Glen
@countyellow.bsky.social
Live from the north (mainly). Observations of the natural world, a few other things.
Purple Sandpiper in the Shetland sunshine. Widely scattered around our coast small groups can be seen at many locations.
#BirdingShetland
#BirdingShetland
February 10, 2025 at 6:36 PM
Purple Sandpiper in the Shetland sunshine. Widely scattered around our coast small groups can be seen at many locations.
#BirdingShetland
#BirdingShetland
Great Northern Diver, or Immer gos (goose) in local dialect, is a widespread winter visitor in Shetland. They are impressive close to. The sheer size and dagger-like shape of the bill makes them appear formidable and they are a big bird. #birdingShetland
November 14, 2024 at 12:29 PM
Great Northern Diver, or Immer gos (goose) in local dialect, is a widespread winter visitor in Shetland. They are impressive close to. The sheer size and dagger-like shape of the bill makes them appear formidable and they are a big bird. #birdingShetland
Possibly one of the last Chiffchaff I'll see this year. It's not a full Siberian (it didn't call) but it has some eastern flavour to it. Whatever they are lovely to see but I start to worry a bit for them now gales and snow are in the forecast. #birdingShetland
November 14, 2024 at 12:24 PM
Possibly one of the last Chiffchaff I'll see this year. It's not a full Siberian (it didn't call) but it has some eastern flavour to it. Whatever they are lovely to see but I start to worry a bit for them now gales and snow are in the forecast. #birdingShetland
Birding becoming more and more winter bird focussed but still a few migrants hanging on. This young female Hawfinch visited the garden for a few days earlier in the week, along with Brambling and Chaffinch.
#birdingShetland
#birdingShetland
November 14, 2024 at 12:21 PM
Birding becoming more and more winter bird focussed but still a few migrants hanging on. This young female Hawfinch visited the garden for a few days earlier in the week, along with Brambling and Chaffinch.
#birdingShetland
#birdingShetland
Any experts on #spiders #arachnids here?
This little jumping spider found on Fair Isle, Shetland. Looks to be a male Hasarius adansonia which is associated with horticultural hothouses in UK, native in Africa. Is identification correct?
This little jumping spider found on Fair Isle, Shetland. Looks to be a male Hasarius adansonia which is associated with horticultural hothouses in UK, native in Africa. Is identification correct?
November 13, 2024 at 10:48 AM
Any experts on #spiders #arachnids here?
This little jumping spider found on Fair Isle, Shetland. Looks to be a male Hasarius adansonia which is associated with horticultural hothouses in UK, native in Africa. Is identification correct?
This little jumping spider found on Fair Isle, Shetland. Looks to be a male Hasarius adansonia which is associated with horticultural hothouses in UK, native in Africa. Is identification correct?
Decent widespread arrival of Yellow-browed Warbler in #Shetland today, after just a couple of Fair Isle before now. #BirdingScotland
September 19, 2024 at 3:58 PM
Decent widespread arrival of Yellow-browed Warbler in #Shetland today, after just a couple of Fair Isle before now. #BirdingScotland
One of the 2 Blyth's Reed Warbler that have been at Valyie on Unst in recent days. More showy than the picture suggests. A seawatch at Skaw produced 6 Sooty Shearwater, a feeding frenzy by 4 Minke Whale and the highlight of a flyby breeding plumage White-billed Diver. #BirdingScotland
September 7, 2024 at 9:31 PM
One of the 2 Blyth's Reed Warbler that have been at Valyie on Unst in recent days. More showy than the picture suggests. A seawatch at Skaw produced 6 Sooty Shearwater, a feeding frenzy by 4 Minke Whale and the highlight of a flyby breeding plumage White-billed Diver. #BirdingScotland
A new species for the garden yesterday, Wryneck. Every sighting of this species is a pleasure, but seeing one perched up in trees I'd planted was a just a bit more special. #BirdingShetland #BirdingScotland
September 5, 2024 at 2:06 PM
A new species for the garden yesterday, Wryneck. Every sighting of this species is a pleasure, but seeing one perched up in trees I'd planted was a just a bit more special. #BirdingShetland #BirdingScotland
Also see this figure from Bancroft 1929 in the SanDiego natural history society transactions
August 28, 2024 at 1:36 PM
Also see this figure from Bancroft 1929 in the SanDiego natural history society transactions
Looks quite long billed, with less sharp gonal angle in your image Scott. Compared to one I photographed in Shetland in July. Possibly aranea rather than nilotica?
