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

Grey Heron call over late evening on 7 August.

Sandwich Tern calls are very regularly heard over garden so I was immediately alert at a high pitched tern call over at 23:56hrs on 6 August, managed to record a few repeats as it receded W, analysis and sonogram seems to confirm my initial thought that it was Arctic Tern, species 122 for the garden (a long time coming but not a huge surprise, being a bird common over the nearby Forth at present, with 110 feeding offshore on 1 August).

Blackbird song continued at dawn through July, starting 03:14-03:32hrs in first week, but was very lazy and repetitive later in the day, once repeating same phrase five times in succession, and no dusk song first on 18 July. Song still at dawn 04:04hrs 23 July and a half-heartedly but decent spell of singing from 04:48hrs on 29 July, with Song Thrush, Wren, Robin, Woodpigeon and Collared Dove still making up the rest of the dawn chorus, plus soprano pipistrelle feeding and the calls from the large gulls over. Male Blackcap singing in rowan 05:40hrs and first Mistle Thrush of the year, both appear when berries ready. Tree Sparrow over later and then Grey Plover heard calling over 08:33hrs, two clear calls probably west, sadly not visible - conditions perhaps favourable with early rain, WSW2, 17C already by 08:30hrs. Second record for garden just over twenty years since the first, with first being a bird calling over in fog on 5/9/05. An unmistakable call heard often at the coast nearby.

Remarkable occurrence of a Buzzard in conifer at end of garden on 23 July, betrayed by a mass of circling large gulls and crows, giving alarm calls, saw it fly out low through cover, perhaps a young bird taking refuge from mobbing?

Holly Blue in garden on 20 July, first for a couple of years after lots in 2022-3

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!

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)

Garden bird log for Banchory, Kincardineshire

This is a log of the more interesting species seen and heard in, and flying over, a suburban garden on Woodside Road, Banchory, Kincardineshire, Scotland (map). The garden is in an area of detached housing adjacent to terraced council housing. At the time of most of the records listed the nearest open farmland was about 100m to the north-west (but it has since receded to over 1km), and the nearest "wood" was a conifer plantation only just beyond that. The nearest open water is at the Loch of Leys and the River Dee, approximately 1 mile to the north and half a mile to the south respectively.

Annoted species list

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

2026

Another new bird for garden with Barn Owl screech call logged at 00:10hrs, then receding to NE, on 8 March, species number 69.

Red Kite high over on 1 March.

Great Spotted Woodpecker was a new bird for garden on 14 January species number 68; fond memories of being taken by parents to see nest in woods south of the Dee at Blackhall, late 1970s.

2025

Redpoll logged daily 5-9 October and in November and December; last House Martins were 3 over W on 7 October, quite late in the year.

c.390 Jackdaws assembling for roost again at Dalvenie on 17 June, a corvid roost for many years/decades.

Blackbird with large juvs in nest in privet hedge 16 June.

Swifts over 15 June.

Linnet over on 3 May seems to be another species I never recorded here in the 1980s, species number 67

Chiffchaff in song on 12 April, remarkably this was a species I never recorded here in the 1980s, species number 66. Also 2 Buzzard over S.

2024

More Red Kite sightings, this one was soaring over Woodside Terrace on 28 January, attracted limited interest from gulls and corvids which are presumably very familiar with it. Such a delight to see there, a 6 kite weekend.

2023

Another year, another Waxwing, one flew over while I was working in the garden on 11 November.

Red Admirals feeding on fallen pears, 12 October, many of them over recent days.

Red Kite now regular over garden, seen by father, 12 April, and now "often daily".

2022

7 Waxwings in flight low over on afternoon 26 November, while helping parents with a bonfire, quite likely more in area as not seen perched, Fieldfare also present at apple trees. Happy memories of seeing Waxwings regularly in years gone by (1985-95 blog). From kitchen window view of an old Magpie nest (this species recorded only once in 1980s, still scarce 1990s, now resident and common).

2021

Tree Sparrows still resident, 5 May, a new colonist in recent years - no records by me anywhere in neighbourhood when resident c. 1980-1990.

2020

Red Kite - third for garden, circling high over on 12 January.

2019

Red Kite - second for garden, circling low over on 16 January.

2018

Tree Sparrows in garden 18 August - first recorded occurence, species number 65.

