Hugh Harrop Wildlife
@HughHarrop
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Director & guide @shetlandwild | Cameraman | Orcaholic | Co-author of @PrincetonUPress Europe's Sea Mammals, Europe's Birds, Britain's Birds & British Birds.
Shetland, Scotland
Joined November 2009
Two minutes of aerial footage from what was an incredible all-day encounter with the 27s #Orca pod here in #Shetland last week. Wonderful to watch, film and photograph. @Seasaver @TheOrcaProject @Britnatureguide @kasmunro @whalesorg @PromoteShetland @kazcustard @BDMLROrcaAware
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Memories of #FreyaTheWalrus - a very special creature that spent a month here in Shetland last winter. MURDERED today by the @fiskeridir Directorate of Fisheries in #Norway "based on an overall assessment of the continued threat to human safety.". Indefensible.
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Gannets diving off Noss, Shetland yesterday. An amazing spectacle! @SeabirdCentre @ScottishSeas @RareBirdAlertUK @BirdWatchingMag
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When you forget your umbrella, there's always a Sycamore leaf. Myrtle Warbler in the leaf litter and beautiful dappled Autumn light at Ellister, #Shetland.
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A newly-arrived migrant Long-eared Owl in the quarry at Sumburgh, Shetland this afternoon.
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It has been an amazing year for Orcas here in #Shetland. Hard to pick a favourite encounter as each and every one is special but this one filmed on one of our @ShetlandWild trips by guest Nick Littlefair takes some beating! @VisitScotland @PromoteShetland @TheOrcaProject
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Having graced the coast of the Netherlands, France and UK between November 2022 and early January 2023, Thor the #Walrus has made it to Breiðdalsvík, 🇮🇸 Iceland today! #ThorTheWalrus.
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Orcas (the '27s' pod) off the south Mainland, #Shetland yesterday filmed by our 14-year old daughter Cerys. What a day! @VisitScotland @PromoteShetland @kazcustard @BDMLROrcaAware @TheOrcaProject @whalesorg @OnTheKWTrail @SunnysidePri @kasmunro @SaversSea @Britnatureguide
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A video of the Minke Whale rescue and refloat at Levenwick, #Shetland this morning. Discovered beached on the sand at 0700 it swam off strongly to deep, open water five hours later thanks to the immense efforts of many. @kazcustard @wildathillswick @Seasaver @whalesorg @mcsuk
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It's #WorldOrcaDay and to celebrate here is one of my favourite images I've taken of #Orca here in Shetland. An incredible moment as it headed straight towards us and hunted just metres beneath our low cliff vantage point. Magical.
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Forget Serious Jockin' - how about some Serious Bobbin' - Jack Snipe filmed today in the snowy south Mainland, #Shetland. @RareBirdAlertUK @BirdTrack @Natures_Voice
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Happy #WorldWhaleDay and to celebrate here is one of my favourite images I've taken of #Orca here in #Shetland. An incredible moment as it headed straight towards us and hunted just metres beneath our low cliff vantage point.
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Lots of Bohemain Waxwings arrived here in Shetland ahead of #StormBabet. Here's one feasting on cotoneaster berries in Scalloway yesterday morning. Beautiful birds.
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This lovely first-winter Red-breasted Flycatcher graced our garden here in Shetland today.
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Having spent the last eight months out at sea, Puffins have returned to our Shetland shores. Over the next couple of weeks they'll re-establish pair bonds and inspect nesting burrows. Looking forward to summer evenings like this! @VisitScotland @Britnatureguide @PromoteShetland
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Not all heroes wear capes. Some wear wetsuits, jeans & sweatshirts. Phenomenal effort by @kazcustard, the @wildathillswick team and the local community to refloat this live-stranded juvenile Minke Whale that beached itself at Levenwick, Shetland this morning. Norway take note.
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An absolutely amazing encounter with the 27s Orcas today as they swam metres away from us off Laxo Pier, Shetland. Thanks to Chris Watt for filming it and sending us this 📽️ keepsake. Special. @whales_org @Seasaver @mcsuk @VisitScotland @SaversSea @kasmunro @kazcustard @NLFerries
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A beautiful Mountain Hare catching some winter rays. Here in Shetland we think they are better shot with cameras - not guns.
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Glittering prize: a beautiful drake King Eider photographed in Båtsfjord, northern #Norway. Wishing everyone a safe and peaceful #Christmas2020 from 60° North, #Shetland.
