Matt Bruce
@mattjbruce.bsky.social
Birder working on wild bird crime in the UK, mainly raptor persecution. Also running, Shetland wildlife and boardgames!
The stunning breeding plumage female Grey (Red) Phalarope at Spiggie, Shetland, this afternoon. What an incredible looking bird! Not often seen looking like this in the UK. My only other sighting was about a decade ago at Brandon Marsh, Warks! #Phalarope #Waders #Wildlife #UkBirding
June 4, 2025 at 2:17 PM
The stunning breeding plumage female Grey (Red) Phalarope at Spiggie, Shetland, this afternoon. What an incredible looking bird! Not often seen looking like this in the UK. My only other sighting was about a decade ago at Brandon Marsh, Warks! #Phalarope #Waders #Wildlife #UkBirding
So many photos to go through from my time in Pine Marten heaven - Ardnamurchan, West coast of Scotland. Such wonderful characters, I watched them for hours climbing over rocks and trees behind the hours.
#BritishMammals #PineMarten #Wildlife #Nature #Ardnamurchan
#BritishMammals #PineMarten #Wildlife #Nature #Ardnamurchan
April 20, 2025 at 6:38 PM
So many photos to go through from my time in Pine Marten heaven - Ardnamurchan, West coast of Scotland. Such wonderful characters, I watched them for hours climbing over rocks and trees behind the hours.
#BritishMammals #PineMarten #Wildlife #Nature #Ardnamurchan
#BritishMammals #PineMarten #Wildlife #Nature #Ardnamurchan
A week long holiday on the Ardnamurchan peninsula provided some incredible Pine Marten encounters from the comfort of our accommodation. Amongst Atlantic rainforest, these mustelids evoke strong feelings of wilder times gone by.
#PineMarten #BritishMammals #Nature #Wildlife #BritishWildlife
#PineMarten #BritishMammals #Nature #Wildlife #BritishWildlife
April 19, 2025 at 9:26 PM
A week long holiday on the Ardnamurchan peninsula provided some incredible Pine Marten encounters from the comfort of our accommodation. Amongst Atlantic rainforest, these mustelids evoke strong feelings of wilder times gone by.
#PineMarten #BritishMammals #Nature #Wildlife #BritishWildlife
#PineMarten #BritishMammals #Nature #Wildlife #BritishWildlife
A Purple Heron this afternoon at Boddam Voe gave Shetland another slice of the recent spring migrant action after yesterday's elusive Black-crowned Night Heron. #UKBirding
April 6, 2025 at 3:18 PM
A Purple Heron this afternoon at Boddam Voe gave Shetland another slice of the recent spring migrant action after yesterday's elusive Black-crowned Night Heron. #UKBirding
First Puffins today on the cliffs of Sumburgh to get your Sea Bird excitement levels up. Bonxies and Scootie Allans (Arctic Skuas) will be back soon too 😁😎
April 1, 2025 at 2:15 PM
First Puffins today on the cliffs of Sumburgh to get your Sea Bird excitement levels up. Bonxies and Scootie Allans (Arctic Skuas) will be back soon too 😁😎
The Killer Whale pod known as the 27s visited my local Shetland coastline today, or at least 4 of them did. 27 herself and Bull 34 put on a show. Lovely weather but still very cold in the wind 🥶
#KillerWhale #Orca #SeaLife #MarineMammals #Wildlife #Shetland
#KillerWhale #Orca #SeaLife #MarineMammals #Wildlife #Shetland
March 14, 2025 at 5:26 PM
The Killer Whale pod known as the 27s visited my local Shetland coastline today, or at least 4 of them did. 27 herself and Bull 34 put on a show. Lovely weather but still very cold in the wind 🥶
#KillerWhale #Orca #SeaLife #MarineMammals #Wildlife #Shetland
#KillerWhale #Orca #SeaLife #MarineMammals #Wildlife #Shetland
The solo bull Orca hanging around near Voe in Shetland right now. Lots of long feeding dives, there must be some good fish down there, he's been here for days now!
