Matt Bruce

Moulting adult Sanderling, 28 Black-tailed Godwit and 9 Ringed Plover on the River Mersey east of the Gateway and south of Moss Bank this afternoon #SankeyValley #PatchBirding

Solar-powered Sea Slug - Elysia viridis, from a Rockpool in Shetland.

Flashing part of its "solar panel" that is filled with chlorophyll harvested from the algae it grazes on.

#Rockpool #Tidepool #Nature #Shetland #Wildlife #SeaSlug #Nudibranch #MarineLife

Our group checking out the finds in a tray.

Our group checking out the finds in a tray.

Sea Lemon selection

Common and Brittle Sea Stars

A lovely evening Safari with 7 entrepid rockpool explorers. We found some of the largest Sea Lemons I've ever seen, and a great selection of other intertidal beasties from Sea Stars to Squat Lobsters.

#SeaLemon #Nudibranch #Rockpool #Tidepool #MarineLife #Nature #Wildlife

European Cowrie or Groatie Buckie in Shetland dialect. So much more interesting like this than the dead shells you might find on the beach!

#Cowrie #MarineLife #SeaSide #Rockpool #Tidepool #Nature

A nudibranch on Corallina officinalis, ID to be confirmed.

A nudibranch free floating just off a piece of kelp, ID to be confirmed.

I recently posted this as Cadlina laevis (White Sea Slug) but on review think it might be Jorunna tomentosa.

If anyone on here knows and can talk me through the ID I'd really appreciate it!

#Nudibranch #Shetland #MarineLife #Rockpool #Tidepool #Nature #Wildlife

Elysia viridis, a nudibranch like sea slug (or perhaps more accurately a sea snail?) from a Rockpool in Shetland, UK.

Elysia viridis - Solar-powered Sea Slug

This fascinating little creature ingests chloroplasts from its food algae, then uses them for photosynthesis to supplement its food supply. The folds on its back fan out to increase surface area to aid this process.

#SeaSlug #Shetland #Rockpool #MarineLife

A tour participant searching a seaweed covered Rockpool.

Common Starfish

Orange-clubbed Seaslug

Hermit crab in the hand

Fancy learning about what lies just beneath the surface of Shetlands wonderful shores? All ages welcome! Check out our website and book your tour. If you aren't visiting soon, enjoy the gallery of some of our favourite finds!

#Rockpool #WildlifeTour #Nature #Shetland #Starfish #Crab #Nudibranch

Beadlet Anemone

Common Starfish

European Cowrie

White Sea Slug

We've got spaces on tours in the last week of July:

Thu 24th @ 5:00pm
Sat 26th @ 6:00pm

If you are in Shetland, why not book on one and learn about some of the creatures below (Beadlet Anemone, common starfish, european cowrie, white sea slug)

#TidePool #RockPool #Wildlife #SeaLife #Shetland

Cadlina laevis - a Nudibranch found in Shetland.

Aegires punctilucens - a nudibranch found in Shetland.

Palio nothus, a Nudibranch found in Shetland

Sea Lemon (Doris pseudoargus) in front of a Green Sea Urchin in a sample tray, found in a Rockpool in Shetland.

Some recent Nudibranch finds whilst rockpooling around Shetland. Identifications in Alt text.

The variety, colour and alien-ness of Nudibranchs never ceased to amaze me!

#Shetland #Rockpool #Tidepool #SeaSlug #Nudibranch #Seashore #MarineLife #UkWildlife #ShetlandWildlife #Nature

Shetland Rockpool Safaris Shetland Rockpool Safaris - offering guided rockpool tours in Shetland, UK. Come and take a look at the fantastic wildlife beneath the waves with us.

Come rockpooling with us!
We love rockpooling and are excited to be starting a new venture - offering guided rockpool safaris here in Shetland.
Check out our website for more details and dates of sessions!

#Rockpool #Rockpooling #Shetland #Tidepool #Wildlife #Seaside

Grey (Red) Phalarope in Shetland

Grey (Red) Phalarope in Shetland

Grey (Red) Phalarope in Shetland

The stunning breeding plumage female Grey (Red) Phalarope at Spiggie, Shetland, this afternoon. What an incredible looking bird! Not often seen looking like this in the UK. My only other sighting was about a decade ago at Brandon Marsh, Warks! #Phalarope #Waders #Wildlife #UkBirding

Well done squeezing them all into one shot 🤣

Pine Marten

Pine Marten

Pine Marten

So many photos to go through from my time in Pine Marten heaven - Ardnamurchan, West coast of Scotland. Such wonderful characters, I watched them for hours climbing over rocks and trees behind the hours.

