Reposted by Alex JonesMike Pollard @mikepnature.bsky.social · 11/10/2026A real treat to spend some time watching & photographing the Grey Phalarope at Shotwick Lake this morning. Very busy feeding around the lake margins. Great find by @alexhj.bsky.social #birdingWales @birdsinwales.bsky.social 31038 0
Alex Jones @alexhj.bsky.social · 10/10/2026One that's been on my radar for a while - my first patch Grey (Red) Phalarope. Only second record for the site. Really pleased to see it still present a week on! #Birdsinwales #BirdingWales #Birding 0562 0
Alex Jones @alexhj.bsky.social · 05/10/2026Thrilled to find a patch Pectoral Sandpiper a couple of weeks ago after it dropped in out of the sky calling at sunset. This represents a second individual in almost inside a year at Rhyl on the North Wales coast. #RareBirdsUK #birding #patchbirding 0461 0
Reposted by Alex JonesMark Lewis @fatpaulscholes.bsky.social · 30/09/2026Well that was fun. Sykes warbler at Girdle Ness this afternoon… 517212 0
Alex Jones @alexhj.bsky.social · 20/09/2026A Baird's Sandpiper was found at Burleydam Pool in Cheshire on 19 Sept - although the hopes was high another local bird would be found, not many would've had it down for here. What an autumn it is becoming for these. Only my 2nd UK individual after my last on Anglesey in 2009. #RareBirdsUK #Birding 0170 0
Alex Jones @alexhj.bsky.social · 26/08/2026Usually the Great Orme pulls in a showy annual Dotterel and this year was no exception! Great to see this juvenile in the late afternoon light this afternoon #BirdingWales #Birds #Birding 2360 0
Alex Jones @alexhj.bsky.social · 30/07/2026Just sometimes you've got to be there at the right moment... Bittern at @rspbburtonmere.bsky.social Amazing view of 2 Bitterns recently! #birds #birding 0140 0
Alex Jones @alexhj.bsky.social · 23/07/2026A bit of July butterflying in Dorset following our visit for the Long-tailed Shrike. Lulworth Skipper being the main target with a great supporting cast of Adonis Blue, Marbled White and Brown Argus. #Butterflies #UKbutterflies 0110 0
Alex Jones @alexhj.bsky.social · 20/07/2026Sometimes you've just got to get lucky and this was one of them. Who'd have thought there would be a second first summer Long-tailed Shrike up for grabs this summer delighting many! Thoroughly enjoyable afternoon watching it for over 4 hrs! It eventually showed beautifully! #RareBirdsUK #Birding 0200 0
Alex Jones @alexhj.bsky.social · 18/07/2026The American Black Tern returned to Long Nanny, Northumberland this year for it's 6th year. I got down just before the remarkable announcement of the hybrid Black Tern x Arctic Tern chick making it a first successful breeding attempt between these species #birds #birding #RarebirdsUK 0120 0
Reposted by Alex JonesPapay ranger - Jonathan Ford @papayranger.bsky.social · 18/07/2026The best bird I have ever seen on Papay (so far).. the Blue-cheeked Bee-eater has now headed away but I managed an early morning viewing before it went. Papay's very own bird of paradise. #Papay #Orkney #rarebirds #beeeater 4879 0
Alex Jones @alexhj.bsky.social · 15/05/2026britainsfavouritebutterfly.co.uk/butterfly/pa... Painted Ladybritainsfavouritebutterfly.co.ukPainted Lady - Britain’s Favourite ButterflyThe Painted Lady is one of the 60 beautiful butterflies found across the UK. Will it be Britain's Favourite Butterfly? 030 0
Alex Jones @alexhj.bsky.social · 12/05/2026Yet another May Bank Holiday weekend delivered with the arrival of a smart male Lesser Kestrel to Cornwall. It remained loyal to the area for a few days affording great views for most that visited. #RareBirdsUK #Birds 0160 0
Alex Jones @alexhj.bsky.social · 21/04/2026An after work detour to see this lovely Hoopoe at Gronant, Flintshire (UK) yesterday brought a taste of the Mediterranean to the North Wales coast hot on the heels of my first Spring Wryneck found early on Sunday morning at Burton. #Birds #RareBirdsUK #Birding 11114 0
