Thinking of warmer climes, as this cold sets in. 🤒 This stunning Blue Rock Thrush taken in Estremadura earlier this year. Favouring rocky outcrops, feeds on insects and small invertebrates. Im in need of more adventures! #españa #estremadura #bluerockthrush

Making a conscious effort to try and shake up a very urban garden. The other day we had a judge come to visit. Someone who has more knowledge than me said it’s this years bird due to the pale fingers to the coverts. I love stuff like that! Please share the geekery! #birdingscotland #sparrowhawk

A great conference with the @scottishbirding.bsky.social Saturday. Sunday a wander around Barons Haugh @rspbscotland.bsky.social what a gold mine! The passion from volunteers evident. This Nuthatch was very much in agreement . #scottishornithologistsclub #rspb #baronshaugh #birdingscotland

Heading to the @scottishbirding.bsky.social conference today maybe see you there? 😊🦤 #soc

Caw! Caw! Scavenging around the shoreline, this Crow letting its voice heard. Feathers glistening in the early morning sun. Crows mate for life, something I personally did not know about them. #crowfacts #corvid #feather_perfection #birdingscotland

Stepping out with my ‘heavy’… Lovely size comparison between Oystercatcher and Redshank. #birdingscotland #redshank #oystercatcher.

Stepping out with my ‘heavy’… The boys are back in town…. Lovely size comparison between Oystercatcher and Redshank. #birdingscotland #redshank #oystercatcher.

What a face ! Thank you to @glenisilla.bsky.social for this morning's #FoxOfTheDay

I’ve been so fortunate for amazing nature adventures over the past year plus+. Going to try and catch up with some of them… Northern Bald Ibis as seen with @birdingthestrait Only 200+ pairs in the wild. As always humans have played a part in their decline .(1/2)#birdingthestrait #northernbaldibis

The lovely White Wagtail seen on Sumburgh beach. Great to get up close and attempt to hone my skills, between that and the Pied apart! I’m sure the more you see the easier it may become.Right? 🫣 #WhiteWagtail #birdingscotland #shetland

A first for the lovely Bearded Tits. Tried before but dipped. One then two….the familiar ‘ping’ growing louder as the group gathered. I didn’t know that they change their diet in the winter from insect to seed eaters and need grit to help digest the seed. #birdingscotland #beardedtit #tayreedbeds

Eastern or is it a Western Bonelli’s warbler 🤔 If Eastern it’s only 4th ever record. Can only be told apart call and DNA. (So I have been told) Finder heard it calling once. I wonder what the Rarity committee will record it as? (pic from end of Sept) #shetland #bonelli #migration #birdingscotland

Zoomed in further. Can you see it now? Its camouflage is incredible! ( happy to mark it if it helps). Its head is to the right. Eyes closed and body follows central to the image. It’s a Red Necked Nightjar. #birds #nightjar

have been very fortunate this year of visiting a variety of places. I had forgotten about this photo until my sister reminded me ❤️ This was taken in The Tarifa region under the amazing spotting skills of @birdingthestrait Can you see it? Do you know what it is? #tarifa #birding

I didn’t know this about Eiders. I guess there’s no eating in the legs 🤣

I know for many the Raven is such a common bird in Shetland. For me it was wonderful to see it so frequently, to hone my ID, rather than just fleeting glimpses overhead. Hearing its wonderful croak…. Here’s one I captured in Lerwick Harbour. #birdingscotland #raven #Shetlandwildlife

Another first, was seeing this Knot so close in. Often seen hanging out with Dunlin, it was great to compare it’s stockier appearance and shorter bill. Seen previously in flocks so was lovely to get this view. #birdingscotland #shetland

It was lovely to she these close views of Dunlin. My usual viewing is through a scope. Such useful learning to get an eyes view and a better sense of their size and behaviour. #birdingscotland #shetland #scotland #dunlin

Hooded Crow. Mostly found in the North of Scotland and Ireland. This one was hanging around Lerwick harbour. #Shetland #birdingscotland #hoodedcrow

A rather wet Rock Pipit keeping watch. #sumburgh #shetland #birdingscotland #rockpipit

Yellow Browed Warbler. Seen only fleetingly before. The bird the size roughly of a Gold Crest has come all the way from Siberia. Can you imagine that tiny thing fighting all those elements? Isn’t nature just incredible 😍 #shetland #birdingscotland #birding #yellowbrowedwarbler

The Mirrie Dancers came were out last night ….. #shetland #mirriedancers #northernlights

Time to explore Shetland. Holding onto any human, as the gusts of wind up build up. On a a slightly calmer day yesterday this Twite popped up. #twite #birdingscotand #shetland #shetlandnature #birding

The Straits keep on giving. Thank you to @ingloriousbustards.bsky.social. And for @birdingthestrait who helped discover new places. Love the magic of the Straits sprinkled on people for the first time. A small pass of 600+ White Storks . Regarged ❤️ #flywaybirding #migratorybirds #espana #birding

A magical moment with the most perfect young fox this morning 🧡 #Edinburgh #foxoftheday

The cost of parenting was beginning to show…. #isleofmay #lesserblackbackedgulls #superseabirdsunday #birdingscotland

