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Tom Gale @tomgale98.bsky.social · 03/09/2026

I’m hoping this might be the worst photo of a Wryneck posted on Bluesky in recent weeks 😄 Regardless it was a lovely surprise when it landed in front of the car as I was leaving Exminster Marshes early this am! #UKBirding

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Joe Nichols @itssjoenichols.bsky.social · 22/08/2026

Two neat juv Long-tailed Skua north were the highlight of a four skua day at Seacliff yesterday with @tomgale98.bsky.social. A nice supporting cast of three Sooty Shear and adult Pom, with one of each again this morning @birdinglothian.bsky.social #birdinglothian

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Dr Alex Bond @thelabandfield.bsky.social · 17/08/2026

Big new @adriftlab.bsky.social paper - we show for the first time that plastics affects seabirds at the POPULATION level. Plastic ingested as a chick reduces recruitment of birds to the breeding population. And the story is pretty grim. 🧵 www.pnas.org/doi/10.1073/...

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Tom Gale @tomgale98.bsky.social · 17/05/2026

Lovely adrenaline rush this evening at Musselburgh when this Temminck’s Stint appeared! It was acting fresh in, feeding a lot then sleeping, also skittish often adopting this crouched banana stance when spooked. After 1.5 hrs it took off and no sign since @birdinglothian.bsky.social #BirdingScotland

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Tom Gale @tomgale98.bsky.social · 16/05/2026

Ventured across the Forth for the Kirkcaldy Scoters today. Black Scoter was new for me and the upright posture and thick-necked structure really stood out. Great views also of 2 White-winged Scoters with Eider, plus Surf Scoter also showing much better than they ever do in Lothian! #BirdingScotland

Black Scoter showing upright posture, big round head and thick neck

2 White-winged Scoter. Full adult on right with 4(?)cy on left (reduced eye tick still), the latter of which recently revisited the East Lothian coast in April

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Joe Nichols @itssjoenichols.bsky.social · 01/05/2026

A Great White Egret over Seacliff as soon as I arrived this morning, heading south-east. Continuing the site's recent good form with White-winged Scoter, 3 Redstart and Osprey also in the last couple of weeks #birdinglothian @birdinglothian.bsky.social

Great White Egret at Seacliff (01/05/26), fairly distantly over the upper fields before heading south-east towards Tyninghame

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Tom Gale @tomgale98.bsky.social · 19/04/2026

Mega day at the Seacliff patch! Osprey and Redstart were top aims for the spring but the (re) appearance of a White-winged Scoter was completely unexpected this far out of the Forth! Ring Ouzel at Traprain Law also #BirdingScotland

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Tom Gale @tomgale98.bsky.social · 13/04/2026

An evening trip out to Mayshiel for the Black-throated Thrush went to plan with great views in evening light. Lovely supporting cast of thrushes and Bramblings also - in addition to this morning’s Ring Ouzels, it became a 6 Turdus sp. day! #BirdingScotland @birdinglothian.bsky.social

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Tom Gale @tomgale98.bsky.social · 13/04/2026

Great pre-work yomp around Holyrood park this am w/ @itssjoenichols.bsky.social. Highlights were 2 Ring Ouzels over Salisbury Crags, singing Grasshopper W, and 4 Wheatears which performed beautifully on the slopes below Arthur’s Seat summit #BirdingScotland @birdinglothian.bsky.social

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Tom Gale @tomgale98.bsky.social · 21/03/2026

In true record shot style, here is a photo of the first Glaucous Gull I’ve seen for 3+ years (lingering bird at yellowcraig). A great day with White-billed and Black-throated Divers and great views of Common Scoters on flat calm seas (tho lack of Velvet) #BirdingScotland @birdinglothian.bsky.social

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Tom Gale @tomgale98.bsky.social · 08/03/2026

Nice to watch some distant specks eventually become 2 ‘in-off’ Sand Martins at Eastfield today. My first singing Chiffchaffs also @birdinglothian.bsky.social #BirdingScotland

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Tom Gale @tomgale98.bsky.social · 27/02/2026

Do juv WBDs winter in a different location to adults, hence the lack of juvs in current influx (presumably triggered by weeks of SE winds)? Juv seabirds of some species are less efficient foragers so presumably would expect at least as many juvs being wrecked like this?

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Calum Scott @aberladybirder.bsky.social · 13/02/2026

Two, poss 3 White-billed Diver off N end of Inchkeith currently! Thanks to @tomgale98.bsky.social for the video! @fifebirdnews.bsky.social #BirdingScotland

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Tom Gale @tomgale98.bsky.social · 17/01/2026

Yesterday’s Bittern at Duddingston Loch provided a great lunchtime twitch - here it is with its feathers ruffled up! #BirdingScotland

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Joe Nichols @itssjoenichols.bsky.social · 09/11/2025

This 1cy Caspian Gull at Tyninghame yday was a much enjoyed Scottish first for myself and @tomgale98.bsky.social. Dutch green darvic V|+ was ringed 5 May at IJsselmmer, then seen Lowestoft (Suffolk) in July and De Haan (Belgium) 17 Oct before arriving here #birdinglothian @birdinglothian.bsky.social

First calendar year Dutch ringed Caspian Gull V|+ . A classic looking 1cy in many ways. Beyond typical bill structure, note four-toned upperpart appearance: unmarked white pear shaped head with decent hindneck 'shawl', grey second generation mantle and scapulars with black central 'anchors', gradating to brown wing coverts, then very dark primaries/secondaries and blackish tertials with clear pale fringing

1cy Caspian Gull showing its diagnostic pale white underwing

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Joe Nichols @itssjoenichols.bsky.social · 08/11/2025

