🌊 All my usual spots were maxed out today, so for a change I went for a freshwater dip instead! Pleased with this shot of a three-spined stickleback (i think!), it was misty when I went in and dark by the time I was out… a bit chilly too! #freshwater #underwaterphotography #fish #freediving

So many attempts but all came to nothing sadly! *sigh* #AVFC 🦁 We pick up and go again!

🐳 One of the world's most endangered whales that was first identified two years off the coast of County Donegal has been sighted for a second time some 3,000 miles away. www.bbc.co.uk/news/article... #northernrightwhale #marinelife

🐠 🇵🇭 I’m going to start sharing some of my shots taken during various dive trips through the years! 📍 First up, the classic Clown Fish and Anemone shot, Philippines 2010, Panasonic Lumix. #underwaterphotography #clownfish #anemone #saltwaterlife #philippines #marinelife 🤿🌊

⬆️ In short fishermen (operating from Peterhead, Fraserburgh, Macduff, Pittenweem, Lerwick, Scalloway, Eyemouth, Troon, Stornoway, Ullapool and Mallaig) reported a significant increase in Flapper Skate numbers over the last 4 yrs 👍 #flapperskate #marinelife www.nature.scot/doc/naturesc...

🇳🇿 A large black coral believed to be centuries old is one of the largest ever found in the waters of New Zealand, researchers say. 🪸 The coral, measured at 4m high and 4.5m wide, was found in the waters of Fiordland. It is likely to be 300-400 years old. www.rnz.co.nz/news/nationa...

📹 My talk at the Project One Wave litter summit last November is now available in full on YouTube… 👍 youtu.be/dBEbpPyVh8E?...

As I was leaving the estuary area at sunset a movement caught my eye, i raised my camera up & did a hit & hope on the shutter button! This buzzard glided past, not the sharpest shot but i like the chance close encounter with the sunset background! #buzzard #birdphotography #sunset #wildlife

📸 I’ve been out and about in the village these last few days with my camera: 📍 Delighted to find and photograph Goldcrest’s again (there are more about just now due to visiting birds from Scandinavia) 📍 This Robin followed me on my walk #goldcrest #robin #birdphotography #winter #scotland

Lovely stuff 🦁 #AVFC #UTV fourth round here we come #FACUP

❄️ 🐙 Do you like my “Snoctopus” ?! With the snow continuing to dump, I thought i’d take inspiration from the recent Kraken discovery here in Newburgh (Deep Water “Blob Octopus” Haliphron atlanticus)! And yes, I am disproportionally proud of this construction 😆 #snow #scotland #winter #octopus

🐺 🌕 Last night’s Wolf Moon! This year i’m going to see how many full moons I can photograph (conditions dependent of course)! #wolfmoon #moon #moonphotography #canonphotography #nightsky

❄️ Our home beach in Newburgh Aberdeenshire, is looking incredible just now! #snow #winter #newburgh #scotland

❄️ Messing about in the snow at the beach 😁

🦁 ⚽️ Cracking! Belting goals too 😁🙌 #AVFC #UTV

🍑 Back by popular demand….. Various items stuck in human orifices in 2025 😂 Once again, sharks have escaped the list for a second year in a row…. Alas, the plastic Orca has not! 🥴 On that note…. Happy New Year Everyone! defector.com/what-did-we-...

I guess the winning streak had to end at some point! 🦁

Yesssssss!!!!!! #AVFC #UTV Club record equalled with 11 wins in a row!!!!!! 🦁

🎄 🐾 Tattie & Tree (feat. reindeer soft toy - incidentally she stole this from her spaniel pals Bruce & Nessa last xmas 😆) Have a good one everyone and all the best for 2026! #spaniel #christmastree #mydog

🦈 FINALLY built my Lego Jaws!!!! It was quite the construction in the end (I mean it was an 18+) 😅 Absolutely love it, my favourite lego set by far! #jaws #lego #gonnaneedabiggerboat @whysharksmatter.bsky.social i saw you had finished yours a while back … Gave me the kick to get mine done 😆

🌊 Another amazing year for the EGCP - Turning the Plastic Tide project! Thank you so much to everyone who has participated in this project to date 💙 www.egcp.scot/ttpt-reports

#AVFC you absolute beauties!!!!!! #UTV 🦁 ⚽️ ⚽️ 👿 ⚽️

🤿 Squeezed in a couple more sessions on the 11th and 18th of December! 🌙 Decided to try a familiar spot at night on the 18th, similar critters spotted however the squat lobsters were way more active! #snorkelling #freediving #underwaterphotography #marinelife #nature #saltwaterlife #scotland 🌊

‼️ 🦈 Hundreds of species of highly threatened UK wildlife are left without much needed legal protection as the UK government opt not to act on the definitive findings of the Wildlife and Countryside Act. This includes: Critically Endangered #blueskate #flapperskate & Porbeagle #shark

🖋️ “…we pioneer the application of particle algorithms for conservation with a case study of the Critically Endangered flapper skate (Dipturus intermedius)” #flapperskate #MPA #animaltracking #conservation #marinelife 🌊 🦈 www.science.org/doi/10.1126/...

