Andy Williams
@pelagicbirder.bsky.social
Former Marine Ecologist, birder, bird surveyor, amateur
naturalist and taker of opportunistic snapshots. Hobbyist drummer. Trying to learn Spanish. No politics, No religion. #Seabirds #Highlandbirds #Birdingscotland #ASD
naturalist and taker of opportunistic snapshots. Hobbyist drummer. Trying to learn Spanish. No politics, No religion. #Seabirds #Highlandbirds #Birdingscotland #ASD
'Winter' warblers on the patch are very few and far between so even a Chiffchaff is welcome. #Highlandbirds #Ullapool
November 15, 2025 at 5:34 PM
'Winter' warblers on the patch are very few and far between so even a Chiffchaff is welcome. #Highlandbirds #Ullapool
Birding in the Cairgorm National Park - Common Crossbills, Crested tits, distant Ptarmigan - and a not so distant Capercaillie! #Highlandbirds
November 11, 2025 at 5:23 PM
Birding in the Cairgorm National Park - Common Crossbills, Crested tits, distant Ptarmigan - and a not so distant Capercaillie! #Highlandbirds
East coast birding with @almcnee52.bsky.social @skyebirdsbob.bsky.social & @deanmacaskill.bsky.social
7 little Gulls, Velvet Scoter & showy Purps. at Brora, 2 late Arctic Skuas at Embo, GW teal and four Slavs at Tain the best, plus LTD, GND and RTD's - all in gorgeous weather. #Highlandbirds
7 little Gulls, Velvet Scoter & showy Purps. at Brora, 2 late Arctic Skuas at Embo, GW teal and four Slavs at Tain the best, plus LTD, GND and RTD's - all in gorgeous weather. #Highlandbirds
November 7, 2025 at 5:26 PM
East coast birding with @almcnee52.bsky.social @skyebirdsbob.bsky.social & @deanmacaskill.bsky.social
7 little Gulls, Velvet Scoter & showy Purps. at Brora, 2 late Arctic Skuas at Embo, GW teal and four Slavs at Tain the best, plus LTD, GND and RTD's - all in gorgeous weather. #Highlandbirds
7 little Gulls, Velvet Scoter & showy Purps. at Brora, 2 late Arctic Skuas at Embo, GW teal and four Slavs at Tain the best, plus LTD, GND and RTD's - all in gorgeous weather. #Highlandbirds
Daily graft on my local patches for a couple of chiffchaffs and a couple of Blackcaps. A chance to enjoy the local birds. #Highlandbirds #Ullapool #Ardmair
November 6, 2025 at 8:33 PM
Daily graft on my local patches for a couple of chiffchaffs and a couple of Blackcaps. A chance to enjoy the local birds. #Highlandbirds #Ullapool #Ardmair
Not sure but these little beauties could be Sulphur Tufts? #Fungifriends
October 29, 2025 at 5:15 PM
Not sure but these little beauties could be Sulphur Tufts? #Fungifriends
Snow on the high ground- a return to winter birding. #Ullapool #Highlandbirds
October 26, 2025 at 12:42 PM
Snow on the high ground- a return to winter birding. #Ullapool #Highlandbirds
Spent a great day in lovely conditions looking for birds in quiet, out of the way areas. Passerines appear thin on the ground and I found nothing to quicken my pulse, although 6 Red Grouse telling me to 'go back' in the late evening light was a fitting end to the day. #Shetland #BirdingScotland
September 28, 2025 at 8:46 PM
Spent a great day in lovely conditions looking for birds in quiet, out of the way areas. Passerines appear thin on the ground and I found nothing to quicken my pulse, although 6 Red Grouse telling me to 'go back' in the late evening light was a fitting end to the day. #Shetland #BirdingScotland
Tired all day after an inconsiderate driver left their car alarm switched on and it kicked off on the car deck below a rank of cabins from 01:00 until we disembarked! 😡 Things have improved with a glass of red and an Arctic skua on the house list 😁 #Shetland #BirdingScotland #Northlink
September 27, 2025 at 5:49 PM
