@brydonthomason.bsky.social
Shetlander I Naturalist I Photographer I Birder.
Director/guide @ Shetland Nature.
Like Otters a bit too much…
Author of ‘Wild Shetland- through the seasons’ (2013) and ‘Otters in Shetland’ (2016).
@SwarovskiOptik ambassador.
Working with @BenroUK
Director/guide @ Shetland Nature.
Like Otters a bit too much…
Author of ‘Wild Shetland- through the seasons’ (2013) and ‘Otters in Shetland’ (2016).
@SwarovskiOptik ambassador.
Working with @BenroUK
Picked out this aythya hybrid on Peerie Sea, Kirkwall today, presumably Scaup x Tuftie. Luckily it was quite close, might have appeared a better Lesser Scaup contender if in a distant flock of Tufties! Unfortunately, a no cigar scenario.
#orkneybirding #birdingscotland
#orkneybirding #birdingscotland
December 31, 2025 at 7:07 PM
Picked out this aythya hybrid on Peerie Sea, Kirkwall today, presumably Scaup x Tuftie. Luckily it was quite close, might have appeared a better Lesser Scaup contender if in a distant flock of Tufties! Unfortunately, a no cigar scenario.
#orkneybirding #birdingscotland
#orkneybirding #birdingscotland
A striking drake Teal while surveying on Hascosay yesterday. Never seen a partial leucistic Teal before.
December 13, 2025 at 11:33 AM
A striking drake Teal while surveying on Hascosay yesterday. Never seen a partial leucistic Teal before.
Pleasant day birding with Rob Fray on Thursday North Mainland, couple of decent discoveries. Picking up a Hornemann’s that we only found due to watching a Merlin chase starlings- flushing it from a field (!) was jammy plus drake Ring-necked Duck were both most splendid #RarebirdsUK #shetlandbirding
October 25, 2025 at 3:11 PM
Pleasant day birding with Rob Fray on Thursday North Mainland, couple of decent discoveries. Picking up a Hornemann’s that we only found due to watching a Merlin chase starlings- flushing it from a field (!) was jammy plus drake Ring-necked Duck were both most splendid #RarebirdsUK #shetlandbirding
Taken very little time for birding this autumn, just too much work on, so not surprising not to find much other than Blyth’s Reed and Citrine over past month. Been nice to put in some time this week though, with Great Egret (also a house ✔️) & Firecrest with Mr P. #birdingshetland #birdingscotland
October 25, 2025 at 2:52 PM
Taken very little time for birding this autumn, just too much work on, so not surprising not to find much other than Blyth’s Reed and Citrine over past month. Been nice to put in some time this week though, with Great Egret (also a house ✔️) & Firecrest with Mr P. #birdingshetland #birdingscotland
My first warbler of the autumn, and it’s a Greenish Warbler! Better still, from kitchen window (!) after coming in from Halligarth. The SE winds of late for us have just not come far enough this week to produce much, so this wee wing-barred wonder was a real treat.
#rarebirdsUK #birdingShetland
#rarebirdsUK #birdingShetland
August 29, 2025 at 11:35 AM
My first warbler of the autumn, and it’s a Greenish Warbler! Better still, from kitchen window (!) after coming in from Halligarth. The SE winds of late for us have just not come far enough this week to produce much, so this wee wing-barred wonder was a real treat.
#rarebirdsUK #birdingShetland
#rarebirdsUK #birdingShetland
Reposted
A bit stunned when this Bridled Tern appear in my ‘scope 150m infront of the hide at Fife Ness. It then hung around for 3 hours roosting on a buoy and feeding inshore (when pic taken) before heading off NE. A first for Fife. Glad we chose today for the all day seawatch! #birdingFife #rarebirdsUK
August 23, 2025 at 9:15 PM
A bit stunned when this Bridled Tern appear in my ‘scope 150m infront of the hide at Fife Ness. It then hung around for 3 hours roosting on a buoy and feeding inshore (when pic taken) before heading off NE. A first for Fife. Glad we chose today for the all day seawatch! #birdingFife #rarebirdsUK
Reposted
The most adaptable of Heronkind, with a presence in nearly every continent around the world. The Black Crowned Night Heron at the very northern tip of the UK
August 19, 2025 at 3:35 PM
The most adaptable of Heronkind, with a presence in nearly every continent around the world. The Black Crowned Night Heron at the very northern tip of the UK
Not what I expected today when entering Halligarth! 🫨 Black-crowned Night Heron. And there was me hoping for my first warbler of the autumn….
