Simon Niederberger
@sniederb.bsky.social
Birder with ties to Valasay, Isle of Lewis and Switzerland. Software developer.
Went to look for dippers in Stornoway today, instead we came across a pair of bullfinches. Absolutely delighted, as we haven't seen bullfinches for ages.
#nature #wildlife #birds #birding #birdwatching #birdsofscotland #ukbirds #isleoflewis #outerhebrides
#nature #wildlife #birds #birding #birdwatching #birdsofscotland #ukbirds #isleoflewis #outerhebrides
January 25, 2026 at 4:20 PM
Went to look for dippers in Stornoway today, instead we came across a pair of bullfinches. Absolutely delighted, as we haven't seen bullfinches for ages.
#nature #wildlife #birds #birding #birdwatching #birdsofscotland #ukbirds #isleoflewis #outerhebrides
#nature #wildlife #birds #birding #birdwatching #birdsofscotland #ukbirds #isleoflewis #outerhebrides
Don't want to say anything illegal, so I'll just leave this here uncommented.
www.theguardian.com/environment/...
www.theguardian.com/environment/...
World’s richest 1% have already used fair share of emissions for 2026, says Oxfam
Richest 1% took 10 days while wealthiest 0.1% needed just three days to exhaust annual carbon budget, study shows
www.theguardian.com
January 11, 2026 at 9:03 AM
Don't want to say anything illegal, so I'll just leave this here uncommented.
www.theguardian.com/environment/...
www.theguardian.com/environment/...
Reposted by Simon Niederberger
It’s now 2026. Are Nature Scot still going to allow a bunch of men to club baby Gannets to death on a remote Scottish island in the name of tradition?
January 2, 2026 at 10:00 AM
It’s now 2026. Are Nature Scot still going to allow a bunch of men to club baby Gannets to death on a remote Scottish island in the name of tradition?
T'was a lovely solstice birding Sunday at Bragar today.
#nature #wildlife #birds #birding #birdwatching #birdsofscotland #ukbird #isleoflewis #outerhebrides
#nature #wildlife #birds #birding #birdwatching #birdsofscotland #ukbird #isleoflewis #outerhebrides
December 21, 2025 at 4:32 PM
T'was a lovely solstice birding Sunday at Bragar today.
#nature #wildlife #birds #birding #birdwatching #birdsofscotland #ukbird #isleoflewis #outerhebrides
#nature #wildlife #birds #birding #birdwatching #birdsofscotland #ukbird #isleoflewis #outerhebrides
Goldeneye on Loch Geal (Breacleit) this late afternoon.
#nature #wildlife #birds #birding #birdwatching #birdsofscotland #ukbird #isleoflewis #outerhebrides
#nature #wildlife #birds #birding #birdwatching #birdsofscotland #ukbird #isleoflewis #outerhebrides
December 6, 2025 at 6:44 PM
Goldeneye on Loch Geal (Breacleit) this late afternoon.
#nature #wildlife #birds #birding #birdwatching #birdsofscotland #ukbird #isleoflewis #outerhebrides
#nature #wildlife #birds #birding #birdwatching #birdsofscotland #ukbird #isleoflewis #outerhebrides
Some lovely birds around these past few days. Esp. the snow bunting along the Pentland road was rather unexpected.
#nature #wildlife #birds #birding #birdwatching #birdsofscotland #ukbird #isleoflewis #outerhebrides
#nature #wildlife #birds #birding #birdwatching #birdsofscotland #ukbird #isleoflewis #outerhebrides
November 30, 2025 at 3:15 PM
Some lovely birds around these past few days. Esp. the snow bunting along the Pentland road was rather unexpected.
#nature #wildlife #birds #birding #birdwatching #birdsofscotland #ukbird #isleoflewis #outerhebrides
#nature #wildlife #birds #birding #birdwatching #birdsofscotland #ukbird #isleoflewis #outerhebrides
Stornoway Castle grounds was in the hands of goldcrests today, they were everywhere!
#nature #wildlife #birds #birding #birdwatching #birdsofscotland #ukbird #isleoflewis #outerhebrides
#nature #wildlife #birds #birding #birdwatching #birdsofscotland #ukbird #isleoflewis #outerhebrides
November 23, 2025 at 7:00 PM
Stornoway Castle grounds was in the hands of goldcrests today, they were everywhere!
#nature #wildlife #birds #birding #birdwatching #birdsofscotland #ukbird #isleoflewis #outerhebrides
#nature #wildlife #birds #birding #birdwatching #birdsofscotland #ukbird #isleoflewis #outerhebrides
First time we've come across a bean goose without someone pointing it out to us. The orange legs stood out among the small group of pink-footed geese at Sandwick this morning.
