Tom Gale

Wow that’s interesting!

Do juv WBDs winter in a different location to adults, hence the lack of juvs in current influx (presumably triggered by weeks of SE winds)? Juv seabirds of some species are less efficient foragers so presumably would expect at least as many juvs being wrecked like this?

Two, poss 3 White-billed Diver off N end of Inchkeith currently! Thanks to @tomgale98.bsky.social for the video!
@fifebirdnews.bsky.social #BirdingScotland

Yesterday’s Bittern at Duddingston Loch provided a great lunchtime twitch - here it is with its feathers ruffled up! #BirdingScotland

First calendar year Dutch ringed Caspian Gull V|+ . A classic looking 1cy in many ways. Beyond typical bill structure, note four-toned upperpart appearance: unmarked white pear shaped head with decent hindneck 'shawl', grey second generation mantle and scapulars with black central 'anchors', gradating to brown wing coverts, then very dark primaries/secondaries and blackish tertials with clear pale fringing

1cy Caspian Gull showing its diagnostic pale white underwing

This 1cy Caspian Gull at Tyninghame yday was a much enjoyed Scottish first for myself and @tomgale98.bsky.social. Dutch green darvic V|+ was ringed 5 May at IJsselmmer, then seen Lowestoft (Suffolk) in July and De Haan (Belgium) 17 Oct before arriving here #birdinglothian @birdinglothian.bsky.social

Male Black Redstart on the seawall at Torness Power Station

Female-type Black Redstart associating with the male

Two Black Redstarts at Torness added a dash of colour to a grey scene this morning - including a very smart male #birdinglothian @birdinglothian.bsky.social

Terrible phone scope of it on the rocks at Barns Ness

Fantastic day in East Lothian with birds right up until dusk! Unfortunately the plover flock took off before long but it was great to watch the AGP in flight amongst the European Golden Plovers - quite distinctive once you get your eye in! #BirdingLothian

Great find Dylan, nice sonogram as well!

Very nice to find this Wryneck at Dalmeny House this afternoon. Still present this eve, moving between the shoreline at the golf course to feed and nearby cover.

Also juv Pom, RN Grebe + 4 Pintail offshore, & 3 juv Black Tern at Hound Point #birdinglothian #rarebirdsuk
@birdinglothian.bsky.social

An enjoyable three skua day with @tomgale98.bsky.social. The highlight a smart ad Pom Skua W off Seacliff late afternoon. Also Bonxie off Barns Ness, plus 6 Arctics and 63 Manxies total between both sites #birdinglothian

Yep :)

Adult (2CY+) male Rufous Hummingbird; ringed on Vancouver Island, British Columbia, on Tuesday

Rufous Hummingbirds complete one of the greatest migrations of any bird, if calculated by body length (~3 inches). Their ~3900 mile trip from Alaska to Mexico (one-way) equates to ~80 million body lengths. This puts the Arctic Tern’s migration to shame, at ~50 million body lengths. #birdringing 🇨🇦🧪🌎

Watercolour of the view of Sheep Rock from Buness, Fair Isle

Thanks, cool to see it from a different angle!

Video of one of the WWS at East Wemyss (views were much better than this suggests!)

Stunning views of 3 White-winged and 1 drake Surf Scoter y’day in Fife with @birdingtothemax.bsky.social and Jack Morris #BirdingScotland

The twist was the bit that surprised me, must’ve never paid them enough attention before!

Excuse the poor video skills but does anyone know if this behaviour is common in Robins? Almost doing a snake/wryneck like display! Video taken back in March. #ukbirding

Image of study site Bluemull Sound, Shetland, and a foraging European Shag

1/6 Tidal stream environments are unique marine habitats characterised by fast tidal currents.

Knowledge of how #seabirds use these areas for foraging is scarce.

@tomgale98.bsky.social is at #BOU2025 presenting work on understanding drivers of habitat selection of Shags in these environments...

Our new @adriftlab.bsky.social paper is out, lead by @alixdejersey.bsky.social showing the insidious impacts of plastics on seemingly health birds (1/5)

www.science.org/doi/10.1126/...

Dog-tracking study reveals disturbance to lowland heaths Researchers tracked dogs on heathland sites, showing off-lead walking can reduce conservation value.

A tracking study has found that dogs walked off-lead cause significantly more disturbance on lowland heaths than pets kept on the lead:

Watercolour of one of my favourite moments last year watching a Greenish Warbler feeding amongst the sycamores at Valyie, Unst #birds #birdart #BirdingScotland

Thanks Steph 😁

Watercolour of the Eastern Black Redstart that was present @northronbirdobs.bsky.social in autumn 2022 #birds #birdart #BirdingScotland #RareBirdsUK

Thanks Mark, visiting birders sound recording crossbills, I'm shocked and stunned! :-)

Hope Max doesn't mind, but one of his excitement calls on the left, key ID features of N20/Scottish excitement calls in the centre and to the right the evolution of the shape of these excitement calls 1995-2024

The large leaved plant on the left of my Blue Bird of Paradise painting is thought to be a new species to science, possibly even a new family....no botanists who study New Guinea flora can identify it or put it to a family....that's crazy!!

🚨JOB OPENING🚨
We are looking to employ a housekeeper for the 2025 season! Accommodation at the observatory included. For more information and to apply please contact alison@nrbo.co.uk
Please share!

Nice to see our Harlequin Duck in today’s 2023 BBRC report; accepted as the first for Orkney and first flyby record in Britain. Shows the importance of detailed field notes, particularly in the absence of photos! @georgenorthron.bsky.social @tomgale98.bsky.social #birdingScotland

#addBirder