David Steel
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steelyseabirder.bsky.social
David Steel
@steelyseabirder.bsky.social
1.9K followers 110 following 610 posts
Manager of Isle of May National Nature Reserve since 2015 having been on Farne Island 2001-2014. Also Scottish Birds Records Committee (SBRC) Chair
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steelyseabirder.bsky.social
David Steel @steelyseabirder.bsky.social · Nov 20
I co-authored a paper with Dr Chris Redfern looking into how people actually benefit nesting Arctic Terns on the Farne Islands (in complete contrast to what we have believed and thought). Link to the paper: nsojournals.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/share/57ASV9...
Photo: Siegfried Woldhek #Seabirds
Reposted by David Steel
ukrbbp.bsky.social
NEW BLOG - the RBBP reviews what species we should collect data on regularly. Here’s an explanation of what we consider when species are removed, and why Avocet and Mediterranean Gull are staying on our list, for now rbbp.org.uk/2025/11/25/r...
Reviewing the RBBP species list
Reviewing the RBBP species list Mediterranean Gull, Mark Eaton The RBBP collects data and reports upon all native species with UK breeding populations of fewer than 2,000 pairs. In addition, s...
rbbp.org.uk
November 25, 2025 at 2:15 PM
steelyseabirder.bsky.social
This is a young Grey Seal pup which is now independent and is mounting into its more waterproof teenage coat. It’s certainly looking healthy enough to survive the next week or two!
November 25, 2025 at 4:53 PM
Reposted by David Steel
theseabirdgroup.bsky.social
An incredible opportunity to work with the @rspb.bsky.social and Storm petrels as part of your Master's degree! 🕊️

#research #seabirds
kirstyfranklin.bsky.social Kirsty Franklin @kirstyfranklin.bsky.social · 1d
Studying for an MSc this year & looking for a #seabird research project?

We're looking for a student to help investigate the factors that influence #StormPetrel response rates during playback surveys. 🔊🐣

🔗Do get in touch if you have any Qs: www.rspb.org.uk/helping-natu... #seabirds #ornithology
November 24, 2025 at 1:24 PM
steelyseabirder.bsky.social
It's that time of year when the mighty bull Grey Seals move into the colony on the Isle of May as its all change as the blog explains: isleofmaynnr.wordpress.com
November 24, 2025 at 3:19 PM
Reposted by David Steel
itsnotsuperman.bsky.social
Happy #SeabirdSaturday!
Ring-billed Gull's migrating over my hone morning.

#gull #gulls #seagulls #birdphotography #birds #bird #nature #wildlife #photography #birdscrolling #birdsinflight #photographersofbluesky #BlueskyPhotography #naturelovers #shotoncanon #birdlover
November 22, 2025 at 4:52 PM
Reposted by David Steel
troydeclan.bsky.social
Manx Shearwater recently arrived in the South Atlantic and already well into molt. Seems most places I go the common shearwater is in the opposite hemisphere from which it breeds and not looking their best. 🪶 Off #Argentina #seabirdSaturday
November 22, 2025 at 4:41 PM
Reposted by David Steel
danjbrown97.bsky.social
Guillemots on Skomer Island in June #Seabirds #UKWildlife
A photo of nine Common Guillemots (some only partially shown), brown and white auks, on rocks at Skomer Island, Pembrokeshire, Wales in June 2025
November 22, 2025 at 5:24 PM
Reposted by David Steel
petrel-nut.bsky.social
A good news #Seabirds story for your feed. Got to love Phillip Island off Norfolk- South Pacific. It keeps turning up surprises!
November 22, 2025 at 10:00 PM
Reposted by David Steel
quietlynow.bsky.social
@robcrank68.bsky.social 's #BirdOfTheDay theme is #Mr&Mrs - here are Falklands Imperial Cormorants #EastCoastKin #photography #birds
Falkland Islands Imperial or King Cormorants in breeding plumage with incredible blue eyes and the funny orange bobble on the top of their beaks. they would preen each other and tap the other's beak with their beaks. Their backs look black against their white chests but when you take a close up picture the feathers shine a deep irridescent blue
November 23, 2025 at 2:07 PM
Reposted by David Steel
kupac1.bsky.social
Sometimes I struggle with big gull ID. But here's one species that you never have to struggle with in any age or plumage because of that absurd, big-ass honkin' bill. 😄 Pacific Gull (Larus pacificus) #BirdingAustralia #BirdingTasmania #gulls #seegulls #SaturdayLaridae
November 22, 2025 at 6:47 PM
Reposted by David Steel
diddlydog.bsky.social
Gannet shows how its done.
#SuperSeabirdSunday
November 23, 2025 at 9:51 AM
Reposted by David Steel
parliamentarygoose.bsky.social
My contribution to #SuperSeabirdSunday: Blue Fulmar, Svalbard, June 2023.
November 23, 2025 at 9:46 AM
Reposted by David Steel
baldiepete.bsky.social
White-tailed eagle (sea eagle).