#nature #wildlife #birds #birding #birdwatching #birdsofscotland #ukbird #isleoflewis #outerhebrides
#nature #wildlife #birds #birding #birdwatching #birdsofscotland #ukbird #isleoflewis #outerhebrides
November 23, 2025 at 3:32 PM
First time we've come across a bean goose without someone pointing it out to us. The orange legs stood out among the small group of pink-footed geese at Sandwick this morning.
#nature #wildlife #birds #birding #birdwatching #birdsofscotland #ukbird #isleoflewis #outerhebrides
#nature #wildlife #birds #birding #birdwatching #birdsofscotland #ukbird #isleoflewis #outerhebrides
Some more images of the interesting redwing from this morning. Remarkable bird.
#nature #wildlife #birds #birding #birdwatching #birdsofscotland #ukbird #isleoflewis #outerhebrides
#nature #wildlife #birds #birding #birdwatching #birdsofscotland #ukbird #isleoflewis #outerhebrides
November 16, 2025 at 6:03 PM
Some more images of the interesting redwing from this morning. Remarkable bird.
#nature #wildlife #birds #birding #birdwatching #birdsofscotland #ukbird #isleoflewis #outerhebrides
#nature #wildlife #birds #birding #birdwatching #birdsofscotland #ukbird #isleoflewis #outerhebrides
This was an interesting redwing this morning, never seen leucism so localized.
#nature #wildlife #birds #birding #birdwatching #birdsofscotland #ukbird #isleoflewis #outerhebrides
#nature #wildlife #birds #birding #birdwatching #birdsofscotland #ukbird #isleoflewis #outerhebrides
November 16, 2025 at 4:39 PM
This was an interesting redwing this morning, never seen leucism so localized.
#nature #wildlife #birds #birding #birdwatching #birdsofscotland #ukbird #isleoflewis #outerhebrides
#nature #wildlife #birds #birding #birdwatching #birdsofscotland #ukbird #isleoflewis #outerhebrides
Taking a picture of a firecrest is hard! Chuffed to have one in our garden today.
#nature #wildlife #birds #birding #birdwatching #birdsofscotland #ukbird #isleoflewis #outerhebrides
#nature #wildlife #birds #birding #birdwatching #birdsofscotland #ukbird #isleoflewis #outerhebrides
November 16, 2025 at 4:37 PM
Taking a picture of a firecrest is hard! Chuffed to have one in our garden today.
#nature #wildlife #birds #birding #birdwatching #birdsofscotland #ukbird #isleoflewis #outerhebrides
#nature #wildlife #birds #birding #birdwatching #birdsofscotland #ukbird #isleoflewis #outerhebrides
We get a blackcap in our garden maybe once a year, seeing two today was exceptional. I'm not sure how much they enjoyed the rosehips.
#nature #wildlife #birds #birding #birdwatching #birdsofscotland #ukbird #isleoflewis #outerhebrides
#nature #wildlife #birds #birding #birdwatching #birdsofscotland #ukbird #isleoflewis #outerhebrides
November 8, 2025 at 5:11 PM
We get a blackcap in our garden maybe once a year, seeing two today was exceptional. I'm not sure how much they enjoyed the rosehips.
#nature #wildlife #birds #birding #birdwatching #birdsofscotland #ukbird #isleoflewis #outerhebrides
#nature #wildlife #birds #birding #birdwatching #birdsofscotland #ukbird #isleoflewis #outerhebrides
Garden birds from today. I'm very happy the bramblings are sticking around.
#nature #wildlife #birds #birding #birdwatching #birdsofscotland #ukbird #isleoflewis #outerhebrides
#nature #wildlife #birds #birding #birdwatching #birdsofscotland #ukbird #isleoflewis #outerhebrides
October 25, 2025 at 5:17 PM
Garden birds from today. I'm very happy the bramblings are sticking around.
#nature #wildlife #birds #birding #birdwatching #birdsofscotland #ukbird #isleoflewis #outerhebrides
#nature #wildlife #birds #birding #birdwatching #birdsofscotland #ukbird #isleoflewis #outerhebrides
From that perspective, the question is less, “Why are flights so cheap?” and more, “Who actually pays for them?”
www.theguardian.com/environment/...
www.theguardian.com/environment/...
