BIRDING LOTHIAN
www.birdinglothian.co.uk
birdinglothian@hotmail.co.uk
Throughout May, Lothian continued to dominate southern Scotland and remained consistent in producing birds of good quality. The only disappointment was the lack of scarce passerines due to unfavourable winds and weather conditions for almost the entire month. Thankfully this was compensated for by some good wader movement.
Bird of the month, despite being available for just one afternoon, was a cracking Spotted Sandpiper in summer plumage at North Berwick on the 13th… the fourth species of American Wader to have been in Lothian in the last 6 months! This is only the third record of this species in Lothian and amazingly the last was also one at North Berwick in May 1976. Needless to say then, most birders needed this on their county list after the 34 year gap.
A very brief female Red-footed Falcon near Howgate on the 22nd, seen and photographed only by the finder, will be only the 5th record for Lothian - the long staying bird in West Lothian during May 2008 certainly cushioned the blow on this one. A smart Broad-billed Sandpiper was another fantastic find at Tyninghame on the 13th, it stayed just 2 days in the Inner Bay with a large mixed flock of small waders, and showed well during its short visit.
This really smart, and very rare Spotted Sandpiper was a real treat for Lothian birders who were quick off the mark. Picture by Peter MacDonald.
One of the highlights in Lothian is the almost annual spring passage of Dotterel in small numbers in the Pentland Hills. This year was no exception with as many as 4 seen in the first week of May including up to 3 on the 1st and a single bird on the 5th & 6th. Another tradition during spring is the near routine arrival of Surf Scoter, and a single drake off Port Seton from the 10th - 14th was probably the same individual present off nearby Ferny Ness during April. It then relocated to Musselburgh on the 15th before being joined by a second on the 17th & 18th - at least one bird was still present on the 20th.
Backing all this up was a male Red-backed Shrike at Aberlady on the 27th, a drake Garganey at Musselburgh on the 16th, a singing Reed Warbler at Seafield Pond (Dunbar) on the 29th, a Little Stint at Tyninghame on the 25th, Marsh Harriers at Tyninghame on the 13th & 15th with another near Whitesands on the 23rd, a calling Quail at Drem Pools on the 16th and an unidentified Egret on the River Esk in Roslin on the 2nd, which would have been significant regardless of the species.
Other notable sightings included an Iceland Gull at Seafield (Edinburgh) on the 3rd, Great Northern Diver off Gullane on the 9th, Little Terns at Musselburgh (1) on the 13th and Tyninghame (2) on the 15th, a Hooded Crow at Oxgangs (Edinburgh) on the 13th, single Curlew Sandpipers at Tyninghame (14th) and Aberlady (16th), an elusive Little Ringed Plover at Musselburgh on the 17th & 18th and an Osprey over Gosford on the 17th.
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