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. Red-throated Diver (Gavia stellata) * - single NW over 07:30hrs 30 October 2017

• Little Grebe (Tachybaptus ruficollis) * - tittering calls in early hours of 8 August 2010 likely this species (considered Whimbrel at the time but it did not fit)

2. Fulmar (Fulmarus glacialis) * - single E over 08:00hrs 15 May 2013, another due S over on evening of 22 August 2020
3. Gannet (Sula bassana) * - a few over sea (viewed through small gap in trees) April 2020
4. Cormorant (Phalacrocorax carbo) * - occasionally seen passing overhead, mainly in winter; usually birds going inland at dawn or returning to coast at dusk
5. Grey Heron (Ardea cinerea) - occasionally seen passing overhead, less frequently attempting to come down in neighbourhood, to burn or garden ponds; 4 records of nocturnal calls: 23/6 & 16/9/16, 15/7/19, 6/5/20
6. Little Egret (Egretta garzetta) - single SW over 10:45hrs 9 August 2014, presumably from Aberlady; another low SW down Douglas Road on 30 October 2017
7. 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
8. Whooper Swan (Cygnus cygnus) * - a group of 4 flew over 10/10/07, 2+ heard 23/11/14, 6 (4 juv) 29/10/17, 30 low SW over 18:20hrs 13/10/20, 5+ SW 26/11/20, 2+ heard 4/11/21
9. 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
10. Greylag Goose (Anser anser) * - regular in small flocks over, to and from nearby Gosford Estate, especially late summer/early autumn when feeding in nearby stubble; peak count of c. 400 on 20 September 2023
11. Canada Goose (Branta canadensis) * - a flock of moult migrants N over at night on 5/6/10; 33 ENE on 24/8/12; 8 NE over 16/9/17; 20 SW over 11/8/19; calls of a flock heard evening 23/8/20 and flock 10 heading towards Gosford along Longniddry shore evening 24/8/20; becoming more regular in 2023 with regular flocks commuting along coast
12. 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; nocturnal flock again on 23/9/19
13. Wigeon (Anas penelope) * - one heard calling amongst loose flocks of 81 duck sp NE over on 2/12/10, hard weather; calls heard over 16:45hrs 30/12/21, when 350 grazing on Seton golf course earlier same day
14. Teal (Anas crecca) * - 3 over with loose flocks totalling 81 duck sp 2/12/10 with deep snow and sub-zero daytime temperature
15. 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
16. Eider (Somateria mollissima) * - a few over sea (viewed through small gap in trees) April 2020
17. Common Scoter (Melanitta nigra) * - at least one calling over, possibly N, 23:59hrs 14 May 2020, calls faint but very distinctive
18. Velvet Scoter (Melanitta fusca) * - 3 W over sea (viewed through small gap in trees) 1 January 2024
19. Goosander (Mergus merganser) * - single sawbill duck S over on 29/12/06 probably this species; redhead SW over on 2/10/10
20. Osprey (Pandion haliaetus) - single SW over on 1/7/12 in drizzle
21. 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
22. Common Buzzard (Buteo buteo) (8%) * - occasionally seen thermalling overhead, up to 4 together
23. Red Kite (Milvus milvus) * - first seen thermalling high over on afternoon of 20 August 2023, following other sightings by locals since 2020
24. Marsh Harrier (Circus aeruginosus) * - f/imm SW over on 1 September 2019; confirmed later from careful analysis of photos and video obtained at the time
25. Kestrel (Falco tinnunculus) * - fairly scarce, missed only in 2011/12/14/16 but often just one or two records per year, often flying over or hunting over golf course to north

• Hobby (Falco subbuteo) - singles low over on 13/9/08 and 4/8/10 [neither accepted by LBRC, so not included in species total!], a further probable chasing hirundines over golf course on 4/9/18, certainly this species on jizz and behaviour but no detailed view of plumage; excellent view of one heading S directly over house on 17/6/23 (subject to acceptance by LBRC)

