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Matt Eade @matt-eade24.bsky.social · 01/10/2026

Shetland today: Siberian Blue Robin, Two-barred Warbler, Siberian Stonechat, Little Bunting, 4 Barred Warblers, Lapland Bunting and so on. After days of limited results working hard up north, today was a welcome relief! #Shetland

Hugh Harrop’s garden over the back that was graced by the Sibe Blue.

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Matt Eade @matt-eade24.bsky.social · 19/09/2026

Always nice when an 80-minute march is rewarded with the target bird. This beauty of a Buff-breasted Sandpiper (found last w’end by Pete Stronach) showed admirably in the sandy gales today. The march back was tough going! A Grey Plover an added bonus. Highland Yearlist now on 209. #highlandbirds

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Matt Eade @matt-eade24.bsky.social · 18/09/2026

About time I saw a Mediterranean Gull in Highland – this first-winter at Gairloch this morning. No sign of the Pacific Diver and no American waders on the various beaches checked today, but 82 Pale-bellied Brents on one was impressive. #highlandbirds

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Matt Eade @matt-eade24.bsky.social · 12/09/2026

Great Shearwaters are awesome birds, but what makes them even more epic is watching one from a far-flung cliff edge in NW Highland. I’d almost given up after 5 hours, but glad I stayed another hour! #highlandbirds

A poor still from my equally unimpressive video of the Great Shearwater.

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Matt Eade @matt-eade24.bsky.social · 31/08/2026

Recent additions to my Highland yearlist, currently standing at 203, have included Cory’s Shearwater, Pacific Diver and Great White Egret, the latter seen at mega distance this morning after another fruitless wander at Tarbat Ness. #highlandbirds

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Matt Eade @matt-eade24.bsky.social · 27/08/2026

A pleasant hour or so at Tarbat Ness this morning. Migrants are always thin on the ground here, so it was nice to see this fresh-in Whinchat. #highlandbirds

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Matt Eade @matt-eade24.bsky.social · 25/08/2026

One of those whacky Highland mornings! Started with a Pine Marten, ended with a Pacific Diver, with a Minke Whale, White-line Dart, stuck sheep, and other stuff thrown in for good measure. #highlandbirds

Pacific Diver off Gairloch! A Highland first! Spotted by a non-local on Friday, news released Sunday evening, confirmed yesterday, seen today… phew!

Stuck sheep. Had to walk up to a holiday let to ask for some scissors.

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Matt Eade @matt-eade24.bsky.social · 22/08/2026

Delighted to have an article in the most recently published Birding Asia magazine (No. 45), featuring our few days at the birding hotspots on Bohol, #Philippines. @emilyrichens.bsky.social

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Matt Eade @matt-eade24.bsky.social · 13/08/2026

As a testament to the double-figure count of Plain Clay in our trap last night, one has joined me for work today! Also four sp of Yellow Underwing (Large, LB-b, Lesser & B-b), Grey Chi etc #TeamMoth As a side note, can anyone guess the feather?

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Matt Eade @matt-eade24.bsky.social · 04/08/2026

My Highland yearlist reached 200 this morning, with a Sooty Shearwater passing a very wet Tarbat Ness. Only five Frog Orchids present in a very brief search. Highland Yearlist: no heard only, and the boundary as per highland birds website. #highlandbirds

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Matt Eade @matt-eade24.bsky.social · 01/08/2026

August has got off to an absolute flyer! Very rare that I get a cetacean ✅ in UK waters, but this pod of four Northern Bottlenose Whales were seen off Cromarty this pm, having been found a few hours earlier. Also ‘my’ female Honey-buzzard from earlier today!

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Matt Eade @matt-eade24.bsky.social · 28/07/2026

A lunch walk down the R Beauly with @emilyrichens.bsky.social was surprisingly productive with two (presumed) Noctule Bats out hawking! Seven each of Goosander and Mandarin, each flotilla included six youngsters! #highlandbirds #highlandbats

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Matt Eade @matt-eade24.bsky.social · 14/07/2026

All things ‘Golden’ in the trap this morning. Garden Tiger into double figures too! #TeamMoth #Highland

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Matt Eade @matt-eade24.bsky.social · 13/07/2026

It was worth the effort of driving up to Balnakeil y’day to walk around Faraid Head with @emilyrichens.bsky.social! The wildflower display was stunning with the highlight being a colony of Marsh Fragrant Orchids! A frantic family of six Stoats and some secretive birds seen too.