Not actually a seabird, but it’s got ‘sea’ in its common name and I was on the sea (Sound of Raasay) when I took the photo. 😀

#superseabirdsunday
A white-tailed eagle (sea eagle) perched on a rock. A white-tailed eagle (sea eagle) flying over the sea directly towards the camera.
November 23, 2025 at 9:57 AM
Reposted by David Steel
kevguttridge.bsky.social
A Kittiwake from the Farne Islands. #SuperSeabirdSunday #Seabirds
Kittiwake headshot against brown and greyish coloured cliffs.
November 23, 2025 at 10:29 AM
Reposted by David Steel
wildfozzy.bsky.social
Finishing off our South African #GullsoftheWorld for #SuperSeabirdSunday with the Cape Gull.

Not a lifer for us as we got the Grafham bird but still great to see them in their natural range.

@unsociable-lapwing.bsky.social @steelyseabirder.bsky.social
#Seabirds #BirdingSouthAfrica 🪶
Larus dominicanus vetula Larus dominicanus vetula Larus dominicanus vetula
November 23, 2025 at 11:27 AM
Reposted by David Steel
ronmac11.bsky.social
Guillemots for seabird Sunday.
#SuperSeabirdSunday
A group of guillemots on the lookout.
November 23, 2025 at 10:33 AM
Reposted by David Steel
s4r4h-l.bsky.social
Welcome to Super Seabird Sunday where we ask you to share videos, photos & artwork of seabirds to brighten up timelines. A trio of #sanderlings at #Cleveleys from 2021 (photo by Mr Wonderful). #visitfyldecoast #SuperSeabirdSunday
Trio of Sanderlings searching the tide line for tasty treats!
November 23, 2025 at 11:31 AM
Reposted by David Steel
nickerobinson.bsky.social
An adult Atlantic yellow-nosed albatross sat and checked us out whilst on a pelagic South of #CapeTown #SouthAfrica on the 25th November 2013 #Wildlfe #Photography Please check out the submissions at #SuperSeabirdSunday and give this a repost if you like. Thanks.
@steelyseabirder.bsky.social
November 23, 2025 at 11:30 AM
Reposted by David Steel
geertkb.bsky.social
A Northern Gannet in flight for #SuperSeabirdSunday.

#birds #photography #SonyAlpha #birdphotography #nature
November 23, 2025 at 11:32 AM
Reposted by David Steel
allthingsorca.bsky.social
Definitely not grumpy

#seabirds #ukwildlife
#photography
#SuperSeabirdSunday
@steelyseabirder.bsky.social
November 23, 2025 at 11:43 AM
Reposted by David Steel
klausbusse.de
Naah, those aren't grumpy.

#SuperSeabirdSunday 🪶
Gannet collecting plant material for its nest along the cliff edge. Helgoland, Germany
November 23, 2025 at 12:32 PM
Reposted by David Steel
danjbrown97.bsky.social
Puffin on Skomer Island in June #SuperSeabirdSunday #Seabirds
An Atlantic Puffin with its head on its back, it's iconic bill tucked deeply in its feathers, surrounded by green vegetation in the sun on Skomer Island, Pembrokeshire in June 2025
November 23, 2025 at 12:45 PM
Reposted by David Steel
atcherleyons.bsky.social
Re-sharing this one for #SuperSeabirdSunday, and also for #BirdOfTheDay (the theme today is #MrAndMrs, and you can almost see this couple enclosed in a heart shape ❤️).

#Birds #BirdPhotography #UKWildlife #EastCoastKin 🌿
atcherleyons.bsky.social Steve Jackson @atcherleyons.bsky.social · Jun 12
The look of love. 🥰 A pair of Puffins on Skomer Island gazing into each other's eyes.* #Plumescrolling #Birds #Nature #WildlifePhotography #UKWildlife 🌿

* Or engaged in a staring contest and waiting to see who will blink first. 😉
Photo of two Atlantic Puffins (Fratercula arctica) standing on a ledge, looking at each other. The Puffin on the left has their back to us, and their head turned to the right. The Puffin on the right is standing with their right side towards us, and their head turned so that we see their full face. The birds have black backs, wings, tails and necks, with the tops of their heads also black while the sides of their faces are white. Their eyes are black with orange rims, and their legs and webbed feet are orange. Their colourful beaks are narrow when seen from the front, triangular in shape seen from the side. The base of the beak has a a large patch of blue-grey enclosed within a pale yellow border, while the rest of the beak is red with a couple of pale yellow stripes.
November 23, 2025 at 6:06 PM
Reposted by David Steel
notkurtvonnegut.bsky.social
Osprey with lunch

#SuperSeabirdSunday #bird #birdsky #nature #photography #osprey #lunch
November 23, 2025 at 6:50 PM
Reposted by David Steel
rossmc10.bsky.social
#superseabirdsunday
November 23, 2025 at 9:32 PM