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Josh’s Wildlife

@joshswildlife.bsky.social

1.3K followers 490 following 480 posts

Young naturalist from Inverness, Scotland. Main interests: Birds, Moths, Orchids, photography & journaling.

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Josh’s Wildlife @joshswildlife.bsky.social · Aug 22

Woke up to a great skua outside my tent!

Camping tip: if a bonxie parks itself outside your tent, just accept you’re the guest!! 🤣

#BirdingScotland #UKBirding #Birds

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Josh’s Wildlife @joshswildlife.bsky.social · 3d

Only 3 moths in the trap for @gardenmothscheme.bsky.social this week but some of my favourite autumn species: Angle Shades, Silver Y & Green-Brindled Crescent.

#TeamMoth #MothsMatter #Moths

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Josh’s Wildlife @joshswildlife.bsky.social · 5d

Still really windy at Alturlie yesterday. Most of the waders were hunkering down like these Dunlin. Great views of a single bar-tailed godwit. 5 sand martin flew past, 2 Long-tailed ducks (first of the winter) & patch tick gannet

#UKBirding #BirdingScotland #patchbirding #birds

Josh’s Wildlife @joshswildlife.bsky.social · 7d

It was still pretty wild at Alturlie after Storm Amy. A Leach’s Petrel flew right next to car & then got blown inland in with a flock of lapwings. There was also a single swallow, wheatear, canada geese and some very exhausted looking chiffchaffs! #patchbirding #BirdingScotland #UKBirding #Birds

Josh’s Wildlife @joshswildlife.bsky.social · 9d

Spotted this little zebra jumping spider in the garden showing off its stripes!

They don’t bother with webs, they just leap around hunting, sometimes jumping 10× their body length.

Always amazing what you can find when you look closely.

#WildlifePhotography #JumpingSpider

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Josh’s Wildlife @joshswildlife.bsky.social · 11d

A great morning at Tarbat Ness over the weekend. This wren found a nice snack in the plantation; great to see knot on the rocks & lots of curlew flying over. As we were leaving there was a large flock of golden plover on the farmland.

#BirdingScotland #UKBirding #Birds

Josh’s Wildlife @joshswildlife.bsky.social · 13d

Visited Tarbat Ness at the weekend. I did a sound recording at the plantation which picked up what it said was a yellow-browed warbler. Stayed a while but didn’t see or hear it again. Playing it back it does sound like the call and the sonogram shape seems to match? Any thoughts?

Josh’s Wildlife @joshswildlife.bsky.social · 13d

Bar-headed goose in with the greylags at Alturlie on Friday.

#UKBirding #BirdingScotland #Birds

Josh’s Wildlife @joshswildlife.bsky.social · 13d

Thanks 😊

Josh’s Wildlife @joshswildlife.bsky.social · 13d

Excited that 3 of my photos were shortlisted in the Martin Mere photography competition (Junior category) for the second year in a row!
This year’s theme was insects.

#WildlifePhotography #Insects

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Josh’s Wildlife @joshswildlife.bsky.social · 20d

19/09/25 VC96.

Only 7 species, definitely starting to feel more autumnal. Highlights were pink-barred sallow & Epinotia tenerana NFG

#TeamMoth @gardenmothscheme.bsky.social

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Josh’s Wildlife @joshswildlife.bsky.social · 21d

A nice 10km walk along the Caledonian Canal yesterday afternoon. A very worn speckled wood was enjoying the brambles. Lots of Common Darters were basking in the autumn sunshine. An orange-legged furrow bee & hoverflies were foraging on the late-blooming flowers. #Nature #Autumn

Josh’s Wildlife @joshswildlife.bsky.social · 22d

A red admiral enjoying the rose hips today.

@savebutterflies.bsky.social #butterfly #nature

Josh’s Wildlife @joshswildlife.bsky.social · 22d

We also spotted this bank vole scurrying through the undergrowth. A beautiful siskin stopped by the feeders. What I thought might be a moth caterpillar but I think is a common pine sawfly. And another crested tit peeking round the fence.

#BirdingScotland #UKBirding #Birds

Josh’s Wildlife @joshswildlife.bsky.social · 23d

Spent a great afternoon at Loch Garten catching up with friends from @btoscotland.bsky.social Bird Camp. Made even better as the crested tits put on a show at the feeders!

#UKBirding #BirdingScotland #Birds
@scottishbirding.bsky.social

Josh’s Wildlife @joshswildlife.bsky.social · 23d

Thanks

Josh’s Wildlife @joshswildlife.bsky.social · 23d

Thanks, it’s not easy from a boat!

Josh’s Wildlife @joshswildlife.bsky.social · 23d

Thanks! I’ve been wanting to see one for ages, and finally got lucky!

Josh’s Wildlife @joshswildlife.bsky.social · 23d

One of the real highlights was some tiny Storm Petrel flying low over the waves. I managed to capture a video, it shows perfectly why they’re so difficult to see, being so small & quick. We also managed to get a Leach's petrel. A life tick for me. 5/5

#BirdsSeenIn2025 #Birds #UKBirding

Josh’s Wildlife @joshswildlife.bsky.social · 23d

We were lucky enough to see a few pods of common dolphins. 4/5

#Wildlife #Nature #UKWildlife #cetacean
#Dolphins

Josh’s Wildlife @joshswildlife.bsky.social · 24d

A red-throated diver flew right over us with a fish in its bill as we arrived at Stornoway harbour! Out of interest, any ideas as regards to the fish species would be much appreciated! 3/5

#UKBirding #BirdingScotland #Birds

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Josh’s Wildlife @joshswildlife.bsky.social · 24d

We were joined for much of the journey by Gannets and Kittiwakes, both adults and juveniles, giving close-up views right alongside the boat. It's always a treat to see them so close! 2/5

#BirdingScotland #UKBirding #Birds #HighlandBirds #Highlands

Josh’s Wildlife @joshswildlife.bsky.social · 24d

What a fantastic day trip on the Ullapool to Stornoway ferry with the SOC
Highland group on 7th September!

Before we even left the harbour, we had a brilliant view of a Viking gull. 1/5

#UKBirding #BirdingScotland #BirdsSeenIn2025 #Birds

Josh’s Wildlife @joshswildlife.bsky.social · 25d

Then came the real highlight: TWO Balearic shearwaters! Only the second record in the Minch this year! What a moment to realise I’d seen something very special! 4/4

@birdguides.bsky.social @rarebirder.bsky.social #BirdsSeenIn2025 #BirdingScotland #UKBirding #HighlandBirds #Birds

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Josh’s Wildlife @joshswildlife.bsky.social · 25d

7 Manx shearwater & 4 sooty shearwater were a great start on the outward journey, but the real show came on the return journey with 250+ sooty shearwaters streaming past the ferry in big flocks. 3/4

#UKBirding #BirdingScotland #Birds #BirdsSeenIn2025 #HighlandBirds #Seawatch

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Josh’s Wildlife @joshswildlife.bsky.social · 25d

Also on the Stornoway ferry had both great & arctic skuas, including a pale morph arctic skua giving a kittiwake a hard time.

Other highlights of the crossing: storm petrels & a Leach’s petrel. The Minch at its very best! 2/4

#BirdsSeenIn2025 #BirdingScotland #UKBirding #Birds

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