Emily Richens
@emilyrichens.bsky.social
Ecologist, keen birder, rower and lover of the great outdoors 🍁🌍
Based in Highlands 🏴
Based in Highlands 🏴
Reposted by Emily Richens
Operation Needletail turned into Needletail success after only 15 minutes in the field! Plucked on Helmsdale as a likely location and at 0740 the White-throated Needletail was spotted by @emilyrichens.bsky.social and spent 9-mins with us before heading south! BOOM #BirdingScotland
October 14, 2025 at 8:55 AM
Operation Needletail turned into Needletail success after only 15 minutes in the field! Plucked on Helmsdale as a likely location and at 0740 the White-throated Needletail was spotted by @emilyrichens.bsky.social and spent 9-mins with us before heading south! BOOM #BirdingScotland
Reposted by Emily Richens
A walk up Tom A Choinnich (Glen Affric) with @emilyrichens.bsky.social & Tommy Saunders gave stunning panoramic views, 15 Ptarmigans, 3 Ring Ouzels and most surprisingly, 3 Twite. Superb! Lots of bird ringing in our garden today too 😄. #BirdingScotland
September 20, 2025 at 6:18 PM
A walk up Tom A Choinnich (Glen Affric) with @emilyrichens.bsky.social & Tommy Saunders gave stunning panoramic views, 15 Ptarmigans, 3 Ring Ouzels and most surprisingly, 3 Twite. Superb! Lots of bird ringing in our garden today too 😄. #BirdingScotland
Last month we moved house and these are our new neighbours!! Also recently had our first White-tailed Eagle over the garden and a cracking sighting of a Barn Owl from the sofa!
@matt-eade24.bsky.social
@matt-eade24.bsky.social
September 16, 2025 at 8:51 AM
Last month we moved house and these are our new neighbours!! Also recently had our first White-tailed Eagle over the garden and a cracking sighting of a Barn Owl from the sofa!
@matt-eade24.bsky.social
@matt-eade24.bsky.social
2 weeks to go!! Very touched by the immense support given already by friends & family. Very much looking forward to it, no doubt my biggest challenge yet, and hopefully I do you all proud! 🥰
@matt-eade24.bsky.social
www.justgiving.com/page/emilyri...
@matt-eade24.bsky.social
www.justgiving.com/page/emilyri...
Emily's fundraiser for Scottish Mountain Rescue
Help Emily Richens raise money to support Scottish Mountain Rescue
www.justgiving.com
September 13, 2025 at 5:45 PM
2 weeks to go!! Very touched by the immense support given already by friends & family. Very much looking forward to it, no doubt my biggest challenge yet, and hopefully I do you all proud! 🥰
@matt-eade24.bsky.social
www.justgiving.com/page/emilyri...
@matt-eade24.bsky.social
www.justgiving.com/page/emilyri...
A driver I met in Tana, Madagascar 1yr ago promised me bird stamps he’d collected. He later passed them to my friend who travelled there - and now I’m finally in possession of these beautiful artworks!
September 7, 2025 at 4:17 PM
A driver I met in Tana, Madagascar 1yr ago promised me bird stamps he’d collected. He later passed them to my friend who travelled there - and now I’m finally in possession of these beautiful artworks!
A day trip on the Ullapool-Stornoway ferry last wknd with @matt-eade24.bsky.social & Matt Broadbent; glassy conditions meant cetaceans were easily spotted with lunge-feeding Minkes stealing attention from the deck. A single Leach's made an appearance near Priest Island as well as G & Arctic Skua.
August 30, 2025 at 4:08 PM
A day trip on the Ullapool-Stornoway ferry last wknd with @matt-eade24.bsky.social & Matt Broadbent; glassy conditions meant cetaceans were easily spotted with lunge-feeding Minkes stealing attention from the deck. A single Leach's made an appearance near Priest Island as well as G & Arctic Skua.
Reposted by Emily Richens
Two Lempke’s Gold Spot were this morning’s highlight from Beauly, amongst a huge catch in our MV! #UKMoths #TeamMoth @emilyrichens.bsky.social
July 19, 2025 at 7:29 PM
Two Lempke’s Gold Spot were this morning’s highlight from Beauly, amongst a huge catch in our MV! #UKMoths #TeamMoth @emilyrichens.bsky.social
Great to find Field Gentian (Gentianella campestris) in Sutherland today! I’ve seen plenty on the continent but they are scarce in Britain due to our overgrazed and mismanaged grasslands. Let’s hope this one survives to seed this year.