When trains are pricier than planes, there’s a heavy social, financial and environmental cost
In this week’s newsletter: whether it’s a holiday or work trip, railway travellers find themselves burdened by astronomical prices
www.theguardian.com
October 24, 2025 at 6:53 PM
From that perspective, the question is less, “Why are flights so cheap?” and more, “Who actually pays for them?”
www.theguardian.com/environment/...
www.theguardian.com/environment/...
First brambling of the season in our garden today.
#nature #wildlife #birds #birding #birdwatching #birdsofscotland #ukbird #isleoflewis #outerhebrides
#nature #wildlife #birds #birding #birdwatching #birdsofscotland #ukbird #isleoflewis #outerhebrides
October 22, 2025 at 7:57 PM
First brambling of the season in our garden today.
#nature #wildlife #birds #birding #birdwatching #birdsofscotland #ukbird #isleoflewis #outerhebrides
#nature #wildlife #birds #birding #birdwatching #birdsofscotland #ukbird #isleoflewis #outerhebrides
Cattle egret are still hanging around in Lionel.
#nature #wildlife #birds #birding #birdwatching #birdsofscotland #ukbird #isleoflewis #outerhebrides
#nature #wildlife #birds #birding #birdwatching #birdsofscotland #ukbird #isleoflewis #outerhebrides
October 19, 2025 at 5:17 PM
Cattle egret are still hanging around in Lionel.
#nature #wildlife #birds #birding #birdwatching #birdsofscotland #ukbird #isleoflewis #outerhebrides
#nature #wildlife #birds #birding #birdwatching #birdsofscotland #ukbird #isleoflewis #outerhebrides
Had deer left and right on my way out this morning, watched an otter at Loch Stiapabhat (along with the usual suspects), came across this grey phalarope at Bragar, and then a fly-by white-tailed eagle on the way home. Sunday birding at its finest.
September 21, 2025 at 5:36 PM
Had deer left and right on my way out this morning, watched an otter at Loch Stiapabhat (along with the usual suspects), came across this grey phalarope at Bragar, and then a fly-by white-tailed eagle on the way home. Sunday birding at its finest.
Distant, but close enough to be sure it's our first osprey seen on the Hebrides. Seen today over Bernera.
September 10, 2025 at 4:32 PM
Distant, but close enough to be sure it's our first osprey seen on the Hebrides. Seen today over Bernera.
Young male hen harrier today at Loch Stiapabhat. I love how the female-type plumage still shows here and there.
#birds #birding #birdwatching #birdsofscotland #ukbird
#birds #birding #birdwatching #birdsofscotland #ukbird
August 24, 2025 at 6:10 PM
Young male hen harrier today at Loch Stiapabhat. I love how the female-type plumage still shows here and there.
#birds #birding #birdwatching #birdsofscotland #ukbird
#birds #birding #birdwatching #birdsofscotland #ukbird
Roughly 60 common dolphins versus two sooty shearwater. No contest, the sooty shearwaters made our day today crossing back to Stornoway.
August 19, 2025 at 7:18 PM
Roughly 60 common dolphins versus two sooty shearwater. No contest, the sooty shearwaters made our day today crossing back to Stornoway.
These two "articles" in my Google feed this morning. I can only assume AI generated slop.
August 16, 2025 at 1:14 PM
These two "articles" in my Google feed this morning. I can only assume AI generated slop.
"Herds of sheep grazed intensively on upland pastures, tearing up vegetation and compacting the soil. The result was reduced water retention, collapsing topsoil and declining biodiversity."
But this was Troy, 2400BC, when people had no clue what they were doing.
theconversation.com/troys-fall-w...
But this was Troy, 2400BC, when people had no clue what they were doing.
theconversation.com/troys-fall-w...
Troy’s fall was partly due to environmental strain – and it holds lessons for today
Long before industry, ancient societies were already pushing their ecosystems to the brink
theconversation.com
August 13, 2025 at 1:41 PM
"Herds of sheep grazed intensively on upland pastures, tearing up vegetation and compacting the soil. The result was reduced water retention, collapsing topsoil and declining biodiversity."
But this was Troy, 2400BC, when people had no clue what they were doing.
theconversation.com/troys-fall-w...
But this was Troy, 2400BC, when people had no clue what they were doing.
theconversation.com/troys-fall-w...
Cutting grass with a scythe is pretty exhausting (for a geek),but seeing the family of stonechat feast on the glut of insects made accessible in the shorter grass made it more than worth it.
August 2, 2025 at 6:18 PM
Cutting grass with a scythe is pretty exhausting (for a geek),but seeing the family of stonechat feast on the glut of insects made accessible in the shorter grass made it more than worth it.