#BritishMammals #PineMarten #Wildlife #Nature #Ardnamurchan

A Pine Marten on a moss covered rock in Ardnamurchan.

A week long holiday on the Ardnamurchan peninsula provided some incredible Pine Marten encounters from the comfort of our accommodation. Amongst Atlantic rainforest, these mustelids evoke strong feelings of wilder times gone by.

#PineMarten #BritishMammals #Nature #Wildlife #BritishWildlife

Purple Heron in Boddam, Shetland

Purple Heron coming in to land at Boddam, Shetland

A Purple Heron this afternoon at Boddam Voe gave Shetland another slice of the recent spring migrant action after yesterday's elusive Black-crowned Night Heron. #UKBirding

Puffin at Sumburgh head this morning

First Puffins today on the cliffs of Sumburgh to get your Sea Bird excitement levels up. Bonxies and Scootie Allans (Arctic Skuas) will be back soon too 😁😎

Have to mention the boat trip to Mousa Broch. If you are coming soon you'll probably be too early for the night time Storm Petrel trips, but check out the Mousa Boat website for dates!

Killer Whale off Shetlands East Coast

Killer Whale off Shetlands East Coast

Killer Whale off Shetlands East Coast

Killer Whale off Shetlands East Coast

The Killer Whale pod known as the 27s visited my local Shetland coastline today, or at least 4 of them did. 27 herself and Bull 34 put on a show. Lovely weather but still very cold in the wind 🥶
#KillerWhale #Orca #SeaLife #MarineMammals #Wildlife #Shetland

Male Killer Whale in Shetland

Male Killer Whale in Shetland

Male Killer Whale in Shetland

Male Killer Whale in Shetland

The solo bull Orca hanging around near Voe in Shetland right now. Lots of long feeding dives, there must be some good fish down there, he's been here for days now!
#Shetland #Orca #KillerWhale

“The Toxic Restaurant” – spoof video highlighting toxic lead ammunition sends BASC into meltdown In the build up to a forthcoming decision by the DEFRA Secretary of State (and his counterparts in the devolved governments) whether to accept the HSE’s recommendations to ban the use of toxi…

Brilliant campaigning from @wwtworldwide.bsky.social ft Megan McCubbin in spoof video at the Duck & Cover restaurant.

The use of humour as a campaign tool shouldn't be underestimated.

#BanLead #Ornithology

raptorpersecutionuk.org/2025/02/11/t...

An illustration of twelve warblers. Each row has three similar species. The top three are grey with black heads and varying amounts of black below; the next row has three with long tails, two are all grey, one is wine-red below; then there are the three subalpine warblers, which are grey above and red or orange below; and the bottom row has three with white throats and brown backs, two have rusty wing panels and the other is rather different with dark legs and a rather cold tone. The birds are all facing left and in the same pose so it is easier to compare the differences between them.

Feisty little dudes. I'm almost used to calling them Curruca instead of Sylvia now. Scratchy songs, angry fire eyes, good colour schemes, but lose a point for being a bit too skulking = 8/10 #birdart #birds

A young otter on rocks in Shetland

A young otter opening it's mouth mid-meal on the shore in Shetland.

A young otter peeking out from a hole in the rocks, Shetland.

A young otter moving through the rocks, Shetland.

Shetland has the highest density of European Otter in the world. I saw at least 7 today in 4 different encounters. This youngster was the first I saw, at a popular walk location. Being downwind, I was fortunate to watch it feed for some time from close range. #Otter #Draatsi #Shetland

Your 2025 Le Creuset x bird color guide

Gonna need a bigger scope

My son James caught up with booted eagle at Marazion this morning - nice pale phase

Fenced dog parks could help protect wildlife A study in South Australia has investigated the values of dog owners and how social norms could be shifted to protect vulnerable wildlife from off-lead dogs.

New research has investigated the motivations for dog owners keeping their pet on a lead in natural areas, and suggested the creation of dedicated dog exercise space as a solution:

Park Authority statement on lynx - Cairngorms National Park Authority The Park Authority have been notified about a suspected illegal release of two lynx in the Cairngorms National Park. Police Scotland have been informed

@cairngormsnews.bsky.social statement on suspected illegal release of lynx in the Cairngorms National Park

cairngorms.co.uk/park-authori...

I had the 6 pro for over 3 years before I smashed it and it was supported throughout. But a valid concern when trying to make these things last as long possible.

Also excellent night and astro mode for Aurora if you get up North!

I went from Huawei to the Google pixel pro range specifically for the camera reviews and I'm always impressed with it. Don't digiscope much these days but for close up insect photography the 6 pro excellent. I'm on the 9 now (5x optical zoom) but not tried it on any moths yet.