The corncrake has returned to the field below our house! Heard it at the other end of the village last week, and now crex-crexing away beside us. 🙂

Fuaim an t-samhraidh ❤️

Hail showers and warm sunshine were the perfect mix for watching basking Adders today, a stunning silvery blue male and a dark brown female. Not often you get close to these amazing creatures!

A glowing red beacon, if Crossbills are feeding quietly the only signs from a distance are usually the bright red male or the sound of cones landing on the forest floor!

And an unusual angle of a feeding Crossbill, showing the well patterned undertail coverts and it balancing on its tarsi not even holding onto the branch!

The only food recently fledged Crossbills can get at is cones that have opened already, as they don't have a proper 'crossed' bill to use as levers! #highlandbirds

A freshly fledged Crossbill, listen out for the 'chitter' calls if you are walking in pinewoods at the moment. That's the constant begging from the young to the adults for food!

No flocks of Golden Orioles in Highland yet, but a flyover Tree Pipit this morning was unexpected especially considering I haven’t even seen a Swallow or a Wheatear yet! 🤷‍♂️

Next year the Muirburn season ends on the 31st March, less burnt bird’s nests and reptiles…

One of the most underrated birds, a Greyhen! #highlandbirds

The long staying Kilwinning Myrtle Warbler showing it’s adopting some Scottish customs.⁦Tam_VC77⁩ ⁦The SOC⁩ ⁦Ayrshire Birds⁩ ⁦IRN-BRU⁩

Even the hoodie peed off with the weather today…

A garden Common Crossbill, female N6 call type. Last years cones are finally cracking and letting the narrower-billed Crossbills and Siskins into the feast! #highlandbirds

It's here!
Mark Cubitt & Roy Leverton's impressive new book, The Larger Moths of Scotland.

Beautifully designed, packed full of info and with a refreshing Scottish focus. Look forward to getting stuck in!

You can buy it here 🐛 atroposbooks.co.uk/the-larger-mot…

#MothMonday #MothsMatter

The best day of any new year is one spent with the first Sussex nightingales of Spring 💚🎶 Sound on! 🔊

What a start to the day! Alpine Swift over my Sea Mills garden, heading south towards Stoke Bishop 😀 BristolBirding