Mark Hipkin 🏴
@markhipkin.bsky.social
Always birding and enjoying nature
🐦⬛ 🦆 🐝 🦋 🐬 🦈 🦭 🌲 🌻 🌳
🐦⬛ 🦆 🐝 🦋 🐬 🦈 🦭 🌲 🌻 🌳
Excellent work again Frank! No doubt difficult call in fading light. I, along with a few others, managed to connect with it this AM. It quartered the brambles on and off btwn 10:00 to 12:50 offering decent views in variable light. I make it a sub-ad Fem, so poss returning bird, but I’m not an expert
October 1, 2025 at 3:05 PM
Excellent work again Frank! No doubt difficult call in fading light. I, along with a few others, managed to connect with it this AM. It quartered the brambles on and off btwn 10:00 to 12:50 offering decent views in variable light. I make it a sub-ad Fem, so poss returning bird, but I’m not an expert
The periodic birding hotspot that is Jackstones Pier and more Juvenile Sabine’s Gull shots - did I mention there were a magnificent seven of them at one point #birdingWales
September 20, 2025 at 6:07 AM
The periodic birding hotspot that is Jackstones Pier and more Juvenile Sabine’s Gull shots - did I mention there were a magnificent seven of them at one point #birdingWales
Oh and there were Grey Phalaropes at Jackstones Pier, yesterday, too. 3 in fact and later another 4 were seen at the other end of Aberavon Beach at the Neath River mouth so a minimum of 7 in the area. Here’s a few shots of three from my morning visit #birdingWales
September 20, 2025 at 6:03 AM
Oh and there were Grey Phalaropes at Jackstones Pier, yesterday, too. 3 in fact and later another 4 were seen at the other end of Aberavon Beach at the Neath River mouth so a minimum of 7 in the area. Here’s a few shots of three from my morning visit #birdingWales
Oh my goodness! Jackstones Pier, Aberafan delivered another epic bonanza of gull action. 12.5 years after the Ross’s & Little Gull spectacle it’s time for Sabine’s Gulls to take over. Up to 7 birds present since 18/09/25 Every birder I spoke to yesterday could barely believe their eyes #birdingWales
September 20, 2025 at 5:55 AM
Oh my goodness! Jackstones Pier, Aberafan delivered another epic bonanza of gull action. 12.5 years after the Ross’s & Little Gull spectacle it’s time for Sabine’s Gulls to take over. Up to 7 birds present since 18/09/25 Every birder I spoke to yesterday could barely believe their eyes #birdingWales
A few photos of the juv Sabs off Mumbles this afternoon . What an absolute stunner!!
September 18, 2025 at 5:24 AM
A few photos of the juv Sabs off Mumbles this afternoon . What an absolute stunner!!
In many ways I feel Arctic Skuas are like Red Kites. It doesn’t matter how many I see, each one is captivating and cool to watch. Today’s parasitic bundle of joy is a striking pale morph ad that was powering out of Burry Inlet early afternoon. A striking bird seen both sides of estuary since Tues
September 11, 2025 at 11:57 PM
In many ways I feel Arctic Skuas are like Red Kites. It doesn’t matter how many I see, each one is captivating and cool to watch. Today’s parasitic bundle of joy is a striking pale morph ad that was powering out of Burry Inlet early afternoon. A striking bird seen both sides of estuary since Tues
Yesterday’s Black Terns were a mini-milestone in my attempt at the Glamorgan Bird Year List record. They took me to 210, and significantly, is exactly 2 months earlier than in my failed 2024 attempt. Video attached shows the 3 birds feeding in channel off Whiteford Lighthouse beach on falling tide
September 11, 2025 at 4:23 AM
Yesterday’s Black Terns were a mini-milestone in my attempt at the Glamorgan Bird Year List record. They took me to 210, and significantly, is exactly 2 months earlier than in my failed 2024 attempt. Video attached shows the 3 birds feeding in channel off Whiteford Lighthouse beach on falling tide
The day after my first ever Pelagic trip in the UK and I’m still absolutely buzzing to see my first Wilson’s Storm-petrel. The excellent trip run by @westcoastbirds.bsky.social from Neyland Harbour was a great adventure and made extra special when this beauty treated us to a fly-by
July 24, 2025 at 6:36 PM
The day after my first ever Pelagic trip in the UK and I’m still absolutely buzzing to see my first Wilson’s Storm-petrel. The excellent trip run by @westcoastbirds.bsky.social from Neyland Harbour was a great adventure and made extra special when this beauty treated us to a fly-by
I have been surprised to see a number of species that I know well at high altitudes on this trip. Swallowtails have been seen on most days with the highest observation just above Col de l’Iseran @ 2780m. Today I managed a photo of one ( looking NW) at Fort de la Turra above Col de Mont Cenis @ 2500m
July 11, 2025 at 8:14 PM
I have been surprised to see a number of species that I know well at high altitudes on this trip. Swallowtails have been seen on most days with the highest observation just above Col de l’Iseran @ 2780m. Today I managed a photo of one ( looking NW) at Fort de la Turra above Col de Mont Cenis @ 2500m
Only three more nights left in Bonneval-sur-Arc in the French Alps. It’s been extremely enjoyable with 3 world ticks for me. But tonight I’m hoping for a few moths to photograph and ID, if possible, in the future.
