Matt Eade
@matt-eade24.bsky.social
Former Sussex birder, now near Inverness. Keen world, country and county lister. Also heavily into orchids, butterflies & dragonflies/damselflies.
Keen runner too.
Keen runner too.
Sat at work earlier in deepest, darkest Highland roughly 15 miles inland, out of nowhere a passerine flew past, landed in some heather next to me, and soon gave itself away as a pristine Siberian Chiffchaff! Shortly after four Snow Buntings flew over. #BirdingScotland
November 17, 2025 at 4:09 PM
Sat at work earlier in deepest, darkest Highland roughly 15 miles inland, out of nowhere a passerine flew past, landed in some heather next to me, and soon gave itself away as a pristine Siberian Chiffchaff! Shortly after four Snow Buntings flew over. #BirdingScotland
I recently reacquainted myself with a 'lost' memory card, and hidden in amongst were these Short-toed Eagle photos taken on Ashdown Forest (East Sussex). Of the 330 species I saw in the county before moving to the Highlands, this was the stand-out bird by far!
October 30, 2025 at 8:04 PM
I recently reacquainted myself with a 'lost' memory card, and hidden in amongst were these Short-toed Eagle photos taken on Ashdown Forest (East Sussex). Of the 330 species I saw in the county before moving to the Highlands, this was the stand-out bird by far!
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
Now back from Shetland and on the train between Inverness and Beauly I spotted a Snow Goose in with the pinkies. Due to viewing difficulties around Kirkhill, it took me a while to re-locate, but eventually did. 40 Barnacles also here too. #BirdingScotland
October 7, 2025 at 3:38 PM
Now back from Shetland and on the train between Inverness and Beauly I spotted a Snow Goose in with the pinkies. Due to viewing difficulties around Kirkhill, it took me a while to re-locate, but eventually did. 40 Barnacles also here too. #BirdingScotland
Our final full day ended with watching the Siberian Thrush all to ourselves. Other bits today included 20+ Storm Petrels heading out of Muckle Roe, a Snow Bunting, a few Yellow-broweds and a Pec Sand. #BirdingShetland
October 5, 2025 at 6:04 PM
Our final full day ended with watching the Siberian Thrush all to ourselves. Other bits today included 20+ Storm Petrels heading out of Muckle Roe, a Snow Bunting, a few Yellow-broweds and a Pec Sand. #BirdingShetland
No vehicle as Steve went off for the Sibe Thrush, so I hiked from Ronas Voe to Urafirth via a few sites and struck gold at the latter by flushing an elusive Rustic Bunting. My Corncrake was again in its quarry, and the day ended with a Red-breasted Flycatcher in the Esha Ness geo. #BirdingShetland
October 3, 2025 at 4:47 PM
No vehicle as Steve went off for the Sibe Thrush, so I hiked from Ronas Voe to Urafirth via a few sites and struck gold at the latter by flushing an elusive Rustic Bunting. My Corncrake was again in its quarry, and the day ended with a Red-breasted Flycatcher in the Esha Ness geo. #BirdingShetland
… and here is the Otter, first spotted up the beach being kicked out of the surf by a Grey Seal, it ran along the beach and perched just below us, where Steve Wilson was able to get these awesome pics before it smelt our presence! #otters #birdingshetland
October 2, 2025 at 5:54 AM
… and here is the Otter, first spotted up the beach being kicked out of the surf by a Grey Seal, it ran along the beach and perched just below us, where Steve Wilson was able to get these awesome pics before it smelt our presence! #otters #birdingshetland
Two days in the north of Shetland and steadily trickling along in far from ideal conditions with Rosefinch and Corncrake the best finds so far, plenty of Yellow-broweds still to be found and a superb Otter. A Tree Pipit skulking in long grass today was the biggest disappointment! #BirdingShetland
