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Steve Stansfield

@bardseyobswarden.bsky.social
803 followers 34 following 68 posts

Director of Operations & Warden of @BardseyObs for 27yrs, Worked at UK Bird Observatories for 34yrs. Chair of @BirdObs_Council & Welsh Rarities Committee @wbrc

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Steve Stansfield @bardseyobswarden.bsky.social · 09/08/2026
Big thanks to @steelyseabirder.bsky.social for this surprise that was handed to me this morning. Slàinte mhath matey!!! 🥃 Bit too early to open it yet but will do later.
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Steve Stansfield @bardseyobswarden.bsky.social · 07/07/2026
A steady start to our week @OwlwoodCottage. This super Squacco Heron on Kelling Water meadow was a great end to yesterday. Also 3 Great White Egrets there.
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Steve Stansfield @bardseyobswarden.bsky.social · 13/04/2026
It’s been a slog to get to where we are this spring with the Obs taking a hit over the winter.
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Steve Stansfield @bardseyobswarden.bsky.social · 24/01/2026
It would be rude not to stop by and see him if you were in town.
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Steve Stansfield @bardseyobswarden.bsky.social · 16/11/2025
Red Kite at Kelling today.
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Reposted by Steve Stansfield
Bird Observatories Council GB&I @birdobscouncil.bsky.social · 03/11/2025
The long overdue 2024 BOC News is now published online at tinyurl.com/BOC-News-2024 Some amazing images and stories from around the Observatory network and a memoriam for the late Steve Wing.
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Steve Stansfield @bardseyobswarden.bsky.social · 05/10/2025
Today’s sea passage. 0700-1100 Long-tailed Skua: 1 imm Sabine’s Gull: 4 (1ad) Leach’s Storm-petrel: 2 Grey Phalarope: 2 Little Gull: 1 Great Skua : 3 Arctic Skua: 9 Great Northern Diver: 2 Pale-bellied Brent Goose: 1 Yellow-legged Gull: 1
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Steve Stansfield @bardseyobswarden.bsky.social · 01/10/2025
www.cambrian-news.co.uk/news/worryin...
cambrian-news.co.uk
Porpoise decline threatens Bardsey's ecosystem
A study reveals a 97 per cent decline in porpoise sightings off Bardsey, raising conservation concerns in designated protected waters. Julie McNicholls Vale has been finding out more...
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Steve Stansfield @bardseyobswarden.bsky.social · 17/09/2025
Yelkouan Shearwater last night past the north end of Bardsey c600m offshore. Seen well by @ewanturner.bsky.social and me as it passed with a Manxy.
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Steve Stansfield @bardseyobswarden.bsky.social · 16/09/2025
sea passage today 0700-1200 Razor 150 Gannet 123 Fulmar 22 Manxie 345 Balearic 1 Leach’s Petrel 2 Arctic Skua 15 Pom Skua 2 Grt Skua1 L T Skua 1 ad Sabine’s Gull 6 (4ad) Kitt 1031 Sandwich Tern 82 Arctic Tern 16 LBBG 6 GBBG 3 Grey Phal 12 Dunlin 23 Ringed Plov 5 Scoter 38 @rarebirder.bsky.social
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Steve Stansfield @bardseyobswarden.bsky.social · 15/09/2025
Wryneck this evening Seawatch highlights Sooty Shear this morning. 1730-1900 Arctic Skua 12 Bonxie 6 Long-tailed Skua 1 ad full tail Sabines Gull juv Grey Phalarope 7(2 solfach plus five south) Balearic Shearwater 3 @rarebirder.bsky.social Photo Bob Normand.
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Steve Stansfield @bardseyobswarden.bsky.social · 12/09/2025
Sea passage this morning. 0700-1015 3 Sooty Shearwaters, 4 Grey Phalaropes, 34 Gannets, 94 Razorbills, 3 Common Scoters, 9 Fulmars, 14 Sandwich Terns, 10 Arctic Terns, 1 Great Black-backed Gull, 2 Arctic Skuas, 4 Whimbrels, 149 Manx Shearwaters, and 100 Kittiwakes.
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Steve Stansfield @bardseyobswarden.bsky.social · 08/09/2025
Nightingale and pied fly from this morning. Also Balearic, Sabine’s Gull, Pom Skua, Grey Phal and Black Tern.
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Steve Stansfield @bardseyobswarden.bsky.social · 21/07/2025
Out catching Stormies last night. Forgot to photograph Stormies but the Milky Way was awesome!
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Steve Stansfield @bardseyobswarden.bsky.social · 21/07/2025
So proud of Connor coming away from his Computer Science course with a 1st from @uniofeastanglia.bsky.social Well done Connor!
