Al
@valezina15.bsky.social
Gardener, birder and insect enthusiast. Happiest outdoors!
Perfect autumn day @ldvnnr.bsky.social . 7 Jays, 2 Red Kites, 6 Buzzards, Cetti's Warbler, Sprawk, Kestrel, 3 Bullfinches between Bank Island & Wheldrake bridge, plus a flock of Pinkies overhead. Willow Emerald, Common Darter, Speckled Wood & Red Admiral too. @yorkbirding.bsky.social
October 3, 2026 at 1:21 PM
Perfect autumn day @ldvnnr.bsky.social . 7 Jays, 2 Red Kites, 6 Buzzards, Cetti's Warbler, Sprawk, Kestrel, 3 Bullfinches between Bank Island & Wheldrake bridge, plus a flock of Pinkies overhead. Willow Emerald, Common Darter, Speckled Wood & Red Admiral too. @yorkbirding.bsky.social
Lovely morning at Blacktoft. Some good birds; Little Stint, Water Rail, Marsh Harrier, Kestrel, Sparrowhawk, Dublin, Snipe, Spotshank, BlackT Godwit & flock of pinkies calling overhead. Grand chats with friendly folk too.
@nybirdnews.bsky.social
@nybirdnews.bsky.social
September 26, 2026 at 4:14 PM
Lovely morning at Blacktoft. Some good birds; Little Stint, Water Rail, Marsh Harrier, Kestrel, Sparrowhawk, Dublin, Snipe, Spotshank, BlackT Godwit & flock of pinkies calling overhead. Grand chats with friendly folk too.
@nybirdnews.bsky.social
@nybirdnews.bsky.social
Especially when the sun shines 😉
September 12, 2026 at 9:02 AM
Especially when the sun shines 😉
Marvelous morning @flamboroughbird.bsky.social Whinchats, Redstarts, Pied & Spotted Flycatchers, Lesser W'throat, Wheaters. Similar haul at Bempton plus Barred Warbler (special thanks to fellow birder for great scope view) and a bonus Barn Owl. Birding at its best and lots of friendly folk.
August 29, 2026 at 2:31 PM
Marvelous morning @flamboroughbird.bsky.social Whinchats, Redstarts, Pied & Spotted Flycatchers, Lesser W'throat, Wheaters. Similar haul at Bempton plus Barred Warbler (special thanks to fellow birder for great scope view) and a bonus Barn Owl. Birding at its best and lots of friendly folk.
Bright and breezy between the showers on Clifton Ings this morning. Very quiet bird wise, apart from raptors. 2 Red Kites, Buzzard and Sparrowhawk always good to see. Plus a Red Underwing moth in Homestead Park. @yorkbirding.bsky.social
August 28, 2026 at 11:57 AM
Bright and breezy between the showers on Clifton Ings this morning. Very quiet bird wise, apart from raptors. 2 Red Kites, Buzzard and Sparrowhawk always good to see. Plus a Red Underwing moth in Homestead Park. @yorkbirding.bsky.social
Trip to Lin Dyke this morning. Cattle Egret, GWE, lots of Swallows & H. Martins plus some lingering Swifts. B'cap, Chiffchaff, W. Warbler, G'crest, LTT, Buzzard, Kestrel. Water Rails heard but not seen. 2 Clouded Yellow butterflies. @nybirdnews.bsky.social @yorkbirding.bsky.social
August 22, 2026 at 1:49 PM
Trip to Lin Dyke this morning. Cattle Egret, GWE, lots of Swallows & H. Martins plus some lingering Swifts. B'cap, Chiffchaff, W. Warbler, G'crest, LTT, Buzzard, Kestrel. Water Rails heard but not seen. 2 Clouded Yellow butterflies. @nybirdnews.bsky.social @yorkbirding.bsky.social
Trip to #RSPBBempton today. Pretty quiet but did see 4 stunning Lesser Whitethroat plus Chiffchaff, W Warbler, Blackcap, Common Whitethroat, loads of Tree Sparrow & Goldfinch. Good conversations too, but missed seeing a whale sp. breaching - looking in the wrong direction 🙄. @nybirdnews.bsky.social
August 15, 2026 at 7:27 PM