26. Peregrine (Falco peregrinus) * - less than annual: Christmas Day 2004, one chasing Wood Pigeons Nov 2005, then Sept 06, Dec 06, Jan 07, Oct 08, Feb 09, Nov 13, Mar 18, Feb 19, Mar 20; also large falcon sp. May 09, Oct 14
27. Quail (Coturnix coturnix) + - 5 records: a presumed migrant heard calling over at 00:47hrs on 1 June 2007; loud calls from a migrant circling low over 01:15hrs 10 July 2012; a clear set of 3 quic-ic-ic 02:19hrs 9 June 2017; calling bird moving NE on 22 May 2019; nocturnal migrant heading NW 23:57hrs 25 June 2022
28. Pheasant (Phasianus colchicus) - a male heard calling in May 2005, the another mid-July 2014, latest calls dawn on 9 May 2016, then 29 March 2020 (pr resident on golf course)
29. Grey Partridge (Perdix perdix) - pr low SE over houses then pitching down in Wemyss Road, call, last seen flying SW towards school, 16:00hrs 1 March 2023
30. Water Rail(Rallus aquaticus) + - three clear "trill" calls of one heading W 23:51hrs 9 April 2020; remarkably another giving a "squeal" call at 21:54hrs on 15 April 2020; yet another, even closer, giving "trill" call and clearly heading NE, 00:59hrs 6 May; squeal calls 00:20hrs 21 May, trill call 00:12hrs 4 June, bird moving NE.
31. Moorhen (Gallinula chloropus) + - nocturnal calls heard on two nights mid-April 2007, annual since 2011 (overall: 10 in April, 5 May, 2 in June, 2 July, 1 Sept); heard nearly daily in April 2020, including 2 birds calling to each other, it is now apparent that these must be some kind of territorial flight of local birds
32. Coot (Gallinula chloropus) + - nocturnal calls heard on 7/8/10, 21/4/11, then four records 2012 (9 & 15/4, 13/7, 12/8), 20/5/13, 21/5/15, 26/5/17, 8/7/17, 9/5/18, 26/2/19, 1,3,11 & 15/4/20, 5/5/20, 9/4/21, 19/4/21, 16/4/22 (interacting with Moorhen), 19/3/23 (heard earlier same evening over Dean Wood, c/o James) - the frequency of records in spring 2020 suggesting these may be a territorial flight by local bird(s) not genuine migrants
33. Oystercatcher (Haematopus ostralegus) (41%) * - observed (and heard) overhead daily throughout the year, but particularly in winter
34. Golden Plover (Pluvialis apricaria) * - heard passing overhead at night particularly in August and flocks, sometimes very large, occasionally seen over in winter
35. Grey Plover (Pluvialis squatarola) + - single nocturnal migrant over in fog 5/9/05
36. Ringed Plover (Charadrius hiaticula) + - nocturnal migrants over in May & Aug 2007, Aug 2009, Aug 2011 (2), one flying inland Feb 2012, Aug 2015, May & Aug 2016 (2) and Aug 2019

• Little Ringed Plover (Charadrius hiaticula) + - nocturnal migrant over, calling repeatedly "sweeooooo" on 10/5/11 [presumed this species - not included in totals as local rarity needing accepted description]

37. Lapwing (Vanellus vanellus) * - occasional flocks over in winter, peak 135 in December 2004; nocturnal calls 30/6/11, 4/8/12, 3/9/15 and 3/6/20
38. Black-tailed Godwit (Limosa limosa) + - nocturnal migrant over on 2 August 2010
39. Bar-tailed Godwit (Limosa lapponica) + - nocturnal migrant in rain on 14/8/07, another 29/8/11; unexpected spring record 23:32hrs on 1 May 2021
40. Whimbrel (Numenius phaeopus) + - 3 nocturnal migrants in rain on 14/8/07, 2 1/8/10, 1 29/4/11, 2 10/7/12, 1 20/7/14, 1 15/8/15, 1 27/7/16, 1 5/5/18, 1 4/5/20, 1 24/7/20, 13 over high SW calling 17:17hrs on 31/7/20, 10/7/21, 4/8/22, 24/6/23
41. 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
42. Common Sandpiper (Actitis hypoleucos) + - two nocturnal migrants in rain on 14/8/07, then 19/8/07, 27/7/08, 30/7/10, two Jul/Aug 2011, 4,7,15,16/8/12, 20/5/13, 25/8/13, 28/4/14, 10/5/14, 12/5/15, 23/8/15, 20/7/16, 26/7/16, 14/5/18, 7/8/18 (am+pm), 16/8/18, 26/7/19, 6/5/20, 13/6/21, 1,3/8/21, 6/5/22, 18/7/23
43. Green Sandpiper (Tringa ochropus) + - a "clear repeated 'cooee hwee-wee', receding, 23:15hrs on 19/9/15; nocturnal migrant SW directly over house 01:28hrs 3/8/18; one calling directly over 21:05hrs 7/9/21 (recorded); 4/9/22 (diurnal, 11:05hrs) and 11/10/22

