Alan Knox
@alanknox.bsky.social
📤 361
📥 69
📝 219
Aberdeenshire; mainly birds, mammals, herps & selected inverts; often sidetracked ...
There was a tiny moribund Field Mouse outside the back door this evening. It was even covered with fly eggs. We managed to revive it, but we don’t know if it’ll make it through the night.
@nesmammals.bsky.social
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about 18 hours ago
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3 dead Common Crossbills together at the roadside at Tillypronie today. Such a shame.
@scottishbirding.bsky.social
@btoscotland.bsky.social
3 days ago
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Hi mothers - is this a Map-winged Swift (or a Gold Swift), in our garage this evening? Obsidentify seems unsure.
3 days ago
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reposted by
Alan Knox
Jente Ottenburghs | Avian Hybrids
17 days ago
Your daily Avian Hybrids story! An Italian Sparrow in the Netherlands turns out to be a House Sparrow
avianhybrids.wordpress.com/2023/07/19/a...
#ornithology
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An Italian Sparrow in the Netherlands turns out to be a House Sparrow
Genomic analyses confirm that we are dealing with a weird House Sparrow.
https://avianhybrids.wordpress.com/2023/07/19/an-italian-sparrow-in-the-netherlands-turns-out-to-be-a-house-sparrow/
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200 dead White-lipped
#Snails
on 150m of verge @ Loirsbank Road. Did ACC spray something
#toxic
? What else died?
#Biodiversity
?? I hope none were eaten by the Song Thrushes or Hedgehogs. This seems mindless.
@aberdeencc.bsky.social
19 days ago
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After last autumn's mega Nathusius' Pipistrelle
#bat
spike, they have been popping up in the garden through the winter which is most unusual, and have been *much* more common this spring. Graph shows comparison with more typical recs last year.
@batconservation.bsky.social
@nesmammals.bsky.social
19 days ago
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reposted by
Alan Knox
Andrew Harrop
21 days ago
Nightjars are increasing in Shetland. For example in 2024 there were 13, mainly May-June but also one in October. This male at Grutness today wasn’t well-concealed and moved its position twice for no obvious reason.
#BirdingScotland
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reposted by
Alan Knox
Andrew Whitehouse
about 2 months ago
We have another event at Greyhope Bay on Saturday afternoon:
www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/explore-th...
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Explore the Sounds of Greyhope Bay! A Listening and Creative Adventure
Create Sonic Postcards with us while we explore the outdoors!
https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/explore-the-sounds-of-greyhope-bay-a-listening-and-creative-adventure-tickets-1988188206446?aff=oddtdtcreator
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reposted by
Alan Knox
Andrew Whitehouse
about 2 months ago
A quick plug for some sound workshops I'm involved with at Greyhope Bay and St Fittick's Park this week, together with the excellent Rebecca Macklin and Roxane Permar. The first workshop is tomorrow morning:
www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/greyhope-m...
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Greyhope Morning: Exploring Local Heritage through Sound
Explore the Heritage of Greyhope Bay and the surrounding area through sound during this listening and art-making workshop
https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/greyhope-morning-exploring-local-heritage-through-sound-tickets-1988180740114?aff=oddtdtcreator
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Hi -
@scottishbirding.bsky.social
- the excellent Online Scottish Bird Report seems to be inaccessible at the moment. I used it yesterday but can't get at it today.
www.the-soc.org.uk/pages/online...
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Online Scottish Bird Report
Search Reports from all over Scotland Online Scottish Bird Report (oSBR)Â puts hundreds of local bird reports (and over 100,000 species accounts) at your fingertips. Want to know where to find Corn Bun...
https://www.the-soc.org.uk/pages/online-scottish-bird-report
about 2 months ago
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Dozens of Sand Martins nesting between the granite blocks of the old bridge pier, mid-river at Crathes Bridge, Aberdeenshire. Similar to recent note in Scottish Birds 45: 255, but more watery.
@scottishbirding.bsky.social
@btoscotland.bsky.social
#birdingscotland
@nickpicozzi.bsky.social
about 2 months ago
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Goosander nest update: not sure all this down on the ground under the nestbox in the garden is a good sign. Looks like probably the Magpies have been at it again. Will check later with the thermal but suspect the worst.
@scottishbirding.bsky.social
@btoscotland.bsky.social
#birdingscotland
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about 2 months ago
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reposted by
Alan Knox
Andrew M Allport
about 2 months ago
Not every day you get to photograph a bat during the daytime. This apparent Daubenton's Bat was flying around
@flamboroughbird.bsky.social
early afternoon yesterday. Here's a sequence of shots to show it taking insects off the water. Click on images to expand.
@batconservation.bsky.social
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The female Goosander seems to be incubating at the moment. Thermal image from below the nest box in the garden in Aberdeen - note the hotspot!
