green Heron and Marsh Wren.
June 17, 2025 at 1:32 AM
Last full day of birding in Canada today, at the Marais Réal D. Carbonneau wetlands near Sherbrooke. 40 species recorded, including Tree Swallow, Green Heron and Marsh Wren.
Canadians. You've got to love them.
Sign on the back of a Tesla, and sign on a shop door.
Sign on the back of a Tesla, and sign on a shop door.
June 15, 2025 at 12:04 PM
Canadians. You've got to love them.
Sign on the back of a Tesla, and sign on a shop door.
Sign on the back of a Tesla, and sign on a shop door.