• Wood Sandpiper (Tringa ochropus) + - clear sandpiper call "k-SEE-soo...kw-see-see-see-soo" over 01:44hrs 15/7/18 [presumably this species, not high pitched like Common, nor any hint of disyllabic tlooit in Green]

44. Snipe (Gallinago gallinago) - first record low NE over in severe weather on 1 March 2018
45. Woodcock (Scolopax rusticola) * - only breeding season record was two in roding flight excursion on 8/5/11, apparently formerly regular over Longniddry; a winter record on 28 January 2023, bird flying along Douglas Road, presumably having emerged from Fernyness Wood
46. Redshank (Tringa totanus) - fairly regularly heard over at night, with a peak in August; commonly feeds inland in the village if ground unfrozen in winter
47. Greenshank (Tringa nebularia) + - three August records, one in early October, all nocturnal calls
48. Dunlin (Calidris alpina) + - single nocturnal migrant in rain at 00:10hrs on 21/10/06, another in early May 2008, then 20/7/12, 4/8/12, 12,18,19/8/15, 20/7/16, 6/8/16, 24/7/17, 10/817, 9/8/18, 23/7/19, 7,15/5/20, 15/8/20, 7/8/21

• Skua sp. (Stercorarius sp.) one flew W over on 19 October 2023, when Storm Babet was incoming, dark and slim, likely an Arctic (and a juv on sea at Seton 30 mins later), but could not confirm to species

49. Little Gull (Larus minutus) first record, an ad amongst anting gull flock on 10 August 2023, part of a local influx (thread)
50. Black-headed Gull (Larus ridibundus) (73%) - regular non-breeding visitor, common over throughout the year but a lull in late spring; occasionally over at night in summer
51. Mediterranean Gull (Ichthyaetus melanocephalus) - adult over c. 100m west on 7 August 2015, on a daily commute inland with other small gulls; one directly overhead feeding on flying ants on 25 August 2019 (video); an ad anting on 6 August 2023, another S over with BHG on 10 August
52. Common Gull (Larus canus) (24%) - regular winter visitor, not seen in spring and early summer
53. 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
54. Lesser Blackback (Larus fuscus) (39%) - common summer visitor
55. 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
56. 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); 2+ calling over the golf course 00:50hrs on 19 May 2020 (recording); one calling over in drizzle 00:30-43hrs 18 August 2020 (recording)
57. 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, several occasions 2012; typically adult and juv; can also be heard from the coast in the right conditions
58. Feral Pigeon (Columba livia) (31%) - erratic visitor, year-round; many racing pigeons fly along the coast on certain weekends
59. Stock Dove (Columba oenas) * - a single in August 2006, then 2 on 3 July 2015
60. 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; nocturnal song heard once, in early June 2015
61. Collared Dove (Streptopelia decaocto) (55%) - somewhat irregular visitor throughout the year; successful local breeding; resident in 2011, 2014-15; nocturnal song heard 01:40hrs 14/7/15
62. Cuckoo (Cuculus canorus) * - single in flight W directly over house on 30 April 2023
63. Barn Owl (Tyto alba) - screech call heard in early hours of 27/7/08, 31/8/09, 10/7/12 and 20/5/13; regular (daily) in summer 2014 with one seen flying between houses over our garage, just feet from my window; reduced in 2015, but heard April and July; 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
64. 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; juvs found in Fernyness Wood summer 2009; regular calls summer 2012
65. Short-eared Owl (Asio flammeus) - single NE over on 26/10/11, a bumper arrival from Scandinavia this autumn with many others seen locally
66. Common Swift (Apus apus) (25%) - common summer visitor, (May to August); up to 10 birds regularly, now breeding in neighbour's house, and many more in occasional coasting "movements", including pre-departure gathering, e.g. 50 high over on 14 August 2007
67. Great Spotted Woodpecker (Dendrocopos major) - irregular, annual (except 2007); breeds in Fernyness Wood to NE
68. 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
69. Sand Martin (Riparia riparia) * - 4W 15/4/06, 3W 3/4/11, 1W 15/5/12, 2W 18/4/15
70. Swallow (Hirundo rustica) (24%) - regular summer visitor (mid-April to mid-September); unprecedented spring flock of c. 170 low SW over house at dusk on 10/5/15, perhaps from a pre-roost; single very late record early Nov 2008
71. 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
72. Meadow Pipit (Anthus pratensis) (12%) - regular overhead passage migrant
73. Tree Pipit (Anthus trivialis) - one low N over garden 07:33hrs 21 April 2020