#Shetland #Orca #KillerWhale
#Shetland #Orca #KillerWhale
March 2, 2025 at 9:06 PM
The solo bull Orca hanging around near Voe in Shetland right now. Lots of long feeding dives, there must be some good fish down there, he's been here for days now!
#Shetland #Orca #KillerWhale
#Shetland #Orca #KillerWhale
Shetland has the highest density of European Otter in the world. I saw at least 7 today in 4 different encounters. This youngster was the first I saw, at a popular walk location. Being downwind, I was fortunate to watch it feed for some time from close range. #Otter #Draatsi #Shetland
February 9, 2025 at 7:43 PM
Tailing off now but we nipped out beyond the garden for a few more photos and to just take it all in.
January 1, 2025 at 6:14 PM
Tailing off now but we nipped out beyond the garden for a few more photos and to just take it all in.
The sky just exploded with colour above our Shetland house. One of the best displays I've seen. Many colours visible to the naked eye and it was dancing and flowing and changing constantly. Breathtaking! #AuroraBorealis #NorthLights #MirrieDancers #Shetland
January 1, 2025 at 5:36 PM
The sky just exploded with colour above our Shetland house. One of the best displays I've seen. Many colours visible to the naked eye and it was dancing and flowing and changing constantly. Breathtaking! #AuroraBorealis #NorthLights #MirrieDancers #Shetland
A great day of Otter encounters on Friday! Started off with a mother and 3 cubs fishing and playing right next to us. Whilst watching them, Beth looked down and saw a male fast asleep barely 5m from us. On the drive back another family party of 4 were feeding under Trondra bridge. #Shetland #Otters
December 30, 2024 at 9:54 AM
A big highlight of Gambia was seeing Black Heron doing it's thing, otherwise known as the "Night-time Day-time bird" 😂
It caught something almost every time it created it's fake shady fish refuge!
It caught something almost every time it created it's fake shady fish refuge!
December 19, 2024 at 3:57 PM
A big highlight of Gambia was seeing Black Heron doing it's thing, otherwise known as the "Night-time Day-time bird" 😂
It caught something almost every time it created it's fake shady fish refuge!
It caught something almost every time it created it's fake shady fish refuge!
The 2nd Shetland record of American Coot on Loch Spiggie this afternoon, with a Eurasian for company. Subtle differences, but it showed moderately well on the western shore. Top marks to Phil for finding it #Coot #Shetland #UKbirding
November 26, 2024 at 1:56 PM
The 2nd Shetland record of American Coot on Loch Spiggie this afternoon, with a Eurasian for company. Subtle differences, but it showed moderately well on the western shore. Top marks to Phil for finding it #Coot #Shetland #UKbirding
This mornings walk along the beach at Easington for the Shore Larks was beautiful. Amazing to think it was thick snow flurries and grey skies an hour later. The Hume's Warbler showed briefly in Church field too.
#UKbirding
#UKbirding
November 20, 2024 at 7:53 PM
This mornings walk along the beach at Easington for the Shore Larks was beautiful. Amazing to think it was thick snow flurries and grey skies an hour later. The Hume's Warbler showed briefly in Church field too.
#UKbirding
#UKbirding
Still a highlight of Scilly 2020 😂
November 11, 2024 at 3:50 PM
Still a highlight of Scilly 2020 😂
A sunny lunch time wander along Grutness beach provided some lovely views of the Sanderlings and Calloos (Long-tailed Ducks). A seaweed skulking Water Rail gave itself up briefly by screeching at a Redshank. A Yellowhammer up at Sumburgh a belated addition to my Shetland list!
#UKbirding #Shetland
#UKbirding #Shetland
November 11, 2024 at 3:35 PM
A sunny lunch time wander along Grutness beach provided some lovely views of the Sanderlings and Calloos (Long-tailed Ducks). A seaweed skulking Water Rail gave itself up briefly by screeching at a Redshank. A Yellowhammer up at Sumburgh a belated addition to my Shetland list!
