Joe Nichols

Snow Bunting (ssp. insulae) at Skateraw (03/03/26)

Adult White-billed Diver at Whitesands (03/03/26). First off Fluke Dub then moved east to Whitesands by early afternoon.

Another day, another fine adult White-billed Diver. This one first off Fluke Dub, then later at Whitesands. 8 Snow Bunting on the beach at Whitesands, with a ninth at Skateraw. Also GN Diver near the WBD and Black-necked Grebe at WS Quarry @birdinglothian.bsky.social #birdinglothian

White-billed Diver, North Berwick (21/02/26)

White-billed Diver showing clear wing moult

Nice to reacquaint myself with the White-billed Diver I first found off Craigleith in North Berwick last weekend. Today it was c. 2 miles to the east, near Canty Bay off Drift cafe, feeding busily by Bass Rock and clearly in wing moult @birdinglothian.bsky.social #birdinglothian

An adult White-billed Diver off North Berwick this afternoon (14/02/26). Drfited east past Craigleith and then the Bass Rock, presumed same bird later relocated by others in the east of North Berwick at The Leithies

Very nice to find this adult White-billed Diver off North Berwick this afternoon, heading east past Bass Rock. It was a two WBD day with a 2nd bird off Yellowcraig till dusk (presumably the long stayer; pics worse than this!). Also 9 Snow Bunt & GN Diver @birdinglothian.bsky.social #birdinglothian

Two of 20 Russian White-fronted Geese with Greylags at Whitekirk

7 of 20 Russian White-fronted Geese at Whitekirk

20 Russian White-fronted Geese including 2 juvs with Greylags at Whitekirk this morning. No prizes for distant phonescope pics but nice to find a substantial Lothian flock.

A Great Skua off Musselburgh yesterday was a rare winter patch record #birdinglothian @birdinglothian.bsky.social

While not scarce in the overall region, this Pale-bellied Brent with c.400 PF Geese at Beecraigs Loch on Sat appears to be a record setter. The most westerly record for Lothian, and the only West Lothian record away from Blackness. My first inland and not what I had on my goose radar #birdinglothian

'V|+' at Tyninghame Bay, 8th Nov 2025 📸 - Tom Gale

'W|N' at Gullane Point, 17th August 2025 📸 - Keith Gillon

'V|+' and 'W|N' were ringed on the same day at De Kreupel by Kelder but from separate nests, then occured in East Lothian just twelve miles apart within a few months of each other. An intriguing coincidence that illustrates the increasing occurrence of Dutch Caspian Gulls in Scotland #birdinglothian

Dutch green darvic 1cy Caspian Gull 'V|+' from Tyninghame Bay, 8th November 2025 (Joe Nichols & Tom Gale). Ringed at De Kreupel on the same day as 'W|N' - 9th May 2025 - but from a different nest. The ringing report for ‘V|+’ revealed it to be a mobile bird, engaging in movements between the Benelux and the UK earlier in the year. It was recorded at Ness Point, Lowestoft in Suffolk on 19th July 2025 and subsequently at De Haan in Belgium on 17th October, returning to the continent before arriving at Tyninghame on 8th November.

'W|N' at Gullane Point on 17th August 2025 (Keith Gillon). Ringed on the same day as 'V|+' at De Kreupel, and by the same ringer! It was last recorded there on 18th July, before arriving in East Lothian less than a month later. 📸 - @kgbirder.bsky.social

2 Dutch green ringed Caspian Gulls were in East Lothian in 2025. Myself & @tomgale98.bsky.social's 'V|+' was at Tyninghame 8 Nov, and @kgbirder.bsky.social's 'W|N' Gullane Point 17 Aug. Remarkably, both 1cys were ringed as chicks by L. Kelder at De Kreupel (IJsselmeer) on 9 May 2025! #birdinglothian

A Red Kite SW over Belhaven Bay got much grief from the locals this morn - oddly scarce still on the Lothian coast. 77 Twite at JMCP saltmarsh & the Glossy Ibis briefly at Scoughall.

