Julian Hughes
penrhynbirder.bsky.social
Julian Hughes
@penrhynbirder.bsky.social
Nature, and saving it. Editor Welsh Bird Report. https://birdsin.wales/
Weekly BirdNotes in Daily Post. http://www.birdnotes.wales/
Co-editor of The Birds of Wales. http://tinyurl.com/TheBirdsOfWales
A million mile Manxie...? I will never not be in awe of the ocean distances travelled by a bird weighing the same as three large bananas. News from #Uruguay, @bardseybirdobs.bsky.social and other parts of #NorthWales in @northwaleslive.bsky.social. #BirdingWales

www.birdnotes.wales/blog/travell...
Travelling Shearwaters never cease to impress
While we shiver in shorter days, Manx Shearwaters that left their nest burrows on Ynys Enlli/Bardsey just 10 weeks ago are rafting off the South American coast. The Bird Observatory reports one...
www.birdnotes.wales
November 24, 2025 at 5:57 PM
Reposted by Julian Hughes
It’s nearly December. Down beside the Conwy estuary, it’s time for the… err… Hawthorn to burst into bloom!! #Conwy #WildflowerHour
November 23, 2025 at 6:05 PM
A very timely bit of #SciComm for our household this weekend. I know something I didn't two minutes ago, but don't feel any better for it 😉🤧
Hope you’re staying healthy this cold and flu season! Have you ever wondered why one side of your nose might feel more congested than the other when you get sick?

It’s an unfortunate side-effect of the way your nose is built to process smells.

1/7 ⚛️🧪
November 22, 2025 at 5:59 PM
Reposted by Julian Hughes
Join us for our next webinar on Wednesday 26 November at 18:30 where we will be hearing a round up of the European Curlew breeding season.

Book your place now:

www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/1897308393...
November 22, 2025 at 2:18 PM
Reposted by Julian Hughes
Something to celebrate - our 2025 Lesser Spotted Woodpecker report - successful breeding season, the most nests monitored & highest number of chicks fledged per nest since we started in 2015. Acoustic monitoring giving amazing results too, download here www.woodpecker-network.org.uk/images/L_S_W...
November 22, 2025 at 5:05 PM
Scaup at several freshwater sites around Anglesey today, and Beddmanarch Bay produced 3 Slavonian Grebes, 2 Great Northern Divers and a Black Guillemot in transitional plumage.

Orange flag (AK) Black-tailed Godwit at Gorad Flood, Valley, and a second at Cors Ddyga that I couldn't read #BirdingWales
November 21, 2025 at 6:40 PM
Reposted by Julian Hughes
Are you an MSc student based at a UK university? Or do you know one?
RSPB @rspbscience.bsky.social have just released their list of research projects for 2026:
www.rspb.org.uk/helping-natu...
#ornithology #conservationscience 🌍
Postgraduate opportunities
The RSPB is offering a variety of exciting research projects for postgraduate students in 2026.
www.rspb.org.uk
November 21, 2025 at 2:22 PM
Reposted by Julian Hughes
Now let's make it happen – starting with fixing the Planning and Infrastructure Bill.
committees.parliament.uk/committee/62...
Nature not a “blocker” to housing delivery, MPs find in new report - Committees - UK Parliament
Nature is not a “blocker” to delivering new housing, but rather a necessity for building resilient towns and neighbourhoods, MPs argue in a report published today.
committees.parliament.uk
November 20, 2025 at 3:44 PM
Reposted by Julian Hughes
In a historic first, a beaver has journeyed from London to Wales to help establish a new family and strengthen Britain’s growing beaver population
London beaver embarks on historic journey to help rewild Wales
In a historic first, a beaver has journeyed from London to Wales to help establish a new family and strengthen Britain’s growing beaver population. The Ealing Beaver Project, the UK’s first urban and ...
wp.me
November 20, 2025 at 12:20 PM
Reposted by Julian Hughes
Mae Calendr Gweilch Glaslyn 2026 ar gael rŵan.
Archebwch o’r siop ar ein gwefan i’w dderbyn cyn y Nadolig!

www.glaslynwildlife.co.uk/cy/shop/

The Glaslyn Ospreys Calendar 2026 is now available.
A must have item for Osprey followers. Order from our online shop now in time for Christmas!
November 20, 2025 at 1:13 PM
Reposted by Julian Hughes
It's not just Jays, but Rooks are also agents of natural colonisation of woodland, dispersing and planting tree seeds that start off new woodlands. #rewilding
Lots of Rooks coming to the garden at the moment for the last of the acorns.
Each birds takes 5/6 away at one visit & then returns. The number of cached acorns in the surrounding fields must be enormous.
It's not only the Jay who is responsible for planting Britain's Oak Trees.
#trees #corvids
November 18, 2025 at 10:13 PM
Reposted by Julian Hughes
Gweithio gyda’n gilydd er lles Britheg y Gors 💪

