A Nature Voyage

Exploring & observing nature

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A year of doing a PhD during COVID

It’s been a year since we started working from home in Scotland. I remember leaving the office and saying goodbye to my officemates; we are all sure we’d be back in the office by the summer, September at the latest....

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How to spend a day in Plockton

Aptly named ‘the jewel of the highlands’, Plockton is the perfect place to spend a day on your trip to Scotland’s stunning west coast.  A postcard perfect village about 7 miles from the Skye bridge, Plockton will leave you wanting...

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Everyday I’m shovelin’
The shoveler (or northern shoveler, as they’re called in some places) is unmistakeable thanks to it’s HUGE bill. Imagine the neck muscles they must have to lug that big ol’ bill about. But why do they have such a big duck snoot? Because it’s a kind of colander. Shovelers have something called lamellae on the inside of their bill (they look like the teeth on combs), which helps them to filter out tasty snacks (aquatic invertebrates and teeny crustaceans) from the water. The bigger your colander bill is, the faster you can get more food. Makes sense right? #Shoveler #NorthernShoveler #Birding #BirdNerd BritishBirds #RSPB_Love_Birds #NatureNerd #SciCommer #Sigma150600 #LochLeven #Kinross #BBCSpringwatch #MySigma
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Everyday I’m shovelin’
The shoveler (or northern shoveler, as they’re called in some places) is unmistakeable thanks to it’s HUGE bill. Imagine the neck muscles they must have to lug that big ol’ bill about. But why do they have such a big duck snoot? Because it’s a kind of colander. Shovelers have something called lamellae on the inside of their bill (they look like the teeth on combs), which helps them to filter out tasty snacks (aquatic invertebrates and teeny crustaceans) from the water. The bigger your colander bill is, the faster you can get more food. Makes sense right? #Shoveler #NorthernShoveler #Birding #BirdNerd BritishBirds #RSPB_Love_Birds #NatureNerd #SciCommer #Sigma150600 #LochLeven #Kinross #BBCSpringwatch #MySigma
4 days ago
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1/9
It’s #InsectWeek22, so let’s talk about this burying beetle that landed on the roof of my grow house last night. Specifically, I think it’s a common sexton beetle (Nicrophorus vespilloides) due to the black antennae tips. Anyway, on to the gory stuff. These beetles are attracted to the scents given off by dead and decaying bodies (things like birds and small mammals). Males and female find each other and pair up ON dead animals. The female lays her eggs next to or ON the corpse, providing their young with a delicious and nutritious food source. Mmmm, baby food doesn’t seem so bad now, does it? I’m not finished though, and I’m about to use the phrase “anal secretions”. Say you’ve got a decomposing mouse corpse that you want to feed to your kids in a few days but you don’t own a fridge - what’s a beetle to do? Cover it in antibiotic anal secretions of course! While it might sound gross to some, these metal wee beasties are doing a great job by decomposing corpses and returning the nutrients to the soil. I have no idea why this one was on my growhouse, unless it was a vegetarian carrion beetle after some dead plants
 #CarrionBeetle #InsectWeek #CommonSextonBeetle #BritishNature #WholeLottaBugs #WildlifeOnEarth #Silphidae #NatureIsMetal #NatureNerd #BuryingBeetle #BeetlesOfInstagram #Entomology
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It’s #InsectWeek22, so let’s talk about this burying beetle that landed on the roof of my grow house last night. Specifically, I think it’s a common sexton beetle (Nicrophorus vespilloides) due to the black antennae tips. Anyway, on to the gory stuff. These beetles are attracted to the scents given off by dead and decaying bodies (things like birds and small mammals). Males and female find each other and pair up ON dead animals. The female lays her eggs next to or ON the corpse, providing their young with a delicious and nutritious food source. Mmmm, baby food doesn’t seem so bad now, does it? I’m not finished though, and I’m about to use the phrase “anal secretions”. Say you’ve got a decomposing mouse corpse that you want to feed to your kids in a few days but you don’t own a fridge - what’s a beetle to do? Cover it in antibiotic anal secretions of course! While it might sound gross to some, these metal wee beasties are doing a great job by decomposing corpses and returning the nutrients to the soil. I have no idea why this one was on my growhouse, unless it was a vegetarian carrion beetle after some dead plants
 #CarrionBeetle #InsectWeek #CommonSextonBeetle #BritishNature #WholeLottaBugs #WildlifeOnEarth #Silphidae #NatureIsMetal #NatureNerd #BuryingBeetle #BeetlesOfInstagram #Entomology
5 days ago
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2/9