Tired all day after an inconsiderate driver left their car alarm switched on and it kicked off on the car deck below a rank of cabins from 01:00 until we disembarked! 😡 Things have improved with a glass of red and an Arctic skua on the house list 😁 #Shetland #BirdingScotland #Northlink
A week on the Isle of Lewis- some good year tick birds and plenty of scenic soul food. #OuterHebrides #BirdingScotland
September 21, 2025 at 7:42 PM
A week on the Isle of Lewis- some good year tick birds and plenty of scenic soul food. #OuterHebrides #BirdingScotland
Sea watching remains a challenge, with only a few Sooties and Manx the best. Went to check if the izzy wheatear was still present- it was still in situ, lively, tho rather damp. Enjoyed a small fall of northern wheatears and saw a lovely Short eared owl. #IsleofLewis #BirdingScotland
September 18, 2025 at 9:39 PM
Sea watching remains a challenge, with only a few Sooties and Manx the best. Went to check if the izzy wheatear was still present- it was still in situ, lively, tho rather damp. Enjoyed a small fall of northern wheatears and saw a lovely Short eared owl. #IsleofLewis #BirdingScotland
Isabelline wheatear, Isle of Lewis- a super find by Jack Morris/Dan Beadle. #IsleofLewis #BirdingScotland
September 16, 2025 at 3:43 PM
Isabelline wheatear, Isle of Lewis- a super find by Jack Morris/Dan Beadle. #IsleofLewis #BirdingScotland
Hard birding on Lewis at the moment, although good to see 4 Ruff and a Reeve on the Machair today. A bonus of two Painted Ladies and five Red Admirals in Port Nis yesterday. #BirdingScotland #IsleofLewis #ButterfliesUK
September 15, 2025 at 1:26 PM
Hard birding on Lewis at the moment, although good to see 4 Ruff and a Reeve on the Machair today. A bonus of two Painted Ladies and five Red Admirals in Port Nis yesterday. #BirdingScotland #IsleofLewis #ButterfliesUK
8 Arctic Skuas, 1 Leach's, 3 ESP's c35 Manx, 2 Minkes in the Minch today. #Highlandbirds #TheMinch
September 7, 2025 at 5:34 PM
8 Arctic Skuas, 1 Leach's, 3 ESP's c35 Manx, 2 Minkes in the Minch today. #Highlandbirds #TheMinch
Another ferry return away day dominated by cetaceans- 1 Fin Whale, 6-7 Minke whales, 200+ Common Dolphins and a handful of Harbour Porpoise. Quiet for birds- 2 Leach's the best, only 4 Manx and 5-6 Arctic Skuas. #Highlandbirds #CetaceansUK #Seabirds #TheMinch
September 3, 2025 at 5:01 PM
Another ferry return away day dominated by cetaceans- 1 Fin Whale, 6-7 Minke whales, 200+ Common Dolphins and a handful of Harbour Porpoise. Quiet for birds- 2 Leach's the best, only 4 Manx and 5-6 Arctic Skuas. #Highlandbirds #CetaceansUK #Seabirds #TheMinch
Frustrating birding in the Minch between Ullapool and Stornoway today: c90 Manx, 5 ESP's, 5 Bonxies, 1 Arctic Skua🙄 my day was saved by 8 Sooties and a single Leach's on the Hebridean side of the Minch; also a smattering of Common Dolphins and 1 Minke whale. #Highlandbirds #Seabirds #CetaceansUK
September 2, 2025 at 5:51 PM
Frustrating birding in the Minch between Ullapool and Stornoway today: c90 Manx, 5 ESP's, 5 Bonxies, 1 Arctic Skua🙄 my day was saved by 8 Sooties and a single Leach's on the Hebridean side of the Minch; also a smattering of Common Dolphins and 1 Minke whale. #Highlandbirds #Seabirds #CetaceansUK
Spent much of today on moorland survey between 450-600 metres elevation - both eagle spp; Red kites & Merlin the birding highlights, plus at least 14 mountain Hares- lovely animals! #Highlandbirds #Mammals #ScottishHighlands
August 30, 2025 at 4:55 PM
Spent much of today on moorland survey between 450-600 metres elevation - both eagle spp; Red kites & Merlin the birding highlights, plus at least 14 mountain Hares- lovely animals! #Highlandbirds #Mammals #ScottishHighlands
