A comfy spot . Thank you to Ntalie T ( @battybirder.bsky.social ) for sharing today's #FoxOfTheDay

A week of #fungi foraying based in Nethy Bridge, same time same place same group (mostly) as last year. I stopped at Ralia Cafe on my way north. Sunset from my room (slightly dirty windows!).

Swans relocated from their dried out #WesternHarbourPonds home to #BlackfordPond, where no Swans have nested in past year. Residents had been placing buckets of water for them to wash off mud, drink, also feeding them (no bread). #ScottishSPCA and @edinburghcouncil.bsky.social relocated them.

Garden visitor #FoxOfTheDay @bto-gbw.bsky.social

Spider in da house. Unsure of ID so used GoogleLens and Obsidentify. GL: Mouse Spider, Scotophaeus blackwalli. Obsid: Phalangium opilio. How can Obsidentify be so way off mark, even I know it's not a Harvestman! @britishspiders.bsky.social @enhsplard.bsky.social @edinburghnats.bsky.social

From St Baldred’s Cradle #EastLothian on a glorious day with @edinburghnats.bsky.social

My latest book – Wild Edinburgh - has now been published. This is a book for those who love Scotland’s capital city and are keen to delve deeper into its natural riches. Available in bookshops and from online sellers

Just when I don't have my camera, a garden tick, a Chiffchaff visible in the garden. Only ever recorded it as 'present' from its song, never actually seen. This photo taken at Bawsinch NR, Apr 2021. @bto-gbw.bsky.social @birdinglothian.bsky.social @edinburghnats.bsky.social

Trying out my new UV torch in the back garden. After a bit of rain, 100s of slugs were out, feasting on the leftover ground birdfood. Second photo lightened to show how many at one birdfood spot. Torch on them only a second so minimum disturbance. @twic.bsky.social @edinburghnats.bsky.social

After the old scrapes I continued east to Morrison's Haven. Surprised to see at least 20 Razorbill close inshore. #BirdingScotland @birdinglothian.bsky.social @scottishbirding.bsky.social @rspbscotland.bsky.social @edinburghnats.bsky.social

A light aircraft flew overhead. This Little Egret craned its neck to get a good look at it! @birdinglothian.bsky.social #BirdingScotland @edinburghnats.bsky.social @scottishbirding.bsky.social

Ruffled Ruff at old scrapes, Levenhall @birdinglothian.bsky.social #BirdingScotland @rspbscotland.bsky.social @edinburghnats.bsky.social

Spotted Redshank and Marsh Sandpiper at the old scrapes, Levenhall. Just discovered it was Dave Allan who first spotted the Marsh Sandpiper; thanks Dave! @birdinglothian.bsky.social #BirdingScotland @rspbscotland.bsky.social @edinburghnats.bsky.social

Six Greenshank, best views I've had in a good while. #Musselburgh, easternmost of the old scrapes. @birdinglothian.bsky.social @scottishbirding.bsky.social @btoscotland.bsky.social @rspbscotland.bsky.social @edinburghnats.bsky.social

Marsh Sandpiper (correct me if I'm wrong), a lifer and a local twitch. #Musselburgh old scrapes from the easternmost hide. @birdinglothian.bsky.social @scottishbirding.bsky.social @btoscotland.bsky.social @rspbscotland.bsky.social @edinburghnats.bsky.social

Sick Gannet down coast nr St Baldred's Cradle. On rock till tide pushed it off. Strange eye colour, not blue or black. Can't find where to report; Google search only shows reporting dead birds. Bit late but can any1 give me link to report sick? @birdinglothian.bsky.social @rspbscotland.bsky.social

What a monstrosity. Hopefully it'll do its job properly and stop rockfalls landing on folks' heads. Will also solve the knotty problem that's out on consultation - there will be no vehicular traffic going this way any time soon. #Samson'sRibs #HolyroodPark #Edinburgh

A collective sigh of relief at the rain that's arrived, ; I think this wee garden Robin isn't used to the drop in temperature either! @bto-gbw.bsky.social @rspbscotland.bsky.social @edinburghnats.bsky.social #Edinburgh

A male Emerald Damselfly Lestes sponsa at a recent visit to Milkhall Pond, Midlothian. Tried to get a close-up of his eyes but grass perch got in the way! #Nikon @scotwildlife.bsky.social @britishdragonflies.bsky.social @edinburghnats.bsky.social

Dabchick family, 3 chicks visible, Milkhall Pond, Midlothian. One acting all nonchalant when it doesn't get fed & starts to preen as parent goes to younger one. @scotwildlife.bsky.social @birdinglothian.bsky.social @scottishbirding.bsky.social @rspbscotland.bsky.social @edinburghnats.bsky.social

Chorisops nagatomii (Bright Four-spined Legionnaire), mating pair. 21/08/2025 at North Merchiston Cemetery, Edinburgh for #CemeteryWildlifeWatch. @edinburghnats.bsky.social

A mass of Common Spangle Galls and a few Silk Button Spangle Galls on Oak leaves at #SaltounWood, #EastLothian on Sunday. Gall wasp causers for the first are Neuropterus quercusbaccarum and for the second Neuroterus numismalis. @edinburghnats.bsky.social

The beautiful peace and quiet of our East Lothian woods, listening to the bird songs and calls. Instead, we got a heavy metal jamming session. Not even good! #SaltounWood #EastLothian

Rather pretty variegated leaves of what looks like Ground Elder (Aegopodium podagraria). Can this ID be confirmed? Seen at #SaltounWood, East Lothian yesterday. @bsbiscotland.bsky.social @bsbibotany.bsky.social @edinburghnats.bsky.social

Quite (understatement) excited to find Beefsteak Fungus (Fistulina hepatica) on Oak stump then 2nd on another stump. +ively off the Richter scale at finding a 3rd, more mature one, at the base of what looked like a living tree. #SaltounWood, #EastLothian this afternoon @edinburghnats.bsky.social

Saw the Rabbit first, then this Roe Deer. We looked at each other straight in the eye (or camera lens) for about ten seconds before he shot off. Milkhall Pond, Midlothian @scotwildlife.bsky.social @mammalsociety.bsky.social

If you like walking in our mountains can you help, put something back? national.thelead.uk/p/the-fight-...