2016

c. 550 Jackdaws assembling for roost at traditional site in tall trees at Dalvenie, dusk on 2 July. 30 House Sparrows and fledged Blackbird in garden on same day.

2015

Red-letter day for parents with a Red Kite thermalling over, 29 March (first record in 48 years!) species number 64.

Tame just fledged Collared Dove in pear tree and 4 Swift over on 13 August.

2013

16 Waxwings just up the road on 4 April. 2010

First update for this garden for a while - Waxwing on bird table today (25/2), though looked in poor shape - presumably struggling to find food after arriving in the last month or so as part of the small late winter influx right down the east coast. Photos:Another bird in a garden elsewhere in Grampian is known from colour rings to be a returning bird, as reported on the BTO demog blog, here.

Another change from earlier years is that Magpie is now regular in the garden.

2005

50 Waxwings were again present on 28 March.

In week of 27 February all four thrushes were feeding in the garden (Redwing, Fieldfare, Song Thrush & Blackbird). The Fieldfare was coming to bread on a daily basis and was seen on the bird table on 2 March when snow was heaviest. It is much more able to hold its own with the resident Blackbirds which are vigorously defending "their" food source, and probably pretty annoyed about these various intruders. The Redwing, apparently shyer, spent more time skulking under the hedge, perhaps hoping to pick up scraps left by the larger thrushes.

Waxwings were back at the end of February, with 20+ seen 25-27 February, but a second-hand report of "200" up the road.

On 23 February a Redwing was present in the garden squabbling with Blackbird for scraps of bread under the bird table and in flight (and coming off worst). Snow was lying at the time. This behaviour may be unusual in the UK, though it seems to be perfectly normal for Iceland.

36 Waxwings showed up in the last week of January, including eight colour-ringed birds - all ringed locally by the Grampian Ringing Group, in Aberdeen (4), Aboyne (3) and Inverurie (1). All of the Aberdeen-ringed birds had also been seen subsequently in other places on Deeside, i.e. Aboyne (3) and Westhill (1). All but the Inverurie bird had been ringed on or after 24 December 2004.

Note on local Waxwings

These records prompted me to make a review of our Waxwing records in NE Banchory between 1985 and 2005 (birds also occurred in earlier years but I made no systematic records). A total of over 500 birds-days were recorded distributed over 14 out of the 21 years.

Strong regional correlation is shown with over 10 birds logged in Banchory in every year when peak flock size exceeded 100 in the North-East Scotland Bird Report (NESBR) region whilst in every year with regional peak flock size was below 10 no birds were seen. In the other years (10-100 peak flock size regionally) normally 1-10 birds were seen in Banchory. The ratio of local to regional peak flock size is fairly consistent at around 15%.

Most birds have occurred in Banchory in December with a linear decrease through to April (latest record 23 April 1985). No birds have been seen in October whilst birds arrived in November for the first time in 2004.

Birds have most often been found feeding on cotoneaster berries (frequency 65%), with gean, rowan, apples, hawthorn and rosehip visited in decreasing frequency. Rowan may actually be preferred but berries tend to be exhausted by the time the birds arrive, as are geans (cherries). Amongst the cotoneaster varieties, Cot. bullatus seems to be most favoured, followed by the taller Cot. simondsii and the hedge-forming Cot. horizontalis. The latter is the most common in the area, mainly on Raemoir Road, and has normally been the major food source exploited.

Study data is summarised in this linked spreadsheet.

2004

Herring Gulls, which in earlier years were an abundant visitor passing overhead to the local refuse dump, are now much reduced in numbers. An analysis of records from 1984 to date has shown a reduction to less than a quarter of the former population.

2003

Magpie again on 24 December. 2 Mallard over the same day.

2002

A Magpie was present during week of 17 November - confirming increased presence.

A couple of Treecreepers on our ancient pear tree on 17 September.

2001

Hooded Crow (or close lookalike) nearby on 22 December.

2000

4 Waxwings on 27 December.

1999

Male Chaffinch observed tapping for long periods on house/garage windows from early March through into May, presumably in aggression towards its reflection. Placement of a Snowy Owl picture in the relevant window detered it for 4 days, but tapping subsequently resumed at a reduced intensity.

1998

2 late Swifts in last week of August.

