Wow!

Little Ringed Plover at Udale Bay

Thankfully this Highland scarcity, a Little Ringed Plover, stayed in situ for another day yesterday after I was pre-occupied with marital duties over the weekend. #highlandbirds

In a day that has seen all four seasons, I was pleased to finally connect with a Corn Bunting in Highland. This individual remaining fairly loyal to a short hedgerow, where Tree Sparrows and a Bullfinch were also present. Highland Yearlist now on 142. #highlandbirds

Our first moth trap last night and a great start with this Rannoch Sprawler to our MV. #teammoth

Darn! Very keen for this in 2028 in that case, if it’s happening?

Still haven’t seen one in Highland this year yet!

Although we have rarely failed to come across Black Grouse at one of our favourite sites to the north of Lairg, rarely do they show this well. Taken yesterday afternoon in dull conditions, but bright enough to show the sheen. #birdingscotland #highlandbirds @emilyrichens.bsky.social

immature female Golden Eagle

If one does enough eagle surveys, then eventually one will get some epic views of these magnificent birds. Today, this immature female Golden Eagle passed over me a little too close (for the camera, that is), while yesterday I was lucky enough to witness a mating pair! #highlandbirds

A good birding session from the back garden earlier, looking over towards Aigas and Strathfarrar, our minimal effort was rewarded with a Golden Eagle being mobbed by Buzzards! Mega garden bird and completes the eagle set for our Kiltarlity garden. #highlandbirds

A weekend jaunt down to Sussex By The Sea for a family (and gull) visit turned up the expected Caspian Gulls on my old patch of Cuckmere Haven. At least three different first-winters & a second-winter amongst the other seven species present. #sussexbirds

My first displaying Goshawks of the year seen today south of Inverness whilst on a survey. I will never tire of seeing them! #highlandbirds

Two Tundra Beans amongst Greylags

Green-winged Teal

Stoat in ermine… phone-scoped

dead Little Auk

What a stunning day weather wise… at long last! Started with the 2 Tundra Bean Geese near Dornoch, then covered many coastal sites, the highlight find being a Stoat in ermine, my first white one since 2003!! Also G-w Teal, 6 Little Gulls, 2 Snow Bunts and a dead Little Auk. #highlandbirds

I’ll soon convince it to migrate to the northern side if it does 😂

If you can re-find it in Highland when it goes missing that’ll be ideal 👍

Before today, I had incredibly only seen two Little Auks in the UK (this despite hundreds of seawatching hours under my belt), therefore, the five I saw this morning at Tarbat Ness were most welcome. Two flew very close but I was too slow with the camera. #highlandbirding #birdingscotland

Excellent, Simon. I didn’t get views like this on my tour, but did watch a Gyr take out a Goosander mid-flight 😂

Red Squirrel

Hawfinch… just over the border into Moray but acceptable as within the vice county border.

Dipper

Crested Tit

A superb 48-hr Highland bird race for @naturetrek.bsky.social resulted in 94 species seen, incl most of the Highland specialties, and some bonus birds too, with Snow Goose, Surf Scoter and Smew. Passerines were hard to find, thanks to this month’s freezing conditions!
Pics by client, Steve Wilson.

It was great to finally catch up with the adult Bonaparte's Gull at Gairloch today. The third-winter Iceland Gull was also present, as were 47 Goldeneye and 12 Black-throated Divers. #highlandbirds #birdingscotland

Photos below, bar the night heron, taken by @emilyrichens.bsky.social. The trip kindly put together by Ashley Howe, using the services of Pugmark Tours & Travels, the go-to agent for seeking out the Masked Finfoot.

Masked Finfoot

White-eared Night Heron

Brown-winged Kingfisher

Mangrove Pitta

Back home this morning from a seven-day birding trip to Bangladesh, where the undoubted highlights came from the Sundarbans. Only nine lifers for me this trip, but these do include the doomed Masked Finfoot and range-restricted White-eared Night Heron! #BirdsSeenin2026 #birdingabroad

Bangladesh Day 3: Mission accomplished on our first attempt in the Sundarbans, with two Masked Finfoot, one showing particularly well! Such a privilege to observe this doomed species. #BirdsSeenin2026

Hoolock Gibbons

Capped Langurs

Capped Langur

Satchari NP

Bangladesh: our first full day in country at Satchari NP was highlighted by two stunning primates, the Hoolock Gibbon and Capped Langur! Close to 60 sp of bird with Cachar Bulbul being the rarest of the four lifers achieved.

Six Waxwings in Inverness this afternoon. Feeling slightly lucky to have a group nearby, considering how few are wintering this season. #birdingscotland

Snow is getting a tad tedious now, but at least the Mountain Hares maintain their ‘can’t be seen’ stance, by posing at point blank range.

How on earth did you get up there 😂

Good to see the Russian White-fronted Goose invasion has reached Highland, with a whopping total of one! A cracking adult though and a scarce bird tup this way. #birdingscotland

Black Scoter

Black Scoter

Scaups and Long-tailed Ducks

Dornoch Beach

Work sadly abandoned due to much snow on site, therefore, it was back to Dornoch where @emilyrichens.bsky.social and I amazingly re-found the drk Black Scoter (last seen 19 December)! Ten other species of duck also present. #birdingscotland

One of the perks of hiking for work through three feet of Snow!

Sooty Albatross

Azure Hawker

Golden Eagle

World birding has been limited this year, but the h'light for me were the Sooty Albatross in the southern oceans. Closer to home, re-finding the White-throated Needletail, almost daily Golden Eagle action, finding new Azure Hawker sites, Shetland rares and running Munros were other treats! HNY!

That is some photo, Henry!