Tristan ap Rheinallt
@tichodrome.bsky.social
Into birding and most aspects of natural history. Divide my time between France, Scotland's Outer Hebrides and anywhere exotic I can afford to visit. Abandoning the dark side for Bluesky and hoping for a better experience
Much like Australia's Masked Lapwing, the Red-wattled Lapwing is an excitable bird that makes a lot of noise by day and by night. I photographed this one recently at Laem Phak Bia, Thailand. #birds
April 12, 2025 at 5:09 PM
Much like Australia's Masked Lapwing, the Red-wattled Lapwing is an excitable bird that makes a lot of noise by day and by night. I photographed this one recently at Laem Phak Bia, Thailand. #birds
It's noisy, sedentary, has a wide range, and likes urban environments, so the Black-collared Starling is not much of a "birder's bird". Still, this one in Bangkok last week looked pretty smart.
April 11, 2025 at 5:36 PM
It's noisy, sedentary, has a wide range, and likes urban environments, so the Black-collared Starling is not much of a "birder's bird". Still, this one in Bangkok last week looked pretty smart.
Another recent photo from Thailand: Brown-throated Sunbird at Laem Phak Bia. One of seven sunbird species I recorded on my trip.
April 7, 2025 at 6:28 PM
Another recent photo from Thailand: Brown-throated Sunbird at Laem Phak Bia. One of seven sunbird species I recorded on my trip.
Another flycatcher from Thailand: Yellow-rumped. Present for 2 days last week at Baan Maka Nature Lodge near Kaeng Krachan NP: a brilliant place to stay for anyone interested in birds and/or other wildlife.
April 6, 2025 at 4:54 PM
Another flycatcher from Thailand: Yellow-rumped. Present for 2 days last week at Baan Maka Nature Lodge near Kaeng Krachan NP: a brilliant place to stay for anyone interested in birds and/or other wildlife.
Just back from a 6wk trip to Thailand. Going to post a few photos, starting with this wee cracker: Ferruginous Flycatcher at Kaeng Krachan NP last week.
April 5, 2025 at 5:07 PM
Just back from a 6wk trip to Thailand. Going to post a few photos, starting with this wee cracker: Ferruginous Flycatcher at Kaeng Krachan NP last week.
This is the nearest I'll ever get to seeing a Gurney's Pitta. Thailand's KNC, once a global mecca for the species, is littered with images and other references - even sculptures - though the bird itself is gone. Plenty of other exciting birds in the forest here, but seeing them is hard work.
February 24, 2025 at 12:53 PM
This is the nearest I'll ever get to seeing a Gurney's Pitta. Thailand's KNC, once a global mecca for the species, is littered with images and other references - even sculptures - though the bird itself is gone. Plenty of other exciting birds in the forest here, but seeing them is hard work.
My Swarovskis went on holiday to Austria and came back 6 weeks later with new rubber armour. I hope it lasts more than 2 yrs this time.
February 14, 2025 at 5:34 PM
My Swarovskis went on holiday to Austria and came back 6 weeks later with new rubber armour. I hope it lasts more than 2 yrs this time.
Nowadays Siskins can be found year-round in Stornoway (Outer Hebrides), with numbers predictably peaking in autumn. Eight individuals at this feeder were more than usual for the month of February.
February 12, 2025 at 8:09 PM
Nowadays Siskins can be found year-round in Stornoway (Outer Hebrides), with numbers predictably peaking in autumn. Eight individuals at this feeder were more than usual for the month of February.
Here's the long-staying Ring-necked Duck at Tiumpan Loch, Isle of Lewis, this morning, showing off his striking bill pattern. Other birds in the area included an adult Iceland Gull and a Hen Harrier.
January 19, 2025 at 4:38 PM
Here's the long-staying Ring-necked Duck at Tiumpan Loch, Isle of Lewis, this morning, showing off his striking bill pattern. Other birds in the area included an adult Iceland Gull and a Hen Harrier.
Cold north wind and snow showers for my Jan 1st walk around Stornoway. A measly 32 species, enlivened by an adult Iceland Gull and a couple of Great Northern Divers. #birdingScotland #UKbirding
January 1, 2025 at 4:29 PM
Cold north wind and snow showers for my Jan 1st walk around Stornoway. A measly 32 species, enlivened by an adult Iceland Gull and a couple of Great Northern Divers. #birdingScotland #UKbirding
Thank you, Santa! #birdingScotland #ukbirding
December 25, 2024 at 10:17 AM
Thank you, Santa! #birdingScotland #ukbirding
Over much of Britain, the lichen Lobaria pulmonaria (lungwort) is an ancient woodland indicator. Not so in the humid climate of NW Scotland, where it even occurs on treeless St Kilda. It's very common in Stornoway Castle Grounds, Lewis (where this photo was taken yesterday).
December 21, 2024 at 4:15 PM
Over much of Britain, the lichen Lobaria pulmonaria (lungwort) is an ancient woodland indicator. Not so in the humid climate of NW Scotland, where it even occurs on treeless St Kilda. It's very common in Stornoway Castle Grounds, Lewis (where this photo was taken yesterday).
The Butt of Lewis lighthouse at sunrise today. A lovely calm morning after two solid days of northerlies - surely promising conditions for finding an interesting bird, but no such luck.
December 9, 2024 at 8:59 PM
The Butt of Lewis lighthouse at sunrise today. A lovely calm morning after two solid days of northerlies - surely promising conditions for finding an interesting bird, but no such luck.
