Out in a wee boat trying to collect whale DNA- no success but great to see the Kittiwakes and Herring gulls getting photobombed by a Humpback and a Minke! 😄 #Ullapool #Highlandbirds #CetaceansUK

Lovely conditions for checking high tide gull roosts but no sign of the adult Med gull. Had to console myself with lovely views of the Humpback whale instead 😁 #Ullapool #Highlandbirds #CetaceansUK

Braved the gale for distant, low light views of the Humpback whale showing off the village. Also views of what could be a female/ immature LF Pilot whale? - A rather bulky cetacean swimming ahead of the Common Dolphins. #CetaceansUK #LochBroom #Ullapool

Part of the flock of 196 Barnacle geese on the coast near Gruinard Island and a twilight feeding frenzy of gulls on Loch Broom. #Mungasdale #LochBroom #Highlandbirds

The local Med gull remains wary, always distant and uncooperative with regard to photo opportunities, but it's a lovely bird and very welcome up here. #Gulls #Ardmair #Highlandbirds

'Winter' warblers on the patch are very few and far between so even a Chiffchaff is welcome. #Highlandbirds #Ullapool

Birding in the Cairgorm National Park - Common Crossbills, Crested tits, distant Ptarmigan - and a not so distant Capercaillie! #Highlandbirds

East coast birding with @almcnee52.bsky.social @skyebirdsbob.bsky.social & @deanmacaskill.bsky.social 7 little Gulls, Velvet Scoter & showy Purps. at Brora, 2 late Arctic Skuas at Embo, GW teal and four Slavs at Tain the best, plus LTD, GND and RTD's - all in gorgeous weather. #Highlandbirds

Daily graft on my local patches for a couple of chiffchaffs and a couple of Blackcaps. A chance to enjoy the local birds. #Highlandbirds #Ullapool #Ardmair

Not sure but these little beauties could be Sulphur Tufts? #Fungifriends

Snow on the high ground- a return to winter birding. #Ullapool #Highlandbirds

Spent a great day in lovely conditions looking for birds in quiet, out of the way areas. Passerines appear thin on the ground and I found nothing to quicken my pulse, although 6 Red Grouse telling me to 'go back' in the late evening light was a fitting end to the day. #Shetland #BirdingScotland

Tired all day after an inconsiderate driver left their car alarm switched on and it kicked off on the car deck below a rank of cabins from 01:00 until we disembarked! 😡 Things have improved with a glass of red and an Arctic skua on the house list 😁 #Shetland #BirdingScotland #Northlink

A week on the Isle of Lewis- some good year tick birds and plenty of scenic soul food. #OuterHebrides #BirdingScotland

Sea watching remains a challenge, with only a few Sooties and Manx the best. Went to check if the izzy wheatear was still present- it was still in situ, lively, tho rather damp. Enjoyed a small fall of northern wheatears and saw a lovely Short eared owl. #IsleofLewis #BirdingScotland

Isabelline wheatear, Isle of Lewis- a super find by Jack Morris/Dan Beadle. #IsleofLewis #BirdingScotland

Hard birding on Lewis at the moment, although good to see 4 Ruff and a Reeve on the Machair today. A bonus of two Painted Ladies and five Red Admirals in Port Nis yesterday. #BirdingScotland #IsleofLewis #ButterfliesUK

8 Arctic Skuas, 1 Leach's, 3 ESP's c35 Manx, 2 Minkes in the Minch today. #Highlandbirds #TheMinch

Another ferry return away day dominated by cetaceans- 1 Fin Whale, 6-7 Minke whales, 200+ Common Dolphins and a handful of Harbour Porpoise. Quiet for birds- 2 Leach's the best, only 4 Manx and 5-6 Arctic Skuas. #Highlandbirds #CetaceansUK #Seabirds #TheMinch

Frustrating birding in the Minch between Ullapool and Stornoway today: c90 Manx, 5 ESP's, 5 Bonxies, 1 Arctic Skua🙄 my day was saved by 8 Sooties and a single Leach's on the Hebridean side of the Minch; also a smattering of Common Dolphins and 1 Minke whale. #Highlandbirds #Seabirds #CetaceansUK

Spent much of today on moorland survey between 450-600 metres elevation - both eagle spp; Red kites & Merlin the birding highlights, plus at least 14 mountain Hares- lovely animals! #Highlandbirds #Mammals #ScottishHighlands

