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Alan Bull

@alanjbull.bsky.social
243 followers 176 following 320 posts

Welshman now in Fenland #cambsbirds, Ecologist #ecology - Birder #birds #ornithology - Bird ringer - #moths - Fair Isle Bird Obs staff 1997-2004

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Alan Bull @alanjbull.bsky.social · 5h
One of the best things about living in #fenland is the skyscape, especially in autumn #sky #cloud
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Alan Bull @alanjbull.bsky.social · 28/09/2026
Always a pleasure to turn over an egg box and find a Dewick's Plusia, the third garden record. Bit stumped on the micro, if anyone has any suggestions please? #teammoth
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Alan Bull @alanjbull.bsky.social · 26/09/2026
1/2 twitching. Something I left behind a long time ago, but there are always a few birds I think "ooh, ye". Months of planning a trip to see the BW Kite with my young son. A little mini adventure and some quality time. You can plan all the details and accept if the bird isn't there. However...
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Alan Bull @alanjbull.bsky.social · 20/09/2026
Clifden Nonpareil in the garden moth trap last night 📸, #teammoth. Quick trip to Ouse washes, Pec Sand still present, at least 1 Spot 'shank and Ringed Plover #cambsbirds @cambsbirdclub.bsky.social
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Alan Bull @alanjbull.bsky.social · 03/09/2026
I've had a little break from posting on social media, but that doesn't mean I haven't been busy. Mothing has mostly been counting Large Yellow Underwing 📸 #teammoth, with the odd exceptions. Birding will soon ramp up now we're into autumn 🔭
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Alan Bull @alanjbull.bsky.social · 04/08/2026
Moth trapping is ticking along although I did mention to @sj84turner.bsky.social only yesterday how predictable it was becoming. Not last night however with a NFG shark and this smart Tawny Wave (look away Steve 😅). #teammoth
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Alan Bull @alanjbull.bsky.social · 26/07/2026
Frustrating "one that got away" / not wholly confirmed, but just heard two calls of Stone-curlew over the house just now. Unfortunately, I was inside at the time and I couldn't see anything looking north out the window 😕 #cambsbirds
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Alan Bull @alanjbull.bsky.social · 18/07/2026
A NFG Gypsy Moth in the trap last night. Had a brief underside view of a moth 2 days ago on the living room window, and was guessing it was one although the views were insufficient. So pleased to get a confirmed one #teammoth
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Alan Bull @alanjbull.bsky.social · 15/07/2026
Struck gold last night, always nice to catch a Gold Spot as they aren't very regular in the garden. Couldn't decide which photo I liked best, so posting them all. Also Toadflax Brocade NFY and another Small Mottled Willow #teammoth
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Alan Bull @alanjbull.bsky.social · 01/07/2026
Planting wild privet in the garden has obviously paid off. Lots of records of Privet Hawk but first confirmed breeding 🐛😎 #teammoth. Small Mottled Willow attracted to light last night too 😁
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Alan Bull @alanjbull.bsky.social · 24/06/2026
Apparently it's a "Quail year" and there do seem to be a lot reported recently. Strangely though, this is the first year of surveying (in last five yrs) where I haven't recorded one (usually get several every year) #ukbirding 🤔
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Alan Bull @alanjbull.bsky.social · 22/06/2026
Not a bad duo to open the trap up to this morning! I often forget there are other large and impressive moths out there as well as hawkmoths #teammoth
Peppered Moth (l) and Goat Moth
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Alan Bull @alanjbull.bsky.social · 15/06/2026
Poor phone 📸, but it it isn't often I've seen little owl this well, with the exception being at Portland. This one enjoying some mid-morning sunshine
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Alan Bull @alanjbull.bsky.social · 14/06/2026
Not quite sure what I was doing this morning when checking the trap as, on an afternoon check, realised I completely missed the NFG Small Mottled Willow (cheers @sj84turner.bsky.social for ID), Clancy Rustic and Broad-barred White! Obviously still emotional after the gig yesterday 😅
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Alan Bull @alanjbull.bsky.social · 13/06/2026
Setting the moth trap up in my Fenland garden whilst noughties hip hop group, 'Blazin Squad' play in the background wasn't on my 2026 bingo card, but here I am living the (bizarre) dream 😂 #teammoth
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Alan Bull @alanjbull.bsky.social · 11/06/2026
"cuteness overload" this morning whilst #birdringing (under licence). Recently fledged, it won't be too long before this chiffchaff heads south for the winter. Hopefully returning back to the same site next spring, to breed
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Alan Bull @alanjbull.bsky.social · 26/05/2026
Garden camping night #2 (it's so much cooler than in the house), I was chiefly rewarded with a garden first Cuckoo, a male singing at 02:30! Surely counts as a #nocmig record?
