Jono Leadley
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birdingdad.bsky.social
Jono Leadley
@birdingdad.bsky.social
Whale loving, bass playing, cricket watching Nature Geek. North Yorkshire, UK. https://birdingdad.blogspot.com

All opinions are my own :-)
A write-up of York's 17th Red-throated Diver, and first since 2012 is now on my blog: birdingdad.blogspot.com
@yorkbirding.bsky.social
November 16, 2025 at 3:50 PM
Red-throated Diver at Castle Howard this morning @yorkbirding.bsky.social
November 16, 2025 at 11:58 AM
Juv Red-throated Diver at Castle Howard this morning plus Otter. My first diver in the York area. With @duncbye.bsky.social @yorkbirding.bsky.social
November 16, 2025 at 8:52 AM
Ibibio Sound Machine at the Crescent, York. Utterly awesome! With @duncbye.bsky.social
November 15, 2025 at 11:00 PM
The Vikings have arrived! Big numbers of Scandinavian Fieldfares plundering the berries adorning the hedgerows in the @ldvnnr.bsky.social, Yorkshire this morning. @yorkbirding.bsky.social
November 15, 2025 at 1:03 PM
Reposted by Jono Leadley
Feeling so proud my new book The Rarity Garden has a long list of great reviews. I am donating 5% from all the sales to The North Yorkshire Turtle Dove Project so your purchase really helps wildlife. Read more and buy using this link: www.yorkshirecoastnature.co.uk/products/139...
November 13, 2025 at 7:57 AM
Reposted by Jono Leadley
The science behind how butterflies hibernate is very cool. To find out what's the difference between a quiescence and a diapause read my new blog here: www.yorkshirecoastnature.co.uk/blog/413/sle...
November 14, 2025 at 8:39 AM
Reposted by Jono Leadley
2026 Kingfisher Photography Experience

Come and join us in March and April next year to photograph one of our iconic British birds the Kingfisher.
#blueflash #kingoffishers #kingfisher

For more information and availability please click the link below;
www.yorkshirecoastnature.co.uk/workshops/67...
November 14, 2025 at 5:08 PM
Reposted by Jono Leadley
Our 2026 Yorkshire Goshawk Safaris are now up on our website! Book a trip or buy a Gift Voucher. All the details here: www.yorkshirecoastnature.co.uk/events/categ... @birdingdad.bsky.social @mboyd7.bsky.social @markthebirder.bsky.social @nybirdnews.bsky.social
November 14, 2025 at 4:16 PM
Write-up of today's birding adventure now on the blog: birdingdad.blogspot.com
November 13, 2025 at 10:23 PM
This little waif is a Dusky Warbler, all the way from Siberia to the Yorkshire coast. A very vocal and surprisingly showy bird @flamboroughbird.bsky.social South Landing this morning.
November 13, 2025 at 6:44 PM
Eight confiding Snow Buntings near the fog station @flamboroughbird.bsky.social today. I sat down on a path and they shuffled within a few metres, feeding on grass seeds. More on the blog later birdingdad.blogspot.com
November 13, 2025 at 4:20 PM
Enjoyable day despite the foggy start in the @yorkbirding.bsky.social trip to Staveley and Ripon City Wetlands, two super @yorkswildlife.bsky.social reserves. Four Whooper Swans dropped in for a rest at Staveley, with Otter, two Great Egrets, heard Bearded Tits and 100k Starlings into roost at RCW.
November 9, 2025 at 7:09 PM
Castle Howard this morning, dog Otter fishing at east end of Great Lake, 2 Red-crested Pochards, 5 Pintail, Goldeneye, 10 Whoopers circled and headed north with another three dropping in. No sign of the interesting aythya. @yorkbirding.bsky.social @nybirdnews.bsky.social
October 31, 2025 at 1:00 PM
Reposted by Jono Leadley
A new proposal from a group of peers could disarm the most damaging aspect of the Planning and Infrastructure Bill and reduce the risks that it currently poses to the UK's wildlife:
Nature charities urge backing of amendment to planning bill
A new proposal from a group of peers could disarm the most damaging aspect of the Planning and Infrastructure Bill and reduce the risks that it currently poses to the UK's wildlife. The bill, as it currently stands, represents one of the largest dismantling of protections ever seen for the most precious wildlife habitats and species.
bit.ly
October 29, 2025 at 7:11 AM
Reposted by Jono Leadley
Last week we struck migration gold at Spurn @spurnbirdobs.bsky.social with our one day Spurn Migration Birding Discovery Days led by @markthebirder.bsky.social. Read all about it in his new blog hot off the press here: www.yorkshirecoastnature.co.uk/blog/550/spu...
October 26, 2025 at 8:32 PM
Castle Howard this morning. 6 Whooper Swans, Red-crested Pochard, 3 Pintail, 85 Tufted Ducks, 55 Wigeon, Cettis Warbler @yorkbirding.bsky.social
October 26, 2025 at 1:05 PM
Juvenile Aythya at Castle Howard lake this morning which looks promising for Lesser Scaup. Wingbars not seen. Worth a look if you're passing.
October 26, 2025 at 11:12 AM
Big waves at Flamborough Head today. Quiet, buy enjoyable seawatch, with Sooty and Manx Shearwaters, Long-tailed Duck, Mediterranean and Little Gulls,Arctic Tern. 11 Twite flying around with several others at North Marsh. @flamboroughbird.bsky.social
October 25, 2025 at 6:04 PM
Three days birding @flamboroughbird.bsky.social during #MigWeek was massively enjoyable, with loads of migrants coming 'in off' the sea - always humbling. Blog here: birdingdad.blogspot.com Well done to the organisers at the Obs and all the volunteers who helped with walks etc.
October 19, 2025 at 10:35 AM
Yesterday it was ace to see a Short-eared Owl fly in off the sea, making its way to the UK for winter. This morning, a Long-eared Owl did thr same, landing in a nearby hedge. Migration in action. @flamboroughbird.bsky.social
October 18, 2025 at 11:01 AM
Reposted by Jono Leadley
Pleased to find this Jack Snipe at Grafham Water this afternoon (only the 5th time I’ve seen this species here). Also happy to find 5 Common Scoters @cambsbirdclub.bsky.social @rarebirder.bsky.social @birdguides.bsky.social #ukbirding #cambirds
October 17, 2025 at 6:53 PM
Anybody know if you can get a replacement rubber eye ring bit for a Swaro scope eye piece? Cant find online. Mine fell off...
October 16, 2025 at 4:52 PM
Cracking to witness an East Coast fall today, @flamboroughbird.bsky.social. 800 Redwings, 50 Fieldfares & 120 Blackbirds literally fell out of the mist & into Old Fall plantation. Most appeared in great condition despite the long sea crossing, heading inland rapidly. Also 42 Bramblings, 1 Woodcock.
October 13, 2025 at 6:30 PM
For many birding mates, the last few days will have been one of their most exhillarating experiences as they watched the White-throated Needletail scythe through Yorkshire skies. For me, and probably many others, it was a rather painful dip! birdingdad.blogspot.com/2025/10/a-pa...
A Painful Dip
Had things gone a little differently over the last couple of days then I could have been writing about one of my most exhillarating birding ...
birdingdad.blogspot.com
October 12, 2025 at 7:33 PM