Mike Bolam

Photographer, Film Maker, Weather Geek, Astrophotographer and dark sky lover.. Mostly, I make pictures. Dumfries and Galloway, Scotland.

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npub1g5g9wsyrkfwlgkn6q5pe7glrx04kztleunjswx4c6f0nsfuq5s0qpgdtud

NIP-05 Address

mikebolam_at_mastodon.scot@momostr.pink

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nprofile1qqsy2yzhgzpmyh05tfaq2quly03n86mp9lu7feg8r2udyhecy7q2g8sprpmhxue69uhhyetvv9ujumt0d4hhxarj9ecxjmntqywhwumn8ghj7mn0wd68yttsw43zuam9d3kx7unyv4ezumn9ws4xz0gp

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yabu.me

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Last Notes

2026-07-18 18:27:10 UTC

A Hummingbird Hawk Moth on a thistle. One of the upsides of prolonged heatwave conditions (not the usual 2 days) combined with a southerly air flow, is we get an influx of visitors from the continent. I’ve been chasing these wee beauties for years, conditions were perfect this week as there was a significant “fall” of these wonderful moths on Scotland’s Southernmost tip, The Mull of Galloway. They are mesmerising to watch and a challenge to photograph. On this occasion everything came together.
https://media.mastodon.scot/media_attachments/files/116/942/344/454/507/155/original/49208d6effa055ad.png

2026-04-24 10:27:22 UTC

Lichens illuminated with UV light at dusk on the Solway shore, South West Scotland. Seeing the world in a different light..
https://media.mastodon.scot/media_attachments/files/116/459/191/861/279/685/original/9bb9408c0b8db6fd.png

2026-02-20 18:49:58 UTC

Sunset on the Solway in South West Scotland where the land merges with the sea..
https://media.mastodon.scot/media_attachments/files/116/104/446/436/871/184/original/9e743dd510cc9e41.png

2025-12-15 16:51:34 UTC

Sunset above the evening mist after several days of heavy rain here in South West Scotland. This wasn’t really visible from ground level, but a couple of hundred feet up it was like a glimpse of heaven..
https://media.mastodon.scot/media_attachments/files/115/724/601/892/212/862/original/3e1d5697184a056a.png

2025-11-22 10:26:55 UTC

A misty Saturday morning in Galloway, South West Scotland, after a few days of proper cold it warmed up to just above freezing last night.. this morning frost has formed where the ground is still frozen and we’ve got a brief spell of sunshine before wind and rain sweep in..
https://media.mastodon.scot/media_attachments/files/115/592/842/425/646/148/original/1b2ce3fe602b21a6.png

2025-10-25 21:34:10 UTC

Comet Lemmon, from the dark skies of Galloway, South West Scotland. I’ve been waiting for clear skies all week, and finally this evening we were blessed with amazingly good views. This is a single frame from a DSLR with a 400mm lens, with a tracking mount.
https://media.mastodon.scot/media_attachments/files/115/436/919/650/835/239/original/d7b510b54ec323af.png

2025-09-24 08:25:09 UTC

Occasionally we get a really clear night here in South West Scotland. Even when we do the sky can be filled with aircraft heading across the Atlantic or Satellites everywhere you look, but last night was exceptionally good for seeing the night sky. Photographed from the roadside, the Milky Way..
https://media.mastodon.scot/media_attachments/files/115/258/295/386/756/959/original/9e396e1bf6129d15.png

2025-09-22 06:47:47 UTC

It’s a proper frosty morning in Galloway, South West Scotland. Yesterday we had our first grass frost, this morning is even colder with -1C
https://media.mastodon.scot/media_attachments/files/115/246/583/335/220/990/original/b0f3844d42950055.png

2025-09-13 19:31:40 UTC

A Supercell on the Galloway Coast in South West Scotland, accompanied with frequent lightning, a clearly defined mesocyclone and beautifully lit by sunset.. we’ve had several passing storms today and over the last week or so.
https://media.mastodon.scot/media_attachments/files/115/198/626/917/055/117/original/0629f8f51a2c4db5.png