• Pipit sp.(Anthus sp.) - 2 low S over on 4/11/18 were not Meadow Pipits, based on single "ppzzzz" call most likely Water Pipit, but Rock also possible

74. Pied Wagtail (Motacilla alba yarrelli) (10%) - irregular visitor throughout the year
75. Grey Wagtail (Motacilla cinerea) (8%) - irregular visitor throughout the year

• Yellow Wagtail (Motacilla flava) - two clear calls over 07:55hrs 18 May 2021, but bird not seen

76. Waxwing (Bombycilla garrulus) - recorded in mid-November 2004, max 17 winter 08/09 when a group often around the village as part of a large influx; again recorded autumn 2010, March & Nov 2011, max 18 in Dec 2012 and up to 13 on several dates in winter 16/17; 1 on 28/10/18, 2 on 9/12/18, 1 on 2/1/19; several records winter 23/24 with peak of 70 low SW on 18/11
77. Wren (Troglodytes troglodytes) (35%) - irregular visitor throughout the year, less common in winter; more often heard than seen, nocturnal song heard once
78. Dunnock (Prunella modularis) (82%) - common resident, present in garden in small numbers throughout the year
79. Robin (Erithacus rubecula) (92%) - common resident, apparently absent in mid-summer
80. Wheatear (Oenanthe oenanthe) - migrant ad f perched on neighbour's roof 16 August 2016
81. Blackbird (Turdus merula) (90%) - common resident
82. Fieldfare (Turdus pilaris) (8%) - uncommon winter visitor
83. 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
84. Redwing (Turdus iliacus) (10%) - autumn passage migrant (peak 220 birds in 15 minutes, September 2005), and winter visitor
85. 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
86. Grasshopper Warbler (Locustella naevia) - a territorial bird could be heard regularly in song from a location about 450m WNW of the house in mid-May 2006
87. Sedge Warbler (Acrocephalus schoenobaenus) - a singing bird at Longniddry c/p 2 bog reedbed barely audible at about 440m WNW of the house, mid-May 2018
88. Blackcap (Sylvia atricapilla) (4%) - heard in song from community centre area most springs, autumn/winter records: f/imm 16/9/07, m 29/8/11, m 19/10/13, m 4/10/15, 2 m + 1 f/imm 25/11/16, m 14/10/17, wintering f 27/1/18 - 1/3/18
89. Whitethroat (Sylvia communis) - first record a female in rowan in back garden on 8 May 2010; juv with sparrows in buddleja and in rowan on 4-5 August 2023
90. Lesser Whitethroat (Curruca curruca) - first record a male in song in gardens to north 5 June 2021 (one had been singing at Old Coast Road, 3-5 June, c. 350m north)
91. Chiffchaff (Phylloscopus collybita) - now very regular in song every spring and a few on autumn passage
92. Willow Warbler (Phylloscopus trochilus) - regular singing in spring, recorded every year except 2006 and 2010, until 2021; also recorded on autumn passage
93. Goldcrest (Regulus regulus) (4%) - formerly rare visitor, but much more regular in recent years (
94. 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
95. Coal Tit (Parus ater) (31%) - regular visitor throughout the year, but more in winter and less in summer
96. 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)
97. Great Tit (Parus major) (59%) - regular visitor in small numbers throughout the year
98. Nuthatch (Sitta europaea) - resident in Fernyness Wood (~500m NE), a bout of calls heard distantly from there at dawn on 20 July 2016; a closer rolling call heard last week Jan 2018, and again "song" from gardens in Gosford Road on 22 April 2020; several records since
99. 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
