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Waking up pre-dawn Friday morning to start another day of cetacean spotting, we were rewarded with an unexpected lunar eclipse. The thunderstorms of the previous evening had thankfully departed giving us great views from our ship off the French coast. #astrophotography #photography #nightsky #moon

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The “educational” juvenile Redshank from Burry Port a couple of weeks ago. Originally put out by the news services as a Lesser Yellowlegs, it certainly had me fooled until more experienced heads put us all right! #birdingWales #UKWildlife #birds #birdsSeenIn2026

Juvenile Redshank, not a Lesser Yellowlegs. Even though it has yellow legs.

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Loughor foreshore this eve where at least 16 Curlew Sandpiper eventually showed. Supporting cast of 4 Yellow Wagtail, 7 Pintail, 2 Knot, 1 Ruff, 1 Peregrine, 2 GW Egret, 1 Med Gull, 1 Whimbrel, 1 Common Sand, 50+ Blackwit, c20 Swallow and 2 Curlew. #birdingWales #UKWildlife #birds #birdsSeenIn2026

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A family of Tawny Owls arrived in our garden a couple of nights ago. At least three birds calling constantly, much to the annoyance of a sleeping Woodpigeon which flapped off in protest. #birdingWales #UKWildlife #birdsSeenIn2026

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Adam @atmylifeoutside.bsky.social · 05/08/2026

Just back from a cetacean watching survey from Plymouth to Santander and back. Over 447 animals recorded including Fin, Minke and Cuvier’s Beaked Whales, Common and Striped Dolphins, Tuna, Sabs Gull, Shearwaters of Great, Sooty and Manx, Grey Phalarope plus lots more besides. #marineLife

Sightings from a cetacean safari between Plymouth and Santander

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Brilliant trip out into the Celtic Deep with @westcoastbirds.bsky.social on Saturday. Highlight was undoubtedly my first ever Wilson’s Storm Petrel at the last possible moment. We were already in extra, extra time when it appeared. Magic. #birdingWales #birdsSeenIn2026 #rareBirdsUK

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Adam @atmylifeoutside.bsky.social · 02/08/2026

Couple of hours at WWT Llanelli this afternoon where the Wood Sandpiper showed well, as did a Spotted Redshank after having first scrutinised about a hundred “standard” Redshank. Well worth the effort though as was able to get several other birders onto it. Nice Knot in Red plumage too #birdingWales

Wood Sandpiper amongst Redshank and Dunlin.

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Adam @atmylifeoutside.bsky.social · 27/07/2026

6 Med Gulls and 2 Common Gulls notable amongst the roosting birds in Burry Port harbour this evening. Good to see that the pontoons do still have a use. #birdingWales

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Adam @atmylifeoutside.bsky.social · 21/07/2026

Couple of hours at Oxwich this afternoon rewarded with sporadic views of at least 2 Bearded Tits from the hide. Heard rather than seen very much the case. Other interest inc family of Garden Warblers, Reed and Sedge Warblers plus a pair of Swallows nesting above our heads. #birdingWales

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Adam @atmylifeoutside.bsky.social · 18/07/2026

Nice to see a few Common Blue this week, including this one near Gairloch. Several Painted Ladies also along with Small Tortoiseshell, Red Admiral, Meadow Brown and Ringlet. #insects #nature #wildlife #UKWildlife #photography #bugsky #UKButterflies #butterflies

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Adam @atmylifeoutside.bsky.social · 18/07/2026

Nice to catch up with a few Highland specialties over last few days including summer plumaged Slavonian Grebes, Black-throated Divers (filmed from car on a public road) and lots of calling Crested Tits and Spotted Flycatcher around Loch Garten. #birdingScotland #UKWildlife #birdsSeenIn2026 #birds

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Reposted by Adam

Adam @atmylifeoutside.bsky.social · 17/07/2026

Perthshire for a couple of days and this evening saw us hunkered down riverside behind an industrial estate. Well worth it as we enjoyed superb views of a Beaver going about its business. Amazing to see these animals back in the wild. #UKWildlife #mammals #nature #wildlifePhotography

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Adam @atmylifeoutside.bsky.social · 17/07/2026

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Adam @atmylifeoutside.bsky.social · 16/07/2026

Good birding from the ferry between Ullapool and Stornoway yesterday inc 8 Bonxies, 1 Arctic Skua, 8 RT Diver, 26 Storm Petrel and just 3 Manx Shearwater. Flat calm but haze and glare were off the scale. Managed a shot of one of the Bonxies though. #birdingScotland #UKWildlife #birdsSeenIn2026

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Stornoway back to Ullapool somehow proved even better with another Basking Shark (this time to our south), 7 Risso’s Dolphin, 21 Porpoise, 66 Common Dolphin and 7 Minke Whale. Looks like we just missed out on John Coe too. #marineLife #wildlife #nature #mammals #wildlifePhotography #UKWildlife

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Return trip between Ullapool and Stornoway today. Very successful with cetacean counts for the outward journey as follows: 46 Common Dolphin, 15 Porpoise, 4 Minke Whale and, best of all, a Basking Shark off the coast of Lewis. #marineLife #wildlife #nature #mammals #wildlifePhotography #UKWildlife

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Our return trip saw us encounter a pod of Common Dolphins at the entrance to Loch Gairloch, initially feeding and playing before the boat’s wake proved just too tempting and they came over to say hello. Truly mesmerising. #marineLife #wildlife #nature #mammals #wildlifePhotography #UKWildlife

