Tom Beckett
@tombeckett02.bsky.social
Birder and keen hillwalker from Edinburgh.
Durham University Master's Student.
University of St Andrews BSc Ecology and Conservation graduate.
Durham University Master's Student.
University of St Andrews BSc Ecology and Conservation graduate.
Cheers again for your help with getting on the bird! Managed some closer views and a couple of dodgy photos through the bins a bit later that afternoon. Nice and distinctive once I'd got my eye in!
October 27, 2025 at 7:16 PM
Cheers again for your help with getting on the bird! Managed some closer views and a couple of dodgy photos through the bins a bit later that afternoon. Nice and distinctive once I'd got my eye in!
Good numbers of Minke Whales, Common Dolphins, and porpoises were seen from the various ferry crossings. Birding highlights from these crossings included many Storm Petrels, one Leach's Petrel, 2 Sooty Shearwaters, 2 Little Gulls, and a Black Tern. 4/4 #BirdingScotland
ebird.org/tripreport/4...
ebird.org/tripreport/4...
September 24, 2025 at 5:28 PM
Good numbers of Minke Whales, Common Dolphins, and porpoises were seen from the various ferry crossings. Birding highlights from these crossings included many Storm Petrels, one Leach's Petrel, 2 Sooty Shearwaters, 2 Little Gulls, and a Black Tern. 4/4 #BirdingScotland
ebird.org/tripreport/4...
ebird.org/tripreport/4...
A day and a half scouring Colonsay and Oronsay failed to turn up any of the hoped-for rare waders, but the stunning scenery and excellent views of the resident Choughs and raptors more than made up for it! 3/4 #BirdingScotland
September 24, 2025 at 5:28 PM
A day and a half scouring Colonsay and Oronsay failed to turn up any of the hoped-for rare waders, but the stunning scenery and excellent views of the resident Choughs and raptors more than made up for it! 3/4 #BirdingScotland
Aside from the star rarity, Barra also provided excellent views of some Hebridean specialities, with both eagles, Merlin, and Hen Harrier seen. 19 Black-throated Divers (most still in summer-plumage) and a Bottlenose Dolphin were also seen off Vatersay. 2/4 #BirdingScotland
September 24, 2025 at 5:28 PM
Aside from the star rarity, Barra also provided excellent views of some Hebridean specialities, with both eagles, Merlin, and Hen Harrier seen. 19 Black-throated Divers (most still in summer-plumage) and a Bottlenose Dolphin were also seen off Vatersay. 2/4 #BirdingScotland
Brilliant trip to Barra and Colonsay (19th-23rd Sep) with @birdingscot.bsky.social, @louisbackstrom.bsky.social, and James Weeks. Some great birds over the course of the trip, with Stuart Beeby's Swainson's Thrush at Cuithir the undeniable highlight, and a lifer for all of us! 1/4
#BirdingScotland
#BirdingScotland
September 24, 2025 at 5:28 PM
Brilliant trip to Barra and Colonsay (19th-23rd Sep) with @birdingscot.bsky.social, @louisbackstrom.bsky.social, and James Weeks. Some great birds over the course of the trip, with Stuart Beeby's Swainson's Thrush at Cuithir the undeniable highlight, and a lifer for all of us! 1/4
#BirdingScotland
#BirdingScotland
Singing male Corn Bunting from this morning. I'll miss having these beauties on the doorstep!
July 8, 2025 at 11:51 AM
Singing male Corn Bunting from this morning. I'll miss having these beauties on the doorstep!
Looking for Corn Buntings felt like a fitting way to spend my last morning before moving away from St Andrews. 2 pairs near Strathkinness/Kincaple, with a couple of Osprey sightings nearby as well. Missed the Spoonbills on the Eden, but a smart Little Gull was nice consolation! #birdingFife
July 8, 2025 at 11:51 AM
Looking for Corn Buntings felt like a fitting way to spend my last morning before moving away from St Andrews. 2 pairs near Strathkinness/Kincaple, with a couple of Osprey sightings nearby as well. Missed the Spoonbills on the Eden, but a smart Little Gull was nice consolation! #birdingFife
This 2cy Little Gull at Northton (Harris) on Wednesday was a nice surprise. Not often that I get such good views of this species!
June 27, 2025 at 1:28 PM
This 2cy Little Gull at Northton (Harris) on Wednesday was a nice surprise. Not often that I get such good views of this species!
