iiinova — where your digital self keeps evolving

Gary Flakes @flako1959.bsky.social · 16/08/2026

Can't help but think I'm being watched as I wander through my garden this morning. #urbanfox #holgatefox @chrisgpackham.bsky.social

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Gary Flakes @flako1959.bsky.social · 10/08/2026

A stunning male Redstart along the path from the Quarry CP to Flask Lake @nosterfieldnr.bsky.social today never quite came close enough.

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Gary Flakes @flako1959.bsky.social · 04/08/2026

A second successive Clouded Yellow butterfly year and still turning up at local sites around York. Several flying yesterday and being regularly buzzed by tiny Brown Argus butterflies. Lovely to see. @bcyorkshire.bsky.social @savebutterflies.bsky.social

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Gary Flakes @flako1959.bsky.social · 31/07/2026

A fresh looking Dark Green Fritillary was the exception amongst the worn & faded fritillaries seen yesterday in the Yorkshire Dales on the moors above Grassington. @bcyorkshire.bsky.social @savebutterflies.bsky.social

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Gary Flakes @flako1959.bsky.social · 31/07/2026

Good to see reasonable numbers of Yorkshire Dales Scotch Argus flying yesterday despite a stiff breeze blowing. @bcyorkshire.bsky.social @savebutterflies.bsky.social

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Gary Flakes @flako1959.bsky.social · 28/07/2026

Two recent walks on Strensall Common led to, amongst other things, a close encounter with a young Cuckoo, a juv Yellow Wagtail, Tree Pipits, a Marbled White butterfly and 3 Clouded Yellows in a field full of flowers. If only I had a camera with me! @bcyorkshire.bsky.social @yorkbirding.bsky.social

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Gary Flakes @flako1959.bsky.social · 18/07/2026

Wharram Quarry has to be one of the best places in North Yorkshire to catch up with Marbled White butterflies. @bcyorkshire.bsky.social @savebutterflies.bsky.social

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Gary Flakes @flako1959.bsky.social · 18/07/2026

A little disappointed with my phonescoped pics of the @nosterfieldnr.bsky.social Caspian Tern on Friday afternoon; only my second UK bird. I have great excuse, it was a very hot day! @nybirdnews.bsky.social

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Gary Flakes @flako1959.bsky.social · 23/06/2026

Didn't connect with the birds I had hoped for at Fen Bog, North York Moors, but still plenty to see on a breezy day. Highlights were the number of Small Pearl-bordered Fritillary on the wing and a couple of Golden-ringed Dragonfly.

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Gary Flakes @flako1959.bsky.social · 25/05/2026

I’d almost given up hope of seeing York’s colony of the UK’s smallest butterfly, the Small Blue, but the warmer weather has seen them emerge in good numbers now their food plant, kidney vetch, is in full flower. @savebutterflies.bsky.social @bcyorkshire.bsky.social

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Gary Flakes @flako1959.bsky.social · 21/05/2026

Less than an hour’s drive from home, I would never have caught up with this Wood Warbler had it not been blasting out its incredible coin spinning song. Easily lost in the leafy canopy, rarely seen in Yorkshire woodlands nowadays.

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Gary Flakes @flako1959.bsky.social · 18/05/2026

Reassuring to find a single Burnt Tip Orchid and a good number of Fly Orchids making an appearance at a North Yorkshire site today. I hope they continue to show in years to come although it does feel like they’re just hanging on in there. @ukorchids.bsky.social @bsbibotany.bsky.social

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Gary Flakes @flako1959.bsky.social · 15/05/2026

Almost gave up on my search for Pearl-bordered Fritillaries today, but patience and perseverance paid off at a cold, blowy and cloudy North York Moors site today when the sun came out for just a minute or two. @savebutterflies.bsky.social @bcyorkshire.bsky.social

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Gary Flakes @flako1959.bsky.social · 13/05/2026

One of two Dingy Skippers seen at Colton Bank on the outskirts of York. Highly localised distribution and has seriously declined in recent years, so lovely to catch up with these small butterflies close to home. @savebutterflies.bsky.social @bcyorkshire.bsky.social

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Gary Flakes @flako1959.bsky.social · 08/05/2026

One of my favourite benches was further enhanced yesterday by a pair of Dippers gathering food for their unseen young further upstream on The Duncombe Park Estate, Helmsley. A great spot to sit and ponder. @nybirdnews.bsky.social

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Gary Flakes @flako1959.bsky.social · 07/05/2026

Thrilled (and always relieved) to find a pair of North Yorkshire Turtle Doves today, feeding on recently sown grass seed and a day earlier than last year. Hope they have a successful breeding season.