RN Grebe off Seacliff on Sat was also notable for the local N Sea coast @birdinglothian.bsky.social #birdingscotland

First calendar year Dutch ringed Caspian Gull V|+ . A classic looking 1cy in many ways. Beyond typical bill structure, note four-toned upperpart appearance: unmarked white pear shaped head with decent hindneck 'shawl', grey second generation mantle and scapulars with black central 'anchors', gradating to brown wing coverts, then very dark primaries/secondaries and blackish tertials with clear pale fringing

1cy Caspian Gull showing its diagnostic pale white underwing

This 1cy Caspian Gull at Tyninghame yday was a much enjoyed Scottish first for myself and @tomgale98.bsky.social. Dutch green darvic V|+ was ringed 5 May at IJsselmmer, then seen Lowestoft (Suffolk) in July and De Haan (Belgium) 17 Oct before arriving here #birdinglothian @birdinglothian.bsky.social

Male Black Redstart on the seawall at Torness Power Station

Female-type Black Redstart associating with the male

Two Black Redstarts at Torness added a dash of colour to a grey scene this morning - including a very smart male #birdinglothian @birdinglothian.bsky.social

Juvenile American Golden Plover, Barns Ness (on right)

Juvenile American Golden Plover, Barns Ness (leftmost)

A couple more shots of the juvenile American Golden Plover at Barns Ness this afternoon.

📸 - @tomgale98.bsky.social

@birdinglothian.bsky.social #rarebirdsuk #BirdingScotland

Juvenile American Golden Plover at Barns Ness (top centre). With 150 Goldies on the rocks before it headed west. 📸 - @tomgale98.bsky.social

Yellow-browed Warbler at Seacliff this evening

Jack Snipe at Fluke Dub, Dunbar. Clearly fresh in off the sea

Brambling on the beach at Fluke Dub. Also fresh in-off the sea and one of 12 throughout the day

Great day with @tomgale98.bsky.social . American Golden Plover at Barns Ness early pm, part of a mobile Goldie flock that soon headed west towards Whitesands.

Jack Snipe in-off at Fluke Dub, then Yellow-browed Warbler & Pom at Seacliff. Vismig clear w. 12 Brambling and many thrushes #birdinglothian

Adult Sabine's Gull, Eastfield (04/10/25). Present for forty mins at the mouth of the Brunstane Burn during Storm Amy. Just five mins from the flat, though not quite doable from the window!

Spoonbill on the old scrapes at Musselburgh (09/10/25)

1st winter Mediterranean Gull at the Esk Mouth (02/10/25). An adult also present recently.

Juvenile Red-throated Diver at Esk Mouth (02/10/25). Exceptionally close and feeding upriver towards the town

Pom Skuas moving today with 10 off Gullane Bay. 8 pale adults with 3 superb spooned birds and 2 juvs west. 2 ads later on patch at Musselburgh, incl. my first with spoons here.

Still on spoons, October local highlights include Sabine's Gull and Spoonbill #birdinglothian @birdinglothian.bsky.social

In conifers at western edge of shore later on #birdinglothian

Very nice to find this Wryneck at Dalmeny House this afternoon. Still present this eve, moving between the shoreline at the golf course to feed and nearby cover.

Also juv Pom, RN Grebe + 4 Pintail offshore, & 3 juv Black Tern at Hound Point #birdinglothian #rarebirdsuk
@birdinglothian.bsky.social

Three juv Curlew Sand at Musselburgh this afternoon, with two new birds on the old scrapes and one still on new lagoons. Also a new juv Little Stint, Wood Sand plus WW & Surf Scoter offshore.

Big Arctic Tern passage in the Forth recently with 112W in 45min at Fisherrow on Fri night #birdinglothian

An enjoyable three skua day with @tomgale98.bsky.social. The highlight a smart ad Pom Skua W off Seacliff late afternoon. Also Bonxie off Barns Ness, plus 6 Arctics and 63 Manxies total between both sites #birdinglothian

A juv Spotted Redshank on the new lagoons at Musselburgh tonight was my first here for a few years. This female Osprey was also a welcome personal patch first on Sunday evening #birdinglothian

Adult White-rumped Sandpiper, Musselburgh old scrapes (15/07/25)

Juvenile Wood Sandpiper, old scrapes (18/07/25)

Ruddy Shelduck pair, old scrapes (15/07/25)

Juv Wood Sandpiper (18/07/25)

