Russ Boland
@russboland.bsky.social
Birder, Sketcher, Travel Bug, Runner, Booze, Northumberland, 80's Cheese and Barnsley FC
Field studies of the regular 2nd W Caspian Gull at Worsbro' Reservoir recently. A difficult bird to capture accurately despite me spending loadsa time over the years sketching big gulls. Need to get back into it! Cheers
February 7, 2026 at 7:21 AM
Field studies of the regular 2nd W Caspian Gull at Worsbro' Reservoir recently. A difficult bird to capture accurately despite me spending loadsa time over the years sketching big gulls. Need to get back into it! Cheers
Reposted by Russ Boland
Field studies of an adult Shag I chanced upon at my local reservoir this morning. The first here since March 1988, which I also found! 🤭A rather unusual submission for #SuperSeabirdSunday Obviously one of a recent influx in the region. Cheers
February 1, 2026 at 4:24 PM
Field studies of an adult Shag I chanced upon at my local reservoir this morning. The first here since March 1988, which I also found! 🤭A rather unusual submission for #SuperSeabirdSunday Obviously one of a recent influx in the region. Cheers
Reposted by Russ Boland
A beautiful day along the north coast yesterday, I was really lucky that the Harlequin was again showing really well for a few hours before work. I will be back again next week and can only hope for more good weather!
January 17, 2026 at 8:06 PM
A beautiful day along the north coast yesterday, I was really lucky that the Harlequin was again showing really well for a few hours before work. I will be back again next week and can only hope for more good weather!
Reposted by Russ Boland
A quick painting of the Harlequin that is still hanging about in north Donegal. I am really looking forward to getting back to the coast later this week and hope to see him again.
January 14, 2026 at 11:51 AM
A quick painting of the Harlequin that is still hanging about in north Donegal. I am really looking forward to getting back to the coast later this week and hope to see him again.
Reposted by Russ Boland
Rarity finders: Short-billed Gull in the Faroe Islands
What began as routine winter harbour checks in stormy Faroese conditions culminated in the discovery of a second-ever record for the Western Palearctic for Ragnar Smith:
What began as routine winter harbour checks in stormy Faroese conditions culminated in the discovery of a second-ever record for the Western Palearctic for Ragnar Smith:
Rarity finders: Short-billed Gull in the Faroe Islands
Ragnar Smith describes the discovery and identification of the Western Palearctic's second-ever Short-billed Gull in the Faroe Islands in January 2026.
bit.ly
January 13, 2026 at 7:02 PM
Rarity finders: Short-billed Gull in the Faroe Islands
What began as routine winter harbour checks in stormy Faroese conditions culminated in the discovery of a second-ever record for the Western Palearctic for Ragnar Smith:
What began as routine winter harbour checks in stormy Faroese conditions culminated in the discovery of a second-ever record for the Western Palearctic for Ragnar Smith:
Reposted by Russ Boland
Golden Plovers don't like neighbours!
Many anthropogenic changes affect Iceland's Golden Plovers, as you can read here, but particularly building a new house in an open landscape:
wadertales.wordpress.com/2025/12/02/r...
Species newly added to VULNERABLE section of Icelandic RED LIST.
#Ornithology
Many anthropogenic changes affect Iceland's Golden Plovers, as you can read here, but particularly building a new house in an open landscape:
wadertales.wordpress.com/2025/12/02/r...
Species newly added to VULNERABLE section of Icelandic RED LIST.
#Ornithology
January 11, 2026 at 6:57 AM
Golden Plovers don't like neighbours!
Many anthropogenic changes affect Iceland's Golden Plovers, as you can read here, but particularly building a new house in an open landscape:
wadertales.wordpress.com/2025/12/02/r...
Species newly added to VULNERABLE section of Icelandic RED LIST.
#Ornithology
Many anthropogenic changes affect Iceland's Golden Plovers, as you can read here, but particularly building a new house in an open landscape:
wadertales.wordpress.com/2025/12/02/r...
Species newly added to VULNERABLE section of Icelandic RED LIST.
