A diving Black Guillemot showing those wonderful red legs

Tystie flashing those super legs! #Highlandbirds #SuperSeabirdSunday

Hadn’t seen a Brambling in Highland for over two years, so it was great to see this one today & also a surprise hawfinch too.

#HighlandBirds #BirdsSeenIn2026 #UKBirding #BirdingScotland #Birds

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

Harsh winter birding conditions continue in the NW Highlands. A couple of LBBG's, a few Meadow pipits and Pied wagtails the only birds obviously fresh in. Checked through the flock of c50 Common Eiders and can report #NoKings - IYKYK. 😉 #Highlandbirds

Been nice to track this Snow Goose across Highland this winter between different sites:

2nd Oct - Arrived with Pinks into the Beauly Firth
29th Oct - Switched to Udale Bay area
10th Nov - Return to Beauly Firth area
1st Dec - Inverness area
8th Dec to now - South to Insh Marshes

#highlandbirds 🪶

Went to check a Tawny Owl box and was horrified to see it lying in the ground, luckily the owls have just moved into the disused Kestrel box nearby! #highlandbirds #ornithology 🪶

Even by Highland standards the transition from winter to spring was rapid this week, pic at the start, a couple of days of high pressure and then a flow of Meadow Pipits, Pied Wagtails, Pink-feet and Whoopers north in 15c temps! #highlandbirds #ornithology 🪶

Dipper on twig over the River Ness, Inverness, Highland, 17 Mar 2026

Dipper on branch coming out of the water. River Ness, Inverness, Highland, 17 Mar 2026

Treecreeper on thin branch, River Ness, Inverness, Highland, 17 Mar 2026

And two Dippers really did show off for us! This seemed the dominant bird, chased the other off their patch of slower moving water and eddies amongst bankside trees. Also a couple of active Treecreepers including some courtship. #HighlandBirds

Three Goosander, a pair and a male, amongst trees on the River Ness, Inverness, Highland, 17 Mar 2026

Male Goosander, River Ness, Inverness, Highland, 17 Mar 2026

Female Goosander, River Ness, Inverness, Highland, 17 Mar 2026

Float up of a preening female Goosander’s open bill showing the serrated edges to the mandibles. River Ness, Inverness, Highland, 17 Mar 2026

Our last full day and a morning stroll along the Ness in gorgeous light. Birds a plenty singing and some nest building (inc Long-tailed Tit, Greenfinch) but a group of Goosander where one of the main highlights. Gorgeous! #HighlandBirds

Goosander, River Ness, Inverness, 14 March 2026

Dipper, River Ness, Inverness, 14 March 2026

Empty stage ahead of Paul Merton & Suki Webster’s Improv Show at Eden Court, Inverness.

In that there Inverness for a naughty weekend of birding and theatre. A fab walk along the River Ness this morning gave us great views of this male Goosander and a couple of not bovvered Dippers. And this evening we’re at Eden Court for Paul Merton & Suki Webster’s Improv Show 👏🏼 #highlandbirds

Headed to Insh Marsh this morning looking for the recent resident snow goose but was surprised to spot a totally different white bird, an unexpected Iceland Gull.

#HighlandBirds #UKBirding #Birds #BirdsSeenIn2026 #BirdingScotland

Great Crested Grebe (left of picture) with Scaup in the inner Moray Firth.

Decided to do a count of the Scaup flock (80) at Alturlie bay near Inverness with @almcnee52.bsky.social and noticed a Great Crested grebe amongst them- still a good, scarce bird up here. #Highlandbirds

Highland’s earliest ever mainland Sand Martin on Friday 6th. Two previous records on 6th, interestingly both from the Small Isles, Canna & Eigg, 2014 & 1994. #highlandbirds #birdingscotland

The first Common Gulls back on territory at local colonies yesterday. #highlandbirds #birdingscotland

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

Spring is definitely here, the first pair of Ospreys seen at a nest in the Highlands yesterday. Exceptionally early! #highlandbirds #birdingscotland

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

Significant arrival of Oystercatchers inland since yesterday evening. #birdingscotland #highlandbirds

4 rain-free days up in Newtonmore with the bonus of some Cresties and a wintering Snow Goose. #HighlandBirds

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

Good to connect with the redhead Smew at Loch Insh today, my 110th bird of the year so far and the first time I’ve seen a smew in Highland.

#BirdsSeenIn2026 #HighlandBirds
#UKBirding #BirdingScotland #Birds

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

Soundscape February 12, 2026 18:37 @ Highland Nature Abernethy PUC

Interesting large movement of Pink-feet after dusk. High. Sounded like they were moving from the south, coming over the Cairngorms! #highlandbirds

app.birdweather.com/soundscapes/...

Great to see this pochard on the Highland side of Loch Flemington.

My 175th Highland species #HighlandBirds

#BirdsSeenIn2026 #UKBirding #Birds #BirdingScotland #Winterwatch #nature

First Blackbird of the year singing this morning. Spring is in the air ! #birdingscotland #highlandbirds #ukbirding

In the gloaming but still a lovely bird on the patch. #Highlandbirds #Ullapool

Went to check out a possible White-fronted Goose that had been seen on Skye yesterday. Today I went to find it, but it turned out to be a Taiga Bean Goose 😮. A new species for me and also for Skye 🥳
#SkyeBirds
#HighlandBirds
#BirdingScotland

Context is everything in birding- I barely broke my stride observing 4 White-tailed Eagles today- then frantically grabbed my camera for this Magpie- still a very scarce bird in the NW Highlands and a real treat to see one! #Highlandbirds

Snow Goose - Insh Marshes RSPB (Highland) 31/1/26 #highlandbirds #birdingscotland #ukbirds #ukbirding #birds @scottishbirding.bsky.social @btoscotland.bsky.social @britishbirds.bsky.social