1997

2 Waxwings late March/early April.

1996

A Magpie was seen again at Christmas (all sightings up to this point being 23/12/84, 22/12/90, 23/12/93, 28/12/94, 26/12/96)

A female Blackcap was present end of March/early April. Common Buzzards were seen regularly soaring to the north in early April. A pair of Goosander flew N on 6 April (3rd record).

1995

Male Blackcap and 30 Fieldfare were present in late December.

1994

Hooded Crow recorded again on 26 December.

A male Blackcap was present in February.

1993

First record of Hooded Crow for the garden with a single S on 27 December - species number 63 [PS - hybrid not excluded, but an obvious bird].

1992

Five years after the breeding record, a Goldcrest was singing in the sitka spruce again on 19 April.

1991

Long-tailed Tits and Waxwings (17) were again present in December

A Tawny Owl was heard on 27 March - species number 62.

1990

Over 100 Pied Wagtails were seen circling over a presumed roost site.

The second Spotted Flycatcher for the garden was present on 4 September, just 2 calendar days later than first sighting in 1987.

A Common Buzzard was seen on 28 March - first for garden, species number 61 - and three were seen displaying on 5 April. A pair of Lesser Redpolls were also present end of March/early April. Buzzards and Lesser Redpolls were still present in July.

1989

Long-tailed Tits were seen in December and 300 thrushes (Fieldfare and Redwing) passed over on 18 December.

2 Goosanders overhead on 6 October (2nd record).

Male Lesser Redpoll in song during July - first record, species number 60.

3 Reed Buntings present end of March/early April first record, species number 59.

1700 Rooks and Jackdaws were seen in a roost flock during January.

1988

Golden Plovers were heard calling overhead during the night on 3 October (the day before I left to start university) first record, species number 58.

2 Goosanders circled over the garden on 5 September first record, species number 57.

Migrant Meadow Pipits were seen on 12 occasions between 24 July and 21 September.

A male Brambling was seen on 22 March, first record, species number 56, and Curlews were seen flying N on 24 March.

1987

A Spotted Flycatcher was present on 2 September first record, species number 55.

Migrant Curlews were sighted high overhead in July and both male and female Common Whitethroat in August.

A Yellowhammer was perched in our birch tree on 4 May - first record, species number 54.

Goldcrests bred in a tall Sitka Spruce tree in our neighbour's garden, being seen first on 26 February and last on 20 July. These were the first individuals of this species ever seen in the garden!

A Lapwing flew N on 14 March and Waxwings were present on 20 March.

A male Blackcap was seen in January, February and March.

1986

Between October and December 8 flocks of Greylag or Pinkfoot geese were sighted.

Migrant Curlews were seen moving south high overhead, the first being 11 birds on 28 June.

Swallows bred in a neighbour's porch and despite attentions of local cats a single bird fledged on 20 July. Willow Warblers were seen regularly with up to 8 birds in the garden on 7 August, when a Common Whitethroat was also present. 3 broods of young House Sparrows fledged as last year (c. 15 May, 27 June and 6 August).

Adult Cuckoo seen on 27 June.

A lost female Pheasant was observed walking down the road behind the house on 23 March.

Up to 8 Waxwings were present in January, February and March and on 15 March we watched them drinking from gutter above our back door while eating breakfast.

1985

A party of up to 15 Long-tailed Tits visited the garden at end of November and twice in early December.

30 Siskin were present on 18 September.

House Sparrows had a good breeding season with 3 broods fledged (c. 27 May, 12 July, 18 August). Blackbirds were also very successful with up to 35 individuals in the garden. Up to three Willow Warblers were also seen in early August.

Single Waxwing seen on 15 January and 1st year male Blackcap on 2 February.

1984

Magpie S on 23 December - the only individual seen during 1980's though birds present on farmland c. 1 mile to N.

1978

Active Blackbird nest in quince bush beside our front door, 13 May.

1976

Active Mistle Thrush nest in pear tree outside my bedroom window, 9 May.

[1967 - parents moved to house on Woodside Road.]

Annotated garden bird list for Banchory, Kincardineshire

This is a list of the species seen in, and flying over, a small garden on Woodside Road, Banchory, Kincardineshire, Scotland (map). Banchory has about 5000 inhabitants and is situated in the Dee valley, about 20 miles from the coast. The garden is located not far from the edge of the town, about half a mile from surrounding conifer plantations and open countryside.

