Ian Andrews

We're excited to announce a brand new partnership with @westmidbirdclub.bsky.social, offering the chance to for two aspiring conservationists to visit the Obs for two weeks in August this year!

For more details and how to apply, see www.fairislebirdobs.co.uk/opportunitie...

Thanks. I'd hoped for a closer view - it was waaay off

26 Feb. Port Seton. Rather distant views of White-winged Scoter off Wrecked Craigs this morning; presumed imm male. #BirdingLothian

The flock was still present on 24th Feb - just a few fields to the NW. Difficult to see the whole flock, but 60+ present with Greylags.

African Pied Wagtail

Greater Painted-snipe

Brown-throated Martin

Namaqua Dove

Red Avadavat

African Green Bee-eater

Kittlitz's Plover

White-tailed Lapwing

Crimson-rumped Waxbill

Reed Cormorant

Black Bush Robin - first record for Aswan

Egyptian Yellow Wagtail

South Egypt highlights leading for @naturetrek.bsky.social
Crimson-rumped Waxbill, Reed Cormorant, Black Bush Robin, Egyptian Yellow Wagtail, African Pied Wagtail, Greater Painted-snipe, Brown-throated Martin, Namaqua Dove, Red Avadavat, African Green Bee-eater White-tailed Lapwing Kittlitz’s Plover

Avoid disappointment - order now - this special offer price will only be available for a limited period and the print run is not large. Publication is due in March. #BirdingScotland #rarebirdsUK #ukbirding #ornithology #birding

The wait is over...

1 Feb. Gosford Estate and Bay. Views of the Woodlark in flight with 30 Skylarks (no photos); dark 2cy Glaucous Gull still in the bay #BirdingLothian

28 Jan. Musselburgh. 22 Twite still, the 'ghostly white' Black-headed Gull again (first seen in Lothian in 2018) and an amazing 95 Great Crested Grebes - the largest count at this site since 2004 #BirdingLothian

Tears of joy! SCOTLAND HAS JUST PASSED SWIFT BRICKS INTO LAW unanimously!
4 years of asking England & Scotland sorts it in a month led by ACE ⁦‪ MARK RUSKELL MSP‬⁩ ♥️The RELIEF is unreal! Tell England to follow 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁳󠁣󠁴󠁿by emailing PlanningPolicyConsultation@communities.gov.uk now!WOOP!

16 Jan. Duddingston. Today's Bittern slipping and sliding along the reed edge. #BirdingLothian

4 Jan. Musselburgh. 24 Twite including the ringed bird AET 6743 (same as last winter); Great Black-backed Gull yellow 051:M and Mediterranean Gull yellow AL:ZZ #BirdingLothian

24 Dec. Musselburgh. A 1cy Caspian Gull at the Esk mouth at midday. Also 25 Whooper Swans way off NE on the sea #BirdingLothian

It’s beginning to feel that the end is in sight. The proofs of the new 'Birds of Fair Isle' book are now being checked by the team of authors. That’s more than 400,000 words on 938 pages!
Details on how to order will be announced in the New Year.
www.fairislebirdobs.co.uk/bofi
#BirdingScotland

On FB, John Scott managed to read the last 2 digits of the Twite ring (43), so it looks like it's the same bird as recorded last winter AET6743.

Christmas can be an expensive time of year, so how about something for free?

The @scottishbirding.bsky.social and Scottish Birds Records Committee are hosting a FREE online conference over the evenings of February 24th to the 26th. Three talks per night and some real belters among them.

13 Dec. Musselburgh. 21 Twite (one ringed - no number yet), single Great Northern and Black-throated Divers. From a few days ago - Long-tailed Ducks at Musselburgh and Little Egret at Aberlady #BirdingLothian

Shawn, Allan, Rosie, and a Wild Turkey (Meleagris gallopavo)

#Thanksgiving 🦃 with our amazing volunteers in the bird collections of National Museums Scotland 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁳󠁣󠁴󠁿! 😉

Do you live nearby and would like to join? We're capturing data from all our #birds. Well, now's your chance! Don't wait...

careers.nms.ac.uk/job/800113

#museum #ornithology 🪶

Young country diary: Silence in the hide for a rare and beautiful bird | Sachin Musselburgh, East Lothian, Scotland: The hide was very busy but lucky for me someone let me look through their telescope – this bird isn’t really found in Scotland

Young country diary: Silence in the hide for a rare and beautiful bird | Sachin www.theguardian.com/environment/...

17 Nov. Musselburgh. A late Sandwich Tern on the new lagoons plus 9 Twite by the huts at the river mouth; Fieldfare and Mistle Thrush on the scrapes #BirdingLothian

Here's a Razorbill photo I just saw on Facebook from yesterday (by Allan Pringle).

31 Oct. Musselburgh. The highlight today was the sight and sound of 16 Whooper Swans (8 juvs) arriving at the new lagoons. Other photos - Long-tailed Duck and Curlew. Nuthatch with acorn from elsewhere in East Lothian #BirdingLothian

27 Oct. Musselburgh. 2+ Twite along the seawall, Med Gull "white 30VA", 1 Ruff, 3 Shoveler, imm Pomarine Skua flew W, an "odd" Canada Goose on the river with a strange call! #BirdingLothian

22 Oct. Seafield Pond, West Barns. The Glossy Ibis was still present early this morning. Finding plenty to eat. #BirdingLothian

Visitors flock back to Fair Isle Bird Observatory | Shetland.org Fair Isle Bird Observatory was established in 1948, and since then there have been five iterations of the Observatory building. The latest was lost to a fire in March 2019, and after six years and a c...

Recently, Ranger Carla wrote a blog about the new Observatory building and what it means to the staff and the island. You can read that blog and see some of the stunning photos taken by the @promoteshetland.bsky.social team here: www.shetland.org/blog/fair-is...

Now there's a thought. Let's wait for the first frost.

16 Oct. Musselburgh. Marsh Sandpiper STILL present. Also, 1 Little Gull, 1 Whooper Swan, 1 Ruff, 2 Greenshank, 10 Long-tailed Duck, 3 Slavonian Grebes and the Bottlenose Dolphins did another swim past! #BirdingLothian