Alan Stewart
@wildlifeblog.bsky.social
Retired Tayside Police and National Wildlife Crime Unit officer. Author of 10 books on wildlife, wildlife crime and of http://wildlifedetective.wordpress.com
New post on my blog at wildlifedetective.wordpress.com Book Review - Wild Edinburgh by Keith Broomfield
November 17, 2025 at 6:09 AM
New post on my blog at wildlifedetective.wordpress.com Book Review - Wild Edinburgh by Keith Broomfield
Little ringed plovers, Perthshire. Bird of the day - pairs of the same bird.
October 28, 2025 at 2:37 PM
Little ringed plovers, Perthshire. Bird of the day - pairs of the same bird.
Herons resting in a ploughed field.
October 27, 2025 at 11:54 AM
Herons resting in a ploughed field.
If this is one family then whooper swans seem to have had a good breeding season in Iceland this year. There were more elsewhere on this Perthshire loch, with a high proportion of cygnets.
October 22, 2025 at 12:34 PM
If this is one family then whooper swans seem to have had a good breeding season in Iceland this year. There were more elsewhere on this Perthshire loch, with a high proportion of cygnets.
Two not quite identical brown hares stand to attention. Interesting to spot the subtle differences.
October 6, 2025 at 5:22 AM
Two not quite identical brown hares stand to attention. Interesting to spot the subtle differences.
New post on wildlifedetective.wordpress.com Book review - The Highland Cow and the Horse of the Woods by Roy Dennis
September 11, 2025 at 1:40 PM
New post on wildlifedetective.wordpress.com Book review - The Highland Cow and the Horse of the Woods by Roy Dennis
On my walk this morning beside a Perthshire river I watched an otter for 20 mins which kept diving, presumably hunting for fish, though never saw it eating one. Hard to photograph as only on the surface for seconds before diving again.
September 4, 2025 at 2:35 PM
On my walk this morning beside a Perthshire river I watched an otter for 20 mins which kept diving, presumably hunting for fish, though never saw it eating one. Hard to photograph as only on the surface for seconds before diving again.
Roe doe watching me from a barley field on my walk this morning. Caption could be Ears in the Barley.
August 21, 2025 at 11:39 AM
Roe doe watching me from a barley field on my walk this morning. Caption could be Ears in the Barley.
A huge field in Perthshire full of wild flowers and bees. Some farmers are helping nature recovery.
August 13, 2025 at 12:48 PM
A huge field in Perthshire full of wild flowers and bees. Some farmers are helping nature recovery.
Almighty clatter on the conservatory window and female sparrowhawk fluttered to the ground. Minutes later I could see that it was plucking and eating a woodpigeon. I took some photos and left it to eat its fill.
August 4, 2025 at 1:38 PM
Almighty clatter on the conservatory window and female sparrowhawk fluttered to the ground. Minutes later I could see that it was plucking and eating a woodpigeon. I took some photos and left it to eat its fill.
Even more hares and well-grown leverets showing this morning now that some of the grain has been cut, and the field hedges are full of rowan berries.
July 31, 2025 at 12:08 PM
Even more hares and well-grown leverets showing this morning now that some of the grain has been cut, and the field hedges are full of rowan berries.
From my walk this morning, three poses from the same brown hare.
July 23, 2025 at 11:45 AM
From my walk this morning, three poses from the same brown hare.
Walk today mostly in woodland. Osprey seriously alarming at me from above nest I'd been unaware of. I was 150 yards away but moved on smartly. Really scruffy coal tit on fence post. Maybe had tick burden. Brown hare sunbathing which had a really surprised and sleepy look when it eventually sat up.
July 16, 2025 at 11:12 AM
Walk today mostly in woodland. Osprey seriously alarming at me from above nest I'd been unaware of. I was 150 yards away but moved on smartly. Really scruffy coal tit on fence post. Maybe had tick burden. Brown hare sunbathing which had a really surprised and sleepy look when it eventually sat up.
Just occasionally,if you stand still and the wind is in the right direction, wildlife will walk right past you.
July 14, 2025 at 5:28 AM
Just occasionally,if you stand still and the wind is in the right direction, wildlife will walk right past you.
Photographed one in Perthshire last month. Thought initially it was an albino heron. First I think for this area.
July 11, 2025 at 8:45 PM
Photographed one in Perthshire last month. Thought initially it was an albino heron. First I think for this area.
This beastie was buzzing about the conservatory this afternoon and I put it outside. About an inch long including a long spike coming from the abdomen, and a yellow abdomen as per the second pic. Looked fierce but I suspect harmless. Anyone any idea what it is?
July 8, 2025 at 1:33 PM
This beastie was buzzing about the conservatory this afternoon and I put it outside. About an inch long including a long spike coming from the abdomen, and a yellow abdomen as per the second pic. Looked fierce but I suspect harmless. Anyone any idea what it is?
On my walk this morning there were thousands of quarter inch-long frogs hopping about on a forest track, and a lovely (unidentified) flower growing in the forest. Young stonechat looking for insects in a pea field, and there is always a brown hare (note the wild flowers round the field edge).
July 3, 2025 at 11:09 AM
On my walk this morning there were thousands of quarter inch-long frogs hopping about on a forest track, and a lovely (unidentified) flower growing in the forest. Young stonechat looking for insects in a pea field, and there is always a brown hare (note the wild flowers round the field edge).
Roe doe taking in a bit of the early morning sun
June 30, 2025 at 5:16 AM
Roe doe taking in a bit of the early morning sun
A linnet posing on top of a gorse bush.
June 26, 2025 at 5:14 AM
A linnet posing on top of a gorse bush.
Sparrowhawk caught a young blackbird this morning. Held it a couple of minutes till it was dead then flew off with it to pluck and eat it elsewhere.
June 23, 2025 at 6:18 AM
Sparrowhawk caught a young blackbird this morning. Held it a couple of minutes till it was dead then flew off with it to pluck and eat it elsewhere.
My walk today was a bit different, taking me among farm buildings where there were nesting swallows. It was a nice warm morning for insects so the chicks were being well fed.
June 19, 2025 at 11:35 AM
My walk today was a bit different, taking me among farm buildings where there were nesting swallows. It was a nice warm morning for insects so the chicks were being well fed.
Not had red squirrels in the garden for a few months but here are some young squirrels from earlier. The netting, with a few larger holes in it, are to allow wee birds in but to exclude jackdaws. The bottom is open to let the birds out quickly and to allow red squirrels to get in.
June 18, 2025 at 4:57 AM
Not had red squirrels in the garden for a few months but here are some young squirrels from earlier. The netting, with a few larger holes in it, are to allow wee birds in but to exclude jackdaws. The bottom is open to let the birds out quickly and to allow red squirrels to get in.
Garden birds two by two - great-spotted woodpeckers and bullfinches.
June 16, 2025 at 5:06 AM
Garden birds two by two - great-spotted woodpeckers and bullfinches.
The ducks rescued at day-old didn't mind the rain yesterday. They're happy to have a preen and a snooze on the grass. They now fly off at dusk to places unknown and return just after first light for breakfast
June 15, 2025 at 4:50 AM
The ducks rescued at day-old didn't mind the rain yesterday. They're happy to have a preen and a snooze on the grass. They now fly off at dusk to places unknown and return just after first light for breakfast
Afraid mine from earlier this week in my garden is not as good as yours.
June 14, 2025 at 8:14 PM
Afraid mine from earlier this week in my garden is not as good as yours.