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Reposted by Matt Bruce

Shetland Rockpool Safaris @shetrockpoolsafari.bsky.social · Aug 14

Polycera quadrilineata or Four-lined Polycera.

A small but relatively common nudibranch found in rockpools and along piers and pontoons, if you have the patience to sift through the wracks.

#Nudibranch #MarineLife #Polycera #Rockpool #Tidepools #Shetland #VisitShetland #SeaLife #Wildlife #Nature

Four-lined Polycera - Polycera quadrilineata, a common but tiny nudibranch found in Shetland

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Zac Hinchcliffe @zachinch92.bsky.social · Aug 5

Moulting adult Sanderling, 28 Black-tailed Godwit and 9 Ringed Plover on the River Mersey east of the Gateway and south of Moss Bank this afternoon #SankeyValley #PatchBirding

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Shetland Rockpool Safaris @shetrockpoolsafari.bsky.social · Jul 30

Solar-powered Sea Slug - Elysia viridis, from a Rockpool in Shetland.

Flashing part of its "solar panel" that is filled with chlorophyll harvested from the algae it grazes on.

#Rockpool #Tidepool #Nature #Shetland #Wildlife #SeaSlug #Nudibranch #MarineLife

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Shetland Rockpool Safaris @shetrockpoolsafari.bsky.social · Jul 26

A lovely evening Safari with 7 entrepid rockpool explorers. We found some of the largest Sea Lemons I've ever seen, and a great selection of other intertidal beasties from Sea Stars to Squat Lobsters.

#SeaLemon #Nudibranch #Rockpool #Tidepool #MarineLife #Nature #Wildlife

Our group checking out the finds in a tray.

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Shetland Rockpool Safaris @shetrockpoolsafari.bsky.social · Jul 25

European Cowrie or Groatie Buckie in Shetland dialect. So much more interesting like this than the dead shells you might find on the beach!

#Cowrie #MarineLife #SeaSide #Rockpool #Tidepool #Nature

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Shetland Rockpool Safaris @shetrockpoolsafari.bsky.social · Jul 20

I recently posted this as Cadlina laevis (White Sea Slug) but on review think it might be Jorunna tomentosa.

If anyone on here knows and can talk me through the ID I'd really appreciate it!

#Nudibranch #Shetland #MarineLife #Rockpool #Tidepool #Nature #Wildlife

A nudibranch on Corallina officinalis, ID to be confirmed.

A nudibranch free floating just off a piece of kelp, ID to be confirmed.

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Shetland Rockpool Safaris @shetrockpoolsafari.bsky.social · Jul 19

Elysia viridis - Solar-powered Sea Slug

This fascinating little creature ingests chloroplasts from its food algae, then uses them for photosynthesis to supplement its food supply. The folds on its back fan out to increase surface area to aid this process.

#SeaSlug #Shetland #Rockpool #MarineLife

Elysia viridis, a nudibranch like sea slug (or perhaps more accurately a sea snail?) from a Rockpool in Shetland, UK.

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Shetland Rockpool Safaris @shetrockpoolsafari.bsky.social · Jul 15

Fancy learning about what lies just beneath the surface of Shetlands wonderful shores? All ages welcome! Check out our website and book your tour. If you aren't visiting soon, enjoy the gallery of some of our favourite finds!

#Rockpool #WildlifeTour #Nature #Shetland #Starfish #Crab #Nudibranch

A tour participant searching a seaweed covered Rockpool.

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Shetland Rockpool Safaris @shetrockpoolsafari.bsky.social · Jul 16

We've got spaces on tours in the last week of July:

Thu 24th @ 5:00pm
Sat 26th @ 6:00pm

If you are in Shetland, why not book on one and learn about some of the creatures below (Beadlet Anemone, common starfish, european cowrie, white sea slug)

#TidePool #RockPool #Wildlife #SeaLife #Shetland

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Shetland Rockpool Safaris @shetrockpoolsafari.bsky.social · Jul 18

Some recent Nudibranch finds whilst rockpooling around Shetland. Identifications in Alt text.

The variety, colour and alien-ness of Nudibranchs never ceased to amaze me!

#Shetland #Rockpool #Tidepool #SeaSlug #Nudibranch #Seashore #MarineLife #UkWildlife #ShetlandWildlife #Nature

Cadlina laevis - a Nudibranch found in Shetland.

Aegires punctilucens - a nudibranch found in Shetland.

Palio nothus, a Nudibranch found in Shetland

Sea Lemon (Doris pseudoargus) in front of a Green Sea Urchin in a sample tray, found in a Rockpool in Shetland.

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Reposted by Matt Bruce

Shetland Rockpool Safaris @shetrockpoolsafari.bsky.social · Jul 15

Come rockpooling with us!
We love rockpooling and are excited to be starting a new venture - offering guided rockpool safaris here in Shetland.
Check out our website for more details and dates of sessions!