Now on the garden list too, #227. Still a rare bird here in the isles, and probably the first August record.
#RareBirdsUK #ShetlandBirding
Now on the garden list too, #227. Still a rare bird here in the isles, and probably the first August record.
#RareBirdsUK #ShetlandBirding
August 19, 2025 at 8:03 AM
Not what I expected today when entering Halligarth! 🫨 Black-crowned Night Heron. And there was me hoping for my first warbler of the autumn….
Now on the garden list too, #227. Still a rare bird here in the isles, and probably the first August record.
#RareBirdsUK #ShetlandBirding
Now on the garden list too, #227. Still a rare bird here in the isles, and probably the first August record.
#RareBirdsUK #ShetlandBirding
Crabbing with the kids in Baltasound cut short when hearing unfamiliar call. Picked up high overhead, but bins in pickup! Glad I pursued it north as to my surprise, this flew off Haroldswick beach 30min later, then settling briefly in cut field. American Golden Plover!! #rarebirdsuk #shetlandbirding
August 2, 2025 at 7:12 PM
Crabbing with the kids in Baltasound cut short when hearing unfamiliar call. Picked up high overhead, but bins in pickup! Glad I pursued it north as to my surprise, this flew off Haroldswick beach 30min later, then settling briefly in cut field. American Golden Plover!! #rarebirdsuk #shetlandbirding
Shore birds, are the obvious focus for any hope of finding a good bird in the isles in July- that or Two-barred Crossbill! This adult summer plumage BAIRDS SANDPIPER on the Houb, Baltasound was a most welcome representative from across the Atlantic today!
#RarebirdsUK #BirdingShetland
#RarebirdsUK #BirdingShetland
July 21, 2025 at 6:57 PM
Shore birds, are the obvious focus for any hope of finding a good bird in the isles in July- that or Two-barred Crossbill! This adult summer plumage BAIRDS SANDPIPER on the Houb, Baltasound was a most welcome representative from across the Atlantic today!
#RarebirdsUK #BirdingShetland
#RarebirdsUK #BirdingShetland
Always very happy to receive a little bit of luck, if ever it flies across a field chasing Starlings while driving along on a tour… Downloaded the rather splendid 2nd calendar year male Pallid Harrier, from today at Westing, Unst.
#rarebirdsUK #shetland #birding #pallidharrier
#rarebirdsUK #shetland #birding #pallidharrier
June 11, 2025 at 7:46 PM
Always very happy to receive a little bit of luck, if ever it flies across a field chasing Starlings while driving along on a tour… Downloaded the rather splendid 2nd calendar year male Pallid Harrier, from today at Westing, Unst.
#rarebirdsUK #shetland #birding #pallidharrier
#rarebirdsUK #shetland #birding #pallidharrier
Ooft. Ya beauty!! Out of context, particularly ‘guiding finds’ are always a bonus- and jammy as. This 2nd cal male Pallid fairly raised the pulse this morning on way home for breakfast with my photo-tour group,
after a 4:30 start this morning 😳
#rarebirdsUK #shetlandbirding #shetland #birding
after a 4:30 start this morning 😳
#rarebirdsUK #shetlandbirding #shetland #birding
June 11, 2025 at 8:33 AM
Ooft. Ya beauty!! Out of context, particularly ‘guiding finds’ are always a bonus- and jammy as. This 2nd cal male Pallid fairly raised the pulse this morning on way home for breakfast with my photo-tour group,
after a 4:30 start this morning 😳
#rarebirdsUK #shetlandbirding #shetland #birding
after a 4:30 start this morning 😳
#rarebirdsUK #shetlandbirding #shetland #birding
Reposted
My mate Seán Ronayne has made a beautiful film called ‘Birdsong’. It's one of the best things I've seen in years & it's on the telly next week ! Well worth a look.
See it on Weds 12th March, BBC4 at 9pm. It should be on iplayer too.
Here’s a trailer.
#UKBirding
www.youtube.com/watch?v=3D3h...
See it on Weds 12th March, BBC4 at 9pm. It should be on iplayer too.
