My review of 2025

 As the year-end approaches rapidly, I have found myself in a serene state of mind after a hectic year. I am recovering my strength after suffering a nasty case of the flu, which I contracted the day after I broke up from work for the festive period. I had been so excited about finishing up for Christmas and rushing about to get various things done before the break that I think when Christmas finally came, my body and mind was exahausted and came to an abrupt halt. Perhaps that is exactly what I needed in a way - to stop, rest, reset and reflect on life.

For a few days, I have been thinking about how to write my final blog post of the year. It's not hard to find inspiration these days whenever I get writer's block, as 2025 was the year when Artificial Intelligence (AI)  rose meteorically into our lives, and if I need any help, all I need to do is ask ChatGPT, CoPilot, Google Gemini or one of the plethora of AI tools out there to write a blog post for me. Whilst I am amazed at what AI can do and the time it can save, I chose to give this post a more personal "human" touch, and it's all 100% my words.

As I look back over the pictures I have taken in 2025, it reminds me of the many great stories behind them and the shared experiences with my friends. The love of photography and nature is a strong theme throughout the year, and I believe I have captured it in my pictures and shared it in my writing, my love of where I live in South-East Wales, and my passion for storytelling. Throughout the year, I had several opportunities to visit various clubs and societies to share my passion for photography and tell them a few stories. I was really pleased to make people laugh in the audience at some of my funny stories and experiences, and it was great to have lovely feedback from those who invited me to present to them.

In 2025, my photography diversified somewhat. Whilst in previous years, I have been super focused on bird photography, my avian friends took a back seat to other photographic subjects. My growing obsession with aerial photography using my growing squadron of drones has dominated my image portfolio. There has rarely been a week without me flying one of my technological marvels.

Whenever I have had the opportunity to get out and do some photograpghy it has almost invariably been on the weekends and meant me getting up at stupid o'clock. I love a good sunrise, and 2025 saw me up early for a rendezvous with dawn on many more occasions than a sunset.

More often than not, throughout the year, during my various outings and trips, I have been accompanied by very good friends. The Three Amigos - Paul Joy, Nicola Johns and I managed to meet up on several occasions, but sadly, circumstances conspired against us having a really big trip like we have had in previous years. Let's hope in 2026 we fare better.

I had a great trip, however, to Dorset with my friend Paul Coombes, visiting Poole Harbour, Corfe Castle, Brownsea Island and the RSPB Arne reserve. Highlights included White-Tailed Eagles, Red Squirrels and Dartford Warblers. The scenery was just outstanding.

My personal highlight of 2025 was a pilgrimage to wader heaven - RSPB Snettisham to witness the wader spectacular. This was an absolutely amazing experience and so good that I did the long march to the hides at crazy o'clock, three days on the trot.

Whilst I have loved the amazing bird flocks, glorious sunrises, screaming fighter jets and beautiful landscapes, what I have enjoyed most of all has been the people I am fortunate to be friends with; it is they who have made all the difference.  The laughs and banter have helped me throughout the year.

So, it's now time for me to pick out some of my most memorable pictures of the year (apart from those above) and tell the stories behind them.

My most memorable pictures of 2025 

This Ring-Necked Duck attracted Paul Joy and me to Lisvane Reservoir early in January. There is a great story behind this picture. As I was taking the picture, I felt a tug on my arm and turned to see an elderly lady looking at me in utter disgust, shaking her head, tittering, and telling me I should be ashamed of myself, not looking after my frail elderly charge - Paul Joy who had tripped over a kerbstone and fallen on the pavement outside the Welsh Water restraurant. He had only told this lady and her husband that I was his carer and I had neglected to look after him, being more interested in the birds! (Mr Joy, ever the joker and getting his revenge on me for all my Canon jibes).

Storm Eowyn brought extremely high winds to Pontypool, and one of the three trunks of the lonely Beech tree was blown down. I braved the cold, wind and rain to do some astrophotography in between the clouds. This would be the start of two of my 2025 projects (obsessions) - stargazing and the Folly.

I visited Sudbrook and Blackrock near Chepstow on many occasions this year, hoping to see a great sunrise. During one really chilly visit, I was amazed to see a Tsunami of mist rollacross the estuary from the first Severn Crossing, and it engulfed the Prince of Wales Bridge just as the sun began to rise - perfect timing. This picture became one of my most shared online images of the year.

If there is one species of birds that I have photographed the most, it must be Black-Tailed Godwits. In March, there was a big flock of waders showing well at Goldcliff Lagoons, and they all took to the air with some Avocets and Knots in the mix as well. The picture I took is no doubt one of my signature shots. The image came third in the Welsh Ornithological Society Photography competition and made the front cover of their 2026 calendar.

I saw my first Red Squirrels at the fantastic Brownsea Island with my good friend Paul Coombes (A big thank you for arranging the trip to Dorset). Not far from where the squirrels were, we also saw a Firecrest in the trees above.

Finally, after many a year searching for one, I found a female Adder on the Blorenge mountain. I almost stepped on the beautiful creature. For me, this was probably the best wildlife sighting I had all year.

A twitch to Cwm Cadlan, Merthyr, resulted in a close encounter with a small flock of Dotterels. I remember being amazed by the stamina of my friend Paul Joy, who is almost an octogenarian, marching over the moorland puffing away like a super excited steam train, not wishing to miss out on the birding action.

Despite having full knowledge of my total lack of sense of direction and cavalier attitude to danger, Paul Joy followed me everywhere in 2025. I don't know what people must have thought as two blokes emerged out of the ferns on the Blorenge, laughing and joking. The banter between us in 2025 hit new heights ( or should that be lows ;) ).

2025 marked my third attendance at the Royal International Air Tattoo held at RAF Fairford. This time, I had the company of my cousin Gareth and our sons. We had an absolutely fantastic time. The photograph I have chosen is a bittersweet one. The aircraft is an F-16C Fighting Falcon of the Polish Air Force Tiger Demo team flown by Major Marceij "SLAB" Krakowian. The pilot performed a really aggressive and thrilling display. Tragically, weeks later, the pilot crashed and died whilst practising for another airshow. RIP SLAB.

Drones enable perspectives that the photographer could probably never achieve using any other method. 

I am fond of taking pictures of the iconic Charston Rock Lighthouse that stands like a white sentinel out in the treacherous waters of the Severn Estuary.

Late in August, Paul Joy and I saw that a clear sky was forecast, so we decided to take our chance at getting some pictures of the Milky Way at Nashpoint. What an amazing experience we had (My lead picture at the beginning of the blog just about sums up our friendship).

In August, there wasa major grass fire at Goldcliff Lagoons that caused a lot of damage and completely destroyed the Avocet Hide (aka seawall hide). The birding community was devastated. I look forward to 2026 as NRW is planning to construct three new hides.

My final picture is a sad one. My cousin David "Dai" Powell sadly passed away aged 53 years old, caused by a very aggressive form of skin-cancer. During the evening after his funeral, I travelled to Martins Haven and sat on the rocky point overlooking Skomer Island, watched the sun go down and said goodbye to him in my own way.

With that in mind, hold those dear to you close and relish every sunrise and sunset as if it's your last.

I wish all my readers and followers, friends and family, good health and happiness for 2026.