October 1, 2025 at 5:17 PM
Two days in the north of Shetland and steadily trickling along in far from ideal conditions with Rosefinch and Corncrake the best finds so far, plenty of Yellow-broweds still to be found and a superb Otter. A Tree Pipit skulking in long grass today was the biggest disappointment! #BirdingShetland
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
Here’s 30, from over 4,000 Pink-footed Geese which fought their way SSE during a six-hour stint today near Lairg. How a gale force westerly is conducive for migration I’ll never know. #BirdingScotland
September 18, 2025 at 6:10 PM
Here’s 30, from over 4,000 Pink-footed Geese which fought their way SSE during a six-hour stint today near Lairg. How a gale force westerly is conducive for migration I’ll never know. #BirdingScotland
Making the most of a day off, today I ventured NW to Balnakeil. A top morning with a Barred Warbler being the notable find, but other migrants/mustelids comprised two Hawfinches, Lesser Whitethroat, Garden Warbler, both Otter and Stoat, and five were Ruff nearby. A top site!! #BirdingScotland
September 17, 2025 at 3:47 PM
Making the most of a day off, today I ventured NW to Balnakeil. A top morning with a Barred Warbler being the notable find, but other migrants/mustelids comprised two Hawfinches, Lesser Whitethroat, Garden Warbler, both Otter and Stoat, and five were Ruff nearby. A top site!! #BirdingScotland
Tarbat Ness: a later than normal visit with Nan was better than expected, with a Whinchat and Swift present, but a flock of 17 Coal Tits ‘high-flying’ out to sea was a cracking sight! Lots of Painted Ladies too. #BirdingScotland
September 13, 2025 at 7:22 PM
Tarbat Ness: a later than normal visit with Nan was better than expected, with a Whinchat and Swift present, but a flock of 17 Coal Tits ‘high-flying’ out to sea was a cracking sight! Lots of Painted Ladies too. #BirdingScotland
And here is one of the close Cory’s. #BirdingScotland
September 7, 2025 at 5:02 PM
And here is one of the close Cory’s. #BirdingScotland
A brilliant 5.5hr seawatch today from my now beloved Portgower site. The moderate ESE winds delivered with two Cory's Shearwaters, 4 Great Shearwaters, 97 Sooty Shearwaters and 11 Arctic Skuas. Some of the large shears were very close inshore. #BirdingScotland
September 7, 2025 at 4:53 PM
A brilliant 5.5hr seawatch today from my now beloved Portgower site. The moderate ESE winds delivered with two Cory's Shearwaters, 4 Great Shearwaters, 97 Sooty Shearwaters and 11 Arctic Skuas. Some of the large shears were very close inshore. #BirdingScotland
A female 'Highland' Darter seen yesterday up near Lairg. Still a few Common Hawkers about, but the Highland Odonata season is slowly coming to a close now. @dragonflydamselfly.bsky.social
September 5, 2025 at 3:57 PM
A female 'Highland' Darter seen yesterday up near Lairg. Still a few Common Hawkers about, but the Highland Odonata season is slowly coming to a close now. @dragonflydamselfly.bsky.social
Udale Bay was alive with birds this morning. No hoped for Curlew Sands, but five Ruddy Shelduck, ca. 25 Scaup, three Slav Grebes, a Black-tailed Godwit amongst throngs of other species. #BirdingScotland
September 3, 2025 at 4:55 PM
Udale Bay was alive with birds this morning. No hoped for Curlew Sands, but five Ruddy Shelduck, ca. 25 Scaup, three Slav Grebes, a Black-tailed Godwit amongst throngs of other species. #BirdingScotland
I think someone ‘hibernated’ for too long! Odd to hear him ‘bubbling’ and showing off to a nearby female in September. #BirdingScotland
September 2, 2025 at 3:27 PM
I think someone ‘hibernated’ for too long! Odd to hear him ‘bubbling’ and showing off to a nearby female in September. #BirdingScotland
