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Birding Lothian

@birdinglothian.bsky.social
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All the Recent Rare & Scarce Bird News & Images from Lothian. Regular updates. Locals please add @birdinglothian.bsky.social to your messages

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Joe Nichols @itssjoenichols.bsky.social · 03/10/2026
A titanic flock of 23 Crane south over Skateraw this eve, including 4 juveniles. Tracked along the east coast from Angus to Lothian this afternoon. 2 YBW at Seacliff on Weds, and 2 juv Sabine's Gull each at North Berwick & Musselburgh in late September #birdinglothian @birdinglothian.bsky.social
6 of 23 Crane south over Skateraw (03/10/26). Part of a mega flock that were tracked along the Scottish east coast from Angus to Lothian over the course of a few hours.
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Alan Brown 71 @alanbrown71.bsky.social · 02/10/2026
Couple of heavily cropped record pics of the Glossy Ibis taken at Aberlady at first light this morning @birdinglothian.bsky.social
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Anne Sinclair @annesinc.bsky.social · 02/10/2026
Glossy Ibis back on salt marsh at Aberlady LNR early this morning - flew up river and disappeared around 7.30am. My attempt at a photo @birdinglothian.bsky.social #birdinglothian
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KGbirder @kgbirder.bsky.social · 01/10/2026
Not the best of pics in the half-light early this morning but this Glossy Ibis at Aberlady is just my third in Lothian and is a first for the reserve. The way things are going I can’t imagine it will be long before both counts increase. @birdinglothian.bsky.social
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kingleby1.bsky.social @kingleby1.bsky.social · 01/10/2026
Yellow-browed Warbler at Torness. @birdinglothian.bsky.social
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Birding Lothian @birdinglothian.bsky.social · 01/10/2026
1 OCT Aberlady: Glossy Ibis by footbridge this morning #BirdingScotland #BirdingLothian
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Birding Lothian @birdinglothian.bsky.social · 01/10/2026
1 OCT Skateraw: RED-FLANKED BLUETAIL still by waterfall this morning tho very elusive #BirdingScotland #BirdingLothian
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Simon West @simonwest26.bsky.social · 30/09/2026
Red-flanked Bluetail briefly (11.40a.m) at Skateraw (Lothian) by waterfall just west of car park #lothianbirds #scottishbirds #scottishbirding #ukrarity #ukrarebird @btoscotland.bsky.social @scottishbirding.bsky.social @birdinglothian.bsky.social @britishbirds.bsky.social
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Birding Lothian @birdinglothian.bsky.social · 30/09/2026
30 SEP Skateraw: RED-FLANKED BLUETAIL still be waterfall this morning #BirdingScotland #BirdingLothian
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Stephen Welch @lothianrecorder.bsky.social · 29/09/2026
1st-win Caspian Gull Wrecked Craigs, Port Seton, flushed to west breakwater at harbour ##birdinglothian
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Norm Milligan @normmill.bsky.social · 29/09/2026
29 Sept. A despondent tramp around Torness in F6 south-easterlies resulted in 2 Blue Tit & 2 Skylark! Called into Skateraw not expecting anything but then a smart RF Bluetail popped up unto a branch and sat looking at me from 5 metres. Magic! @birdinglothian.bsky.social #BirdingLothian
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Stuart @edinburghnature.bsky.social · 29/09/2026
@birdinglothian.bsky.social #birdinglothian Great views of Red flanked bluetail at waterfall Skateraw being chased by Robin.
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Ian Andrews @ijandrews.bsky.social · 23/09/2026
23 Sep. Musselburgh. Highlight was a Green Sandpiper on the new lagoons; also 7 Shoveler there. Flock of 11 Red-throated Divers flew W. Also tantalising view of a probable juv Long-tailed Skua that decided to return east before it reached me #BirdingLothian
Green Sandpiper on the new lagoonsJuvenile Black-tailed GodwitCurlew
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jamesellison1955.bsky.social @jamesellison1955.bsky.social · 24/09/2026
Finally some action at Barns Ness yesterday with Kits feeding close inshore (and a lot more at Torness later), very nice to see Balearic Shearwater, and a couple of Manxies in the afternoon for comparison, no Sabine's in that lot but one's bound to turn up surely @birdinglothian.bsky.social
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Ian Andrews @ijandrews.bsky.social · 22/09/2026
22 Sep. Musselburgh. Finally caught up with a Great White Egret on the site thanks to @kingleby1.bsky.social but it wasn't settled & flew off after less than 5 mins. Also 3 Red-necked Grebes, 2 Slavonian Grebes, 1 Pale-b Brent Goose and 2 very distant Marsh Harriers flew up the Forth #BirdingLothian
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kingleby1.bsky.social @kingleby1.bsky.social · 22/09/2026
Lucky to have this Great White Egret drop in at Musselburgh this morning. @birdinglothian.bsky.social
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Norm Milligan @normmill.bsky.social · 21/09/2026
22 Sept. Busy watch at Gullane Point this am with birds moving SW in the calmer winds. 785 Kitts, 75 Comm Gull, 72 RT Diver (1GND), 10 Bonxie and first for site of passage Blackwit (2) & Dunnock (2). Single Cory’s & Pom Skua (juv) added some flavour. @birdinglothian.bsky.social #BirdingLothian
1cy (a bird born this year) Common Gull, flying left over the sea.
