Spotted fritillary and southern swallowtail from last month's @greenwingstours.bsky.social excellent butterfly holiday in the Italian alps. Stunning creatures. @europebutterfly.bsky.social @ukbutterflies.bsky.social #butterfly #wildlife

Banded demoiselles resplendent in their metallic colours this week on the river Tyne in East Lothian. Had to don the wellies to get some of the shots but well worth it. Even had an otter swim by as i was leaving! @britishdragonflies.bsky.social #wildlife #odonata #river #damselflies

I have spent a lot of time risking heat stroke tracking these incredible beasties this week, donning the wellies to wade in to the Tyne. Hundreds of photos to go through but here is a starter for ten, a female banded demoiselle (had a bonus otter swim by today too!). @britishdragonflies.bsky.social

Dancing demoiselles on the Tyne in East Lothian. Great to see banded demoiselles not too far from home. @britishdragonflies.bsky.social #damselflies #wildlife #Scotland

Saltoun wood in East lothian last week. My local dragonfly hotspot. Amazing wee creatures, once you get a close look at them most folk will agree! broad bodied chaser, emperor, four spotted chaser & common darter. @britishdragonflies.bsky.social #dragonfly #odonata #wildlife

White letter hairstreaks and commas in Meadowfield park Edinburgh today. Within yards of where I sighted the 1st Edinburgh WLH a few years ago. @savebutterflies.bsky.social @ukbutterflies.bsky.social #wildlife #nature #Scotland #Edinburgh #butterflies

Some butterflies from a recent @greenwingstours.bsky.social trip to the Italian alps. mountain argus, scarce copper, silvery argus & lesser marbled fritillary. Great trip, well led with 110 species of butterflies seen over the week. @ukbutterflies.bsky.social @europebutterfly.bsky.social #wildlife

I happened to run in to a family of long tailed tits on a very hot day this week. Youngsters all fluffed up (v cute), to do with the temperature? Taken in a local Edinburgh park. @rspbscotland.bsky.social @rspb.bsky.social #Birds #wildlife #Scotland #Edinburgh

A lovely encounter with a roe deer fawn in @scotwildlife.bsky.social Bawsinch reserve. We were walking back along a narrow path when mum & fawn appeared (mum jusst out of shot) magical to have this encounter in Edinburgh They moved off in to the woods after feeding . #wildlife #Edinburgh #deer

Some beauties from last week's @greenwingstours.bsky.social Italian alps butterfly trip. Guides were excellent, butterflies mostly obliging with an incredible array of species. Blue spot hairstreak, Knapweed fritillary, Idas blue & Queen of Spain fritillary. @europebutterfly.bsky.social

A few butterflies from the last morning of a great Italian alps trip with @greenwingstours.bsky.social well led by Ben Greenaway & Pete Eeles. Large blue, grison's fritillary, black-veined white & Langs short tailed blue. The abundance of butterflies was astounding. @ukbutterflies.bsky.social

Four spot chaser in @scotwildlife.bsky.social Bawsinch reserve recently. 1st dragonfly of the year for me in the reserve. Wee beauty. @britishdragonflies.bsky.social #nature #wildlife #Scotland #Edinburgh

Last night’s light show in Edinburgh Definitely the strongest thunderstorm i have ever witnessed here. Can’t really hear the thunder but can certainly guage the intensity of the lightning ⚡️! #storm #Edinburgh #lightning

@scotwildlife.bsky.social Bawsinch reserve is alive with fledglings just now. Here are two at opposite ends of the size spectrum (& possibly cuteness spectrum), juvenile grey heron & juvenile wren. @rspb.bsky.social @rspbscotland.bsky.social #Edinburgh #spring #wildlife #Scotland #Birds

Some colourful butterflies from Musselburgh on Monday. Common blue female, orange tip male, ringlet & small copper. 1st common blue & ringlet for me in 2026. There is a lovely meadow beside the new scrapes with abundant wildflowers. @savebutterflies.bsky.social @ukbutterflies.bsky.social #Scotland

