Pen Insole
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birdsblooms.bsky.social
Pen Insole
@birdsblooms.bsky.social
360 followers 670 following 380 posts
Nature lover who dabbles in blogging about my discoveries. Always looking to learn more about the natural world and share my wonder at it.
My blog is at: birdsbloomsandbumbles.com
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birdsblooms.bsky.social
It may look like some of this footage of sanderlings has been speeded up but it honestly hasn't! Like little clockwork mice, these small waders do spend a lot of time scurrying across a winter shore at top speed.
#waders
#birds
November 27, 2025 at 5:23 PM
birdsblooms.bsky.social
This stunning male sparrowhawk dropped briefly into the car park behind our house last week. I usually only see these beautiful raptors in flight and at some distance, so this was a real treat.
#raptors
#raptorappreciation
Male sparrowhawk with grey head and wings and striped breast Male sparrowhawk with grey head and wings and striped breast Male sparrowhawk with grey head and wings and striped breast
November 25, 2025 at 5:21 PM
birdsblooms.bsky.social
I had some of my best ever views of red kite yesterday as this stunning individual circled nearby down in a snowy Cairngorms. Even in the poor light, its rufous hues are beautiful
#birds
#raptors
Red kite, a rust red, black and grey bird of prey, in flight Red kite, a rust red, black and grey bird of prey, in flight Red kite, a rust red, black and grey bird of prey, in flight
November 19, 2025 at 1:43 PM
birdsblooms.bsky.social
Despite being from North America, this cute green-winged teal drake has spent the last few winters in Easter Ross, Scotland. Presumably he now summers with our Eurasian teal and pairs with a Eurasian female like the one in the second picture. He's still showing a few eclipse feathers at the moment.
A green-winged teal drake; a small grey duck with a copper and green head A green-winged teal drake and Eurasian teal female duck together
November 17, 2025 at 5:31 PM
birdsblooms.bsky.social
I saw quite a few second brood ruby tiger moth caterpillars down in southern Scotland last week, including one that won't be overwintering like its brethren as it was lunch for a male stonechat.
The circle of life...
#insectsmatter
#mothsmatter
Ginger coloured hairy ruby tiger moth caterpillar on stone Black hairy ruby tiger moth caterpillar on wooden board Stonechat perched on barbed wire fence with a hairy caterpillar in its beak
November 11, 2025 at 8:38 PM
birdsblooms.bsky.social
Spangles! These very cool common spangle galls were on a large number of the fallen oak leaves we saw beside Loch Lomond last week. Produced by the common spangle gall wasp, each houses a tiny larvae that will emerge in spring
I flippin' love galls
#galls
Yellow, brown and red circular galls on a fallen oak leaf Yellow, brown and red circular galls on a fallen oak leaf Yellow, brown and red circular galls on a fallen oak leaf
November 9, 2025 at 5:12 PM
birdsblooms.bsky.social
I love the way many crustose lichens trick the brain into losing a sense of perspective; they can appear simultaneously to be the tiny communities of fungi, algae and/or bacteria they really are as well as distant views of arid planet surfaces, dried up river systems and mud flats and all
#lichens
Mud-flat like grey surface of a crustose lichen on a rock Pale green and grey crustose lichens on a rock Pale green and grey crustose lichens on a rock
November 8, 2025 at 9:25 AM
birdsblooms.bsky.social
This male kingfisher brightened up an otherwise dull and overcast day on the saltmarsh last week at a regular wintering spot.
#birds
Common kingfisher perched on a mud bank Common kingfisher perched on a mud bank Common kingfisher perched on a mud bank
November 7, 2025 at 7:12 PM
birdsblooms.bsky.social
Colours of the bog part 4:
Vibrant red and gold of alpine bearberry leaves and pale green tufts of fir clubmoss
#bogs
#bogplants
Red and gold alpine bearberry leaves amongst moss and lichen Red and gold alpine bearberry leaves amongst moss and lichen Short green tufts of fir clubmoss sticking up from grass and lichen Short green tufts of fir clubmoss sticking up from grass and lichen
November 7, 2025 at 1:25 PM
birdsblooms.bsky.social
Colours of the bog part 3: gold-tipped grasses in the morning sun and a curled up fox moth caterpillar

#bogs
Golden grass and lichen on a moor Golden grass on a moor A gold and black curled up fox moth caterpillar
November 6, 2025 at 4:08 PM
birdsblooms.bsky.social
Colours of the bog part 2: the wine-red buds of bog myrtle in autumn. This has to be one of my favourite plants, although its wonderful aroma is sadly not as strong at this time of year
#bogs
#bogplants
Bright red buds of bog myrtle buds Wine-coloured bog myrtle buds
November 5, 2025 at 4:58 PM
birdsblooms.bsky.social
Colours of the bog part 1: the rhubarb and custard perfection of various Sphagnum mosses, offset by pale green strands of lichen
They may be on a much smaller scale scale than autumnal deciduous trees, but the colours are as stunning
#bogs
#bogcolours
Wine-red and golden coloured Sphagnum mosses Red and gold Sphagnum mosses Red Sphagnum mosses next to pale green lichen strands Red and gold Sphagnum mosses forming a cushion
November 4, 2025 at 8:25 PM
birdsblooms.bsky.social
Staying on South Uist last week we discovered our accommodation was on the daily commute route of at least two white-tailed eagles. Amazing to not even have to leave the house to see these flying barn doors!
