BIRDING LOTHIAN
www.birdinglothian.co.uk
birdinglothian@hotmail.co.uk
JULY for Lothian birders was a disappointing month which, in a nutshell, failed to produce any birds of huge interest. Little Egrets were the highlight in this quiet month with up to 3 birds seen, singles were at Tyninghame on the 20th & 21st with another there on the 31st, another flew west past Gullane on the 25th. It is unlikely less than 2 birds were involved in these sightings, and with this species still very scarce in Scotland this was a good showing.
A very brief Hobby in the Lammermuirs near Whiteadder on the 3rd was another good county bird and, without any real competition, the bird of prey highlight during July. Other scarcities included Roseate Terns at Musselburgh (2ad) on the 8th and Tyninghame (2 : ad + juv) on the 24th, single Little Ringed Plovers were at Tyninghame on the 17th and Musselburgh on the 28th - 29th (both juv), Quail were at several locations including 5 near Coates on the 10th, a drake Mandarin Duck visited East Fortune on the 18th and a sinensis race Cormorant was at Musselburgh from the 21st onwards.
Little Gulls were common throughout the month with Musselburgh the main focus point, up to 45 were present there on the 22nd. Once again there was a good showing of Mediterranean Gulls with around 7 birds seen including a cracking juvenile at Tyninghame on the 24th. Manx Shearwaters could also be found with ease and some good numbers lingered in the Forth for much of July, this including 100+ seen from the RSPB Seabird Cruise near Cramond Island on the 7th, the high count however came from Barns Ness on the 10th with over 300 passed in just one hour.
Uncommon waders were around but in no large numbers, Green Sandpipers were at Musselburgh (20th-22nd) and Tyninghame (1 on the 19th, 2 on the 20th), Ruff were reported only from Musselburgh with at least 2 there from the 23rd-29th, Greenshank at Tyninghame peaked at 14 on the 21st, and a fairly average showing of Black-tailed Godwit made a count of 32 at Musselburgh on the 9th look high.
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