Conditions looked OK so I opted for a seawatch up near Helmsdale. Unfortunately only 4 Sooty S’waters, 27 Manx S’waters, a Puffin, a Great Northern Diver and 7 Whimbrel noted in six hours, but a ‘Goliath’ form of Basking Shark was the highlight… absolutely huge! #BirdingScotland
August 31, 2025 at 4:41 PM
Conditions looked OK so I opted for a seawatch up near Helmsdale. Unfortunately only 4 Sooty S’waters, 27 Manx S’waters, a Puffin, a Great Northern Diver and 7 Whimbrel noted in six hours, but a ‘Goliath’ form of Basking Shark was the highlight… absolutely huge! #BirdingScotland
A 15 mile run up and over Ben Wyvis (1046m) this morning was highlighted by a superb juv Dotterel. Sadly I was too sweaty and breathless to find it on the deck, so two lovely and close flight views was all I could muster… I’ve missed that purring call! #BirdingScotland
August 30, 2025 at 11:46 AM
A 15 mile run up and over Ben Wyvis (1046m) this morning was highlighted by a superb juv Dotterel. Sadly I was too sweaty and breathless to find it on the deck, so two lovely and close flight views was all I could muster… I’ve missed that purring call! #BirdingScotland
Yesterday, walking a 2km stretch of stream which runs through a remote bog moorland up near Caithness, I counted no fewer than 99 Black Darters. Never witnessed such excellent numbers before! @dragonflydamselfly.bsky.social #ScottishDragonflies
August 29, 2025 at 4:14 PM
Yesterday, walking a 2km stretch of stream which runs through a remote bog moorland up near Caithness, I counted no fewer than 99 Black Darters. Never witnessed such excellent numbers before! @dragonflydamselfly.bsky.social #ScottishDragonflies
A jaunt on the Ullapool to Stornoway Ferry with @emilyrichens.bsky.social & Matt Broadbent was a great day out, only if the standard fare was seen: ca. 30 Sooty S’waters, 1 Leach’s Petrel, ca. 35 Storm-Petrels, lots of Bonxies & 10 Arctic Skuas, & many Minke Whales. #BirdingScotland
August 24, 2025 at 6:54 PM
A jaunt on the Ullapool to Stornoway Ferry with @emilyrichens.bsky.social & Matt Broadbent was a great day out, only if the standard fare was seen: ca. 30 Sooty S’waters, 1 Leach’s Petrel, ca. 35 Storm-Petrels, lots of Bonxies & 10 Arctic Skuas, & many Minke Whales. #BirdingScotland
A top day hiking 14 miles in the Glen Affric range, with Ptarmigan being the commonest bird (22 seen)! Other than that, amazing views once the cloud had lifted. #BirdingScotland
August 10, 2025 at 5:05 PM
A top day hiking 14 miles in the Glen Affric range, with Ptarmigan being the commonest bird (22 seen)! Other than that, amazing views once the cloud had lifted. #BirdingScotland
This Water Shrew was found dead this morning, apparently succumbing to carrying a blade of grass across a trail as it was firmly gripping such when I moved it… poor lad! #UKMammals
August 1, 2025 at 7:17 PM
This Water Shrew was found dead this morning, apparently succumbing to carrying a blade of grass across a trail as it was firmly gripping such when I moved it… poor lad! #UKMammals
Azure Hawkers are still roaming the remote boggy moorlands, this male today, not too far away from Glen Affric! @dragonflydamselfly.bsky.social #UKDragonflies
July 29, 2025 at 5:17 PM
Azure Hawkers are still roaming the remote boggy moorlands, this male today, not too far away from Glen Affric! @dragonflydamselfly.bsky.social #UKDragonflies
A Plain Clay was the highlight from last night’s trap, this being classed as Nationally Scarce B. Lots of the attractive Antler Moths too. Beauly, Scotland! #UKMoths
July 29, 2025 at 11:21 AM
A Plain Clay was the highlight from last night’s trap, this being classed as Nationally Scarce B. Lots of the attractive Antler Moths too. Beauly, Scotland! #UKMoths