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thewildlifeoculus.bsky.social
The Wildlife Oculus
@thewildlifeoculus.bsky.social
230 followers 160 following 200 posts
I am Blair Jones, birder, photographer, talk presenter, drone pilot and blogger. Gwent Ornithological Society Secretary. BTO Volunteer. Visit my blog at www.thewildlifeoculus.com
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thewildlifeoculus.bsky.social
www.thewildlifeoculus.com/2026/02/worl... #birdingwales
World Wetlands Day – Goldcliff Lagoons
A photography blog focused on Gwent wildlife and landscapes. Drones, Astro, Dwarf Labs 3 Nikon and Olympus cameras.
www.thewildlifeoculus.com
February 2, 2026 at 9:20 PM
thewildlifeoculus.bsky.social
Enjoyed a visit to WWT Slimbridge on Saturday. Lots of birds. Highlights flocks of Dunlin, Lapwings and Golden Plover. White-fronted Geese and Common Crane fly past.
February 2, 2026 at 9:05 PM
thewildlifeoculus.bsky.social
A nice bit of bird therapy and a dose of Vitamin D in the sunshine at Goldcliff Lagoons. #birdingwales
www.thewildlifeoculus.com/2026/01/wher...
Where the Arctic Meets the Severn - White-Fronted Geese at Goldcliff Lagoons
A photography blog focused on Gwent wildlife and landscapes. Drones, Astro, Dwarf Labs 3 Nikon and Olympus cameras.
www.thewildlifeoculus.com
January 30, 2026 at 6:03 PM
thewildlifeoculus.bsky.social
Glock of White-Fronted Geese at Goldcliff Lagoons NWR this morning.
youtu.be/6fNr8vH2o8w?... #birdingwales
White-Fronted Geese
YouTube video by Blair Jones
youtu.be
January 30, 2026 at 5:06 PM
Reposted by The Wildlife Oculus
gos-birds.bsky.social
Our first indoor talk will be presented by Steve Williams on Saturday, 14th February 2026, about the Natural Heritage of the Blaenavon Landscape. #birdingwales @thewildlifeoculus.bsky.social
www.gwentbirds.org.uk/event/indoor...
Indoor Meeting - Natural Heritage of the Blaenavon Landscape (2026-02-14)
Natural Heritage of the Blaenavon Landscape, an illustrated talk by Steve Williams Goytre Village Hall (NP4 0AR) starting 7:30 pm. £2 entry (cash at door).
www.gwentbirds.org.uk
January 25, 2026 at 5:21 PM
thewildlifeoculus.bsky.social
An ancient hillfort at the top of Twmbarlwm.
youtu.be/O4tfNQSnBss?...
Twmbarlwm Hillfort
YouTube video by Blair Jones
youtu.be
January 12, 2026 at 9:32 PM
thewildlifeoculus.bsky.social
An Arctic wonderland. The Keepers Pond in the snow.
youtu.be/PKFvbulhrSg?...
The Keepers Pond in the Snow
YouTube video by Blair Jones
youtu.be
January 12, 2026 at 9:31 PM
thewildlifeoculus.bsky.social
My first blog post of 2026 kicks off with somewhere local.
www.thewildlifeoculus.com/2026/01/pont...
Pontypool Folly – The First Light of 2026
A photography blog focused on Gwent wildlife and in particularly birds.
www.thewildlifeoculus.com
January 10, 2026 at 10:35 PM
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gos-birds.bsky.social
GOS will be holding its Annual General Meeting on Saturday, 17th January 2026. We encourage as many members as possible to attend.
www.gwentbirds.org.uk/2026/01/08/a... #birdingwales #gwentbirds
Annual General Meeting – Gwent Ornithological Society
www.gwentbirds.org.uk
January 8, 2026 at 7:50 PM
thewildlifeoculus.bsky.social
My last blog post of 2025 has been published. Many Thanks for the likes and follows throughout the year.
Wishing all my readers good health and happiness for 2026.
www.thewildlifeoculus.com/2025/12/my-r... #birdingwales
My review of 2025
A photography blog focused on Gwent wildlife and in particularly birds.
www.thewildlifeoculus.com
December 30, 2025 at 9:28 PM
thewildlifeoculus.bsky.social
Nice day out yesterday with @john-l-uk.bsky.social and @gos-birds.bsky.social at WWT Slimbridge.