Wrth i Brosiect Adfer Britheg y Gors yng Nghymru ddirwyn i ben, rydym yn edrych yn ôl ar rai o’i lwyddiannau rhyfeddol gan glywed sylwadau’r bobl a fydd yn canlyn arni â’r gwaith angenrheidiol yma yn y dyfodol 👉 buff.ly/rRh1kB9
November 19, 2025 at 12:03 PM
Reposted by Julian Hughes
Working together for the Marsh Fritillary 💪

As the Wales Marsh Fritillary Recovery Partnership Project comes to a close, we take a look back at some of the amazing achievements and hear from the people who will continue this vital work into the future 👉 buff.ly/rRh1kB9
November 19, 2025 at 12:03 PM
Reposted by Julian Hughes
Latest BirdTrack data show Woodcock arriving en masse over the the last fortnight. Sadly, Woodcock are prone to colliding with buildings while they migrate. If you find a dead Woodcock in these circumstances, please add the record to BirdTrack or email details to [email protected]

#ukbirding
November 19, 2025 at 2:43 PM
Reposted by Julian Hughes
Am chwa o awyr iach? Ymunwch â’r tîm mawndir!
3 swydd berffaith i wneud gwahaniaeth cadarnhaol yn monitro llwyddiant rhaglen adfer mawndiroedd sy’n ehangu ledled Cymru.
Cyflog £36,246 - £39,942. Dyddiad cau 3/12/2025.
Amdani!
swyddi.cyfoethnaturiol.cymru/VacancyInfor...
#SwyddiGwyrdd #Swyddi #Cymru
November 19, 2025 at 4:29 PM
Reposted by Julian Hughes
Want a breath of fresh air? Join the peatland team!
3 perfect posts to make a positive difference monitoring the success of the peatland restoration programme expanding Wales-wide.
Salary £36,246 - £39,942. Closing 3/12/2025.
Go for it!
swyddi.cyfoethnaturiol.cymru/VacancyInfor...
#GreenJobs #Wales
November 19, 2025 at 4:30 PM
Reposted by Julian Hughes
We're now starting to get reports of dead Whooper Swans with rings. If you find a dead bird & feel comfortable doing so - check for rings using the below @btobirds.bsky.social advice 👇🏻 Collecting information on ringed birds helps better understand the impact on different age groups.
November 7, 2025 at 9:46 PM
Wild victims of bird flu increase - will it be the worst winter yet in Europe? @btobirds.bsky.social reminds birders we can play a role in monitoring #HPAI

Plus the week's #NorthWales sightings in @northwaleslive.bsky.social BirdNotes. 📷 Tony Pope. #BirdingWales

www.birdnotes.wales/blog/wild-vi...
Wild victims of bird flu on the rise
As ‘flockdown’ rules require keepers of birds to introduce strict biosecurity measures in Wales, increased deaths of wild birds have raised fears that it could be the worst winter yet for bird...
www.birdnotes.wales
November 17, 2025 at 7:02 PM
Reposted by Julian Hughes
Birdsong is not only beautiful, it’s also full of information. This is where Acoustic Monitoring comes in. Will you support the development of this new and important work? Find out more and donate today ➡️ www.bto.org/acoustic... #bioacoustics #ornithology
November 16, 2025 at 6:00 PM
Pennies from heaven...

Wall Pennywort (aka Navelwort) Umbilicus rupestris emerging from rocks at Cadair Ifan Goch today, where Bell Heather flowers try to pretend it's still July...

#WildFlowerHour in #NorthWales
November 16, 2025 at 8:16 PM
Reposted by Julian Hughes
#Beaver dams and pollinators. This Scottish study found greater hoverfly richness, hoverfly abundance and butterfly abundance in beaver wetlands than artificial ponds, but bees and moths were no different. Hoverflies were the major flower visitor in beaver wetlands doi.org/10.1111/1365...
Beaver wetlands create a buzz and a flutter for pollinators
Our results show that beaver wetlands boost hoverfly richness/abundance, butterfly abundance and diversify foraging resources for pollinators while comparing favourably with human-created ponds for o...
doi.org
November 16, 2025 at 1:16 PM
Reposted by Julian Hughes
North Wales has emerged as a hotspot for some of the UK’s rarest and most striking grassland fungi, thanks to data from a citizen science fungi survey
Record numbers of rare fungi discovered in Wales
North Wales has emerged as a hotspot for some of the UK’s rarest and most striking grassland fungi, thanks to data from a citizen science fungi survey. Plantlife’s Waxcap Watch survey uncovered new re...
wp.me
November 15, 2025 at 8:00 AM
Reposted by Julian Hughes
The Natural Environment Bill could restore nature across Scotland. 🐦🌱🐝

But there's a problem.

Part of the Bill introduces powers that threaten our most important wildlife protections.

A nature Bill shouldn't do that! Join us in calling for this to be fixed 👉
action.rspb.org.uk/page/181323/...
November 13, 2025 at 2:56 PM
Reposted by Julian Hughes
Amendment 40 to the Planning and Infrastructure Bill has been voted down.

Had it passed, it would have meant more precious wildlife would have retained existing protections.

Instead, MPs have bought into the false 'nature vs growth' narrative.
November 13, 2025 at 6:00 PM