This Shag fledgling has all my Monday morning feels. #isleofmay #birdingscotland #seabirds

The cries of the Kittiwake were heard all around the Isle of May this week. If ever doubtful of their name they call it to you from the skies and cliffs….. These fledglings contemplated life on the wing. #isleofmay #naturescot #superseabirdsunday #kittiwake #birdingscotland

Another fantastic trip to the Isle of May with friends . The Auks had all left. Raftsof pufflings off the coast. Kittiwakes fledglings stretching their wings. A haven for butterflies and moths. Video by Lara C #birdingscotland #isleofmay #ukwildlife #naturescot

This Swallow contemplating its life choices of migrating to Scotland for ‘summer’ 🤣 Hoping for a drier trip to the Isle of May in a few weeks. #isleofmay #naturescot #swallow #migration #birdingscotland

There are over 50,000 occupied Puffin burrows on the Isle of May. Pairs return each year to lay just a single egg. #puffins #isleofmay #birds #birdingscotland

I love the diversity of the Isle of May. I can’t deny enjoying watching these guys. Nicknamed sea parrots or clowns of the sea. Of course I am talking about the Puffin. There may be a few spamming of images of them over the next few days. #isleofmay #birdingscotland #birds #puffins

A significant predator we were soon to witness in action….Nesting season. I expected many losses. What I didn’t expect was that adults too were at risk. The Great Black was witnessed twice picking off adult Puffins. It’s nature and need to survive. #isleofmay #greatblackbackedgull #birdingscotland

Wheee!!!!! A trip this week to the Isle of May. Despite the rain it was an incredible day with good people & birds 😍 Some of our group were able to lucky enough to spot Pufflings peeking out of their burrow, ready to fledge under the cover of night. #puffins #isleofmay #birdingscotland #birds

Eider. The UK’s heaviest and fastest flying duck. I love the description of their call…..like a group of gossiping women. Ohhhh Ohhhh!!! #eider #isleofmay #birds #birdingscotland

Posting more of my first sighting of a Reed Warbler whilst canal boating Such a delicate bird held firm on the swaying Reed beds. @biologistrachel shared some interesting facts that I didn’t know about them…. #ornithology #birding #Reedwarbler (1/5)

Again no macro lens. Maybe I should just carry it with me, for those just in case moments. A rather majestic Red Admiral #butterfly #redadmiral #redadmiralbutterfly

It’s my Monday morning face! I mean a not amused Sedge Warbler! This is the clearest views I’ve had. Usually it’s a brief moment before they dash down again amongst the reeds. #warblers #sedgewarbler #birds #birdingscotland

Not quite in focus. I was using my 100 to 400 lens and not macro. However theres’s something I quite like about this image. I think this is some Cow Parsley and common Wasp?🐝 #flyingthings #commonwasp #wasp #ukwildlife

An older fledged Common Whitethroat or just a rough season? 🤨 #whitethroat #birdingscotland #birds #scotland

It’s truly fledgling season. I felt I walked into a nursery graduation, as the path in front of me filled with graduated young. This the youngest Chiffchaff (weirdly chick like) and Whitethroat I’ve seen. (thanks @vivkeene.bsky.social) #birds #chiffchaff #Whitethroat #birdingscotland

Went to see an amazing project greatbustard.org . One man’s vision of saving the Great Bustard in the U.K. We were so excited to stumble across this, having seen them in Extremadura earlier this year and with such incredible views of the Lek! #birds #greatbustard #ukwildlife

V - Stop the boat! Reverse! M - This is a 40 tonne boat going at full speed! M - Sighs. Its wildlife isn’t it. (Stops the boat and begins reversing) V - Possibly After a tiring day, not sure what I saw. A wee nose, then ducked away or was it a shadow? An otter? #kennetandavon #mammal #mink (1/2)

This little guy woke me at about 4.30 this morning. We got up to move the boat and there was a quick dart between the reed beds and I grabbed my camera…..a first for me. Reed Warbler. #canal #kennetandavoncanal #birds #warblers

I was invited to a friend’s garden, they have the pleasure of a fox family who have taken up residence. It was a fleeting glimpse. Who needs TV? #foxes #foxoftheday #mammals

A serenading blackbird on our rooftop . They seem to be hanging around the edges of our garden more. There’s great concern about the dip in blackbird numbers. www.bto.org/our-work/new... Have a blackbird in your garden and want to help? www.bto.org/get-involved... #birds #blackbird

I was about to head home, when a fox crossed in front of me. I decided to follow and watch. I soon lost it as it disappeared into the undergrowth. Happy with my glimpse, I stood watching some newly emerged ducklings.1/4 #foxoftheday #foxes #mammals #edinburgh

It was one of the most magical wildlife days. More on that later For now the stunning colours of this male Pheasant #BirdingScotland #birds

A Western Orphean Warbler who serenaded us with its song! I didn’t realise there were so many warblers in the world, I obviously need to travel more, it’s the only answer 😜! #extremadura #warblers #birds

Eyes bigger than its belly? Not for this Treecreeper #BirdingScotland #birds #treecreeper