Tom Gale
@tomgale98.bsky.social
Birds & Art | PhD Student studying European Shag foraging behaviour | Previously Northern Isles Bird Obs AW & volunteer.
Reposted by Tom Gale
This 1cy Caspian Gull at Tyninghame yday was a much enjoyed Scottish first for myself and @tomgale98.bsky.social. Dutch green darvic V|+ was ringed 5 May at IJsselmmer, then seen Lowestoft (Suffolk) in July and De Haan (Belgium) 17 Oct before arriving here #birdinglothian @birdinglothian.bsky.social
November 9, 2025 at 8:57 PM
This 1cy Caspian Gull at Tyninghame yday was a much enjoyed Scottish first for myself and @tomgale98.bsky.social. Dutch green darvic V|+ was ringed 5 May at IJsselmmer, then seen Lowestoft (Suffolk) in July and De Haan (Belgium) 17 Oct before arriving here #birdinglothian @birdinglothian.bsky.social
Reposted by Tom Gale
Two Black Redstarts at Torness added a dash of colour to a grey scene this morning - including a very smart male #birdinglothian @birdinglothian.bsky.social
November 8, 2025 at 9:34 PM
Two Black Redstarts at Torness added a dash of colour to a grey scene this morning - including a very smart male #birdinglothian @birdinglothian.bsky.social
Fantastic day in East Lothian with birds right up until dusk! Unfortunately the plover flock took off before long but it was great to watch the AGP in flight amongst the European Golden Plovers - quite distinctive once you get your eye in! #BirdingLothian
October 18, 2025 at 8:50 PM
Fantastic day in East Lothian with birds right up until dusk! Unfortunately the plover flock took off before long but it was great to watch the AGP in flight amongst the European Golden Plovers - quite distinctive once you get your eye in! #BirdingLothian
Reposted by Tom Gale
Very nice to find this Wryneck at Dalmeny House this afternoon. Still present this eve, moving between the shoreline at the golf course to feed and nearby cover.
Also juv Pom, RN Grebe + 4 Pintail offshore, & 3 juv Black Tern at Hound Point #birdinglothian #rarebirdsuk
@birdinglothian.bsky.social
Also juv Pom, RN Grebe + 4 Pintail offshore, & 3 juv Black Tern at Hound Point #birdinglothian #rarebirdsuk
@birdinglothian.bsky.social
September 11, 2025 at 9:34 PM
Very nice to find this Wryneck at Dalmeny House this afternoon. Still present this eve, moving between the shoreline at the golf course to feed and nearby cover.
Also juv Pom, RN Grebe + 4 Pintail offshore, & 3 juv Black Tern at Hound Point #birdinglothian #rarebirdsuk
@birdinglothian.bsky.social
Also juv Pom, RN Grebe + 4 Pintail offshore, & 3 juv Black Tern at Hound Point #birdinglothian #rarebirdsuk
@birdinglothian.bsky.social
Reposted by Tom Gale
An enjoyable three skua day with @tomgale98.bsky.social. The highlight a smart ad Pom Skua W off Seacliff late afternoon. Also Bonxie off Barns Ness, plus 6 Arctics and 63 Manxies total between both sites #birdinglothian
August 16, 2025 at 9:17 PM
An enjoyable three skua day with @tomgale98.bsky.social. The highlight a smart ad Pom Skua W off Seacliff late afternoon. Also Bonxie off Barns Ness, plus 6 Arctics and 63 Manxies total between both sites #birdinglothian
Reposted by Tom Gale
Rufous Hummingbirds complete one of the greatest migrations of any bird, if calculated by body length (~3 inches). Their ~3900 mile trip from Alaska to Mexico (one-way) equates to ~80 million body lengths. This puts the Arctic Tern’s migration to shame, at ~50 million body lengths. #birdringing 🇨🇦🧪🌎
May 29, 2025 at 8:08 PM
Rufous Hummingbirds complete one of the greatest migrations of any bird, if calculated by body length (~3 inches). Their ~3900 mile trip from Alaska to Mexico (one-way) equates to ~80 million body lengths. This puts the Arctic Tern’s migration to shame, at ~50 million body lengths. #birdringing 🇨🇦🧪🌎
Watercolour of the view of Sheep Rock from Buness, Fair Isle
May 29, 2025 at 8:36 PM
Watercolour of the view of Sheep Rock from Buness, Fair Isle
Stunning views of 3 White-winged and 1 drake Surf Scoter y’day in Fife with @birdingtothemax.bsky.social and Jack Morris #BirdingScotland
May 4, 2025 at 8:41 AM
Stunning views of 3 White-winged and 1 drake Surf Scoter y’day in Fife with @birdingtothemax.bsky.social and Jack Morris #BirdingScotland
Excuse the poor video skills but does anyone know if this behaviour is common in Robins? Almost doing a snake/wryneck like display! Video taken back in March. #ukbirding
April 24, 2025 at 5:07 PM
Excuse the poor video skills but does anyone know if this behaviour is common in Robins? Almost doing a snake/wryneck like display! Video taken back in March. #ukbirding
Reposted by Tom Gale
1/6 Tidal stream environments are unique marine habitats characterised by fast tidal currents.
