Teaser for pics from our trip to Scottish Photography Hides.

This ruddy-breasted seedeater is a seed finch. As we've come to understand genetics, these have been grouped with the tanagers in Thraupidae, while many birds with the name tanager are no longer in the family. #panama #canopyfamily #seedeater #birdwatching

Tyrant flycatchers, resemble European flycatchers, but they are not related. These fork-tailed flycatchers are probably migrants that will head up as far as Canada. They're impressive acrobats in the air, and I was lucky to catch two sitting still. #panama #canopyfamily #flycatcher #birdwatching

There's only one corvid in Panama, the Black-Chested Jay. (fruitcrows are not corvids, but contingas). Its odd not to see crows, ravens or even magpies - but these jays popped up at feeders often. #panama #canopyfamily #jay #birdwatching

There are over 50 species of tanager in Panama. Canopy Lodge and Canopy Tower are both good spots to see tanagers, like this tawny-crested tanager. #panama #canopyfamily #tanager #birdwatching

Lesson's motmot is another of the motmot species we saw in Panama. When we heard it call, it sounded a bit like an owl. #panama #canopyfamily #motmot #birdwatching

There are five species of motmot in Panama, and we saw four of them - only heard the fifth. This was the most common for us, the rufous motmot. Motmots eat insects, small lizards and fruit - and wag their tails if a predator is near. #panama #canopyfamily #motmot #birdwatching

Chachalacas remind me of smaller turkeys. We didn't hear their 'cha-cha-lak-ah' call - one member of our group had promised to do a dance if we did - but one did seem to purr. #panama #canopyfamily #chachatlaca #birdwatching

This Lineated Woodpecker really reminded me of Woody Woodpecker cartoons when I was young: its much more similar to the cartoon than our European woodpeckers. #panama #canopyfamily #woodpecker #birdwatching

Every glimpse of Keel-Billed Toucans in Panama had me wondering if they were real. They look painted, and the bill doesn't seem quite real. They largely eat fruit, but our guide explained that while breeding they raid other birds nests for eggs and chicks. #panama #canopyfamily #toucan #birdwatching

We did a night tour from Canopy Tower and saw so much amazing wildlife. @puzzlewild.bsky.social has already posted a reel on Instagram (www.instagram.com/reel/DYAsAP6...), but this is one of my favourite shots. #panama #canopyfamily #sloth #wildlife

We saw a few species of woodcreeper in Panama. They seem to climb trees by hopping up, and this straight-billed woodcreeper was picking insects off the tree. #panama #canopyfamily #woodcreeper #birdwatching

Owls are some of the hardest birds to find, but in Panama we were lucky to see three different species. These spectacled owls are usually solitary, only roosting together in breeding season - we were lucky to see a pair with a juvenile on the next tree. #panama #canopyfamily #owl #birdwatching

When we saw hummingbirds away from the lodges, they were often small flitting splashes of colour, among the colours of trees. Like this Veraguan Mango, just hanging out on a branch. #panama #canopyfamily #hummingbird #birdwatching

It surprised me how aggressive hummingbirds were. In Panama, I loved seeing brown long-billed hermits, but they'd be driven off by larger hummingbirds. This photo captures the moment right before the blue-chested hummingbird attacks and drives it off. #panama #canopyfamily #hummingbird #birdwatching

I'm used to the male bird being more colourful, but the male barred antshrike is black and white, and the female golden brown. This pair were flitting around together, and you'll note in the second photo he was certainly checking out her tail feathers. #panama #canopyfamily #antbird #birdwatching

One of several woodpeckers we saw in Panama, the red-crowned was almost always eating fruit. One of the locals said they can be considered pests because they ruin papayas on the trees. #panama #canopyfamily #woodpecker #birdwatching

At Canopy Lodge, the Rufous-crested Coquette was my favourite hummingbird, passing over the verbena when the lodge was quiet. It wags its tail, looking like a moth from some angles. One morning I watched this male fly over about once an hour. #panama #canopyfamily #hummingbird #birdwatching

This sloth was regularly in the tree canopy, just near the top of Canopy Tower, but you had to be up early to see it active. One misty morning, and we did see it feeding. #panama #canopyfamily #sloth #wildlife

21/Apr - 3/May Birding in Panama with @canopyfamily 5 days Canopy Lodge in El Valle de Anton, West of Panama City 4 days Canopy Tower in Parque Nacional Soberania, near Pipeline Road and North of Panama City 224 species seen (219 lifers) Pics from this trip will be tagged #canopyfamily and #panama

(Trying Canon RF100-300 F2.8L from TryTheKit) At Argaty Red Kites - Woodland Hide. Great Spotted Woodpecker popped in to say hello. #birdwatching #ukbirding

(Trying Canon RF100-300 F2.8L from TryTheKit) At Argaty Red Kites - Woodland Hide. Nuthatch with a nut, seems appropriate! I love that you can see his tongue. #birdwatching #birdingscotland

(Trying Canon RF100-300 F2.8L from TryTheKit, with 2x converter here) Red Kite feeding at Argaty Red Kites, with the photography facing an extra challenge from falling snow: but the birds feed anyway. #birdwatching #scotland

I borrowed an RF100-300 f2.8L from TryTheKit for the Easter weekend, and took it to Argaty Red Kites on Easter Sunday - such a versatile lens!. We spent the morning in their woodland hide, photographing red squirrels and birds. This was one of the squirrels that posed so well for us. #ukwildlife

I’ve borrowed an RF100-300 f2.8L from TryTheKit for the Easter weekend, and took it out to try some moon photos last night (with and without the 2x converter). What an amazing lens. Trying it on wildlife tomorrow.

One more from our Shetland Wildlife trip with Dave Fairhurst. Some great views of seals, looking down on the beach from the road above. This grey seal caught my attention. #scotland #shetland #seal

Another photo from our trip to Shetland with Shetland Wildlife. Our guide was the excellent Dave Fairhurst. We had great views of mountain hares, white against the landscape. #scotland #shetland #hare

We went to Shetland the last few days with Shetland Wildlife - three days birdwatching then Up Helly Aa. Our guide was the excellent Dave Fairhurst. We managed to see a waxwing, feeding on apples as there are no berries, and fending off starlings. #scotland #shetland #birdwatching

We went to Shetland the last few days with Shetland Wildlife - three days birdwatching then Up Helly Aa. Next up are the Jarl Squads #scotland #shetland #uphellyaa

We went to Shetland the last few days with Shetland Wildlife - three days birdwatching then Up Helly Aa. Let’s start with the Fire! #scotland #shetland #uphellyaa