Whilst down for the LT Shrike, we headed to Prestbury Hill Reserve. A fantastic @savebutterflies.bsky.social site with 18 species of #butterflies seen including plenty of shimmering Chalkhill Blue in the midday heat. Also several Clouded Yellow, Brimstone, Brown Argus, DG Fritillary & WL Hairstreak.

We finally surrendered to the lure of the Long-tailed Shrike and headed down to Gloucestershire today. It put on a great show, actively feeding on the abundance of insects in the afternoon haze. Whinchat, Grey Partridge, Yellowhammer and Clouded Yellow the supporting cast. #UKBirding #UKRareBirds

What a day at work! 🤯 After disappearing for a few days, the Western Reef Heron showed up at RSPB Conwy on the high tide. An unbeatable patch tick! Fantastic to see so many people enjoying the reserve, and good to catch up with the locals as always too. #ukbirding #birdingwales #ukrarebirds #PWC26

Still coming back down to earth after our recent Hebridean adventure. We ended the trip last weekend with another splendid @sealifeuk.bsky.social Mull boat trip from Tobermory. Drifting in perfect conditions, surrounded by a pod of Common Dolphin, Gannet, Manxies, auks and the odd Minke. Pure bliss.

An incredibly smart Wasp Beetle at RSPB Conwy today. VC49 #bugsky #invertebrates #insects

Lots of freshly emerged Common Blue #butterflies out today. This pair were busy copulating, with their abdomens joined as the male (left) transfers his spermatophore into the female's reproductive tract. She will use this sperm to fertilise her eggs as she lays them. #bugsky #invertebrates #insects

This smart male Whinchat was the first on the patch this year. It showed well along the estuary track for most of the day. A vocal Lesser Whitethroat was another addition this week too, along with my first Swifts. #PWC2026 #birdingwales #ukbirding

Often overlooked and underrated, this smart Green-veined White #butterfly at RSPB Conwy (my first of the year) allowed me a few minutes to appreciate the beautifully marked patterns of both its upper and under wings. #bugsky #invertebrates #insects @savebutterflies.bsky.social

For many, #Spring is heralded by their first chiming Chiffchaff, or returning Swallow. For me, it's the emergence of these buzzing beauties. The Dark-edged Bee-flies are out again! #bugsky #invertebrates #insects

Enjoyed a successful and rather stunning sunrise at a local roadside Black Grouse lek this morning. 7 males strutted their stuff as the fog lifted. Plenty of Red Grouse squabbling too. Then a celebratory fry up and great views of Willow Tit. Definitely worth the early rise! #birdingwales #ukbirding

Da iawn @marcbuzzard.bsky.social for finally getting some photos of this cracking bird! It has managed to evade cameras since it was first seen here in September 2025. I was lucky enough to enjoy great views of it myself yesterday morning. What a stunner! 😍🔥 #PWC2026

Marcbuzzard@marcbuzzard.bsky.social · 5mo ago

An enjoyable walk around Conwy RSPB. At least 6 singing Cetti’s Warbler including the stunning leucistic bird. A pair of Long tailed Tits building a nest, adult Med Gull, Great White Egret, 8 singing Chiffchaff and a Black-tailed Godwit. #UKbirding #birdingwales

A dark-bellied Brent Goose was a nice surprise this morning. A scarce record for RSPB Conwy and a #patchbirding tick. The long-staying female Goldeneye is still present and I finally managed good views of the leucistic Cetti's Warbler too... what a bird that is! 😍 #PWC2026 #ukbirding #birdingwales

Spring is in the air! The first returning pair of Great Crested Grebe were putting on a show this afternoon at RSPB Conwy. Plenty of Chiffchaff singing around the reserve, and a Small Tortoiseshell (my first butterfly of the year) on the wing too. #birdingwales #ukbirding

The first day of March brought the first Clarke's Mining Bee (Andrena clarkella) out at RSPB Conwy. #bugsky #invertebrate #bee #hymenoptera #anthophila

Made the most of a dry day on Tuesday and caught up with the drake Bufflehead on Llyn Coron, Anglesey. Great to spend some more time observing this smart North American duck - a first record for the island. It looked quite at home with the local Goosander! #birdingwales #ukbirding #ukrarebirds

A good start to February for the #PWC2026 list. These two smart drake Pochard added some colour to the reserve this week, whilst a Grey Plover amongst the high tide roost on Thursday was a surprising patch first for me! #patchbirding #birdingwales #ukbirding