Gull fan: yes or no? We have A LOT of gulls in Aberdeen, and they do have a reputation for yoinking food out your hand and flying off with it 😬. I’ve also been pooped on twice by herring gulls at the beach - once on my fresh off the needles cardigan, wasn’t thrilled. That said, I’m still a sucker for gulls. I love them. They’re pretty darn beautiful, they’ve definitely got personality, and I will never get bored of saying “LOOK AT THE SIZE OF THAT BEAST!” when I spot a particularly huge looking herring gull or greater black-backed gull. We have several gull species in the UK, and some of them look pretty similar, so let’s hear some quick gull facts: ⚫ There’s no such species as a “seagull”. ⚫ Common gulls look like smaller versions of herring gulls - but that doesn’t help if you don’t have both side by side. Herring gulls have pink legs, and common gulls have yellow legs. ⚫Kittiwakes have black legs, and are very cute. They’re also smaller than herring gulls. ⚫Herring gulls (pictured) are in decline in the UK, so maybe don’t get too mad when they steal that sandwich you’d spent all morning looking forward to eating
 ⚫Black-headed gulls actually have brown heads đŸ€·â€â™€ïž ⚫Black-headed gulls also have a ridiculously loud shriek for such a small bird. Not necessarily a fact, but an ear splitting observation. #Gulls #HerringGulls #BritishBirds #SeaBirds #GullsOfInstagram #BirdCaptures #Aberdeenshire #MajesticABDN #ShareMySigma #Sigma150600 #BirdWatching #Birding #VogelPortrait #NatureNerd #BirdNerd #UKNature #ScottishNature #BBCSpringwatch
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Gull fan: yes or no? We have A LOT of gulls in Aberdeen, and they do have a reputation for yoinking food out your hand and flying off with it 😬. I’ve also been pooped on twice by herring gulls at the beach - once on my fresh off the needles cardigan, wasn’t thrilled. That said, I’m still a sucker for gulls. I love them. They’re pretty darn beautiful, they’ve definitely got personality, and I will never get bored of saying “LOOK AT THE SIZE OF THAT BEAST!” when I spot a particularly huge looking herring gull or greater black-backed gull. We have several gull species in the UK, and some of them look pretty similar, so let’s hear some quick gull facts: ⚫ There’s no such species as a “seagull”. ⚫ Common gulls look like smaller versions of herring gulls - but that doesn’t help if you don’t have both side by side. Herring gulls have pink legs, and common gulls have yellow legs. ⚫Kittiwakes have black legs, and are very cute. They’re also smaller than herring gulls. ⚫Herring gulls (pictured) are in decline in the UK, so maybe don’t get too mad when they steal that sandwich you’d spent all morning looking forward to eating
 ⚫Black-headed gulls actually have brown heads đŸ€·â€â™€ïž ⚫Black-headed gulls also have a ridiculously loud shriek for such a small bird. Not necessarily a fact, but an ear splitting observation. #Gulls #HerringGulls #BritishBirds #SeaBirds #GullsOfInstagram #BirdCaptures #Aberdeenshire #MajesticABDN #ShareMySigma #Sigma150600 #BirdWatching #Birding #VogelPortrait #NatureNerd #BirdNerd #UKNature #ScottishNature #BBCSpringwatch
2 weeks ago
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3/9
🍞LOAF CHECK! Oh yes, this Fulmar knows how to loaf like a pro. I’d give them a 10/10, and reckon this Fulmar Loaf could put some kitty loaves to shame. Fulmars are so fun to try and spot. They tend to blend in with some of the gulls when they’re flying about, but it’s so exciting when you pick a fulmar out of the crowd. They have a purple/blue/grey coloured beak, and if you get a good look through your binoculars or camera you’ll spot a tube on top of their beak. They use it to “spit” a stinky smelling oil at anything that gets too close to their nest. I love that fact so much. #Fulmar #Seabirds #Fowlsheugh #MajesticABDN #RSPBFowlsheugh #BirdLoaf #LoafCheck #BirdNerd #Birding #CoastalBirds #SeaBirds #RSPB_Love_Nature #UKWildlife #NatureLovers #BBCSpringwatch #SeaCliffs #ShareMySigma #Sigma150600 #CanonUK #Nature #SciCommers #Stonehaven
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🍞LOAF CHECK! Oh yes, this Fulmar knows how to loaf like a pro. I’d give them a 10/10, and reckon this Fulmar Loaf could put some kitty loaves to shame. Fulmars are so fun to try and spot. They tend to blend in with some of the gulls when they’re flying about, but it’s so exciting when you pick a fulmar out of the crowd. They have a purple/blue/grey coloured beak, and if you get a good look through your binoculars or camera you’ll spot a tube on top of their beak. They use it to “spit” a stinky smelling oil at anything that gets too close to their nest. I love that fact so much. #Fulmar #Seabirds #Fowlsheugh #MajesticABDN #RSPBFowlsheugh #BirdLoaf #LoafCheck #BirdNerd #Birding #CoastalBirds #SeaBirds #RSPB_Love_Nature #UKWildlife #NatureLovers #BBCSpringwatch #SeaCliffs #ShareMySigma #Sigma150600 #CanonUK #Nature #SciCommers #Stonehaven
2 weeks ago
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4/9
