All three drake White-winged Scoter still present and correct off Musselburgh seawall early this morning (though I don’t see all three every visit) & showing reasonably well for a change. Shame about the light (and midges). Pic of one of the immatures. @birdinglothian.bsky.social

The Aberlady Red-footed Falcon continues to perform beautifully for all comers. It’s proving very popular and is giving the 2024 Steppe Grey Shrike a serious run for its money in the ‘most photographed Lothian bird of all time’ stakes. @birdinglothian.bsky.social

Not what I was expecting to find when I set off on a post-work trip to check the waders and terns at Aberlady this evening! @birdinglothian.bsky.social

It’s safe to say the White-winged Scoter off Musselburgh are unlikely to be going anywhere far any time soon given the state of their moult. At least three still present this am; ad (pictured), 2cy and 3cy as well as 3 Surf Scoter still. @birdinglothian.bsky.social @birdguides.bsky.social

A minimum of 3 drake W-w Scoter now off Musselburgh (& suspected y’day) with the now 260+ strong Velvet flock, but virtually impossible to keep tabs on when the flock is constantly drifting/diving/preening/sleeping. Pic of what may be a new bird. @birdinglothian.bsky.social @birdguides.bsky.social

Record shot from this am of both imm White-winged Scoter off Musselburgh: presumed 2cy first from right (with virtually no eye tick) & presumed 3cy fourth from right (with a better, though far from adult, eye tick & prominent brown flanks). 3 Surfs still present too @birdinglothian.bsky.social

Two smart adult Roseate Terns with 100+ Sandwich Terns at Aberlady late morning. @birdinglothian.bsky.social

July is very much Scoter season at Musselburgh these days. This (presumed returning 3cy) White-winged Scoter was with the Velvets off the seawall early this morning as well as the 3 drake Surf Scoter still (pic from last week). @birdinglothian.bsky.social @birdguides.bsky.social

The two drake Surf Scoter continued to show very nicely on occasion this evening off the Musselburgh seawall @birdinglothian.bsky.social

That moment a bull Orca’s dorsal fin suddenly appears in your field of view during an otherwise duff seawatch. I may have sworn. Mightily impressive even at 2+ miles range in shocking heat haze (one of 4+ past Scoughall this am). Heat hazy Spoonbill at Tyninghame this pm. @birdinglothian.bsky.social

A smart ad Curlew Sandpiper in the high tide roost at Tyninghame this afternoon. Singing Reed Warbler and Quail at Scoughall this morning. On Thursday, ad Little Stint and singing Reed Warbler at Aberlady. @birdinglothian.bsky.social

These Cranes North past Skateraw at 13:30 were the highlight of an otherwise quiet day - presumably the same three that have been at Howick, Northumberland in recent days. @birdinglothian.bsky.social #NEbirding.

It's like meeting an old friend, relocating the Eider- wannabe White-winged Scoter. Now off Gullane Point and showing nicely...with Eider. @birdinglothian.bsky.social @birdguides.bsky.social

An unexpected Black-necked Grebe off Seafield this afternoon (also a Black Guillemot) @birdinglothian.bsky.social

A break from checking the sea today produced this fine Shore Lark at Tyninghame, between the north end of the saltmarsh and the end of the sand spit. @birdinglothian.bsky.social

My pics may be getting progressively worse, but I can’t imagine I’ll ever find different White-billed Divers on three consecutive days in Lothian any time soon. Today’s bird/birds were distant, so huge crops, off Gullane Point this morning and Black Rocks this afternoon @birdinglothian.bsky.social

A productive day birding with @colindavison.bsky.social, though no prizes for the pics. Nice to add another ad White-billed Diver to the influx, off Scoughall. Also, imm White-t Eagle & 4 Snow Bunts there. Later, 2 Tundra Beans & 4 ad Whitefronts at White Sands Quarry. @birdinglothian.bsky.social

A smart ad White-billed Diver off Yellowcraig this afternoon, west of Fidra. Nice to be able to contribute to the current influx in the Forth. @birdinglothian.bsky.social @birdguides.bsky.social

2cy Glaucous Gull at Yellowcraig at midday, found by @aberladybirder.bsky.social, looks to be the Gosford bird of last week. Earlier, now 12 Whitefronts (4 juvs) east of Prora with the Greylags. Yesterday, 13 Whitefronts (the same?) flew east out of Aberlady at 09:15. @birdinglothian.bsky.social

Four ad White-fronted Geese with Whooper Swans and Greylags opposite West Fortune Farm entrance , east of Drem, this afternoon. @birdinglothian.bsky.social

This 2cy Caspian Gull at Musselburgh river mouth this morning, on a brief visit in the gloom. The fourth Casp in Lothian in as many days. It’s status as an official Scottish rarity must be on a very shoogly peg. @birdinglothian.bsky.social

The 3cy drake White-winged Scoter was off Aberlady beach again this morning while the drake Green-winged Teal was back on the river viewable from the car park. @birdinglothian.bsky.social @birdguides.bsky.social

Juv Glaucous Gull N past Torness at 10:30. Dreadful pic but it’s my first white-winger in Lothian for the best part of three years. It’s a sign of the times that it’s considerably easier to see Caspian Gulls these days. Merlin at Tyninghame this afternoon. @birdinglothian.bsky.social

Today’s imm male White-winged Scoter off Aberlady was clearly different to the two ad drakes seen in the wider area y’day. It’s getting increasingly tricky to know just how many individuals there are in the Forth these days. @birdinglothian.bsky.social

A drake Green-winged Teal at Aberlady this morning, downstream of the wooden bridge. Two Red-necked Grebes, 12 Slavs and 2 Great Northern Divers offshore. @birdinglothian.bsky.social

A single Snow Bunting at Gullane Point was the highlight of this morning's wander round Aberlady. @birdinglothian.bsky.social #birdingscotland

Another winter of shocking scoter photography beckons. Both the drake White-winged off Ferny Ness this afternoon (middle bird in the pic) and the drake Surf off Gullane Point this morning were very distant. @birdinglothian.bsky.social #birdingscotland

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