Laughing gulls in St Lucia

Laughing gulls on fishing boat in St Lucia

Laughing gull frenzy at fisherman’s cast offs

Another common sight along the #StLucia coastline - #laughinggulls. This #seabird has quite a cackle for its call, is associated with fishing boats & comes in numbers to a feeding frenzy around fish waste. It’s distinctive with its black head, red bill and white eye markings in the breeding season.

Sandwich terns on fishing pier in St Lucia

Sandwich terns on fishing pier in Gros Islet, St Lucia

As the #seabird breeding season starts to get underway back home we enjoyed watching the gregarious #sandwichterns on the fishing pier at Gros Islet #StLucia They have distinctive yellow tips to the end of their bills and a shaggy black crest on their heads.

#seabirds

Frangipani hornworm in St Lucia

This monster bug 🐛 is a Costa Rica sphinx. Apparently quite common in the Carribean. It turns into a rather less bright (grey) #hawkmoth. It’s found feeding on Frangipani trees hence its common name the #frangipanihornworm

#StLucia #Carribeanwildlife

Public appointment: Members appointed to Loch Lomond and The Trossachs National Park Authority Board Scottish public appointments news release.

Delighted to be one of 5 new members appointed to the Board of the Loch Lomond & The Trossachs National Park Authority. Looking forward to getting stuck in in the autumn to support @gordonwatson.bsky.social & his team to deliver the Park’s Partnership Plan. 🔽

www.gov.scot/publications...

Female goosander resting in the Cuddy burn, Peebles

Male goosander resting in the water of the Cuddy Burn Peebles

Goosanders female on the Cuddy Burn, Peebles. Female is in. Pose held after drinking water

Goosanders male and female on the Cuddy Burn, Peebles. Female is stretching its wings

An opportunity to watch #goosanders on the Cuddy Burn. 1st colonised Scotland around 1871. Favouring clear, fast-flowing water that lets them spot fish & typically nesting in tree cavities. More resting than fishing today.

#birds #birdphotography #birdphoto #natureconnection

Eider duck male in Dunbar harbour

Eider duck males in Dunbar harbour

Eider duck female in Dunbar harbour

Always enjoy watching the #eiderducks when they’re in Dunbar harbour; from their gentle wooing calls to their frequent dives and occasional scrappy tussles over crabs picked up from the harbour mud.

#birds #birdphoto #birdphotography #natureconnections

Looking across the creeks to the battery at Dunbar harbour in East Lothian

Creels piled high at Dunbar harbour East Lothian

House sparrows on the creels at Dunbar harbour, East Lothian

Male house sparrow on the creels at Dunbar harbour, East Lothian

The #housesparrows are always around the creels at #DunbarHarbour. Despite feeling so common, the UK population has declined by 71% since 1977 (BTO) due to loss of nesting sites, fewer insects for chicks, and disease.

#bird #birds #harbours #eastlothian

Dunstanburgh golf club

Beach huts at Embleton

Embleton Links

Great weekend in good company playing at #DunstanburghGolfClub. Couldn’t have asked for better weather at the start of March.

#Golfing #Northumberland

Jigsaw puzzle of a river scene with kingfisher in the foreground and heron & bridge in background.

Just finished this 1000 piece jigsaw puzzle - the first I’ve done in years. Quite enjoyed it but I won’t be becoming a “dissectologist” any time soon.

The #Shelduck is one of our most striking coastal #ducks with their bold chestnut band and dark green head. You can see the difference in size between the males and females, and the male has its pronounced red knob.

#Birds #bird #EastLothian

Golden plover on Dunbar coastline in March in winter plumage

Mixed flock of waders

Nice to spot winter plumage #GoldenPlover amongst the mixed flock of waders that roost on the rocks off the edge of #DunbarGC. Getting ready to move to their upland breeding areas soon.

#waders #eastlothian #birds

Cherry tree blossom

Plum tree blossom

Crocuses in garden

Cowslips in garden 🪴

Spring more definitely in the air now - the #cherry and #victoriaplum #blossom is almost fully out in the garden. I reckon about a week earlier than last year.