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David (Dave) Burt @david-burt.bsky.social · 15/09/2026
Sept 14. Birdwalk Musselburgh (60+ species) highlights Surf Scoter with 70+ Velvet Scoter, 2 Slavonian Grebe off seawall, 2 Shoveler new lagoon, 1000+ Greylag, 500+ Canada & Pink-footed Geese overhead, 11 Shelduck in sea @btoscotland.bsky.social @birdinglothian.bsky.social #birdinglothian pics later
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Sam Shutt @ssasamwild.bsky.social · 14/09/2026
Got in my last trip to Musselburgh for a while before my Uni life kicks off. Was very fruitful today with: a Brent Goose, Slavonian Grebe, 3 Pintail, Ww Scoter, first Pink foot flocks of the autumn and 60+ Rt Diver. @birdinglothian.bsky.social #birdinglothian #birdingscotland
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Joe Nichols @itssjoenichols.bsky.social · 13/09/2026
A smart juv Sabine's Gull at Hound Point this evening, in a flock of 100+ Kitts on the sea before heading west over the Forth Bridges. Also ad Black-throated Diver off Dalmeny, and juv Black Tern at Seacliff midweek. Obliging Little Stint at Tyninghame #birdinglothian @birdinglothian.bsky.social
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KGbirder @kgbirder.bsky.social · 03/09/2026
Vast numbers of feeding seabirds in the outer Forth just now, mainly Kittiwakes & Common Terns. Variety this pm came in the form of a Balearic Shearwater & ad Sabine’s Gull off Eyebroughy & a juv Sabine’s Gull off Yellowcraig. Also 5+ Black Terns & 30+ Little Gulls @birdinglothian.bsky.social
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Ian Andrews @ijandrews.bsky.social · 01/09/2026
1 Sep. Musselburgh. Adult White-winged Scoter and Surf Scoter this morning. Juv Peregrine caused chaos chasing everything inc a Ruff that dived into the trees to escape! #BirdingLothian
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Calum Scott @aberladybirder.bsky.social · 30/08/2026
Surprised to find this moulting ad Dotterel on rocks amongst Goldies on a rising tide today! Didn’t quite believe what I was seeing in biblical rain at first! Also today 7+ Red-necked Grebe, 2 Med Gulls & 43 roosting kitts on a pier! #BirdingScotland @birdinglothian.bsky.social #BirdingLothian
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kingleby1.bsky.social @kingleby1.bsky.social · 28/08/2026
Little Stint Thorntonloch beach this afternoon. @birdinglothian.bsky.social
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kingleby1.bsky.social @kingleby1.bsky.social · 27/08/2026
4 Pied Flycatchers at Torness this afternoon, joined by Spotted Fly. Also 2 Ruff at Musselburgh on Tuesday showing striking variation in plumage. @birdinglothian.bsky.social
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Sam Shutt @ssasamwild.bsky.social · 26/08/2026
Couldn't find the Great Shearwater at Gullane, but Aberlady certainly delivered with a Spotted Redshank in the bay, awesome views of a Little Stint on the beach and an adult Roseate Tern amongst the 100+ roosting Common Tern. @birdinglothian.bsky.social #birdinglothian #birdingscotland
Spotted Redshank on the right.Closest and best views I've had of Little Stint. It was in with a small flock of mixed shorebirds only about 3 metres away from me.Adult Roseate Tern.