Knowledge of how #seabirds use these areas for foraging is scarce.
@tomgale98.bsky.social is at #BOU2025 presenting work on understanding drivers of habitat selection of Shags in these environments...
Knowledge of how #seabirds use these areas for foraging is scarce.
@tomgale98.bsky.social is at #BOU2025 presenting work on understanding drivers of habitat selection of Shags in these environments...
April 2, 2025 at 12:41 PM
1/6 Tidal stream environments are unique marine habitats characterised by fast tidal currents.
Knowledge of how #seabirds use these areas for foraging is scarce.
@tomgale98.bsky.social is at #BOU2025 presenting work on understanding drivers of habitat selection of Shags in these environments...
Knowledge of how #seabirds use these areas for foraging is scarce.
@tomgale98.bsky.social is at #BOU2025 presenting work on understanding drivers of habitat selection of Shags in these environments...
Reposted by Tom Gale
Our new @adriftlab.bsky.social paper is out, lead by @alixdejersey.bsky.social showing the insidious impacts of plastics on seemingly health birds (1/5)
www.science.org/doi/10.1126/...
www.science.org/doi/10.1126/...
March 13, 2025 at 9:35 AM
Our new @adriftlab.bsky.social paper is out, lead by @alixdejersey.bsky.social showing the insidious impacts of plastics on seemingly health birds (1/5)
www.science.org/doi/10.1126/...
www.science.org/doi/10.1126/...
Reposted by Tom Gale
A tracking study has found that dogs walked off-lead cause significantly more disturbance on lowland heaths than pets kept on the lead:
Dog-tracking study reveals disturbance to lowland heaths
Researchers tracked dogs on heathland sites, showing off-lead walking can reduce conservation value.
bit.ly
January 22, 2025 at 12:46 PM
A tracking study has found that dogs walked off-lead cause significantly more disturbance on lowland heaths than pets kept on the lead:
Watercolour of one of my favourite moments last year watching a Greenish Warbler feeding amongst the sycamores at Valyie, Unst #birds #birdart #BirdingScotland
January 18, 2025 at 6:34 PM
Watercolour of one of my favourite moments last year watching a Greenish Warbler feeding amongst the sycamores at Valyie, Unst #birds #birdart #BirdingScotland
Watercolour of the Eastern Black Redstart that was present @northronbirdobs.bsky.social in autumn 2022 #birds #birdart #BirdingScotland #RareBirdsUK
December 22, 2024 at 8:58 PM
Watercolour of the Eastern Black Redstart that was present @northronbirdobs.bsky.social in autumn 2022 #birds #birdart #BirdingScotland #RareBirdsUK
Reposted by Tom Gale
Thanks Mark, visiting birders sound recording crossbills, I'm shocked and stunned! :-)
Hope Max doesn't mind, but one of his excitement calls on the left, key ID features of N20/Scottish excitement calls in the centre and to the right the evolution of the shape of these excitement calls 1995-2024
Hope Max doesn't mind, but one of his excitement calls on the left, key ID features of N20/Scottish excitement calls in the centre and to the right the evolution of the shape of these excitement calls 1995-2024
December 18, 2024 at 8:57 PM
Thanks Mark, visiting birders sound recording crossbills, I'm shocked and stunned! :-)
Hope Max doesn't mind, but one of his excitement calls on the left, key ID features of N20/Scottish excitement calls in the centre and to the right the evolution of the shape of these excitement calls 1995-2024
Hope Max doesn't mind, but one of his excitement calls on the left, key ID features of N20/Scottish excitement calls in the centre and to the right the evolution of the shape of these excitement calls 1995-2024
Reposted by Tom Gale
The large leaved plant on the left of my Blue Bird of Paradise painting is thought to be a new species to science, possibly even a new family....no botanists who study New Guinea flora can identify it or put it to a family....that's crazy!!