Trip to #RSPBBempton today. Pretty quiet but did see 4 stunning Lesser Whitethroat plus Chiffchaff, W Warbler, Blackcap, Common Whitethroat, loads of Tree Sparrow & Goldfinch. Good conversations too, but missed seeing a whale sp. breaching - looking in the wrong direction 🙄. @nybirdnews.bsky.social
That was worth a detour off the motorway 😁. Driving back from Hampshire, just had to call in to see the beautiful Long-tailed Shrike. Many thanks to Gloster Birder for excellent directions. If anyone is going, please follow the instructions here theglosterbirder.co.uk
@nybirdnews.bsky.social
@nybirdnews.bsky.social
August 4, 2026 at 8:24 PM
That was worth a detour off the motorway 😁. Driving back from Hampshire, just had to call in to see the beautiful Long-tailed Shrike. Many thanks to Gloster Birder for excellent directions. If anyone is going, please follow the instructions here theglosterbirder.co.uk
@nybirdnews.bsky.social
@nybirdnews.bsky.social
Think I've just found a male Steatoda nobilis on an outbuilding in York. If ID is correct, this will be my 1st false widow spider, very exciting! @britishecologicalsociety.org
July 25, 2026 at 1:52 PM
Think I've just found a male Steatoda nobilis on an outbuilding in York. If ID is correct, this will be my 1st false widow spider, very exciting! @britishecologicalsociety.org
Southern Hawker in the local park 🤩
July 19, 2026 at 7:57 PM
Southern Hawker in the local park 🤩
#RSPB Blacktoft Sands was the place to be this morning. Birds included 28 Spoonbills, 2 Peregrines, Marsh Harriers, Ruff in a variety of plumages, Green & Wood Sandpipers, Greenshanks, Spotshanks & the most Bearded Tits I've ever seen in one place! @yorkbirding.bsky.social @nybirdnews.bsky.social
July 18, 2026 at 4:50 PM
#RSPB Blacktoft Sands was the place to be this morning. Birds included 28 Spoonbills, 2 Peregrines, Marsh Harriers, Ruff in a variety of plumages, Green & Wood Sandpipers, Greenshanks, Spotshanks & the most Bearded Tits I've ever seen in one place! @yorkbirding.bsky.social @nybirdnews.bsky.social
I've been looking for Silver-washed Fritillaries in York for years, having seen them elsewhere in Yorkshire. Really wasn't expecting my 1st one to be a valezina form, right beside my garden, on a cloudy day! Very happy 😃 @savebutterflies.bsky.social @nybirdnews.bsky.social
July 17, 2026 at 12:54 PM
I've been looking for Silver-washed Fritillaries in York for years, having seen them elsewhere in Yorkshire. Really wasn't expecting my 1st one to be a valezina form, right beside my garden, on a cloudy day! Very happy 😃 @savebutterflies.bsky.social @nybirdnews.bsky.social
Snap. Got to love Cinnabars!!
July 10, 2026 at 6:02 PM
Snap. Got to love Cinnabars!!
Aren't they wonderful! So lovely to have them in your garden 🐛.
July 8, 2026 at 9:51 PM
Aren't they wonderful! So lovely to have them in your garden 🐛.
Great trip to Teesside yesterday. Little Terns, confiding Stonechat, Burnet and Silver Y moths at N. Gare. Lovely Clouded Border moth and moody sky at Saltholme. Butterflies and fabulous wildflowers everywhere! @teesbirds.bsky.social
June 20, 2026 at 9:05 AM
Great trip to Teesside yesterday. Little Terns, confiding Stonechat, Burnet and Silver Y moths at N. Gare. Lovely Clouded Border moth and moody sky at Saltholme. Butterflies and fabulous wildflowers everywhere! @teesbirds.bsky.social
Found this beautiful spider today. Unsure of the species, closest I can see is Mangora acalypha but given the location (VC64) and habitat (rough vegetation between grassland and mixed scrub/woodland) doesn't seem very likely. Any ideas @britishspiders.bsky.social ? Sorry about the rubbish photos.