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Norm Milligan @normmill.bsky.social · 26/08/2026
Slightly shocked to find a Great Shearwater feeding with a mixed flock of seabirds at Gullane Point this morning. Good that others saw it as well. No images of it so have attached pics of the last one that I saw off Sagres (2nd pic typical of today’s actions.) @birdinglothian.bsky.social
Great Shearwater flying over a calm sea.Great Shearwater taking flight from the sea.
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Norm Milligan @normmill.bsky.social · 23/08/2026
23 August: Great White Egret at Gladhouse this evening @birdinglothian.bsky.social
Great White Egret standing in water looking left with a rocky bank in the background.Great White Egret standing in water looking right with a rocky bank in the background.
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Joe Nichols @itssjoenichols.bsky.social · 22/08/2026
Two neat juv Long-tailed Skua north were the highlight of a four skua day at Seacliff yesterday with @tomgale98.bsky.social. A nice supporting cast of three Sooty Shear and adult Pom, with one of each again this morning @birdinglothian.bsky.social #birdinglothian
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Norm Milligan @normmill.bsky.social · 21/08/2026
Nice looking juvenile Little Gull amongst resting terns at Gosford Sands this afternoon. @birdinglothian.bsky.social
Juvenile Little Gull facing right behind a juvenile Sandwich Tern facing left - both standing on wet sand.Mixed group of terns with juvenile Little Gull appearing very dark amongst them. All are standing on wet sand with calm sea behind.
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Sam Shutt @ssasamwild.bsky.social · 19/08/2026
Musselburgh August 19th. Weather wasn't great but I had: 14 Ruff, 11 Snipe, 3 Green Sandpiper and 2 Whimbrel on the Old Scrapes. 2 distant Arctic Skua and a close in Roseate Tern in the pouring rain off the Seawall. @birdinglothian.bsky.social #birdinglothian #birdingscotland
Male Ruff. Rest of the Ruff here were Brown Juveniles.1 of the 3 Green Sandpiper. The other two were together on the opposite side of the scrapes to this one.2 out of the 11 Snipe.
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Norm Milligan @normmill.bsky.social · 18/08/2026
Good (mostly south-west)Tern passage at Gullane Point this morning with 640 Sandwich, 203 Common, 90 Arctic, 250 Commic and single Roseate and Little. Also a 110 Oystercatcher past and a welcome Cory’s Shearwater - ‘scope views of the latter much better than the image! @birdinglothian.bsky.social
Mixed flock of Terns above rocks with sea in the background.Obscure, distant image of a Cory’s Shearwater above a steel blue sea.
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KGbirder @kgbirder.bsky.social · 19/08/2026
All three drake White-winged Scoter still present and correct off Musselburgh seawall early this morning (though I don’t see all three every visit) & showing reasonably well for a change. Shame about the light (and midges). Pic of one of the immatures. @birdinglothian.bsky.social
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David (Dave) Burt @david-burt.bsky.social · 15/08/2026
Aug 14. Bird walk Musselburgh lagoons and area (72 species) closer views of Scoters (Velvet 100+, WW 2 & Surf 3), Med Gull (1), Green Sandpiper (3) @btoscotland.bsky.social @rspbscotland.bsky.social @birdinglothian.bsky.social #BirdingLothian
A Group of ~100 Velvet Scoter with 2 White-winged Scoter, 1 on the leftA group of 20+ Velvet Scoter with 3 Surf Scoter Green Sandpiper (2 of 3) on the old lagoons
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Stuart @edinburghnature.bsky.social · 14/08/2026
@birdinglothian.bsky.social #Lothianbirds At Musselburgh lagoons old scrapes 3 Green sandpiper, 1 Little gull,12 Ruff, 3Whimbrel at new lagoons. On sea 3 distant Surf scoter and 2 White winged scoter seen.
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David (Dave) Burt @david-burt.bsky.social · 10/08/2026
Aug 10. Bird walk Musselburgh Lagoons & River Esk (67 species) highlights were Little Stint, Green Sandpiper, Med Gull, Ruff (3) @btoscotland.bsky.social @rspbscotland.bsky.social @birdinglothian.bsky.social #BirdingLothian #BirdingScotland
Little StintGreen SandpiperMed Gull Ruff
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Sam Shutt @ssasamwild.bsky.social · 11/08/2026
Musselburgh August 10th. Finally found the Green Sandpiper which gave me some great views. Stint and 3 Shoveler still on the scrapes also. Saw 2 Surf & Ww Scoter and had an Arctic Skua right next to the seawall. @birdinglothian.bsky.social #birdinglothian #birdingscotland
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kingleby1.bsky.social @kingleby1.bsky.social · 10/08/2026
Return to Aberlady for Red-footed Falcon, then Port Seton for 3 Roseate Terns, one of my favourite birds. @birdinglothian.bsky.social
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Stuart @edinburghnature.bsky.social · 10/08/2026
@birdinglothian.bsky.social At Holyrood park this morning Whitethroat, Blackcap and Lesser Whitethroat all with young. Try for over an hour to get picts the birds where not being cooperative. At Musselburgh better luck with Little stint, Green sandpiper and Ruff.