Musselburgh continues its good form this week with adult White-rumped Sandpiper, 3 juv Wood Sandpiper, 2 Ruddy Shelduck, 1s White-winged and drake Surf Scoter the highlights. Also 2 Scaup (male + juv on different days), 5 Arctic Skua, 10 Little Gull and 2 juv LRP among others #birdinglothian

Green Sandpiper, old scrapes (30/06/25)

Drake Surf Scoter off the seawall (01/07/25)

Temminck's Stint, one of two at the old scrapes (05/07/25)

3rd calendar year drake White-winged Scoter off the seawall (30/06/25). Exceptionally close but roosting the whole time!

An excellent week at Musselburgh. Mon & Tues nights respectively produced a brief Green Sandpiper on the old scrapes then this drake Surf Scoter (since seen by others at v close quarters). 3cy ♂ White-winged Scoter also still around early week and two Temminck's Stints this weekend #birdinglothian

Marsh Warbler (early June 2025) - singing adult male present for a week on my Costessey patch. An unprecedented record for an area with sparse suitable habitat. 📷 - Henry Wyn Jones

Bittern (February 2013). For a site with very little reedbed cover, this was a welcome surprise during a cold and wet spell. Later seen towards Hellesdon

Ring Ouzel (April 2017) - a pair present for over a week, which were viewable publically from the Marriott's Way and twitched by Norwich locals

Crane (February 2013) - a flock of 6 over, seen during the same cold/wet spell that brought in Bittern that month

This month's Marsh Warbler was the highlight of 14 years birding my Costessey patch. With sole site access, I've also had Crane, Bittern, Bearded Tit, YLG & Ring Ouzel etc in this unwatched area of private land on Norwich's outskirts. All from the front door when down visiting family #norfolkbirding

Two personal patch firsts at Musselburgh in the last week with Little Tern at the Esk Mouth, then Spoonbill at the old scrapes on Sunday evening #birdinglothian

Many thanks for these. Noticed Southern Puffback on numerous occasions with this bird, a bit of favourite in MW repertoire. Mixed in with European Bee-eater, Common Nightingale and many others. Quite the mimic!

Cheers Tim, was a nice vocal one!

📷 🔊 @henrywynjones.bsky.social #norfolkbirding

Very pleased to find this cracking male Marsh Warbler on my Costessey patch earlier this month. A singing adult male, present for a week on private land. Some superb mimicry, and the last thing I expected on my 20+ miles inland Norfolk patch! Patch gold #norfolkbirding

📷 @henrywynjones.bsky.social

Very smart Kentish Plover still at JMCP late morning, alone and initially nice and close. A Pale-bellied Brent was a good bonus & Lesser Whitethroat. Rounding off an enjoyable week with BT Diver off Torness on Sunday & White-winged Scoter at Yellowcraig #birdinglothian @birdinglothian.bsky.social

Very happy to have moved to Musselburgh last month, and to see spring arrive on patch. A singing Cuckoo fresh in and Lesser Whitethroat were today's best, while other recent highlights include 2 Avocets, Jack Snipe, RN Grebe & Grasshopper Warbler among other commoner passage species #birdinglothian

White-backed Vulture, Kruger National Park

Magpie Shrike (African Long-tailed Shrike), Kruger National Park

African Fish Eagle, Kruger National Park

African Black Oystercatcher, Southbroom, KwaZulu-Natal

Pied Kingfisher, Kruger National Park

Cape Bulbul, Kirstenbosch Botanical Gardens. One of numerous South African endemics seen in the Cape

Water Thick-knee, Kruger National Park

Orange-breasted Sunbird (male), Table Mountain. Endemic to the fynbos biome in the Cape. One of several sunbird species seen in the Cape and South Africa more widely

All species descriptions in alt text

Saddle-billed Stork, Kruger National Park

Bataleur, KNP

Southern Ground Hornbill, KNP

Tawny Eagle, KNP

Starting my Bluesky journey with some highlights from an exceptionally special trip to South Africa over Christmas & New Year. The birding was superb: 223 species in 18 days on a non-birding holiday, including Kruger NP, coastal KwaZulu-Natal & the Cape Peninsula. Unforgettable! #birdingsouthafrica