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Rob Hughes @rob-hughes-birder.bsky.social · 2d

Woodpigeon and its chick managed to cling on through Storm Amy, in Wick #CaithnessBirds

Woodpigeon on a nest with its chick popping its head up

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Rob Hughes @rob-hughes-birder.bsky.social · 9d

Red-breasted Flycatcher still around, near John O’Groats this morning #CaithnessBirds

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Rob Hughes @rob-hughes-birder.bsky.social · 10d

Red-flanked Bluetail, Red-breasted Flycatcher, 2 Yellow-browed Warbler and a Long-eared Owl from a quick run around JOG this morning, though nothing at Freswick or Noss #CaithnessBirds

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Rob Hughes @rob-hughes-birder.bsky.social · 11d

Glossy Ibis flew down the Wick river this morning and landed near the just outside town. 10th record for Caithness. Also prob American Wigeon, Little Stint and Curlew Sandpiper on the river #CaithnessBirds

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Rob Hughes @rob-hughes-birder.bsky.social · 12d

Coal Tit in John O’Groats quarry is a good sign of birds being on the move. Fresh in this morning, occasionally sticking its crest up #CaithnessBirds

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Rob Hughes @rob-hughes-birder.bsky.social · 17d

Leach’s Petrel and Black Tern still in Dunnet Bay this morning #CaithnessBirds

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Rob Hughes @rob-hughes-birder.bsky.social · 18d

Terrible photo of a Wryneck at John O’Groats this morning but a useful #PWC2025 tick with @ninaohanlon.bsky.social
#CaithnessBirds

Blurry photo of a Wryneck in flight, in a quarry

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Rob Hughes @rob-hughes-birder.bsky.social · 22d

Back from a relaxing 9 days on Shetland Mainland (and Mousa) with @ninaohanlon.bsky.social
Nice bumping into the odd scarce migrant as well as quite a few Pied Flycatchers and Garden Warblers
ebird.org/tripreport/4...

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Reposted by Rob Hughes

Nina O'Hanlon @ninaohanlon.bsky.social · Sep 5

Whoop 🎉 @rob-hughes-birder.bsky.social submitting his PhD thesis after 3.5 years 🦆 Much more chilled than I was, and he has already published most of it 🌟

Bearded guy happily looking at his computer

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Rob Hughes @rob-hughes-birder.bsky.social · Sep 2

Amazing views of the hawking Black-winged Pratincole at Brawlbin this afternoon. Great find by @anguscroudace.bsky.social
#CaithnessBirds

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Rob Hughes @rob-hughes-birder.bsky.social · Sep 2

Great find thanks. I have some underwing shots if you need them for a description? Others might have better.

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Rob Hughes @rob-hughes-birder.bsky.social · Sep 2

Juv Curlew Sandpiper on Freswick beach this morning #CaithnessBirds

Curlew Sandpiper on a beach with some Dunlin

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Rob Hughes @rob-hughes-birder.bsky.social · Aug 23

That’s Fea’s type Petrel, Barolo type Shearwater and Cory’s Shearwater past our house in the last 7 days. All from the same archipelago perhaps? Madeira or Azores maybe. #CaithnessBirds #PWC2025

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Rob Hughes @rob-hughes-birder.bsky.social · Aug 20

Fea’s type Petrel flew north past Nybster at 17:50, just three days after a Barolo’s type Shearwater went through, with @ninaohanlon.bsky.social #CaithnessBirds #PWC2025

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Reposted by Rob Hughes

Graham Appleton @wadertales.bsky.social · Aug 18

Restoring peatland to capture carbon and provide breeding habitat for Dunlin and Golden Plover.
When do the waders return and how can you speed things up?
WaderTales blog #149, based on paper by @rob-hughes-birder.bsky.social and Chris Bingham:
wadertales.wordpress.com/2025/08/16/p...
#ornithology

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Rob Hughes @rob-hughes-birder.bsky.social · Aug 15

Cracking ‘blue’ Fulmar off Nybster this evening #CaithnessBirds

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Reposted by Rob Hughes

RSPB Science @rspbscience.bsky.social · Jul 27

Its #BogDay!
Let's celebrate by getting BOGged down in some papers 😉

Peatlands are key to carbon storage and flood management, but in the UK, many are in poor condition

Read on to hear about the nature benefits of bog restoration in Scotland’s Flow Country 🧪 🌍
📷 Ben Andrew

A single round leaved sundew plant (Drosera rotundifolia) sits in a bed of squishy looking moss.

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Rob Hughes @rob-hughes-birder.bsky.social · Jul 27

Nice! They don’t breed here yet, and we only get a couple of records a year so always nice to see.

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Rob Hughes @rob-hughes-birder.bsky.social · Jul 27

Nice to see a migrant Red Kite whilst birding today along Sinclair’s Bay this morning #PWC2025 #CaithnessBirds

Red Kite flying along the coast being mobbed by Terns

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Reposted by Rob Hughes

Journal of Applied Ecology @jappliedecology.bsky.social · Jul 23

Long-term experiments in Scotland’s Flow Country show enhanced forest-to-bog restoration boosts early peatland recovery - vital for climate & biodiversity 🧪🌏

@rob-hughes-birder.bsky.social @rspbscience.bsky.social

🔗

doi.org

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Rob Hughes @rob-hughes-birder.bsky.social · May 27

Had this 1st summer Golden Oriole singing when I put out the food waste this morning at Nybster. Song in the link #BirdingScotland xeno-canto.org/1002006

XC1002006 Eurasian Golden Oriole (Oriolus oriolus)

xeno-canto.org

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Reposted by Rob Hughes

Nina O'Hanlon @ninaohanlon.bsky.social · May 11

Back from a fantastic holiday birding the east coast & mountains of Corsica - such stunning scenery & birds plus some cool lizards, butterflies & flowers 💙
eBird Trip Report - ebird.org/tripreport/3... with @rob-hughes-birder.bsky.social
#EuropeanBirds #BirdingEurope

Snow topped rocky mountains of Corsica with a blue sky and scattered white clouds, with a greener slope and a birder along a track in the foreground.

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Rob Hughes @rob-hughes-birder.bsky.social · May 4

Amazing views of three Corsican Nuthatch at Col de Sorba today
@ninaohanlon.bsky.social

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Rob Hughes @rob-hughes-birder.bsky.social · May 3

Marmora’s Warbler showed well at Fortin de Pasciola this afternoon, also four Corsican Finches with @ninaohanlon.bsky.social

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Rob Hughes @rob-hughes-birder.bsky.social · Apr 30

Scopoli’s Shearwater clipping the sea just off Marseille as we head out on the ferry to Corsica. Plenty of Yelkouan Shearwaters too with @ninaohanlon.bsky.social

Scopoli’s Warbler flying over the sea with its wing clipping the water

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