Eastern Rock Nuthatches have been a conspicuous and noisy presence around Halfeti, Türkiye over recent days. They associated a surprising amount with their smaller Western counterparts, leading to the second potentially useful #BirdID photo. #Birds

University of Aberdeen colleagues have been circulating this open letter to our court members ahead of the 29 April meeting that will decide on controversial restructuring plans. If anyone is keen to lend their support, please do have a read and add your name/ share if you agree. c.org/YRZjVJ6q4s

When I first visited Türkiye 30 years ago, Iraq Babbler wasn't found there. In the years since, they've spread up the Euphrates and can now be encountered in the reedbeds around Birecik. They blend in well with their habitat but their trilling calls make their presence apparent. #Birds

A few raptors have been migrating through southern Türkiye over recent days, including this Lesser Spotted Eagle that flew overhead in Işıklı yesterday, presumably heading to somewhere in eastern Europe. #Birds

There haven't been many new birds for me in Türkiye, so I was really pleased to find my first ever Kurdish Wheatear at Işıklı yesterday. A really striking and impressive bird. #Birds

Birding was quite hard at the Göksu Delta, but it was good to find interesting migrants like Citrine Wagtail and Siberian Stonechat. #Birds

Four of the 21 Great Black-headed Gulls that were gathered on Paradeniz Lagoon in the Göksu Delta,Türkiye a couple of days ago. Maybe a bonus Armenian Gull at the rear too. #Birds

A female Northern Wheatear at Manavgat today, processing a red caterpillar. #Birds

There are loads of migrants piling through southern Türkiye at the moment. Some highlights from Manavgat over the past couple of days include Cretzschmar's Bunting, Eastern Bonelli's Warbler, Rüppell's Warbler, and Woodchat Shrike. #Birds

It was a thrilling moment when this male Pallid Harrier flew past me at Manavgat this morning, like a tiny cloud of pale grey and white, scattering flocks from the wet meadows. #Birds

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Cyprus Wheatear is a Cypriot breeding endemic, but they sometimes overshoot on spring migration to appear in small numbers in southern Türkiye. This one was at Manavgat this morning. #Birds

Great Spotted Cuckoo is surely one of Europe's strangest birds. A long-tailed, reptilian, squawking, disruptive creature. This was one of two that were very present near my hotel in Mangavat today. #Birds

Some birds from the subalpine forests near Çimiköy today. A beautifully marked Red-fronted Serin, a Rock Bunting in the right habitat, a Sombre Tit in an appropriately bad mood, and a gliding Short-toed Eagle. #Birds

It was a good day for nuthatches in the mountains near Akseki. This Western Rock Nuthatch was eschewing the trees entirely, as is their wont. #Birds

Krüper's Nuthatch is perhaps the closest thing Turkiye has to an endemic bird. Normally, they're elusive as they feed among the pine trees but sometimes they sing from the top of a telegraph post in the middle of a field like this one did today near Akseki. #Birds

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Another surprise today in Turkiye was this Richard's Pipit in the marshy fields at Mangavat. A scarce winter visitor and passage migrant here. #Birds

I caught up with the long-staying Tibetan Sand Plover at Kisalar east of Antalya, Turkiye today. It could be compared with a couple of Greater Sand Plovers, which are more regular in the area. #Birds

A fairly casual first day of birding near Antalya, Turkiye but I did find this lovely White-tailed Lapwing at Mangavat. Quite a scarce bird here. #Birds

A male Brambling this afternoon in St Fittick's Park was my first ever spring record here. Always a delight to see. The Glaucous Gull was again in the harbour this morning and an early Manx Shearwater flew north off Girdle Ness. #Birds #BirdingScotland #PatchBirding #UKWildlife

If you're all checking out the crazy video of a Great Potoo that's circulating at the moment, here's a more typical view of one showing its impressive camouflage. Photo from Canguçu, Tocantins, Brazil in July 2019. #Birds

Soon after they built Aberdeen South Harbour a few years ago, it started to be used by Harbour Seals for hauling out. Some striking nominative determinism in action. This one today was a bit closer than they normally are. #UKWildlife #Seals

A couple of nicely coloured Scandinavian littorialis Rock Pipits were at Girdle Ness today. I also saw my first Sandwich Tern and Little Gull of the year in some pleasant conditions. #Birds #BirdingScotland #UKWildlife #PatchBirding

An assortment of Falkland Steamer Ducks seen in January, showing their huge feet and bills, and their weird, stubby wings. #SuperSeabirdSunday #Birds

