Category Archives: photography

Monitoring the not-so-common Common Crane in North East Scotland

Today, we welcome back guest blogger and ace photographer Ron Macdonald, who takes us on an amazing visual and auditory journey following common cranes in North East Scotland, as he volunteers for RSPB to help monitor and understand this recovering … Continue reading

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Career through a lens: my favourite photographic memories

Working with us for over forty-five years now, our celebrated NatureScot photographer, Lorne Gill, has seen many changes to Scotland’s countryside. The creation of the West Highland Way and several other long-distance routes, two National Parks and the reintroduction of … Continue reading

Posted in art, Nature in art, photography, Staff profile, Uncategorized | Tagged , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

I’ll Walk 500 Miles

It’s 5am and time for Yvonne Ferguson to rise and take her Border collie, Jess, out for a walk before she sets out from Collieston, 15 miles north of Aberdeen to Newburgh, walking four miles across the wide expanse of … Continue reading

Posted in Access, active travel, Forvie NNR, National Nature Reserves, photography, Uncategorized | Tagged , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

The wasp and the ladybird

Photographer in residence at St Cyrus National Nature Reserve, Pauline Smith, not only takes awesome wildlife photos, she writes fascinating blog posts too! Today she looks at the intricate adaptations and evolution of mind and body-controlling parasites, through the very … Continue reading

Posted in biodiversity, gardens, Insects, National Nature Reserves, photography, St Cyrus National Nature Reserve, Uncategorized | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Lockdown Nostalgia

Nature has helped many of us through the various challenges of the past few months. We’ve watched nature thrive through our screens and spent time observing life with fresh eyes and ears in our gardens and from windows. We’ve really … Continue reading

Posted in green health, Natural Health Service, Nature in art, paths, photography, plants, Uncategorized, urban nature, wild flowers, woodlands | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Shooting frogs in the dead of night

Underwater photographer Mark Kirkland aims to bring the weird and wonderful of Scotland’s sea and freshwater life to the wider public. Recalling a mission shortly before lockdown restrictions, Mark gives us an insight into the techniques, patience and determination required … Continue reading

Posted in amphibians, art, Nature in art, photography, Reptiles, Sustainable Drainage Systems, Uncategorized, urban nature, Year of Coasts and Waters 2020 | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Why we should love dandelions!

The dandelion is not much loved. But Therese Alampo, Manager of St Cyrus National Nature Reserve, is here to tell us the many reasons we should appreciate these cheery, early spring flowers… The humble dandelion is one of the first … Continue reading

Posted in biodiversity, Flowers, gardens, National Nature Reserves, photography, plants, Scottish Natural Heritage, SNH, St Cyrus National Nature Reserve, Uncategorized, wild flowers | Tagged , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Forvie’s wintering twite

Today we welcome back guest blogger and ace photographer Ron Macdonald, who takes us on a virtual tour through the dunes of South Forvie, where we encounter one of the reserve’s lesser-known inhabitants.… Come with me today, as we take … Continue reading

Posted in beach, beaches, Birds, coastal, Forvie NNR, National Nature Reserves, photography, SNH, Uncategorized, Year of Coasts and Waters 2020 | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Toads versus frogs at St Cyrus NNR

Frogs and toads clearly have a lot in common. For many, if not most of us, trying to tell the difference between the two is as confusing as being introduced to identical twins, called Anna and Hanna. But not for … Continue reading

Posted in amphibians, biodiversity, photography, Reptiles, St Cyrus National Nature Reserve, Uncategorized | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Forvie’s Purple sandpipers

Our post this morning comes from Ron Macdonald, who is becoming well known on social media these days for his fantastic bird photographs. Today he talks about one of his favourite waders… This morning I’m off to photograph purple sandpipers … Continue reading

Posted in Birds, coastal, conservation, National Nature Reserves, Nature in art, photography, sea life, SNH, Uncategorized, wild land | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment