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Orknithology

Orknithology

@orknithology.bsky.social

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Birds, other wildlife, and scenery from the Orkney Islands. All images are ©️ Orknithology. #OrkneyBirding #BirdingScotland #UKBirds #UKBirding #Birds #Wildlife #UKWildlife #Nature #Photography #birdsoftheworld #ornithology 🪶 #Nikon #P1000

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Orknithology @orknithology.bsky.social · 12h

"Owl Along the Watchtower"

Long-eared Owl (Asio otus) roosting in my trees at Grimbister, #Orkney, on Monday night (going by its orangey eyes, white V on face, size, and perch height).

#OrkneyBirding #BirdingScotland #UKBirds #UKBirding #Birds #birdsoftheworld #ornithology #Long-eared #Owl 🪶 🦉

Night-time photo of what I believe to be a Long-eared Owl in a bare-branched Sycamore tree.

Orknithology @orknithology.bsky.social · 1d

I certainly do! 📷🤠👍

Orknithology @orknithology.bsky.social · 2d

"Flaming Heck!"

Firecrest (Regulus ignicapillus) at Grimbister, #Orkney, this morning. The first one I have ever seen.

#OrkneyBirding #BirdingScotland #UKBirds #UKBirding #Birds #Wildlife #UKWildlife #Nature #Photography #birdsoftheworld #ornithology #Firecrest 🪶

The Firecrest is Europe's joint-smallest bird (along with the Goldcrest). It has an olive-green back, a white belly, bronze-coloured shoulders, and a black and white eye-stripe. The crown of the head has an orangey-yellow and black stripe from bact to front.

Orknithology @orknithology.bsky.social · 6d

"Camera Shy"

Goldcrest (Regulus regulus) peering out from behind an autumnal Sycamore leaf, at Grimbister, #Orkney.

#OrkneyBirding #BirdingScotland #UKBirds #UKBirding #Birds #Wildlife #UKWildlife #Nature #Photography #birdsoftheworld #ornithology #Goldcrest 🪶

The Goldcrest is Europe's joint-smallest bird (along with the Firecrest). They have dull greyish-green upper parts, with a pale belly and a black and yellow stripe on their heads. The pictured bird was energetically hunting for invertebrates amongst the trees and shrubs, making it difficult to get a bead on it with the camera.

Orknithology @orknithology.bsky.social · 7d

"Ginger Nut"

female Blackcap (Sylvia atricapilla) at Grimbister, #Orkney, on Tuesday.

#OrkneyBirding #BirdingScotland #UKBirds #UKBirding #Birds #Wildlife #UKWildlife #Nature #Photography #birdsoftheworld #ornithology #Blackcap 🪶

The female Blackcap (Sylvia atricapilla) is a grey warbler, similar in size to a Eurasian Robin. It has a distinctive chestnut brown cap, pale grey underparts, and pale brownish-grey upperparts. It is seen here perching in a leafless Rowan tree.

Orknithology @orknithology.bsky.social · 8d

"Small, Dark & Handsome"

male Blackcap (Sylvia atricapilla) at Grimbister, #Orkney, yesterday.

#OrkneyBirding #BirdingScotland #UKBirds #UKBirding #Birds #Wildlife #UKWildlife #Nature #Photography #birdsoftheworld #ornithology #Blackcap 🪶

The male Blackcap (Sylvia atricapilla) is a grey warbler, similar in size to a Eurasian Robin. It has a distinctive black cap, pale grey underparts, and brownish-grey upperparts. It is seen here standing on a green grassy surface.

Orknithology @orknithology.bsky.social · Sep 20

"Look! No Hands!"

Poplar Hawk Moth catterpillar near Mid Hill, Firth, #Orkney.

#lepidoptera #TeamMoth #nature #wildlife #PoplarHawkMoth 🐛

The Poplar hawk moth caterpillar is a large, chunky, vibrant green insect with a characteristic yellow tail horn and diagonal yellow stripes that have small pink spots between them. It was working it's way along a small branch, consuming leaves as it went along. In this photo it is hanging upside down from its rear "feet", with its front half free of contact.

Orknithology @orknithology.bsky.social · Sep 11

"I Love You (Even Though You're Boring)"

Garden Warbler (Sylvia borin) at Grimbister, #Orkney.

