(Trying Canon RF100-300 F2.8L from TryTheKit) At Argaty Red Kites - Woodland Hide. Great Spotted Woodpecker popped in to say hello. #birdwatching #ukbirding

(Trying Canon RF100-300 F2.8L from TryTheKit) At Argaty Red Kites - Woodland Hide. Nuthatch with a nut, seems appropriate! I love that you can see his tongue. #birdwatching #birdingscotland

(Trying Canon RF100-300 F2.8L from TryTheKit, with 2x converter here) Red Kite feeding at Argaty Red Kites, with the photography facing an extra challenge from falling snow: but the birds feed anyway. #birdwatching #scotland

I borrowed an RF100-300 f2.8L from TryTheKit for the Easter weekend, and took it to Argaty Red Kites on Easter Sunday - such a versatile lens!. We spent the morning in their woodland hide, photographing red squirrels and birds. This was one of the squirrels that posed so well for us. #ukwildlife

I’ve borrowed an RF100-300 f2.8L from TryTheKit for the Easter weekend, and took it out to try some moon photos last night (with and without the 2x converter). What an amazing lens. Trying it on wildlife tomorrow.

One more from our Shetland Wildlife trip with Dave Fairhurst. Some great views of seals, looking down on the beach from the road above. This grey seal caught my attention. #scotland #shetland #seal

Another photo from our trip to Shetland with Shetland Wildlife. Our guide was the excellent Dave Fairhurst. We had great views of mountain hares, white against the landscape. #scotland #shetland #hare

We went to Shetland the last few days with Shetland Wildlife - three days birdwatching then Up Helly Aa. Our guide was the excellent Dave Fairhurst. We managed to see a waxwing, feeding on apples as there are no berries, and fending off starlings. #scotland #shetland #birdwatching

We went to Shetland the last few days with Shetland Wildlife - three days birdwatching then Up Helly Aa. Next up are the Jarl Squads #scotland #shetland #uphellyaa

We went to Shetland the last few days with Shetland Wildlife - three days birdwatching then Up Helly Aa. Let’s start with the Fire! #scotland #shetland #uphellyaa

(A walk in Figgate Park) Blue Tit landing on the metal feeder. #birdwatching #birdingscotland #edinburgh

(A walk around Figgate Park) There’s food? I want all the food. A magpie in hungry raptor mode. #birdwatching #birdingscotland #edinburgh

(A walk in Figgate Park) This kingfisher was flitting up and down the burn. Captured a lovely moment in the sun. #birdwatching #birdingscotland #edinburgh

(A walk around Figgate Park) A grey wagtail was bouncing up Figgate Burn. #birdwatching #birdingscotland #edinburgh

(A walk around Figgate Park). Spotted a heist in progress. This squirrel scaled the wall, crossed over the the bird enclosure, and snuck through to steal food. #edinburgh #squirrel #ukwildlife

As I said earlier, yesterday we went to Penicuik to see if we could see a Water Rail. The light was very poor but it did come out for a swim around, then popped out of hiding a few times. Lovely to see. #birdwatching #birdingscotland

First birding outing after surgery, we went to Penicuik to see if we could see a water rail (more on that later). As we crossed the North Esk, a dipper was spotlighted by a beam of light passing through the trees. #birdwatching #scotland

(Shetland Autumn 2025) I haven't seen (Red) Knot very often, or maybe I just haven't always noticed them. We got closer to shore birds than usual on Shetland, and Knot often hide among Dunlin - they're the bigger, greyer ones. #birdwatching #birdingscotland

(Shetland Autumn 2025) Always a cute bird to see, in flocks along a sea shore or lagoon, we managed to get closer to Dunlin on Shetland than we are used to. #birdwatching #birdingscotland

(Shetland Autumn 2025) A pair of male Eiders in different plumage - eclipse adult and adult plumage, I believe. Its great to see the contrast, the development of the adult colours. #birdwatching #birdingscotland

(Shetland Autumn 2025) Watching shags fishing is always fun - the way they leap up to dive, but usually they swallow the fish too quickly to catch them with one. I was lucky enough to catch this one with a yellow fish, even if its a tight crop. #birdwatching #birdingscotland

(Shetland Autumn 2025) This was one of the exciting rarities on Shetland when we were there. Believed to be an Eastern Bonelli's Warbler, but only one person had heard it, and they can't be told apart by field visuals only. Either way, a first for me! #birdwatching #birdingscotland

(Shetland Autumn 2025) Juvenile Herring Gull - lovely view of the feathers. #birdwatching #birdingscotland

(Shetland Autumn 2025) Spending time watching sea birds, we get more chances to notice them fishing. This Eider grabbed a crab and kept throwing it into the water, grabbing it again. Our guide told me that they are tearing the legs off, then they eat the torso whole. #birdwatching #birdingscotland

