@alpine-swift.bsky.social
17 y/o Scottish birder based in Lothian. Scottish bird list now 259. Latest Scottish lifer - Iberian Chiffchaff.
The last three weeks I have been on a family holiday to Peru.
The birds were amazing. We saw over 500 species! My favourite being the Bearded Mountaineer.
We visited many habitats ranging from desert to rainforest from sea level to 5000m
A trip of a lifetime! 🪶
ebird.org/tripreport/3...
Fantastic!
10.07.2025 08:04 — 👍 1 🔁 0 💬 0 📌 0
Some slightly better pictures of yesterday’s White-winged Scoter.
#BirdingScotland
Thank you Mark! Your scope must have a lucky charm!
09.07.2025 08:08 — 👍 1 🔁 0 💬 1 📌 0Thank you Callum! Luckily it was the first bird I laid my eyes on otherwise I may have not found it.
08.07.2025 17:29 — 👍 0 🔁 0 💬 0 📌 0
The drake Surf Scoter was also still present in the same flock.
08.07.2025 11:42 — 👍 5 🔁 0 💬 0 📌 0
Really pleased to find this White-winged Scoter at Musselburgh this morning.
It appears to be a different individual to last week as it has no white around the eye, browner flanks and is hanging out with Velvets rather than Eiders.
@birdinglothian.bsky.social
#BirdingScotland
It flies more like a Nightjar!
27.06.2025 15:58 — 👍 0 🔁 0 💬 0 📌 0
A really nice visit to Musselburgh today. 80 species seen in total.
Highlights being an adult Roseate Tern off the scrapes, really nice views of Little Ringed Plover and finally seeing Musselburgh’s Large Skippers.
@birdinglothian.bsky.social #birdingscotland
It was lovely to spend some time with the Spoonbill at Musselburgh today. A great addition to my non-motorised list!
Also really nice to finally meet @itssjoenichols.bsky.social.
#BirdingScotland @birdinglothian.bsky.social
It was at the pin. I walked along the fence that takes you along the airport coming back from Tentsmuir. It sang briefly and I was able to make a recording.
15.06.2025 10:01 — 👍 2 🔁 0 💬 1 📌 0
Trip to Fife this afternoon was well rewarded!
The Iberian Chiffchaff at Tentsmuir showed well and sang its heart out!
Also a Little Gull and Reed Warbler at the Eden Estuary.
#BirdingScotland
On Wednesday there were large numbers of waders at Aberlady Bay (no waders elsewhere along the coast). 1 Curlew Sand, 1 Whimbrel, both Godwits (3 Blackwit, 20+ Barwit), many Dunlin, Knot and Sanderling. Also 8 Grey Plover (including a couple sum plum birds) etc. Failed breeders or not?? 🤷♂️
06.06.2025 11:42 — 👍 1 🔁 0 💬 1 📌 0I have not checked what I have missed yet. My eBird trip report (including sensitive species) is 133 species. I did not see Whinchat. I was looking out for them in Moorfoot but no luck
05.06.2025 17:05 — 👍 0 🔁 0 💬 0 📌 0Oh dear! I have also missed a couple as well 🤣 Numbers spreadsheets are very impractical!
05.06.2025 15:44 — 👍 2 🔁 0 💬 1 📌 0
A fantastic day birding bike with 100km covered.
132 species seen throughout the day. A total I did not expect to reach!
Highlights being a Curlew Sandpiper at Aberlady, a Quail at East Fortune and a Reed Warbler at Blindwells.
@birdinglothian.bsky.social
That would be nice! Thank you
05.06.2025 08:20 — 👍 1 🔁 0 💬 1 📌 0
A great day by bus to Ayrshire.
The Western Sandpiper was still at Maidens just after noon. It was really nice to see its size compared to the Dunlin. The Caspian Gull then flew over the harbour and inland.
#BirdingScotland
Hi Ian, is it okay if I used your photo for my submission? It is a lot better than my video!
25.05.2025 19:41 — 👍 0 🔁 0 💬 1 📌 0
A really nice trip to Musselburgh yesterday evening.
Highlights being the pair of Avocets found by @ijandrews.bsky.social earlier in the day on the old scrapes and finding a pair of Temminck’s Stints (new birds?) on the new lagoons (shown in video in my reply).
@birdinglothian.bsky.social
I had a brief stop at Musselburgh yesterday evening on the way back from a cycle ride.
The Green-winged Teal showed in really nice light on the new lagoons.
#BirdingScotland
@birdinglothian.bsky.social
A quick stop to Musselburgh yesterday evening.
Both the Temminck’s Stints and the Garganey were still present from the left hand hide.
Thanks to @ijandrews.bsky.social for letting dad and I borrow his scope to give us lovely views.
@birdinglothian.bsky.social #BirdingScotland
I was in Southern Corsica last October! The scenery there is some of the best I have seen. Looks like a very nice bird list!
11.05.2025 16:10 — 👍 1 🔁 0 💬 1 📌 0I guess so but it could also be a bird that has joined the European system. Cinnamon Teals are migratory so a number of birds could’ve been pushed across in the storms in Autumn 2023. Wood Ducks from the Northern US migrate south so could also have been pushed off course.
10.05.2025 07:11 — 👍 1 🔁 0 💬 0 📌 0It has got to be a good candidate! Especially given it has come at a similar time as the Cinnamon Teals. Great find
09.05.2025 14:43 — 👍 3 🔁 0 💬 2 📌 0
Fantastic day hiking in the Highlands.
So many birds including Ptarmigan, Black Grouse, Tree Pipit, Cuckoo, Red Kites, Ring Ouzel, White-tailed Eagle, breeding waders and an Osprey on the way home.
Really nice to see a high diversity of breeding birds in a Scottish glen.
#BirdingScotland
No sign of the King Eider from Seafield, Portobello or Joppa.
Viewing conditions were difficult with sea fog being a problem for most of the morning.
Nice to see my first Pintails and Black Guillemot of the year off Joppa.
Great trip to Duddingston Loch and surrounding areas this afternoon.
My first Mediterranean Gull ever on the loch was a surprise.
2 RN Parakeets was my first multiple birds sighting.
12 Whooper Swans going north was great as well as another singing Chiffchaff and calling Water Rails.
Lovely afternoon trip to Duddingston.
Highlights being my first singing Chiffchaff and Blackcap. As well as an acrobatic Ring-necked Parakeet.
55 species seen in total with other nice species being Water Rail, Gadwall and Goldeneye.
A great way to start this year’s spring.