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Alan Bull @alanjbull.bsky.social · 25/05/2026
Camping in the garden with my youngest, rudely awoken at 5am with a Jackdaw helping itself to last night's #moth catch 🙄. Luckily managed to get to this Scorched wing in time (📸, NFG) and in the trap, a smart Vestal #teammoth. Oh and a Clancy's Rustic
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Alan Bull @alanjbull.bsky.social · 24/05/2026
Birding/mothing is ticking along, with the latter seeing a notable increase last night with the warm weather. Undoubted highlight being a NFG, very fresh looking, Small Elephant Hawk 📸. Eyed Hawk another cracker #teammoth
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Alan Bull @alanjbull.bsky.social · 03/05/2026
An unfortunate end for this Peregrine ringed in Cardiff, but a good age and presumably recruited a number of juveniles into the local population @pbo61.bsky.social, @cardiffbirder.bsky.social
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Alan Bull @alanjbull.bsky.social · 02/05/2026
Moth trapping has been incredibly poor up to now, so a warmer night encouraged a few more moths to the garden, this Puss moth being the obvious highlight #teammoth
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Alan Bull @alanjbull.bsky.social · 23/04/2026
Really looking forward to sitting down with these, a fine addition to my home library. A chance to relive some memories from my former life on #fairisle. Thank you @fairislebirdobs.bsky.social
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Alan Bull @alanjbull.bsky.social · 10/04/2026
Another fine morning #birdringing (under licence) in Cambridgeshire with a modest catch, but summer migrants aplenty and breeding birds very active - nice to find a Long-tailed Tit nest 📷
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Alan Bull @alanjbull.bsky.social · 06/04/2026
Some pictures of #Puzzlewood on a family afternoon in the Forest of Dean. Ancient Woodland and temperate rainforest, with some stunning viewpoints. Bonus Firecrests singing and a Swallow heard somewhere over
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Alan Bull @alanjbull.bsky.social · 04/04/2026
Another poor night's mothing #teammoth, with just 3/3 despite promising conditions. However, this Brindled beauty was NFG so I'll take the quality over quantity!
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Alan Bull @alanjbull.bsky.social · 30/03/2026
Can anyone help me with the identification of this #bumblebee? Large and all dark, photo taken in Kent, cropped in.
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Alan Bull @alanjbull.bsky.social · 23/03/2026
Lovely morning #birdringing (under licence) before work, a mixture of late winter visitors and early summer migrants #cambsbirds
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Alan Bull @alanjbull.bsky.social · 18/03/2026
Well that's me up to four species for the year, here in Fenland, with this 'Hemlock moth' in the shed. Mothing in spring is always slow to get going here 🫤 #teammoth
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Alan Bull @alanjbull.bsky.social · 25/02/2026
And we're off #teammoth. 1/1 last night, but I'll take it as I don't usually trap anything until late March
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Alan Bull @alanjbull.bsky.social · 08/02/2026
16 Russian White-fronted Geese and 141 Pink-footed Geese just south of Wisbech St Mary, early afternoon #cambsbirds
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Alan Bull @alanjbull.bsky.social · 19/01/2026
I'm not expecting anything, but why not #teammoth
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Alan Bull @alanjbull.bsky.social · 06/01/2026
I'm quite old school, so I still get a buzz from seeing a Great White Egret, even more so when it's on the patch. One in fields just east of Mill Hill Garage (March) this morning. #cambsbirds #ukbirding
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Alan Bull @alanjbull.bsky.social · 30/12/2025
Unbelievable. I've spent four days looking for geese locally and the first day I'm out without bins and these flyover. Mostly PFG but suspect, based on calls heard, at least one other species in the flock too 🤦
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Alan Bull @alanjbull.bsky.social · 26/12/2025
Spent the afternoon locally, in search of geese. Unfortunately all the Greylag flocks I've been keeping my eye on (in hope of them attracting rarer geese during, say, an influx) have all disappeared 🙄. Plenty of Whoopers though, with a bonus Peregrine sat amongst one flock. Tomorrow is another day..
