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Al McNee

@almcnee52.bsky.social

Birder, moth-er, Malt Whisky drinker, Scot, Papa

Al McNee @almcnee52.bsky.social · 07/08/2026

Another look today at the Blue-cheeked Bee-eater at Burray, North Ronaldsay. The very wet weather had it sheltering on an outbuilding, no more than a few metres away. Phone pic! #BirdingScotland

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Al McNee @almcnee52.bsky.social · 10/10/2025

Completely stumped. In Inverness moth trap this morning. Can anyone ID this?

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Al McNee @almcnee52.bsky.social · 05/06/2025

A wee dash today from Inverness to Maidens, Ayrshire. Target - Western Sandpiper. A Scottish tick for Bob M and Jenny McNee, a year tick for me [having seen the Musselburgh one in the last Millennium]. It could hardly have performed better - seen within a minute of arrival, feeding throughout!

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Al McNee @almcnee52.bsky.social · 04/06/2025

Three new moths for the garden in recent days and despite fairly low numbers recently. Yellow-barred Brindle, Turnip Moth and Common Swift. The latter is also a first for VC86 and for most, if not all, of the Highlands!

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Al McNee @almcnee52.bsky.social · 10/05/2025

Jenny and I went up to the lochans behind Blackfold, looking for fritillaries. None seen, despite a good effort in glorious, suitable weather. But we did have a some good sightings, with Common Lizard, Four-spotted Chaser and a superb and always difficult-to-see Green Hairstreak, found by Jenny.

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Al McNee @almcnee52.bsky.social · 08/05/2025

A mega twitch to The Butt of Lewis for Solitary Sandpiper. Great bird enjoyed by a crowd of ten!

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Al McNee @almcnee52.bsky.social · 08/05/2025

A mega twitch to The Butt of Lewis for Solitary Sandpiper. Great bird enjoyed by a crowd of ten!

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Al McNee @almcnee52.bsky.social · 29/04/2025

A warmer evening, so some more moths in my trap this morning here in Inverness. 2025 reappearances of Purple Thorn, Brown Silver-line, Golden-rod and Ochreous Pugs were good, but somewhat topped by the garden's first-ever Streamer!

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Al McNee @almcnee52.bsky.social · 24/04/2025

A belter new moth for my Inverness garden today - Lunar Thorn.

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Al McNee @almcnee52.bsky.social · 22/04/2025

A wee bit of action from Corrimony.

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Al McNee @almcnee52.bsky.social · 22/04/2025

A very busy Easter holiday period - grandkids, domestics etc - so these photos are from 10 days ago when Jenny and I joined an SOC early morning outing to Corrimony to see the Blackcock lek. Brilliant visit - dry, not a breath of wind and a few birds strutting their stuff!

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Al McNee @almcnee52.bsky.social · 20/03/2025

A decent day. Quite a few moths, despite the freezing temperature this morning, included first 2025 Early Tooth-striped and Twin-spotted Quaker. Later - and at the fourth time of asking - I finally caught up with the drake Shoveler at Culloden House pond.

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Al McNee @almcnee52.bsky.social · 10/03/2025

A few moths and some birding. Ten species of moths for 2025, including both Yellow Horned and Chestnut in the trap. Today's walk over Merkinch LNR produced a first singing Chiffchaff, with a further two up at Craig Phadrig. Carnac Point was a right chilly place in the brisk NE wind.

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Al McNee @almcnee52.bsky.social · 20/02/2025

One year after my first moth trapping, got four moths on a mild Inverness night. One Pale Brindled Beauty and 3 Chestnuts. Another couple of non-freezing nights coming up!

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Al McNee @almcnee52.bsky.social · 08/02/2025

Third time lucky, Jenny and I caught up with this Hawfinch. Eight at least, but all quite distant and flighty. Also bagged a Tree Sparrow at Kiltearn. The year list grows slowly. Another beautiful and cold day.

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Al McNee @almcnee52.bsky.social · 17/12/2024

The pulling power of peanuts! Could have done with a bit more sun ........

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