December 3, 2024 at 12:17 PM
The large leaved plant on the left of my Blue Bird of Paradise painting is thought to be a new species to science, possibly even a new family....no botanists who study New Guinea flora can identify it or put it to a family....that's crazy!!
Reposted by Tom Gale
🚨JOB OPENING🚨
We are looking to employ a housekeeper for the 2025 season! Accommodation at the observatory included. For more information and to apply please contact alison@nrbo.co.uk
Please share!
We are looking to employ a housekeeper for the 2025 season! Accommodation at the observatory included. For more information and to apply please contact alison@nrbo.co.uk
Please share!
December 8, 2024 at 5:32 PM
🚨JOB OPENING🚨
We are looking to employ a housekeeper for the 2025 season! Accommodation at the observatory included. For more information and to apply please contact alison@nrbo.co.uk
Please share!
We are looking to employ a housekeeper for the 2025 season! Accommodation at the observatory included. For more information and to apply please contact alison@nrbo.co.uk
Please share!
Reposted by Tom Gale
Nice to see our Harlequin Duck in today’s 2023 BBRC report; accepted as the first for Orkney and first flyby record in Britain. Shows the importance of detailed field notes, particularly in the absence of photos! @georgenorthron.bsky.social @tomgale98.bsky.social #birdingScotland
November 30, 2024 at 7:25 PM
Nice to see our Harlequin Duck in today’s 2023 BBRC report; accepted as the first for Orkney and first flyby record in Britain. Shows the importance of detailed field notes, particularly in the absence of photos! @georgenorthron.bsky.social @tomgale98.bsky.social #birdingScotland
Finally processed my photos from a return visit to @northronbirdobs.bsky.social earlier in the autumn (unfortunately my camera died). Not the best year for common migrants, but there were some superb ‘rares’ and it was great to be immersed back into Obs life for a brief period #BirdingScotland 1/
November 7, 2024 at 5:13 PM
Finally processed my photos from a return visit to @northronbirdobs.bsky.social earlier in the autumn (unfortunately my camera died). Not the best year for common migrants, but there were some superb ‘rares’ and it was great to be immersed back into Obs life for a brief period #BirdingScotland 1/
A nice day in Lothian’s east coast, with my first mainland Barred Warbler in the dry burn at Skateraw and at least 3 YBWs (one Skateraw, two Barns Ness) #BirdingScotland
October 19, 2024 at 7:08 PM
A nice day in Lothian’s east coast, with my first mainland Barred Warbler in the dry burn at Skateraw and at least 3 YBWs (one Skateraw, two Barns Ness) #BirdingScotland
Field sketches from an enjoyable morning watching the Steppe Grey Shrike in Dunbar the other day. Amazing to watch it bounding along the ground like a giant wheatear! #BirdingScotland
September 14, 2024 at 2:28 PM
Field sketches from an enjoyable morning watching the Steppe Grey Shrike in Dunbar the other day. Amazing to watch it bounding along the ground like a giant wheatear! #BirdingScotland