#OrkneyBirding #BirdingScotland #UKBirds #UKBirding #Birds #Wildlife #UKWildlife #Nature #Photography #birdsoftheworld #ornithology #GardenWarbler 🪶

The garden warbler is a plain, sandy-grey warbler, with a pale grey neck and pale underparts, and bluish-grey feet. It is perching on a stone birdbath underneath a hedge.

Described by the RSPB as "A plain warbler with no distinguishing features," and having the Latin name "Sylvia borin," this species is often considered to be boring, but I love them!

Orknithology @orknithology.bsky.social · Sep 10

"I Wanna Hebe Adored"

Red Admiral butterfly (Vanessa atalanta) nectaring on a Hebe bush at Scapa, #Orkney.

🦋 #butterfly #flutterby #insect #lepidoptera #TeamMoth #nature #wildlife #RedAdmiral

The red admiral is a large, black and red butterfly with white spots on its black forewings and a striking red band on both fore and hindwings. It is nectaring on a purple flower head of a Hebe bush.

Orknithology @orknithology.bsky.social · Sep 9

"She Be on a Hebe"

Painted Lady butterfly (Vanessa cardui) nectaring on a Hebe bush at Scapa, #Orkney.

🦋 #butterfly #flutterby #insect #lepidoptera #TeamMoth #nature #wildlife #PaintedLady

The Painted Lady is a medium-to-large orange-brown butterfly with forewings that have black tips marked with white spots; the hindwings have rows of black spots. It is nectaring on a purple flower head of a Hebe bush.

Orknithology @orknithology.bsky.social · Sep 4

"If You Go Dun to the Weeds Today, You're Sure of a Big Surprise"

Dunlin wading among seaweed at Scapa, #Orkney.

#OrkneyBirding #BirdingScotland #UKBirds #UKBirding #Birds #Wildlife #UKWildlife #Nature #Photography #birdsoftheworld #ornithology #Dunlin #wader🪶

Orknithology @orknithology.bsky.social · Sep 3

Given that if one doesn't laugh then one must cry, this should help:

www.theguardian.com/football/pic...

Orknithology @orknithology.bsky.social · Sep 2

"Summer Solstice Swan"

Here's one at the Brig o' Brodgar, #Orkney, taken about half an hour after sunrise 🌅 on the Summer Solstice this year.

#OrkneyBirding #BirdingScotland #UKBirds #UKBirding #Birds #Wildlife #UKWildlife #Nature #Photography #birdsoftheworld #ornithology #BlackSwan #Swan 🪶

Orknithology @orknithology.bsky.social · Sep 1

"Feathered & Tethered"

two juvenile Swallows on a mooring rope at Scapa Pier, #Orkney.

#OrkneyBirding #BirdingScotland #UKBirds #UKBirding #Birds #Wildlife #UKWildlife #Nature #Photography #birdsoftheworld #ornithology #Swallows 🪶

Orknithology @orknithology.bsky.social · Aug 31

"Gull Generations"

juvenile and adult Great Black-backed Gulls at Birsay, #Orkney.

#OrkneyBirding #BirdingScotland #UKBirds #UKBirding #Birds #Wildlife #UKWildlife #Nature #Photography #birdsoftheworld #ornithology #Gulls #GBBG #SuperSeabirdSunday #Seabirds 🪶

Orknithology @orknithology.bsky.social · Aug 29

"Chatter on the Wire"

young Stonechat on a farmer's spool of fencewire, at Wideford Hill, #Orkney.

#OrkneyBirding #BirdingScotland #UKBirds #UKBirding #Birds #Wildlife #UKWildlife #Nature #Photography #birdsoftheworld #ornithology #Stonechat 🪶

Orknithology @orknithology.bsky.social · Aug 25

"First Lady"

I have lived in Orkney for over 20 years, and this is the first Ladybird I have seen here. I think this is some kind of a Harlequin Ladybird, phone-snapped at Grimbister, #Orkney, this morning.

#ladybird #harlquin #beetle #BugLife #insects #wildlifephotography 🪲 🐞

Orknithology @orknithology.bsky.social · Aug 24

"Jenny from the Block"

one of the local Wrens at Grimbister, #Orkney.