May 31, 2026 at 12:18 PM
Found this beautiful spider today. Unsure of the species, closest I can see is Mangora acalypha but given the location (VC64) and habitat (rough vegetation between grassland and mixed scrub/woodland) doesn't seem very likely. Any ideas @britishspiders.bsky.social ? Sorry about the rubbish photos.
Smashing trip to #RSPBBlacktoftSands today. Loads of Avocets with chicks, Marsh Harriers in abundance, Spoonbill, drake Garganey (actually awake!) and a lovely Temmink's Stint. @nybirdnews.bsky.social
Brilliant reserve with friendly folk. No pictures of the birds but just look at that sky!
Brilliant reserve with friendly folk. No pictures of the birds but just look at that sky!
May 16, 2026 at 8:29 PM
Smashing trip to #RSPBBlacktoftSands today. Loads of Avocets with chicks, Marsh Harriers in abundance, Spoonbill, drake Garganey (actually awake!) and a lovely Temmink's Stint. @nybirdnews.bsky.social
Brilliant reserve with friendly folk. No pictures of the birds but just look at that sky!
Brilliant reserve with friendly folk. No pictures of the birds but just look at that sky!
Cheers! Check out these glasses from Brew York.
May 15, 2026 at 8:23 PM
Cheers! Check out these glasses from Brew York.
I love them all, but Silver-washed Fritillary gets my vote ❤️.
May 15, 2026 at 8:37 AM
I love them all, but Silver-washed Fritillary gets my vote ❤️.
Out early to RSPB Bempton to beat the crowds. Lovely to see the seabirds, including 7 Puffins. Plus 1st of year Corn Bunting, Swift, Garden Warbler and Painted Lady 🦋. Also Lesser W'throat, Peregrine, Yellow Wagtail & loads of Common W'throat. @nybirdnews.bsky.social
May 2, 2026 at 12:48 PM
Out early to RSPB Bempton to beat the crowds. Lovely to see the seabirds, including 7 Puffins. Plus 1st of year Corn Bunting, Swift, Garden Warbler and Painted Lady 🦋. Also Lesser W'throat, Peregrine, Yellow Wagtail & loads of Common W'throat. @nybirdnews.bsky.social
Glorious day for a short walk at Strensall Common. No sign of Woodlarks but very vocal Tree Pipit was showing nicely, plenty of Chiffchaff, Willow Warbler and Blackcap. Also Stonechat, young Common Lizard, Green Tiger Beetles and heard 2 Cuckoo. @yorkbirding.bsky.social @nybirdnews.bsky.social
May 1, 2026 at 12:34 PM
Glorious day for a short walk at Strensall Common. No sign of Woodlarks but very vocal Tree Pipit was showing nicely, plenty of Chiffchaff, Willow Warbler and Blackcap. Also Stonechat, young Common Lizard, Green Tiger Beetles and heard 2 Cuckoo. @yorkbirding.bsky.social @nybirdnews.bsky.social
The quiet beauty of a suburban hedgerow in York today for #WildflowerHour #HedgerowChallenge
Hawthorn, White Dead-nettle, Hedge Garlic and Spanish Bluebell @bsbibotany.bsky.social
Hawthorn, White Dead-nettle, Hedge Garlic and Spanish Bluebell @bsbibotany.bsky.social
April 26, 2026 at 8:15 PM
The quiet beauty of a suburban hedgerow in York today for #WildflowerHour #HedgerowChallenge
Hawthorn, White Dead-nettle, Hedge Garlic and Spanish Bluebell @bsbibotany.bsky.social
Hawthorn, White Dead-nettle, Hedge Garlic and Spanish Bluebell @bsbibotany.bsky.social
Beautiful female Orange Tip #butterfly in the garden today. Hooray for spring!! @savebutterflies.bsky.social @bcyorkshire.bsky.social
April 8, 2026 at 9:01 PM
Beautiful female Orange Tip #butterfly in the garden today. Hooray for spring!! @savebutterflies.bsky.social @bcyorkshire.bsky.social
Naturalised in my garden too. I do love its ephemeral beauty.
April 6, 2026 at 2:53 PM
Naturalised in my garden too. I do love its ephemeral beauty.