Here’s a trailer.
#UKBirding
www.youtube.com/watch?v=3D3h...
CIFF2025 - BIRDSONG Trailer
YouTube video by Solas Nua
www.youtube.com
March 4, 2025 at 9:08 PM
My mate Seán Ronayne has made a beautiful film called ‘Birdsong’. It's one of the best things I've seen in years & it's on the telly next week ! Well worth a look.
See it on Weds 12th March, BBC4 at 9pm. It should be on iplayer too.
Here’s a trailer.
#UKBirding
www.youtube.com/watch?v=3D3h...
See it on Weds 12th March, BBC4 at 9pm. It should be on iplayer too.
Here’s a trailer.
#UKBirding
www.youtube.com/watch?v=3D3h...
Amazing discovery today out surveying #Merlin for #Shetland Raptor Study Group - this magnificent 2 day old Short-eared Owlets! Only 5th confirmed record. Bizarrely, with somewhat flukey owl finding fortune, these are the 4th I’ve found. #fieldwork @btoscotland.bsky.social
@rspbscotland.bsky.social
@rspbscotland.bsky.social
May 20, 2025 at 4:01 PM
Amazing discovery today out surveying #Merlin for #Shetland Raptor Study Group - this magnificent 2 day old Short-eared Owlets! Only 5th confirmed record. Bizarrely, with somewhat flukey owl finding fortune, these are the 4th I’ve found. #fieldwork @btoscotland.bsky.social
@rspbscotland.bsky.social
@rspbscotland.bsky.social
The diminutive and delightful Lesser Twayblade. Usually little taller than an inch or two and with a flower that’s very well camouflaged amongst the heath, it’s little wonder it is one of Shetlands most under recorded Orchid. Recorded 5 new sites last week whilst out doing ecological surveys.
May 20, 2025 at 7:26 AM
The diminutive and delightful Lesser Twayblade. Usually little taller than an inch or two and with a flower that’s very well camouflaged amongst the heath, it’s little wonder it is one of Shetlands most under recorded Orchid. Recorded 5 new sites last week whilst out doing ecological surveys.
Reposted
Mountain Manxies! It was so exciting to finally get the opportunity to witness the amazing mountaintop Manx shearwater colony on Rùm last week (west Scotland). The night’s bivvy to experience their arrival on Hallival was pretty awesome. Here’s a short piece for #SeabirderSaturday
April 12, 2025 at 7:30 AM
Mountain Manxies! It was so exciting to finally get the opportunity to witness the amazing mountaintop Manx shearwater colony on Rùm last week (west Scotland). The night’s bivvy to experience their arrival on Hallival was pretty awesome. Here’s a short piece for #SeabirderSaturday
Returned home this week after co-leading our photo-tour with Kev Morgan’s and Jari Peltomaki to Finnish Lapland & Arctic Norway, in partnership with Finnature. Next years dates are all set, with an even more exciting program, and amazingly is already oversubscribed before we’ve not even launched!
April 4, 2025 at 7:29 AM
Returned home this week after co-leading our photo-tour with Kev Morgan’s and Jari Peltomaki to Finnish Lapland & Arctic Norway, in partnership with Finnature. Next years dates are all set, with an even more exciting program, and amazingly is already oversubscribed before we’ve not even launched!
Reposted
Working on avian vagrancy? @pauldufour80.bsky.social and myself are organising a symposium at the EOU Conference 2025 at Bangor University, Wales (UK) from 18-22 August 2025 #Ornithology please submit abstracts to: auth.oxfordabstracts.com?redirect=/st... 🪶🌍
March 10, 2025 at 11:29 AM
Working on avian vagrancy? @pauldufour80.bsky.social and myself are organising a symposium at the EOU Conference 2025 at Bangor University, Wales (UK) from 18-22 August 2025 #Ornithology please submit abstracts to: auth.oxfordabstracts.com?redirect=/st... 🪶🌍
A humble request for your vote over the weekend for WILD SHETLAND, which was shortlisted in the ScottishNature Photography Awards favourite book of 2024, which closes on Monday. All support hugely appreciated 👇🙏❤️
scottishnaturephotographyawards.com/bookvote/
scottishnaturephotographyawards.com/bookvote/
March 1, 2025 at 4:12 PM
A humble request for your vote over the weekend for WILD SHETLAND, which was shortlisted in the ScottishNature Photography Awards favourite book of 2024, which closes on Monday. All support hugely appreciated 👇🙏❤️
scottishnaturephotographyawards.com/bookvote/
scottishnaturephotographyawards.com/bookvote/
Reposted
During April/May, over half a million Whimbrel will fly from Africa to Iceland, many stopping off in Ireland/UK.