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Alan Bull @alanjbull.bsky.social · 22/12/2025
Two bean goose sp. flew over Gosberton Clough (Lincs) this morning and two Cattle Egret near Rings End (Cambs) this afternoon #ukbirding
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Alan Bull @alanjbull.bsky.social · 18/12/2025
Surveying private farmland north of Lechlade (Gloucs), I bumped into a rather smart Siberian CC in this cover crop. A nice little surprise before Noah arrived in his Ark to collect pairs of animals 😂. Also GWEgret #ukbirding
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Alan Bull @alanjbull.bsky.social · 15/11/2025
Moth trapping has been non-existent since breaking my bulb and giving up for the autumn. So this NFG Grey-Shoulder Knot was a nice chance find behind the shed lock #teammoth
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Alan Bull @alanjbull.bsky.social · 14/11/2025
Another trip to Jersey comes to a close, very enjoyable birding with 3 tern species, lots waders and Brent Geese (Inc 60 PBB), Chiffs, Firecrests. Now to fly into Storm Claudia 🫣😬
Distant cattle egrets
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Alan Bull @alanjbull.bsky.social · 05/11/2025
This will be of absolutely no interest to anyone, but for my own records, two Corn Bunting over the house this morning were a very welcome garden first!
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Alan Bull @alanjbull.bsky.social · 23/10/2025
Putting the (wheelie) bins out, a flock of barnacle geese has just gone over the house (March, ✔️NFG!). Unfortunately no phone to hand to record them. Wild birds, perhaps, displaced by Storm Bernard (or whatever the name is 😂)? #cambsbirds
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Alan Bull @alanjbull.bsky.social · 15/10/2025
Final morning birding Jersey, highlight being what is potentially my last Wheatear of the year. Plenty of thrushes, 'crests and CC to keep me looking too. Until next month..👋
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Alan Bull @alanjbull.bsky.social · 13/10/2025
Back on Jersey, so thought it would be rude not to go birding in the easterly wind. Noirmont Point was productive with Mipits, finches (mostly Linnet, few Siskin, 2 Bramb) and small flocks of Redwing (c 40) and FF (5). Further up the road, Firecrests (3), CC and S T Treec rounded off the day nicely
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Alan Bull @alanjbull.bsky.social · 27/09/2025
Well that's the end of that 🤦 #teammoth
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Alan Bull @alanjbull.bsky.social · 19/09/2025
First run of the trap in a while was productive with a NFG L-album Wainscot amongst the haul. Also an unseasonal Scarce Silver Lines that looked very out of place amongst it's duller cousins @sj84turner.bsky.social #teammoth
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Alan Bull @alanjbull.bsky.social · 01/09/2025
As my hero, Victor Meldrew, once said "I don't believe it". Clifden Nonpareil last night here in Fenland!! Just wow. They're huge!
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Alan Bull @alanjbull.bsky.social · 30/08/2025
"Dad there's a hawkmoth on the fence". 🤔. Oh, there is! Hummingbird hawk resting outside the kitchen window! No pic as it was camera shy 😬 #teammoth
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Alan Bull @alanjbull.bsky.social · 28/08/2025
More migrants, with this Delicate last night. Nice little selection with Canary Shouldered Thorn, Large Wainscot and a Rusty Dot Pearl also attracted #teammoth
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Alan Bull @alanjbull.bsky.social · 26/08/2025
My jaw hit the floor! Only one moth to talk about, Striped Hawkmoth attracted to light last night in Fenland #teammoth, @migrantmothuk.bsky.social
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Alan Bull @alanjbull.bsky.social · 25/08/2025
Back up and running after a week off, due to an incident involving the moth trap and a football 🤦. Lots of moths, inc. Clancy's Rustic, Orange Swift and an uncooperative (for photos) Rusty Dot Pearl #teammoth
Clancy's Rustic Orange Swift
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Alan Bull @alanjbull.bsky.social · 23/08/2025
My 4 year old niece found this beast in Bath, Somerset today. What a find! #teammoth Anyone know the status of DHHawk there, so I can report back?
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