Back home after a fantastic week in the Outer Hebrides. Wildlife highlights included both eagles, all three divers, Hen Harrier, SEO, Little Tern, and lots of seabirds and cetaceans on the ferry crossings. Best of all was a showy Corncrake on North Uist! #birdingScotland
June 27, 2025 at 1:28 PM
Back home after a fantastic week in the Outer Hebrides. Wildlife highlights included both eagles, all three divers, Hen Harrier, SEO, Little Tern, and lots of seabirds and cetaceans on the ferry crossings. Best of all was a showy Corncrake on North Uist! #birdingScotland
A few years since I last saw one in summer plumage, so I couldn't resist going along to see the Spotted Redshank at Angle Park (found yesterday by @simonpinder5.bsky.social). Jay, Redpoll, and Crossbill also present nearby #birdingFife
June 15, 2025 at 11:09 AM
A few years since I last saw one in summer plumage, so I couldn't resist going along to see the Spotted Redshank at Angle Park (found yesterday by @simonpinder5.bsky.social). Jay, Redpoll, and Crossbill also present nearby #birdingFife
Nice to get out birding at Boarhills with the uni bird club this morning. This ringtail Hen Harrier, which briefly circled over the fields near the church before heading off Northwest, was a real surprise! Lots of singing Corn Buntings and common spring migrants also around #birdingFife
May 11, 2025 at 2:48 PM
Nice to get out birding at Boarhills with the uni bird club this morning. This ringtail Hen Harrier, which briefly circled over the fields near the church before heading off Northwest, was a real surprise! Lots of singing Corn Buntings and common spring migrants also around #birdingFife
Back from a fantastic couple of days walking and camping in the Perthshire/Aberdeenshire hills. Birding highlights included Golden Eagle, Ring Ouzel, Osprey, Golden Plover, and lots of Ptarmigan! #birdingScotland
May 4, 2025 at 10:42 AM
Back from a fantastic couple of days walking and camping in the Perthshire/Aberdeenshire hills. Birding highlights included Golden Eagle, Ring Ouzel, Osprey, Golden Plover, and lots of Ptarmigan! #birdingScotland
Cracking day out birding in Perthshire with @birdingscot.bsky.social and a few friends from uni. Great Egret a very nice surprise, with other highlights including Whinchat, Cuckoo, Tree Pipit, Red Kite, and Redstart! #birdingScotland
April 27, 2025 at 5:08 PM
Cracking day out birding in Perthshire with @birdingscot.bsky.social and a few friends from uni. Great Egret a very nice surprise, with other highlights including Whinchat, Cuckoo, Tree Pipit, Red Kite, and Redstart! #birdingScotland
Fantastic weather over the weekend for a hillwalking trip to the Northwest Highlands. Lucky to get close views of Ptarmigan #birdingScotland
April 8, 2025 at 10:28 AM
Fantastic weather over the weekend for a hillwalking trip to the Northwest Highlands. Lucky to get close views of Ptarmigan #birdingScotland
Spent the last few days on a university field trip, visiting and learning about rewilding and nature conservation projects in the Scottish Highlands. #birdingScotland highlights included Osprey, Crossbill, and Crested Tit in the Cairngorms, along with heaps of Red Kites @argatyredkites.bsky.social
April 2, 2025 at 5:06 PM
Spent the last few days on a university field trip, visiting and learning about rewilding and nature conservation projects in the Scottish Highlands. #birdingScotland highlights included Osprey, Crossbill, and Crested Tit in the Cairngorms, along with heaps of Red Kites @argatyredkites.bsky.social
Nice to take a break from uni work with a day of birding. Started off with a uni bird club walk from St Andrews to Balgove Bay. 60 species seen/heard, with good views of Pintail and Brent Geese. Quiet WeBS count in St Andrews this afternoon, but still 52 Purple Sandpipers in the roost #birdingFife
March 16, 2025 at 4:55 PM
Nice to take a break from uni work with a day of birding. Started off with a uni bird club walk from St Andrews to Balgove Bay. 60 species seen/heard, with good views of Pintail and Brent Geese. Quiet WeBS count in St Andrews this afternoon, but still 52 Purple Sandpipers in the roost #birdingFife
