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Tag Archives: signs of summer

You know it’s almost summer when …

25 Thursday May 2023

Posted by sconzani in insects, seasons

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British beetles, Buttercup, Cuckooflower, signs of summer, Swollen-thighed beetle

I’m sure you all have things that say ‘it’s almost summer’ to you – when you spot your first Swallow perched on an overhead wire or you hear your first screaming Swifts; when a particular flower blooms; when the morning light wakes you up earlier than your alarm; when you spot your first dragonfly of the year; when it’s warm enough to wear short sleeves. Well, one of the things that says summer to me is the appearance of these metallic-green mini-beasties, the Swollen-thighed beetles, in this case the males with the tell-tale swollen thighs, shown here on a cuckooflower and on a buttercup.

230525 swollen-thighed beetle

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The birds are back in town!

08 Saturday Apr 2017

Posted by sconzani in birds, nature

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Tags

birding, birdwatching, Cardiff Bay, migrating birds, Riparia riparia, Sand martin, signs of summer

Not just any old birds – I’m referring to the Sand martins (Riparia riparia), one of the first migrating birds to arrive in the springtime. When you start to see them swooping and diving in the hunt for insects and hear their characteristic chattering sounds, you know summer really is just around the corner.

170408 Sand Martin (1)

The Sand martins have been arriving at various places along the south Wales coast for the past couple of weeks, after a marathon flight from their overwintering spots in the Sahel, south of the Sahara in Africa. For such small birds, it really is a huge effort so it’s no surprise they stop over in Cardiff Bay to refuel and rest up. Though many birds fly on to destinations throughout Britain, some will stay on in Wales to breed and raise their broods of four or five chicks before heading south to Africa again around August-September. It’s usually quite difficult to get photos of these aerial acrobats but this morning I got lucky when this little one sat and sang me a pretty song.

170408 Sand Martin (2)

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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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