2025-09-05 05:37:37 UTC

Sunshine after the rain above The Devil’s Beeftub near Moffat in Scotland. I’ve travelled this road weekly over the last year visiting my mum since my dad passed away. I always stop for at least a few minutes as he would have done, just to enjoy the view.
https://media.mastodon.scot/media_attachments/files/115/150/013/976/037/285/original/29ff56df1815c5ae.png

2025-09-04 20:58:02 UTC

The wrong place at the right time.. Travelling between home and my mum’s this evening a brief break in the clouds over Broughton Heights, in the Scottish Borders, shot with a small drone near Merlindale.. I imagine this would have been stunning from the sunlit side.. but there you go..
https://media.mastodon.scot/media_attachments/files/115/148/009/534/635/294/original/40d73a0b9cc57054.png

2025-09-04 15:58:54 UTC

Sunset from Rockliffe on the Solway in South West Scotland.
https://media.mastodon.scot/media_attachments/files/115/146/830/175/116/587/original/e3f59b23d9dc4d77.png

2025-08-20 20:03:55 UTC

An August sunset looking to Rùm from The Bay of Laig in 2018.
https://media.mastodon.scot/media_attachments/files/115/062/860/461/775/762/original/07f76f6e4ba2b00e.png

2025-08-18 21:02:37 UTC

Talla Reservoir in the Scottish Borders, just before sunset, taken with a drone.
https://media.mastodon.scot/media_attachments/files/115/051/756/962/450/005/original/f43b34e2341f60c9.png

2025-07-08 18:11:29 UTC

Looking North up the West coast of Orkney along the cliffs of Yesnaby to Marwick and beyond. There’s a good swell coming ashore after several days of strong winds.
https://media.mastodon.scot/media_attachments/files/114/818/930/819/883/501/original/b1166496daa90f2f.png

2025-06-07 20:58:13 UTC

Saturday Sunset in South West Scotland looks otherworldly as smoky layers from wildfires in Canada, filter the skies.
https://media.mastodon.scot/media_attachments/files/114/644/066/471/127/444/original/6c56b00d718f6359.png

2025-05-25 20:17:29 UTC

Late evening rainbows after a day of hefty showers, thunder and lightning and wonderful cloudscapes. Our Spring drought has ended with a bang! Galloway, South West Scotland
https://media.mastodon.scot/media_attachments/files/114/570/297/011/149/699/original/777eae22a0b1ab4b.png

2025-05-18 07:31:29 UTC

Into the West, patchwork fields of various greens stretch away to the Galloway Forest and hills. Hedgerows heavy with white Hawthorn flowers, have been astounding this year. It might rain today, first time for a month.
https://media.mastodon.scot/media_attachments/files/114/527/607/865/125/614/original/c4a62f87443ca4ae.png

2025-05-14 18:38:18 UTC

Sunset and Sea Pinks at Rockliffe, South West Scotland.
https://media.mastodon.scot/media_attachments/files/114/507/627/389/408/465/original/2f5656bbe168a370.png

2025-05-12 08:26:42 UTC

Secret garden.. Nettles, Urtica dioica and Sticky Willy, Galium aparine, illuminated with UV. The Sticky Willy is the most stunning blood red whilst nettles if in an open sunlit location are nettles green, but in shaded areas can be very red too.
https://media.mastodon.scot/media_attachments/files/114/493/876/594/785/925/original/899211db4c0b4147.png

2025-05-10 20:30:03 UTC

It’s Silage time again in this corner of Galloway, the linear green geometry of fresh cut grass will all be cleared by tomorrow, ready to repeat the cycle, if it ever rains again… (it will) drought and Scotland are not often seen in the same sentence, but water shortages are coming.
https://media.mastodon.scot/media_attachments/files/114/485/414/708/898/341/original/c25f5323bcc5af45.png

2025-05-03 20:41:19 UTC

Saturday Sunset, no time to compose just quickly grabbed the gorgeous Galloway Sky
https://media.mastodon.scot/media_attachments/files/114/445/824/803/012/532/original/b24f00a4f8263d13.png