Why it's essential to put water out for our wildlife. Watch out for Wasp dive-bombing Dunnock having a bath, Wasp has a drink, Dunnock bathes once Wasp has vamoosed. Dunnock has a wee drink too. @bto-gbw.bsky.social @edinburghnats.bsky.social @birdinglothian.bsky.social @rspbscotland.bsky.social

#MidmarPaddock saved from development. Well done Goff and all Friends of Midmar Paddock for the hard work put in to achieve this milestone. @maggyn.bsky.social @edinburghnats.bsky.social mailchi.mp/fd62af485725...

Possibly Crambus perlella? Seen at North Merchiston Cemetery, Edinburgh on 20/08/2025. Can this be confirmed or is it something else very faded? @mothiduk.bsky.social #CemeteryWildlifeWatch @edinburghnats.bsky.social

Hawthorn Shieldbug, Acanthosoma haemorrhoidale, four mid-instar nymphs on self-seeded Rowan tree in our garden. Berries were fully ripe exceptionally early this year #bugs #nature #scotland @bto-gbw.bsky.social @edinburghnats.bsky.social

Bit of a long shot, can this caterpillar be identified? Was on Hawkbit sp, Edinburgh, 06/08/2025. @mothiduk.bsky.social

A few more pics of Long-tailed Tit family parties in the garden. These two seem to be hoovering up the white fly (?) on the self-seeded Brassica which I'm leaving for the White Butterflies. Plumage on bird in 2nd photo is almost white, I wonder why? @bto-gbw.bsky.social @birdinglothian.bsky.social

Fire crews had attended Sunday's massive fire on Crow Hill #HolyroodPark for 24 hrs and were still there when I took these photos y'day pm. Still smouldering in places, while the crew attended one fire another would pop up. Not much wildlife will have survived this. Bravo #ScottishFire&RescueService

It’s not a wild fire if it’s been a lit cigarette or broken glass or heaven forbid a barbecue. Arthur’s Seat just now. www.scotsman.com/news/emergen...

Long-tailed Tits, 8 on my feeders & heard more contact-calling in next door garden. So nice to see squirrel-proof feeder being used after 3 months non-use since purchase #BirdingLothian @bto-gbw.bsky.social @scottishbirding.bsky.social @rspbscotland.bsky.social @edinburghnats.bsky.social

Gall of the Cauliflower Gall Mite, Aceria fraxinivora, on Ash, Fraxinus. New Calton Burial Ground, Edinburgh on 06/08/2025 #CemeteryWildLifeWatch @galling.bsky.social @edinburghnats.bsky.social

Very few records in Scotland of Trioza centranthi, a sap-sucking hemipteran bug. This is the gall, on Red Valerian, seen at New Calton Burial Ground, Edinburgh 06/08/2025. #CemeteryWildlifeWatch @edinburghnats.bsky.social

Lots of Knopper Gall on the Oak trees along Regent Terrace. The gall causer is the gall wasp, Andricus quercuscalicis.

Who on earth approved this? Edinburgh Festival/Fringe and Oasis at the same time is bad enough. But also an *Orange Walk* today. Absolute. Nightmare. @edinburghcouncil.bsky.social

Confused. 2 ID apps (one Obsidentity) say this is Woody Nightshade, Solanum dulcamara, and one says Black Nightshade, S. nigrum. This plant has white flowers so not S. dulcamara? But no black stems so not S. nigrum? A hybrid? Help please. @bsbibotany.bsky.social @bsbiscotland.bsky.social

Wee bit of burial ground on Carlton Hill, across the road from Old Calton Burial Ground. Never knew it was there. Glad I stumbled on it today, first decent photos I've ever got of Ruby-tailed Wasp. Happy happy me! @edinburghnats.bsky.social

I'm just mad about yellow .... Dumbreck Marsh, Sat 02/08/2025 @edinburghnats.bsky.social @bsbiscotland.bsky.social @bsbibotany.bsky.social @naturescot.bsky.social

Moth caterpillars at Dumbreck Marsh LNR from recce (29/07) for @edinburghnats.bsky.social and from field trip (02/07) itself. #MothsMatter @savebutterflies.bsky.social @northlanarkshire.gov.uk @naturescot.bsky.social

Great view of a young Heron at the new bridge over the Garrell Burn at Dumbreck Marsh. @northlanarkshire.gov.uk @naturescot.bsky.social @edinburghnats.bsky.social

I used to go skating here in the winter and out in rowing boats in the summer, when I was wee, before half of it was built on - the Pond (Bingham’s Pond, Bingham being the boat owners). Nowadays quite good for nature.

“.. the approval was subject to the company producing a detailed seabird compensation plan ...“. How do you compensate a dead Gannet, pray tell? www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...

My first of the year Waxcap seen when out with @edinburghnats.bsky.social at Cullaloe @scotwildlife.bsky.social nature reserve on Saturday. Blackening Waxcap, Hygrocybe conica. @britmycolsoc.org.uk

AI tells me this is a Knot Grass caterpillar, can this be confirmed? On Hawthorn, possibly spinning a cocoon. Dumbreck Marsh, Kilsyth (VC86) 29/07/2025. @mothiduk.bsky.social @savebutterflies.bsky.social