The percentage of weeks that the regular visitors were recorded during 1985-1987 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 *.

1. Grey Heron (Ardea cinerea) (6%) * - occasionally seen passing overhead, mainly in summer
2. Pinkfoot (Anser brachyrhynchus) (5%) * - occasionally seen passing overhead on passage and rarely in winter
3. Greylag Goose (Anser anser) (7%) * - occasionally seen passing overhead on passage and rarely in winter
4. Mallard (Anas platyrhynchos) (3%) * - occasionally seen passing overhead
5. Goosander (Mergus merganser) * - single record of a pair over in September 1988
6. Red Kite (Milvus milvus) * - occasionally seen passing overhead - new kid on the block, first in 2015 but now regular and exceeding other raptors
7. Common Buzzard (Buteo buteo) * - occasionally seen passing overhead - numbers vary markedly from year to year
8. Sparrowhawk (Accipiter nisus) (11%) * - occasional spring/summer visitor
9. Kestrel (Falco tinnunculus) * - very scarce visitor
10. Pheasant (Phasianus colchicus) - single record of a female walking down road behind house, some distance from open country, in March 1986
11. Oystercatcher (Haematopus ostralegus) (48%) * - observed (and heard) overhead daily throughout spring/summer (Feb-Aug)
12. Golden Plover (Pluvialis apricaria) * - once heard passing overhead at night
13. Lapwing (Vanellus vanellus) * - observed passing overhead rarely
14. Curlew (Numenius arquata) (2%) * - observed passing south overhead in post-breeding disperal
15. Black-headed Gull (Larus ridibundus) (63%) - common spring/summer visitor rarely seen in autumn/winter
16. Common Gull (Larus canus) (45%) - regular winter visitor, not seen in spring and early summer
17. Lesser Blackback (Larus fuscus) - very rare summer visitor
18. Herring Gull (Larus argentatus) (93%) - present throughout the year with hundreds or thousands passing overhead every day of the year to and from feeding grounds at local rubbish dump and roost lochs or the coast (18 miles E)
19. Great Blackback (Larus marinus) (7%) - very small numbers regularly seen overhead with Herring Gulls which it accompanies to same feeding and roosting areas, mainly in winter
20. Feral Pigeon (Columba livia) (81%) - common local resident
21. Wood Pigeon (Columba palumbus) (33%) - irregular visitor throughout the year
22. Collared Dove (Streptopelia decaocto) (38%) - irregular visitor throughout the year
23. Cuckoo (Cuculus canorus) - seen once in late June 1986
24. Tawny Owl (Strix aluco) - heard at night very rarely
25. Barn Owl (Tyto alba) - first record in March 2026, screech call
26. Great Spotted Woodpecker (Dendrocopos major) - first record in January 2026
27. Common Swift (Apus apus) (29%) - common summer visitor (May to August)
28. Swallow (Hirundo rustica) (30%) - common summer visitor (mid-April to mid-October)
29. House Martin (Delichon urbica) (25%) - common summer visitor (May to mid-October)
30. Meadow Pipit (Anthus pratensis) - regular overhead passage migrant in autumn
31. Pied Wagtail (Motacilla alba yarrelli) (38%) - irregular visitor throughout the year, less common in mid-winter
32. Waxwing (Bombycilla garrulus) (5%) - regular winter visitor, observed in small numbers nearly annually
33. Wren (Troglodytes troglodytes) (25%) - irregular visitor throughout the year, less common in summer
34. Dunnock (Prunella modularis) (92%) - common resident, present in small numbers throughout the year
35. Robin (Erithacus rubecula) (72%) - common resident, absent between early May and early August
36. Blackbird (Turdus merula) (99%) - common resident present daily with numbers sometimes swelling to several dozen at end of breeding season
37. Fieldfare (Turdus pilaris) (10%) - uncommon winter visitor; observed coming to bread in hard weather
38. Song Thrush (Turdus philomelos) (45%) - regular visitor, but rarely observed in autumn and mid-winter numbers tend to be lower
39. Redwing (Turdus iliacus) (1%) - uncommon winter visitor, normally only present during very hard weather, when has been seen coming to bread at bird table
40. Mistle Thrush (Turdus viscivorus) (35%) - irregular visitor throughout the year, sometimes breeding
41. Common Whitethroat (Sylvia communis) (3%) - scarce post-breeding migrant
42. Blackcap (Sylvia atricapilla) (3%) - scarce winter visitor
43. Willow Warbler (Phylloscopus trochilus) (19%) - uncommon summer visitor
44. Chiffchaff (Phylloscopus collybita) - not recorded historically but probably now regular, one singing April 2025
45. Goldcrest (Regulus regulus) (12%) - variable numbers occur from year to year, with breeding in 1987
46. Spotted Flycatcher (Muscicapa striata) - very scarce migrant during autumn passage (e.g. September 1990)
47. Long-tailed Tit (Aegithalos caudatus) (3%) - uncommon visitor during very hard weather
48. Coal Tit (Parus ater) (72%) - regular visitor throughout the year, but lower numbers in some years
49. Blue Tit (Parus caeruleus) (94%) - common visitor in small numbers throughout the year
50. Great Tit (Parus major) (88%) - common visitor in small numbers throughout the year though does not always breed locally
51. Treecreeper (Certhia familiaris) (8%) - irregular winter visitor
52. Magpie (Pica pica) - formerly very rare visitor only observed in mid-winter, but now increasingly frequent in winter
53. Jackdaw (Corvus monedula) (89%) - regularly observed, often passing overhead with Rooks, throughout the year
54. Rook (Corvus frugilegus) (95%) - regular visitor throughout the year, also often observed passing overhead, sometimes in huge numbers (thousands) between feeding grounds and local roost sites
55. Carrion Crow (Corvus corone) (29%) - uncommon visitor throughout the year, though somewhat irregular in winter
56. Hooded Crow (Corvus corvix) - very rare mid-winter visitor, perhaps from nearby Crow's Nest amenity site; hybrid not excluded
57. Starling (Sturnus vulgaris) (88%) - common visitor throughout the year though normally absent in mid-summer
58. House Sparrow (Passer domesticus) (100%) - common resident and local breeder observed daily in numbers of up to 20 by the end of the breeding season
59. Tree Sparrow (Passer montanus) first record in August 2018, new to area
60. Chaffinch (Fringilla coelebs) (98%) - common resident observed throughout the year and breeding locally
61. Brambling (Fringilla montifringilla) - observed once in spring (March 1988)
62. Greenfinch (Carduelis chloris) (85%) - regular visitor throughout the year though rather scarce in autumn; breeds locally
63. Goldfinch (Carduelis carduelis) (9%) - uncommon breeding season visitor
64. Siskin (Carduelis spinus) (85%) - common resident throughout the year, breeding locally
65. Lesser Redpoll (Carduelis flammea) - uncommon visitor spring to autumn
66. Linnet (Linaria cannabina) - first record in May 2025
67. Bullfinch (Pyrrhula pyrrhula) (11%) - uncommon visitor mainly in spring and mid-winter
68. Yellowhammer (Emberiza citrinella) - observed once in spring (May 1987)
69. Reed Bunting (Emberiza schoeniclus) - 3 birds present for a few days in March-April 1989

