Zak Spaull

@zspaull.bsky.social

Birder, naturalist & conservationist from North Wales.

Moved to Barra on Monday but with the weather worsening I headed back to South Uist today for more wader action. Good views of presumably the same Long-billed Dowitcher from last month on The Range. Had a look at Balgarva this evening and picked up this juv White-rumped Sandpiper! #birdingscotland

A relatively slow Winter season for scoters locally so far. Three Surfies over the last month, a 2w drake staying faithful to Porth Eirias and a drake+female pair initially off Llandulas before moving to the Old Colwyn flocks. Very few Velvets, no LTDs and poor numbers of large gulls! #birdingwales

Bild

The easterlies looked good so I headed up to Shetland last weekend. So far slightly dissapointing but enjoyable birding nonetheless, with lots of common migrants to keep the interest. Cool to see Northern Bullfinch and always nice bumping into YBWs and Sibe Chiffs. #birdingscotland

Blackcaps everywhere! 40+ in the iris beds of Quendale yesterday morning alone! Bild

Great birding in Western Ireland this week. Largely focused on waders but the seawatching was pretty good too. Highlights of Laughing and Sabine’s Gulls, Semipalmated and White-rumped Sandpiper, 2 American Golden Plovers, Glossy Ibis, Wilson’s Petrel, Long-tailed Skua and Great Shears. #irishbirding

Bild

Nice day out away from Cemlyn yesterday, visiting Joel at Gronant. We did pretty well, picking up 2cy Caspian Gull, juv Little Stint, Yellow Wag plus loads of waders including 220+ Blackwit. Dune Robberflies everywhere and Little Terns of course! #birdingwales

Bild

Exciting times at Cemlyn currently. Whilst watching our long standing pair of Roseate Terns yesterday, another 2 birds dropped in nearby and lingered for the afternoon, displaying constantly! Two pairs would be pretty amazing… #birdingwales

Pic - Nick Richards

Spring picking up here marks the end of my near daily checks of the Scoters between Colwyn Bay and Llandulas. A great year for Surfies with one female, two 2w drakes and potentially three adult drakes. Also 20+ Velvets, 2 Long-tailed Ducks, 1w Caspian Gull and a January Sandwich Tern. #birdingwales

BildBild

Anglesey today: 4 Black Redstarts, 8+ Wheatear, 7 Twite, 100+ Mipit, 3 Puffin at South Stack first thing. 4 Swallows + Hooded Crow on The Range. 2 Slavs off Penrhos, 1w drk LTD + 4 Scaup at Inland Sea. Lap Bunt, LRP, 4 Ruff, 2 Bitterns at Cors Ddyga. Kumlien’s Gull on the way back too. #birdingwales

Bild