Garden bird log for Longniddry, Lothian

This is a log of the more interesting species seen and heard in, and flying over, a small garden on Douglas Road, Longniddry, Lothian, Scotland (map), since August 2004. The garden is in an estate within 500m of high water - Firth of Forth. Unfortunately there is no proper view out to the sea, or indeed anywhere beyond the neighbouring houses in the estate.

Annotated species list

Detailed records (spreadsheet) - updated 1/1/26

2026

Sand Martins over house in evening on 30 June, with 350+ feeding over sea nearby at Seton Sands at dusk, and then c.2,200 going to roost in the Blindwells MTS reedbeds at around 30-40 mins after sunset, the mega roost is returning!

A few later starts for Blackbird with variable weather (03:06-03:14hrs on 10 dates 16-25 June, yes, working late daily!), and immense thunderstorm on 26 June, but local bird in full song by 03:01hrs on 28 June. On 29 June a bit of a breeze but 12C and quite bright early, distant Blackbird song from 02:53hrs, with local bird in song by 02:56hrs, new early start!

Woodpigeon squab here on 27 June in same nest as last year - an idyllic spot in rowan tree right next to the honeysuckle they all love, and fight over. On morning of 28 June, looked like tragedy had struck, pigeon feathers on lawn and empty nest - however the tail feather was worn, so an adult, and in evening spotted junior perched in bush in front garden of next door but one, with ad coming in to feed shortly after - fledged!

Barn Owl Robin song commenced 03:00hrs 15 June, Blackbird later 03:04hrs.

Blackbird in full dawn song from at least 03:02hrs, 14 June, possibly earliest heard here, concluding at dusk at 22:32hrs.

Barn Owl shriek heard 01:22hrs 4 June, first since July 2022 of this formerly very regular species (29 records in 2014 alone, once within touching distance of my open window).

Song Thrush already in full song distantly to SW just before 03:00hrs on 3 June, good light with full moon shining just beyond, the rest of the dawn chorus kicked in 03:13hrs.

Hedgehog making a din in leaf litter at 02:00hrs on 1 June; calls also heard on 5 June, same time.

Long days for breeding birds this time of year, Blackbirds struck up at 03:09hrs on 31 May, followed within a minute by Robins, and both were still in song to 22:32hrs at night (leaving max 4hrs 40mins for sleep). On brighter mornings it is already brightening here by 30 mins before Civil Twilight, but obviously varies with the weather and indeed start time of song seems to varies a fair amount from day-to-day. Blackbird is a species in which sleep has been studied in some detail but perhaps only in captive birds on a long 12 hour night cycle (Szymczak et al., 1993 https://doi.org/10.1016/0031-9384(93)90380-X), nevertheless of interest that it was found they are capable of unihemispheric sleep (Szymczak et al., 1999 https://doi.org/10.1016/0031-9384(96)00231-4), something which might not be rare in birds and also seen in marine mammals (Rattenborg et al., 2000: https://doi.org/10.1016/s0149-7634(00)00039-7). Great effort by the Blackbirds though, and such beautiful song.

Bullfinches back at the honeysuckle late May, also favoured by Woodpigeons with latter having a big wing-flapping battle lasting several minutes just for a perch there where it could be reached!

First juv sparrows in garden being fed on rowan flowers on 18 May, here perched at honeysuckle. Sadly feathers found the next day, presumed Sparrowhawk predation. Sightings of latter have been sparse recently after better numbers 2020-2023 - to me that suggests there might be less prey around for them to eat.

Regular Redpoll, Siskin and Tree Sparrow records April-May (to 28 April, 19 May and 8 May, at least), all likely local breeders.

195+ BHG flew south inland 06:21hrs 9 April, hundreds of course arrive at dusk to roost on sea to north but I'm poor at logging dawn dispersal.

Blackcap "tack" calls in garden on 31 March.

Nocturnal flight calls of Moorhen 03:09hrs 27 March.

First Chiffchaff in song 26 March.

Tawny Owl hooting Gosford Road area 2 March and 9 April, sadly ad picked up dead on coast road at Old Coast Road on 15 April.

