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Tom Beckett @tombeckett02.bsky.social · 20/09/2026

Pleasantly surprised to spot this juv Curlew Sandpiper among the roosting waders at Silverknowes this morning - a first for me at the site. A juv Ruff on the shore at Cramond was a nice bonus. #BirdingLothian

Curlew Sandpiper on the shore at Silverknowes, Edinburgh.

Curlew Sandpiper in mixed flock of Dunlin and Ringed Plover at Silverknowes.

Juvenile Ruff on the shore at Cramond, Edinburgh.

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Tom Beckett @tombeckett02.bsky.social · 03/04/2026

Having dipped the Blyth bird last month, it was great to finally catch up with White-billed Diver at Inverkeithing Bay this morning. The two long-staying birds were both present, with one showing reasonably well off Port Laing Beach. Certainly worth the wait! #BirdingFife

View over Port Laing beach towards Inverkeithing and Dalgety Bay, Fife.

Winter-plumage White-billed Diver on the sea in Inverkeithing Bay this morning.

Size comparison between White-billed Diver (left) and Red-throated Diver (right).

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Tom Beckett @tombeckett02.bsky.social · 24/09/2025

Brilliant trip to Barra and Colonsay (19th-23rd Sep) with @birdingscot.bsky.social, @louisbackstrom.bsky.social, and James Weeks. Some great birds over the course of the trip, with Stuart Beeby's Swainson's Thrush at Cuithir the undeniable highlight, and a lifer for all of us! 1/4 #BirdingScotland

Swainson's Thrush perched in a tree at Cuithir, Barra. Photo taken by Louis Backstrom.

View over the small patch of woodland where we saw the Swainson's Thrush at Cuithir, Barra.

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Tom Beckett @tombeckett02.bsky.social · 08/07/2025

Looking for Corn Buntings felt like a fitting way to spend my last morning before moving away from St Andrews. 2 pairs near Strathkinness/Kincaple, with a couple of Osprey sightings nearby as well. Missed the Spoonbills on the Eden, but a smart Little Gull was nice consolation! #birdingFife

Pair of Corn Buntings on a wire near Kincaple, Fife.

Osprey on a post, with a fish, near Kincaple, Fife.

Zoomed-in image of summer-plumage Little Gull at Balgove Bay, Fife.

Little Gull sigh mixed gull flock at Balgove Bay, Fife.

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Tom Beckett @tombeckett02.bsky.social · 27/06/2025

Back home after a fantastic week in the Outer Hebrides. Wildlife highlights included both eagles, all three divers, Hen Harrier, SEO, Little Tern, and lots of seabirds and cetaceans on the ferry crossings. Best of all was a showy Corncrake on North Uist! #birdingScotland

View across the Sound of Taransay and Luskentyre towards Beinn Dubh and the hills of North Harris.

Corncrake at RSPB Balranald, North Uist.

Golden Eagle soaring over the hills of Harris.

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Tom Beckett @tombeckett02.bsky.social · 15/06/2025

A few years since I last saw one in summer plumage, so I couldn't resist going along to see the Spotted Redshank at Angle Park (found yesterday by @simonpinder5.bsky.social). Jay, Redpoll, and Crossbill also present nearby #birdingFife

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Tom Beckett @tombeckett02.bsky.social · 11/05/2025

Nice to get out birding at Boarhills with the uni bird club this morning. This ringtail Hen Harrier, which briefly circled over the fields near the church before heading off Northwest, was a real surprise! Lots of singing Corn Buntings and common spring migrants also around #birdingFife

Ringtail Hen Harrier briefly at Boarhills, Fife, this morning. Photo by Ian Gair.

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Tom Beckett @tombeckett02.bsky.social · 04/05/2025

Back from a fantastic couple of days walking and camping in the Perthshire/Aberdeenshire hills. Birding highlights included Golden Eagle, Ring Ouzel, Osprey, Golden Plover, and lots of Ptarmigan! #birdingScotland

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Tom Beckett @tombeckett02.bsky.social · 27/04/2025

Cracking day out birding in Perthshire with @birdingscot.bsky.social and a few friends from uni. Great Egret a very nice surprise, with other highlights including Whinchat, Cuckoo, Tree Pipit, Red Kite, and Redstart! #birdingScotland

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Tom Beckett @tombeckett02.bsky.social · 08/04/2025

Fantastic weather over the weekend for a hillwalking trip to the Northwest Highlands. Lucky to get close views of Ptarmigan #birdingScotland

Ptarmigan on a Munro in the Northwest Highlands.

Sgurr Fiona and the Corrag Buidhe pinnacles from Bidean a' Ghlas Thuill (An Teallach).

View along the ridge of Beinn Eighe towards Liathach and the hills of Torridon.

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Tom Beckett @tombeckett02.bsky.social · 02/04/2025

Spent the last few days on a university field trip, visiting and learning about rewilding and nature conservation projects in the Scottish Highlands. #birdingScotland highlights included Osprey, Crossbill, and Crested Tit in the Cairngorms, along with heaps of Red Kites @argatyredkites.bsky.social

Crested Tit in Glen Feshie, Cairngorms National Park.

View over Uath Lochans, Cairngorms National Park.

