KGbirder

They may not create a ripple on even the Lothian rarity pond these days but todays Great White Egret at Aberlady was a (very) long overdue Lothian find tick for me and so was more satisfying than usual. @birdinglothian.bsky.social #birdingscotland

This presumed drake Black Scoter with the scoter flock in Ravensheugh Bay this afternoon with @colindavison.bsky.social. Always distant and tricky in a bitingly cold wind and rough sea. Hopefully it’ll stick around until the weather improves. @birdinglothian.bsky.social #birdingscotland

Tough going again today in the continuing strong winds. This Grey Phalarope sought some relative shelter in the channel off Caoles, Vatersay this afternoon. #birdingscotland

A brief Common Rosefinch at Bolnabodach, Barra in the gloom this morning was at least something to point the camera at. There’s been precious few migrants thus far otherwise. #birdingscotland

A couple of gulls from the last week or so in Lothian for those who like that sort of thing, both of which were brief. What looked to be a good fuscus candidate from Tyninghame on 14th (but unringed and so unprovable) and a 2cy Caspian from Musselburgh on 17th #birdinglothian.

Today's American Golden Plover at Balevullin, Tiree steadfastly refused to give anything other than record shots. Presumably fresh in as it hasn't found the Goldie flock yet, mind you neither have I in the last few days. 2 Glossy Ibis, Turtle Dove & Black Tern all still present. #birdingscotland.

Two Glossy Ibis still Loch a'Phuill, Turtle Dove at Clachan, Black Tern off Hynish, Wood Sand at Balevullin, Little Stint at Vaul, 1cy Med Gull at Scarinish & 42 Curlew Sands around the island on another day of challenging weather on Tiree. #birdingscotland.

A juv Black Tern lingering off Hynish, Tiree this afternoon seems part of a mini-influx after 6 'fly-throughs' y'day. Other influx species today included a single Glossy Ibis at Loch a'Phuill and at least 40 Curlew Sands (min of 52 y'day) #birdingscotland.

It was good of @tireebirder.bsky.social's Melodious Warbler to stick around so I could Tiree tick it this evening. Earlier a very flighty Buff-breasted Sandpiper at Clachan (& 5 juv Curlew Sands). #birdingscotland.

Chuffed to relocate y’days Fife Bridled Tern offshore from the Eskmouth at Musselburgh for 10 mins from 08:55 and glad that 3 others managed to connect before it became too distant and was lost to view. Drake White-winged & Surf Scoter both still present #birdinglothian.

A cooperative Wheatear at Tyninghame this morning, where there continues to be relatively poor numbers of small waders for some reason. Had better luck at White Sands where an ad Little Stint was present at the north end of the beach #birdinglothian.

In more green colour ring news, yesterday’s Dutch ringed 1cy Caspian Gull at Gullane Point (green W|N ) - ringed as a pullus on 9 May at IJsselmmer from an apparently pure pair #birdinglothian

The American Black Tern, complete with its green ring, was back at Tyninghame today till 14:15 when it flew out to sea. I have to say though that identifying anything solely on the presence of a colour ring isn't especially rewarding. Also 4+ Roseate Terns still. #birdinglothian

Nice to see the six regular tern species all together at Tyninghame this afternoon, inc ad Black, 12 Roseate (6 juvs), 5 Little (1 juv) and 60+ Arctic. A smart ad Long-tailed Skua north past White Sands at 17:20 #birdinglothian

Ropey shot of an ad White-rumped Sandpiper new in on the Musselburgh scrapes on a quick pre-work visit this morning. By some margin the most frequent American wader in Lothian in recent years. #birdinglothian

My feed has been very scoter heavy this year so I might as well continue the trend! The White-winged showing very well again off Musselburgh at times this morning (would have been better still had the sun been out). Drake Surf also still present. #birdinglothian

The new White-winged Scoter found y'day by @alpine-swift.bsky.social still present this am off Musselburgh (as well as the drake Surf Scoter). Surely this one will be around for the next couple of months while it moults. #birdinglothian

I've told myself countless times on uninspiring days that all it takes is for a Bee-eater to fly past. And today it did! Low, west through Tyninghame inner bay at 08:55. Lothian tick 😀 #birdinglothian

The White-winged Scoter was performing beautifully again this morning off the Musselburgh seawall. I suspect its destined to become quite well photographed. (Two ad Med Gulls on the scrapes). #birdinglothian

Some more pics of the White-winged Scoter from Musselburgh this morning. Still seemingly identifying as an Eider! I couldn't really have asked for better views. #birdinglothian

Nice to see a familiar face amongst the Eider at Musselburgh river mouth just now. The 3cy White-winged Scoter showing extremely well at high tide. #birdinglothian #rarebirdsuk

Nine Med Gulls (6 ads) west past Gullane Point in 90 mins this lunchtime (including these two that stopped off on Hummel Rocks during one of the squalls). Not the number or age breakdown I'd associate with June #birdinglothian.

Although they're getting increasingly regular, it's still nice to find Spoonbills in Lothian. These three sub-adults in the inner bay at Tyninghame this afternoon. Earlier a 2cy Little Gull at White Sands Quarry. #birdinglothian

The persistent, strong, north-westerlies largely put paid to any hopes of spring overshoots this past week on Tiree, but there's always the local specialities to keep you entertained (and awake at night) #tireebirding.

A Snow Goose with Greylags at Balevullin, Tiree this pm was doubtless the bird seen by @tireebirder.bsky.social a week or so ago. No shortage of Whimbrel still dotted round the island (Quail heard calling y'day). #birdingscotland

The Green-winged Teal was back at Musselburgh today after a four day absence, commuting between the scrapes and the new lagoon and showing well on occasion. #birdinglothian

This Green-winged Teal on the new Eskside lagoon early morning is the first for the Musselburgh I think (& 2 Temminck’s Stints still). #birdinglothian

Only two small waders at the north end of the Tyninghame saltmarsh at high tide early pm, but one happens to be this rather smart Kentish Plover! #birdinglothian #rarebirdsUK

Yet more extreme scoter crops, but it was most amusing to watch with @aberladybirder.bsky.social as the (always distant) 3cy White-winged Scoter at Yellowcraig tried its luck with a female eider and actively saw off any male eider that came too close. It clearly has identity issues. #birdinglothian

The 3cy White-winged Scoter was off Yellowcraig this afternoon though distant (with Eider to the west of Fidra). It could do with taking lessons from the nearby Stonechats on how to pose for pics. A late Twite & 2 Fieldfare at Aberlady (& male Whinchat) #birdinglothian