#wildflowers #britishwildlife #botany #scottishflora
#wildflowers #britishwildlife #botany #scottishflora
July 10, 2025 at 9:05 PM
Great to find Field Gentian (Gentianella campestris) in Sutherland today! I’ve seen plenty on the continent but they are scarce in Britain due to our overgrazed and mismanaged grasslands. Let’s hope this one survives to seed this year.
#wildflowers #britishwildlife #botany #scottishflora
#wildflowers #britishwildlife #botany #scottishflora
Enjoyed another afternoon with White-faced Darters. They’re so skittish but after a while lying on the ground I befriended this individual who seemed to enjoy the limelight, even tucking into dinner in front of my lens! Also found nationally scarce Bee Robberfly (Laphria flava) - an added bonus!
June 26, 2025 at 6:20 PM
Enjoyed another afternoon with White-faced Darters. They’re so skittish but after a while lying on the ground I befriended this individual who seemed to enjoy the limelight, even tucking into dinner in front of my lens! Also found nationally scarce Bee Robberfly (Laphria flava) - an added bonus!
Female Adder found on my hike over a bog, not necessarily the place I’d expect to see one!
June 26, 2025 at 5:19 AM
Female Adder found on my hike over a bog, not necessarily the place I’d expect to see one!
Lovely day spent hunting down rare orchids and Odonata with several new species for me inc Coralroot and Small White Orchids, White-faced Darter and Northern Emerald. Fantastic day in the pinewoods and bogs!
@matt-eade24.bsky.social @dragonflydamselfly.bsky.social
@cairngormsnews.bsky.social
@matt-eade24.bsky.social @dragonflydamselfly.bsky.social
@cairngormsnews.bsky.social
June 21, 2025 at 4:56 PM
Lovely day spent hunting down rare orchids and Odonata with several new species for me inc Coralroot and Small White Orchids, White-faced Darter and Northern Emerald. Fantastic day in the pinewoods and bogs!
@matt-eade24.bsky.social @dragonflydamselfly.bsky.social
@cairngormsnews.bsky.social
@matt-eade24.bsky.social @dragonflydamselfly.bsky.social
@cairngormsnews.bsky.social
Always good to explore ‘new’ places on our doorstep! Lovely warm afternoon walk in a secluded pinewood, what’s not to like?
@matt-eade24.bsky.social
@matt-eade24.bsky.social
June 20, 2025 at 5:37 PM
Always good to explore ‘new’ places on our doorstep! Lovely warm afternoon walk in a secluded pinewood, what’s not to like?
@matt-eade24.bsky.social
@matt-eade24.bsky.social
Why is this not a crime? Appalling and upsetting to see road verges strimmed to the ground. Beautiful species-rich grassland destroyed at its peak. Yet, just up the road is a verge left aside for nature, supporting @mariecurieuk.bsky.social
What is the absurd reason behind this @highland.gov.uk ?
What is the absurd reason behind this @highland.gov.uk ?
June 14, 2025 at 1:59 PM
Why is this not a crime? Appalling and upsetting to see road verges strimmed to the ground. Beautiful species-rich grassland destroyed at its peak. Yet, just up the road is a verge left aside for nature, supporting @mariecurieuk.bsky.social
What is the absurd reason behind this @highland.gov.uk ?
What is the absurd reason behind this @highland.gov.uk ?
You can go out searching all you like, but sometimes wildlife comes to you! We had the pleasure of this stunning Azure Hawker yesterday, an uncommon species found in the Highlands.
@matt-eade24.bsky.social
@matt-eade24.bsky.social
June 13, 2025 at 4:37 AM
You can go out searching all you like, but sometimes wildlife comes to you! We had the pleasure of this stunning Azure Hawker yesterday, an uncommon species found in the Highlands.
@matt-eade24.bsky.social
@matt-eade24.bsky.social
A cracking week reminding me how lucky I am; there aren’t many places you can see Osprey, Black-throated Divers and Hen Harrier in the same view!
And today saw my first Black-throated Diver chicks (tiny black fluffballs!) and my second ever pair of Wood Sands in Scotland 😄
#birdingscotland
#birds
And today saw my first Black-throated Diver chicks (tiny black fluffballs!) and my second ever pair of Wood Sands in Scotland 😄
#birdingscotland
#birds
June 6, 2025 at 5:37 PM
A cracking week reminding me how lucky I am; there aren’t many places you can see Osprey, Black-throated Divers and Hen Harrier in the same view!