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Gary Flakes @flako1959.bsky.social · 30/04/2026

Swilly’s star turns were hard to find at RSPB St Aidan’s today. Briefly caught up with a pair towards the end of my visit, but unfortunately viewed directly into the sun. Dozens of Swifts, a flyover Bittern & a male Bearded Tit provided a decent support act.

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Gary Flakes @flako1959.bsky.social · 29/04/2026

It’s that time of year again, they seem to come around quicker & quicker. A day out in the NYM to catch up with the diminutive Duke of Burgundy & Green Hairstreak butterflies. A close encounter with a Cuckoo & singing Redstarts made for a lovely, but cold, day. @savebutterflies.bsky.social

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Gary Flakes @flako1959.bsky.social · 23/04/2026

Didn’t think I’d need the scope today for a relaxed walk down @ldvnnr.bsky.social Wheldrake Ings. I was wrong. I’d have appreciated a closer view of this Common Crane. The Law of Sod. @nybirdnews.bsky.social @yorkbirding.bsky.social

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Gary Flakes @flako1959.bsky.social · 21/04/2026

Pied Flycatchers are back on territory and singing in Plantation Wood along The Strid in North Yorkshire. Lovely to see (and hear) them before the trees return to full leaf. @nybirdnews.bsky.social @northyorksbirds.bsky.social

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Gary Flakes @flako1959.bsky.social · 21/04/2026

As parents know, sometimes you just have to ignore the kids and let them get on with it. Dipper and one of its offspring on the River Wharfe today. @nybirdnews.bsky.social

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Gary Flakes @flako1959.bsky.social · 19/04/2026

My first singing & displaying Tree Pipit of the year today. Distant, in a very quiet corner of Yearsley Moor wood. @yorkbirding.bsky.social

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Gary Flakes @flako1959.bsky.social · 17/04/2026

A surprise and a treat to catch up with a flock of thirty plus Bramblings at Duncombe Park yesterday. Up to then, Cock o’the Norths had managed to avoid me all winter. @nybirdnews.bsky.social @northyorksbirds.bsky.social

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Gary Flakes @flako1959.bsky.social · 14/04/2026

This male Ring Ouzel, in upper Nidderdale yesterday, was attracting the attention of some of its near neighbours. An excellent half hour spent watching with hardly a soul around.

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Gary Flakes @flako1959.bsky.social · 14/04/2026

A nice surprise finding an Orange Tip butterfly roosting in the garden. @savebutterflies.bsky.social @bcyorkshire.bsky.social

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Gary Flakes @flako1959.bsky.social · 14/04/2026

A wander around Nidderdale yesterday resulted in several new birds for the year including Swallow, Common Sandpiper, Wheatear, Ring Ouzel & Pied Flycatcher. Doesn’t get much better than that in early April. #birdsincontext @nybirdnews.bsky.social

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Gary Flakes @flako1959.bsky.social · 21/03/2026

It wasn’t just the sun and gorse that was out today. #NorfolkBirds

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Gary Flakes @flako1959.bsky.social · 16/03/2026

Lovely to catch up with a Little Owl (or two) on a local walk today. Incredible camouflage but their whereabouts given away by the alarm calls caused by a Red Kite flying overhead. @nybirdnews.bsky.social @northyorksbirds.bsky.social

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Gary Flakes @flako1959.bsky.social · 20/02/2026

A White Nun on a grey drizzly Friday in February at Studley Royal, Ripon, will brighten up anyone’s day. Aren’t drake Smew brilliant! @nybirdnews.bsky.social

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Gary Flakes @flako1959.bsky.social · 09/02/2026

On Wendy’s camera, Chris. I’ll have a look tomorrow and let you know.

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Gary Flakes @flako1959.bsky.social · 09/02/2026

Juvenile Iceland Gull, a biscuity beauty, at Roundhay Park, Leeds, today. @wendyredrobin.bsky.social had her camera with her, which saved me from taking a memory card full of blurry shots. #Gulls #BirdsInContext

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Gary Flakes @flako1959.bsky.social · 08/02/2026

Sounds like the greatest excuse ever!

