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earthstar

~ a celebration of nature

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Tag Archives: Radyr Weir

163/365 ‘Feed me!’

12 Wednesday Jun 2019

Posted by sconzani in 365DaysWildin2019, birds, nature

≈ 5 Comments

Tags

#365DaysWild, birding, birdwatching, British birds, Dipper, Dipper chick, Dipper feeding its chick, Radyr Weir

I didn’t spot the fledgling Dipper at first, its pale brown, grey and yellow tones blending in perfectly with the dull hues of old concrete and rusty metal.

190612 dippers (1)

Then I spotted the adult Dipper flying towards the weir and, as soon as the young one opened its mouth, that bright orange gape was impossible to miss. It shouted ‘Feed me!’

190612 dippers (2)

Four times I watched the adult bird fly off downstream, desperately searching around stones and under water for more tasty titbits.

190612 dippers (3)190612 dippers (4)190612 dippers (5)

As soon as it had a mouthful, back to its chick it flew, to deposit the snacks into that wide and ravenous orange mouth. I really don’t know how bird parents find the energy to keep up their constant effort. What an incredible job they do in rearing their young!

190612 dippers (6)

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A new wildflower meadow

02 Friday Sep 2016

Posted by sconzani in nature, wildflowers

≈ 8 Comments

Tags

Corncockle, Cornflower, Field bindweed, Gypsywort, Radyr Weir, Sopawort, Taff Trail, Tansy, White campion, wildflower meadow

Last Monday was a holiday here in Britain so I took myself off for a long walk along Cardiff’s River Taff, starting at the new hydro-electric scheme at Radyr Weir. While the Archimedes Screw turbines that power the scheme were impressive to see in action, it was the adjacent wildflower meadow that I loved best. It appears newly planted so was perhaps part of the reinstatement plan following the hydro scheme’s construction.

160902 wildflower meadow (2)

Though late in the season, the flowers were in full bloom, providing a welcome feast for bees, wasps, flies and hoverflies. I imagine the flowers were an off-the-shelf wildflower seed mix but they were still lovely, especially my favourites, the eye-popping red of the poppies and blue of the cornflowers.

160902 wildflower meadow (1)

Strolling along the adjacent, much older pathways I also found other beautiful wildflowers so today’s Floral Friday photos include the Corncockle (Agrostemma githago), Cornflower (Centaurea cyanus), Field bindweed (Convolvulus arvensis), Gypsywort (Lycopus europaeus), Soapwort (Saponaria officinalis), Tansy (Tanacetum vulgare) and White campion (Silene latifolia sub alba).

160902 Corncockle
160902 Cornflower
160902 Field bindweed
160902 Gypsywort
160902 Soapwort
160902 Tansy
160902 White campion
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About me

sconzani

sconzani

I'm a writer and photographer; researcher and blogger; birder and nature lover; countryside rambler and city strider; volunteer and biodiversity recorder.

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