Frothy coffee snowman. Barista person said it didn’t work as well with oat milk!⛄

#NationalRobinDay on the Winter Solstice

Wren #Edinburgh @scotwildlife.bsky.social #BirdingScotland @edinburghnats.bsky.social

Sad to report ♂Bullfinch met its end. Cat treats our house as her 2nd home & brought us a gift😢 Solitary♀ now at feeder. Whilst disposing of bird, I noticed a growth on its leg/foot. Have reported both kill & growth on @bto-gbw.bsky.social. @birdinglothian.bsky.social @edinburghnats.bsky.social

Just a wee hint of aurora last night and a “starry starry night, paint your palette …”. South #Edinburgh #AuroraBorealis #MirrieDancers #NorthernLights

I contracted #LymeDisease in February (1997) so you need to vigilant year-round, especially if birding in any area with deer. #birdingWales #birdingScotland

Posing Heron on the edge of the weir @wolct.bsky.social on Saturday day out with lovely friends @elainebradley.bsky.social @glenisilla.bsky.social SusanF and AislingM. Two backdrops, one with graffiti, one with brickwork #Edinburgh @birdinglothian.bsky.social @edinburghnats.bsky.social

Great listen on a huge scandal . Worth checking out . . .

New Year Plant Hunt advice is out, a bit early for that but Rhododendron in flower in Dec! @bsbibotany.bsky.social @bsbiscotland.bsky.social @edinburghnats.bsky.social

#thicktrunktuesday, large tree stump still standing at #AstleyAinslie #Edinburgh

Kingfisher slowly making his way upstream from the weir, flying from fishing post to fishing post. @wolct.bsky.social @birdinglothian.bsky.social @scottishbirding.bsky.social @btoscotland.bsky.social @rspbscotland.bsky.social @edinburghnats.bsky.social

Some cheer to brighten up a winter's day. Colletes daviesanus on Tansy (first Scottish record as far as I can make out😊) at Dumbreck Marsh LNR on 02/08/2025. Look at those pollen baskets! With @edinburghnats.bsky.social #Colletes #bees

Wrinkled Crust, Phlebia radiata, seen on dead logs at The Meadows #Edinburgh #Marchmont @msmarchmont.bsky.social

Goshawk dies from gunshot injuries in Aberdeenshire. Police Scotland appeals for information. #RaptorResearch #WildlifeCrime #BirdingScotland raptorpersecutionuk.org/2025/12/01/g...

In last week, two Goldfinch on garden feeders, but circa 30 in tree in adjacent garden, with 4 Mistle Thrush when they flew. @bto-gbw.bsky.social @birdinglothian.bsky.social @scottishbirding.bsky.social

Recorded this to genus Parmortha on #CemeteryWildlifeWatch activity on #iRecord on 18/04/2023, and just had it verified to species, P. pleuralis. Thank you irecord.org.uk verifiers! @edinburghnats.bsky.social #ichneumon

Above link fails! tinyurl.com/2026-Assista...

We are recruiting. If you want to find rare birds and witness spectacular falls & live among 30,000 Manx Shearwaters get your application in for the Bardsey Island Assistant job (Mar-Oct 2026) before 10 Dec. Apply here: tinyurl.com/2026-Assista... #RareBirdAlert #BardseyIsland #ConservationJob

Going back a bit to 21/09/2025, Caledonian pine forest at Loch Garten. Earpick Fungus, Auriscalpium vulgare. #fungi @britmycolsoc.org.uk @cairngormsnews.bsky.social

Great day birding at Ardmore Point with @scottishbirding.bsky.social Clyde branch, thanks to John Simpson for taking us round his patch, lots of info. Rock Pipit (but pale legs?). Ringed but illegible, I didn't see ring till I got home. @btoscotland.bsky.social @rspbscotland.bsky.social

Blushing Bracket, Daedaleopsis confragosa, on Willow, at Loch Ardinning Nature Reserve @scotwildlife.bsky.social this afternoon. Definitely blushing! @edinburghnats.bsky.social @britmycolsoc.org.uk

Another 'missing' Hen Harrier, this time in the Moorfoot Hills, south of Edinburgh - a well known hotbed of illegal raptor persecution over several decades. #RaptorResearch #WildlifeCrime raptorpersecutionuk.org/2025/11/20/s...

Mistle Thrush have been in trees/bushes around our garden for a couple of weeks now with first appearance of Redwing this morning. @birdinglothian.bsky.social @bto-gbw.bsky.social @edinburghnats.bsky.social @btoscotland.bsky.social @rspbscotland.bsky.social

Leafy Brain, Phaeotremella foliacea, on dead Scots Pine, 17/11/2025. The tree came down in spring 2024, at Bawsinch & Duddingston Loch wildlife reserve. @scotwildlife.bsky.social @britmycolsoc.org.uk @edinburghnats.bsky.social

Another plant flowering when it didn’t ought to, Primrose in the garden 17/11/2025. Daffodils peaking through too. In November? In Scotland? #Edinburgh @bsbiscotland.bsky.social @bsbibotany.bsky.social @edinburghnats.bsky.social

To brighten a dreich day ... waxcaps, bonnets and brittlestems seen at @scotwildlife.bsky.social Bawsinch wildlife reserve yesterday @britishmyology.bsky.social @edinburghnats.bsky.social