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Gary Flakes @flako1959.bsky.social · 08/02/2026

Lovely views of the Slavonian Grebe from Garganey Hide @ldvnnr.bsky.social NDC. @wendyredrobin.bsky.social should have a decent photo of a bird that usually keeps its distance. My camera is back at HQ! @yorkbirding.bsky.social @nybirdnews.bsky.social

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Gary Flakes @flako1959.bsky.social · 04/02/2026

You can park at Castle Howard main car park and walk down to the arboretum car park.

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Gary Flakes @flako1959.bsky.social · 03/02/2026

At least three Shags still at The Great Lake, Castle Howard. Decent numbers of Tufted Duck, Goosander & Goldeneye too, together with a guest appearance from the resident female Red-crested Pochard. @yorkbirding.bsky.social @nybirdnews.bsky.social

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Gary Flakes @flako1959.bsky.social · 02/02/2026

An imposter amongst the ducks. One of two Shags seen @nosterfieldnr.bsky.social at the weekend. Unusual to see them inland. Part of a small influx of birds seen on North Yorkshire lakes following Storm Chandra and recent foggy weather.

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Gary Flakes @flako1959.bsky.social · 29/01/2026

Without the assistance of another birdwatcher and a thermal imaging device, I would never have seen this wonderful Woodcock @rspb.bsky.social Bempton Cliffs yesterday afternoon. Photo taken by @wendyredrobin.bsky.social @nybirdnews.bsky.social

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Gary Flakes @flako1959.bsky.social · 17/01/2026

Waxwing on Acaster Airfield yesterday afternoon. Lovely to see a @yorkbirding.bsky.social bird this winter. Some nice close views too, not that you would guess that from my photo. #BirdsInContext @nybirdnews.bsky.social

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Gary Flakes @flako1959.bsky.social · 15/01/2026

Four Hawfinch visiting the trees that border All Saints’ Church at Harewood today. Some nice views from the graveyard wall as they dropped into a couple of smaller yews to feed. Only distant photos though as I like a bird in context pic. Well that’s my excuse.

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Gary Flakes @flako1959.bsky.social · 19/12/2025

Aconites & snowdrops already in flower in Masham Churchyard and a fleeting male Firecrest at the end of the rainbow, Green Lane @nosterfieldnr.bsky.social Bonkers!

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Gary Flakes @flako1959.bsky.social · 08/12/2025

There are some incredible photos of the Eastern Black Redstart on SM and then there’s mine. Hard to resist a visit to Filey on a sunny Monday morning having previously missed the bird in Scarborough and getting thoroughly wet through too.

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Gary Flakes @flako1959.bsky.social · 08/12/2025

Thirty seven Sanderling set against a silver sea at Filey this morning. Heading into the winter sun, they passed by me and disappeared as quickly as they arrived. @nybirdnews.bsky.social

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Gary Flakes @flako1959.bsky.social · 17/11/2025

Had a family group of four yesterday, but they were quickly seen off by the Mute Swans.

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Gary Flakes @flako1959.bsky.social · 17/11/2025

A rewarding couple of hours today at Filey Brigg in spite of the strong NW wind & the odd icy shower. Three confiding Snow Buntings on Carr Naze; a Red-necked Grebe, two Great Northern Divers & a Little Auk all on the sea, bay side. @nybirdnews.bsky.social

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Gary Flakes @flako1959.bsky.social · 16/11/2025

Caught up with a juvenile Red-throated Diver today that had become a little lost on its overnight commute. The perch was a little less pleased to see it. @yorkbirding.bsky.social @nybirdnews.bsky.social

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Gary Flakes @flako1959.bsky.social · 16/11/2025

Lovely to get one of my photos on the rear cover of the 2024 report. The less said about the front cover the better! @wendyredrobin.bsky.social

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Gary Flakes @flako1959.bsky.social · 11/10/2025

Away from the chaos along the coast. Second helpings of Nosterfield’s Red-necked Phalarope, lunch in Masham, then over the tops to Gouthwaite Reservoir and a game of spot the difference for the somewhat sleepy & distant Lesser Scaup. @nybirdnews.bsky.social

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Gary Flakes @flako1959.bsky.social · 11/08/2025

Yes I think so, Jeremy. Didn't register with me untill I saw your LDV post. Enjoy your retirement and I'll no doubt bump into you again in the near future!

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Gary Flakes @flako1959.bsky.social · 11/08/2025

Today’s two Clouded Yellow butterflies @ldvnnr.bsky.social provided the usual photographic challenge. Too distant, behind vegetation and out of focus. Not to mention too quick & almost constantly on the move. @bcyorkshire.bsky.social

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