Two Black Redstarts at Torness added a dash of colour to a grey scene this morning - including a very smart male #birdinglothian @birdinglothian.bsky.social

Male Black Redstart on the seawall at Torness Power Station

Female-type Black Redstart associating with the male

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Tom Gale @tomgale98.bsky.social · 18/10/2025

Fantastic day in East Lothian with birds right up until dusk! Unfortunately the plover flock took off before long but it was great to watch the AGP in flight amongst the European Golden Plovers - quite distinctive once you get your eye in! #BirdingLothian

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Joe Nichols @itssjoenichols.bsky.social · 11/09/2025

Very nice to find this Wryneck at Dalmeny House this afternoon. Still present this eve, moving between the shoreline at the golf course to feed and nearby cover. Also juv Pom, RN Grebe + 4 Pintail offshore, & 3 juv Black Tern at Hound Point #birdinglothian #rarebirdsuk @birdinglothian.bsky.social

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Joe Nichols @itssjoenichols.bsky.social · 16/08/2025

An enjoyable three skua day with @tomgale98.bsky.social. The highlight a smart ad Pom Skua W off Seacliff late afternoon. Also Bonxie off Barns Ness, plus 6 Arctics and 63 Manxies total between both sites #birdinglothian

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Max Hellicar @birdingtothemax.bsky.social · 29/05/2025

Rufous Hummingbirds complete one of the greatest migrations of any bird, if calculated by body length (~3 inches). Their ~3900 mile trip from Alaska to Mexico (one-way) equates to ~80 million body lengths. This puts the Arctic Tern’s migration to shame, at ~50 million body lengths. #birdringing 🇨🇦🧪🌎

Adult (2CY+) male Rufous Hummingbird; ringed on Vancouver Island, British Columbia, on Tuesday

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Tom Gale @tomgale98.bsky.social · 29/05/2025

Watercolour of the view of Sheep Rock from Buness, Fair Isle

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Tom Gale @tomgale98.bsky.social · 04/05/2025

Stunning views of 3 White-winged and 1 drake Surf Scoter y’day in Fife with @birdingtothemax.bsky.social and Jack Morris #BirdingScotland

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Tom Gale @tomgale98.bsky.social · 24/04/2025

Excuse the poor video skills but does anyone know if this behaviour is common in Robins? Almost doing a snake/wryneck like display! Video taken back in March. #ukbirding

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UKCEHseabirds @ukcehseabirds.bsky.social · 02/04/2025

1/6 Tidal stream environments are unique marine habitats characterised by fast tidal currents. Knowledge of how #seabirds use these areas for foraging is scarce. @tomgale98.bsky.social is at #BOU2025 presenting work on understanding drivers of habitat selection of Shags in these environments...

Image of study site Bluemull Sound, Shetland, and a foraging European Shag

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BirdGuides @birdguides.bsky.social · 22/01/2025

A tracking study has found that dogs walked off-lead cause significantly more disturbance on lowland heaths than pets kept on the lead:

bit.ly

Dog-tracking study reveals disturbance to lowland heaths

Researchers tracked dogs on heathland sites, showing off-lead walking can reduce conservation value.

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Tom Gale @tomgale98.bsky.social · 18/01/2025

Watercolour of one of my favourite moments last year watching a Greenish Warbler feeding amongst the sycamores at Valyie, Unst #birds #birdart #BirdingScotland

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Tom Gale @tomgale98.bsky.social · 22/12/2024

Watercolour of the Eastern Black Redstart that was present @northronbirdobs.bsky.social in autumn 2022 #birds #birdart #BirdingScotland #RareBirdsUK

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Peter Stronach @macstronach.bsky.social · 18/12/2024

Thanks Mark, visiting birders sound recording crossbills, I'm shocked and stunned! :-) Hope Max doesn't mind, but one of his excitement calls on the left, key ID features of N20/Scottish excitement calls in the centre and to the right the evolution of the shape of these excitement calls 1995-2024

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John Gale @johngale8.bsky.social · 03/12/2024

The large leaved plant on the left of my Blue Bird of Paradise painting is thought to be a new species to science, possibly even a new family....no botanists who study New Guinea flora can identify it or put it to a family....that's crazy!!

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North Ronaldsay Bird Observatory @northronbirdobs.bsky.social · 08/12/2024

🚨JOB OPENING🚨 We are looking to employ a housekeeper for the 2025 season! Accommodation at the observatory included. For more information and to apply please contact alison@nrbo.co.uk Please share!

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Max Hellicar @birdingtothemax.bsky.social · 30/11/2024

Nice to see our Harlequin Duck in today’s 2023 BBRC report; accepted as the first for Orkney and first flyby record in Britain. Shows the importance of detailed field notes, particularly in the absence of photos! @georgenorthron.bsky.social @tomgale98.bsky.social #birdingScotland

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Tom Gale @tomgale98.bsky.social · 07/11/2024

Finally processed my photos from a return visit to @northronbirdobs.bsky.social earlier in the autumn (unfortunately my camera died). Not the best year for common migrants, but there were some superb ‘rares’ and it was great to be immersed back into Obs life for a brief period #BirdingScotland 1/

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Tom Gale @tomgale98.bsky.social · 19/10/2024

A nice day in Lothian’s east coast, with my first mainland Barred Warbler in the dry burn at Skateraw and at least 3 YBWs (one Skateraw, two Barns Ness) #BirdingScotland

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Tom Gale @tomgale98.bsky.social · 14/09/2024

Field sketches from an enjoyable morning watching the Steppe Grey Shrike in Dunbar the other day. Amazing to watch it bounding along the ground like a giant wheatear! #BirdingScotland

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