Simon Niederberger
@sniederb.bsky.social
Birder with ties to Valasay, Isle of Lewis and Switzerland. Software developer.
We get a blackcap in our garden maybe once a year, seeing two today was exceptional. I'm not sure how much they enjoyed the rosehips.
#nature #wildlife #birds #birding #birdwatching #birdsofscotland #ukbird #isleoflewis #outerhebrides
#nature #wildlife #birds #birding #birdwatching #birdsofscotland #ukbird #isleoflewis #outerhebrides
November 8, 2025 at 5:11 PM
We get a blackcap in our garden maybe once a year, seeing two today was exceptional. I'm not sure how much they enjoyed the rosehips.
#nature #wildlife #birds #birding #birdwatching #birdsofscotland #ukbird #isleoflewis #outerhebrides
#nature #wildlife #birds #birding #birdwatching #birdsofscotland #ukbird #isleoflewis #outerhebrides
Garden birds from today. I'm very happy the bramblings are sticking around.
#nature #wildlife #birds #birding #birdwatching #birdsofscotland #ukbird #isleoflewis #outerhebrides
#nature #wildlife #birds #birding #birdwatching #birdsofscotland #ukbird #isleoflewis #outerhebrides
October 25, 2025 at 5:17 PM
Garden birds from today. I'm very happy the bramblings are sticking around.
#nature #wildlife #birds #birding #birdwatching #birdsofscotland #ukbird #isleoflewis #outerhebrides
#nature #wildlife #birds #birding #birdwatching #birdsofscotland #ukbird #isleoflewis #outerhebrides
From that perspective, the question is less, “Why are flights so cheap?” and more, “Who actually pays for them?”
www.theguardian.com/environment/...
www.theguardian.com/environment/...
When trains are pricier than planes, there’s a heavy social, financial and environmental cost
In this week’s newsletter: whether it’s a holiday or work trip, railway travellers find themselves burdened by astronomical prices
www.theguardian.com
October 24, 2025 at 6:53 PM
From that perspective, the question is less, “Why are flights so cheap?” and more, “Who actually pays for them?”
www.theguardian.com/environment/...
www.theguardian.com/environment/...
First brambling of the season in our garden today.
#nature #wildlife #birds #birding #birdwatching #birdsofscotland #ukbird #isleoflewis #outerhebrides
#nature #wildlife #birds #birding #birdwatching #birdsofscotland #ukbird #isleoflewis #outerhebrides
October 22, 2025 at 7:57 PM
First brambling of the season in our garden today.
#nature #wildlife #birds #birding #birdwatching #birdsofscotland #ukbird #isleoflewis #outerhebrides
#nature #wildlife #birds #birding #birdwatching #birdsofscotland #ukbird #isleoflewis #outerhebrides
Cattle egret are still hanging around in Lionel.
#nature #wildlife #birds #birding #birdwatching #birdsofscotland #ukbird #isleoflewis #outerhebrides
#nature #wildlife #birds #birding #birdwatching #birdsofscotland #ukbird #isleoflewis #outerhebrides
October 19, 2025 at 5:17 PM
Cattle egret are still hanging around in Lionel.
#nature #wildlife #birds #birding #birdwatching #birdsofscotland #ukbird #isleoflewis #outerhebrides
#nature #wildlife #birds #birding #birdwatching #birdsofscotland #ukbird #isleoflewis #outerhebrides
Had deer left and right on my way out this morning, watched an otter at Loch Stiapabhat (along with the usual suspects), came across this grey phalarope at Bragar, and then a fly-by white-tailed eagle on the way home. Sunday birding at its finest.
September 21, 2025 at 5:36 PM
Had deer left and right on my way out this morning, watched an otter at Loch Stiapabhat (along with the usual suspects), came across this grey phalarope at Bragar, and then a fly-by white-tailed eagle on the way home. Sunday birding at its finest.
Distant, but close enough to be sure it's our first osprey seen on the Hebrides. Seen today over Bernera.
September 10, 2025 at 4:32 PM
Distant, but close enough to be sure it's our first osprey seen on the Hebrides. Seen today over Bernera.
Young male hen harrier today at Loch Stiapabhat. I love how the female-type plumage still shows here and there.
#birds #birding #birdwatching #birdsofscotland #ukbird
#birds #birding #birdwatching #birdsofscotland #ukbird
August 24, 2025 at 6:10 PM
Young male hen harrier today at Loch Stiapabhat. I love how the female-type plumage still shows here and there.
