Paul Grennard
@pembsbikingbirder.bsky.social
Ageing punk, birder, cyclist, vegan and all-around nature obsessive. Birding by bicycle, bus and train.
A pint of the black velvet to celebrate a new British bird 🥳😋
December 7, 2025 at 6:20 PM
A pint of the black velvet to celebrate a new British bird 🥳😋
Train and bus over to Llanrhidian from Haverfordwest was rewarded with fantastic views of the harriers flying around in the wind before dusk. 1 subadult female Pallid Harrier, 2 Hen Harriers (1 male) and a Marsh Harrier.
December 6, 2025 at 5:03 PM
Train and bus over to Llanrhidian from Haverfordwest was rewarded with fantastic views of the harriers flying around in the wind before dusk. 1 subadult female Pallid Harrier, 2 Hen Harriers (1 male) and a Marsh Harrier.
A late afternoon/early evening session at the Dowrog Common St Davids started well when i flushed a Jack Snipe from the side of the road as i cycled by. The raptor roost was no disappointment either with 3 Hen Harriers (2 male), 1 Merlin, 1 Sparrowhawk, 1 Kestrel & a Short-eared Owl.
December 4, 2025 at 5:30 PM
A late afternoon/early evening session at the Dowrog Common St Davids started well when i flushed a Jack Snipe from the side of the road as i cycled by. The raptor roost was no disappointment either with 3 Hen Harriers (2 male), 1 Merlin, 1 Sparrowhawk, 1 Kestrel & a Short-eared Owl.
I caught the train over to Kidwelly from Haverfordwest and cycled to Kidwelly Quay. 1 Siberian Chiffchaff opposite the sewage works, 1 ringtail Hen Harrier and 2 Marsh Harriers hunting Kidwelly Marsh.
November 30, 2025 at 5:35 PM
I caught the train over to Kidwelly from Haverfordwest and cycled to Kidwelly Quay. 1 Siberian Chiffchaff opposite the sewage works, 1 ringtail Hen Harrier and 2 Marsh Harriers hunting Kidwelly Marsh.
I decided to catch the bus to St Davids, and cycle out to the Dowrog Common,hoping there was a dry window in the rain. I am glad i did as it stopped raining, and 3 hen harriers (1 male) put on an excellent show before roosting. A single Whooper Swan flew over, which was a nice surprise.
November 27, 2025 at 5:39 PM
I decided to catch the bus to St Davids, and cycle out to the Dowrog Common,hoping there was a dry window in the rain. I am glad i did as it stopped raining, and 3 hen harriers (1 male) put on an excellent show before roosting. A single Whooper Swan flew over, which was a nice surprise.
I caught the train and bus to Broad Oak, Carmarthenshire from Haverfordwest, and then cycled to Cilsan Bridge to see Whooper Swans wintering there. It was lovely to ride a section of newly constructed cycle path through the Tywi Valley from Carmarthen to Llandeilo 😊 🚴
November 25, 2025 at 5:44 PM
I caught the train and bus to Broad Oak, Carmarthenshire from Haverfordwest, and then cycled to Cilsan Bridge to see Whooper Swans wintering there. It was lovely to ride a section of newly constructed cycle path through the Tywi Valley from Carmarthen to Llandeilo 😊 🚴
My first visit of the gulling season to Llys-y-fran Reservoir with Brian Southern and George Mee was rewarded with the returning adult Ring-billed x Lesser Black-backed Gull hybrid, 5 YLGs ( 5 adults and 1 1st w) and 6 adult Med Gulls.
November 22, 2025 at 5:24 PM
My first visit of the gulling season to Llys-y-fran Reservoir with Brian Southern and George Mee was rewarded with the returning adult Ring-billed x Lesser Black-backed Gull hybrid, 5 YLGs ( 5 adults and 1 1st w) and 6 adult Med Gulls.
Spotted Redshank WWT Slimbridge
November 22, 2025 at 5:17 PM
Spotted Redshank WWT Slimbridge
I biked out to the Dowrog Common from St. Davids, having caught the bus from Haverfordwest.
November 21, 2025 at 7:52 PM
I biked out to the Dowrog Common from St. Davids, having caught the bus from Haverfordwest.
It was a bit of a frustrating day for me arriving at Porthclais too late to see the Pallas's Warbler that only the finder saw. The Dusky Warbler showed very briefly again to its finder. A cycle to the Dowrog Common also drew a blank for the Pallid Harrier. 😒
November 8, 2025 at 7:33 PM
It was a bit of a frustrating day for me arriving at Porthclais too late to see the Pallas's Warbler that only the finder saw. The Dusky Warbler showed very briefly again to its finder. A cycle to the Dowrog Common also drew a blank for the Pallid Harrier. 😒
Best today was 2 Firecrests by the Stone Bridge at Quickwell Hill, St Davids.
November 1, 2025 at 12:27 PM
Best today was 2 Firecrests by the Stone Bridge at Quickwell Hill, St Davids.
A very distant female type Black Redstart on the Old College Building at Aberystwyth this afternoon.
October 25, 2025 at 6:19 PM
A very distant female type Black Redstart on the Old College Building at Aberystwyth this afternoon.
Today was the final day with my gravel bike. She has been brilliant, and i will miss her.🥲 Today's best birds, 3 Yellow-browed Warblers in Sycamores by the tin church Low Newton, and a Brambling over there as well. Another birder told me he saw a Ring Ouzel.
