Green-winged Teal – Tain
andrew
Nice little Christmas present today, good views of the green-winged teal at Tain, Highlands. ﾿ ﾿ Comparison of green-winged teal and common teal...
highlands
White-tailed Eagle – Highlands
andrew
Today started off as a normal day at work. Off up to a wind farm site near Inverness to carry out water quality monitoring and general ECoW stuff. Things got a lot more exciting on the journey back down the access track though when I came across a white-tailed eagle just sitting on the side of the...
Meall Fuar-mhonaidh, Highlands
andrew
Meall Fuar-mhonaidh might not be the most recognisable mountain name in Scotland but if you have ever been along the Great Glen Way or A82 alongside Loch Ness, you will have seen it. This rounded hill is the highest point along the side of Loch Ness at 699m and is visible from many points along...
Mountain Hare – Highlands
andrew
Carrying out a wader and raptor survey on a wind farm site today and it’s been hot. Got some really good views of mountain hare, including this one that was very much a case of watching the watcher! You can tell how hot it was from the heat haze on the photo, not something I am used to living up...
Red-breasted Carrion Beetle
andrew
Walking in Glen Feshie the other day and came across this funky looking beetle. It is a red-breasted carrion beetle (Oiceoptoma thoracicum). They are often found under the carcasses of birds and mammals, mainly in woodland habitats. ﾿ The post Red-breasted...
Bogbean
andrew
One of my favourite plants that I encounter in the uplands is the bogbean (Menyanthes trifoliata). The name doesn’t do the plant justice really, the star-like, feathery white flowers are so delicate and beautiful. The name comes from the leaves of the plant which look a lot like broad bean leaves....
Mountain Hare in Winter – Highlands
andrew
Mountain hares are one of the few UK mammal species that change their coat in winter. This one was hiding in the snow in the Cairngorms today. ﾿ The post Mountain Hare in Winter – Highlands appeared first on Andrew Whitelee.
A day at the office – ecology style
andrew
If someone said they were spending a “day at the office”, it would probably conjure up thoughts of desks, open plan seating and water cooler chat. Although working as an ecologist does mean a fair amount of desk-based work, more typically in the summer, the work is outside. However, for me, I like...
Snow Frog – Highlands
andrew
I was out undertaking a site walkover survey today in the Scottish Highlands not far from Carrbridge. The weather is OK but far from warm and there are still large patches of snow in sheltered areas that don’t feel the direct heat of the sun. Which is why I was surprised to first hear, and then...
Black Grouse Survey – Highlands
andrew
An early start to carry out a black grouse (Tetrao tetrix) lek survey today. These guys just make me laugh, when its the breeding season they only have one thing on their minds and will spend all day fighting over who is the dominate male by having a grouse-style dance-off....
American Wigeon – Inverness
andrew
This american wigeon (Mareca americana) is probably the closest rarity to my house that I have ever seen. A five minute walk down the Caledonian Canal to find this long-staying visitor in his winter plumage. ﾿ The post American Wigeon – Inverness appeared...
Icterine Warbler – Laggan, Cairngorms
andrew
The middle of the Cairngorm National Park in June might not be the first place you’d think of to look for migrant warblers. However, a wildlife tour group that were stopping in Laggan the other day to use the public toilets reported an Icterine Warbler () singing in the park next to the toilets....