@scottishbirding.bsky.social
@btoscotland.bsky.social
#birdingscotland
@inchgarthbirding.bsky.social
about 2 months ago
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Today's surprise ... Goosander nest in decaying box in the garden in the Aberdeen 'burbs! Thanks to
@inchgarthbirding.bsky.social
for holding the ladder ... At least one egg already predated on ground so I thought the box would be empty.
@scottishbirding.bsky.social
@btoscotland.bsky.social
about 2 months ago
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Also at Inchgarth today - my first Comma
#Butterfly
of the year, and quite an early one, presumably having overwintered locally, plus about 18 Peacocks.
@inchgarthbirding.bsky.social
@savebutterflies.bsky.social
2 months ago
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Did you say Clark's Mining
#Bee
@inchgarthbirding.bsky.social
? This one at Inchgarth today, along with quite a few others. Did it just pee and turn round to drink it or rub it on its legs/body??
#buglife
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2 months ago
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Monday 7:30: Dr Mark Bolton talking about the changing fortunes of Scotland's 2 small breeding petrels.
@scottishbirding.bsky.social
MR1 in University Library, Bedford Road, Aberdeen AB24 3AA. All welcome.
#petrelheads
Added Bonus: (brief) branch AGM!!
3 months ago
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Oooh! Just arrived! Brilliant *new* edition of the best introduction & handbook on bird sounds. Thanks, Mark, Magnus & Arnoud!
#bioacoustics
#ornithology
#nocmig
@scottishbirding.bsky.social
@fatpaulscholes.bsky.social
#birdingscotland
3 months ago
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Just outside the window, eating peanuts like there's no tomorrow.
@nesmammals.bsky.social
@scotsquirrels.bsky.social
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3 months ago
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reposted by
Alan Knox
British Birds
3 months ago
A new bird-tracking project using the Motus Wildlife Tracking System has been launched through a partnership between the Scottish Ornithologists’ Club (SOC) and Tay Ringing Group. Read more:
britishbirds.co.uk/journal/arti...
🥇Subscriber Content 📸 Rock Pipit by SOC
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News & comment
Peregrine Falcon Falco peregrinus numbers in the Cairngorms National Park have declined by more than half over the past 20 years according to the...
https://britishbirds.co.uk/journal/article/news-comment-174
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Really looking forward to the
#NESBReC
Recorders' Forum next weekend - a great opportunity to meet folk with other interests and hear a super programme of interesting (ahem ...) speakers. One of the highlights of the year.
nesbrec.org.uk/nesbrec-reco...
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NESBReC Recorders Forum on 28th March 2026 - NESBReC
The NESBReC Recorders Forum 2026 will take place at the Zoology Lecture Theatre, University of Aberdeen on Saturday 28th March... Read more »
https://nesbrec.org.uk/nesbrec-recorders-forum-on-28th-march-2026/
3 months ago
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First Daubenton's
#Bat
in the garden in Aberdeen this year on 10 March.
@nesmammals.bsky.social
@batconservation.bsky.social
3 months ago
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reposted by
Alan Knox
British Dragonfly Society
4 months ago
A new report from wildlife charity Buglife reveals that pesticides from common flea and tick treatments are now widespread in rivers across Britain and may be contributing to major declines in freshwater invertebrates
bit.ly/4b1Pu50
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Buglife News: Love Your Pet, Not Pesticides: New Report Warns of Flea and Tick Treatment Threat to Rivers
Read more of our latest news related to invertebrates, insects and bugs.
https://bit.ly/4b1Pu50
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Does not bring much credit to the journal or their refereeing of the original paper.
add a skeleton here at some point
4 months ago
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It will be useful to see how widespread they are on the hills there and how numerous.
add a skeleton here at some point
4 months ago
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You need to get a poo sample… 💩🙄
add a skeleton here at some point
4 months ago
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Field
#Mouse
doing what mice do.
@nesmammals.bsky.social
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4 months ago
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Or, rather, not distinguishing the subspecies!
tidsskrift.dk/Wildfowl/art...
add a skeleton here at some point
4 months ago
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Excellent advice here. It is much harder to get a good audio recording than a good photograph, although Alan makes it seem easy.
#bioacoustics
#ornithology
add a skeleton here at some point
4 months ago
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As if anyone in
#Aberdeen
needed confirmation that it's been wet recently. Grim if you wanted to go birding, and no sign of it letting up.
#climatechange
#birdingscotland
5 months ago
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Field
#Mouse
and Bank
#Voles
in the garden in Aberdeen today. First voles seen here for many years. Dull day, and photographed through the window ...
@nesmammals.bsky.social
@mammalsociety.bsky.social
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5 months ago
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Orkney waders! Leah Gray talking about her work to help understand & conserve waders on the islands. Tonight @ 7:30 in University Library (top floor), Bedford Road All welcome.