December 14, 2025 at 5:27 PM
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gos-birds.bsky.social
The society's final outdoor meet of 2025 will be held at WWT Slimbridge this coming Saturday. Plenty of birds are showing now, so it should be a good day out at the reserve.
www.gwentbirds.org.uk/event/outdoo... #gwentbirds
Outdoor Event - WWT Slimbridge (2025-12-13)
Full day – Winter visitors inc Bewicks and Whoopers, huge flocks of Golden Plovers and other waders.
www.gwentbirds.org.uk
December 7, 2025 at 10:54 AM
thewildlifeoculus.bsky.social
Lovely day at WWT Slimbridge on Friday with my amigos.
www.thewildlifeoculus.com/2025/12/the-...
December 7, 2025 at 10:48 AM
thewildlifeoculus.bsky.social
Chilly up Pontypool Folly this morning.
www.thewildlifeoculus.com/2025/11/wint...
Winter sunrise
A photography blog focused on Gwent wildlife and in particularly birds.
www.thewildlifeoculus.com
November 30, 2025 at 4:00 PM
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gos-birds.bsky.social
The first meeting of the Wood Warblers at Goytre House Wood, our nature reserve, was held today. Volunteers cleared vegetation around tree saplings, planted in 2022. Bird and bat boxes were mapped in preparation for activities next year. The weather was very kind to us. #birdingwales #gwentbirds
November 29, 2025 at 3:41 PM
thewildlifeoculus.bsky.social
I had a nine o'clock raider in my garden this morning—a blog post to mark the occasion. www.thewildlifeoculus.com/2025/11/the-... #gwentbirds
The nine o'clock raider
A photography blog focused on Gwent wildlife and in particularly birds.
www.thewildlifeoculus.com
November 24, 2025 at 8:03 PM
thewildlifeoculus.bsky.social
Nice to have sunshine at Goldcliff Lagoons. Nice to see a large flock of Black-Tailed Godwits on Priors Lagoons -300 +. Highlight was 25 Grey Plovers out on the Saltmarsh near the Pill. A Buzzard showed well for me. #birdingwales #gwentbirds
November 23, 2025 at 12:12 PM
thewildlifeoculus.bsky.social
Droning at dawn.
www.thewildlifeoculus.com/2025/11/dron...
Droning at Dawn – A Morning at Pontypool Folly
A photography blog focused on Gwent wildlife and in particularly birds.
www.thewildlifeoculus.com
November 10, 2025 at 9:33 PM
thewildlifeoculus.bsky.social
Clydach is very much like a set from The Lord of the Rings. www.thewildlifeoculus.com/2025/11/wate...
Waterfalls of Middle-earth: Autumn Adventures at Cwm Nant Dyar
A photography blog focused on Gwent wildlife and in particularly birds.
www.thewildlifeoculus.com
November 6, 2025 at 8:51 PM
Reposted by The Wildlife Oculus
gos-birds.bsky.social
Celebrating 25 years at the Newport Wetlands. An illustrated talk by Kevin Boina Dupe. Saturday 8th November 7.30 pm to 9 pm. Goyte Village Hall. #birdingwales #gwentbirds
November 3, 2025 at 8:11 PM
thewildlifeoculus.bsky.social
Had a lovely walk this weekend at a local, hidden gem of a place.
www.thewildlifeoculus.com/2025/11/an-o...
An ode to the Nant Ffrwd
A photography blog focused on Gwent wildlife and in particularly birds.
www.thewildlifeoculus.com
November 2, 2025 at 7:19 PM
thewildlifeoculus.bsky.social
Thrilled to see my picture of Black Tailed-Godwits taken at Goldcliff Lagoons on the cover of the WOS 2026 Calendar.
welsh-ornithological-society.sumupstore.com/product/cale...
#birdingwales #gwentbirds
Calendar including P&P | Welsh Ornithological Society Cymdeithas Adaryddol Cymru Registered Charity no. 1037823
welsh-ornithological-society.sumupstore.com
October 28, 2025 at 9:05 PM
thewildlifeoculus.bsky.social
The Temminck's deserved to be in a blog post.
www.thewildlifeoculus.com/2025/10/a-ti...
A Tiny Treasure and a Secretive Shadow at Slimbridge
A photography blog focused on Gwent wildlife and in particularly birds.
www.thewildlifeoculus.com
October 25, 2025 at 7:52 PM
thewildlifeoculus.bsky.social
Aerial Views of Pontypool Park in Autumn.
www.thewildlifeoculus.com/2025/10/autu...
Autumn Colours from Above – Aerial Views of Pontypool Park
A photography blog focused on Gwent wildlife and in particularly birds.
www.thewildlifeoculus.com
October 25, 2025 at 7:50 PM
thewildlifeoculus.bsky.social
Temminck's Stint, Rushy Hide WWT Slimbridge. Much better views.
October 25, 2025 at 4:32 PM