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Zak Spaull

@zspaull.bsky.social
349 followers 118 following 75 posts

Birder, naturalist & conservationist from North Wales.

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Zak Spaull @zspaull.bsky.social · 16h
Turning into a pretty good week in South Uist. Found this juvenile Semipalmated Sandpiper at Penninerine this afternoon. #birdingscotland #rarebirdsuk
Pic - Alan Kennedy
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Zak Spaull @zspaull.bsky.social · 29/09/2026
Nice to find this juvenile American Golden Plover on The Range this evening at the Nearctic wader vortex. #birdingscotland
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Zak Spaull @zspaull.bsky.social · 27/09/2026
Madness at The Range this afternoon finding Pectoral Sandpiper, Buff-breasted Sandpiper and this juv Long-billed Dowitcher all in the same Golden Plover flock! #birdingscotland #rarebirdsuk
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Zak Spaull @zspaull.bsky.social · 24/09/2026
Have been keen to find an American Wigeon for ages now, so pretty happy to come across a new drake alongside the long stayer at Loch Bee, South Uist today. Good views of Lesser Yellowlegs on The Range too. #birdingscotland
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Zak Spaull @zspaull.bsky.social · 14/09/2026
Routine check of Shawbost beach this afternoon, wasn’t expecting the only duck in the bay to be a Surf Scoter. #birdingscotland
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Zak Spaull @zspaull.bsky.social · 12/09/2026
Wader passage has been a bit slow over the last 2 weeks on Lewis, so quite happy to find this Buff-breasted Sandpiper at Steinis this evening! #birdingscotland
Typically rubbish pic
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Zak Spaull @zspaull.bsky.social · 26/08/2026
Icky/melod fresh in along arable field margins near Slains Castle, Cruden Bay this evening. @birdguides.bsky.social #birdingscotland
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Zak Spaull @zspaull.bsky.social · 14/05/2026
2 Pom Skua & 18 Long-tailed Skua N past Neist Point, Skye 10:45 - 13:55 #birdingscotland
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Zak Spaull @zspaull.bsky.social · 10/01/2026
A relatively slow Winter season for scoters locally so far. Three Surfies over the last month, a 2w drake staying faithful to Porth Eirias and a drake+female pair initially off Llandulas before moving to the Old Colwyn flocks. Very few Velvets, no LTDs and poor numbers of large gulls! #birdingwales
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Zak Spaull @zspaull.bsky.social · 10/12/2025
A day looking at ducks down the Lleyn. This 1cy Sabine’s Gull at the Afon Dwyfor mouth wasn’t on my radar for 10th Dec! Yet another ‘why did I leave my camera in the car’ situation… #birdingwales
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Zak Spaull @zspaull.bsky.social · 07/11/2025
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
A classic record shot! Don’t worry, field views ruled out Taiga :)
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Zak Spaull @zspaull.bsky.social · 05/11/2025
Nice start to the day. Just found this Tundra Bean Goose along approach road to St Cyrus NNR. #birdingscotland #rarebirdsuk
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Zak Spaull @zspaull.bsky.social · 04/11/2025
Cracking flock of ‘trumpeting’ Northern Bullfinches along Tayock side of Montrose basin just now. At least 3 males and a female. #birdingscotland
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Zak Spaull @zspaull.bsky.social · 01/11/2025
Great views of European & Oriental Turtle Dove side by side at Hillwell, Shetland this evening. #birdingscotland #rarebirdsuk
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Zak Spaull @zspaull.bsky.social · 24/10/2025
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
Blackcaps everywhere! 40+ in the iris beds of Quendale yesterday morning alone!
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Zak Spaull @zspaull.bsky.social · 14/10/2025
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
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Zak Spaull @zspaull.bsky.social · 08/10/2025
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
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Zak Spaull @zspaull.bsky.social · 06/09/2025
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
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Zak Spaull @zspaull.bsky.social · 02/09/2025
Trabeg estuary: 2 ad AGP, 1 Glossy Ibis W end, Laughing Gull still E end. #irishbirding
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Zak Spaull @zspaull.bsky.social · 15/08/2025
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
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Reposted by Zak Spaull
Nick Richards @n-richards.bsky.social · 12/08/2025
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 🐦
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Zak Spaull @zspaull.bsky.social · 25/07/2025
@n-richards.bsky.social and I had a very nice evening on The Skerries last night. #birdingwales
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Zak Spaull @zspaull.bsky.social · 04/07/2025
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
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Zak Spaull @zspaull.bsky.social · 12/06/2025