#EastLothian

Inside Eve’s court cafe, Papple Steading, East Lothian

Papple steading, East Lothian

Another relatively new addition to the #EastLothian hospitality & #tourism scene is Papple Steading. Tasty fresh food, friendly service & a small art gallery to browse - all set within restored steading buildings. Worth a visit. ▶️ papple.com

#visiteastlothian

Morning :) Razorbills and Guillemots starting to gather at the colonies on the Isle of May ready for the new breeding season. Some birds still in winter plumage

We took the 1.5hr whisky tour @GlenkinchieMalt distillery. Really enjoyable & informative - a high quality visitor experience in #EastLothian

#visiteastlothian #GlenkinchieMalt

Snowdrops in Lochend community woodland in Dunbar

Snowdrops in Lochend community woodland in Dunbar

Snowdrops in Lochend community woodland in Dunbar

Waves of #snowdrops along the floor of Lochend Woods - #Dunbar #communitywoodland. A pleasant local place for a stroll.

Crocuses

Primrose

Hellebore

Iris

Spring flowers providing a source of food for the early pollinators in the Lodge Grounds of #NorthBerwick.

#wildflowerhour #springflowers
#EastLothian

Fidra

Lamb

Craigleith

Bass Rock

Four amazing #seabird islands which will be becoming busier as spring progresses - #Fidra #Lamb #Craigleith #BassRock - lovely afternoon in the sunshine.

#NorthBerwick #EastLothian #seabirds

Join the @hutton.ac.uk community of friends to learn more about the Institute’s world class science and to hear about opportunities to support the Institute’s work. As a #charity we rely on support from a wide range of individuals and sectors.

unearthed.hutton.ac.uk

Heading to Invergowrie for @hutton.ac.uk main board and looking forward to separate collaboration discussions with @sruc @scotlandestates. The views from the train across the #FirthofForth are lovely this morning

31 - 20 - we are very happy bunnies 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁳󠁣󠁴󠁿 #CalcuttaCup
🏆

Can we? I so want to be hopeful that we can. #AsOne 24-10 at halftime at #Murrayfield

#WinterGolf at #DunbarGC today - we went out just as a snowy squall came along. 🥶 🏌️‍♀️

#Dunbar #EastLothian #ScottishGolf

Kelp thrown up on the foreshore following storms.

Kelp thrown up on the foreshore during storms

The foreshore at #Barnsness, after the recent storms, is starting to resemble a bit of a #kelp graveyard. The rotting #seaweed provides a useful #habitat for invertebrates & helps recycle nutrients back into the coastal system as decomposition continues.

#EastLothian

Skateraw cottages

Shells in Skateraw cottage ruin

Shells in Skateraw cottage ruin

Shells in Skateraw cottage ruin

The remains of 19th-century cottages at Skateraw, from when the coast was busier with harbour life, fishing and the lime kiln workers. Shells and seaglass are set into the walls — later additions, or part of the original build?

#EastLothian #history

Snowdrops in a community woodland

Our local #communitywoodland is carpeted with #snowdrops at this time of year — a gentle reminder that even as winter lingers, new beginnings are already on their way. Always grateful to the #volunteers who manage the woodland for the #community

#Dunbar #EastLothian

Curlew and redshank at Belhaven Bay

Oystercatcher at Belhaven Bay

Wigeon at Belhaven Bay

On #WorldWetlandsDay a little appreciation of our local Belhaven Bay with its saltmarsh and mudflats - a safe haven for the #waders and #waterfowl under the management of our local countryside #rangers

#worldwetlandsday2026 @eastlothiancouncil.bsky.social

A vibrant poster with a green background showing a red squirrel, Scottish wildcat, and puffin wearing party hats. They are surrounded by green and pink confetti, streamers, and balloons holding up a banner that reads: “MSPs voted to pass the Natural Environment Bill! Scotland WILL have legally binding nature recovery targets.

Big win for Scotland’s nature! The Natural Environment Bill passed by MSPs will bring in legally binding targets to restore wildlife and habitats. Huge thanks to LINK’s members and supporters who helped make this happen! Let’s keep pushing for strong action and funding to restore Scotland’s nature.

Mute swan at Seafield Pond - Belhaven Bay

Mute swan at Seafield Pond - Belhaven Bay, East Lothian

Mute swan at Seafield Pond - Belhaven Bay, East Lothian

Mute swan at Seafield Pond - Belhaven Bay, East Lothian

The #muteswans appeared to be very chilled out on the calm waters of #SeafieldPond #BelhavenBay #EastLothian today, inbetween bouts of preening and gliding along

Jelly ear fungus

Jelly ear fungus

Jelly ear fungus

On a dreich day the saprophytic jelly ear #fungus, with its distinctive gelatinous form stood out in our #communitywoodland. Found mainly on dead or dying wood, quietly breaking it down and recycling nutrients back into the woodland #ecosystem improving its health.

#fungi #jellyear