What is a "local bird recorder"?

I'm fortunate to have been in the role of "local bird recorder" for Lothian SOC since 1 January 2011. Many people could probably imagine some of the duties that entails, but I do also come across some misapprehensions so I thought may be useful to make a few comments on the role itself. I'm distinguishing this from the sporadic comments I make covering advice to those submitting records (e.g. 2020 data), care over rare breeders and sensitive species, etc.

The duties of a bird recorder mainly concern custodianship of bird record data, compiled into a database from diverse sources and accessed for the purposes of compiling the annual local bird report and to feed into national recording schemes such as the Rare Breeding Birds report. We are currently receiving around 250k records per annum, dominated by BirdTrack and eBird data, and the Lothian SOC database now greatly exceeds 1 million records. The Scottish local recorder network constitutes our part of the *primary* bird recording framework operating in Great Britain (while RSPB, Wildlife Trusts and many other organisations maintain their own record archives) and in parallel there are many independent recording schemes (e.g. BTO BirdTrack, Cornell's eBird, iRecord, etc.). The distinction is that none of the others aim to consolidate all regional records into a comprehensive local database, with appropriate provision for rarities and sensitive species. Hence our aspiration is to provide the most comprehensive body of bird record data, maintained in full compliance with agreed recording protocols for all species, and to make it (or summaries) accessible via reports and in response to data requests. Bird recorders may also undertake fieldwork for gathering new data themselves, but in comparison with some other species groups this will inevitably be a much smaller subset of the data in most regions.

