Peter Stronach
@macstronach.bsky.social
ornithology, wildlife, photography and ecology!
#highlandbirds #ornithology #teammoth #birdingScotland #seabirds
Highlands of Scotland 🏴
🪶 🦅 🦆 🦋 ⛰️ 🌊 🐋 🦈 🐙 🏝️ 🌳 🌲
#highlandbirds #ornithology #teammoth #birdingScotland #seabirds
Highlands of Scotland 🏴
🪶 🦅 🦆 🦋 ⛰️ 🌊 🐋 🦈 🐙 🏝️ 🌳 🌲
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 🪶
In Highland Barnacle Goose “Efri-Ey” currently on Eilean Hoan on north coast #highlandbirds 🪶
January 26, 2026 at 3:09 PM
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 🪶
In Highland Barnacle Goose “Efri-Ey” currently on Eilean Hoan on north coast #highlandbirds 🪶
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
Cawdor is anglicised already!, but you have to go one step further again…
Cow 🐄 door 🚪
#highlandbirds
January 24, 2026 at 7:26 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
Cawdor is anglicised already!, but you have to go one step further again…
Cow 🐄 door 🚪
#highlandbirds
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
Looks like our one and only Ross’s is keeping dodgy company now, so that’s one you may have on us!
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
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
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
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...
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
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!
Yep, still going now!, usually it’s only for a short time with reds
January 20, 2026 at 7:01 PM
Yep, still going now!, usually it’s only for a short time with reds
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
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 🪶
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
Definitely one of my favourite shorebirds, Purple Sandpipers are amazingly tough eeking out a living on the most unpromsing looking shorelines! #highlandbirds 🪶
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 roads weren’t actually that bad, just a few drifty sections. Biggest hazards zombies driving about in summer tyres parking in strange places! 😂
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
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 🪶
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
Highland finally got in on the Russian White-fronted Goose influx today with this beauty found by Craig Forsyth at Alturlie this afternoon! #highlandbirds 🪶
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
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 🪶
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
The King Eider at Dornoch was in as close as it has been today, showing off it's crab-catching skills! #highlandbirds 🪶
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
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 🪶
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
Yesterday’s Snow Goose at Kingussie, in the middle of winter we can pretend they are all as pure as the driven snow! #highlandbirds 🪶
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
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 🪶
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
Always a joy to hear a Dipper singing on a winter's day, the river hasn't frozen just yet... ❄️❄️❄️🪶 #highlandbirds
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
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 🪶
Yep, that’s what made me think it was the same bird, looks identical
December 10, 2025 at 8:03 PM
Yep, that’s what made me think it was the same bird, looks identical
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
Sorry, yes you are right! 😂 it was on eastern edge of the Móine Mhór next to road between Lochgilphead and Kilmartin 👍
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
Richardson’s Cackling Goose on Kintyre today with Canada Geese and Greylags, looks identical to the one from winter 22/23! #argyllbirds 🪶
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
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 🪶
Here is distribution from NBN 👍
December 3, 2025 at 4:55 PM
Here is distribution from NBN 👍
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
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!