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Reposted by Tom Beckett

RSPB Scotland @rspbscotland.bsky.social · 26/03/2025

We are working with farmers to help threatened farmland birds like Corn Bunting, Yellowhammer and Linnet. In our latest video Senior Conservation Advisor Dan Brown sees an amazing flock of birds in Fife. Watch the video here: youtu.be/-0NiLNEUucA 📷 Ben Andrew

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Tom Beckett @tombeckett02.bsky.social · 16/03/2025

Nice to take a break from uni work with a day of birding. Started off with a uni bird club walk from St Andrews to Balgove Bay. 60 species seen/heard, with good views of Pintail and Brent Geese. Quiet WeBS count in St Andrews this afternoon, but still 52 Purple Sandpipers in the roost #birdingFife

Small group of Pintail on the Eden Estuary at Balgove Bay this morning.

Purple Sandpiper with Redshank and Dunlin in one of the St Andrews wader roosts this afternoon.

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Tom Beckett @tombeckett02.bsky.social · 04/03/2025

Back from a fantastic weekend trip to the Highlands with @tomrosas.bsky.social and friends from the University of St Andrews birding and hillwalking clubs. Highlights from the trip included Ptarmigan, Golden Eagle, Great Northern Diver, Black Guillemot, and Crossbill. #birdingScotland

Winter-plumage Ptarmigan on a Munro in the Monadh Liath.

Great Northern Diver on the sea off Port na Murrach, Arisaig.

Landscape shot looking out to sea over Rhu beach, Arisaig.

View of the Monadh Liath from Garva Bridge, near Laggan.

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Reposted by Tom Beckett

Tom Rosas @tomrosas.bsky.social · 03/03/2025

Just wrapped up a uni hill walking and bird club trip in the west coast and highlands with @tombeckett02.bsky.social and friends. Black Guillemot and Great Northern Divers, both year ticks, gave great views. On the Munros, Golden Eagle and Ptarmigan were incredible to see as always #BirdingScotland

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Tom Beckett @tombeckett02.bsky.social · 27/02/2025

Cracking afternoon birding on the Eden Estuary. The Avocet found earlier by Angus Duncan was the highlight, and the first I've seen since one here in 2022. Short-eared Owl, Brent Geese, and lots of wildfowl and waders were very nice to see, too #birdingFife

Short-eared Owl perched on a post by Balgove Bay, Fife, this afternoon.

Pale-bellied Brent Geese feeding in a stubble field next to Balgove Bay, Fife, this afternoon.

Avocet on the Eden Estuary this afternoon.

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Tom Beckett @tombeckett02.bsky.social · 01/02/2025

Enjoyable morning birding between St Monans and Kilconquhar, with 7 Russian White-fronted Geese (found yesterday by @wilsonjaredm.bsky.social) the highlight. Good numbers of farmland finches and buntings at Bowhouse too. #birdingFife

Some of the flock of 7 Russian White-fronted Geese at St Monans this morning.

Yellowhammers at Bowhouse, Fife, this morning.

Male Corn Bunting near St Monans this morning.

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Tom Beckett @tombeckett02.bsky.social · 12/01/2025

Back up in Fife after spending the festive season at home. Couldn't resist stopping off at Leven for the Iceland Gull and Surf Scoters. Later, at St Andrews, a showy Grey Heron and a good count of 60 Purple Sandpipers were the highlights from an otherwise quiet WeBS count #birdingFife

Iceland Gull on harbour wall at Leven, Fife.

Distant Drake Surf Scoter off Leven, Fife.

Some of the 60 Purple Sandpipers seen this afternoon on the shore at St Andrews, Fife. Knot also in the picture.

Grey Heron sitting on a fence at St Andrews harbour.

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Tom Beckett @tombeckett02.bsky.social · 31/12/2024

A fantastic year of Scottish birding, with 203 species! Standout rarities included Myrtle Warbler, Bufflehead, Baird's Sandpiper, Stejneger's Scoter, Spotted Sandpiper and Lesser Scaup. Some excellent Fife birds too, with Stone Curlew, Turtle Dove, Wryneck, American Wigeon and more. #birdingScotland

Bufflehead at Loch Leven, Perth & Kinross.

Spotted Sandpiper at Cameron Reservoir. First record for mainland Fife.

American Wigeon at Otterston Loch, Fife.

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Tom Beckett @tombeckett02.bsky.social · 27/12/2024

Nice to visit RSPB Loch Leven today. Enjoyed good but distant views of three Great Egrets along the eastern shore opposite St Serf's Island. A Drake Smew in the southeast corner of the loch was a nice surprise too! #birdingScotland

Great Egret (Ardea alba) on the eastern shore of Loch Leven, Perth and Kinross.

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Tom Beckett @tombeckett02.bsky.social · 14/12/2024

Nice to see this Puffin off West Sands, St Andrews. Typically scarce here, but this was one of at least 8 present in St Andrews Bay today! #birdingFife

Puffin on the sea off West Sands, St Andrews

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Tom Beckett @tombeckett02.bsky.social · 26/11/2024

Much less windy than yesterday, so I decided to check St Andrews Bay earlier this afternoon. Red-necked Grebe was a surprise find, with Puffin and Great Northern Diver also good patch birds. Usual Velvet Scoters, Long-tailed Ducks, etc. also present #birdingFife

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Tom Beckett @tombeckett02.bsky.social · 18/11/2024

3 Little Auks the highlight from an afternoon seawatch off St Andrews. Great Northern Diver and 15 Purple Sandpipers also present, along with the regular ducks, divers and grebes. Woodcock near Strathkinness this morning, too. Certainly starting to feel like winter! #birdingFife

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