Time was when I would willingly have driven a couple of hundred miles to see 2 egret species at the same UK site. But this morning, neither Little Egret (several) nor Great White Egret (2) were flagged up as rarities on my eBird list for Porthmadog Cob, North Wales. #birdingwales #ukbirding
November 22, 2024 at 4:07 PM
Time was when I would willingly have driven a couple of hundred miles to see 2 egret species at the same UK site. But this morning, neither Little Egret (several) nor Great White Egret (2) were flagged up as rarities on my eBird list for Porthmadog Cob, North Wales. #birdingwales #ukbirding
This hybrid Hooded x Carrion Crow was on the beach at Llanddwyn, Ynys Môn / Anglesey today, paired with a Carrion Crow. Does anyone know what the status of Hooded Crow is in this part of Wales? #birdingwales #ukbirding
November 21, 2024 at 9:34 PM
This hybrid Hooded x Carrion Crow was on the beach at Llanddwyn, Ynys Môn / Anglesey today, paired with a Carrion Crow. Does anyone know what the status of Hooded Crow is in this part of Wales? #birdingwales #ukbirding
This preening individual was one of about 40 Black-tailed Godwits seen along Porthmadog Cob, North Wales, this morning. #birdingwales #ukbirding
November 20, 2024 at 4:56 PM
This preening individual was one of about 40 Black-tailed Godwits seen along Porthmadog Cob, North Wales, this morning. #birdingwales #ukbirding
Good to see and hear a few Choughs on the North Wales coast this morning. A very different habitat to the high Pyrenees where I last encountered this species. #birdingwales #ukbirding
November 19, 2024 at 5:32 PM
Good to see and hear a few Choughs on the North Wales coast this morning. A very different habitat to the high Pyrenees where I last encountered this species. #birdingwales #ukbirding
After just 2 years, my Swarovskis are going on a wee holiday to Austria. Rubber armour split on both sides🙁 #ukbirding (with my old Zeiss for the next few weeks)
November 14, 2024 at 11:10 AM
After just 2 years, my Swarovskis are going on a wee holiday to Austria. Rubber armour split on both sides🙁 #ukbirding (with my old Zeiss for the next few weeks)
Oops, I forgot hashtags the first time round. Juv Pallid Swift, Tiumpan Head, Isle of Lewis, this afternoon. Still present just before dusk. #BirdingScotland #UKbirding
November 4, 2024 at 8:20 PM
Oops, I forgot hashtags the first time round. Juv Pallid Swift, Tiumpan Head, Isle of Lewis, this afternoon. Still present just before dusk. #BirdingScotland #UKbirding
A dark, gloomy afternoon on the Isle of Lewis took a turn for the better today when the 1st bird I saw on getting out of my car at Tiumpan Head was a swift. Not any old swift, either...
November 4, 2024 at 8:11 PM
A dark, gloomy afternoon on the Isle of Lewis took a turn for the better today when the 1st bird I saw on getting out of my car at Tiumpan Head was a swift. Not any old swift, either...
I rarely see a Little Gull here on the Isle of Lewis, so 3 together yesterday at Tong were quite a treat. #BirdingScotland
November 4, 2024 at 9:44 AM
I rarely see a Little Gull here on the Isle of Lewis, so 3 together yesterday at Tong were quite a treat. #BirdingScotland
Dipped out (for the 2nd time) on Little Crake at my local reserve in central France, but still a good day with White-winged Black Tern, 2 Bluethroats, Turnstone plus the usual Cattle Egret confetti. Any (polite) suggestions for a suitable hashtag for this post?
September 3, 2024 at 4:24 PM
Dipped out (for the 2nd time) on Little Crake at my local reserve in central France, but still a good day with White-winged Black Tern, 2 Bluethroats, Turnstone plus the usual Cattle Egret confetti. Any (polite) suggestions for a suitable hashtag for this post?
France has a lot of fritillaries, some of which look very similar to one another. This one, Weaver's Fritillary (Boloria dia, la Petite Violette), has a pretty distinctive underwing pattern and is a regular visitor to my garden at the moment.
#Butterflies #Papillons
#Butterflies #Papillons
September 1, 2024 at 6:58 PM
France has a lot of fritillaries, some of which look very similar to one another. This one, Weaver's Fritillary (Boloria dia, la Petite Violette), has a pretty distinctive underwing pattern and is a regular visitor to my garden at the moment.
#Butterflies #Papillons
#Butterflies #Papillons
A Queen-of-Spain Fritillary (Issoria lathonia, le Petit Nacré) on buddleia in my garden in central France. Numbers in 2023 and 2024 have been tiny compared to previous years. Is this just year-to-year variation, or is the local population in free fall? I don't know.
#butterflies #papillons
#butterflies #papillons
August 27, 2024 at 7:39 AM
A Queen-of-Spain Fritillary (Issoria lathonia, le Petit Nacré) on buddleia in my garden in central France. Numbers in 2023 and 2024 have been tiny compared to previous years. Is this just year-to-year variation, or is the local population in free fall? I don't know.
#butterflies #papillons
#butterflies #papillons
A blue butterfly seemed an appropriate subject for my 1st Bluesky post. This one, photographed today, looks brown but is a Long-tailed Blue (Lampides boeticus, l'Azuré porte-queue), the 1st I've ever seen in my garden. Now 47 butterfly spp on my garden list (central France). #butterflies #papillons
August 22, 2024 at 8:09 PM
A blue butterfly seemed an appropriate subject for my 1st Bluesky post. This one, photographed today, looks brown but is a Long-tailed Blue (Lampides boeticus, l'Azuré porte-queue), the 1st I've ever seen in my garden. Now 47 butterfly spp on my garden list (central France). #butterflies #papillons