Annotated garden bird list for Longniddry, Lothian

This is a list of the species seen in, and flying over, a small garden on Douglas Road, Longniddry, Lothian, Scotland (map) since August 2004. Longniddry has about 2500 inhabitants and is situated on the coast about a mile south of Gosford Bay. Unfortunately there is no proper view out beyond the immediate neighbourhood - in particular, no view of the sea, so a good proportion of the birds on the garden list have been recorded in flight overhead only.

The percentage of weeks that the regular visitors were recorded during 2005 is included in brackets following the species name as an indicative measure of each species abundance; species which were only seen overhead are marked with an asterisk * and those only heard overhead by a +.

1. Cormorant (Phalacrocorax carbo) * - occasionally seen passing overhead, mainly in winter; usually birds going inland at dawn or returning to coast at dusk
2. Grey Heron (Ardea cinerea) - occasionally seen passing overhead, twice attempting to come down in neighbourhood
3. Mute Swan (Cygnus olor) * - a group of 5 birds over mid-Oct 2005, 2 in Oct 2006, 3+2 when cold weather hit late Nov 2010
4. Whooper Swan (Cygnus cygnus) * - a group of 4 flew over on 10 October 2007
5. Pinkfoot (Anser brachyrhynchus) (10%) * - regular visitor in autumn, with large flocks sometimes seen en route between nearby roost at Aberlady and feeding grounds (peak count 7000 over at dawn on 8/11/04 in six flocks); often heard over during the night too; leucistic (all-white) bird seen on 29/10/05
6. Greylag Goose (Anser anser) * - annual in small flocks over, to and from nearby Gosford Estate
7. Canada Goose (Branta canadensis) * - a flock of moult migrants N over at night on 5/6/10
8. Barnacle Goose (Branta leucopsis) * - four birds over in a flock of Pinkfeet on 29/10/05, several autumn records in 2006, including overnight passage; large numbers of migrants, peak 310, autumn 2010
9. Wigeon (Anas penelope) * - one heard calling amongst loose flocks of 81 duck sp NE over on 2/12/10, hard weather
10. Teal (Anas crecca) * - 3 over with loose flocks totalling 81 duck sp 2/12/10 with deep snow and sub-zero daytime temperature
11. Mallard (Anas platyrhyncos) * - pr over on 25/02/07, and rising from tiny burn west on 13/04/09; group 13+ on 25/11/10; many amongst 81 duck sp over in hard weather on 2/12/10
12. Goosander (Mergus merganser) * - single sawbill duck S over on 29/12/06 probably this species; redhead SW over on 2/10/10
13. Sparrowhawk (Accipiter nisus) (39%) - regular visitor, with up to 7 individual sightings in one day, and birds seen displaying overhead regularly in spring; a presumed captive bird heard as of summer 2006, eliciting calling responses from passing wild individuals
14. Common Buzzard (Buteo buteo) (8%) * - occasionally seen thermalling overhead, up to 4 together
15. Kestrel (Falco tinnunculus) * - very scarce visitor
16. Hobby (Falco subbuteo) - singles on 13 September 2008 and 4 August 2010 [neither accepted by LBRC so not included in species total!]
17. Peregrine (Falco peregrinus) * - annual, with seven records so far: Christmas Day 2004, one chasing Wood Pigeons Nov 2005, then Sept 06, Dec 06, Jan 07, Oct 08, Feb 09
18. Quail (Coturnix coturnix) + - a presumed migrant heard calling over at 00:47hrs on 1 June 2007
19. Pheasant (Phasianus colchicus) - single record of a male heard calling in May 2005
20. Moorhen (Gallinula chloropus) + - nocturnal calls heard on two nights mid-April 2007
21. Coot (Gallinula chloropus) + - nocturnal calls heard on 7/8/10, 21/4/11 & 9/4/12
22. Oystercatcher (Haematopus ostralegus) (41%) * - observed (and heard) overhead daily throughout the year, but particularly in winter
23. Golden Plover (Pluvialis apricaria) * - heard passing overhead at night particularly in August and flocks, sometimes very large, occasionally seen over in winter
24. Grey Plover (Pluvialis squatarola) + - single record over in fog during night in August 2005
25. Ringed Plover (Charadrius hiaticula) + - nocturnal migrants over in May and August 2007, August 2009, two in August 2011, one flying inland Feb 2012
26. Lapwing (Vanellus vanellus) * - occasional flocks over in winter, peak 135 in December 2004
27. Black-tailed Godwit (Limosa limosa) + - nocturnal migrant over on 2 August 2010
28. Bar-tailed Godwit (Limosa lapponica) + - nocturnal migrant in rain on 14/8/07, another 29/8/11
29. Whimbrel (Numenius phaeopus) + - 3 nocturnal migrants in rain on 14/8/07, 2 on 1/8/10, 1 on 29/4/11
30. Curlew (Numenius arquata) * - small numbers over at various times in the year, typically nocturnal but also dawn and dusk, i.e. feeding movements; also audible on the coast 750m N in certain conditions