Heath Spotted Orchid living on the edge of

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Matt Eade @matt-eade24.bsky.social · 06/07/2026

A day of 2nds! First up was the Isle of Skye Laughing Gull – only the 2nd Highland record #highlandbirds Then the Long-tailed Shrike – 2nd for Britain. #birdingscotland

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Matt Eade @matt-eade24.bsky.social · 04/07/2026

A very early start on Skye this morning! I wouldn’t usually travel far for a Common Rosefinch, but being a Highland Year ✅ and a singing male (albeit a 1st summer), it was worth the 3am alarm! #highlandbirds

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Matt Eade @matt-eade24.bsky.social · 23/06/2026

Finally a decent catch in last night’s moth trap here in Highland. In addition to the below were both Beautiful and Pale-shouldered Brocades. #teammoth

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Reposted by Matt Eade

Highland Dragonfly Tours @h-dragonflytours.bsky.social · 21/06/2026

Azure Hawkers were hungry in Wester Ross today! In an effort to steer clear of the traditional Loch Maree sites, we checked a new area and were thrilled to get a double-figure count of this enigmatic Aeshna. A terrific supporting cast too! @britishdragonflies.bsky.social

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Matt Eade @matt-eade24.bsky.social · 19/06/2026

British Ardeidae sp no: 14 – Western Reef Heron.

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Matt Eade @matt-eade24.bsky.social · 12/06/2026

After many years, I think I’ve finally captured a near-perfect image (for my liking) of a Lesser Twayblade! #highland

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Matt Eade @matt-eade24.bsky.social · 11/06/2026

Lucked into this Pine Marten along Glen Strathfarrar before ascending Sgùrr a' Choire Ghlais (1084m), where only a Ptarmigan was noted in true dreich conditions!

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Reposted by Matt Eade

Highland Dragonfly Tours @h-dragonflytours.bsky.social · 09/06/2026

The Highland Dragonfly season is finally in full swing! The 'Big 3' Dragonfly species of Wester Ross all seen today with relative ease, although the Azure Hawker never perched long enough for photos. @britishdragonflies.bsky.social @dragonflydamselfly.bsky.social

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Matt Eade @matt-eade24.bsky.social · 31/05/2026

A superb week of Highland birding rounded off today with my best views yet of a UK Quail, which thankfully chose a stunted cropped field to sing from, easily viewable from a distance. Then, visited some gardens with the wife, many plants purchased and 10+ Hawfinches showing superbly! #highlandbirds

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Matt Eade @matt-eade24.bsky.social · 29/05/2026

Something of a nothing day turned into a beauty! First an unexpected female Honey-buzzard showed well (only phone shots), and then, a singing male Red-breasted Flycatcher! #highlandbirds

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Matt Eade @matt-eade24.bsky.social · 27/05/2026

Balnakeil: another lovely visit to this remote corner of Scotland. Nothing mega, but drk Garganey and flava-type Yellow Wagtail over both Highland scarcities. A few other decent bits, plus 3 Risso’s Dolphins! #highlandbirds

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Matt Eade @matt-eade24.bsky.social · 24/05/2026

Something very atmospheric about watching a White-billed Diver on Loch Ness. @emilyrichens.bsky.social #highlandbirds

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Matt Eade @matt-eade24.bsky.social · 16/05/2026

Delighted to see the male Eastern Subalpine Warbler yesterday at Beachy Head. A long overdue addition to the (now stagnant) county list, currently standing at 330. A Clouded Yellow butterfly also present on the headland.

