Instead of delivering support on the cost of living, Westminster is busy demonising people who seek sanctuary. I will have no part in it. Our Saltire is a flag of welcome - and refugees are welcome here in Scotland.

Let’s be clear - a genocide is unfolding in Gaza as a result of Israel’s actions. We all have a moral and legal responsibility to act, and Scotland will play its part. Today I have set out a range of diplomatic, economic and humanitarian measures. Read below for more. 🧵

There can be absolutely no “shock” about this. The media has been shamelessly platforming Reform all summer. All summer, we’ve had hate-mongering headlines about immigration. It’s a tedious and grim inevitability that you’ve made people angry enough to want to vote for this shit in response.

The UK's tiny and historically ineffectual far-right groups - with new financial & strategic backing from US fascists - are successfully capitalising on five years of cowardly "mainstream" ruling-class politicians and media (Tory & Labour) blaming refugees for all the misery they themselves created.

🤬 Woman who admitted incitement to violence and racism on Social Media and in Court was jailed for 2.5 years. Gets released early and British TV and media repeating what she said originally, give her prime spot on TV. Britain wonders why they have a problem which every day is getting more extreme?

Are you seeking employees for a land-based or animal care post? You can advertise your job vacancy for free on the SRUC website by completing this form 👉 buff.ly/S9XWY5g

Power cut has given me the excuse I needed to test the vehicle to load capability of my EV. Now running two monitors off my car's battery #StormFloris

Went out to do my late @bbs-birds.bsky.social visit at Potarch, Aberdeenshire this morning. My 4th year of doing this square, which has a nice variety of habitats, but mostly woodland and river.

Can't believe BBC2 is doing a Billy Joel night on the very evening I was meant to be seeing him live at Murrayfield. Talk about rubbing salt into the wound! Hope he makes a good recovery but can't see him doing big stadium gigs again.

🔴‘How the Media is Cashing in on the Rise of Nigel Farage’ News organisations are failing the country at the moment when responsible independent journalism is most needed, argues ‪‪Mathilda Mallinson bylinetimes.com/2025/05/30/r...

A few pics from an enjoyable week working in Shetland the week before last. Lucky (mostly) with the weather and able to do a bit of sightseeing at the end!

The irony is, the UK rivals the US for the best international reputation for higher ed. & foreign students contribute >£40bn per year to our economy too. We could be set to benefit from this, but instead we are cutting migrant graduates’ rights. Because Farage😔 #r4today

Brady Stevens, a graduate of the Environmental Protection and Management MSc at SRUC, now works as a consultant with @sacconsulting.bsky.social Brady reflects on his time at SRUC, sharing how the course helped shape his career and gave him the practical, real-world knowledge he uses daily.

“Starmer has repeatedly insisted he does not have to choose between the EU and the US over trade” But undermining our reset with the EU to please Trump is just not a risk worth taking. As things stand, Starmer is wrong. He must choose. And he must choose Europe. liveapp.inews.co.uk/category/364...

“Take back control of our laws” so American fascists can decide them for us… I don’t think so. Just imagine if the EU demanded this of us. Intolerable for it to even be on the table. Intolerable to be at this table at all, frankly. Another Brexit humiliation. www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/poli...

I went out with the thermal imager this evening to see if I could see where my cat was. Found a badger instead in the field behind my house @nesmammals.bsky.social

This new Supreme Court ruling does not protect women. It protects a 'barbie doll' image of what women should be. Let me explain: I was born female. I have female genitals. It says female on my Birth Certificate. I am one of the 'women' this ruling is meant to protect. 🧵

I had an enjoyable family trip to western Norway last week. Apart from a very brief trip across the border from Sweden a couple of years ago, it was my first visit to the country since 2003, despite living closer to Bergen than London!

I recently acquired a thermal imaging monocular and ended up with a somewhat higher spec model than I intended (HikMicro Falcon 2.0). I've been pretty pleased with the results so far. Tonight I heard a Snipe drumming over the marsh below my house and managed to get this video. #BirdingScotland

Why isn’t this story leading every news bulletin? What is it going to take before politicians take a stand? And many other futile questions

Very pleased to hear a Long-eared Owl only 1km from home on my regular dog walking route last night. Only my third record in the area in 30+ years and the first time I've ever heard one singing. #BirdingScotland

Here we go. Not feeling as confident as I would have a couple of weeks ago #SovWal

We are British Orienteering, the National Governing Body for Orienteering in the UK. We are delighted to join the community on Bluesky! Check out our website to find out more about our sport: tinyurl.com/2m9txwyj

🎧 Latest podcast: Helen Reid, Senior Hydromorphologist from SEPA and Alex Pirie, SAC Consulting discuss the practical and technical elements land managers need to know before approaching a riverbank restoration project & potential funding paths that are currently open.

