What you call a loon, we call a diver. These are known as Yellow-billed Loons in the US. We call them White-billed Divers. Very closely related to Common Loon (called Great Northern Diver in the UK) but bigger, bulkier and with a different bill.
That view's not too shabby! Pity you only get to see it twice a year and then through a haze of midgies! 😉🤣🤣🤣
That's a proper hoodie Neil. Grey undertail coverts are key feature. Nice and clean demarcations between black and grey, proper hood, and that sort of upside down tree on the chest. Pity it's no longer a full species.
A duck version of Where's Wally?
That's what I mean about luck. I missed green sand because the farmer decided to destroy the river bank where it was hanging out! I was going to go for the stuff at BD and WWIII broke out and scared everything away! Weather has been awful but, it's Jan, in Scotland, so it usually is.
Well, I've managed wigeon and lapwing from that list but you've walked about five times as far as me, and are only nine better off. You'll never get everything, so I still think 85 would take about a hundred miles of walking and lots of luck.
Yeah, I'm not going to trouble 80 now. Might not even get beyond 71 if I have the same luck as this weekend. Around us, I think 85 in January is about the max, but that would need massive mileage and a lot of luck with weather, water levels, shooting, and birds being where they should be!
Listening to Tokyo Tapes by Scorpions and remembering Francis Buchholz who's sadly passed today. An underrated bass player and an integral part of the band's golden era.
We're looking for a couple of full-time field surveyors. If you know your birds, don't mind a bit of physical graft, and are based in Scotland (or want to be), then fire in an application. #Jobs #Scotland #Ecology #Birds
www.countryside-jobs.com/job/feb26/bi...
A Curlew, a wading bird with a long downcurved bill, stands on an estuary shoreline with water in the background. Wording below reads: PhD opportunity with BTO and Liverpool John Moores University. BTO logo is top right of the image.
📢 We're looking for a PhD student to focus on habitat use of wintering Curlew in and around coastal SPAs. Apply now ➡️ bit.ly/CurlewPhD
The student will be based at @ljmuofficial.bsky.social and BTO, starting in October 2026 for four years.
📆 Deadline to apply: Wednesday 18 February #Ornithology
Home from a cracking day run to Dornoch with @l8bda.bsky.social. Both of us finally getting Black Scoter on our lists. King Eider, Surf Scoter, Snow Bunting, Twite and Crested Tit made for a decent supporting cast. #Birds #ScottishBirds #RareBirds #4ScoterDay #FrozenBeach
It's been a few years but I ticked it for Scotland there sometime in the early 90's or late 80's. Good to see one back again, and nice photies! 😎
I like this logic. I'm also smashing your average into the floor. Done about 22 miles and got 69 species. That's 3.13, which makes me three times better at birding than you. 😅
Did you add that to your list after watching this video?!! 🫣
Pedicure my arse! Now there's a concept! 🥴
Currently 3.5hrs into today's walk and wondering why I bothered!
Back to work this week, so fewer chances to walk or watch from the house. Current #FootIt total is 60 species. Pretty happy with that, six days in. Highlights have been White-tailed Eagle and Kingfisher. My seen within 25k of the house is at a respectable 88. With Common Scoter and WF Goose best.
Aye, been out for a short walk. Added a few to the list. About to go out again in the car for some big list action. 😎
Have you seen a White-tailed Eagle yet, Jonny? No? Shame.
Happy New Notebook Day! That's the 2026 lists up and running. Took a ten mile walk from home to Kinbuck and back, and racked up 52 species. Major highlight was a juvenile White-tailed Eagle. #YearList #Footit #25k #Birding
For ID purposes videos can be great for familiarising yourself with seabird flight actions, structure, etc. but it’s a pain tracking down useful clips. I’ve collated video links for various N Atlantic species here #seabirds #seawatching #birding #birdID
chatterstanes.wordpress.com/2025/12/23/s...
I'll give it a go. Works alongside the 25k. Probably. 🥴
Head to our little shop at NWT Cley Marshes between now and 6th January, to view the fantastic exhibition by incredibly talented local artist Steve Cale! #birding #art
So, is this just for January?
Yes, that's a redpoll. In old money, it's a lesser redpoll, but lesser, mealy and arctic have recently been lumped as one species.
Alright, Nostradamus, calm doon! 🤣
A stunning morning here in Dunblane. Out for a short walk and some birding. Nothing noteworthy seen but who cares! #Birding #Scotland #Winter
That would have been singular. 🙄
Lampshades
Cheers, Andy.