#birds #birding #birdwatching #birdsofscotland #ukbird
#birds #birding #birdwatching #birdsofscotland #ukbird
Roughly 60 common dolphins versus two sooty shearwater. No contest, the sooty shearwaters made our day today crossing back to Stornoway.
August 19, 2025 at 7:18 PM
Roughly 60 common dolphins versus two sooty shearwater. No contest, the sooty shearwaters made our day today crossing back to Stornoway.
These two "articles" in my Google feed this morning. I can only assume AI generated slop.
August 16, 2025 at 1:14 PM
These two "articles" in my Google feed this morning. I can only assume AI generated slop.
"Herds of sheep grazed intensively on upland pastures, tearing up vegetation and compacting the soil. The result was reduced water retention, collapsing topsoil and declining biodiversity."
But this was Troy, 2400BC, when people had no clue what they were doing.
theconversation.com/troys-fall-w...
But this was Troy, 2400BC, when people had no clue what they were doing.
theconversation.com/troys-fall-w...
Troy’s fall was partly due to environmental strain – and it holds lessons for today
Long before industry, ancient societies were already pushing their ecosystems to the brink
theconversation.com
August 13, 2025 at 1:41 PM
"Herds of sheep grazed intensively on upland pastures, tearing up vegetation and compacting the soil. The result was reduced water retention, collapsing topsoil and declining biodiversity."
But this was Troy, 2400BC, when people had no clue what they were doing.
theconversation.com/troys-fall-w...
But this was Troy, 2400BC, when people had no clue what they were doing.
theconversation.com/troys-fall-w...
Cutting grass with a scythe is pretty exhausting (for a geek),but seeing the family of stonechat feast on the glut of insects made accessible in the shorter grass made it more than worth it.
August 2, 2025 at 6:18 PM
Cutting grass with a scythe is pretty exhausting (for a geek),but seeing the family of stonechat feast on the glut of insects made accessible in the shorter grass made it more than worth it.
Bit of an unusual bird, this Knot at Bragar today.
(What, on the other hand, was absolutely the usual as always was the dogwalkers with their out-of-control dogs, making sure them foreign ground-nesting birds go back where they came from.)
(What, on the other hand, was absolutely the usual as always was the dogwalkers with their out-of-control dogs, making sure them foreign ground-nesting birds go back where they came from.)
July 20, 2025 at 6:51 PM
Bit of an unusual bird, this Knot at Bragar today.
(What, on the other hand, was absolutely the usual as always was the dogwalkers with their out-of-control dogs, making sure them foreign ground-nesting birds go back where they came from.)
(What, on the other hand, was absolutely the usual as always was the dogwalkers with their out-of-control dogs, making sure them foreign ground-nesting birds go back where they came from.)
"Over the past decade, more than £32m has been paid to Dartmoor commoners through higher-level stewardship schemes – schemes that exist specifically to improve nature on sites that should be protected by law. Not one common has improved, and many have got worse."
www.theguardian.com/commentisfre...
www.theguardian.com/commentisfre...
Sheep are destroying precious British habitats – and we taxpayers are footing the bill | Chris Packham
Large parts of Dartmoor have been denuded of wildlife, harmed by farming and a mess of government schemes that are costly in every way, says naturalist and broadcaster Chris Packham
www.theguardian.com
July 20, 2025 at 12:37 PM
"Over the past decade, more than £32m has been paid to Dartmoor commoners through higher-level stewardship schemes – schemes that exist specifically to improve nature on sites that should be protected by law. Not one common has improved, and many have got worse."
www.theguardian.com/commentisfre...
www.theguardian.com/commentisfre...
It's remarkable what the UK is willing to accept when it comes to sheep.
www.theguardian.com/environment/...
www.theguardian.com/environment/...
‘The place is bleached, a dead zone’: how the UK’s most beloved landscapes became biodiversity deserts
National parks, famous for their rich natural heritage, should be at the heart of efforts to protect habitats and wildlife. Instead, experts say they are declining – fast
www.theguardian.com
July 16, 2025 at 6:11 PM
It's remarkable what the UK is willing to accept when it comes to sheep.
www.theguardian.com/environment/...
www.theguardian.com/environment/...