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Steve Stansfield @bardseyobswarden.bsky.social · 14/06/2025
This morning I was woken by Emma asking what was singing outside our bedroom window. I removed my AirPods from my ears and heard a few notes of an Acro - it’s a Blyth’s Reed I said. I got up and was just on my way out of the door when Colin, our volunteer, was heading to the door. The bird sang
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Steve Stansfield @bardseyobswarden.bsky.social · 10/05/2025
BLACK STORK north 1455ish. Maybe seen again over mainland heading towards Rhiw Mountain. @rarebirder.bsky.social
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Steve Stansfield @bardseyobswarden.bsky.social · 07/05/2025
And a few flowers
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Steve Stansfield @bardseyobswarden.bsky.social · 07/05/2025
And a few underwater images.
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Steve Stansfield @bardseyobswarden.bsky.social · 07/05/2025
I’ve been taking a few night-time images.
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Steve Stansfield @bardseyobswarden.bsky.social · 07/05/2025
Another tough day in the office!!
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Steve Stansfield @bardseyobswarden.bsky.social · 04/05/2025
BEE 🐝 EATER!!! Flying around Obs garden briefly then bombed to Ty Pellaf/Pen Cristin then shot off south. Great find by @ewanturner.bsky.social
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Steve Stansfield @bardseyobswarden.bsky.social · 20/04/2025
Rather splendid Hornemann’s Redpoll this evening. A real bruiser of a bird. Only the 6th Arctic Redpoll for Wales, all previous records have been Exilipes.
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Steve Stansfield @bardseyobswarden.bsky.social · 23/03/2025
Darling little Jack Snipe and a chunky chicken of a Woodcock trapped and ringed last night by @ewanturner.bsky.social
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Steve Stansfield @bardseyobswarden.bsky.social · 21/03/2025
I had a Hoopoe calling and singing briefly at the Obs this morning on Bardsey but it flew north and no sign since! @rarebirder.bsky.social
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Steve Stansfield @bardseyobswarden.bsky.social · 06/03/2025
Getting Owlwood packed up for the summer and ready to move back to Bardsey. Glorious day with Brimstone Butterfly in the garden.
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Steve Stansfield @bardseyobswarden.bsky.social · 05/03/2025
Weybourne windmill on our way home this evening
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Reposted by Steve Stansfield
Bardsey Lodge & Bird Observatory @bardseybirdobs.bsky.social · 23/02/2025
Help us to rebuild our seawarching hide gofund.me/7a28b393
gofund.me
Donate to Help us restore our seawatching hide, organized by Bardsey Bird Observatory
One tiny, but much loved building that unfortunately hasn’t survived the… Bardsey Bird Observatory needs your support for Help us restore our seawatching hide
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Reposted by Steve Stansfield
Dawn Balmer @debalmer.bsky.social · 18/02/2025
Take note #UKbirding #Ornithology
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Julian Hughes @penrhynbirder.bsky.social · 17/02/2025
In this week's Daily Post BirdNotes, alongside sightings from #NorthWales, a study by @rspb.bsky.social tracks the lives of the secretive Hawfinch and @bardseybirdobs.bsky.social appeals for a new seawatching hide. 📷 @mikepnature.bsky.social. #BirdingWales www.birdnotes.wales/blog/black-r...
birdnotes.wales
Black Redstarts draw admirers, but listen out for Hawfinches too
No more than a couple of dozen Black Redstarts winter in Wales, presumably from the Baltic or Low Countries, although there are so few ringing recoveries that their origins remain a mystery. A male...
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Steve Stansfield @bardseyobswarden.bsky.social · 16/02/2025
gofund.me/7a28b393
gofund.me
Donate to Help us restore our seawatching hide, organized by Bardsey Bird Observatory
One tiny, but much loved building that unfortunately hasn’t survived the… Bardsey Bird Observatory needs your support for Help us restore our seawatching hide
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Steve Stansfield @bardseyobswarden.bsky.social · 14/02/2025
gofund.me/21f99f9f
gofund.me
Donate to Help us restore our seawatching hide, organised by Bardsey Bird Observatory
One tiny, but much loved building that unfortunately hasn’t survived the… Bardsey Bird Observatory needs your support for Help us restore our seawatching hide
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Reposted by Steve Stansfield
Landguard Bird Observatory @landguardbo.bsky.social · 20/01/2025
dlvr.it
2025 SEASONAL WARDEN VACANCY
 SEASONAL WARDEN LANDGUARD BIRD OBSERVATORY  Applicants need to be competent birdwatchers and have a BTO bird ringing ‘C’ permit with a mist net endorsement as a minimum requirement. An interest in other aspects of natural history and biological…
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Steve Stansfield @bardseyobswarden.bsky.social · 04/02/2025
Please consider following @birdobscouncil.bsky.social on their new BlueSky account and look out for #BirdObservatory. I’ve just been to the 55th AGM of the @birdobscouncil.bsky.social held at @btobirds.bsky.social. An excellent weekend with lots of chat and enthusiasm about Obs Work.
