Lara 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁳󠁣󠁴󠁿

Two Swifts in flight against blue sky

Scotland is one of the most nature-depleted countries in the world.

Developments can – and must – be a part of the solution to turn things around.

Ahead of the Scottish election, our manifesto calls for new developments to help restore nature in Scotland 👉 www.rspb.org.uk/scotland/new...

A Ptarmigan in winter plumage showing white feathers.

1/ To celebrate Seachdain na Gàidhlig / World Gaelic Week we’ll be sharing some interesting bits and pieces connecting birds with the Gaelic language. 🐦

Airson Seachdain na Gàidhlig am-bliadhna bidh sinn a’ roinn cuid de rudan inntinneach mu eòin agus a’ chàna.

Discover more ⬇️🧵

White-billed Diver defending its crab catch from a Herring Gull just before dark.
#birdingscotland

White-billed Diver off Broughty Ferry today (found a week ago by @lainy.bsky.social ). Increasingly goes missing for hours but sporadically shows rather well.

#BirdingScotland #Birds #UKbirding

A few more of the Common Crane near St Andrews earlier today. #birdingFife #BirdingScotland

A stop-the-car-now moment: fabulous views of this Eurasian Bittern feeding in a roadside burn at the northern end of Loch of Spiggie today. A rare bird here in Shetland with less than 30 records of this cryptic heron!

#BirdingScotland #UKbirding #RareBirdsUK #UKWildlife #Birds

Hamlet the Golden Eagle being released into the wild after recovering from being shot

We’re relieved to hear that Hamlet, a 4-year-old Golden Eagle, has recovered from his injuries and been released back into the wild after being shot in the Borders.

It comes after the suspicious disappearance of two other Golden Eagles, Tarras and Wren, in the south of Scotland in August.

🧵

Golden Eagle found shot in Scottish Borders – Police Scotland appeals for information Press release from Police Scotland (9 February 2026) APPEAL AFTER GOLDEN EAGLE SHOT IN THE SCOTTISH BORDERS Wildlife officers are appealing to the public for information after a four-year-old golde…

Golden Eagle found shot in the Scottish Borders - Police Scotland appeals for information.

'Hamlet' is the sixth victim of eagle persecution in south Scotland in recent years.

Details in blog ⬇️

#RaptorResearch #WildlifeCrime #BirdingScotland 🌍

raptorpersecutionuk.org/2026/02/09/g...

Thanks so much 🙂

Thank you! Very kind :)

generative AI has become widely available in the summer of 2022 and entered mainstream in 2023

people are working themselves up in a frenzy, convinced they're utterly helpless without software younger than still-fresh canned tuna. we have been making art for at least 50,000 years, get a grip

I Want To Believe the species taking on a supernatural presence in birding culture

I forgot to mention on here that I wrote a little thing on substack about birds that are likely extinct, but have people hoping they are still out there.

Uni is going to be ramping up but wanted to post something else in case I can’t for a while!
🪶
open.substack.com/pub/midnight...

Context is everything in birding- I barely broke my stride observing 4 White-tailed Eagles today- then frantically grabbed my camera for this Magpie- still a very scarce bird in the NW Highlands and a real treat to see one! #Highlandbirds

Ring-necked Duck at Queens Park Glasgow this morning

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!

Close up profile of Herring Gull with black background

Gulls are in serious trouble in Scotland.

These remarkable birds are facing significant pressures. A recent report revealed licensed control could have contributed to declines ➡️ rspb.org.uk/scotland/news/licensed-gull-control-in-scotland

We must balance the needs of protected species and people.

The wintering flock of Twite at Cocklemill was up to 88 today, and the Nuthatch range expansion seems to have reached the East Neuk #birdingFife

This kingfisher took absolutely everything out of me — 23.5 hours of work! As one of my favorite birds, I just had to capture its stunning turquoise plumage in wool.

#kingfisher #needlefelting #woolart #handmade #birds #bird #art #sculpture #felting #felt

a redwing sits amongst branches yellow with lichen, with many red berries

A fieldfare perches on top a tree at the golf club, a grey sky behind it

a group of four waxwings perch on a bare bush, bathed in golden sunlight

a waxwing perches on a bare bush, blue-grey sky behind, winter sun hitting it. It is looking up and to the side, the sun just hitting its eye

back to uni now, and once again thinking about the amazing number of migratory thrushes and waxwings I saw in Monifieth last week 🙂‍↕️ #BirdingScotland 🪶

excellent day spotting some stunning Waxwings at Monifieth, a very obliging flock made my first time seeing them fairly easy! #BirdingScotland 🪶

a cormorant swims in the Eden

A white-throated dipper perches on a rock in the Eden, a metal ring is seen on its leg

an otter looks over its shoulder to the opposite river bank, with eyes on the camera

a grey wagtail hops along the waters edge, pecking through grasses and leaves

A good selection of wildlife in the river Eden in Cupar on a cold January afternoon #BirdingFife 🪶❄️

A few of the six Little Egret's seen at Loch Leven today. Third & fourth pics taken in snow storm. #BirdingScotland

An Arctic Skua flying over the West Sands, St Andrews

A Nuthatch at Lochwinnoch RSPB

A visiting Avocet amongst the ducks and waders at Eden Estuary - March 3rd

A Glossy Ibis at Angle Park, causing quite the group of birders to assemble - October 25th

I’m still new enough to the hobby that lifers have come fairly easily this year, 38 new species! Highlights include the Glossy Ibis, Pied Avocet, a very loud Water Rail, and an Arctic Skua on my birthday :) let’s see what 2026 brings! #BirdingScotland

Beautiful bird, may I ask whereabouts?

A Swift flying.

A win for Swifts!

Thanks to your support, Scotland might become the first UK country to require Swift nesting bricks in all new buildings.

Today MSPs voted to include this in the Natural Environment Bill – now we must make sure it stays in the Bill through the final stage.

A bright blue sky with many swifts flying

A swift face poking out of a swift brick

Scotland’s Swifts are in trouble! Numbers are plummeting.

Tomorrow, MSPs will debate a simple, effective measure that could change their fortunes.

We're calling on them to require Swift bricks in all new housing as part of the Natural Environment Bill. Join us
action.rspb.org.uk/page/181323/...

A close up photo of a Swift's face against a black background

Scotland's swifts are in freefall. They need action now.

Yesterday, @scotgov said Swift Bricks don't belong in the Natural Environment Bill. We disagree.

There's still time to back Swift Bricks - email your MSPs now: action.rspb.org.uk/page/181323/...

My 150th species from within Dundee this year - a surprise find in Eastern Cemetery this morning on my way out to Broughty Ferry and Balmossie - a Ring-necked Parakeet. It turns out there are 'some' of these birds present in grounds of Gardyne College (0.5miles from EC).

#BirdingScotland

The Black-necked Grebes showed brilliantly at Burntisland this afternoon. Sometimes getting as close as 10m from the shore.

#BirdingScotland

Glossy Ibis - Falkland (Fife) 11/11/25 #fifebirds #scottishbirding #ukbirds #ukbirding @fifebirdnews.bsky.social
@fifekinrossswt.bsky.social @scottishbirding.bsky.social @btobirds.bsky.social @britishbirds.bsky.social @btoscotland.bsky.social