Zak Spaull
@zspaull.bsky.social
Birder, naturalist & conservationist from North Wales.
I had pretty much given up on passerines and switched to Winter birding early, so wasn’t really expecting to bump into this Red-breasted Flycatcher whilst checking the scoters in Lunan Bay. A Red-necked Grebe was offshore and the Tundra Bean Goose remains at St Cyrus. #birdingscotland #rarebirdsuk
November 7, 2025 at 8:52 PM
I had pretty much given up on passerines and switched to Winter birding early, so wasn’t really expecting to bump into this Red-breasted Flycatcher whilst checking the scoters in Lunan Bay. A Red-necked Grebe was offshore and the Tundra Bean Goose remains at St Cyrus. #birdingscotland #rarebirdsuk
Nice start to the day. Just found this Tundra Bean Goose along approach road to St Cyrus NNR. #birdingscotland #rarebirdsuk
November 5, 2025 at 10:07 AM
Nice start to the day. Just found this Tundra Bean Goose along approach road to St Cyrus NNR. #birdingscotland #rarebirdsuk
Cracking flock of ‘trumpeting’ Northern Bullfinches along Tayock side of Montrose basin just now. At least 3 males and a female. #birdingscotland
November 4, 2025 at 1:20 PM
Cracking flock of ‘trumpeting’ Northern Bullfinches along Tayock side of Montrose basin just now. At least 3 males and a female. #birdingscotland
Great views of European & Oriental Turtle Dove side by side at Hillwell, Shetland this evening. #birdingscotland #rarebirdsuk
November 1, 2025 at 4:31 PM
Great views of European & Oriental Turtle Dove side by side at Hillwell, Shetland this evening. #birdingscotland #rarebirdsuk
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
October 24, 2025 at 6:52 PM
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
Good numbers of migrants over last couple days on Barra after a quiet week. Pleased to find this Red-breasted Flycatcher at Glen this morning (1 of 2 on the island). My first Yellow-browed Warbler of the year was a nice surprise in North Bay plantation yesterday. #birdingscotland #rarebirdsuk
October 14, 2025 at 6:11 PM
Good numbers of migrants over last couple days on Barra after a quiet week. Pleased to find this Red-breasted Flycatcher at Glen this morning (1 of 2 on the island). My first Yellow-browed Warbler of the year was a nice surprise in North Bay plantation yesterday. #birdingscotland #rarebirdsuk
First full day on Barra. Fantastic place and great to be on a new island. Common Rosefinch at Scurravel this afternoon the only find of note - hopefully more to come! #birdingscotland
October 8, 2025 at 6:31 PM
First full day on Barra. Fantastic place and great to be on a new island. Common Rosefinch at Scurravel this afternoon the only find of note - hopefully more to come! #birdingscotland
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
September 6, 2025 at 1:52 PM
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
Trabeg estuary: 2 ad AGP, 1 Glossy Ibis W end, Laughing Gull still E end. #irishbirding
September 2, 2025 at 5:36 PM
Trabeg estuary: 2 ad AGP, 1 Glossy Ibis W end, Laughing Gull still E end. #irishbirding
After a fantastic season at Cemlyn, it was a welcome surprise to come home and see 2 Death’s-head Hawkmoth caterpillars devouring the garden potatoes this afternoon! (VC49) #teammoth
August 15, 2025 at 7:40 PM
After a fantastic season at Cemlyn, it was a welcome surprise to come home and see 2 Death’s-head Hawkmoth caterpillars devouring the garden potatoes this afternoon! (VC49) #teammoth
Reposted by Zak Spaull
The season is over! Had an amazing time at Cemlyn with @zspaull.bsky.social this summer. This video I made covers some of the highlights along with a blog we wrote which is more in depth.
Really excited about the future of the Roseate Terns at Cemlyn after the two pairs attempting this season 🐦
Really excited about the future of the Roseate Terns at Cemlyn after the two pairs attempting this season 🐦
It’s the end of another season at Cemlyn!
Thank you to Nick and Zak for their dedication and to everyone who visited and donated to the reserve this year, and to our volunteers for dedicating so much of their time to the terns this summer. 💙
www.northwaleswildlifetrust.org.uk/cemlyn-terns
Thank you to Nick and Zak for their dedication and to everyone who visited and donated to the reserve this year, and to our volunteers for dedicating so much of their time to the terns this summer. 💙
www.northwaleswildlifetrust.org.uk/cemlyn-terns
August 12, 2025 at 12:37 PM
The season is over! Had an amazing time at Cemlyn with @zspaull.bsky.social this summer. This video I made covers some of the highlights along with a blog we wrote which is more in depth.