#Ornithology
Curlew and Grey Plover studies from a post Xmas visit to the excellent Welwick Marshes reserve near Hull. I must have sketched pages and pages of the latter species but still struggle with the subtleties of them! Cheers
January 11, 2026 at 8:43 AM
Curlew and Grey Plover studies from a post Xmas visit to the excellent Welwick Marshes reserve near Hull. I must have sketched pages and pages of the latter species but still struggle with the subtleties of them! Cheers
Reposted by Russ Boland
Dunlin now VULNERABLE on Iceland's RED LIST.
One of the waders most impacted by new forestry plantations:
wadertales.wordpress.com/2022/06/18/i...
Over 50% of Europe's Dunlin nest in Iceland so recent declines are of concern to whole East Atlantic Flyway.
#ConservationScience🌍
One of the waders most impacted by new forestry plantations:
wadertales.wordpress.com/2022/06/18/i...
Over 50% of Europe's Dunlin nest in Iceland so recent declines are of concern to whole East Atlantic Flyway.
#ConservationScience🌍
January 9, 2026 at 6:11 AM
Dunlin now VULNERABLE on Iceland's RED LIST.
One of the waders most impacted by new forestry plantations:
wadertales.wordpress.com/2022/06/18/i...
Over 50% of Europe's Dunlin nest in Iceland so recent declines are of concern to whole East Atlantic Flyway.
#ConservationScience🌍
One of the waders most impacted by new forestry plantations:
wadertales.wordpress.com/2022/06/18/i...
Over 50% of Europe's Dunlin nest in Iceland so recent declines are of concern to whole East Atlantic Flyway.
#ConservationScience🌍
Sketchbook highlights from 2025. The rare, the common, lifers and the familiar. All a joy. Thanks for the interest over the year and a Happy and Healthy New Year to you all! 🎉🍻#Birding #BirdArt
December 31, 2025 at 3:17 PM
Sketchbook highlights from 2025. The rare, the common, lifers and the familiar. All a joy. Thanks for the interest over the year and a Happy and Healthy New Year to you all! 🎉🍻#Birding #BirdArt
Reposted by Russ Boland
A wonderful, but cold and breezy morning back at Trà na gCloch in north Donegal ahead of my last survey of the year.
A huge thank you to everyone who has liked, shared and bought my work throughout the year, I am eternally grateful for all the support. Best wishes for 2026
A huge thank you to everyone who has liked, shared and bought my work throughout the year, I am eternally grateful for all the support. Best wishes for 2026
December 31, 2025 at 12:23 PM
A wonderful, but cold and breezy morning back at Trà na gCloch in north Donegal ahead of my last survey of the year.
A huge thank you to everyone who has liked, shared and bought my work throughout the year, I am eternally grateful for all the support. Best wishes for 2026
A huge thank you to everyone who has liked, shared and bought my work throughout the year, I am eternally grateful for all the support. Best wishes for 2026
Reposted by Russ Boland
Find the best #birding in #Belgrade @ the Dorćol Quay (📷) and the Zemun Quay, overlooking the #Danube. These days, look out for Black-throated Diver (2), Velvet Scoter (3), Red-necked Grebe (3)
▶️ 10000birds.com/december-bir...
🌳 #goBirding 🌳 #birdsuniteourworld 🌳 #seetheunseen 🌳 #fortheloveofnature
▶️ 10000birds.com/december-bir...
🌳 #goBirding 🌳 #birdsuniteourworld 🌳 #seetheunseen 🌳 #fortheloveofnature
December 28, 2025 at 8:03 AM
Find the best #birding in #Belgrade @ the Dorćol Quay (📷) and the Zemun Quay, overlooking the #Danube. These days, look out for Black-throated Diver (2), Velvet Scoter (3), Red-necked Grebe (3)
▶️ 10000birds.com/december-bir...
🌳 #goBirding 🌳 #birdsuniteourworld 🌳 #seetheunseen 🌳 #fortheloveofnature
▶️ 10000birds.com/december-bir...
🌳 #goBirding 🌳 #birdsuniteourworld 🌳 #seetheunseen 🌳 #fortheloveofnature
Reposted by Russ Boland
1/10
The first WaderTales blog of 2025 summarised a paper by @amigodeaves.bsky.social et al:
How are migration sites connected?