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It's #WorldWildlifeDay2020 and to celebrate here is one of my favourite images I've taken of #Orca here in #Shetland. An incredible moment as it headed straight towards us and hunted just metres beneath our low cliff vantage point. Magical. #WorldWildlifeDay
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BELUGA. !!!. The snow finally melted and we enjoyed absolutely amazing views of Shetland's sixth-ever Beluga Whale off Hillswick, Shetland this morning. Appears to be in very good body condition, is diving regularly and we observed no other behaviour of concern. 🙏
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Humpback Whale feeding in Aith Voe, #Shetland yesterday. Incredible to watch and film. @ShetlandWild @wildathillswick @whale_nerd @SunnysidePri @kazcustard @whalesorg @PromoteShetland @kasmunro @NLFerries @Britnatureguide @SaversSea @SunnysidePri @Seasaver @Mammal_Society
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Wonderful to watch and film these 'bobbing' Jack Snipes in the south Mainland, #Shetland this week. @RareBirdAlertUK @BirdTrack @BirdWatchingMag @ScottishBirding @Britnatureguide @PromoteShetland @BBCSpringwatch @_BTO @SunnysidePri @SaversSea @NLFerries #Autumnwatch
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The new calf from the 65s #Orca pod surfacing alongside mum and matriarch 'Razor / '65' in Bressay Sound, Shetland this morning. Absolutely wonderful to watch, film and photograph.
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Amazing to watch two Humpback Whales and two Risso's Dolphins off Levenwick, #Shetland today above and beneath the water. Thanks to my good friend Nick McCaffrey for the filming and for sharing such a memorable @shetlandwild day with us! @SeaWatchersUK @VisitScotland @Seasaver
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Freya - the WALRUS first seen in Germany, Netherlands & Northumberland - spending her second week with us here in #Shetland. This morning she was at Muckle Roe where we watched her feeding in the shallows and hauling out on offshore rocks. An absolutely magical experience.
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Beautiful light here in #Shetland this evening. This was the scene looking towards Sumburgh Head from Quendale with a huge rainbow forming to the south of the lighthouse. @StormHour
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Wonderful to watch and film this 'bobbing' Jack Snipe in the south Mainland, #Shetland today. @RareBirdAlertUK @BirdTrack @BirdWatchingMag @RSPBScotland @ScottishBirding @PromoteShetland @BBCSpringwatch @_BTO #Autumnwatch
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Shetland's first-ever Pacific Swift giving incredible views as it hawked for insects along the cliffs at Sumburgh Head in glorious evening sunshine. *What* a bird.
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That moment when you get to look inside the mouth of a Humpback Whale.
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A beautiful Mountain Hare catching some winter rays in the east Mainland hills today. Here in Shetland we think they are better shot with cameras - not guns.
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Lovely views of this gorgeous male Snowy Owl enjoying a sunny Sunday on Ronas Hill, #Shetland. A privilege to sit and watch him.
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A short video of the TENGMALM'S OWL at Tumblin, #Shetland this morning. What a bird! First Shetland record since 1912. @BirdTrack @RareBirdAlertUK @ScottishBirding @PromoteShetland @ShetlandWild
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Not all heroes wear capes - some wear Fair Isle jumpers. On Sunday our @ShetlandWild group off Noss, #Shetland aboard @TheMousaBoat1 discovered three Gannets entangled in a discarded fishing net. Fortunately skipper Darron could jump ashore to cut them free. Well done that man!
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Up close and personal with an Orca in Mousa Sound, #Shetland as it swam directly towards us.
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Why nest on the ground when you can nest in a nice big #Shetland fence post? Oystercatcher - known here in Shetland as a 'Shalder' - doing just that.
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I see @visitnorway is asking for photo memories so that an image can be chosen for a new 🇳🇴 postage stamp. My only #NorwayMemories2022 are of #FreyaTheWalrus but they'll no doubt choose to ignore my photo given the fact their government MURDERED her.