100. 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); much reduced around 2013-14 due to removal by a neighbour, via a Larsen trap
101. 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; further records on 23 and 29/10/14, probably both also after acorns (2014 was the big year for movement in UK)
102. Jackdaw (Corvus monedula) (96%) - regularly observed on aerials, throughout the year; peaks of up to 150 birds; breeds and roosts nearby with Rooks
103. Rook (Corvus frugilegus) (35%) - regular visitor throughout the year; breeds and roosts nearby at the station and Longniddry farm, hundreds sometimes pass over and occasionally comes to bird table
104. Carrion Crow (Corvus corone) (92%) - normally present daily in the neighbourhood, and breeds nearby
105. Starling (Sturnus vulgaris) (100%) - ever-present resident, breeding in many local roofs, though normally a lull during post breeding, and some bigger flocks in autumn/winter, peak count 470
106. House Sparrow (Passer domesticus) (100%) - common resident and local breeder logged daily in garden, with numbers of up to 20 by the end of the breeding season; apparently stable
107. Tree Sparrow (Passer montanus) - first records on last two days of October 2010, with more regular occurrence in following winters, often in the garden with House Sparrows; in recent years steady increase in breeding season records now regular (recored 13 wks Mar-Jul in 2020)
108. Chaffinch (Fringilla coelebs) (63%) - regular resident throughout the year, often in song nearby, but very rare in garden
109. Brambling (Fringilla montifringilla) - only record from dawn vismig on 30/10/10, call heard
110. Greenfinch (Carduelis chloris) (73%) - regular visitor throughout the year, regular spring territory every year and still small flocks autumn/winter
111. Goldfinch (Carduelis carduelis) (33%) - regular visitor throughout the year, always in small numbers
112. 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)
113. Linnet (Carduelis cannabina) (20%) - regularly overhead, and not infrequently descending to feed in the area, once on the road outside; flock of c. 60 in birch on 3/2/20 was exceptional
114. Lesser Redpoll (Carduelis flammea) - regular in small numbers, mainly migrants, a few with 20+ redpolls feeding on birch catkins on 28/12/06
115. Common Redpoll (Carduelis flammea) - at least 12, probably 16, with 20+ redpolls feeding on birch catkins on 28/12/06 [accepted by LBRC]
116. Crossbill (Loxia curvirostra) * - regular post-breeding in summer, then again sometimes in autumn; first 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); recorded 6 wks 2011, flocks 13, 11, 8; 3 wks 2012, 6 wks 2015
     
117. Bullfinch (Pyrrhula pyrrhula) (4%) - irregular visitor, typically pairs in winter but resident for a few weeks in summer 2007 and again late summer 2009; generally much more regular in recent years
118. Reed Bunting (Emberiza schoeniclus) one calling over, snow lying, 30 November 2021 (probable also heard 28 September 2020)
119. Yellowhammer (Emberiza citrinella) single record, one high SW over calling on 12 December 2016

Escape

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

[Plus 7 additional but not (yet) confirmed (1 LBRC submission TBC, 2+ species groups, and 4 "probables" listed above); finally a sat-tagged White-tailed Eagle G542 from the Isle of Wight was tracked heading NW directly over the village on 17 April 2022 en route north, per https://www.roydennis.org/category/sea-eagle/isle-of-wight-sea-eagles/]