@scottishbirding.bsky.social
5 months ago
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And I should add that
#farmers
and any other landowners who try to prevent this happening should also be liable for consequential problems. They have no grounds to moan when
#Beavers
disagree with their actions.
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5 months ago
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A useful reminder to
#PropertyDevelopers
that this is what
#floodplains
are actually for. River Dee at
#Cults
this afternoon. You should be held liable in perpetuity for consequential problems.
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5 months ago
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New
#ladybird
for me, from the garden this evening - 10-spot, black variety. Cute little beast.
#buglife
5 months ago
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Snow's gone - time to get out! Six short talks tonight about local bird ringing by Grampian Ringing Group, for anyone interested. 7:30pm, Monday 12 Jan, top floor University Library, Bedford Road All welcome
@scottishbirding.bsky.social
5 months ago
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A bit soggy, but the squirrels are back now the snow is going.
@scotsquirrels.bsky.social
@nesmammals.bsky.social
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5 months ago
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News from
@scottishbirding.bsky.social
/ Tay Ringing Group Motus project! First Rock Pipits tagged & 1st foreign bird picked up by the Fife receivers! Great news. Looking forward to further results.
@btoscotland.bsky.social
#birdingscotland
www.birdguides.com/news/pioneer...
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Pioneering Rock Pipit study launches in Scotland
The Motus Wildlife Tracking System is now being used in Fife, Scotland, to study Rock Pipit migration. Additionally, the system recently picked up the migratory movements of a Blackbird from Norway.
https://www.birdguides.com/news/pioneering-rock-pipit-study-launches-in-scotland/
6 months ago
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Emerging from the heavy snow today. Great to see a bit of colour.
#ChristmasCheer
#rhododendron
6 months ago
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Turned colder last night - though only just on freezing & calm with a bit of snow. Wow! Let's party! 110 Soprano Pipistrelle clips, 38 Commons and 1 Nathusius' on night of 1-2 Jan in Aberdeen. Happy New Year everyone!
@nesmammals.bsky.social
@batconservation.bsky.social
6 months ago
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2025
#bat
closing scores in Aberdeen: Soprano Pip 16 Dec nights, last on 30th Common Pip 11 nights, last 31st Nathusius' Pip 8 nights, last 23rd (only a couple of prev Dec recs in NE Scotland) Last Daubenton's: 18 Oct; Brown Long-eared: 31 Oct
@nesmammals.bsky.social
@batconservation.bsky.social
6 months ago
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reposted by
Alan Knox
Mark Lewis
6 months ago
Christmas can be an expensive time of year, so how about something for free? The
@scottishbirding.bsky.social
and Scottish Birds Records Committee are hosting a FREE online conference over the evenings of February 24th to the 26th. Three talks per night and some real belters among them.
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reposted by
Alan Knox
Nick Littlewood
6 months ago
How do we tackle the substantial and growing threat to sensitive habitats from Sitka Spruce? Useful commentary on key issues...
add a skeleton here at some point
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reposted by
Alan Knox
The Scottish Ornithologists' Club
6 months ago
Research and Survey Grant applications The Endowment Fund supports amateur research projects which further the knowledge of the birds of Scotland. The deadline to submit your application is 31st January. For more details and to apply, please visit:
www.the-soc.org.uk/pages/resear...
#ornithology
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reposted by
Alan Knox
6 months ago
I’ve AviListed the North-east Scotland checklist, available as a free Excel download (v10 January 2026) from the SOC site below. Don’t shoot the messenger (!)
#birdingscotland
www.the-soc.org.uk/pages/local-...
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North-East Scotland
The SOC
https://www.the-soc.org.uk/pages/local-recorders-network-area/north-east-scotland
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Still getting Nathusius' Pipistrelle
#bats
in the garden - the latest ever here in NE Scotland. Several last night.
@nesmammals.bsky.social
@batconservation.bsky.social
6 months ago
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Picked up an unwelcome passenger today. A
#tick
while outdoors in the suburbs. Even in December. There doesn't seem to be any 'safe' time of the year any more. With so much more
#LymeDisease
around, a constant need for vigilance.
@scottishbirding.bsky.social
@btoscotland.bsky.social
#birdingscotland
7 months ago
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reposted by
Alan Knox
Nick Littlewood
7 months ago
One week remaining. Applications need to include two references, so don't leave it too late to apply for this
@srucnews.bsky.social
CASE partnership with
@ptes-org.bsky.social
. Details:
www.findaphd.com/phds/project...
add a skeleton here at some point
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Want to hear about
#Aberdeenshire's
newest/largest nature reserve on the outskirts of the city? Talk by David Hunter for the SOC
@scottishbirding.bsky.social
on Monday 8 Dec @ 7:30, top floor, Abdn Univ Library, Bedford Road. Free car park. All welcome.
@btoscotland.bsky.social
7 months ago
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