Landscape photographers probably aren't complaining about all this rain, as it does make for more of a moody scene when you have rain clouds rolling in. As the cloud came closer you could see the colour below just disappearing #wentwoodview #landscapes #naturephotography

So temps in May are going to be a bit all over the place, but one things looking certain.. the rain is going to continue…

Colour or B&W? Difficult decision for me. The bluebell in the middle drew me to the composition originally but the fern shape overall is the feature and looks so much more contrasty in black and white... difficult one

Soundtrack in my back garden was lovely this morning, with yaffling Green Woodpecker and Cuckoo added to the mix. Wish I could have stayed home today to enjoy it

This highlights an interesting point for me. Does a bird need to be wild in order for it to be beautiful and appreciated? Or is it just a case of being less interesting because you can’t tick it off your birding list?

Shrill-carder Bumblebee yesterday on the #gwentlevels

Brassica Shieldbug. Found some last year on a roadside verge but this is only the second time I've found them. Quite a small shield bug but quite a pretty one. They vary from white, yellow and even red spots

Oh and the 30+ Fairy Shrimps temporary home is already dried out!! how these things survive I’ve no idea. Those eggs got to sit in the ground for months before the puddle starts to fill back up again…

Also had nice views of Brassica Shieldbug, Shrill-carder Bee and Water Shrew on the #gwentlevels today. Water Shrew are surprisingly abundant on the levels with all the reen systems, usually hear them but did get a glimpse this time. Cuckoo, and Large Red Damselfly also

Love this time of year, every tiny beetle can make an incredible photo subject, so many exotic colours. These Dock beetles are quite common but that metallic green is stunning. This is a female, all swollen full of eggs #gwentbugs #macro #beetles #canon

Plenty of Orange-tips to go along with plenty of Cuckoo flowers this year. It seems to be a good year for them, what with all the rain we've had. Nice to get than partial orange showing, they usually hide their forewings #butterflies #gwentlevels

More Wobbly Lesser Whitethroats, though didn't sing for very long due to a Sparrowhawk grr

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Got to love a chunky Reed Warbler with all its chaotic, borderline psychotic warbling.
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Sedge Warbler at high tide, so had some bonus Whimbrel calling in the background :)

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Oooh, such a striking bird in summer plumage. Not much singing yesterday off the Reed Bunts but this guy was pretty tame, even feeding on the ground just a few meters away

Only problem with direct sunlight with birds is those harsh shadows but otherwise, nice closeup of a Sedge Warbler at 800mm for you. (400 DO ii W/2x)

One for the headphones, nice stereo interaction with a Honey Bee nest in the Newport wetlands hide.

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Still not sure why we only have Leiern Motif on the Gwent Levels, Do your Blackcap have this in your local area? They certainly don't near me
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Grrr hate it when the weather doesn’t play ball. A planned dawn chorus sound recording this morning and the weather changed from pure dry to rain till 10.. what a waste of a 4am alarm call..

Four sequential shots from a burst of the amazingly showy Alpine Swift at Kenfig Pool. Thanks to Neil Donaghy for the great find and promptly getting the news out.