Emily Richens

male Azure Hawker

Northern Emerald

Common Hawker

Azure Hawker

Join us this spring, summer, and early autumn to explore the Scottish Highlands in search of some of the most prized species of Odonata in the UK. Expect superb wildlife, stunning views, and homemade cakes! Email us info@highlanddragonflytours.com for availability. @dragonflydamselfly.bsky.social

A weekend spot of birding - Bonapartes and Iceland Gulls amidst the melee!

Challenging birding in the dense forest of Satchari NP 🇧🇩 but managed to find some good stuff. My highlight however was the (Western) Hoolock Gibbon, an endangered mammal I'd desperately wanted to see! When our group walked off I enjoyed watching the male join the female and her baby for a groom.

Great view of this Russian White-fronted Goose which briefly gave us a fly past before returning to the field of Greylags and Pinkies just east of Inverness. A new one for my Highland list as only had Greenland before.

Always delighted to share a world tick with @matt-eade24.bsky.social, as at Dornoch today we re-found the Black Scoter amidst a flotilla including Velvet & Surf scoter, King Eider, LT ducks, Scaup, Slav Grebe, Mergs, Goldeneye and Tufties.

Brilliant views with its dolphin escort!

Always love a spot of sea watching!

Absolute disgrace

Operation Needletail turned into Needletail success after only 15 minutes in the field! Plucked on Helmsdale as a likely location and at 0740 the White-throated Needletail was spotted by @emilyrichens.bsky.social and spent 9-mins with us before heading south! BOOM #BirdingScotland

A walk up Tom A Choinnich (Glen Affric) with @emilyrichens.bsky.social & Tommy Saunders gave stunning panoramic views, 15 Ptarmigans, 3 Ring Ouzels and most surprisingly, 3 Twite. Superb! Lots of bird ringing in our garden today too 😄. #BirdingScotland

Last month we moved house and these are our new neighbours!! Also recently had our first White-tailed Eagle over the garden and a cracking sighting of a Barn Owl from the sofa!
@matt-eade24.bsky.social

Emily's fundraiser for Scottish Mountain Rescue Help Emily Richens raise money to support Scottish Mountain Rescue

2 weeks to go!! Very touched by the immense support given already by friends & family. Very much looking forward to it, no doubt my biggest challenge yet, and hopefully I do you all proud! 🥰
@matt-eade24.bsky.social

www.justgiving.com/page/emilyri...

A driver I met in Tana, Madagascar 1yr ago promised me bird stamps he’d collected. He later passed them to my friend who travelled there - and now I’m finally in possession of these beautiful artworks!

A day trip on the Ullapool-Stornoway ferry last wknd with @matt-eade24.bsky.social & Matt Broadbent; glassy conditions meant cetaceans were easily spotted with lunge-feeding Minkes stealing attention from the deck. A single Leach's made an appearance near Priest Island as well as G & Arctic Skua.

Two Lempke’s Gold Spot were this morning’s highlight from Beauly, amongst a huge catch in our MV! #UKMoths #TeamMoth @emilyrichens.bsky.social

Great to find Field Gentian (Gentianella campestris) in Sutherland today! I’ve seen plenty on the continent but they are scarce in Britain due to our overgrazed and mismanaged grasslands. Let’s hope this one survives to seed this year.
#wildflowers #britishwildlife #botany #scottishflora

Enjoyed another afternoon with White-faced Darters. They’re so skittish but after a while lying on the ground I befriended this individual who seemed to enjoy the limelight, even tucking into dinner in front of my lens! Also found nationally scarce Bee Robberfly (Laphria flava) - an added bonus!

Female Adder found on my hike over a bog, not necessarily the place I’d expect to see one!

Lovely day spent hunting down rare orchids and Odonata with several new species for me inc Coralroot and Small White Orchids, White-faced Darter and Northern Emerald. Fantastic day in the pinewoods and bogs!
@matt-eade24.bsky.social @dragonflydamselfly.bsky.social
@cairngormsnews.bsky.social

Always good to explore ‘new’ places on our doorstep! Lovely warm afternoon walk in a secluded pinewood, what’s not to like?
@matt-eade24.bsky.social

Why is this not a crime? Appalling and upsetting to see road verges strimmed to the ground. Beautiful species-rich grassland destroyed at its peak. Yet, just up the road is a verge left aside for nature, supporting @mariecurieuk.bsky.social
What is the absurd reason behind this @highland.gov.uk ?

One of my favourite places, incredible plant and invertebrate diversity!

You can go out searching all you like, but sometimes wildlife comes to you! We had the pleasure of this stunning Azure Hawker yesterday, an uncommon species found in the Highlands.
@matt-eade24.bsky.social

A cracking week reminding me how lucky I am; there aren’t many places you can see Osprey, Black-throated Divers and Hen Harrier in the same view!

And today saw my first Black-throated Diver chicks (tiny black fluffballs!) and my second ever pair of Wood Sands in Scotland 😄
#birdingscotland
#birds

Mass Vulture Poisoning Rocks Kruger National Park Over 120 vultures, including endangered species, found dead around a poisoned elephant carcass in coordinated killing

Mass Vulture Poisoning Rocks Kruger National Park
www.rarebirdalert.co.uk/v2/Content/M...

Always a joy to hear a Wood Warbler belting out its song! This one was very obliging for photos (and patient considering my inability to get the exposure right & manual focus)
#birdingscotland
#birds

Brilliant to see a Pearl-bordered Fritillary near Inverlael en route up to Beinn Dearg yesterday! They’re a BAP priority species and definitely worth looking out for!

Yeah sounds good, thanks!

Smashing Ptarmigan views up Beinn Dearg today! 😍

Great Goldie sightings today - both Plover and Eagle! 😅