Whilst checking East Lothian for fledged Collared Doves stopped at the Blackdykes turn west of Auldhame to check three on wires and was surprised to find this apparent juvenile Turtle Dove with the pair of standard issue doves! Looked twitchy so did not approach nearer, and sure enough a few minutes later took off and flew high N, lost to sight behind trees at Castleton, towards the last bit of land before Fife.
At Tyninghame Links unfortunately flushed a Barn Owl out of its roost in a tree hole but had a nice view of it flying over fields in bright sun, quickly mobbed by Swallows. A Whimbrel was also calling over Tesco at North Berwick. Elsewhere some decent gatherings of birds - 170+ House Sparrow at Knowes, may well have been a lot more, scattered by a male Sparrowhawk; 1070 Herring Gulls loafing on turf at Lochhouses included 67 juv, 250+ Greylag with them and 120+ Swallows at farm; 200+ hirundines at Seacliff, about half each Swallow/House Martin and largely juvs; 80+ Tree Sparrow in ripening wheat by bend N of Balgone Barns, mainly juvs; another 100+ hirundines at West Fortune. 10 Swift over Knowes. Fledged Bullfinch at Tynefield, young cygnet Mute Swan at Scoughall pond, bright juvenile Greenfinch at Auldhame amongst 30+ Goldfinch, many juvs. But generally poor for finding new atlas stuff, checked perhaps 20 Collared Dove and no (new) juvs seen.
These "Shaggy Mane" Coprinus comatus (I think!) mushrooms on the verge past Kingston.
No birding Sunday but at Fisherrow Links playground one ad f Peregrine came bombing over from the Eskmouth. Swifts still over the house at dusk.
Monday, 27+ Swift high over Cockenzie primary school, gathering now I think as have seen in previous years mid-August.
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