A 10 minute walk to my nearest train station; a 15 minute train ride to central Cardiff; an 8 minute walk to the correct bus stop; a 20 minute bus ride; a 10 minute walk to Parc Tredelerch (plus some waiting time in between those various journeys) and all in the hope of hearing a Bittern booming out its love call from the reedbeds. Did it boom? No, it did not. But the sun was shining, I got plenty of exercise walking around and round the various trails in the park, and, a beautiful bonus, I saw my first Comma butterfly for 2026.

And wouldn’t you know it? That darn Bittern boomed again early the following morning. It obviously didn’t like the look of me!