July 11, 2025 at 7:45 PM
Only three more nights left in Bonneval-sur-Arc in the French Alps. It’s been extremely enjoyable with 3 world ticks for me. But tonight I’m hoping for a few moths to photograph and ID, if possible, in the future.
So the Bonneval-sur-Arc chalet patio wildlife experience has progressed to another level. First a Lammergeier & 4 Griffons overhead were very welcome, but then they headed to roost on the cliffs down the valley. Then more vultures arrived - min counts 4+ Lammergeier, 2+ Euro Black & 12+ Griffon. 😮MG
July 5, 2025 at 7:58 PM
So the Bonneval-sur-Arc chalet patio wildlife experience has progressed to another level. First a Lammergeier & 4 Griffons overhead were very welcome, but then they headed to roost on the cliffs down the valley. Then more vultures arrived - min counts 4+ Lammergeier, 2+ Euro Black & 12+ Griffon. 😮MG
12 battling Alpine Ibex bucks at various ages. This was so cool to watch with a cuppa & Jaffa cake
July 1, 2025 at 8:52 PM
12 battling Alpine Ibex bucks at various ages. This was so cool to watch with a cuppa & Jaffa cake
Arrived in Bonneval-sur-arc yesterday for a two week stay and some Alpine therapy with Hipkin Senior. Among the highlights so far are Lammergeier, 4 Black Vultures, 2+ Snow Finch and Pyrenean Whitlow Grass. But the highlight has been watching 12 battling Alpine Ibex @5km from the Chalet patio
July 1, 2025 at 8:48 PM
Arrived in Bonneval-sur-arc yesterday for a two week stay and some Alpine therapy with Hipkin Senior. Among the highlights so far are Lammergeier, 4 Black Vultures, 2+ Snow Finch and Pyrenean Whitlow Grass. But the highlight has been watching 12 battling Alpine Ibex @5km from the Chalet patio
The first few Purple Hairstreaks of the year were on show from the back garden in Neath early evening, today. They usually keep to the very top of the mature Oaks on the right of the photo and if I’m lucky they choose a spot to alight which is not obscured by leaves
June 20, 2025 at 9:59 PM
The first few Purple Hairstreaks of the year were on show from the back garden in Neath early evening, today. They usually keep to the very top of the mature Oaks on the right of the photo and if I’m lucky they choose a spot to alight which is not obscured by leaves
A great day birding in Glamorgan with Lukas today. Started off with a distant Honey Buzzard this AM. Next to The Worm over Low Tide where 2 Puffins were nice but a 1st Sum Sabine’s Gull with large mixed feeding flock off Outer Head was stunning - video grabs by Lukas attached show the little stunner
June 17, 2025 at 9:01 PM
A great day birding in Glamorgan with Lukas today. Started off with a distant Honey Buzzard this AM. Next to The Worm over Low Tide where 2 Puffins were nice but a 1st Sum Sabine’s Gull with large mixed feeding flock off Outer Head was stunning - video grabs by Lukas attached show the little stunner
The garden in Neath is not particularly good at attracting migrant moths eg no Dark Sword-grass in five years of trapping. Therefore it was a real treat to find a Four-spotted Footman in the trap, yesterday. I like seeing the more common Footman’s in any catch but this species is super cool 😎
June 16, 2025 at 1:51 PM
The garden in Neath is not particularly good at attracting migrant moths eg no Dark Sword-grass in five years of trapping. Therefore it was a real treat to find a Four-spotted Footman in the trap, yesterday. I like seeing the more common Footman’s in any catch but this species is super cool 😎
A Clay Triple-lines was the pick of the moths from last night’s trap in Neath. And my first Marbled White of 2025 was on the wing at Whiteford Burrows during an otherwise fairly quiet day.