#birds
#eagles
Adult white-tailed eagle flying against a blue sky Silhouette of an adult white-tailed eagle against a golden evening sky Adult white-tailed eagle flying against a cloudy sky
November 3, 2025 at 11:47 AM
birdsblooms.bsky.social
Another set of fungi, these disintegrating much faster than the fly agarics I posted earlier. Shaggy inkcaps must be one our most ephemeral fungi, looking substantial and solid one day and a gloopy black mess the next. I love going back to see them over a few days.
#fungi
#inkcaps
Black rimmed shaggy incap fungus Disintegrating shaggy inkcap fungi Disintegrating shaggy inkcap fungi
October 30, 2025 at 9:39 PM
birdsblooms.bsky.social
It's been a good year in my neck of the woods (ahem) for fly agaric fungi. As well as the classic red and white fresh fruiting bodies, I also love the pale cream disintegrating older specimens
#fungi
Bright red and white fly agaric fungus Bright red and white fly agaric fungus amongst pine cones and pine needles Two fly agaric fungi, one still red and white, one cream and collapsing Pale cream remains of fly agaric fungi
October 30, 2025 at 3:57 PM
birdsblooms.bsky.social
This lovely otter lives just a few miles from where I live in Easter Ross and I was chuffed to see it last week at a spot I've seen lots of spraint at but never the animal in question before!
#otters
#mustelids
#mammals
Otter's head and tail visible as it swims in water Otter's head visible as it swims in water Otter swimming in the sea
October 29, 2025 at 3:04 PM
birdsblooms.bsky.social
Saw some cracking fungi this week for #wildfungihour
I'm not very good at fungi ID, but these may be wood blewit (purple one) and shaggy parasol...
#wildflowerhour
@wildflowerhour.bsky.social
@bsbibotany.bsky.social
Violet gills of a possible wood blewit fungus Violet coloured fungus in grassland, possibly a wood blewit Pale brown fungus in grassland, possibly a shaggy parasol Pale brown fungus in grassland, possibly a shaggy parasol
October 26, 2025 at 8:43 PM
birdsblooms.bsky.social
Short video of the female kingfisher
#birds
October 24, 2025 at 3:01 PM
birdsblooms.bsky.social
Female kingfisher in the rain, Inverness
#birds
Kingfisher perched on a bramble stem Kingfisher perched on a bramble stem
October 24, 2025 at 2:58 PM
birdsblooms.bsky.social
Some footage of one of three dippers seen on the River Ness on Tuesday
#birds
October 23, 2025 at 3:44 PM
birdsblooms.bsky.social
What's better than seeing a dipper on the river? Seeing 3! I spent a wonderful morning yesterday watching 3 different birds in Inverness
#birds
A brown and white dipper standing on a rock in the river Two brown and white dippers standing on rocks in the river A brown and white dipper perched on a branch
October 22, 2025 at 5:21 PM
birdsblooms.bsky.social
Al9ng with my first patch little egret, I saw my first redwing of the autumn today
#birds
#autumn
Redwing, a small thrush species, including a tree
October 20, 2025 at 8:31 PM
birdsblooms.bsky.social
Little egrets may have spread rapidly across England since first breeding in 1996, but in neighbouring Scotland, they are much less common. I was today years old when I saw my first Highland bird, and on my own patch, as well!
#herons
#egrets
#birds
Little egret, a white heron species, wading on a river edge A little egret, a white heron relative, standing on a river bank
October 20, 2025 at 2:27 PM
birdsblooms.bsky.social
A last, hidden self heal bloom on the lane near home
#wildflowerhour
@wildflowerhour.bsky.social
@bsbibotany.bsky.social
Bright purple self heal flower surrounded by grass Bright purple self heal flower surrounded by grass
October 19, 2025 at 7:28 PM
birdsblooms.bsky.social
This yawning animal gave us a chance to get a good look at those formidable teeth
October 19, 2025 at 12:51 PM