#OrkneyBirding #BirdingScotland #UKBirds #UKBirding #Birds #Wildlife #UKWildlife #Nature #Photography #birdsoftheworld #ornithology #Wren 🪶

Orknithology @orknithology.bsky.social · Aug 20

"🎶 And I Think to Myself,
Wheatear Wonderful World 🎶"

female Wheatear at Northside, Birsay, #Orkney.

#OrkneyBirding #BirdingScotland #UKBirds #UKBirding #Birds #Wildlife #UKWildlife #Nature #Photography #birdsoftheworld #ornithology #Wheatear 🪶

Orknithology @orknithology.bsky.social · Aug 19

"Gone to Pot"

juvenile Woodpigeon exploring the inside of a plant pot at Grimbister, #Orkney.

#OrkneyBirding #BirdingScotland #UKBirds #UKBirding #Birds #Wildlife #UKWildlife #Nature #Photography #birdsoftheworld #ornithology #Woodpigeon 🪶

Orknithology @orknithology.bsky.social · Aug 17

#SuperSeabirdSunday

Puffin, Razorbill, Guillemot, and Kittiwake with two chicks, all at Marwick, #Orkney, last month.

#OrkneyBirding #BirdingScotland #UKBirds #UKBirding #Birds #Wildlife #UKWildlife #Nature #Photography #birdsoftheworld #ornithology #Puffin #Razorbill #Guillemot #Kittiwake 🪶

Orknithology @orknithology.bsky.social · Aug 16

"Yellowy Youngster"

juvenile Willow Warbler at Grimbister, #Orkney.

#OrkneyBirding #BirdingScotland #UKBirds #UKBirding #Birds #Wildlife #UKWildlife #Nature #Photography #birdsoftheworld #ornithology #WillowWarbler 🪶

Perching on a Rowan twig, this young Willow Warbler is facing front-on displaying its pale yellow underparts. Its head is turned to the viewer's right; beneath a pale yellow supercillium, its beady black right eye is catching the light.

Orknithology @orknithology.bsky.social · Aug 15

"Hawk Kid"

juvenile Sparrowhawk at Grimbister, #Orkney.

#OrkneyBirding #BirdingScotland #UKBirds #UKBirding #Birds #Wildlife #UKWildlife #Nature #Photography #birdsoftheworld #ornithology Sparrowhawk 🪶

Perching in a leafy Sycamore tree, this juvenile Sparrowhawk has a brown head and upperparts, with pale underparts that are abundantly streaked in brown chevrons across its breast. It is facing front-on with its head turned to the viewer's left; its bright yellow left eye is catching the dull ambient light; its beak is yellow at the top, extending to a hooked black tip.

Orknithology @orknithology.bsky.social · Aug 14

"Kid Kestrel"

juvenile Kestrel at Grimbister, #Orkney.

#OrkneyBirding #BirdingScotland #UKBirds #UKBirding #Birds #Wildlife #UKWildlife #Nature #Photography #birdsoftheworld #ornithology #Kestrel 🪶

The bird's plumage is uniformly patterned in alternating dark and orangey-brown check-like squares; its underside is pale with black speckles; its tail has dark bars along its length; its black eye is surrounded by a yellow ring with a dark "tear" mark beneath it; it has yellow nostrils and a blue-grey hooked beak. The bird is perched atop a feeding station and is peering out from underneath a few overhanging, flowering Fuchsia branches.

Orknithology @orknithology.bsky.social · Jul 17

"Two Heads Are Better Than One"

adult Fulmar and chick at Marwick, #Orkney.

#OrkneyBirding #BirdingScotland #UKBirds #UKBirding #Birds #Wildlife #UKWildlife #Nature #Photography #birdsoftheworld #ornithology #Fulmar 🪶

The adult Fulmar is positioned sideways-on facing to the viewer's right. It has a white head, thick-set white neck, and a white underside. Its wings are grey and its beak is grey-yellow. The chick's blueish-grey downy head is peeking out from behind the adult's rear end and facing to the viewer's left. Both bird's eyes are black and catching the ambient sunshine. The bird's are on a ledge on the side of a rocky cliff.