Alex Jones @alexhj.bsky.social · 19/04/2026One of the showiest Lesser Scaups I've seen, this drake was a delight to go and see recently at The Mere (Ellesmere) in Shropshire, UK often associating with the Tufted Duck present #RareBirdsUK #Birdsoftheworld #Birding 0444 0
Alex Jones @alexhj.bsky.social · 29/03/2026A recent trip to Sorrento, Italy saw us visit Mount Vesuvius where I was overjoyed to walk into 2 Alpine Accentors after missing them in the Pyrenees and Atlas Mountains over the years. Good numbers of Black Redstart were also present. 0110 0
Alex Jones @alexhj.bsky.social · 01/03/2026Of what use to be common wintering grounds for these species along the North Wales coast, there has just been one wintering Snow Bunting (Gronant) and one Shorelark (just outside the region in Cheshire) available this winter. Both really nice to catch up recently #Birding #Birds #UKBirding 080 0
Alex Jones @alexhj.bsky.social · 28/02/2026Thanks! Yes, only a few months after finding a Pec Sand in the same place! Not a bad few months on there! 120 0
Alex Jones @alexhj.bsky.social · 28/02/2026It seems to favour the exact same area as the Yellowlegs conveniently. I've been patching the River Clwyd for years and both these species were new for me this year on there! 110 0
Alex Jones @alexhj.bsky.social · 18/01/2026It was quite mobile in the water during the 30 mins I was there. I guess it went out considerably with the tide so it may be worth a punt going at high tide tomorrow in the hope it returns 🤞🏼 120 0
Alex Jones @alexhj.bsky.social · 18/01/2026A tour through Conwy County in North Wales this morning saw a few notable mentions inc. an unexpected Black-throated Diver from Rhos Point behind 7 Purple Sands roosting at high tide. A Surf Scoter and Slavonian Grebe were a touch distant for images but a Gt Northern Diver was close in #BirdingWales 1280 0
Alex Jones @alexhj.bsky.social · 14/01/2026Excellent! I was quietly confident you'd get it along that stretch if it wasn't near footbridge or the hide. Well done! 010 0
Alex Jones @alexhj.bsky.social · 12/01/2026Well done Dylan! Glad it's behaving and staying put! 010 0
Alex Jones @alexhj.bsky.social · 11/01/2026North Point Pools gave me a rare opportunity to see multiple goose species within a pan of the scope. The most educational was the presumed Taiga Bean Goose which was only my second UK bird in 15+ years. Albeit on the small side, it seemed to fit the criteria for a small female. #RareBirdsUK #Geese 0110 0
Alex Jones @alexhj.bsky.social · 11/01/20262025 ended in Norfolk with a day to hit a couple of smart, desirable targets: the over-wintering Black-winged Kite and the Eastern Black Redstart. Both showed rather nicely marking an excellent December for rarities in the UK #RareBirdsUK #Birds #Birding 1260 0
Alex Jones @alexhj.bsky.social · 10/01/2026Thanks Chris! Nice pics! Glad you've caught up with it! Nice to see it staying loyal to the site! 020 0
Reposted by Alex JonesMike Pollard @mikepnature.bsky.social · 08/01/2026Delighted to catch up with the first winter Lesser Yellowlegs @ the Clwyd Estuary this morning. Feeding mostly in the saltmarsh, and occasionally on the mudflats. A little smaller and more dainty than the Redshanks nearby. @alexhj.bsky.social @birdsinwales.bsky.social #birdingWales 0415 0
Alex Jones @alexhj.bsky.social · 02/01/2026A broken down car and I was left stranded in Rhyl - so I thought I'd try and pick up a few year ticks on the River Clwyd. A Lesser Yellowlegs was one of the last birds I expected to find in January socialising with the Redshanks! 2750 0
Reposted by Alex JonesMarcbuzzard @marcbuzzard.bsky.social · 02/01/2026Bonkers weather and road chaos scuppered a proper shot at a New Year bird race however great fun with Tony Kearney + Owen Parsons. A close Slav Grebe at the Spinnies NR was the highlight until @alexhj.bsky.social found a superb Lesser Yellowlegs on the Clwyd! cracking bird ☺️ #ukbiring #birdingwales 1341 0