October 17, 2025 at 3:48 PM
Today was the final day with my gravel bike. She has been brilliant, and i will miss her.🥲 Today's best birds, 3 Yellow-browed Warblers in Sycamores by the tin church Low Newton, and a Brambling over there as well. Another birder told me he saw a Ring Ouzel.
It's my last day tomorrow with this little beauty. She has been brilliant at getting me around 🚴
October 16, 2025 at 3:27 PM
It's my last day tomorrow with this little beauty. She has been brilliant at getting me around 🚴
As the bushes and trees around Bamburgh seemed quiet, i did another seawatch at Stag Rock - 1 adult Little Gull, 2 Arctic Terns and a Sandwich Tern. 5 Purple Sandpipers on rocks.
October 16, 2025 at 3:25 PM
As the bushes and trees around Bamburgh seemed quiet, i did another seawatch at Stag Rock - 1 adult Little Gull, 2 Arctic Terns and a Sandwich Tern. 5 Purple Sandpipers on rocks.
A good start 9 Velvet Scoters past Annstead Point, Seahouses.
October 16, 2025 at 8:26 AM
A good start 9 Velvet Scoters past Annstead Point, Seahouses.
Eiders are everywhere here. The best bird today was a Pomarine Skua, which flew past Seahouses this afternoon. I also had a mechanical with my hire bike, and i had to change the inner tube on my back tyre. That was a pain 😢
October 15, 2025 at 4:32 PM
Eiders are everywhere here. The best bird today was a Pomarine Skua, which flew past Seahouses this afternoon. I also had a mechanical with my hire bike, and i had to change the inner tube on my back tyre. That was a pain 😢
Low Newton Pool
October 14, 2025 at 4:43 PM
Low Newton Pool
Good start to my first day in Northumberland on this hired gravel bike. 5 Purple Sandpipers Bamburgh. Pec Sand Low Newton Pool and 4 Yellow-browed Warblers Low Newton in trees & scrub along the footpath from the tin church
October 14, 2025 at 2:47 PM
Good start to my first day in Northumberland on this hired gravel bike. 5 Purple Sandpipers Bamburgh. Pec Sand Low Newton Pool and 4 Yellow-browed Warblers Low Newton in trees & scrub along the footpath from the tin church
It was nice to see my third UK Brown Shrike, which was an excellent find by Steve Jones 👏
October 10, 2025 at 7:02 PM
It was nice to see my third UK Brown Shrike, which was an excellent find by Steve Jones 👏
A brilliant morning at Strumble Head with my birding buddy Brian Southern.
c30 Sabine's gulls
C30 Arctic skua
12 Bonxie
1 Pom
WWBT juvenile
12 Black tern
Leach's
3 Balearic
2 Sooty
3 Little gull
Sunfish
c30 Sabine's gulls
C30 Arctic skua
12 Bonxie
1 Pom
WWBT juvenile
12 Black tern
Leach's
3 Balearic
2 Sooty
3 Little gull
Sunfish
September 16, 2025 at 12:05 PM
A brilliant morning at Strumble Head with my birding buddy Brian Southern.
c30 Sabine's gulls
C30 Arctic skua
12 Bonxie
1 Pom
WWBT juvenile
12 Black tern
Leach's
3 Balearic
2 Sooty
3 Little gull
Sunfish
c30 Sabine's gulls
C30 Arctic skua
12 Bonxie
1 Pom
WWBT juvenile
12 Black tern
Leach's
3 Balearic
2 Sooty
3 Little gull
Sunfish
I took advantage of the new improved hourly T5 Haverfordwest to Cardigan bus service this morning using my bus pass. Best birds were juv Little Stint, juv Curlew Sandpiper and an Osprey. There were good numbers of commoner wader species too and the Osprey put on a fantastic show.
September 11, 2025 at 2:43 PM
I took advantage of the new improved hourly T5 Haverfordwest to Cardigan bus service this morning using my bus pass. Best birds were juv Little Stint, juv Curlew Sandpiper and an Osprey. There were good numbers of commoner wader species too and the Osprey put on a fantastic show.
An excellent cycle around St.Davids Wood Sandpiper, juv Spotted Redshank, juv Ruff, and 2 Ringed Plover Dowrog pool. At Trefeiddan juv Marsh Harrier. Red Admirals were widespread, 1 Painted Lady and 3 Migrant Hawkers and several Common Darters.
September 6, 2025 at 11:51 AM
An excellent cycle around St.Davids Wood Sandpiper, juv Spotted Redshank, juv Ruff, and 2 Ringed Plover Dowrog pool. At Trefeiddan juv Marsh Harrier. Red Admirals were widespread, 1 Painted Lady and 3 Migrant Hawkers and several Common Darters.
A search of the willows on the Neath Canal around Neath was unsuccessful for Wiillow Emerald. 15 Migrant Hawkers, 2 Southern Hawkers, 2 Golden-ringed Dragonfly and 1 Blue-tailed Damselfly.
August 25, 2025 at 2:25 PM
A search of the willows on the Neath Canal around Neath was unsuccessful for Wiillow Emerald. 15 Migrant Hawkers, 2 Southern Hawkers, 2 Golden-ringed Dragonfly and 1 Blue-tailed Damselfly.
Southern Emerald, Lestes barbarus, Canvey Island, Essex
August 24, 2025 at 7:05 PM
Southern Emerald, Lestes barbarus, Canvey Island, Essex