How do winter conditions affect breeding success?
Blog based on paper by Camila Carneiro:
wadertales.wordpress.com/2021/01/30/w...
Published 30 Jan 2021 🎂4️⃣
#ConservationScience🌍
How do winter conditions affect breeding success?
Blog based on paper by Camila Carneiro:
wadertales.wordpress.com/2021/01/30/w...
Published 30 Jan 2021 🎂4️⃣
#ConservationScience🌍
Winter conditions for Whimbrel
Up until relatively recently, it was hard to study the same population of migratory waders in both its breeding area and its wintering grounds. Ringed birds established links between different coun…
wadertales.wordpress.com
January 30, 2025 at 7:16 AM
During April/May, over half a million Whimbrel will fly from Africa to Iceland, many stopping off in Ireland/UK.
How do winter conditions affect breeding success?
Blog based on paper by Camila Carneiro:
wadertales.wordpress.com/2021/01/30/w...
Published 30 Jan 2021 🎂4️⃣
#ConservationScience🌍
How do winter conditions affect breeding success?
Blog based on paper by Camila Carneiro:
wadertales.wordpress.com/2021/01/30/w...
Published 30 Jan 2021 🎂4️⃣
#ConservationScience🌍
Reposted
We'll be hearing much more about this stunning area- and much more- at the Scottish Birdwatchers' Conference in Inverness in March! Book your place soon before they all go! www.the-soc.org.uk/pages/event/...
January 28, 2025 at 11:24 AM
We'll be hearing much more about this stunning area- and much more- at the Scottish Birdwatchers' Conference in Inverness in March! Book your place soon before they all go! www.the-soc.org.uk/pages/event/...
Reposted
This morning our petition has passed 52,000 signatures. We're halfway to 100k, when we can secure a debate.
We think driven grouse shooting should be banned. If you do too, please add your name and share:
petition.parliament.uk/petitions/70...
We think driven grouse shooting should be banned. If you do too, please add your name and share:
petition.parliament.uk/petitions/70...
January 28, 2025 at 10:06 AM
This morning our petition has passed 52,000 signatures. We're halfway to 100k, when we can secure a debate.
We think driven grouse shooting should be banned. If you do too, please add your name and share:
petition.parliament.uk/petitions/70...
We think driven grouse shooting should be banned. If you do too, please add your name and share:
petition.parliament.uk/petitions/70...
The King and Queen of the Arctic. In less than two months I’ll be returning to Finnish Lapland and Arctic Norway. The floating hides in Batsfjord really are next level, not just for photography, but the experience to be so close to such an iconic sea duck.
#kingeider #birding #birdphotography
#kingeider #birding #birdphotography
January 28, 2025 at 12:46 PM
The King and Queen of the Arctic. In less than two months I’ll be returning to Finnish Lapland and Arctic Norway. The floating hides in Batsfjord really are next level, not just for photography, but the experience to be so close to such an iconic sea duck.
#kingeider #birding #birdphotography
#kingeider #birding #birdphotography
Reposted
The APEM Ornithology team is looking to recruit senior consultants - we are a team of 30 doing assessments for offshore, intertidal and terrestrial projects as well as undertaking research and surveys. Closing date Weds is you want to join us #ukbirds #ornithology jobs.apemltd.co.uk/vacancies/63...
Senior Ornithology Consultant - Hybrid Working | APEM
View details and apply for this Senior Ornithology Consultant vacancy in Hybrid Working. Are you an ambitious ornithologist with experience delivering ecological reports and technical assessments? D...
jobs.apemltd.co.uk
January 27, 2025 at 11:15 AM
The APEM Ornithology team is looking to recruit senior consultants - we are a team of 30 doing assessments for offshore, intertidal and terrestrial projects as well as undertaking research and surveys. Closing date Weds is you want to join us #ukbirds #ornithology jobs.apemltd.co.uk/vacancies/63...