31. Common Sandpiper (Actitis hypoleucos) + - two nocturnal migrants in rain on 14/8/07, then 19/8/07, 27/7/08, 30/7/10
32. Woodcock (Scolopax rusticola) + - two in roding flight excursion on 8/5/11
33. Sanderling (Calidris alba) + - nocturnal migrant low SW over at 00:39hrs on 21/8/06 (10 minutes before high tide)
34. Redshank (Tringa totanus) + - fairly regularly heard over at night, with a peak in August; commonly feeds inland in the village in mild weather
35. Greenshank (Tringa nebularia) + - three August records, one in early October, all nocturnal calls
36. Dunlin (Calidris alpina) + - single nocturnal migrant in rain at 00:10hrs on 21/10/06 (100 minutes before high tide), another in early May 2008
37. Black-headed Gull (Larus ridibundus) (73%) - regular non-breeding visitor, rarely seen in late spring and early summer; occasionally over at night in summer
38. Common Gull (Larus canus) (24%) - regular winter visitor, not seen in spring and early summer
39. Herring Gull (Larus argentatus) (97%) - present throughout the year with tens or hundreds passing overhead on some days en route to/from coastal roosts; frequently over at night in summer
40. Lesser Blackback (Larus fuscus) (39%) - common summer visitor
41. Great Blackback (Larus marinus) * - rarely seen, but probably regular over in the morning commute of large gulls from roosts to urban Edinburgh in winter months, occasional at other times
42. Common Tern (Sterna hirundo) + - several were heard over on three nights in August 2006, including some definitely moving S, but perhaps returning N later; studies of this species on Teeside have indicated a SW departure at dusk taking birds over to Liverpool Bay (Ward, R.M., Ringing & Migration, 20, 19, 2000)
43. Sandwich Tern (Sterna sandvicensis) * - small group of birds heard moving S overhead at night in rain on 13/8/04; again over in mid-August 2006, 2007, 2008 and 2009, late August 2011; typically adult and juv; can also be heard from the coast in the right conditions
44. Feral Pigeon (Columba livia) (31%) - erratic visitor, year-round; many racing pigeons fly along the coast on certain weekends
45. Stock Dove (Columba oenas) * - a single in August 2006; probably more regular but never picked up with Wood Pigeon passage so far
46. Wood Pigeon (Columba palumbus) (98%) - very common local resident, which breeds abundantly in the village from at least Feb to Nov, and has successfully reared young in cypress hedge in our tiny garden
47. Collared Dove (Streptopelia decaocto) (55%) - somewhat irregular visitor throughout the year; successful local breeding; resident in 2011
48. Tawny Owl (Strix aluco) - frequently heard calling at night from Gosford Estate woods; regular in August 2006 with a juvenile bird heard; heard daily again through summer 2007, but scarcer since; juvs found in Fernyness Wood summer 2009
49. Barn Owl (Tyto alba) - screech call heard in early hours of 27/7/08 and 31/8/09; also suspected summer 2007; as we are 200m from the edge of the village (golf course) this makes this a truly suburban owl; also, reportedly regular visitor in King's Park area of Longniddry
50. Common Swift (Apus apus) (25%) - common summer visitor, (May to August); up to 10 birds regularly (though not confirmed local breeding), and more in occasional "movements", including pre-departure gathering, e.g. 50 high over on 14 August 2007
51. Great Spotted Woodpecker (Dendrocopos major) - irregular, annual (except 2007); breeds in Fernyness Wood to NE
52. Skylark (Alauda arvensis) (6%) * - regular overhead passage migrant, largest flock 25 in October 2005; occasionally heard in breeding season when singing birds drift over the village
53. Sand Martin (Riparia riparia) * - a group of four birds rapidly W over in 2nd week of April 2006
54. Swallow (Hirundo rustica) (24%) - regular summer visitor (mid-April to mid-September); single very late record early Nov 2008
55. House Martin (Delichon urbica) (37%) - common summer visitor (April to September); breeds locally (and had attempted to build on our house); post-breeding gathering numbered 35 birds in 2004, but has dropped to less than 10 in 2006 and remained low, though plenty in other parts of Longniddry; once heard at night
56. Meadow Pipit (Anthus pratensis) (12%) - regular overhead passage migrant
57. Pied Wagtail (Motacilla alba yarrelli) (10%) - irregular visitor throughout the year
58. Grey Wagtail (Motacilla cinerea) (8%) - irregular visitor throughout the year
59. Waxwing (Bombycilla garrulus) - recorded in mid-November 2004 and various occasions winter 08/09 when there was a group often around the village as part of a large influx; again recorded autumn 2010
60. Wren (Troglodytes troglodytes) (35%) - irregular visitor throughout the year, less common in winter; more often heard than seen
