Tom Gale
@tomgale98.bsky.social
450 followers 390 following 29 posts
Birds & Art | PhD Student studying European Shag foraging behaviour | Previously Northern Isles Bird Obs AW & volunteer.
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Reposted by Tom Gale
itssjoenichols.bsky.social
Very nice to find this Wryneck at Dalmeny House this afternoon. Still present this eve, moving between the shoreline at the golf course to feed and nearby cover.

Also juv Pom, RN Grebe + 4 Pintail offshore, & 3 juv Black Tern at Hound Point #birdinglothian #rarebirdsuk
@birdinglothian.bsky.social
Reposted by Tom Gale
itssjoenichols.bsky.social
An enjoyable three skua day with @tomgale98.bsky.social. The highlight a smart ad Pom Skua W off Seacliff late afternoon. Also Bonxie off Barns Ness, plus 6 Arctics and 63 Manxies total between both sites #birdinglothian
Reposted by Tom Gale
birdingtothemax.bsky.social
Rufous Hummingbirds complete one of the greatest migrations of any bird, if calculated by body length (~3 inches). Their ~3900 mile trip from Alaska to Mexico (one-way) equates to ~80 million body lengths. This puts the Arctic Tern’s migration to shame, at ~50 million body lengths. #birdringing 🇨🇦🧪🌎
Adult (2CY+) male Rufous Hummingbird; ringed on Vancouver Island, British Columbia, on Tuesday
tomgale98.bsky.social
Watercolour of the view of Sheep Rock from Buness, Fair Isle
tomgale98.bsky.social
Thanks, cool to see it from a different angle!
tomgale98.bsky.social
Video of one of the WWS at East Wemyss (views were much better than this suggests!)
tomgale98.bsky.social
Stunning views of 3 White-winged and 1 drake Surf Scoter y’day in Fife with @birdingtothemax.bsky.social and Jack Morris #BirdingScotland
tomgale98.bsky.social
The twist was the bit that surprised me, must’ve never paid them enough attention before!
tomgale98.bsky.social
Excuse the poor video skills but does anyone know if this behaviour is common in Robins? Almost doing a snake/wryneck like display! Video taken back in March. #ukbirding
Reposted by Tom Gale
handle.invalid
1/6 Tidal stream environments are unique marine habitats characterised by fast tidal currents.

Knowledge of how #seabirds use these areas for foraging is scarce.

@tomgale98.bsky.social is at #BOU2025 presenting work on understanding drivers of habitat selection of Shags in these environments...
Image of study site Bluemull Sound, Shetland, and a foraging European Shag
Reposted by Tom Gale
thelabandfield.bsky.social
Our new @adriftlab.bsky.social paper is out, lead by @alixdejersey.bsky.social showing the insidious impacts of plastics on seemingly health birds (1/5)

www.science.org/doi/10.1126/...
Reposted by Tom Gale
birdguides.bsky.social
A tracking study has found that dogs walked off-lead cause significantly more disturbance on lowland heaths than pets kept on the lead:
Dog-tracking study reveals disturbance to lowland heaths
Researchers tracked dogs on heathland sites, showing off-lead walking can reduce conservation value.
bit.ly
tomgale98.bsky.social
Watercolour of one of my favourite moments last year watching a Greenish Warbler feeding amongst the sycamores at Valyie, Unst #birds #birdart #BirdingScotland
tomgale98.bsky.social
Thanks Steph 😁
tomgale98.bsky.social
Watercolour of the Eastern Black Redstart that was present @northronbirdobs.bsky.social in autumn 2022 #birds #birdart #BirdingScotland #RareBirdsUK
Reposted by Tom Gale
macstronach.bsky.social
Thanks Mark, visiting birders sound recording crossbills, I'm shocked and stunned! :-)

Hope Max doesn't mind, but one of his excitement calls on the left, key ID features of N20/Scottish excitement calls in the centre and to the right the evolution of the shape of these excitement calls 1995-2024
Reposted by Tom Gale
johngale8.bsky.social
The large leaved plant on the left of my Blue Bird of Paradise painting is thought to be a new species to science, possibly even a new family....no botanists who study New Guinea flora can identify it or put it to a family....that's crazy!!
Reposted by Tom Gale
northronbirdobs.bsky.social
🚨JOB OPENING🚨
We are looking to employ a housekeeper for the 2025 season! Accommodation at the observatory included. For more information and to apply please contact [email protected]
Please share!
Reposted by Tom Gale
birdingtothemax.bsky.social
Nice to see our Harlequin Duck in today’s 2023 BBRC report; accepted as the first for Orkney and first flyby record in Britain. Shows the importance of detailed field notes, particularly in the absence of photos! @georgenorthron.bsky.social @tomgale98.bsky.social #birdingScotland
tomgale98.bsky.social
Thanks Calum, yes it was great NR tick!
tomgale98.bsky.social
Yeah surely, although is there potential for it to have then come from the south east (eg Netherlands) with the redwings, given the conditions it arrived in? Seem to recall a few northern isles “yanks” have been found in easterlies
tomgale98.bsky.social
Yes it doesn’t seem to stopping either… that’s a shame, although sure you’ll get something really big sooner or later (maybe better positioned for something American?). Do wonder how Orkney would do with the same coverage as Shetland!
tomgale98.bsky.social
Thanks Steve, amazingly this was only the first part of October!