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Bird Observatories Council GB&I @birdobscouncil.bsky.social · 02/02/2025
Our first post here. A great weekend for the BOC AGM hosted by @btobirds.bsky.social Superb turnout with 16 Obs represented from Fair Isle in the north to @portlandbirdobs.bsky.social in the south. Thanks to the BTO Staff, the Theford Bell Inn & the Thetford Raj. Excellent service all round
Photo Dawn Balmer
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Steve Stansfield @bardseyobswarden.bsky.social · 28/12/2024
A bit of a long day yesterday leaving Southport to travel to Kent overnight and join c500 folk to see England’s second American Yellow Warbler. Nice to catch up with folk from all over the country - some people I’ve not seen for years. And also great to see the bird too!
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Steve Stansfield @bardseyobswarden.bsky.social · 05/12/2024
Had a nice walk from Weybourne to Sheringham along the coast path yesterday. This nice adult male Kestrel was in the woods from the master bedroom at Owlwood Cottage.
Weybourne WindmillWeybourne WindmillWeybourne coast pathKestrel
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Steve Stansfield @bardseyobswarden.bsky.social · 25/10/2024
A bit of a stripey day, with at least seven Yellow-browed Warblers and a smart but shockingly quick Pallas’s Warbler. @ewanturner.bsky.social got some nicer images bey here are a few of mine.
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Steve Stansfield @bardseyobswarden.bsky.social · 24/10/2024
Whether you are an F1 enthusiast at not, you must admit this is a fine piece of music. youtu.be/8AYy-BcjRXg?...
youtu.be
Formula 1 Theme Live in Concert by Brian Tyler
YouTube video by Brian Tyler (ARE WE DREAMING)
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Julian Hughes @penrhynbirder.bsky.social · 21/10/2024
This week's sightings in the #NorthWales Daily Post BirdNotes include a scatter of late summer migrants, seabirds in the wake of Storm Ashley and a GPS-tracked Barnacle Goose. Plus, book now for next month's Welsh Ornithological Society conference. #UKBirding www.birdnotes.wales/blog/greenla...
birdnotes.wales
Greenland GOOse tracked to the Llŷn
Barnacle Geese from the Arctic were once a regular winter visitor to North Wales, with large numbers in the Wydden valley inland from Penrhyn Bay until the early 19th century and thousands on the Dee....
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Steve Stansfield @bardseyobswarden.bsky.social · 16/10/2024
Dear @bsky.app why is your algorithm suggesting I like cats? All my feed is about fluffy felines!!!
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Steve Stansfield @bardseyobswarden.bsky.social · 08/10/2024
September and October (so far) have been scarily lacking birds here on Bardsey, even when other places nearby are getting stuff. Three Great White Egrets found by @edjbetteridge.bsky.social today, and two earlier in September, have made 2024 the best every year for this species on Bardsey.
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Reposted by Steve Stansfield
Bardsey Lodge & Bird Observatory @bardseybirdobs.bsky.social · 03/10/2024
We finally have our first Yellow-browed Warbler of the autumn. A little late to the party but at least we have arrived!!!
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Steve Stansfield @bardseyobswarden.bsky.social · 20/09/2024
Still in absolute shock at learning our friend Steve Wing died suddenly yesterday whilst in the Obs at Cape Clear. Steve had been Obs Warden there since 1998. He was a great bloke and a real ambassador for bird observatory work. Rest well my friend. Together with Mary again now Steve. 💔
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Bardsey Lodge & Bird Observatory @bardseybirdobs.bsky.social · 18/09/2024
Hello BlueSky!! We will be slowly moving Bardsey Obs news away from Twitter/X over the coming months. So let’s begin with a nice serene night-time post from a few nights ago.
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Steve Stansfield @bardseyobswarden.bsky.social · 30/08/2024
Not the best night with a light onshore breeze, but not a wash out. #ukbirding
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Steve Stansfield @bardseyobswarden.bsky.social · 30/08/2024
A bit of an Aurora showing over the Llŷn right now. Waiting to catch Storm Petrels. #ukbirding
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Steve Stansfield @bardseyobswarden.bsky.social · 29/08/2024
Two images taken last night. One of the Milky Way and one for the North Star and the Milky Way on a long Exposure.
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Steve Stansfield @bardseyobswarden.bsky.social · 26/08/2024
When you see over 100 Wilson’s Petrels in a day, all at pretty close range, you can’t but help take pictures! #UKBirding #RareBirdsUK 4th August off St. Mary’s, Isles of Scilly onboard the MV Sapphire.
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