Happy New Year, everyone!

As I’ve done for the past few years, I’d planned to walk a circuit of Cardiff Bay today, challenging myself to find as many birds, and wildflowers in bloom, as possible. But the weather has intervened: heavy rain squalls are barrelling through and we’re under a yellow wind warning until 3pm. I hope to get out late afternoon for at least a local stomp but may return too late and too wet to get today’s blog out in good time. So, here’s a special encounter from a couple of weeks ago, on 17 December, when my end-of-year countdown blogs were underway.

Fortunately, as I rounded the corner to begin walking the path alongside the River Ely, I was searching the adjacent embankment for any birds and noticed this gorgeous Sparrowhawk, initially perched on a rock, and then it hopped on to a neighbouring dead tree trunk. Amazingly, it didn’t spot me (or, perhaps, wasn’t concerned by my presence), and I got quite a few photos before a motorboat, heading in to the marina, passed quite close behind, disturbing the bird and causing it to fly off.

These are the special moments I so love when I’m out on my daily wanders. I hope, in 2025, that your days will be full of wildlife and wildflowers, and similar special moments in Nature!