8 Aug. Musselburgh. A juvenile Little Stint, Green Sandpiper and 3 Ruff (2 juvs) this morning #BirdingLothian

6 Aug. Musselburgh. A new juvenile female Ruff this morning and a juv Mediterranean Gull both on the scrapes. Juv Common Sandpiper too. #BirdingLothian

2 Aug. Musselburgh. Two White-winged Scoters again this morning with 3 Surf Scoters; 3 juv Mediterranean Gulls; young Guillemots have now arrived #BirdingLothian

Being the 1st of the WWS to arrive (on 7 July) it is not surprising that the 2cy's moult is the most advanced. According to the literature, WWS are flightless for 45-50 days, so it may have a couple of weeks to go yet.

30 July. Musselburgh. A couple of highlights from this morning - juvenile Little Ringed Plover and a smart juvenile Mediterranean Gull. Not a single Arctic Tern today! #BirdingLothian

29 Jul. Musselburgh. Influx of Arctic Terns probably c300 but maybe some duplication (144W in the morning, 95 at mouth later, 60W later again). No juvs, 5+ 2cy. By far the largest number for here. Now c. 302 Velvet Scoters with Surf & WWS as before. First juv Willow Warbler (migrant) #BirdingLothian

I'm surprised this orange-brown foam on the Esk in Musselburgh has only now made the headlines, it's been around for about 2 months - the Eider chicks were swimming around in to in late May.

That female that had been around for a few days was replaced by a black male this morning.

12 July. Musselburgh. 2 imm male White-winged Scoter (assumed 2cy and 3cy birds); 2+ male Surf Scoters, 5 Little Ringed Plover, 2 adult Ruff, 1 adult Greenshank, 2cy Mediterranean Gull, Increase in Sandwich Terns, Redshanks and Dunlin over recent days. #Birdinglothian

6 July. Musselburgh. Photos of an argument between a Cormorant and Great Black-backed Gull over a flatfish (which the gull eventually stole). My first juvenile Sandwich Terns and Little Ringed Plovers today. Male Ruff and 3 Surf Scoters still (now 76 Velvets) #BirdingLothian

5 July. Musselburgh. The 3 Surf Scoters still present with an increasing number of Velvets (now 61). Male Scaup (with 3 Goldeneye); 18 Black-tailed Godwits, 1 male Ruff. #BirdingLothian

3 July. Musselburgh. Ruddy Shelduck (presumably the same one that was at White Sands Quarry on 27 June); also now 3 male Surf Scoters off the scrapes with Velvet and Common Scoters. #BirdingLothian

1 July. Musselburgh. 45 adult Black-tailed Godwits arrived from high in the NW and landed on scrapes; some young waders appearing now - Redshanks, Dunlin. 2 Mediterranean Gulls, 3 Goldeneye, 12 Red-throated Divers, 2 male Surf Scoters. #BirdingLothian

27 Jun. White Sands Quarry. A smart Ruddy Shelduck with the Greylags this morning to add to the female Red-crested Pochard (asleep all the time), Brent Goose and Pink-footed Goose #BirdingLothian

Some more of this rather photogenic bird...

9 June. Musselburgh. The male White-winged Scoter was at the Esk mouth this morning ending its long stay in Kirkcaldy. Still consorting with Eiders, the females with ducklings weren't quite so tolerant as the others #BirdingLothian

3 Jun. Musselburgh. An Osprey flew SW this morning - my 3rd of the year on the site. Also a gull with a distinctive head shape from yesterday. Large Skipper from Saturday #BirdingLothian

28-29 May. Musselburgh. A few highlights - 1st ever Great Spotted Woodpecker nest on the site; Common Seal caught 2 flatfish in 10 minutes; 24 of the c70 Eider ducklings at the weir - one in not so clear water #birdinglothian

27 May. Musselburgh. Drake American Wigeon at the Esk mouth with 4 Wigeon. Second for the site (1st was in 1990) #BirdingLothian

11 May. Musselburgh. Wood Sandpiper on the Morrison's Haven scrape this morning #BirdingLothian

9 May. Musselburgh. A presumed escaped Pintail on the grass by the huts this morning ringed FR10 21 3309. #BirdingLothian

5 May. White Sands (settling ponds area). The Woodchat Shrike found by @jamesellison1955.bsky.social eventually showed well. 4th Lothian record (others 1965, 1967 & 2018) #BirdingLothian

2 May. Musselburgh. My 1st 2 Swifts, female Ruff, brood of 8 Goosanders, brood of 3 Canada Geese, 70 Redpolls (large number for site) #BirdigLothian

29 Apr. Musselburgh. A Wood Sandpiper on the old scrapes (in the heat haze), 7 Common Terns (my 1st of the year) and I could have sworn I heard a distant Green Woodpecker (would have been a site tick for me but couldn't locate it) #BirdingLothian

25 Apr. Musselburgh this morning. 2cy Mediterranean Gull, 1 Whimbrel, 1 Common Sandpiper, my first Sedge Warbler of the year, 600 Sand Martins, 100 Swallows but only 1 House Martin #Birdinglothian

23 Apr. Musselburgh. Not many Eiders around at the moment, but they put on a remarkable coo-ing display this morning #Birdinglothian

21 Apr. Musselburgh. 8 Brent Goose this morning (7 pale- and 1 dark-bellied), 3 Whimbrel, 1 Greenshank #BirdingLothian

10 Apr. Musselburgh. Two patch ticks for me today - male Redstart and imm White-tailed Eagle high west. Also 6 Black-tailed Godwits, quite a few Willow Warblers, Blackcaps, Sandwich Terns and Swallows now #BirdingLothian

7 Apr. Lammermuirs. The muirburners were out in force today. Managed a few fine Ring Ouzels outside the smoke #BirdingLothian