June 11, 2025 at 9:21 PM
A Clay Triple-lines was the pick of the moths from last night’s trap in Neath. And my first Marbled White of 2025 was on the wing at Whiteford Burrows during an otherwise fairly quiet day.
What a wonderful few hours I have ahead of me watching breeding seabirds on Worms Head, Gower. Hopefully there’ll be some non-breeding Puffins about too
June 6, 2025 at 7:04 AM
What a wonderful few hours I have ahead of me watching breeding seabirds on Worms Head, Gower. Hopefully there’ll be some non-breeding Puffins about too
My UK birding year list hit 200, today, and 196 of them have been in Glamorgan. It was a Spotted Flycatcher, 3 of them in fact, at Cwm Clydach. But the real stars today were a couple of recently fledged Pied Flycatchers being by the male.
June 5, 2025 at 8:01 PM
My UK birding year list hit 200, today, and 196 of them have been in Glamorgan. It was a Spotted Flycatcher, 3 of them in fact, at Cwm Clydach. But the real stars today were a couple of recently fledged Pied Flycatchers being by the male.
Great photos, Tate! And wow, imagine that, actually getting a reply about where a bird was ringed. I mean it makes worthwhile putting in the effort taking a load of photos, checking if any are useful, processing them, finding the ringing scheme, drafting email(s) and bringing value to that project
May 30, 2025 at 11:30 PM
Great photos, Tate! And wow, imagine that, actually getting a reply about where a bird was ringed. I mean it makes worthwhile putting in the effort taking a load of photos, checking if any are useful, processing them, finding the ringing scheme, drafting email(s) and bringing value to that project
Lukas managed to get a couple of shots of the beast before it disappeared out of view. Sadly the detail in the best photo isn’t great but the memory of a self-found full summer plumage White-billed Diver in Wales will be something I’ll remember fondly and talk about (sorry all) for quotes some time
May 29, 2025 at 8:40 PM
Lukas managed to get a couple of shots of the beast before it disappeared out of view. Sadly the detail in the best photo isn’t great but the memory of a self-found full summer plumage White-billed Diver in Wales will be something I’ll remember fondly and talk about (sorry all) for quotes some time
After a long and eventful week I think I might treat myself to a ruby 🥘 😋
May 2, 2025 at 3:48 PM
After a long and eventful week I think I might treat myself to a ruby 🥘 😋
I started the month of May by dipping a Wood Sandpiper at Kenfig, but my 2025 Glamorgan year list is in good shape at 189 by end of April. I’ve dipped 4 birds this year but still 9 ahead at the same point last year. And I don’t have to look back very far for the bird for the year to date.
May 1, 2025 at 9:28 PM
I started the month of May by dipping a Wood Sandpiper at Kenfig, but my 2025 Glamorgan year list is in good shape at 189 by end of April. I’ve dipped 4 birds this year but still 9 ahead at the same point last year. And I don’t have to look back very far for the bird for the year to date.
Today, I found 2 pairs of stunning Dotterel @ Cwm Cadlan. The limestone pavement here has been a reliable place to see Dotterel on Spring passage in the past but these are first here since 30 APR 2013. To say I was pleased to find them this year is a massive understatement. It was a real OMG moment❤️
April 30, 2025 at 9:24 PM
Today, I found 2 pairs of stunning Dotterel @ Cwm Cadlan. The limestone pavement here has been a reliable place to see Dotterel on Spring passage in the past but these are first here since 30 APR 2013. To say I was pleased to find them this year is a massive understatement. It was a real OMG moment❤️
By the time I arrived at Goldcliff this morning (06:50) to try and see the superb Broad-billed Sandpiper this morning mist had set in. Following a wait of over an hour visibility improved dramatically and then the bird found new ways to stay hidden. This video is an example of ‘giving good views’
April 28, 2025 at 8:18 PM
By the time I arrived at Goldcliff this morning (06:50) to try and see the superb Broad-billed Sandpiper this morning mist had set in. Following a wait of over an hour visibility improved dramatically and then the bird found new ways to stay hidden. This video is an example of ‘giving good views’