Minch ferry return ULLA- STWY: 35 Sooties, 8 Arctic Skuas, 8 European Storm Petrels, Manxies n Bonxies, 5 Minke Whales, plenty of Common Dolphins, plus a bonus flock of 4 Redshank migrating down the Minch. #CetaceansUK #Highlandbirds #Seabirds
August 17, 2025 at 6:03 PM
Minch ferry return ULLA- STWY: 35 Sooties, 8 Arctic Skuas, 8 European Storm Petrels, Manxies n Bonxies, 5 Minke Whales, plenty of Common Dolphins, plus a bonus flock of 4 Redshank migrating down the Minch. #CetaceansUK #Highlandbirds #Seabirds
A new birding experience for me- first time I have encountered a Common Scoter with chicks! #Highlandbirds
August 9, 2025 at 7:40 PM
A new birding experience for me- first time I have encountered a Common Scoter with chicks! #Highlandbirds
Cold and wet all day on survey with it feeling like November and just a few Crossbills and a single Little Grebe for my efforts 🙄 - but I did see sunshine for 90 seconds 😁 #ScottishHighlands #Highlandbirds
August 8, 2025 at 6:52 PM
Cold and wet all day on survey with it feeling like November and just a few Crossbills and a single Little Grebe for my efforts 🙄 - but I did see sunshine for 90 seconds 😁 #ScottishHighlands #Highlandbirds
Ferry day return, Ullapool-Stornoway: Sooties 3, Manx c260, Arctic Skua 6, Bonxie 12, Storm petrel 3, Minke whale 8, Common Dolphin c70, White-beaked Dolphin 1. #TheMinch #Highlandbirds #Seabirds #CetaceansUK
July 31, 2025 at 5:04 PM
Ferry day return, Ullapool-Stornoway: Sooties 3, Manx c260, Arctic Skua 6, Bonxie 12, Storm petrel 3, Minke whale 8, Common Dolphin c70, White-beaked Dolphin 1. #TheMinch #Highlandbirds #Seabirds #CetaceansUK
Checked a lovely, local site for Azure Hawker today without success, but enjoyed seeing plenty of Emerald Damselflies #Odonata #ScottishHighlands
July 29, 2025 at 7:30 PM
Checked a lovely, local site for Azure Hawker today without success, but enjoyed seeing plenty of Emerald Damselflies #Odonata #ScottishHighlands
I saw my first Red Kite (in the early 80's, near Tregaron, Wales). I now see them regularly and they occasionally appear to investigate my presence when I'm out in remote areas of the Scottish Highlands. One of a few birding success stories. #Highlandbirds #Raptors
July 23, 2025 at 2:05 PM
I saw my first Red Kite (in the early 80's, near Tregaron, Wales). I now see them regularly and they occasionally appear to investigate my presence when I'm out in remote areas of the Scottish Highlands. One of a few birding success stories. #Highlandbirds #Raptors
Slowly recuperating from the dreaded Lyme disease with very easy, local insect rambles. Dark giant Horsefly, Four Spotted Chaser and Common Blue. #Insects #Butterflies #ScottishHighlands #Ullapool
July 15, 2025 at 3:03 PM
Slowly recuperating from the dreaded Lyme disease with very easy, local insect rambles. Dark giant Horsefly, Four Spotted Chaser and Common Blue. #Insects #Butterflies #ScottishHighlands #Ullapool
'Habitat shot' - White-tailed Eagle soaring over some classic terrain in the Scottish Highlands. #Highlandbirds
July 9, 2025 at 7:42 PM
'Habitat shot' - White-tailed Eagle soaring over some classic terrain in the Scottish Highlands. #Highlandbirds
Appalling weather and low light for photos but great overhead views of this Honey Buzzard today. At least the flight jizz is wonderful even as a near silhouette. #Highlandbirds
July 5, 2025 at 8:13 PM
Appalling weather and low light for photos but great overhead views of this Honey Buzzard today. At least the flight jizz is wonderful even as a near silhouette. #Highlandbirds