2024-12-17 21:30:48 UTC

On this day, Winter 2022 on the Solway, in stark contrast to our current dark, mild, wild and wet weather. Ice flows and deep cold on the Nith Estuary in South West Scotland.
There’s no sign of proper cold on the long range forecast yet, but fingers are crossed!
https://media.mastodon.scot/media_attachments/files/113/670/275/666/059/425/original/d61307a654abb903.png

2024-12-09 19:12:20 UTC

Sunset on the Solway in Galloway, South West Scotland.
https://media.mastodon.scot/media_attachments/files/113/624/432/161/231/760/original/348c155a4ccf245f.jpg

2024-12-07 16:53:20 UTC

Sunset in Kirkgunzeon, Galloway, after a wild stormy day. #stormdarragh #scotland
https://media.mastodon.scot/media_attachments/files/113/612/552/901/998/851/original/c98cd11abac911bd.jpg

2024-11-28 11:43:32 UTC

We’re back to freezing cold this morning before this confused autumn flips again to mid teen temps at the the weekend.. One of my lazy morning views, a quick flight from the garden gate.. frost covered fields in Galloway, South West Scotland.
https://media.mastodon.scot/media_attachments/files/113/560/389/481/604/843/original/509984f82c3ead49.jpg

2024-11-27 12:44:01 UTC

Saltmarsh at Wigtown Bay, where the River Bladnoch flows into the Solway in South West Scotland
https://media.mastodon.scot/media_attachments/files/113/554/968/845/660/161/original/15412f00acb2ec66.jpg

2024-11-21 09:51:56 UTC

It’s become very cold now in South West Scotland, not far off -10C but dry and clear. Changes coming this weekend, with a winter storm just over the horizon. Potential for Blizzards followed by heavy rain..
https://media.mastodon.scot/media_attachments/files/113/520/313/575/415/748/original/5959be1f7a920124.jpg

2024-11-18 20:04:01 UTC

Winter arrived quite suddenly after several weeks of mild dull weather here in Galloway, South West Scotland. -6C this morning and snow in the forecast.
https://media.mastodon.scot/media_attachments/files/113/505/736/105/974/334/original/3fd0e1982b316354.jpg

2024-11-12 19:26:14 UTC

Catching the last of the light at Crawick Multiverse, on Charles Jenks’ Milky Way landform.
https://media.mastodon.scot/media_attachments/files/113/471/600/512/558/071/original/417cc1f3cc49938e.jpg

2024-11-11 17:56:21 UTC

A flaming November sunset at Carlingwark Loch, Castle Douglas. The high pressure has moved and instead of deep dark gloom, we’re getting this!!
https://media.mastodon.scot/media_attachments/files/113/465/599/709/037/483/original/af8ec897e22e9179.jpg

2024-11-11 12:07:54 UTC

Sunset over the Solway, near Sandyhills, our first glimpse of the sky for days.. Scotland can be dark and gloomy at any time of year, but the last couple of weeks has been a real test!
https://media.mastodon.scot/media_attachments/files/113/464/226/955/890/428/original/5bbd919caced2737.jpg

2024-11-08 18:14:07 UTC

Morning mist over the River Tweed near Peebles, Scotland.
https://media.mastodon.scot/media_attachments/files/113/448/679/526/440/989/original/417dcc82dbc4058e.jpg

2024-11-04 16:00:42 UTC

There’s been a week of thick flat cloud covering my part of South West Scotland, so I’ve had a deep dive into the archives to find some colour…
Similar weather, Autumn at The Hermitage in Perthshire 2011
https://media.mastodon.scot/media_attachments/files/113/425/502/233/084/489/original/d25a1803b515fe82.jpg
https://media.mastodon.scot/media_attachments/files/113/425/502/387/371/722/original/d9e1d38b0631d75c.jpg
https://media.mastodon.scot/media_attachments/files/113/425/502/558/715/161/original/46e4162e81593da0.jpg

2024-10-29 09:07:56 UTC

Morning mist over the rolling countryside of Galloway, South West Scotland.
https://media.mastodon.scot/media_attachments/files/113/389/911/389/684/728/original/9ffe58e425881406.jpg