27 Fieldfare high E towards dusk 18 January, perhaps roosting in Gosford Estate.

2 Lesser Redpoll on birch catkins in front garden 11 January.

2025

[Overview of the year 2025

Another generally quiet year for birds, one species down on 2024 at 63 and both a long way below the peak of 79 in 2023, however still some nice records - typical nocturnal records of Coot, Moorhen (2) and Mallard in spring, followed by 34 moult migration Canadas on 1 June; in late July a remarkable roost movement Sand Martins at dusk, with 220+ SW over picked up on 22 July leading to the discovery of the mega roost at Blindwells, where 10k+ were gathered (and also 10k+ Swallows in early September); few counts thereafter but still 8 over on 9 September, a late date for Sand Martins; generally poor for waders in late summer but a diurnal Whimbrel on 10 July; autumn highlight probably the 94 yapping Barnacles on 14 October (though far below peaks of 310 on 3/10/10 on 380 on 28/9/19), Mute Swans in late November only 10th record in 21 years. Tree Sparrows still occasionally logged and likely breed in neighbourhood.

Lack of any new birds compensated by excellent first record of a Cuckoo Bumblebee, a Southern, on 8 June, and some welcome signs of recovery of Tree Bumblebee.]

Redpolls over regularly in December and lovely to have a flock of 10 on birch catkins in the front garden on 17 December.

ad + 2 juv Mute Swans SW over c. 10:00hrs 25 November.

Proper geese in autumn incl 94 Barnacles yapping SW over 09:48hrs 14 October.

A few Tree Sparrows in autumn incl 4 over on 13 October.

A typical first arrival of Fieldfare with 10 over SW on 11 October.

Usual feral goose movements in late summer with peak of a large flock of Greylags calling low over house 20:40hrs 21 September.

8 Sand Martins SW over with Swallows in roost flight at dusk on 9 September, a late date.

ad+juv Sandwich Terns calling over in early hours of both 23 and 24 July but few noted in Aug-Sep.

Grey Heron low over towards Gosford 23 July.

In late July a remarkable roost movement Sand Martins at dusk, with 220+ SW over picked up on 22 July leading to the discovery of the mega roost at Blindwells, where 10k+ were gathered (and also 10k+ Swallows in early September) - arguably the most significant bird record *ever* for this garden, and a reminder of the value of the location on potential migration routes, albeit 500m inland but with the woods set back from coast channelling some migrants.

Whimbrel calling over around noon on 10 July.

8 Crossbills SW over on 9 July and another on 17 July but no more thereafter.

An exciting development on 8 June when a cuckoo bumblebee sp. spotted, first for the garden, I suspect this is the Southern Cuckoo (Bombus vestalis) which has two previous records from Longniddry Bents.

"Peak bumble" on 6 June with a good gathering of several species on the Buddleja globosa, building during the day in the sun with 40+ by mid-afternoon incl 15+ Tree (Bombus hypnorum), pleasing to see after a couple of generally poorer years driven by their decline, perhaps also weather related though; lovely to see 3 Red-tailed and 2 Carder bees, plus many honey bees and Speckled Wood. Graphs and pics.

Tree Sparrow calling over 1 June.

10 Canada Geese over W 16:00hrs 29 May, then 34 low SW straight over house on 1 June.

Moorhen territorial calls again over 23:30hrs on 27 May.

Red fox - long series of loud bark calls heard to west, near burn, Douglas Road, 03:40-03:50hrs, 13 May.

Moorhen calling over 01:12hrs 1 May, receding to NW.

Mallard - heard calling over 02:23hrs 23 April.

Coot - nocturnal migrant, several clear "mewing" calls over 23:13hrs on 19 April, probably NE.

Buzzard mewing high over 18 April.

5 swan sp. SW down Douglas Road 08:55hrs 26 January.

Pinks over on 14 and 21 January.

[Overview of the year 2024

A huge drop in species recorded from 79 to 64, was in part due to lack of many waders in late summer and many other "scarce" missed, things like Heron, Kestrel etc. After an exceptional five additions to list in 2023 a drop was inevitable but two new ones with an excellent Reed Warbler singing *in* the garden on 19 May (still a local rarity, description accepted by LBRC), also Velvet Scoter (bit of a cheat!). A nocturnal migrant Water Rail calling over on 3 May was only 5th record after four in 2020, with territorial Moorhen calling over again on 3 April. In autumn a good total of 70 Barnacle Geese were logged on 6 October, plus a late Swallow on 2 November, and it was also a joy to have daily visits of Bullfinches to feed on honeysuckle berries from 26 August to end Nov.

On amphibians, both frog and toad recorded, second record of both; also another Wood Mouse.]

Older records (to end 2025)