(Shetland Autumn 2025) We saw Hooded Crows all over Shetland, and such stunning views of them up close. Amazing feather patterns. #birdwatching #birdingscotland

(Shetland Autumn 2025) Sometimes when the birding is quieter, you pay more attention to the common birds. This sparrow was trying to swallow the seed, but couldn't with the stalk attached. It eventually managed to snap off the stalk. #birdwatching

(Shetland Autumn 2025) Always a beautiful bird to see, we saw quite a few on our Autumn Birding trip with Shetland Nature. One of our prettier UK birds, I think.. #birdwatching

On the approach to the Isle of May, a Peregrine Falcon stands guard, watching over the water and island. Did you know it’s the world’s most widespread raptor? And the world’s most widespread land-based bird if you don’t include pigeons which humans have spread.

I have a soft spot for herring gulls, having grown up around fishing boats and harbours. And young chicks are just so cute. This pair were on the Isle of May recently. #isleofmay #herringgull #birdwatching

Just back from Global Birdfair, and it was wonderful to meet people from our Extremadura trip again: Pablo, Maxine and Simon. Such an amazing place, and Pablo is an incredible guide! So one more bird from Extremadura - my first time seeing Little Owl! #spain #extremadura #littleowl #birdwatching

This puffin wanted a different view on the world. #isleofmay #puffin #birdwatching

Kittiwakes with chicks on the Isle of May last week. #isleofmay #kittiwake #birdwatching

Puffin on the Isle of May this week. It’s such a good time to see them, just as the pufflings are getting big enough to make a break for the sea overnight. #isleofmay #puffin #birdwatching

(Extremadura) A bird I didn’t even know existed before visiting Spain, the Iberian magpie. I’m so used to corvids being mostly black, that I spent a while wondering if it’s really a magpie. It is. #birdwatching #spain

(Extremadura) Three bird silhouettes along the same rock ridge. Our guide, Pablo, was able to identify all these - and we got a better look later to confirm. Want to have a go? #birdwatching #spain

Planning law can’t be changed to allow developers to ignore environmental protection!

(Extremadura) We had seen Rollers in Kenya, but somehow, seeing one in Europe where there are less brightly coloured birds feels magical. This is a European Roller - they nest in Extremadura each year. #birds #spain

Whitethroat singing in Holyrood Park recently. #birds #edinburgh

(Extremadura) We managed some closer views of Egyptian Vultures when a local told us a quarry where they were nesting. We didn’t manage to see the nest, but did manage to watch the vultures quite close. #birds #spain

(Extremadura) This was perhaps one of my favourite birds to see in Spain. We just don’t get colours like this in birds in the UK. Blue Rock Thrush #birds #spain

I was about to head home, when a fox crossed in front of me. I decided to follow and watch. I soon lost it as it disappeared into the undergrowth. Happy with my glimpse, I stood watching some newly emerged ducklings.1/4 #foxoftheday #foxes #mammals #edinburgh

(Extremadura) they’re so common there, but Black Kites were one of my favourite birds to watch. Some flight shots, and one Red Kite sneaking into the group. Can you tell which one? #birds #spain

(Extremadura) One more bird conversation where the vultures are feeding on a carcass. The much larger Cinereous Vulture seems to be saying “right lads, just wait till the grown ups have eaten” to a group of Griffon Vultures. It was so much fun watching the dynamics of the different bird species. 🦉🇪🇸

(Extremadura) continuing the bird conversations theme. Two black kites - “do you think these vultures will leave any food for us? “ #birds #spain

(Extremadura) A Raven chats to an Egyptian Vulture about the best tactics to snag leftovers from Griffon Vultures. #birds #spain

Was in Extremadura in Spain recently with Naturetrek - got quite a few good shots to share. I’d never had good views of white storks before, but there were so many, nesting on any available pole. This pair were feeding two chicks. #birds #spain #stork

(More from #tiergarten) this great tit was checking out the same spot as the treecreeper, and then all the other holes in the same tree. Scouting for a nest? #birds #greattit

(More from #tiergarten) This short-toed treecreeper was digging in behind the bark, hollowing out a nest, I guess? #birds #treecreeper

Another bird much easier to spot in Tiergarten than in the Uk, especially in March - hawfinches. They were much lower down than when we saw them in Scone, and in larger flocks. With: @puzzlewild.bsky.social , @yorkscoastnature.bsky.social #birds #berlin #hawfinch

I went to Berlin to see the goshawks in Tiergarten on the Yorkshire Coast Nature trip, along with @puzzlewild.bsky.social and and … wow. What a place to see them! #goshawk #berlin #birds