Alex Jones @alexhj.bsky.social · 02/01/2026Glad you connected with it Marc! I was more than happy with 3 Whoopers and 3 Pink feet! Not really what I was expecting in January! 040 0
Alex Jones @alexhj.bsky.social · 21/12/2025This striking drake Bufflehead made quite an early Christmas present marking a potential first for Wales when it was found briefly; a couple of weeks ago in Flintshire. Luckily it was refound 45 miles to the west on Y Foryd, near Caernarfon on Friday 19th staying put for all to connect #RareBirdsUK 0290 0
Reposted by Alex JonesMike Pollard @mikepnature.bsky.social · 08/12/2025Exciting to catch up with the drake Bufflehead that graced Point of Ayr #RSPB over high tide today. No sign of rings & behaving like a wild bird. @rspbcymru.bsky.social @britishbirds.bsky.social #birdingWales @birdsinwales.bsky.social @rspbburtonmere.bsky.social @penrhynbirder.bsky.social 3969 0
Alex Jones @alexhj.bsky.social · 09/12/2025A Lesser Crested Tern was a real turn up for a December after a 20 year absence in the UK. Ranging over 5 miles, it did give itself up after remaining fairly elusive on Saturday on the Exe Estuary, Devon. #RareBirdsUK #Birding 0300 0
Reposted by Alex JonesWest Coast Birdwatching @westcoastbirds.bsky.social · 02/10/2025Fantastic to find 2 American Golden Plovers on Dale Airfield, Pembrokeshire, this afternoon. Such an elegant wader. #BirdingWales #RareBirdsUK 415510 0
Alex Jones @alexhj.bsky.social · 30/07/2025Our recent trip to Colorado gave us so many memorable experiences and one in particular was our encounter with this young American Black Bear at Dinosaur Ridge just a few feet away! #BlackBears #Colorado 0191 0
Alex Jones @alexhj.bsky.social · 28/07/2025I was pleased to find 3 Yellow-legged Gulls just outside of Chester, UK on the River Dee. Always a scarer species in the NW but July and August are a good time for passage. #UkBirding 0330 0
Alex Jones @alexhj.bsky.social · 08/06/2025The Woodchat Shrike at Daresbury, Cheshire showed nicely proving to be another good local bird of the Spring in 2025. #RareBirdsUK 0330 0
Alex Jones @alexhj.bsky.social · 18/05/2025My 4th Painted Lady butterfly this week in North Wales after recording none last year. I feel a UK influx coming on! #butterflies @savebutterflies.bsky.social 0100 0
Alex Jones @alexhj.bsky.social · 21/04/2025For World Curlew Day, it's worth highlighting the vulnerable Bristle-thighed Curlew we saw in Oahu, #Hawaii 2 years ago. With a very restricted breeding & wintering range, it was a joy to connect with 3 individuals at the end of our 3 week trip. #Birdsoftheworld #Birds @curlewaction.bsky.social 1354 0
Alex Jones @alexhj.bsky.social · 21/04/2025What a record... Black Kite over the landfill site at Wood Lane NR on Saturday. My first UK individual since the overwintering 2010 Welsh Gigrin Farm bird. Much welcomed just less than.40 min drive from home #RareBirdsUK #Birds 0280 0
Reposted by Alex JonesJohn Martin @pilning.bsky.social · 19/04/2025Great find by @saloplarus.bsky.social of Shropshire's first Black Kite at Wood Lane. It hung around the tip there late morning, often chased by 2CY Red Kites and Corvids. #shropshirebirding #ukwildlife 🪶 410810 0
Alex Jones @alexhj.bsky.social · 19/04/2025Quality views of Ring Ouzel locally in NE Wales over the weekend. This was promptly followed by a further 5 found during a Heathland BTO survey! #Birds 0280 0
Reposted by Alex JonesPaul Roberts @npaulroberts.bsky.social · 10/03/2025The rather splendid 1st-winter Bonaparte's Gull at Ogmore Estuary, well found by @tomwright1.bsky.social This is the third of this species I've seen at the site, albeit the first non-adult. 1525 0
Reposted by Alex JonesSean O’Hara @seanoh58.bsky.social · 05/03/2025Hoylake…….another cold walk out to the low tide shoreline this morning was rewarded with this interesting looking drake Scoter….. general consensus is Black Scoter @patchbirding.bsky.social 2443 0