WANTED! your memories from Norway! .Use #NorwayMemories2022 here or on Instagram and your picture can be one of the 6 new stamps from Norway:) .@postennorge #norway #visitnorway
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Amazing encounter with #Orcas off Gletness, #Shetland yesterday with @ShetlandWild guest Sofie Larsson. My good friend & ace aerial filmmaker Nick McCaffrey was also with us & captured this dramatic footage. @VisitScotland @PromoteShetland @Seasaver @BBCNorthEast @TheOrcaProject
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Wonderful to watch, film & photograph this Basking Shark feeding off Levenwick, #Shetland this morning. Still a scarce visitor to our northern shores. @Seasaver @SaversSea @Britnatureguide @kasmunro @SunnysidePri @PromoteShetland @kazcustard @mcsuk @SharkTrustUK @cathgem2000
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A real touch of exotica here in #Shetland yesterday evening with lovely views of this Hoopoe near Tingwall.
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This WALRUS hauled itself out on a salmon cage off Vementry, #Shetland this morning. Pretty sure it is the same individual that was recorded in Northumberland last month. It didn't hang around and fingers crossed it gets seen again! Thanks to Dougie Leask for the 📸 pic.
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A couple of minutes of our wonderful #Orca-filled afternoon here in #Shetland yesterday. Magical. @TheOrcaProject @whalesorg @SaversSea @kasmunro @Britnatureguide @kazcustard @SunnysidePri @VisitScotland @JudithRalston @NLFerries @mcsuk @whale_nerd @saana_is @OnTheKWTrail
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Here in the south of #Shetland the sun rose at 0906 and set at 1500 giving us 5 hours & 54 minutes of daylight. At the summer solstice we'll get nearly 19 hours of daylight! Enjoy a minute of our #WinterSolstice at the beautiful West Voe of Sumburgh. @StormHour @VisitScotland
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Hawfinch reflection. Photographed at a forest drinking pool in the Hortobágy, Hungary.
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Short-beaked Common Dolphin breaching off the south Mainland, #Shetland last week. Just one of a very active pod estimated at around 150 individuals. Spectacular!
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It's #NationalDolphinDay and to celebrate here's a newly born Risso's Dolphin calf with mum photographed in Mousa Sound, #Shetland. Both enjoying life in the ocean - and not in a swimming pool.
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More amazing 'bobbing' Jack Snipe action here in #Shetland today. This individual was another real groover! @RareBirdAlertUK @BirdTrack
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Spent the evening filming this Humpback Whale at Urafirth, #Shetland. Here's a short clip of some of the action including some spectacular feeding action! @SeaWatchersUK @VisitScotland @Shetnews @BBCScotlandNews @PromoteShetland @OrcaOnIceSkates @WildlifeMag @BBCSpringwatch
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Lovely views of this Jack Snipe here in Shetland today.
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Looking forward to the long days of a #Shetland summer and spending time with the wonderful #Puffins on our doorstep at Sumburgh Head. @VisitScotland @SeabirdCentre @RSPBScotland @PromoteShetland @BirdWatchingMag @BirdTrack
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Drake Long-tailed Duck in a snow shower. Magical birds.
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Filming this Jack Snipe 'dancing' here in #Shetland was one of my highlights of 2017. What music would you add to accompany the amazing movements?.@RareBirdAlertUK @_BTO @ScottishBirding @BirdTrack @Natures_Voice @ScotWildlife @BBCSpringwatch @WildlifeMag
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Record numbers of Two-barred Crossbills have made landfall here in #Shetland over the last week. Here's just a few of them. @RareBirdAlertUK @BirdTrack @ScottishBirding @BirdWatchingMag @PromoteShetland @NLFerries
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When a bird really lives up to its name - Long-tailed Skua at Clumlie, Shetland this weekend. Stunning!
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A very territorial male Red Grouse in the North Mainland of Shetland filmed with a GoPro from the safety of my car! @VisitScotland @thefamousgrouse @BirdTrack @Britnatureguide @PromoteShetland @NLFerries
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The Waxwing in our #Shetland garden today had no intention of apple bobbing for #Halloween2018 - just apple eating! @RareBirdAlertUK @BirdTrack @ScottishBirding @RSPBScotland @Natures_Voice
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Humpback Whale rainBLOW 🌈 - drone pic from our encounter with this magnificent animal that was feeding close inshore off Aith, #Shetland on Sunday.
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The best thing you'll see on here today ⬇️
Pine martens caught on camera playing on children's swingset in Ardnamurchan, Scotland. The owner of the video, Les Humphreys, tells us this is a nightly occurence in his garden. Credit: Les Humphreys, Ardnamurchan Wildlife Watch Facebook Group. #pinemarten #wildlifephotography
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Looks like we have another #Waxwing in our #Shetland garden this morning. Great to be working with @katemacrae on the @BirdsyTv webcam project. The software uses artificial Intelligence (AI) to monitor live feed, record video clips of the visitors and ID them.
