No problem, glad you saw it!
Posts by Tom Gale
Mega day at the Seacliff patch! Osprey and Redstart were top aims for the spring but the (re) appearance of a White-winged Scoter was completely unexpected this far out of the Forth! Ring Ouzel at Traprain Law also #BirdingScotland
An evening trip out to Mayshiel for the Black-throated Thrush went to plan with great views in evening light. Lovely supporting cast of thrushes and Bramblings also - in addition to this morning’s Ring Ouzels, it became a 6 Turdus sp. day! #BirdingScotland @birdinglothian.bsky.social
Northern Wheatear
Northern Wheatear
View over Salisbury Crags and Edinburgh
Northern Wheatear
Great pre-work yomp around Holyrood park this am w/ @itssjoenichols.bsky.social. Highlights were 2 Ring Ouzels over Salisbury Crags, singing Grasshopper W, and 4 Wheatears which performed beautifully on the slopes below Arthur’s Seat summit #BirdingScotland @birdinglothian.bsky.social
In true record shot style, here is a photo of the first Glaucous Gull I’ve seen for 3+ years (lingering bird at yellowcraig). A great day with White-billed and Black-throated Divers and great views of Common Scoters on flat calm seas (tho lack of Velvet) #BirdingScotland
@birdinglothian.bsky.social
Nice to watch some distant specks eventually become 2 ‘in-off’ Sand Martins at Eastfield today. My first singing Chiffchaffs also @birdinglothian.bsky.social #BirdingScotland
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/...
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 😁