August 28, 2024 at 1:30 PM
Looks quite long billed, with less sharp gonal angle in your image Scott. Compared to one I photographed in Shetland in July. Possibly aranea rather than nilotica?
A bit of beachcombing today on Shetland following the recent SW winds. Delighted to find a few By-the-wind Sailors washed ashore. The blue colouration around the rim of the larger one is the remains of the hydrozoan colony that lives under the 'sail'. #MarineLife
August 25, 2024 at 6:50 PM
A bit of beachcombing today on Shetland following the recent SW winds. Delighted to find a few By-the-wind Sailors washed ashore. The blue colouration around the rim of the larger one is the remains of the hydrozoan colony that lives under the 'sail'. #MarineLife
Bottle-nosed Dolphin have only been recorded once in Shetland before this pod arrived two days ago. A pod of around 25 animals it contained several youngsters and was seen off Unst on 21st, then in a Voe in north Mainland on 22nd. #MarineLife
August 23, 2024 at 7:35 PM
Bottle-nosed Dolphin have only been recorded once in Shetland before this pod arrived two days ago. A pod of around 25 animals it contained several youngsters and was seen off Unst on 21st, then in a Voe in north Mainland on 22nd. #MarineLife
Absolute unit of a Basking Shark cruising the foamline this afternoon off Sandwick, Shetland.
August 13, 2024 at 8:39 PM
Absolute unit of a Basking Shark cruising the foamline this afternoon off Sandwick, Shetland.
Lesser Grey Shrike found nearby this evening on Shetland. Hopefully will stay around for better views later. Something just over 50 records for Shetland now. #BirdingScotland
August 13, 2024 at 8:38 PM
Lesser Grey Shrike found nearby this evening on Shetland. Hopefully will stay around for better views later. Something just over 50 records for Shetland now. #BirdingScotland
Screen grab from a bit of phone video taken from the house 2 nights ago. One of the regular pods of Orca seen around Shetland.
August 8, 2024 at 6:33 PM
Screen grab from a bit of phone video taken from the house 2 nights ago. One of the regular pods of Orca seen around Shetland.
Juvenile Barred Warbler in the garden yesterday. Regular autumn migrant on Shetland, the next few weeks should see plenty more of these big ol' lumps arriving.
August 7, 2024 at 1:49 PM
Juvenile Barred Warbler in the garden yesterday. Regular autumn migrant on Shetland, the next few weeks should see plenty more of these big ol' lumps arriving.
Male hybrid House x Tree Sparrow in the garden this evening, Shetland. Good mix of characters of both parents. #Scottishbirding
April 29, 2024 at 9:12 PM
Male hybrid House x Tree Sparrow in the garden this evening, Shetland. Good mix of characters of both parents. #Scottishbirding
Summer migrants starting to penetrate the far north of the UK with Barn Swallow, Arctic Tern and Eurasian Blackcap all recorded in Shetland over the weekend. Arctic Tern were the earliest recorded ever.
April 9, 2024 at 7:57 AM
Summer migrants starting to penetrate the far north of the UK with Barn Swallow, Arctic Tern and Eurasian Blackcap all recorded in Shetland over the weekend. Arctic Tern were the earliest recorded ever.
Mousa Broch, Shetland. February 2024.
The Broch was built in the iron age around 2000 years before present. It is the most complete example of a broch remaining in Scotland.
The Broch was built in the iron age around 2000 years before present. It is the most complete example of a broch remaining in Scotland.
February 18, 2024 at 1:01 PM
Mousa Broch, Shetland. February 2024.
The Broch was built in the iron age around 2000 years before present. It is the most complete example of a broch remaining in Scotland.
The Broch was built in the iron age around 2000 years before present. It is the most complete example of a broch remaining in Scotland.
Purple Sandpiper and Sanderling, Shetland, February 2024
February 18, 2024 at 12:56 PM
Purple Sandpiper and Sanderling, Shetland, February 2024
Herring Gull with dark eye. Similar both sides but looks like enlarged pupil. Looked to be a good adult but still to complete primary moult.
February 17, 2024 at 7:02 PM
Herring Gull with dark eye. Similar both sides but looks like enlarged pupil. Looked to be a good adult but still to complete primary moult.