And today saw my first Black-throated Diver chicks (tiny black fluffballs!) and my second ever pair of Wood Sands in Scotland 😄
#birdingscotland
#birds
And today saw my first Black-throated Diver chicks (tiny black fluffballs!) and my second ever pair of Wood Sands in Scotland 😄
#birdingscotland
#birds
Reposted by Emily Richens
Mass Vulture Poisoning Rocks Kruger National Park
www.rarebirdalert.co.uk/v2/Content/M...
www.rarebirdalert.co.uk/v2/Content/M...
Mass Vulture Poisoning Rocks Kruger National Park
Over 120 vultures, including endangered species, found dead around a poisoned elephant carcass in coordinated killing
www.rarebirdalert.co.uk
May 20, 2025 at 2:21 PM
Mass Vulture Poisoning Rocks Kruger National Park
www.rarebirdalert.co.uk/v2/Content/M...
www.rarebirdalert.co.uk/v2/Content/M...
Always a joy to hear a Wood Warbler belting out its song! This one was very obliging for photos (and patient considering my inability to get the exposure right & manual focus)
#birdingscotland
#birds
#birdingscotland
#birds
May 18, 2025 at 4:38 PM
Always a joy to hear a Wood Warbler belting out its song! This one was very obliging for photos (and patient considering my inability to get the exposure right & manual focus)
#birdingscotland
#birds
#birdingscotland
#birds
Brilliant to see a Pearl-bordered Fritillary near Inverlael en route up to Beinn Dearg yesterday! They’re a BAP priority species and definitely worth looking out for!
May 11, 2025 at 11:29 AM
Brilliant to see a Pearl-bordered Fritillary near Inverlael en route up to Beinn Dearg yesterday! They’re a BAP priority species and definitely worth looking out for!
Smashing Ptarmigan views up Beinn Dearg today! 😍
May 10, 2025 at 4:18 PM
Smashing Ptarmigan views up Beinn Dearg today! 😍
Great Goldie sightings today - both Plover and Eagle! 😅
May 9, 2025 at 5:31 PM
Great Goldie sightings today - both Plover and Eagle! 😅
Quite literally stumbled across this otter today!! Think we were both as surprised as each other! Amazes me how they manage to vanish so easily, even more so considering this was an enclosed waterway up on top of a hill…
May 8, 2025 at 8:33 PM
Quite literally stumbled across this otter today!! Think we were both as surprised as each other! Amazes me how they manage to vanish so easily, even more so considering this was an enclosed waterway up on top of a hill…
Beinn Eighe always delivers fantastic views, but hiking with Calum Urquhart always means investigating bryophytes - this time a rare liverwort called Northern Prongwort only found on this mountain massif!!
April 26, 2025 at 3:26 PM
Beinn Eighe always delivers fantastic views, but hiking with Calum Urquhart always means investigating bryophytes - this time a rare liverwort called Northern Prongwort only found on this mountain massif!!
Early mornings are definitely worthwhile for these views of lekking Black Grouse; the females were suitably impressed!! Also saw my first Dunlin, Orange-tip and Comma Butterflies of the year!
@matt-eade24.bsky.social
#birdingscotland
@matt-eade24.bsky.social
#birdingscotland
April 24, 2025 at 8:11 PM
Early mornings are definitely worthwhile for these views of lekking Black Grouse; the females were suitably impressed!! Also saw my first Dunlin, Orange-tip and Comma Butterflies of the year!
@matt-eade24.bsky.social
#birdingscotland
@matt-eade24.bsky.social
#birdingscotland
Wonderful views of my first Grasshopper Warbler this year singing its chest out! Also first Green Hairstreak on the wing and a very obliging Green Tiger Beetle allowed for a photo.
#birdingscotland
#birdingscotland
April 21, 2025 at 4:25 PM
Wonderful views of my first Grasshopper Warbler this year singing its chest out! Also first Green Hairstreak on the wing and a very obliging Green Tiger Beetle allowed for a photo.
#birdingscotland
#birdingscotland
Chuffed with this find! A freshly emerged Emperor moth! My first in to the UK!
April 9, 2025 at 4:15 PM
Chuffed with this find! A freshly emerged Emperor moth! My first in to the UK!