Caribbean reefs have lost 48% of hard coral since 1980, study finds

A short #blogpost on this ridiculous situation! Scotland’s inshore waters need REAL protection, continued delays are wilful neglect! #mpa #scotland #marinelife @open-seas.bsky.social @ourseas-scot.bsky.social @oceanauk.bsky.social @bsacdivers.bsky.social saltwaterlife.co.uk/inshore-scot...

Protections for Scotland’s inshore #MPAs were due in 2016. Now the Scottish Government has delayed them again — for the fourth time. That’s nearly a decade of “protected” seas being trawled and dredged, while vital habitats like maerl and flame shell beds are destroyed. Unacceptable. 🌊 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁳󠁣󠁴󠁿

🐬 Wow! Scientists have captured rare footage of killer whales and Pacific white-sided dolphins hunting together near the coast of British Columbia, Canada. www.bbc.co.uk/news/videos/...

It's International Mountain Day, so here is a real beauty - stunning Beinn Dearg Mòr.

“Tapanuli orangutans survive only in Indonesia’s Sumatran rainforest where a mine expansion will cut through their home.” #orangutan #sumatra #goldmining www.theguardian.com/environment/...

📣 The coastal partnership i work for is hiring!

🐙 🧵 After the recent discovery of the Giant Gelatinous Octopus remains here in Newburgh, I’ve been asked all sorts of questions about octopuses—especially whether I’ve ever worked with any. Let me tell you a short story: #octopus #marinelife #underwater #cephalopod #saltwaterlife 🌊 🤿

Inspired by natural polymers like DNA, chemists have devised a way to engineer plastic so it breaks down when it is no longer needed, rather than polluting the environment

Absolutely phenomenal!!!!!! What a game 🦁 ✊ #UTV

🐙 🌪️ What an extraordinary week! Just about emerging from the Haliphron atlanticus whirlwind! We have had an incredible amount of media interest after the remains of the deep-water “Giant Gelatinous Octopus aka The Blob Octopus” washed ashore here in Newburgh!

🦁 Villa! You absolute beauties, cannot believe that game ended with a 4-3 win!! #UTV

🗞️ 🐙 A bit of media coverage about the deep water Octopus Haliphron atlanticus! #octopus #deepwater #marinelife #scicomm 🌊 🤿 www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...

ICYMI, we have a new paper out offering advice to shark scientists who want to perform policy-relevant research but don't understand the basics of science-based policymaking. Here's the press release/ lay summary. The open access paper is linked within. 🧪🦑🌍🦈

🐙 UPDATE (previous post): ID Confirmed as Haliphron atlanticus formerly (Alloposus mollis) The Giant Gelatinous Octopus aka Seven Arm Octopus usually found in deep water 500m+ !!!!! I think there are even fewer records of this species than Architeuthis 😮 Thanks to Steve O’Shea for the ID!

🦑 🧵 A fascinating find at the Ythan Estuary! Last night a friend contacted me with videos of large cephalopod appendages found here in Newburgh, today I went to go and take a closer look. #cephalopod #marinelife #marinebiology #beachfinds #ythanestuary #scotland #scicomm 🌊 🤿

🏔️ Lochnagar ramble to the saddle & up Meikle. 🪫 Not a huge amount of energy left after a pretty active week, but how could I resist this forecast! 🎞️ Took some shots on the Pentax film camera & a toast to those no longer here 🥃 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁳󠁣󠁴󠁿 @walkhighlands.co.uk #hillwalking #winter #scotland

🦈 Good news for Oceanic whitetip sharks! Their protection level has been upgraded at the 20th Conference of the Parties (CoP20) Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES), to Appendix I. #oceanicwhitetip #shark #cop20 #cites #appendix1 #conservation 🌊

🙌 🧵 A rewarding day yesterday! First, let’s backtrack a little to September when I was part of a small team that took part in the “Rig to Reef” project at Alford Academy. #outreach #education #marinebiology #scicomm #rigtoreef #saltwaterlifeuk

🦈 Shark Conservation Advances at International Atlantic Tuna Conference: Fishing nations agree to protect basking and white sharks, cut mako quotas, and improve compliance process www.sharktrust.org/news/breakin...

🦁 ⚽️ Yessssss! #UTV #AVFC and just like that in 4th! Crazy considering the start to the season! 😅

🏔️ ❄️ Stunning ramble up Ben Rinnes today! 🧊 🪓 To be honest I was just looking for an excuse to break out the ice axe for the season! Scored a “Brocken Spectre” in the distance at the top (second snap)! #benrinnes #winter #hiking #snow #ice #outdoors #mountain #scotland @walkhighlands.co.uk

📸 Out and about capturing a few images! 📍 Great to see the #kingfisher back along the Burn & Ythan! 📍 #RedSquirrel busying away in the forest - Lossiemouth. 📍 #CrestedTit - such a character - Lossiemouth. 📍 Part of a #murmuration at sundown over Loch Spynie. #wildlife #nature #bird #scotland