In terms of time for processing, the fact that BirdTrack and eBird each have a common format greatly reduces the workload of handling records, though both sets of downloads need work to remove extralimital records and on "validation", i.e. querying unusual records and screening out errors. We also have 5-10k records per annum coming in from each of BTO WeBS, ELCRS and iRecord which are fairly easy to integrate once naming conventions have been addressed.

The workload is significant and must be juggled with a full time job and family commitments (two teenagers at time of posting, as well as now one elderly parent needing more assistance with IT tasks, etc.). As of end July 2023 I am struggling a bit and well have over 150 items on my birds "To do" list, though some of those are fairly easy jobs or annual tasks, but including 10+ jobs in the 10+ hours category and 20+ in the 1-10 hours category. New tasks keep appearing. Of course some of these are personal choices, like logging ring reads from gulls, doing my BBS plot or responding to ID queries on facebook groups (I now seem to be the main person answering queries on SOC Birdwatching for Beginners which is a national level group?), but they are what I currently have on my plate. I manage to reply to most emails and queries on ID forums fairly promptly, but certainly not all, and some may wonder why I fail to respond in a timely manner and I appreciate the frustration caused by delays. I will eventually get to things but some I have to "park" so as to systematically work down a list of priorities. Because of this I freely admit I am very poor at open-ended tasks with no rigid deadline, i.e. "when you can"; before working on any task I need to decide "is it absoultely essential to do this today?" as there will be other things that are already critical, and I have a parallel set for work, which is unremitting. Nearly all bird recording tasks are done in early hours of the morning, often before getting up again early for work or other commitments.

Due to lack of time and for environmental reasons I now do essentially all birding locally, by bike or en route on local travel. Since atlas fieldwork 2007-13 my only other local birding trips are either for monthly WeBS in East Lothian or annual BBS at Whitekirk, e.g. I last got to Musselburgh lagoons in 2010 and "down the coast" to Barns Ness in 2009. And apart from the Lothian SOC bird race in 2005 my last full days out "birding" were on hols in 80s/90s (Rum 1988, North Ron 1989, Faeroes 1990, Cape Clear 1996, Bardsey 1997, Cornwall 1998). I don't travel to see rare birds. There is no truth in the statement I have seen made on occasion: "the only (other) people to see the bird were the county recorder and his mates".

In reality I have only been getting out one day in two, post COVID, invariably at dusk after work commitments (hence much reduced in winter) and I mainly target gulls (and terns in season) gathering to roost. Despite constraints, in conjunction with Billy (who is normally out daily, weather permitting), we have now logged over 5k ring reads on patch, spanning terns (2.5k+), gulls (1.5k+, of which nearly 500 Norwegian), Shags (700+) and a few others including swans and waders, over the last decade or so. Managing these submissions can also be time-consuming, though some like Norwegian gulls and Netherlands terns have online reporting mechanisms which are very efficient and welcome. We are still hoping the promised colour-ring reporting portal for UK schemes will become available, which may reduce the need for lots of individual emails.

I hope to get more on top of things soon, meanwhile I sincerely thank those who assist me in the role by supplying data of various sorts, particularly those who take the initiative to log their description species without the need for me to chase up...

Pic: Med Gull white-32A4 as of August 2012 when still a youngster:

Update winter 25/26 - an unusuak step, but feel the need to post an update on bird recorder workload - literally working round the clock at times, below is just the sent items box for Dec-Jan, some of those each many hours of work (e.g. RBBP annual submission, BBRC missing records, descriptions), I appreciate the frustration when people send messages and I can't manage to respond quickly enough, "why will he not reply to a simple question?!", "what about this task long overdue, or that one?", " what about validation of the now many hundreds of spurious bird records?" - each one of those submitted via the main recording portals needs either chased up or queried, not all trip thresholds so they have to be dug out one-by-one and actioned.

I share these concerns but have to work down a strict list of priorities - as well as trying to cope with other commitments, on the limit of what I can do...