Terrible take from BBC's Sarah Smith on 10 O'clock news, saying that Zelensky may have 'blown his chance'. Pretty clear he was never given a chance. James Waterhouse and Jeremy Bowen assessment that it was a coordinated attack set up by Trump and Vance was more realistic.

Today's events in Washington are a clear cause for deep concern, for shock, for anger. What we need now are cool heads and clear thinking. We must stand firm with our European allies in the steadfast defence of Ukraine. That is where Scotland stands. 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁳󠁣󠁴󠁿🇺🇦

He is not just appeasing Putin, he is aligned with him. And every single client journalist, political shill & public/online cheerleader on both sides of the Atlantic is too. Against Zelensky. Against Ukraine. Against freedom. Against the most basic tenets of decency.

Withdraw the state visit invitation to Trump. Offer one to Zelensky instead. With bells and fucking whistles.

If state visit isn't cancelled then Scottish government and all of us in Scotland must make clear Trump is not welcome here.

Sweden, France, Norway, Spain, Poland, Lithuania, Ireland all backing Zelensky, where is UK's statement?

Zelensky is a wartime leader watching his people suffer and die under Russian attacks every day. To be lectured and lied to by Trump and Vance, as they defend the war criminal dictator committing these atrocities, is unimaginable agony. An everlasting shame for America.

We’ve had a busy day setting up for the Royal Northern Agricultural Society’s Spring Show tomorrow. Hope to see you there 😀 rnas.org.uk/spring-show/

Tremendous work by the Google Lens AI

Heard my first singing Chaffinch of the year this morning, and last Wednesday, I heard my first inland Oystercatcher. Classic early signs of spring.

There is a wide range of sensors available to support improved water management on farms. This article highlights the options, their potential benefits, and the key considerations if you're looking to implement these techniques on your farm. https://buff.ly/3WHUTrh

That's my bedtime reading through the door today. Seems to get chunkier every year!

From 1 January 2025, new cross-compliance requirements under Good Agricultural and Environmental Condition (GAEC 6 – Maintenance of #Soil Organic Matter) came into effect, focusing on #peatlands and #wetlands. Find out what you need to know.

I had a fun night in Glasgow at the weekend seeing rock legends Toto at the Hydro. First concert I've been to in a very long time and they put on a top quality show.

Staff and students came together to plant 420 trees at our Aberdeen campus. This project, led by the Campus and Estates Team, will create Aberdeen’s 2nd official "Wee Forest". A huge thank you to everyone involved in making this happen!

Join the #ScottishFarmBusinessSurvey to measure your performance and gain valuable insights🌾 The best part? Our team takes care of the hard work for you. Email [email protected] or visit www.sruc.ac.uk/business-services/sac-consulting/our-work/special-projects

Our Food & Footprint team delivers end-to-end sustainability solutions for businesses on the journey to net zero - We are your full-service #sustainability partner for the journey ahead. 🍃Find out how we can help your business: zurl.co/hj8n5

Had a great day out today at Edinburgh Uni Orienteering Club's annual big weekend. My daughter was one of the event organisers so thought I would show my support with my first time on a course at Arthur's Seat. Happy with 27th out of 84 competitors on my course - a decent result for me.

Rev. Mariann Edgar Budde to Trump: "I ask you to have mercy upon the people in our country who are scared now. There are gay, lesbian, and transgender people in Democratic, Republican, and independent families, some who fear for their lives ... and the vast majority of immigrants are not criminals"

Another beautiful clear night for seeing the four bright planets currently all visible together

#Flooding is #Scotland’s biggest domestic #climate adaptation challenge. The Scottish Government have wet out a vision for flood resilient Scotland through to 2045 and beyond. Find out more:

Gorse in flower today near Aboyne, Aberdeenshire #wildflowerhour

Such a clear night sky last night. Orion, with Sirius bottom left and Jupiter top right.

Intense red glow in the pre-dawn sky behind Kerloch this morning.No warning required for the shepherd of the flock in the foreground though as the weather forecast is set fair.

Welcome to BTO Scotland's recently fledged Bluesky account! Please give us a follow for regular updates on BTO's work in Scotland. 😀 📷Dipper by Edmund Fellowes/BTO #BirdingScotland #addBirder