After a quiet afternoon walking through @scotwildlife.bsky.social Bawsinch reserve with the wildlife not cooperating we retreated to the garden cafe at Duddinston kirk for consolation coffee & cake The wildlife then chose to come to us! @rspbscotland.bsky.social @rspb.bsky.social #robin #Edinburgh

The meadow at @scotwildlife.bsky.social Bawsinch reserve in Edinburgh is looking brilliant I reckon wildflower species are in double figures including my favourite bird’s foot trefoil. Plenty of pollinators taking advantage of the nectar bounty @plantlifeuk.bsky.social #wildflowers

Golden ringed dragonfly spotted at Camus Nan Gael in Ardnamurchan last week. Impressive beast. @britishdragonflies.bsky.social #dragonfly #Scotland #wildlife

Orange tip female on common vetch (i think) at the @scotwildlife.bsky.social Bawsinch reserve in Edinburgh earlier this week. @savebutterflies.bsky.social #Edinburgh #wildlife #butterfly

Waiting for the pine marten to visit I watched these pied wagtails catching food for their chicks. Stuffed beaks with a variety of prey. Present every day then disappeared day before we left. Hoping the chicks fledged & didn't become pine marten dinner @rspbscotland.bsky.social @rspb.bsky.social

Pine marten in Ardnamurchan last week. A daily visitor which was a treat indeed! All it cost me were a few peanuts and the odd egg to keep it interested. Photo taken with a 500mm lens from a hidden vantage point. @scotwildlife.bsky.social #wildlife #Scotland

At @scotwildlife.bsky.social Bawsinch reserve today. Bit of a magical moment when this wee flock of long tailed tits landed all around me. The fledglings were especially cute. @rspbscotland.bsky.social @rspb.bsky.social #Birds #wildlife #Scotland #Edinburgh

Pine marten shenanigans from last night. Interestingly, it seems to be scent marking the area where I had laid a "peanut trail". Taking ownership of the site? #Ardnamurchan #Scotland #wildlife #mammal

This evening’s pine marten episode. Easy to see they are in the weasel family with the quick , staccato movements. Puzzled why this guy left the egg after playing with it but doubt it will be there in the morning… trailcam should tell me what happened #Ardnamurchan #mammal #wildlife

Absolutely lashing down on our 1st evening in Ardnamurchan but at least it has not put the pine marten off! #mammal #wildlife #Scotland

Anyone able to ID this beastie? Two in the garden hovering about a veg patch with some cabbages & landing on nearby raspberry plants. Not seen them here before. #insects #Edinburgh #wildlife

Behaviour I have never seen before or thought happened until recently. Fox digging in to a bee's nest & getting some food. I had thought only badgers would do this. Looks like he gets stung for his troubles. @scotwildlife.bsky.social @mammalsociety.bsky.social #Edinburgh #fox #bees #wildlife

Green veined white amongst blossom & male orange tip on daisies plus an orange tip egg on cuckoo flower from @scotwildlife.bsky.social Bawsinch reserve & holly blue male from Dr Neil's garden, Edinburgh @savebutterflies.bsky.social #butterfly #Scotland #wildlife #spring

Saw these two sleepy characters recently, high up in a tree in a secluded spot. Took a couple of shots with the telephoto lens and left them to snooze... Tawny owl chicks i believe @rspb.bsky.social @rspbscotland.bsky.social @scotwildlife.bsky.social #Birds #wildlife #Scotland

Very lucky to watch this great northern diver (I think?) off the coast of Iona last week. It caught 6 meals in quick succession, mostly crabs. Beautiful markings, Photos (cropped) taken with 500mm lens. @rspb.bsky.social @rspbscotland.bsky.social @scottishbirding.bsky.social #Birds #Iona #Scotland