Seton/Gosford patch 2025

End-of-year patch stats for Seton/Gosford, again >500k birds logged in BirdTrack but big fluctuations between species; high sea duck numbers from 2024, but fewer Sandwich all year than a single peak roost in 2022, though healthy juvs ratios; no new species and modest total of 141 (down from peak of 147-149 2020-2023 but never more than 147 "self-found"); declines due to those scarce that fail to show, Scaup, Bonxie (genuine decline), Garden Warbler and Lesser Whitethroat, latter two probably also declining and require regular visits in spring to catch any on passage.

Event of the year was the mega roost of hirundines at Blindwells MTS reedbeds with 10k+ counts for both Sand Martin (Jul) and Swallow (Sep), video fails to really capture the spectacle! That's now 10x 10k flock species for Britain, following Common Scoter also on patch last year (Common Gull not quite, 8,530 on WiNGS 20/1/24, but previous sight of the 10s of thousands at Musselburgh, back around 20 yrs ago).

Challenging to document, with main arrivals well after sunset, all numbers are best estimates and likely undercounts; Sand Martins accompanied by smaller numbers of Swallows in July, with a complete reverse in September, when estimated 80%+ Swallows were juvs, and an all white bird seen, perhaps one seen at Hauxley, Northumbs, 13 days previously? Full data incl photos, videos and analysis on this link: https://app.box.com/folder/340920443880?s=k3xq53bsbgxzzmdttkcwuoeq20it1o43

Tried to disseminate news of this event via social media (BlueSky posts 13 September, 11 September) though limited uptake/reposts (BTO Scotland excepted), perhaps deemed not "rare" enough, anyway a few locals got to see it and it was great to have support and interest from Darren Woodhead who came along on several occasions and also produced a beautiful painting capturing the entry to the roost: https://x.com/DarrenNWoodhead/status/1952453971227930825?s=20. Incidental, but I also enjoyed discussing every evening with my late mother who was always very interested to hear about it - her own early interests in nature shown in her diaries with annotated sketches of birds and plants from the mid-1950s - though she later continued to a degree in Geography (Durham) and a career first in town planning and then as piano teacher and organist.

Back to patch records, BTO summary graphics added here but do not really capture the reality - gulls accounted for more than half the total counts, incl another juv YLG and a further two juv/1st-win Caspians (7 Sep, 22 Dec), plus several hybrids incl ad (https://bsky.app/profile/lothianrecorder.bsky.social/post/3lqbpgfvavk2r) and 3cy LBB x Herring (https://bsky.app/profile/lothianrecorder.bsky.social/post/3mbimxuile22i); Med Gulls down for 4th year running, colonies presumably affected by HPAI; 340+ rings read, incl apparently first Norwegian LBB for Lothian probably fifth for Scotland, black-J674U.

Off patch, Green-winged Teal was also new for me, I felt of interest: https://bsky.app/profile/lothianrecorder.bsky.social/post/3lqbmwlqkmc2r but also got no repost presumably as no longer considered a full-species?

Also no new additions for Longniddry garden bird list (remains on 121, Annotated species list) but some compensation by way of first cuckoo bumblebee species, a Southern; also some encouraging signs of recovery for the Tree Bumblebees, though still well down on 2020 peak.

Also non-avian but on a rather bigger scale, some compensation for lack of any new birds on patch in a new fish species, Basking Shark, in late April, though views at ground level rather limited compared to amazing footage from a drone, c/o Alan Nash: https://www.msn.com/en-us/weather/topstories/an-incredible-experience-drone-footage-shows-basking-shark-gliding-along-scottish-coastline/vi-AA1E3uSR

In other senses it was a difficult year with multiple trips to NE Scotland to clear parent's house (Obituary of my late father, David Welch, a botanist and ecologist). Conscious some may wonder how I have time for all this documentation of birds when I am always challenged to keep up with Lothian SOC bird recorder duties, I have commented on this previously (https://sedgewarbler.blogspot.com/2023/07/what-is-local-bird-recorder.html) and documentation does of course take time, but in terms of time in the field, apart from ~monthly WeBS, and the pair each of BBS visits and GSMP/IGC goose counts there is simply no time for any "days out birding" (last full day out was during atlas in 2013!), nor indeed holidays this year, and even cycling now curtailed after managing about ~15 excursions in spring - all birding is done in context of local trips, and almost entirely at dusk when I try to call past the Seton roost. I hope to catch up a bit better in 2026...