Pair of beautiful gannets we saw last week off Fraserburgh. They fly so fast it’s hard to appreciate how stunning they are without binoculars or taking a photo. They can hit the water at 60mph when diving for food! I imagine that would really hurt ordinarily, but gannets are built for it. They have air sacs between their skin and muscles to help cushion the blow. It’s like wearing a load of bubble wrap! Nature really thought of everything, huh? #Gannets #BirdNerd #NatureNerd #Seabird #BritishBirdLovers #BritishBirds #BBCSpringwatch #Fraserburgh #NorthernGannet #UKWildlife #BritishWildlife #CoastalBirds #YourBestBirds #MajesticABDN #Aberdeenshire #NEScotlandNature #Birding
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Pair of beautiful gannets we saw last week off Fraserburgh. They fly so fast it’s hard to appreciate how stunning they are without binoculars or taking a photo. They can hit the water at 60mph when diving for food! I imagine that would really hurt ordinarily, but gannets are built for it. They have air sacs between their skin and muscles to help cushion the blow. It’s like wearing a load of bubble wrap! Nature really thought of everything, huh? #Gannets #BirdNerd #NatureNerd #Seabird #BritishBirdLovers #BritishBirds #BBCSpringwatch #Fraserburgh #NorthernGannet #UKWildlife #BritishWildlife #CoastalBirds #YourBestBirds #MajesticABDN #Aberdeenshire #NEScotlandNature #Birding
3 weeks ago
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5/9
💧Splish splash, I was taking a bath 💧 It’s been absolutely roasting here this weekend. This coal tit has been making good use of the bird bath to cool off. #CoalTit #GardenBirds #BirdNerd #NatureNerd #BritishBirds #Springwatch #BirdBath #Eye_Spy_Birds #BirdNerd #BirdWatching #Birding #RSPB_Love_Nature #GardenBirdsUK #BirdBrilliance
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💧Splish splash, I was taking a bath 💧 It’s been absolutely roasting here this weekend. This coal tit has been making good use of the bird bath to cool off. #CoalTit #GardenBirds #BirdNerd #NatureNerd #BritishBirds #Springwatch #BirdBath #Eye_Spy_Birds #BirdNerd #BirdWatching #Birding #RSPB_Love_Nature #GardenBirdsUK #BirdBrilliance
3 weeks ago
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6/9
After yesterday’s foray into lighthouses, I’m safely back on the birds again. Loved seeing and hearing the eider ducks on last night’s episode of Springwatch. They’re such beautiful looking birds. This is the male - the females are brown (similar kind of colours to a female mallard). Who else is enjoying Springwatch? #EiderDucks #ScottishBirds #GetOutside #Aberdeen #BritishBirds #ScottishNature #BirdBrilliance #Pocket_Birds #Springwatch #RSPB_Love_Nature #BirdNerd #Eiders #NatureOnOurDoorstep
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After yesterday’s foray into lighthouses, I’m safely back on the birds again. Loved seeing and hearing the eider ducks on last night’s episode of Springwatch. They’re such beautiful looking birds. This is the male - the females are brown (similar kind of colours to a female mallard). Who else is enjoying Springwatch? #EiderDucks #ScottishBirds #GetOutside #Aberdeen #BritishBirds #ScottishNature #BirdBrilliance #Pocket_Birds #Springwatch #RSPB_Love_Nature #BirdNerd #Eiders #NatureOnOurDoorstep
3 weeks ago
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7/9
đŸ˜±This isn’t a photo of a bird! Shocking, I know. This is Rattray Head Lighthouse in Peterhead. Wee bit different from your usual lighthouse because it’s out in the sea. We were wondering how you’d get out to it - turns out there’s a light causeway that’s only accessible at low tide. How cool is that? #RattrayHeadLighthouse #RattrayHead #Peterhead #Aberdeenshire #MajesticABDN #NEScotland #ThisIsScotland #GetOutside #ScotSpirit #YourScotland #EscapeTheEveryday #ScottishLighthouse #Lighthouses_Around_The_World
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đŸ˜±This isn’t a photo of a bird! Shocking, I know. This is Rattray Head Lighthouse in Peterhead. Wee bit different from your usual lighthouse because it’s out in the sea. We were wondering how you’d get out to it - turns out there’s a light causeway that’s only accessible at low tide. How cool is that? #RattrayHeadLighthouse #RattrayHead #Peterhead #Aberdeenshire #MajesticABDN #NEScotland #ThisIsScotland #GetOutside #ScotSpirit #YourScotland #EscapeTheEveryday #ScottishLighthouse #Lighthouses_Around_The_World
4 weeks ago
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8/9
đŸ–€Boop that snoot - virtually, not in real-life. Seals don’t want to be booped for real. #GreySeal #YthanEstuary #Newburgh #NewburghSealBeach #Aberdeenshire #BeautifulABDN #BBCWildlifePOTD #Sigma150600 #ShareMySigma #NEScotland #ScottishWildlife #BritishWildlife #BritishWildlifeHub #NaturePhotography #NatureScot #MarineMammals #CoastalWildlife
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đŸ–€Boop that snoot - virtually, not in real-life. Seals don’t want to be booped for real. #GreySeal #YthanEstuary #Newburgh #NewburghSealBeach #Aberdeenshire #BeautifulABDN #BBCWildlifePOTD #Sigma150600 #ShareMySigma #NEScotland #ScottishWildlife #BritishWildlife #BritishWildlifeHub #NaturePhotography #NatureScot #MarineMammals #CoastalWildlife
4 weeks ago
View on Instagram |
9/9