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Brilliant trip out from Gairloch yesterday delivered at least 4 Minke Whales including one that spent a while associating with our boat. Most of the action was close to Harris but there were several Porpoise on the way over. #marineLife #wildlife #nature #mammals #wildlifePhotography #UKWildlife

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Pleased to spot this Holly Blue at the National Botanic Garden of Wales a couple of weeks ago. Had them in our garden earlier in the year but always managed to vanish next door as soon as I got the camera out. #insects #nature #wildlife #UKWildlife #photography #bugsky #UKButterflies #butterflies

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Reposted by Adam

Portsoy today, primarily for cetaceans, where we were rewarded with distant views of a Minke Whale. What I hadn’t expected to find were Corn Buntings, and lots of them. Great views of several birds including this one. #birdingScotland #UKWildlife #birdsSeenIn2026 #birds

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Good numbers of Butterflies on the wing around Portsoy today including Dark Green Fritillary, Painted Lady, Common Blue and Small Tortoiseshell. #insects #nature #wildlife #UKWildlife #photography #bugsky #UKButterflies #butterflies

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Spotted a couple of Reed Buntings in fields along the coast path yesterday. This male was in particularly fine voice. #birdingScotland #UKWildlife #birdOfTheDay #birdsSeenIn2026 #birds #openBeaks

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Watched at least 14 Bottlenose Dolphins from Dunnottar Castle yesterday afternoon, spread across a wide area leaping, tail slapping and hunting. Brilliant views and a joy to share their presence with lots of other visitors. #marineLife #wildlife #nature #mammals #wildlifePhotography #UKWildlife

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Adam @atmylifeoutside.bsky.social · 12/07/2026

Visited Dunnottar Castle yesterday which was spectacular in itself, but enhanced greatly by nesting House Martins in the cliffs below. Several looked close to fledging but were still receiving regular visits from their parents. #birdingScotland #UKWildlife #birdOfTheDay #OpenBeaks #birdsSeenIn2026

A pair of young House Martins peek out of their nest, beaks open, as a parent arrives to feed them.

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Nice seawatch from Blackdog this afternoon. At least 100 RB Merganser and similar number of Eider just offshore, c20 Common Scoter, Gannets, Kittiwakes, Razorbills and Guillemots. Couple of Dark Green Fritillaries over the dunes but never settled. #birdingScotland #UKButterflies

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Adam @atmylifeoutside.bsky.social · 12/07/2026

We heard the Yellowhammers at Fowlsheugh long before we saw them, and ended up getting our best views from the car just before we left. A very late but welcome year tick and a nice candidate for today’s #birdOfTheDay #bestSideEye theme. #birdingScotland #UKWildlife #birds #birdsSeenIn2026

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Adam @atmylifeoutside.bsky.social · 11/07/2026

A greyer, mistier day here in Aberdeen but plenty of good birding around Girdle Ness. Several rafts of Eider, Sandwich and Arctic Terns, 4 Common Scoter, Goosander and RB Merganser, Guillemots, Razorbills and even a flyby Puffin. #birdingScotland #UKWildlife #birds #seabirds #birdsSeenIn2026

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Adam @atmylifeoutside.bsky.social · 11/07/2026

A short video capturing the sight and sound of just some of the 100k seabirds nesting along thirty metre tall cliffs at Fowlsheugh. The smell you’ll have to experience for yourself 😉. #birdingScotland #UKWildlife #seabirds #birdsSeenIn2026

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Adam @atmylifeoutside.bsky.social · 10/07/2026

A scene to melt even the coldest of hearts. We spotted this young Razorbill enjoying a snooze, snuggled up against its parent’s chest at Fowlsheugh earlier today. #birdingScotland #UKWildlife #seabirds #birdsSeenIn2026 #birdOfTheDay #birds

A young Razorbill nestles against its parents chest

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Adam @atmylifeoutside.bsky.social · 10/07/2026

Couldn’t take another week of heat so have headed North, all the way to Aberdeen in fact. Brilliant afternoon at RSPB Fowlsheugh surrounded by thousands of nesting seabirds. Guillemots, Kittiwakes, Razorbills and even a close pass by a Puffin. #birdingScotland #UKWildlife #seabirds #birdsSeenIn2026

Razorbill flying into a strong headwind off the cliffs at Fowlsheugh

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Adam @atmylifeoutside.bsky.social · 06/07/2026

A collection of recent jellyfish strandings along Cefn Sidan beach. Barrel, Moon, Blue and By-the-wind-sailor. The latter is admittedly a floating colony of Hydrozoans rather than a jellyfish, but what’s a few Hydrozoans between friends. #UKWildlife #MarineLife

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Adam @atmylifeoutside.bsky.social · 23/06/2026

At least five reeling Grasshopper Warblers at Llyn Llech Owain yesterday evening, inc one very showy bird. Too dark for photos with sunset just a few minutes away so reverted to video. #birdingWales #UKWildlife #birdsSeenIn2026 #birds

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Reposted by Adam

At least two churring Nightjars at Llyn Llech Owain this evening. First heard at 22:00 on the dot, followed by close flight views soon after. Always a joy to spend time with, even under constant attack by the midges! Sound up for this one. #birdingWales #UKWildlife #birdsSeenIn2026 #birds

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Looks like it’s going to be another good year for Painted Ladies with numerous individuals seen at multiple local sites, including our own garden! This one was feeding along the canal at Kidwelly Quay last month. #insects #nature #wildlife #UKWildlife #photography #bugsky #UKButterflies #butterflies

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