#Rockpool #Rockpooling #Shetland #Tidepool #Wildlife #Seaside

Shetland Rockpool Safaris

Shetland Rockpool Safaris - offering guided rockpool tours in Shetland, UK. Come and take a look at the fantastic wildlife beneath the waves with us.

www.shetlandrockpoolsafaris.co.uk

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Matt Bruce @mattjbruce.bsky.social · Jun 4

The stunning breeding plumage female Grey (Red) Phalarope at Spiggie, Shetland, this afternoon. What an incredible looking bird! Not often seen looking like this in the UK. My only other sighting was about a decade ago at Brandon Marsh, Warks! #Phalarope #Waders #Wildlife #UkBirding

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Matt Bruce @mattjbruce.bsky.social · Jun 4

Well done squeezing them all into one shot 🤣

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Matt Bruce @mattjbruce.bsky.social · Apr 20

So many photos to go through from my time in Pine Marten heaven - Ardnamurchan, West coast of Scotland. Such wonderful characters, I watched them for hours climbing over rocks and trees behind the hours.

#BritishMammals #PineMarten #Wildlife #Nature #Ardnamurchan

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Matt Bruce @mattjbruce.bsky.social · Apr 19

A week long holiday on the Ardnamurchan peninsula provided some incredible Pine Marten encounters from the comfort of our accommodation. Amongst Atlantic rainforest, these mustelids evoke strong feelings of wilder times gone by.

#PineMarten #BritishMammals #Nature #Wildlife #BritishWildlife

A Pine Marten on a moss covered rock in Ardnamurchan.

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Matt Bruce @mattjbruce.bsky.social · Apr 6

A Purple Heron this afternoon at Boddam Voe gave Shetland another slice of the recent spring migrant action after yesterday's elusive Black-crowned Night Heron. #UKBirding

Purple Heron coming in to land at Boddam, Shetland

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Matt Bruce @mattjbruce.bsky.social · Apr 1

First Puffins today on the cliffs of Sumburgh to get your Sea Bird excitement levels up. Bonxies and Scootie Allans (Arctic Skuas) will be back soon too 😁😎

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Matt Bruce @mattjbruce.bsky.social · Apr 1

Have to mention the boat trip to Mousa Broch. If you are coming soon you'll probably be too early for the night time Storm Petrel trips, but check out the Mousa Boat website for dates!

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Matt Bruce @mattjbruce.bsky.social · Mar 14

The Killer Whale pod known as the 27s visited my local Shetland coastline today, or at least 4 of them did. 27 herself and Bull 34 put on a show. Lovely weather but still very cold in the wind 🥶
#KillerWhale #Orca #SeaLife #MarineMammals #Wildlife #Shetland

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Matt Bruce @mattjbruce.bsky.social · Mar 2

The solo bull Orca hanging around near Voe in Shetland right now. Lots of long feeding dives, there must be some good fish down there, he's been here for days now!
#Shetland #Orca #KillerWhale

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Raptor Persecution UK @raptorpersuk.bsky.social · Feb 11

Brilliant campaigning from @wwtworldwide.bsky.social ft Megan McCubbin in spoof video at the Duck & Cover restaurant.

The use of humour as a campaign tool shouldn't be underestimated.

#BanLead #Ornithology

raptorpersecutionuk.org/2025/02/11/t...

“The Toxic Restaurant” – spoof video highlighting toxic lead ammunition sends BASC into meltdown

In the build up to a forthcoming decision by the DEFRA Secretary of State (and his counterparts in the devolved governments) whether to accept the HSE’s recommendations to ban the use of toxi…

raptorpersecutionuk.org

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Reposted by Matt Bruce

Mark Gurney @markgurn.bsky.social · Feb 9

Feisty little dudes. I'm almost used to calling them Curruca instead of Sylvia now. Scratchy songs, angry fire eyes, good colour schemes, but lose a point for being a bit too skulking = 8/10 #birdart #birds

An illustration of twelve warblers. Each row has three similar species. The top three are grey with black heads and varying amounts of black below; the next row has three with long tails, two are all grey, one is wine-red below; then there are the three subalpine warblers, which are grey above and red or orange below; and the bottom row has three with white throats and brown backs, two have rusty wing panels and the other is rather different with dark legs and a rather cold tone. The birds are all facing left and in the same pose so it is easier to compare the differences between them.

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Matt Bruce @mattjbruce.bsky.social · Feb 9

Shetland has the highest density of European Otter in the world. I saw at least 7 today in 4 different encounters. This youngster was the first I saw, at a popular walk location. Being downwind, I was fortunate to watch it feed for some time from close range. #Otter #Draatsi #Shetland

A young otter opening it's mouth mid-meal on the shore in Shetland.

A young otter peeking out from a hole in the rocks, Shetland.

A young otter moving through the rocks, Shetland.

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Reposted by Matt Bruce

Dan Baldassarre @evornithology.bsky.social · Jan 20

Your 2025 Le Creuset x bird color guide

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Matt Bruce @mattjbruce.bsky.social · Jan 13

Gonna need a bigger scope

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