Simon West
@simonwest26.bsky.social
Wildlife sightings & photographs from around the U.K.
The Aurora up here, in Lossiemouth (Moray) on Monday 19/1/26, was one of the best natural spectacles you could wish to see. Very lucky to be working up here at the right time #auroraborealis #northernlights #natureslightshow #scotland
January 21, 2026 at 7:21 PM
The Aurora up here, in Lossiemouth (Moray) on Monday 19/1/26, was one of the best natural spectacles you could wish to see. Very lucky to be working up here at the right time #auroraborealis #northernlights #natureslightshow #scotland
Dornoch 18/1/26 - Black Scoter, King Eider, Surf Scoter, Slavonian Grebe, Greater Scaup, Snow Buntings, R-b Merganser, L-t Duck, Velvet & Common Scoter all seen #highlandbirds #birdingscotland #ukrarebird #ukrarity @scottishbirding.bsky.social @btoscotland.bsky.social @britishbirds.bsky.social
January 18, 2026 at 3:31 PM
Dornoch 18/1/26 - Black Scoter, King Eider, Surf Scoter, Slavonian Grebe, Greater Scaup, Snow Buntings, R-b Merganser, L-t Duck, Velvet & Common Scoter all seen #highlandbirds #birdingscotland #ukrarebird #ukrarity @scottishbirding.bsky.social @btoscotland.bsky.social @britishbirds.bsky.social
How it started & how it finished today at Dornoch. Well worth the wait for the mist to clear & rewarded with the full complement of sea ducks present at the beautiful site in the Highlands. #birdingscotland
January 18, 2026 at 3:28 PM
How it started & how it finished today at Dornoch. Well worth the wait for the mist to clear & rewarded with the full complement of sea ducks present at the beautiful site in the Highlands. #birdingscotland
Fog Bow at Dornoch 18/1/26 #fogbow #weather #ukweather #winterwatch @metoffice.gov.uk @bbcspringwatch.bsky.social
January 18, 2026 at 12:54 PM
Fog Bow at Dornoch 18/1/26 #fogbow #weather #ukweather #winterwatch @metoffice.gov.uk @bbcspringwatch.bsky.social
3 Snow Buntings on Dornoch Beach #highlandbirds #birdingscotland @scottishbirding.bsky.social @btoscotland.bsky.social @britishbirds.bsky.social
January 18, 2026 at 11:06 AM
3 Snow Buntings on Dornoch Beach #highlandbirds #birdingscotland @scottishbirding.bsky.social @btoscotland.bsky.social @britishbirds.bsky.social
Green-winged Teal still at Tain. From car park follow footpath past small pool (frozen) & cross the Alexandra Bridge. View bank on left & it was with Eurasian Teal #highlandbirds #birdingscotland #ukrarebird @scottishbirding.bsky.social @btoscotland.bsky.social @britishbirds.bsky.social
January 18, 2026 at 10:55 AM
Green-winged Teal still at Tain. From car park follow footpath past small pool (frozen) & cross the Alexandra Bridge. View bank on left & it was with Eurasian Teal #highlandbirds #birdingscotland #ukrarebird @scottishbirding.bsky.social @btoscotland.bsky.social @britishbirds.bsky.social
@metoffice.gov.uk effing useless!! 😡🤬
January 18, 2026 at 9:24 AM
@metoffice.gov.uk effing useless!! 😡🤬
The forecast and the reality of what it’s actually like. No chance at the moment of seeing anything at Dornoch! #birdingscotland or not as is the case at the moment!
January 18, 2026 at 9:17 AM
The forecast and the reality of what it’s actually like. No chance at the moment of seeing anything at Dornoch! #birdingscotland or not as is the case at the moment!
A short time-lapse of Loch Oire (Moray) 17/1/26 #moraybirds #scottishbirding #lochoire @scottishbirding.bsky.social @btoscotland.bsky.social @britishbirds.bsky.social
January 17, 2026 at 5:02 PM
A short time-lapse of Loch Oire (Moray) 17/1/26 #moraybirds #scottishbirding #lochoire @scottishbirding.bsky.social @btoscotland.bsky.social @britishbirds.bsky.social
A goods days local birding around the Elgin/Lossiemouth (Moray) area. Kumelin’s Gull, Iceland Gull, Bearded Tit, Rock Pipit, Purple Sandpipers & L-t Ducks amongst the highlights #moraybirds #birdingscotland @scottishbirding.bsky.social @btoscotland.bsky.social @britishbirds.bsky.social
January 17, 2026 at 4:03 PM
A goods days local birding around the Elgin/Lossiemouth (Moray) area. Kumelin’s Gull, Iceland Gull, Bearded Tit, Rock Pipit, Purple Sandpipers & L-t Ducks amongst the highlights #moraybirds #birdingscotland @scottishbirding.bsky.social @btoscotland.bsky.social @britishbirds.bsky.social
Also a 2nd-winter Iceland Gull briefly at Loch Oire (Moray) before flying back towards pig farm #scottishbirding #birdingscotland #ukbirds #ukbirding #birds @scottishbirding.bsky.social @btoscotland.bsky.social @britishbirds.bsky.social
January 17, 2026 at 11:32 AM
Also a 2nd-winter Iceland Gull briefly at Loch Oire (Moray) before flying back towards pig farm #scottishbirding #birdingscotland #ukbirds #ukbirding #birds @scottishbirding.bsky.social @btoscotland.bsky.social @britishbirds.bsky.social
3rd-winter Kumelin’s Gull at Loch Oire (Moray) on the ice at edge of small patch of open water #scottishbirding #birdingscotland #ukbirds #ukbirding #birds @scottishbirding.bsky.social @btoscotland.bsky.social @britishbirds.bsky.social
January 17, 2026 at 11:14 AM
3rd-winter Kumelin’s Gull at Loch Oire (Moray) on the ice at edge of small patch of open water #scottishbirding #birdingscotland #ukbirds #ukbirding #birds @scottishbirding.bsky.social @btoscotland.bsky.social @britishbirds.bsky.social
Reposted by Simon West
One of our most important habitats is being destroyed, and it’s time to act.