Really excited about the future of the Roseate Terns at Cemlyn after the two pairs attempting this season 🐦
Really excited about the future of the Roseate Terns at Cemlyn after the two pairs attempting this season 🐦
@n-richards.bsky.social and I had a very nice evening on The Skerries last night. #birdingwales
July 25, 2025 at 6:44 PM
@n-richards.bsky.social and I had a very nice evening on The Skerries last night. #birdingwales
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
July 4, 2025 at 3:44 PM
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
Steve Culley and I had this nice black-billed Arctic Tern at Cemlyn this morning. Cool looking bird! Any comments on origin appreciated. #birdingwales #rarebirdsuk
June 12, 2025 at 3:04 PM
Steve Culley and I had this nice black-billed Arctic Tern at Cemlyn this morning. Cool looking bird! Any comments on origin appreciated. #birdingwales #rarebirdsuk
A surreal evening here at Cemlyn - at least 7 Roseate Terns. Our 2 pairs still present plus an additional 3 birds tonight. Incredible to see so many at once after no breeding records for over 30 years. #birdingwales #rarebirdsuk
June 10, 2025 at 10:17 PM
A surreal evening here at Cemlyn - at least 7 Roseate Terns. Our 2 pairs still present plus an additional 3 birds tonight. Incredible to see so many at once after no breeding records for over 30 years. #birdingwales #rarebirdsuk
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
May 29, 2025 at 9:27 PM
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
Good first few days settling in as @northwaleswt.bsky.social Cemlyn Warden 2025. First 2 Common Terns back today plus Tree Pipit over and 3 Groppers yesterday. Looking forward to the next 4 months! #birdingwales
April 16, 2025 at 5:52 PM
Good first few days settling in as @northwaleswt.bsky.social Cemlyn Warden 2025. First 2 Common Terns back today plus Tree Pipit over and 3 Groppers yesterday. Looking forward to the next 4 months! #birdingwales
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
April 4, 2025 at 10:32 AM
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
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
March 22, 2025 at 7:17 PM
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
Good birding in Somerset this weekend with @reuben-veal.bsky.social and Craig. Least Sandpiper, Little Stint, Kentish Plover, 2 Glossy Ibis, Cattle Egret, 10+ Bittern, 11 Scaup, 2 BNG, Dartford Warblers and Green Woodpecker. #somersetbirding #rarebirdsuk
February 23, 2025 at 7:04 PM
Good birding in Somerset this weekend with @reuben-veal.bsky.social and Craig. Least Sandpiper, Little Stint, Kentish Plover, 2 Glossy Ibis, Cattle Egret, 10+ Bittern, 11 Scaup, 2 BNG, Dartford Warblers and Green Woodpecker. #somersetbirding #rarebirdsuk
Stunning couple of days in the Swiss Alps. Plenty of Nutcrackers and Alpine Choughs! #switzerland #birding
February 20, 2025 at 6:11 PM
Stunning couple of days in the Swiss Alps. Plenty of Nutcrackers and Alpine Choughs! #switzerland #birding
Cracking morning at Gronant with @marcbuzzard.bsky.social. 1w Caspian Gull, 4 Jack Snipe and 4 Water Pipit the highlights. Stunner of a Glossy Ibis in Rhuddlan on the way back too. A different individual to our bird from Porthmadog a few weeks back. #birdingwales #rarebirdsuk
February 8, 2025 at 2:28 PM
Cracking morning at Gronant with @marcbuzzard.bsky.social. 1w Caspian Gull, 4 Jack Snipe and 4 Water Pipit the highlights. Stunner of a Glossy Ibis in Rhuddlan on the way back too. A different individual to our bird from Porthmadog a few weeks back. #birdingwales #rarebirdsuk
Superb views of this Glossy Ibis at Porthmadog today. Dropped in behind Llyn Bach in front of @marcbuzzard.bsky.social and I on our way out. A bit unexpected! #birdingwales #rarebirdsuk
January 25, 2025 at 3:59 PM
Superb views of this Glossy Ibis at Porthmadog today. Dropped in behind Llyn Bach in front of @marcbuzzard.bsky.social and I on our way out. A bit unexpected! #birdingwales #rarebirdsuk
Finding a Green-winged Teal is always an ambition of mine every Winter. Today it finally happened at RSPB Conwy. #birdingwales #rarebirdsuk
January 18, 2025 at 6:24 PM
Finding a Green-winged Teal is always an ambition of mine every Winter. Today it finally happened at RSPB Conwy. #birdingwales #rarebirdsuk
Nice Caspian Gull off Old Colwyn this evening with @birdsandbikes.bsky.social #birdingwales
December 15, 2024 at 6:10 PM
Nice Caspian Gull off Old Colwyn this evening with @birdsandbikes.bsky.social #birdingwales