@deanmacaskill.bsky.social
Highland birder, Moth'er, wildlife gardener, mostly out and about somewhere in Sutherland with occasional jaunts across the border into Ross-shire.
some snow on a nest box.
January 8, 2026 at 1:40 PM
some snow on a nest box.
So snowed in now for 6th day and catching up on Moth records for 2025, two new for VC107 -
Twin-spotted quaker and Northern diamond-back.
Twin-spotted quaker and Northern diamond-back.
January 7, 2026 at 7:36 PM
So snowed in now for 6th day and catching up on Moth records for 2025, two new for VC107 -
Twin-spotted quaker and Northern diamond-back.
Twin-spotted quaker and Northern diamond-back.
Good to see this Robin is still in my garden near Dornoch, i first saw it in March 2024. It was ringed at Lentran Point nr Inverness in January 2023.
January 4, 2026 at 2:10 PM
Good to see this Robin is still in my garden near Dornoch, i first saw it in March 2024. It was ringed at Lentran Point nr Inverness in January 2023.
Pleased to pick out a pair of Surf Scoter in the Common Scoter flock at Dornoch yesterday however a Black Scoter totally unexpected.
December 17, 2025 at 5:07 PM
Pleased to pick out a pair of Surf Scoter in the Common Scoter flock at Dornoch yesterday however a Black Scoter totally unexpected.
Some captivating waders at Embo brightened up a dull day .
December 10, 2025 at 3:44 PM
Some captivating waders at Embo brightened up a dull day .
Slavonian Grebes in early morning light at Dornoch.
December 1, 2025 at 4:49 PM
Slavonian Grebes in early morning light at Dornoch.
It's been a couple of years since i last saw a Water Pipit locally.
Very flighty , but managed a couple record shots.
Very flighty , but managed a couple record shots.
November 12, 2025 at 5:08 PM
It's been a couple of years since i last saw a Water Pipit locally.
Very flighty , but managed a couple record shots.
Very flighty , but managed a couple record shots.
Good timing today when i pulled up just as this White-tailed Eagle was pulling a Salmon from the water.
November 8, 2025 at 4:38 PM
Good timing today when i pulled up just as this White-tailed Eagle was pulling a Salmon from the water.
Some ducks from yesterday, Gadwall and Green-winged Teal on the pond at Tain Links, hybrid Wigeon at Loch Fleet.
November 5, 2025 at 6:34 AM
Some ducks from yesterday, Gadwall and Green-winged Teal on the pond at Tain Links, hybrid Wigeon at Loch Fleet.
A good count of 67 Red Kites going to roost tonight.
November 2, 2025 at 7:16 PM
A good count of 67 Red Kites going to roost tonight.
Arctic Tern , one of two still at Embo today.
October 30, 2025 at 10:12 PM
Arctic Tern , one of two still at Embo today.
Calm early morning sunrise at Achavandra
October 22, 2025 at 6:51 AM
Calm early morning sunrise at Achavandra
Surprised to see an Eagle Owl on a post as i drove by Skelbo Loch Fleet yesterday.
October 21, 2025 at 5:30 AM
Surprised to see an Eagle Owl on a post as i drove by Skelbo Loch Fleet yesterday.
66 Moths of 19 species in VC107 last night, including a couple of migrants Rusty -dot Pearl and Dark Sword-grass,
October 15, 2025 at 7:14 PM
66 Moths of 19 species in VC107 last night, including a couple of migrants Rusty -dot Pearl and Dark Sword-grass,
Barred Warbler again today, showing better feeding on Elderberries with a pair of Blackcap.
September 27, 2025 at 6:17 PM
Barred Warbler again today, showing better feeding on Elderberries with a pair of Blackcap.
Another garden tick - Barred Warbler! i was looking for the tristis type chiffy to try and get a photo , got distracted by a Blackcap then up popped a Barred Warbler.
September 26, 2025 at 12:29 PM
Another garden tick - Barred Warbler! i was looking for the tristis type chiffy to try and get a photo , got distracted by a Blackcap then up popped a Barred Warbler.
Finally added Comma to my garden list , 😀👍
That brings my garden list of butterflies species up to 18..
That brings my garden list of butterflies species up to 18..
September 24, 2025 at 7:03 PM
Finally added Comma to my garden list , 😀👍
That brings my garden list of butterflies species up to 18..
That brings my garden list of butterflies species up to 18..
A decent Sea Watch yesterday off Lothbeg Point.
Four species of Shearwater a juv Sabines Gul, 3 Skuas species a Peregrine Falcon hunting well offshore eventually catching an Auk and several species of Duck all into the Dornoch firth.
Four species of Shearwater a juv Sabines Gul, 3 Skuas species a Peregrine Falcon hunting well offshore eventually catching an Auk and several species of Duck all into the Dornoch firth.
September 8, 2025 at 7:13 AM
A decent Sea Watch yesterday off Lothbeg Point.
Four species of Shearwater a juv Sabines Gul, 3 Skuas species a Peregrine Falcon hunting well offshore eventually catching an Auk and several species of Duck all into the Dornoch firth.
Four species of Shearwater a juv Sabines Gul, 3 Skuas species a Peregrine Falcon hunting well offshore eventually catching an Auk and several species of Duck all into the Dornoch firth.
A few shots from today.
June 19, 2025 at 7:06 PM
A few shots from today.
Saxon, Autumn Green Carpet and Clouded silver blending in well with the bark of an Oak.
May 1, 2025 at 9:46 AM
Saxon, Autumn Green Carpet and Clouded silver blending in well with the bark of an Oak.
Not a spectacular looking beast , but a new for garden species is a welcome record.
Rhigognostis incarnatella
Rhigognostis incarnatella
April 14, 2025 at 7:10 PM
Not a spectacular looking beast , but a new for garden species is a welcome record.
Rhigognostis incarnatella
Rhigognostis incarnatella
A couple of my favourite spring Moths posing for photos this morning.
April 13, 2025 at 7:46 AM
A couple of my favourite spring Moths posing for photos this morning.
My first ever spring Brindled Ochre was the pick of the bunch last night, 11 species from 74.
April 11, 2025 at 7:12 PM
My first ever spring Brindled Ochre was the pick of the bunch last night, 11 species from 74.
Stopped at a fence line today in SE Sutherland and noticed a male Rannoch Brindled Beauty, it didn't take long to find 57 females and 43 males with at least another 1km of fence unchecked!
April 3, 2025 at 6:01 PM
Stopped at a fence line today in SE Sutherland and noticed a male Rannoch Brindled Beauty, it didn't take long to find 57 females and 43 males with at least another 1km of fence unchecked!
60 Moths of 10 species last night, not a bad haul.
a few pics added.
a few pics added.
April 1, 2025 at 5:34 PM
60 Moths of 10 species last night, not a bad haul.
a few pics added.
a few pics added.