Sunday 16 July 2017

Lothian, 12-16th July 2017

In Edinburgh for a while, I'm managing to fit in a little ornithological activity here and there, through ringing in the garden and local trips. The single net stretching over the lawn has had its moments, catching a Bullfinch, five House Sparrows and a Coal Tit of note so far. Musselburgh Lagoons is the best site within easy reach and welcomed me back with a Wood Sandpiper on Thursday, this being among a good variety of expected waders. Activity in the adjacent Firth of Forth has also provided much interest (for my southern inland eyes at least), with Goosanders peaking at 97, Eiders at 300, Velvet Scoters at 14, Common Scoters at 60 and seabirds such as Red-throated Diver, Puffin, Guillemot, Razorbill, Fulmar and Gannet featuring. A trip to Aberlady Bay on Friday produced my first two Scottish Little Egrets and a Lesser Redpoll.

2cy female Bullfinch in the garden on Wednesday
Wood Sandpiper at Musselburgh on Thursday
adult Black-tailed Godwit at Musselburgh on Thursday
Little Egret at Aberlady Bay on Friday, a Scottish tick for me
Lesser Redpoll at Aberlady Bay on Friday
juvenile Sandwich Tern at Musselburgh on Friday
some kind of escaped butterfly at Musselburgh on Friday

one of five House Sparrows caught in the garden yesterday
part of the mass of Goosanders at Musselburgh today
adult Kittiwake at Musselburgh today
eclipse drake Eider at Musselburgh today
some of the 96 Mute Swans at the River Esk mouth at Musselburgh today