61. Hedge Sparrow (Prunella modularis) (82%) - common resident, present in garden in small numbers throughout the year
62. Robin (Erithacus rubecula) (92%) - common resident, apparently absent in mid-summer
63. Blackbird (Turdus merula) (90%) - common resident
64. Fieldfare (Turdus pilaris) (8%) - uncommon winter visitor
65. Song Thrush (Turdus philomelos) (37%) - regularly heard in song in spring/summer; rare at other times of the year though a few in autumn passage
66. Redwing (Turdus iliacus) (10%) - autumn passage migrant (peak 220 birds in 15 minutes, September 2005), and winter visitor
67. Mistle Thrush (Turdus viscivorus) - formerly very rare visitor with only 5 records in 2 years, but more recently heard/seen daily at times, particularly spring and autumn
68. Grasshopper Warbler (Locustella naevia) - a territorial bird could be heard regularly in song from a location about 450m N of the house in mid-May 2006
69. Blackcap (Sylvia atricapilla) (4%) - heard in song nearby in spring
70. Common Whitethroat (Sylvia communis) - first record a female in the garden in May 2010
71. Chiffchaff (Phylloscopus collybita) - rare visitor, only recorded briefly in song in spring and on autumn passage
72. Willow Warbler (Phylloscopus trochilus) - rare visitor, only recorded on autumn passage
73. Goldcrest (Regulus regulus) (4%) - rare visitor
74. Long-tailed Tit (Aegithalos caudatus) (14%) - irregular visitor, often in company of other tits and normally associated with hard weather; visited fat ball in garden March 2006 and January 2009
75. Coal Tit (Parus ater) (31%) - regular visitor throughout the year, but more in winter and less in summer
76. Blue Tit (Parus caeruleus) (80%) - common visitor throughout the year, especially winter when up to 14 attracted to peanut feeders, but no more than a handful in recent years (sparrows dominate seed feeder)
77. Great Tit (Parus major) (59%) - regular visitor in small numbers throughout the year
78. Treecreeper (Certhia familiaris) - first record on 11/9/06 on ornamental tree in tiny front garden, second on 11/2/11 creeping up garden shed at back
79. Magpie (Pica pica) (92%) - normally present daily in the neighbourhood, with one January council/social gathering of 23 birds in tree outside house (and 47 on one roof reported by a friend in another part of Longniddry); now much reduced due to removal by a neighbour
80. Jay (Garrulus glandarius) - first record an apparent acorn-gatherer SW over on fine morning of 2/10/10, though followed reports of irruption out of Scandinavia
81. Jackdaw (Corvus monedula) (96%) - regularly observed on aerials, throughout the year; peaks of up to 150 birds; breeds and roosts nearby with Rooks
82. Rook (Corvus frugilegus) (35%) - regular visitor throughout the year; breeds and roosts nearby at the station
83. Carrion Crow (Corvus corone) (92%) - normally present daily in the neighbourhood, and breeds nearby with 3 juveniles fledged in 2006
84. Starling (Sturnus vulgaris) (100%) - ever-present resident, peaks of up to 150 birds
85. House Sparrow (Passer domesticus) (100%) - another common resident and local breeder observed daily in numbers of up to 20 by the end of the breeding season; apparently stable
86. Tree Sparrow (Passer montanus) - first records on last two days of October 2010, long expected being regular elsewhere in the village; again following week
87. Chaffinch (Fringilla coelebs) (63%) - regular visitor throughout the year
88. Brambling (Fringilla montifringilla) - first record on vismig on 30/10/10
89. Greenfinch (Carduelis chloris) (73%) - regular visitor throughout the year
90. Goldfinch (Carduelis carduelis) (33%) - regular visitor throughout the year, always in small numbers
91. Siskin (Carduelis spinus) (8%) - irregular visitor, mainly in spring/autumn (peak 55 birds, 29/10/05); once on nut-feeder in spring (27/2/05)
92. Linnet (Carduelis cannabina) (20%) - regularly overhead, and not infrequently descending to feed in the area, once on the road outside
93. Lesser Redpoll (Carduelis flammea) - single in song 15/4/06, 4+ with 20+ redpolls feeding on birch catkins on 28/12/06
94. Common Redpoll (Carduelis flammea) - at least 12, probably 16, with 20+ redpolls feeding on birch catkins on 28/12/06
95. Crossbill (Loxia curvirostra) * - small flock over in early October 2005; also again during dispersal in July 07, July 08 and July/August 09; large numbers in second wave in 2010 (e.g. 35 on 30/10)
    
96. Bullfinch (Pyrrhula pyrrhula) (4%) - irregular visitor, typically pairs in winter but resident for a few weeks in summer 2007 and again late summer 2009

Escape

1. Helmeted Guineafowl (Numida meleagris) - single heard calling 27 July 2008; traced to local farm