As a testament to the double-figure count of Plain Clay in our trap last night, one has joined me for work today! Also four sp of Yellow Underwing (Large, LB-b, Lesser & B-b), Grey Chi etc #TeamMoth As a side note, can anyone guess the feather?

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Had this wee one peering out today ready for its maiden flight! Large numbers still congregating around Kiltarlity currently, but it’s imminent 😢

My Highland yearlist reached 200 this morning, with a Sooty Shearwater passing a very wet Tarbat Ness. Only five Frog Orchids present in a very brief search. Highland Yearlist: no heard only, and the boundary as per highland birds website. #highlandbirds

August has got off to an absolute flyer! Very rare that I get a cetacean ✅ in UK waters, but this pod of four Northern Bottlenose Whales were seen off Cromarty this pm, having been found a few hours earlier. Also ‘my’ female Honey-buzzard from earlier today!

A lunch walk down the R Beauly with @emilyrichens.bsky.social was surprisingly productive with two (presumed) Noctule Bats out hawking! Seven each of Goosander and Mandarin, each flotilla included six youngsters! #highlandbirds #highlandbats

All things ‘Golden’ in the trap this morning. Garden Tiger into double figures too! #TeamMoth #Highland

It was worth the effort of driving up to Balnakeil y’day to walk around Faraid Head with @emilyrichens.bsky.social! The wildflower display was stunning with the highlight being a colony of Marsh Fragrant Orchids! A frantic family of six Stoats and some secretive birds seen too.

A day of 2nds! First up was the Isle of Skye Laughing Gull – only the 2nd Highland record #highlandbirds Then the Long-tailed Shrike – 2nd for Britain. #birdingscotland

A very early start on Skye this morning! I wouldn’t usually travel far for a Common Rosefinch, but being a Highland Year ✅ and a singing male (albeit a 1st summer), it was worth the 3am alarm! #highlandbirds

Finally a decent catch in last night’s moth trap here in Highland. In addition to the below were both Beautiful and Pale-shouldered Brocades. #teammoth

British Ardeidae sp no: 14 – Western Reef Heron.

After many years, I think I’ve finally captured a near-perfect image (for my liking) of a Lesser Twayblade! #highland

Lucked into this Pine Marten along Glen Strathfarrar before ascending Sgùrr a' Choire Ghlais (1084m), where only a Ptarmigan was noted in true dreich conditions!

A superb week of Highland birding rounded off today with my best views yet of a UK Quail, which thankfully chose a stunted cropped field to sing from, easily viewable from a distance. Then, visited some gardens with the wife, many plants purchased and 10+ Hawfinches showing superbly! #highlandbirds

Something of a nothing day turned into a beauty! First an unexpected female Honey-buzzard showed well (only phone shots), and then, a singing male Red-breasted Flycatcher! #highlandbirds

Balnakeil: another lovely visit to this remote corner of Scotland. Nothing mega, but drk Garganey and flava-type Yellow Wagtail over both Highland scarcities. A few other decent bits, plus 3 Risso’s Dolphins! #highlandbirds

Something very atmospheric about watching a White-billed Diver on Loch Ness. @emilyrichens.bsky.social #highlandbirds

Delighted to see the male Eastern Subalpine Warbler yesterday at Beachy Head. A long overdue addition to the (now stagnant) county list, currently standing at 330. A Clouded Yellow butterfly also present on the headland.

Eventually a mega seawatch this pm at Rubha Reidh in squally conditions: Long-tailed Skua - 70 (biggest flock being 15) Pomarine Skua - 14 #highlandbirds

A Highland beauty at first light today, a Woodchat Shrike near Brora in a most random location. An excellent find by someone! Pure bliss to have it to myself for an hour this morning! #highlandbirds

Thankfully this Highland scarcity, a Little Ringed Plover, stayed in situ for another day yesterday after I was pre-occupied with marital duties over the weekend. #highlandbirds

In a day that has seen all four seasons, I was pleased to finally connect with a Corn Bunting in Highland. This individual remaining fairly loyal to a short hedgerow, where Tree Sparrows and a Bullfinch were also present. Highland Yearlist now on 142. #highlandbirds

Our first moth trap last night and a great start with this Rannoch Sprawler to our MV. #teammoth

Although we have rarely failed to come across Black Grouse at one of our favourite sites to the north of Lairg, rarely do they show this well. Taken yesterday afternoon in dull conditions, but bright enough to show the sheen. #birdingscotland #highlandbirds @emilyrichens.bsky.social

If one does enough eagle surveys, then eventually one will get some epic views of these magnificent birds. Today, this immature female Golden Eagle passed over me a little too close (for the camera, that is), while yesterday I was lucky enough to witness a mating pair! #highlandbirds

A good birding session from the back garden earlier, looking over towards Aigas and Strathfarrar, our minimal effort was rewarded with a Golden Eagle being mobbed by Buzzards! Mega garden bird and completes the eagle set for our Kiltarlity garden. #highlandbirds

A weekend jaunt down to Sussex By The Sea for a family (and gull) visit turned up the expected Caspian Gulls on my old patch of Cuckmere Haven. At least three different first-winters & a second-winter amongst the other seven species present. #sussexbirds

My first displaying Goshawks of the year seen today south of Inverness whilst on a survey. I will never tire of seeing them! #highlandbirds

What a stunning day weather wise… at long last! Started with the 2 Tundra Bean Geese near Dornoch, then covered many coastal sites, the highlight find being a Stoat in ermine, my first white one since 2003!! Also G-w Teal, 6 Little Gulls, 2 Snow Bunts and a dead Little Auk. #highlandbirds