Juv Little stint juv Green sandpiper Male RuffLittle stint
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Dennis Morrison @denmor77.bsky.social · 10/08/2026
Second helpings of the Red-footed Falcon at Aberlady this morning. Looks like it has now moved on, having flew off high south around 11:45 @birdinglothian.bsky.social
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KGbirder @kgbirder.bsky.social · 09/08/2026
The Aberlady Red-footed Falcon continues to perform beautifully for all comers. It’s proving very popular and is giving the 2024 Steppe Grey Shrike a serious run for its money in the ‘most photographed Lothian bird of all time’ stakes. @birdinglothian.bsky.social
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Sam Shutt @ssasamwild.bsky.social · 08/08/2026
Musselburgh was pretty quiet today with the most notable Bird's being a juvenile Little Stint and 2 female Shoveler, both on the old scrapes. Green Sandpiper on the new lagoons although I didn't manage to see it (definite nemesis bird now). @birdinglothian.bsky.social #birdinglothian
Juvenile Little Stint Female Shoveler Female Shoveler pair
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Neil MacIver @scotbird71.bsky.social · 09/08/2026
Good to finally catch up with the Aberlady Red Footed Falcon this morning after a 4 hour no show & me driving home it was reported again so a dash back to Aberlady 👍 Braw Lothian & Scotland ✅ Thanks to finder @birdinglothian.bsky.social @scottishbirding.bsky.social
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Stuart @edinburghnature.bsky.social · 05/08/2026
@birdinglothian.bsky.social Wardie bay after spending a few hours on Cramond island with only a dark and light phase skua distantly probably Arctic. As i passed Granton harbour quite a few Common terns and Juv, This juv Sandwich with Green leg ring RPB and Juv Med gull with white leg ring ?K1L,
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kingleby1.bsky.social @kingleby1.bsky.social · 05/08/2026
Red-footed Falcon showing well at Aberlady today. @birdinglothian.bsky.social
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Dennis Morrison @denmor77.bsky.social · 05/08/2026
Red-footed Falcon at Aberlady this morning, another top find by Mr Gillon. My second one in Lothian after the 1s female in May 2008 at Almondell & Calderwood CP @birdinglothian.bsky.social
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Mark Darling @markdarling1.bsky.social · 05/08/2026
Red-footed Falcon still showing well at Aberlady Bay before flying off to roost just after 9pm. 4th Aug 2026. #birdinglothian #birdingscotland #birdphotography #wildlifephotography #birdsseenin2026 #redfootedfalcon #birdguides @rarebirder.bsky.social
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Ross Bennett @bennett23ross80.bsky.social · 05/08/2026
A few pic's of the Red Footed Falcon at Aberlady Nature Reserve yesterday, stunning wee thing. #Birding #BirdsSeenin2026 #Birdphotography #Wildlifephotography @birdinglothian.bsky.social @rarebirder.bsky.social @britishnatureguide.bsky.social @naturescot.bsky.social @rspbedinburghlg.bsky.social
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Joe Nichols @itssjoenichols.bsky.social · 04/08/2026
A smart juv Black Tern and six Roseate (four ads and two juv) feeding offshore at Gullane Point this afternoon. Red-footed Falcon was most obliging at Aberlady later on @birdinglothian.bsky.social #birdinglothian #rarebirdsuk
1st summer Red-footed Falcon at Aberlady (04/08/26)
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Sam Shutt @ssasamwild.bsky.social · 04/08/2026
Absolutely stellar day at Aberlady today. The Red-footed Falcon showed amazingly as it actively hunted not to far away from everyone. Also had a juvenile Whinchat, 9 Roseate Tern (5 adults & 4 juveniles) and a juvenile Peregrine Falcon. @birdinglothian.bsky.social #birdinglothian #birdingscotland
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