Ancient peatlands are nature’s heroes. Tell Government we need to protect
them💪 actnow.peatfreepartnership.org.uk/end-peat-sal... @peatfree.bsky.social #EndPeatSales
Ancient peatlands are nature’s heroes. Tell Government we need to protect
them💪 actnow.peatfreepartnership.org.uk/end-peat-sal... @peatfree.bsky.social #EndPeatSales
Sign the petition to end peat sales!
No more delays: Let's get peat out of gardens once and for all. The time for uncertainty has ended.
actnow.peatfreepartnership.org.uk
January 16, 2026 at 8:04 AM
One of our most important habitats is being destroyed, and it’s time to act.
Ancient peatlands are nature’s heroes. Tell Government we need to protect
them💪 actnow.peatfreepartnership.org.uk/end-peat-sal... @peatfree.bsky.social #EndPeatSales
Ancient peatlands are nature’s heroes. Tell Government we need to protect
them💪 actnow.peatfreepartnership.org.uk/end-peat-sal... @peatfree.bsky.social #EndPeatSales
The Barn Owl I’ve been seeing hunting around the local area gave up its roost site on my way home tonight. Unbelievably only c50yds from my front door!!! #moraybirds #moraybirding #scottishbirds #birdingscotland #ukbirds #ukbirding #barnowl @scottishbirding.bsky.social @btoscotland.bsky.social
January 15, 2026 at 7:52 PM
The Barn Owl I’ve been seeing hunting around the local area gave up its roost site on my way home tonight. Unbelievably only c50yds from my front door!!! #moraybirds #moraybirding #scottishbirds #birdingscotland #ukbirds #ukbirding #barnowl @scottishbirding.bsky.social @btoscotland.bsky.social
2nd-winter Iceland Gull again this evening at Loch Oire at dusk along with the lone Whooper Swan & 2 Goosanders #scottishbirding #birdingscotland #ukbirds #ukbirding #birds @scottishbirding.bsky.social @btoscotland.bsky.social @britishbirds.bsky.social
January 15, 2026 at 5:14 PM
2nd-winter Iceland Gull again this evening at Loch Oire at dusk along with the lone Whooper Swan & 2 Goosanders #scottishbirding #birdingscotland #ukbirds #ukbirding #birds @scottishbirding.bsky.social @btoscotland.bsky.social @britishbirds.bsky.social
Reposted by Simon West
Imagine swifts asking you to help them instead of me. They would if they could. Email me at thefeatherspeech@gmail.com for a template to send to 4 people who may block swift bricks coming into law in Scotland. You don’t need to be based in 🏴. 🎥 by wildaboutimages
January 14, 2026 at 6:52 PM
Imagine swifts asking you to help them instead of me. They would if they could. Email me at thefeatherspeech@gmail.com for a template to send to 4 people who may block swift bricks coming into law in Scotland. You don’t need to be based in 🏴. 🎥 by wildaboutimages
A quick stop after work at Loch Oire (Moray). A 2nd-winter Iceland Gull (very bad digi-binned pics) & a single Whooper Swan #scottishbirding #birdingscotland #ukbirds #ukbirding #birds @scottishbirding.bsky.social @btoscotland.bsky.social @britishbirds.bsky.social
January 14, 2026 at 5:27 PM
A quick stop after work at Loch Oire (Moray). A 2nd-winter Iceland Gull (very bad digi-binned pics) & a single Whooper Swan #scottishbirding #birdingscotland #ukbirds #ukbirding #birds @scottishbirding.bsky.social @btoscotland.bsky.social @britishbirds.bsky.social
Barn Owl hunting roadside verges on my way home tonight In Pitgaveny, Moray 12/1/26 #scottishbirding #birdingscotland #ukbirds #ukbirding #birds @scottishbirding.bsky.social @btoscotland.bsky.social @britishbirds.bsky.social
January 12, 2026 at 9:10 PM
Barn Owl hunting roadside verges on my way home tonight In Pitgaveny, Moray 12/1/26 #scottishbirding #birdingscotland #ukbirds #ukbirding #birds @scottishbirding.bsky.social @btoscotland.bsky.social @britishbirds.bsky.social
Reposted by Simon West
Has anyone seen any statements of condemnation from the game shooting organisations yet?