An enjoyable afternoon spent at Gronant with @zspaull.bsky.social. Unfortunately nothing to note amongst the gulls, so we tracked down the Snow Bunting as a consolation. At least 2 Water Pipit on the salt marsh too. #ukbirding #birdingwales

Finally caught up with a few local highlights today. The Surf Scoter pair took some finding in tough conditions off Old Colwyn. In contrast, the overwintering YBW at Glan y Mor Elias appeared before I got out of the van! Connected with the GW Teal and Firecrest there too. #birdingwales #ukbirding

This Pink-footed Goose was a nice patch tick today at RSPB Conwy. Interestingly, it is only my second ever on site (not including flyovers) in 10 years! Great to watch displaying Red-Breasted Merganser, and plenty of showy Water Rail to enjoy lately too. #PWC2026 #patchbirding #ukbirding

🎉Following seven years of campaigning, we welcome this week's publication of the Seabird Conservation Strategy for Wales. A huge thank you to all our members and supporters for helping to make this happen. ⬇️Full analysis and next steps here: bit.ly/4sSmDIq

We're seeking at least two wardens to protect Cemlyn’s internationally important tern colony, protect biodiversity and engage with people. Find out more 👉 www.northwaleswildlifetrust.org.uk/jobs/cemlyn-warden Salary: £22,293 Closing date: Monday 2 February

Enjoyable read: the latest despatch from @transportforwales.bsky.social writer-in-residence Jon Gower, featuring @jonniprice.bsky.social and others @rspbcymru.bsky.social #Conwy reserve.

NationCymru@nation.cymru · 7mo ago

Even if you don’t see one the sound of a water rail is quite something else, often compared with a pig squealing. Which is not something you’d expect in the depths of a reedbed ✍️ Jon Gower wp.me/p8Mk4U-1ckX

Finally had a day free to catch up with the 1st-winter Lesser Yellowlegs on the River Clwyd. Popped by to see the female-type Black Redstart at Horton's Nose whilst I was over that way too. #BirdingWales #UKRareBirds #UKBirding

Six roles with @rspbcymru.bsky.social to survey breeding waders in #Wales in March/April, with a particular focus on #Curlews. Closing date is 25 January. #ConservationJobs app.vacancy-filler.co.uk/salescrm/Car...

Breeding Wader Surveyor (Fixed Term) | RSPB

We are looking for fieldworkers to undertake a survey of breeding wader species at sites across Wales (primarily in North Wales, Powys and Gwent). The role will be mobile, visiting a wide range of upl...

app.vacancy-filler.co.uk

Kicked off 2026 with another long overdue life tick today! We caught up with the Bewick's Swan on #Anglesey as it fed in the wet fields around the Afon Cefni with Mutes, Whoopers, Greylags & 13 Greenland WF Geese. The overwintering Green Sandpiper at Ynys Wen cemetery was a bonus too. #BirdingWales

Another successful mad dash out of work for this Christmas cracker! 😍 Great to see the Bufflehead at Foryd Bay this morning, and catch up with lots of people too. Diolch @marcbuzzard.bsky.social for the call, and facilitating the shirking! 😂 #BirdingWales #RareBirdsUK

Marcbuzzard@marcbuzzard.bsky.social · 8mo ago

Great bird, no rings and looks settled. Well done that Simon H-R ☺️👍 #biringwales #ukbirding

A glorious winter's day on the Costa del #Solway coast spent soaking up the sights and sounds of thousands of Barnacle Geese at @rspb.bsky.social Mersehead. Also nice to see Whoopers, Peregrine, Twite, Pintail, Tree Sparrow and more. Now time to try and defrost in the pub! #ukbirding

Bit of a Shore Lark smash and grab up the Great Orme this morning! Dashed out of work when the bird had been relocated and arrived to see it showing well on the cliff edge. Took off out of view 10 mins later and I headed back. A great site record and an overdue first for me. #birdingwales #ukbirding

A throwback to a warm summer's day at RSPB Titchwell Marsh and some lovely female Wasp Spiders for my first #arachtober entry of the year. @britishspiders.bsky.social @rspb.bsky.social #bugsky #spidersky

Rarity is just a matter of perspective, as @bardseybirdobs.bsky.social migration illustrates. News from around #NorthWales in The Daily Post BirdNotes, plus a bit of news from me. @northwaleslive.bsky.social #BirdingWales 📷 @bardseyobswarden.bsky.social www.birdnotes.wales/blog/which-i...

Which is rarer: Little Bunting or Cetti’s Warbler?

Bardsey Bird Observatory  staff are kept busy in October with daily census and ringing effort. Large numbers of birds migrating over the island last week included over 1000 Chaffinches  counted on...

birdnotes.wales