Back from a fantastic weekend trip to the Highlands with @tomrosas.bsky.social and friends from the University of St Andrews birding and hillwalking clubs. Highlights from the trip included Ptarmigan, Golden Eagle, Great Northern Diver, Black Guillemot, and Crossbill. #birdingScotland
March 4, 2025 at 6:57 PM
Back from a fantastic weekend trip to the Highlands with @tomrosas.bsky.social and friends from the University of St Andrews birding and hillwalking clubs. Highlights from the trip included Ptarmigan, Golden Eagle, Great Northern Diver, Black Guillemot, and Crossbill. #birdingScotland
Cracking afternoon birding on the Eden Estuary. The Avocet found earlier by Angus Duncan was the highlight, and the first I've seen since one here in 2022. Short-eared Owl, Brent Geese, and lots of wildfowl and waders were very nice to see, too #birdingFife
February 27, 2025 at 6:26 PM
Cracking afternoon birding on the Eden Estuary. The Avocet found earlier by Angus Duncan was the highlight, and the first I've seen since one here in 2022. Short-eared Owl, Brent Geese, and lots of wildfowl and waders were very nice to see, too #birdingFife
Enjoyable morning birding between St Monans and Kilconquhar, with 7 Russian White-fronted Geese (found yesterday by @wilsonjaredm.bsky.social) the highlight. Good numbers of farmland finches and buntings at Bowhouse too. #birdingFife
February 1, 2025 at 3:04 PM
Enjoyable morning birding between St Monans and Kilconquhar, with 7 Russian White-fronted Geese (found yesterday by @wilsonjaredm.bsky.social) the highlight. Good numbers of farmland finches and buntings at Bowhouse too. #birdingFife
Back up in Fife after spending the festive season at home. Couldn't resist stopping off at Leven for the Iceland Gull and Surf Scoters. Later, at St Andrews, a showy Grey Heron and a good count of 60 Purple Sandpipers were the highlights from an otherwise quiet WeBS count #birdingFife
January 12, 2025 at 7:20 PM
Back up in Fife after spending the festive season at home. Couldn't resist stopping off at Leven for the Iceland Gull and Surf Scoters. Later, at St Andrews, a showy Grey Heron and a good count of 60 Purple Sandpipers were the highlights from an otherwise quiet WeBS count #birdingFife
A real highlight of 2024 was spending the summer mapping and monitoring Fife's Corn Buntings for my 4th year dissertation research. During this time, I was lucky to find a couple of rarities, with Nightjar at Boarhills and Lesser Yellowlegs on my local St Andrews patch the standouts!
#birdingFife
#birdingFife
December 31, 2024 at 1:27 PM
A real highlight of 2024 was spending the summer mapping and monitoring Fife's Corn Buntings for my 4th year dissertation research. During this time, I was lucky to find a couple of rarities, with Nightjar at Boarhills and Lesser Yellowlegs on my local St Andrews patch the standouts!
#birdingFife
#birdingFife
A fantastic year of Scottish birding, with 203 species! Standout rarities included Myrtle Warbler, Bufflehead, Baird's Sandpiper, Stejneger's Scoter, Spotted Sandpiper and Lesser Scaup. Some excellent Fife birds too, with Stone Curlew, Turtle Dove, Wryneck, American Wigeon and more. #birdingScotland
December 31, 2024 at 1:27 PM
A fantastic year of Scottish birding, with 203 species! Standout rarities included Myrtle Warbler, Bufflehead, Baird's Sandpiper, Stejneger's Scoter, Spotted Sandpiper and Lesser Scaup. Some excellent Fife birds too, with Stone Curlew, Turtle Dove, Wryneck, American Wigeon and more. #birdingScotland
Nice to visit RSPB Loch Leven today. Enjoyed good but distant views of three Great Egrets along the eastern shore opposite St Serf's Island. A Drake Smew in the southeast corner of the loch was a nice surprise too! #birdingScotland
December 27, 2024 at 9:26 PM
Nice to visit RSPB Loch Leven today. Enjoyed good but distant views of three Great Egrets along the eastern shore opposite St Serf's Island. A Drake Smew in the southeast corner of the loch was a nice surprise too! #birdingScotland
Nice to see this Puffin off West Sands, St Andrews. Typically scarce here, but this was one of at least 8 present in St Andrews Bay today! #birdingFife
December 14, 2024 at 5:40 PM
Nice to see this Puffin off West Sands, St Andrews. Typically scarce here, but this was one of at least 8 present in St Andrews Bay today! #birdingFife