#UKbirding #Shetland
#UKbirding #Shetland
Is there anything better than a flyover Hawfinch in Shetland winter sun? The answer is yes when there's an Eye-browed Thrush in Orkney, but I still really enjoyed this big brute of a finch as it flew over my house this morning! #UKBirding
November 7, 2024 at 7:50 PM
Is there anything better than a flyover Hawfinch in Shetland winter sun? The answer is yes when there's an Eye-browed Thrush in Orkney, but I still really enjoyed this big brute of a finch as it flew over my house this morning! #UKBirding
Autumn in Shetland has been great so far despite missing the "biggy", an Eastern Crowned Warbler. Pallas's Grasshopper Warbler was a much sought after lifer. However I can't deny it's just not been as brilliant as previous years when Nearctic gems have graced us with their presence! #UKBirding
October 14, 2024 at 4:01 PM
Autumn in Shetland has been great so far despite missing the "biggy", an Eastern Crowned Warbler. Pallas's Grasshopper Warbler was a much sought after lifer. However I can't deny it's just not been as brilliant as previous years when Nearctic gems have graced us with their presence! #UKBirding
Turtle Dove on the patch list! Also new for me in Shetland, despite having already seen Oriental a few years back 😂 #UKBirding
October 14, 2024 at 3:40 PM
Turtle Dove on the patch list! Also new for me in Shetland, despite having already seen Oriental a few years back 😂 #UKBirding
The last hour has been pretty epic for the #MirrieDancers in Shetland. Some amazing shapes and movements visible to the naked eye with a brilliant intense green. Much enhanced by the camera these shots do at least show the swirls and patterns you could see. #AuroraBorealis #NorthernLights #Shetlanc
September 25, 2024 at 9:53 PM
The last hour has been pretty epic for the #MirrieDancers in Shetland. Some amazing shapes and movements visible to the naked eye with a brilliant intense green. Much enhanced by the camera these shots do at least show the swirls and patterns you could see. #AuroraBorealis #NorthernLights #Shetlanc
Some slightly misleading Aurora shots from Sandsayre, Shetland tonight. Taken on a Google pixel 6 pro, with minor tweaks 😂 it was cool to see but the camera does lie! #Aurora #NorthernLights #NightSky
September 12, 2024 at 9:55 PM
Some slightly misleading Aurora shots from Sandsayre, Shetland tonight. Taken on a Google pixel 6 pro, with minor tweaks 😂 it was cool to see but the camera does lie! #Aurora #NorthernLights #NightSky
Lesser Grey Shrike in Channerwick, Shetland this morning. Found by my old neighbour last night. Shrikes are always brilliant. #UKbirding
August 14, 2024 at 9:14 AM
Lesser Grey Shrike in Channerwick, Shetland this morning. Found by my old neighbour last night. Shrikes are always brilliant. #UKbirding
More Nudibranchs in Shetland yesterday whilst #RockPooling
We think the first is Jorunna artsdatabanksia but confirmation would be appreciated. The last picture shows 1 of 2 Polycera quadrilineata seen. These were the first and last critters we found in an hour's search - funny how it works out!
We think the first is Jorunna artsdatabanksia but confirmation would be appreciated. The last picture shows 1 of 2 Polycera quadrilineata seen. These were the first and last critters we found in an hour's search - funny how it works out!
June 24, 2024 at 8:19 AM
More Nudibranchs in Shetland yesterday whilst #RockPooling
We think the first is Jorunna artsdatabanksia but confirmation would be appreciated. The last picture shows 1 of 2 Polycera quadrilineata seen. These were the first and last critters we found in an hour's search - funny how it works out!
We think the first is Jorunna artsdatabanksia but confirmation would be appreciated. The last picture shows 1 of 2 Polycera quadrilineata seen. These were the first and last critters we found in an hour's search - funny how it works out!