2024-10-21 22:36:43 UTC

The Autumn run.. Salmon numbers are up on recent years, with many rivers in Scotland witnessing the best runs for 20 years or more. The River Almond at Buchanty Spout is always a great location to see these stunning fish jumping as the travel upstream to spawn. Today was no exception.
https://media.mastodon.scot/media_attachments/files/113/347/766/658/117/431/original/395f203761db6f66.jpg

2024-10-20 08:15:26 UTC

Our departing visitor, Comet Tsuchinshan-Atlas, now rapidly receding into the background of a million stars.. Such a brief but glorious encounter, only slight tempered by our awful Scottish weather. Viewed from home, in Kirkgunzeon, South West Scotland.
https://media.mastodon.scot/media_attachments/files/113/338/730/084/801/415/original/b72b9f8acbc1d3e1.jpg

2024-10-14 19:51:19 UTC

Comet Tsuchinshan viewed from Perthshire in Scotland. Finally after almost a year of waiting, the sky stayed clear just long enough to be wowed!!
https://media.mastodon.scot/media_attachments/files/113/307/494/974/882/156/original/b739c3c551bb5666.jpg

2024-10-11 08:57:01 UTC

Aurora Corona. Looking South from my 55 Degrees North Latitude, into the Corona at the height of last nights solar storm. I’ve seen a few amazing shows from this part of Scotland, last nights was the best! Here’s a link to a small compilation. https://youtu.be/e2S3g1NWRXk
https://media.mastodon.scot/media_attachments/files/113/287/931/747/900/794/original/5dce2184dfa500fa.jpg

2024-09-28 17:04:59 UTC

Sunrise over the River Tweed in Peebles, reflected in the Ministers Pool. Growing up this was home, and living literally a stone’s throw from the water was heaven. I’ve been back a fair bit over the last while, and after an absence of nearly 35 years the town has wrapped me up in kindness. It feels good to belong, where your family are known.
https://media.mastodon.scot/media_attachments/files/113/216/221/354/349/404/original/8157dd0de2f9d2c3.jpg

2024-09-27 22:21:26 UTC

Last light above Corehead in the Moffat Hills, Southern Scotland, on the road Peebles, and home.
https://media.mastodon.scot/media_attachments/files/113/211/832/066/012/386/original/bbe0c573aaeba23d.jpg

2024-09-22 10:00:49 UTC

Autumn on the River Earn 1997. My dad casting towards a Salmon that had shown a couple of times at the head of the pool. One of those magical moments I’ve treasured for years, beautiful light and that strong feeling that can come just before you get a pull… it was my turn on this particular morning though, I hooked and landed a good sized, fresh run fish.
Dad passed away suddenly just a few days ago, and I’ve had this picture in my head of one our our many fishy adventures together.
https://media.mastodon.scot/media_attachments/files/113/180/565/364/140/464/original/fdd75d19c9d21e10.jpg

2024-08-14 13:00:12 UTC

Lucilia ceasar, a close relative of the blue arsed fly we hear so much about… the flowering plants in the garden are covered in pollinators today, and they are busy!
https://media.mastodon.scot/media_attachments/files/112/960/471/489/804/730/original/d0b80fd4a5339ca4.jpg

2024-08-11 19:08:37 UTC

August at Scotland most Southerly point, The Mull of Galloway. The heavy sweet scent of Heather, strong enough to taste.
https://media.mastodon.scot/media_attachments/files/112/944/946/447/777/311/original/809beb4708567b48.jpg

2024-08-09 20:47:19 UTC

Another Galloway sunset, a drone shot looking towards the Galloway Hills from Kirkgunzeon.
https://media.mastodon.scot/media_attachments/files/112/934/007/488/533/037/original/16c1329c6edb9f55.jpg

2024-08-07 20:23:37 UTC

Late summer sunset in Galloway, South West Scotland.
https://media.mastodon.scot/media_attachments/files/112/922/579/004/793/316/original/7eadde0b96786dbb.jpg