Me neither.
And they wonder why the reputation of their industry is in tatters.
Me neither.
And they wonder why the reputation of their industry is in tatters.
Gamekeeper Thomas Munday convicted after brutally clubbing a trapped Buzzard to death on a Pheasant shoot at Hovingham, North Yorkshire.
Press release and video in blog ⬇️
‼️WARNING - the video content is highly disturbing.
#RaptorResearch #WildlifeCrime
raptorpersecutionuk.org/2026/01/12/g...
Press release and video in blog ⬇️
‼️WARNING - the video content is highly disturbing.
#RaptorResearch #WildlifeCrime
raptorpersecutionuk.org/2026/01/12/g...
Gamekeeper Thomas Munday convicted after brutally clubbing trapped Buzzard to death on a Pheasant shoot at Hovingham, North Yorkshire
Further to last week’s blog about a gamekeeper being due to appear in court charged with killing a Buzzard on a Pheasant shoot at Hovingham, North Yorkshire (here), the case was heard today a…
raptorpersecutionuk.org
January 12, 2026 at 8:41 PM
Has anyone seen any statements of condemnation from the game shooting organisations yet?
Me neither.
And they wonder why the reputation of their industry is in tatters.
Me neither.
And they wonder why the reputation of their industry is in tatters.
Aurora - Lossiemouth (Moray) 12/1/26 #auroraborealis #northernlights #lossiemouth #scotland @meteologix.com
January 12, 2026 at 8:59 PM
Aurora - Lossiemouth (Moray) 12/1/26 #auroraborealis #northernlights #lossiemouth #scotland @meteologix.com
First day back up in Scotland with work in Lossiemouth. The highlight was a Stoat that’s coat was 50% in ermine. Quite a striking individual to see as it run through the undergrowth #ukwildlife #ukmammals #mammal #stoat #ermine @mammalsociety.bsky.social @scotwildlife.bsky.social
January 12, 2026 at 5:26 PM
First day back up in Scotland with work in Lossiemouth. The highlight was a Stoat that’s coat was 50% in ermine. Quite a striking individual to see as it run through the undergrowth #ukwildlife #ukmammals #mammal #stoat #ermine @mammalsociety.bsky.social @scotwildlife.bsky.social
Waxwings - Inverness (Highland) 11/1/26 (BOC shots) #birdingscotland #highlandbirds #ukbirding #ukbirds @btoscotland.bsky.social @scottishbirding.bsky.social @britishbirds.bsky.social
January 11, 2026 at 4:47 PM
Waxwings - Inverness (Highland) 11/1/26 (BOC shots) #birdingscotland #highlandbirds #ukbirding #ukbirds @btoscotland.bsky.social @scottishbirding.bsky.social @britishbirds.bsky.social
7 Waxwings still on Rangemore Road, Inverness at 13.05 feeding on berries off the floor (none left on the tree) & on T.V. ariels #birdingscotland #highlandbirds #ukbirding #ukbirds @btoscotland.bsky.social @scottishbirding.bsky.social @britishbirds.bsky.social
January 11, 2026 at 1:42 PM
7 Waxwings still on Rangemore Road, Inverness at 13.05 feeding on berries off the floor (none left on the tree) & on T.V. ariels #birdingscotland #highlandbirds #ukbirding #ukbirds @btoscotland.bsky.social @scottishbirding.bsky.social @britishbirds.bsky.social
A single Tundra Bean Goose is still with the Canada Goose flock in Cheshunt (Hertfordshire) on the playing fields of St Mary’s School, off Lieutenant Ellis Way, this afternoon #hertsbirds #londonbirds #ukbirding #ukbirds @hertsbirds.bsky.social @britishbirds.bsky.social @btoengland.bsky.social
January 10, 2026 at 4:57 PM
A single Tundra Bean Goose is still with the Canada Goose flock in Cheshunt (Hertfordshire) on the playing fields of St Mary’s School, off Lieutenant Ellis Way, this afternoon #hertsbirds #londonbirds #ukbirding #ukbirds @hertsbirds.bsky.social @britishbirds.bsky.social @btoengland.bsky.social
A last light stop on the way home just outside Sandon (Hertfordshire) hoping to see SEO. 2+ seen and also a few Woodcock coming out of their day roost wood #hertsbirds @hertsbirds.bsky.social @hnhsoc.bsky.social @btoengland.bsky.social @britishbirds.bsky.social
January 6, 2026 at 6:37 PM
A last light stop on the way home just outside Sandon (Hertfordshire) hoping to see SEO. 2+ seen and also a few Woodcock coming out of their day roost wood #hertsbirds @hertsbirds.bsky.social @hnhsoc.bsky.social @btoengland.bsky.social @britishbirds.bsky.social