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So sad to see this young Atlantic Grey Seal entangled to death in a discarded Gill net and washed ashore at Spiggie, Shetland. Apologies if the images upset you but this is the harsh reality of how wildlife is suffering from the 1000s of tons of 'ghost gear' polluting our oceans.
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Paddles up: Basking Shark cruising by our friend Simon off Levenwick, #Shetland a couple of days ago. The kayak measures 15.5ft (4.7 metres) - the Basking Shark looks pretty much the same length!
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A Short-eared Owl in lovely soft Shetland winter light.
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Enjoyed a wonderful encounter with these Orcas (the North Isles 65s pod) off the cliffs at Eshaness, #Shetland this afternoon. Great to see the matriarch '65' with her calf born in the winter of 2017 / 2018 thriving.
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What a set of whiskers - a magnificent Bearded Seal at Bridge End, Burra, #Shetland this morning. Great to see so many folk out watching this rare Arctic visitor. Around 30 UK records with almost half of these being seen here in Shetland.
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Atlantic Puffins - known as 'Tammie Nories' here in Shetland. Happy #NationalBirdDay. @ShetlandWild @VisitScotland @PromoteShetland @ScottishSeas @SaversSea @SunnysidePri @FinlayPringle @SeabirdCentre
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Lovely views of snowy-white Mountain Hares in the central Mainland for our @ShetlandWild Winter Wildlife & #UpHellyAa group today. I hope you agree that these beautiful animals should only be shot by cameras - not guns.
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Humpback Whale off Compass Head, #Shetland late this afternoon indulging in some absolutely spectacular breaching and tail-lobbing. #30DaysWild
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Not what I was expecting to see on my way to Sumburgh Head this afternoon as I turned the corner at Grutness - a migrant Long-eared Owl sat on the wall right in front of me! Several have been seen here in #Shetland in the last few days.
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Here in #Shetland the sun rose at 0908 today and set at 1457 giving us 5 hours and 49 minutes of daylight. At the summer solstice we'll get 18 hours and 58 minutes of daylight. Here's a minute of our glorious day. #WinterSolstice @VisitScotland @PromoteShetland @StormHour
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Tengmalm’s Owl at Tumblin, #Shetland this morning. Huge thanks to the finder Jackie Moar for allowing access to her house and garden. The first Shetland record of this stunning pint-sized owl since 1912.
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Freya - the WALRUS first seen in Germany, The Netherlands & Northumberland - spending her second day hauled out at Vementry, #Shetland this afternoon. As well as the tusk dimensions & shape the little pink spot on her nostril is diagnostic. What a wonderful experience to see her.
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Juvenile Red-necked Phalarope in pursuit of insects at Loch of Gards, Scatness, #Shetland this afternoon.
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Absolutely breathtaking scenes at Sumburgh Head, #Shetland this morning with #StormDeirdre making her presence known. @VisitScotland @PromoteShetland @BBCScotWeather @StormHour @JudithRalston #StormHour
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Breach! Bull '34' from the 27s Northern Isles Community Orca pod getting airborne off Sumburgh Head, Shetland today. Absolutely spectacular!
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Nature's very own firework show - a beautiful and very active #Aurora for over an hour here in Shetland this evening.
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A migrant Long-eared Owl at Boddam, #Shetland this afternoon. Sharing the same garden as a Red-backed Shrike and a Blue Tit - the latter being the locally rarer of the trio in these parts.
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Happy Birthday to Sumburgh Head Lighthouse: 200 years old today. First lit on 15 January 1821 and engineered by Robert Stevenson. Blessed to enjoy this view in all seasons and weather conditions from our #Shetland home. #SumburghHead200 @StormHour @VisitScotland
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An amazing afternoon watching the first-ever Pacific Swift for #Shetland at Sumburgh Head. Incredible views as it hawked for insects above the cliffs. What a bird.
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Jack Snipe 'bobbing' at Boddam, #Shetland with more than a hint of #FridayFeeling. @ShetlandWild @RareBirdAlertUK @BirdTrack @Natures_Voice @BirdWatchingMag @RSPBScotland @ScottishBirding
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