Study combines ringing, colour-ringing and tracking data, to identify key sites on East Atlantic Flyway.
wadertales.wordpress.com/2025/01/09/h...
#ornithology
The first WaderTales blog of 2025 summarised a paper by @amigodeaves.bsky.social et al:
How are migration sites connected?
Study combines ringing, colour-ringing and tracking data, to identify key sites on East Atlantic Flyway.
wadertales.wordpress.com/2025/01/09/h...
#ornithology
December 28, 2025 at 6:30 PM
1/10
The first WaderTales blog of 2025 summarised a paper by @amigodeaves.bsky.social et al:
How are migration sites connected?
Study combines ringing, colour-ringing and tracking data, to identify key sites on East Atlantic Flyway.
wadertales.wordpress.com/2025/01/09/h...
#ornithology
The first WaderTales blog of 2025 summarised a paper by @amigodeaves.bsky.social et al:
How are migration sites connected?
Study combines ringing, colour-ringing and tracking data, to identify key sites on East Atlantic Flyway.
wadertales.wordpress.com/2025/01/09/h...
#ornithology
Reposted by Russ Boland
December 25, 2025 at 9:13 PM
Reposted by Russ Boland
I want to wish everyone a Happy Christmas to those celebrating, and Happy Holidays to everyone else and say a big thank you to everyone who has commissioned paintings in the last year. May we all have a wonderful time.
December 24, 2025 at 5:31 PM
I want to wish everyone a Happy Christmas to those celebrating, and Happy Holidays to everyone else and say a big thank you to everyone who has commissioned paintings in the last year. May we all have a wonderful time.
A Merry Xmas to friends and followers! Goosander sketches done recently at my local reservoir in tribute to The Snowman genius Raymond Briggs. Have a good 'un! 🌲🎉🍻#Birding #BirdArt Cheers
December 24, 2025 at 7:02 AM
A Merry Xmas to friends and followers! Goosander sketches done recently at my local reservoir in tribute to The Snowman genius Raymond Briggs. Have a good 'un! 🌲🎉🍻#Birding #BirdArt Cheers
Reposted by Russ Boland
Researchers share their findings about the effects of tracking devices on survival etc., so that others can learn how to study waders as safely as possible.
1/4
New paper suggests that Kentish Plovers are not affected by tracking devices.
nsojournals.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/pdf/10.1...
BUT ...
1/4
New paper suggests that Kentish Plovers are not affected by tracking devices.
nsojournals.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/pdf/10.1...
BUT ...
December 16, 2025 at 9:04 AM
Researchers share their findings about the effects of tracking devices on survival etc., so that others can learn how to study waders as safely as possible.
1/4
New paper suggests that Kentish Plovers are not affected by tracking devices.
nsojournals.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/pdf/10.1...
BUT ...
1/4
New paper suggests that Kentish Plovers are not affected by tracking devices.
nsojournals.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/pdf/10.1...
BUT ...
Reposted by Russ Boland
The Common Redpoll survives Arctic cold by burrowing into snow ❄️
Snow traps air, making it a powerful insulator against wind and freezing temperatures.
This watercolor comes from my Arctic terrestrial birds poster.
#wildlifeart #scienceart #ArcticBirds #sciart #birdart #bird
Snow traps air, making it a powerful insulator against wind and freezing temperatures.
This watercolor comes from my Arctic terrestrial birds poster.
#wildlifeart #scienceart #ArcticBirds #sciart #birdart #bird
December 15, 2025 at 6:47 PM
The Common Redpoll survives Arctic cold by burrowing into snow ❄️
Snow traps air, making it a powerful insulator against wind and freezing temperatures.
This watercolor comes from my Arctic terrestrial birds poster.
#wildlifeart #scienceart #ArcticBirds #sciart #birdart #bird
Snow traps air, making it a powerful insulator against wind and freezing temperatures.
This watercolor comes from my Arctic terrestrial birds poster.