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
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Zak Spaull @zspaull.bsky.social · 10/06/2025
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
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Zak Spaull @zspaull.bsky.social · 29/05/2025
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
Pic - Nick Richards
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Zak Spaull @zspaull.bsky.social · 16/04/2025
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
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Zak Spaull @zspaull.bsky.social · 04/04/2025
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
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Zak Spaull @zspaull.bsky.social · 22/03/2025
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
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Zak Spaull @zspaull.bsky.social · 23/02/2025
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
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Zak Spaull @zspaull.bsky.social · 20/02/2025
Stunning couple of days in the Swiss Alps. Plenty of Nutcrackers and Alpine Choughs! #switzerland #birding
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Zak Spaull @zspaull.bsky.social · 08/02/2025
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
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Zak Spaull @zspaull.bsky.social · 25/01/2025
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
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Zak Spaull @zspaull.bsky.social · 18/01/2025
Finding a Green-winged Teal is always an ambition of mine every Winter. Today it finally happened at RSPB Conwy. #birdingwales #rarebirdsuk
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Zak Spaull @zspaull.bsky.social · 15/12/2024
Nice Caspian Gull off Old Colwyn this evening with @birdsandbikes.bsky.social #birdingwales
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Zak Spaull @zspaull.bsky.social · 16/11/2024
Drake White-winged Scoter showed well at Lunan Bay this morning. Plenty of Velvets, LTDs, Slavs too + Snow Bunting over. #ukbirding #birdingscotland #rarebirdsuk
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Zak Spaull @zspaull.bsky.social · 08/11/2024
A flyover Red-throated Pipit at Nether Linnay was a nice surprise this morning @northronbirdobs.bsky.social #ukbirding #birdingscotland #rarebirdsuk
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Zak Spaull @zspaull.bsky.social · 07/11/2024
Cracking Eyebrowed Thrush found by Craig in the shooting gallery today @northronbirdobs.bsky.social #ukbirding #birdingscotland #rarebirdsuk
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Zak Spaull @zspaull.bsky.social · 19/10/2024
Wow. Me and Jack Morris have found a BLACK-FACED BUNTING @northronbirdobs.bsky.social #rarebirdsuk #ukbirds #birdingscotland
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Zak Spaull @zspaull.bsky.social · 16/10/2024
American Robin at Parkhouse @northronbirdobs.bsky.social found by Craig today. Just a bit random! #ukbirding #birdingscotland #rarebirdsuk
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Zak Spaull @zspaull.bsky.social · 15/10/2024
Melodious Warbler trapped @northronbirdobs.bsky.social today. #ukbirding #birdingscotland #rarebirdsuk
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Zak Spaull @zspaull.bsky.social · 03/10/2024
A double Locustella day! #ukbirds #birdingscotland #rarebirdsuk
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Zak Spaull @zspaull.bsky.social · 03/10/2024
Pallas’s Grasshopper Warbler trapped @northronbirdobs.bsky.social this morning. #ukbirds #birdingscotland #rarebirdsuk
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Zak Spaull @zspaull.bsky.social · 30/09/2024
Brown Shrike trapped @northronbirdobs.bsky.social a few days ago. #ukbirds #birdingscotland #rarebirdsuk
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Zak Spaull @zspaull.bsky.social · 24/09/2024
Lanceolated Warbler @northronbirdobs.bsky.social today. Another top find for @cgunnnat.bsky.social and his crocs! #ukbirding #birdingscotland #rarebirdsuk
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Zak Spaull @zspaull.bsky.social · 23/09/2024
Great birding here @northronbirdobs.bsky.social yesterday. Arctic Warbler, Black Kite, Pectoral Sandpiper, Little Bunting, Barred Warbler and plenty of YBWs across the island. A bonus Convolvulus Hawkmoth tonight. #ukbirds #rarebirdsuk #birdingscotland
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Zak Spaull @zspaull.bsky.social · 20/09/2024
A monster of a Death’s-head Hawkmoth today. Bit of a shock when @georgenorthron.bsky.social pulled this out of the trap this morning! #ukmoths
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Zak Spaull @zspaull.bsky.social · 18/09/2024
This Bluethroat brightened up an otherwise quiet walk up the west coast today @northronbirdobs.bsky.social #ukbirding #rarebirdsuk
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Zak Spaull @zspaull.bsky.social · 09/09/2024
Booted Warbler @northronbirdobs.bsky.social today. Flicking through the thistles! #ukbirding
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Zak Spaull @zspaull.bsky.social · 03/09/2024
Corncrake at Longar was a nice surprise this evening @northronbirdobs.bsky.social
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