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Matt Eade @matt-eade24.bsky.social · 12/05/2026

Eventually a mega seawatch this pm at Rubha Reidh in squally conditions: Long-tailed Skua - 70 (biggest flock being 15) Pomarine Skua - 14 #highlandbirds

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Matt Eade @matt-eade24.bsky.social · 08/05/2026

A Highland beauty at first light today, a Woodchat Shrike near Brora in a most random location. An excellent find by someone! Pure bliss to have it to myself for an hour this morning! #highlandbirds

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Matt Eade @matt-eade24.bsky.social · 14/04/2026

Thankfully this Highland scarcity, a Little Ringed Plover, stayed in situ for another day yesterday after I was pre-occupied with marital duties over the weekend. #highlandbirds

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Matt Eade @matt-eade24.bsky.social · 28/03/2026

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

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Matt Eade @matt-eade24.bsky.social · 21/03/2026

Our first moth trap last night and a great start with this Rannoch Sprawler to our MV. #teammoth

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Matt Eade @matt-eade24.bsky.social · 06/03/2026

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

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Matt Eade @matt-eade24.bsky.social · 04/03/2026

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

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Matt Eade @matt-eade24.bsky.social · 01/03/2026

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

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Matt Eade @matt-eade24.bsky.social · 21/02/2026

A weekend jaunt down to Sussex By The Sea for a family (and gull) visit turned up the expected Caspian Gulls on my old patch of Cuckmere Haven. At least three different first-winters & a second-winter amongst the other seven species present. #sussexbirds

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Matt Eade @matt-eade24.bsky.social · 18/02/2026

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

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Matt Eade @matt-eade24.bsky.social · 14/02/2026

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

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Matt Eade @matt-eade24.bsky.social · 07/02/2026

Before today, I had incredibly only seen two Little Auks in the UK (this despite hundreds of seawatching hours under my belt), therefore, the five I saw this morning at Tarbat Ness were most welcome. Two flew very close but I was too slow with the camera. #highlandbirding #birdingscotland

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Matt Eade @matt-eade24.bsky.social · 30/01/2026

A superb 48-hr Highland bird race for @naturetrek.bsky.social resulted in 94 species seen, incl most of the Highland specialties, and some bonus birds too, with Snow Goose, Surf Scoter and Smew. Passerines were hard to find, thanks to this month’s freezing conditions! Pics by client, Steve Wilson.

Hawfinch… just over the border into Moray but acceptable as within the vice county border.

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Matt Eade @matt-eade24.bsky.social · 27/01/2026

It was great to finally catch up with the adult Bonaparte's Gull at Gairloch today. The third-winter Iceland Gull was also present, as were 47 Goldeneye and 12 Black-throated Divers. #highlandbirds #birdingscotland

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Matt Eade @matt-eade24.bsky.social · 26/01/2026

Photos below, bar the night heron, taken by @emilyrichens.bsky.social. The trip kindly put together by Ashley Howe, using the services of Pugmark Tours & Travels, the go-to agent for seeking out the Masked Finfoot.

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Matt Eade @matt-eade24.bsky.social · 26/01/2026

Back home this morning from a seven-day birding trip to Bangladesh, where the undoubted highlights came from the Sundarbans. Only nine lifers for me this trip, but these do include the doomed Masked Finfoot and range-restricted White-eared Night Heron! #BirdsSeenin2026 #birdingabroad

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Matt Eade @matt-eade24.bsky.social · 20/01/2026

Bangladesh Day 3: Mission accomplished on our first attempt in the Sundarbans, with two Masked Finfoot, one showing particularly well! Such a privilege to observe this doomed species. #BirdsSeenin2026

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Matt Eade @matt-eade24.bsky.social · 18/01/2026

Bangladesh: our first full day in country at Satchari NP was highlighted by two stunning primates, the Hoolock Gibbon and Capped Langur! Close to 60 sp of bird with Cachar Bulbul being the rarest of the four lifers achieved.

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Matt Eade @matt-eade24.bsky.social · 10/01/2026

Six Waxwings in Inverness this afternoon. Feeling slightly lucky to have a group nearby, considering how few are wintering this season. #birdingscotland

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Matt Eade @matt-eade24.bsky.social · 09/01/2026

Snow is getting a tad tedious now, but at least the Mountain Hares maintain their ‘can’t be seen’ stance, by posing at point blank range.

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Matt Eade @matt-eade24.bsky.social · 08/01/2026

Good to see the Russian White-fronted Goose invasion has reached Highland, with a whopping total of one! A cracking adult though and a scarce bird tup this way. #birdingscotland

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Matt Eade @matt-eade24.bsky.social · 06/01/2026

Work sadly abandoned due to much snow on site, therefore, it was back to Dornoch where @emilyrichens.bsky.social and I amazingly re-found the drk Black Scoter (last seen 19 December)! Ten other species of duck also present. #birdingscotland

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