#wildlifeart #scienceart #ArcticBirds #sciart #birdart #bird
Reposted by Russ Boland
The world's oldest known bird has returned to Midway Atoll National Wildlife Refuge for the 2025-26 breeding season:
Wisdom the Laysan Albatross returns to nest at Midway Atoll
The world's oldest known bird has returned to Midway Atoll National Wildlife Refuge for the 2025-26 breeding season. 'Wisdom', a female Laysan Albatross, has reoccupied her regular nest site and is now preparing for another chance at parenthood. Wisdom was at least five years old when ringed in 1956, putting her age at approximately 75 years old.
bit.ly
December 14, 2025 at 9:51 PM
The world's oldest known bird has returned to Midway Atoll National Wildlife Refuge for the 2025-26 breeding season:
Ring-billed Gull sketches for #SuperSeabirdSunday from a recent trip to Toronto. No interesting imms in this gathering alas. I'm also not sure if anyone can be arsed looking at this stuff anymore but thanks for those who do.🍻
December 14, 2025 at 7:47 AM
Ring-billed Gull sketches for #SuperSeabirdSunday from a recent trip to Toronto. No interesting imms in this gathering alas. I'm also not sure if anyone can be arsed looking at this stuff anymore but thanks for those who do.🍻
Reposted by Russ Boland
Counts carried out this autumn on the Turkmenistan-Uzbekistan border have logged more than 5,000 Sociable Lapwings – one of the largest gatherings of this Critically Endangered species recorded in recent decades:
Bumper Sociable Lapwing count offers hope for global population
More than 5,000 Critically Endangered Sociable Lapwings were counted at a major migration stop-over in Turkmenistan in autumn 2025. The record high offers rare good news for the species and highlights the importance of key staging sites.
bit.ly
December 12, 2025 at 3:56 PM
Counts carried out this autumn on the Turkmenistan-Uzbekistan border have logged more than 5,000 Sociable Lapwings – one of the largest gatherings of this Critically Endangered species recorded in recent decades:
Reposted by Russ Boland
What lessons can we learn from the demise of the Slender-billed Curlew?
Blog published on 12 Dec 2024, based on paper by Graeme Buchanan et al in @bou.org.uk journal IBIS.
wadertales.wordpress.com/2024/12/12/l...
#ornithology
Blog published on 12 Dec 2024, based on paper by Graeme Buchanan et al in @bou.org.uk journal IBIS.
wadertales.wordpress.com/2024/12/12/l...
#ornithology
December 12, 2025 at 7:03 AM
What lessons can we learn from the demise of the Slender-billed Curlew?
Blog published on 12 Dec 2024, based on paper by Graeme Buchanan et al in @bou.org.uk journal IBIS.
wadertales.wordpress.com/2024/12/12/l...
#ornithology
Blog published on 12 Dec 2024, based on paper by Graeme Buchanan et al in @bou.org.uk journal IBIS.
wadertales.wordpress.com/2024/12/12/l...
#ornithology
Reposted by Russ Boland
Not a field sketch that's for sure, but just pencilling out a top nice thing from the Stour today- wind lifting the nape of a Black-throated Diver enough to make a white crescent from the underlay. #BirdArt
December 11, 2025 at 10:22 PM
Not a field sketch that's for sure, but just pencilling out a top nice thing from the Stour today- wind lifting the nape of a Black-throated Diver enough to make a white crescent from the underlay. #BirdArt
Reposted by Russ Boland
The annual post-breeding moult of a shorebird lasts about three months - that's as long as a successful breeding season.
Monitoring moult using digital cameras: wadertales.wordpress.com/2025/10/09/m...
#ornithology
Monitoring moult using digital cameras: wadertales.wordpress.com/2025/10/09/m...
#ornithology
December 11, 2025 at 7:14 AM
The annual post-breeding moult of a shorebird lasts about three months - that's as long as a successful breeding season.
Monitoring moult using digital cameras: wadertales.wordpress.com/2025/10/09/m...
#ornithology
Monitoring moult using digital cameras: wadertales.wordpress.com/2025/10/09/m...
#ornithology
Reposted by Russ Boland
Quick for information post... Sorry if folk have messaged me etc and haven't heard back, I haven't felt like dealing with work and art at all due to illness still and not knowing what's going on. I will try to start getting back to people soon🙏
December 8, 2025 at 8:01 PM
Quick for information post... Sorry if folk have messaged me etc and haven't heard back, I haven't felt like dealing with work and art at all due to illness still and not knowing what's going on. I will try to start getting back to people soon🙏