A family of Flying Steamer Ducks in Ushuaia, Argentina in December. Unlike other Steamer Ducks, they have something resembling proper wings. #SuperSeabirdSunday #Birds

Male and female Kelp Geese look very different to one another. The bright white male stands out on the rocky shores while the female is darker, better camouflaged, and perhaps more attractively marked. A pair among the seaweed in the Falklands in January. #Birds #SuperSeabirdSunday

Lots of Bottlenose Dolphin activity at Girdle Ness today. Spring is always a good time for them. It's striking how much scarring they have them. #UKWildlife #Dolphins #Cetaceans

A returning Chiffchaff in the bushes at St Fittick's Park today. It's exactly the same date as my first last year. #Birds #BirdingScotland #PatchBirding #UKWildlife

Yeah, Glaucous Gulls are great but the real #patchgold today at Girdle Ness was this Coot on the St Fittick's wetlands. Only my second ever record here and perhaps only the fourth or fifth ever daytime record. #Birds #BirdingScotland #PatchBirding #UKWildlife

The 3rd calendar year Glaucous Gull was back in Aberdeen Harbour this morning, demolishing mussels along the shore below the Girdle Ness allotments. #Birds #BirdingScotland #PatchBirding #UKWildlife

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A Glaucous Gull from Aberdeen Harbour this afternoon. Seems to be a 3rd calendar year and a different bird to the one I saw a few weeks back. #SuperSeabirdSunday #Birds #BirdingScotland #UKWildlife #PatchBirding

Skuas don't look their best on their South Atlantic wintering grounds. Long-tailed Skua was the commonest species, like this one off the Argentinian coast in January. #SuperSeabirdSunday #Birds

Acutely bad photos of a couple of rarer South Atlantic seabirds that were seen north of the Falklands in January. First, an immature Sooty Albatross and second a distinctively plain Grey Petrel. #SuperSeabirdSunday #Birds

A rare passerine entry for #SuperSeabirdSunday, a Chilean Seaside Cinclodes exploring its favoured habitat in Algarrobo in January. #Birds

A mildly exciting annual event in Aberdeen is my first sighting of Lesser Black-backed Gull in the spring. This year the day arrived earlier than usual, with this bird on the rooftops in Torry today. #Birds #BirdingScotland #PatchBirding

There appear to be some birding applications for the Allister Heath headline generator. #UKBirding

Atlantic Petrels were quite frequent along the continental shelf east of Buenos Aires province last month. A large, skua-like Pterodroma, most were in heavy wing moult like this bird. #Birds #SuperSeabirdSunday

Welcome to the Pterodromas. Soft-plumaged Petrel is a classic small Pterodroma and was numerous in the South Atlantic last month, particularly north and south of the Falklands. #Birds #SuperSeabirdSunday

A young Wandering (Snowy) Albatross cruising the South Atlantic north of the Falklands last month. #Birds #SuperSeabirdSunday

Here's a superb Austral Pygmy Owl from Algarobbo in central Chile last month. #SuperbOwl #Birds

It took a while to pin down this lovely dark juvenile Glaucous Gull at Girdle Ness today, after it had been found nearby by @fatpaulscholes.bsky.social Eventually it turned up around the harbour mouth before perching on the pier. #Birds #BirdingScotland #SuperSeabirdSunday #PatchBirding

A favourite from the southern oceans was Black-bellied Storm-Petrel. Similar to the numerous Wilson's Storm-Petrels they share the seas with from above, they show their striking underside as they bank. Often seen delicately bouncing over the surface, feet pattering. #Birds #SuperSeabirdSunday

Part of a huge swarm of rose-tinged Franklin's Gulls that were wintering along the Pacific shore at Mantagua, central Chile last month. #Birds #SuperSeabirdSunday

A Dolphin Gull busying itself amongst the seaweed in Ushuaia, Argentina recently. #Birds #SuperSeabirdSunday

Here are a couple of Southern Giant Petrels, seen recently in the South Atlantic and Antarctic. They have a face only a mother could love, but also a striking white phase that was regularly seen in Antarctica. #Birds #SuperSeabirdSunday

A lost looking Barnacle Goose showed up on the golf course at Girdle Ness this afternoon, before inevitable dogwalker-induced displacement saw it off. #Birds #BirdingScotland #PatchBirding #UKWildlife

The young Pale-bellied Brent Goose was in Aberdeen Harbour again today but was rather flighty. It made a few close passes before heading northwards. #Birds #BirdingScotland #PatchBirding #UKWildlife

A South Polar Skua gliding in the snow off the Antarctic Peninsula. These were common in the area but often hard to distinguish from the local form of Brown Skua. #Birds #SuperSeabirdSunday