Peter Stronach
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macstronach.bsky.social
Peter Stronach
@macstronach.bsky.social
ornithology, wildlife, photography and ecology!

#highlandbirds #ornithology #teammoth #birdingScotland #seabirds

Highlands of Scotland 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁳󠁣󠁴󠁿

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Really nice website showing Icelandic Greylags and Barnacle Geese wintering locations in Scotland 👇

In Highland Barnacle Goose “Efri-Ey” currently on Eilean Hoan on north coast #highlandbirds 🪶
January 26, 2026 at 3:09 PM
Ok English bird information services you’ve had your fun, birders are now starting to call it Cowdor!

Cawdor is anglicised already!, but you have to go one step further again…

Cow 🐄 door 🚪
#highlandbirds
January 24, 2026 at 7:26 PM
Looks like our one and only Ross’s is keeping dodgy company now, so that’s one you may have on us!
January 24, 2026 at 7:20 PM
The heady days of mid-winter when the Highland recording area soars above them all!, reckon we might just hold out against Fife till February… #highlandbirds
January 23, 2026 at 2:50 PM
I don't see Stoats often despite being pretty much outside my whole life, I could watch them all day!. So inquisitive but just like lightning moving about when they want to...
January 22, 2026 at 7:16 PM
With recent alleged reports of Osprey and Common Sandpiper in Highland, I was glad to see this Stoat today at Brora that's at least pretending it's still winter!
January 22, 2026 at 7:10 PM
Yep, still going now!, usually it’s only for a short time with reds
January 20, 2026 at 7:01 PM
Unusual year ticks this weekend of the Russian shadow fleet (not annual) and my first Strathspey Smew which has somehow found an unfrozen patch of water to live on! #highlandbirds 🪶
January 19, 2026 at 10:31 AM
Definitely one of my favourite shorebirds, Purple Sandpipers are amazingly tough eeking out a living on the most unpromsing looking shorelines! #highlandbirds 🪶
January 19, 2026 at 10:29 AM
The roads weren’t actually that bad, just a few drifty sections. Biggest hazards zombies driving about in summer tyres parking in strange places! 😂
January 12, 2026 at 5:27 PM
The unfortunately named Greylag JIZ hanging about amongst the same flock of Greylags holding the Russian White-front at Alturlie. Ringed as an adult female last year in July near Myvatn, Iceland 🇮🇸. One of two Icelandic neck-banded birds I’ve seen recently, keep your eyes 👀 peeled! #highlandbirds 🪶
January 12, 2026 at 5:02 PM
Highland finally got in on the Russian White-fronted Goose influx today with this beauty found by Craig Forsyth at Alturlie this afternoon! #highlandbirds 🪶
January 8, 2026 at 6:28 PM
I'm not convinced that the reported Todd's Canada Goose at Sheigra, Highland is one. It's massive, bigger than a Greylag, very pale upper breast, thick neck, a classic canadensis saggy white arse and the dusky cheek patch seems to come from feeding in a muddy bog! I may be wrong... #highlandbirds 🪶
January 4, 2026 at 9:53 PM
The King Eider at Dornoch was in as close as it has been today, showing off it's crab-catching skills! #highlandbirds 🪶
January 3, 2026 at 8:03 PM
You could be forgiven for thinking this photo of the Dornoch King Eider was taken in Iceland!, it didn't seem to be bothered buy the arctic blip!! #highlandbirds 🪶
January 3, 2026 at 7:51 PM
Yesterday’s Snow Goose at Kingussie, in the middle of winter we can pretend they are all as pure as the driven snow! #highlandbirds 🪶
January 2, 2026 at 10:29 PM
Refound the Alturlie Green-winged Teal today which has been absent for a month. Love the subtle different in the undertail flanks, darker and thinner in the GWT compared to the Euro version behind! #highlandbirds 🪶
January 2, 2026 at 10:27 PM
Always a joy to hear a Dipper singing on a winter's day, the river hasn't frozen just yet... ❄️❄️❄️🪶 #highlandbirds
December 30, 2025 at 6:15 PM
Four hours spent this morning along the River Nethy looking for @kidphotographer24.bsky.social 's Red-flanked Bluetail but no sign of it unfortunately. Highlight a Tawny Owl roosting in a fairly random spot, never seen one in a chimney before! #highlandbirds 🪶
December 30, 2025 at 6:13 PM
Yep, that’s what made me think it was the same bird, looks identical
December 10, 2025 at 8:03 PM
Sorry, yes you are right! 😂 it was on eastern edge of the Móine Mhór next to road between Lochgilphead and Kilmartin 👍
December 10, 2025 at 7:49 PM
Richardson’s Cackling Goose on Kintyre today with Canada Geese and Greylags, looks identical to the one from winter 22/23! #argyllbirds 🪶
December 10, 2025 at 7:17 PM
In the almost perma-darkness of a highland winter it’s good to remember back to the summer, and those special otherworldly moments that you only get at night in midsummer! #highlandbirds 🪶
December 5, 2025 at 10:01 PM
Here is distribution from NBN 👍
December 3, 2025 at 4:55 PM
Woodpigeon migration isn't very well understood or studied in Scotland, see below graphic from Birds of Scotland which these Woodpigeons obviously haven't read yet!
December 2, 2025 at 12:06 PM