Cross-posting as NFU Scotland don't seem to be on BlueSky
July 13, 2025 at 5:25 PM
Cross-posting as NFU Scotland don't seem to be on BlueSky
Most unexpected bird of WeBS count at Bragar this morning: two common swift.
#birds #ukbirds #outerhebrides #isleoflewis
#birds #ukbirds #outerhebrides #isleoflewis
July 13, 2025 at 1:02 PM
Most unexpected bird of WeBS count at Bragar this morning: two common swift.
#birds #ukbirds #outerhebrides #isleoflewis
#birds #ukbirds #outerhebrides #isleoflewis
July 5, 2025 at 4:42 AM
Did a BBS transect this morning on the moorland near Brèascleit, and virtually the first bird was this short-eared owl. Rather uncommon bird on Lewis
June 8, 2025 at 2:18 PM
Did a BBS transect this morning on the moorland near Brèascleit, and virtually the first bird was this short-eared owl. Rather uncommon bird on Lewis
Just makes me livid. Nature being natural, farmers don't like it, and the only "solution" is to kill the wildlife. Definitely not an intelligent species.
news.stv.tv/highlands-is...
news.stv.tv/highlands-is...
Ravens could be culled in new scheme to protect island livestock
Juvenile ravens are forming 'mobs' and attacking young calves and lambs on Orkney.
news.stv.tv
May 31, 2025 at 10:25 AM
Just makes me livid. Nature being natural, farmers don't like it, and the only "solution" is to kill the wildlife. Definitely not an intelligent species.
news.stv.tv/highlands-is...
news.stv.tv/highlands-is...
We have a large, messy pile of wood, branches, twigs, cuttings etc. It's where the local sparrows and starlings hang out. Robins, wren and song thrush visit occasionally. I'm very happy that it's also deemed a safe place for the young stonechat.
#nature #wildlife #birds #ukbird #isleoflewis
#nature #wildlife #birds #ukbird #isleoflewis
May 25, 2025 at 3:33 PM
We have a large, messy pile of wood, branches, twigs, cuttings etc. It's where the local sparrows and starlings hang out. Robins, wren and song thrush visit occasionally. I'm very happy that it's also deemed a safe place for the young stonechat.
#nature #wildlife #birds #ukbird #isleoflewis
#nature #wildlife #birds #ukbird #isleoflewis
Absolutely gorgeous American golden plover at Bragar this morning.
#nature #wildlife #birds #birding #birdwatching #birdsofscotland #ukbird #isleoflewis #outerhebrides
#nature #wildlife #birds #birding #birdwatching #birdsofscotland #ukbird #isleoflewis #outerhebrides
May 11, 2025 at 1:58 PM
Absolutely gorgeous American golden plover at Bragar this morning.
#nature #wildlife #birds #birding #birdwatching #birdsofscotland #ukbird #isleoflewis #outerhebrides
#nature #wildlife #birds #birding #birdwatching #birdsofscotland #ukbird #isleoflewis #outerhebrides
Back from a weekend on South Uist, just a wonderful place. We enjoyed seeing plenty of short-eared owls, a few hen harriers, and even one rather unexpected marsh harrier.
#nature #wildlife #birds #birding #birdwatching #southuist #outerhebrides #birdsofscotland #ukbird
#nature #wildlife #birds #birding #birdwatching #southuist #outerhebrides #birdsofscotland #ukbird
May 7, 2025 at 7:51 PM
Back from a weekend on South Uist, just a wonderful place. We enjoyed seeing plenty of short-eared owls, a few hen harriers, and even one rather unexpected marsh harrier.
#nature #wildlife #birds #birding #birdwatching #southuist #outerhebrides #birdsofscotland #ukbird
#nature #wildlife #birds #birding #birdwatching #southuist #outerhebrides #birdsofscotland #ukbird
The Ness area is just lovely for a birding day out.
#nature #wildlife #birds #birding #birdwatching #birdsofscotland #ukbird #isleoflewis #outerhebrides
#nature #wildlife #birds #birding #birdwatching #birdsofscotland #ukbird #isleoflewis #outerhebrides
April 20, 2025 at 4:39 PM
The Ness area is just lovely for a birding day out.
#nature #wildlife #birds #birding #birdwatching #birdsofscotland #ukbird #isleoflewis #outerhebrides
#nature #wildlife #birds #birding #birdwatching #birdsofscotland #ukbird #isleoflewis #outerhebrides