If this isn't global warming, wat is? Hazel female flower flowering in NOVEMBER for goodness sake. At Bawsinch wildlife reserve yesterday (18/11/2025). Last yr, first seen 19 Dec. @scotwildlife.bsky.social @bsbibotany.bsky.social @bsbiscotland.bsky.social @edinburghnats.bsky.social

Dead Wood Pigeon in garden this am, quite cold, no sign of injury like fox, cat or Sp'hawk kill. Any suggestions for disposal? Might it have Avian Flu, but looks healthy (apart from being dead!)? @bto-gbw.bsky.social @birdinglothian.bsky.social @rspbscotland.bsky.social @edinburghnats.bsky.social

Five Gadwall and circa 11 Teal, Duddingston Loch @scotwildlife.bsky.social this afternoon. @birdinglothian.bsky.social @btobirds.bsky.social @edinburghnats.bsky.social

At @twic.bsky.social Autumn Conf y'day Ben Averis led talks off with "Coastal Habitats of South-east and Central Scotland". I was at #Lindisfarne last weekend and we found Black Bog-rush Schoenus nigricans, new to me, growing in The Snook area. Ben mentioned it occurring at Aberlady. ....contd

Through-the-window birdwatching, return of the Goldfinch (regular in garden, but not on feeders); Chaffinch (last seen Feb); and Greenfinch (last seen April). Is the Goldfinch moulting (forehead plumage) can anyone say? @bto-gbw.bsky.social @birdinglothian.bsky.social @btoscotland.bsky.social

Some more dune fungi from #Lindisfarne last Sunday, out with NEFSG. First two are Dune Cup, Peziza ammophila and Dune Waxcap, Hygrocybe conicoides. I didn't take ID notes at the time so am unsure what the last two Peziza sp are; and possibly not dune specific. @britmycolsoc.org.uk

Any suggestions as to what this might be? I thought Dune Brittlestem, Psathyrella ammophila, but the gills are too pale for that one. Seen at bottom edge of sand dunes, on north side of #Lindisfarne. Both Marram Grass and Lyme Grass were present. Can you help @jeremybartlett.bsky.social ?

Pale-bellied Brent Geese, Branta bernicla hrota, these ones come from Svalbard to winter at #Lindisfarne. A few hundred Wigeon too. @btobirds.bsky.social @rspbengland.bsky.social @edinburghnats.bsky.social

Barnacle Geese #Lindisfarne #Geese #Winter @btobirds.bsky.social @rspbengland.bsky.social

I accidentally cropped this photo then again accidentally saved it, on the memory card. Doh! Fortunately I use Recuva and managed to recover the original. Both now saved on my external hard drive!! @btobirds.bsky.social @rspbengland.bsky.social #Lindisfarne #LittleEgret

Ha!!! Don't believe the blurb "100% effective in shutting squirrels and larger birds out". The #SquirrelBuster does NOT keep Squirrels out. I believed it - feeder is emptied in 48 hours. Btw he's hanging from the pole, not the other "buster"! @bto-gbw.bsky.social #JacobiJayne

Nae weel so catching up on some reading. I just love Keith’s writing style, beautifully describing his love of nature and its importance in our mental wellbeing. Based on #Edinburgh’s wild nature places (clue’s in the title!). @keithbroomfield.bsky.social

5 Bullfinch and 6 Goldfinch in tree overhanging our garden. I’m counting them for @bto-gbw.bsky.social @edinburghnats.bsky.social @birdinglothian.bsky.social @btoscotland.bsky.social @scottishbirding.bsky.social

Gorgeous, and a first for me, Spiny Puffball (Lycoperdon echinatum) at Hopetoun House foray with ELFE. Uncommon in Br & Ire. It has a short stipe & spines in groups of three converging at tips. Spines wear off and leave a net-like pattern on skin @britmycolsoc.org.uk @edinburghnats.bsky.social

Oak Passage and Fern, my two favourites at Andy Goldsworthy: 50 Years. @nationalgalleries.bsky.social

Mistle Thrush beginning to move into the city. One of six seen at Morningside Cemetery last Wed. #CemeteryWildlifeWatch @birdinglothian.bsky.social @scottishbirding.bsky.social @rspbscotland.bsky.social @edinburghnats.bsky.social

A weekend away from nature, went to The Mitchell Library. Brought up in Glasgow and never went there. 50+ years later here I am!

Imagine your favourite beach crowded with oil rigs and spills 😢 I just signed a petition to stop drilling in the Baltic - let’s keep our seas clean and safe for wildlife, climate, and our future! 🌊💚 action.wemove.eu/sign/2025-10...

I’ve spoken up for Scotland’s nature! The Natural Environment Bill must be strong enough to restore wildlife, protect our future, and unite us in recovery. action.rspb.org.uk/page/177329/...

Out for dinner then a gig.

One of my favourites, Parrot Waxcap, Gliophorus psittacinus, seen at Morningside Cemetery, #Edinburgh yesterday. Sadly I rushed at the photography but I don't really care! #CemeteryWildlifeWatch @edinburghnats.bsky.social @britmycolsoc.org.uk

418 Orange Ladybirds (Halyzia sedecimguttata) beginning to gather on three gravestones under Horse Chestnut, in Morningside Cemetery, Edinburgh yesterday. @coleopsoc.bsky.social @edinburghnats.bsky.social #CemeteryWildlifeWatch #cemeteries #ladybirds