A rare weekend without the family, so a lot of birding. Yesterday's highlight was an extremely late, and sadly very brief, pair of Smew on Whitesands Quarry. Today, a Quail singing in West Lothian - at 1pm, 300m up on sheep pasture! @birdinglothian.bsky.social macaulaylibrary.org/asset/658283...

Tyninghame House with Spoonbill exiting left @birdinglothian.bsky.social

Half of the 67 Russian Whitefronts near Stoneypath farm. Probably a modern-day record for Lothian. @birdinglothian.bsky.social

My favourite goose in the company of my least favourite - one of three Russian Whitefronts at Quarryford this afternoon. @birdinglothian.bsky.social

Looks like yesterday's Lesser White-fronted Goose at Tyninghame is the same bird that was present in Lancashire in March this year (and also in Midlothian eight days ago). See alt text for locations/dates of photos. #BirdingLothian

It always amazes me how many times you can go through a flock of pink-footed geese before 'the one' pops out. Lesser White-fronted Goose at Tyninghame while searching for Bean Geese. #birdinglothian

Even by #BirdingLothian's standards, today's seawatch was dire. But the waders at Torness put on a good show, including five Curlew Sandpipers.

A few more waders in at Tyninghame this morning including a young Curlew Sandpiper. Another juv Marsh Harrier and long-staying adult Osprey also. #BirdingLothian

Frustrating morning with no good seabirds or waders, but this Marsh Harrier at Tyninghame cheered me up. Ruddy Shelduck also. #BirdingLothian

A Spoonbill at Aberlady was a nice a surprise while out and about with the eldest. #BirdingLothian

As far as I know, there are no confirmed breeding records of Black Redstart in Lothian, but this one at Torness doesn't look long out the nest. Thanks to @mattjsilk.bsky.social for putting me on to one of the strangest colour/pattern abnormalities I've seen - it's a House Martin! #BirdingLothian

Nice to see many juveniles in the summer influx of terns - the best, three young Roseate's with three adults (and an adult Sandwich) at Tyninghame this morning. #BirdingLothian

A Hobby at Tyninghame this morning was too fast and brief for photos, but a Little Tern came and rested in front of me after fishing the outer bay. @jamesellison1955.bsky.social's Curlew Sandpiper still present. #birdinglothian

A fall of Wood Sandpipers at Whiteadder Reservoir this afternoon. Single+pair. #BirdingLothian

St Abbs this morning with the kids: Hooded Crow and an early Common Swift. #BordersBirding (not sure if Borders is on #ScottishBirding).

Three Twite on passage at Torness this morning. One bird colour ringed, but not sure if it can be placed to a scheme without info on right leg? @j-dunning.net

Green Sandpiper near Pathhead this afternoon - nice to see the bronzy green on the tertials. #BirdingLothian

This Black Guillemot was a nice surprise at Cramond Island this morning - presumably the long-staying East Lothian bird on a wander. #BirdingLothian

Some highlights from a year of Lothian (+Dowlaw) self-found listing. Finished on a personal best of 193 and many new places explored and enjoyed. #BirdingLothian #BirdingBorders