Minch ferry return ULLA- STWY: 35 Sooties, 8 Arctic Skuas, 8 European Storm Petrels, Manxies n Bonxies, 5 Minke Whales, plenty of Common Dolphins, plus a bonus flock of 4 Redshank migrating down the Minch. #CetaceansUK #Highlandbirds #Seabirds

A new birding experience for me- first time I have encountered a Common Scoter with chicks! #Highlandbirds

Cold and wet all day on survey with it feeling like November and just a few Crossbills and a single Little Grebe for my efforts 🙄 - but I did see sunshine for 90 seconds 😁 #ScottishHighlands #Highlandbirds

Ferry day return, Ullapool-Stornoway: Sooties 3, Manx c260, Arctic Skua 6, Bonxie 12, Storm petrel 3, Minke whale 8, Common Dolphin c70, White-beaked Dolphin 1. #TheMinch #Highlandbirds #Seabirds #CetaceansUK

Checked a lovely, local site for Azure Hawker today without success, but enjoyed seeing plenty of Emerald Damselflies #Odonata #ScottishHighlands

I saw my first Red Kite (in the early 80's, near Tregaron, Wales). I now see them regularly and they occasionally appear to investigate my presence when I'm out in remote areas of the Scottish Highlands. One of a few birding success stories. #Highlandbirds #Raptors

Slowly recuperating from the dreaded Lyme disease with very easy, local insect rambles. Dark giant Horsefly, Four Spotted Chaser and Common Blue. #Insects #Butterflies #ScottishHighlands #Ullapool

'Habitat shot' - White-tailed Eagle soaring over some classic terrain in the Scottish Highlands. #Highlandbirds

Appalling weather and low light for photos but great overhead views of this Honey Buzzard today. At least the flight jizz is wonderful even as a near silhouette. #Highlandbirds

Four-spotted Chaser and Large red Damselfly #Odonata #ScottishHighlands

Nice, comparative flight silhouettes of a Red Kite and an Osprey today- although the size comparison is off due to the Kite being further away and slightly higher. #Highlandbirds

Up n under shot of a Golden-ringed Dragonfly. #Odonata #ScottishHighlands

Sometimes 04:00 alarms are not that bad- this dawn lit White-tailed Eagle put on a fine show this morning. #Highlandbirds

Wasn't looking at photo composition- was rushing the shots before they flitted off as I just wanted to get underwing shots to confirm these as Small Pearl-bordered Fritillaries. As it turned out I rather like the partial grass veils. #Butterflies #ScottishHighlands

A singing Whinchat- very easy on the ears 🙂. #Highlandbirds

Finally- a real treat to see one of these very rare and elusive birds in the Highland recording area. #Highlandbirds #Honeybuzzard

Spent much of last two weeks trying to see a Honey Buzzard in the Highland region (an annual obsession). No success so far- it's a tough ask- historically few birds and heaps of suitable habitat to cover. Plenty of other raptors tho and really enjoying the tail twisting Red Kites. #Highlandbirds

A total treat to see this spectacular flyover Osprey this morning. #Highlandbirds

Lovely morning in the hills- looking west down Loch Quioch. Munro baggers may recognise Gairich on the left. #Scottishhighlands

Green-veined White #Butterflies

Another addition to my Scottish butterfly list: Pearl-bordered fritillary. #ScottishHighlands #Butterflies

Work commitments precluded a twitch for the Solitary sand on Lewis, so I had to console myself with a Solo Common Sand - and very smart it was too - ho hum. #Highlandbirds #Waders

Not sure if these Caledonian pines fulfil the official criteria of ‘ancient’ but they are magnificent specimens however they are classified. I’m Always drawn to their abstract forms. #trees #ScottishHighlands

My local patch remains 'challenging'. No idea where the migrants are aside from 2 Chiffchaffs, 2 Sand Martins, 5 Blackcaps and 1 LBB gull. No Swallows or House Martins. I need to remind myself that it is still early for these parts. Butterflies it is then! #Ullapool #Butterflies

One of my most anticipated encounters of Spring- the first of the year Orange-tips on the wing, visiting Cuckoo flowers. #Ullapool #Butterflies

Chanced upon a lovely Slow worm today. #Reptiles #Ullapool

Perfect conditions for upland survey. Curlew and Golden Plover holding territory, plus a couple of pairs of Greenshank, Oystercatcher and Common Sandpiper along watercourses. Worryingly no Lapwing where I expected to find them. FOY Cuckoos and a great day in the hills. #Highlandbirds