Most educational bird of 2025 a 3cy LBB x Herring hybrid at Seton on 24/4, 13 & 24/7, 29/12; many overlaps with YLG incl dark brown tertial bases, dark secondary band, blackish tail, yellow legs; differences from 2024 3cy* in more uniformity in coverts, broader tail [1/4] * bsky.app/profile/loth...

This article should define "expansion", implies spread of range - but ~balance gains/losses in last BTO Atlas in SE England*, incl widespread losses on south coast; BBS trends suggest nos ~stable in SE England but increasing strongly in London, this is not "expansion"! * app.bto.org/mapstore/Sto...

End-of-year patch stats for Seton/Gosford, again >500k birds logged in @birdtrack.bsky.social but big fluctuations between species; high sea duck numbers from 2024, but fewer Sandwich all year than a single peak roost in 2022, though healthy juvs ratios; no new species and modest total of 141 [1/5]

Loons Losing Out. Lead fishing weights are still driving wildlife declines decades after we understood the threat... www.sierraclub.org/sierra/loons...

ad m White-winged Scoter still in Gosford bay just west off Craigielaw Point on Christmas Day at dusk - poor record shots (centre, left, centre in front) #birdinglothian

Many long-lived gull species, in last 21 winters between late Nov and late Feb in 100+ winter records of Lesser Black-backed Gull have never seen more than one on patch at Seton, presumed returning ad "Lucy"; no definitive proof but characteristic patch behind the eye, matching bill markings, etc...

1st-win Caspian Gull arrived on Port Seton harbour western breakwater at dusk #birdinglothian

The new update to the BirdTrack app introduces several features aimed at helping us collect accurate bird data and alert you to those slip of the finger data entry errors #ukbirding

Apparently now two White-winged Scoter (deglandi) among sea duck at Gosford Bay, ad m diving to NW, later distinctive bird with elongated head/bill bump, but weaker eye tick, diving among Slav/LTD to NE, perhaps the previous 2nd-win? Poor record shots... #birdinglothian app.bto.org/birdtrack/pu...

Another 'missing' Hen Harrier, this time in the Moorfoot Hills, south of Edinburgh - a well known hotbed of illegal raptor persecution over several decades. #RaptorResearch #WildlifeCrime raptorpersecutionuk.org/2025/11/20/s...

This 1cy Caspian Gull at Tyninghame yday was a much enjoyed Scottish first for myself and @tomgale98.bsky.social. Dutch green darvic V|+ was ringed 5 May at IJsselmmer, then seen Lowestoft (Suffolk) in July and De Haan (Belgium) 17 Oct before arriving here #birdinglothian @birdinglothian.bsky.social

The latest report from the RBBP, Rare Breeding Birds in the UK in 2023, is out now in British Birds. It reports on the 104 species and races of rare breeding birds recording breeding, or showing signs of breeding, in 2023. Read the summary at rbbp.org.uk/2023-report-... #ornithology #ukbirds 🧵[1/15]

Our most recent report, Rare Breeding Birds in the UK in 2022, is now available open access on our website at tinyurl.com/2xf23keu All reports dating back to 1973 can be found at rbbp.org.uk/annual-repor.... Our next report, for 2023, will be published in @britishbirds.bsky.social in November

Mega hirundine roost continues at Blindwells Minewater Treatment Scheme, in tall phragmites reeds on middle tank (55.962,-2.938), 10k+ Swallows on 12/9/25, sample 8% ad m, 2 Sparrowhawk in attendance; 10x 720p videos follow, full: app.box.com/s/k3xq53bsbg... #birdingscotland @btoscotland.bsky.social

The mega Blindwells hirundine roost has now completely transformed from >99% Sand Martin to >99% Swallow, approx numbers in the 6-7k range on last three evenings, with attention from local Sparrowhawk and an all white Swallow seen, poss from further south*... * bsky.app/.../lothianr...

Garganey & Spotted Redshank @ Angle Park, Garganey @ Morton Lochs, 112 Mediterranean Gull @ Easy Wemyss, 3 Curlew Sandpiper @ Guardbridge 08/09/25

Another lanky young LWHG, watched for barely a minute on rocks behind Seton harbour late pm; no open wing, underwing or tail, but strong Casp features: grey saddle, muted contrast replaced scaps, uniform pale brown median coverts, solid brown base greaters and tertials, pale-headed with hint of mask

A red letter day: at Wrecked Craigs earlier ad LBB black-J674U nearly alone on rocks, an intermedius type from literally last rocks on southern tip of Norway; there are 5 previous ringing recoveries from Norway in online ringing report for Scotland: app.bto.org/ring/countyr... #birdingscotland [1/2]

This beauty on the Seton Burn at 10 mins to sunset, on shore barely a minute before large gulls flushed and it flew out to Long Craigs rocks where settled to roost... #birdingscotland [1/6]

Mediterranean gull white 32A4 back at Seton Burn yesterday for it's 15th year first seen by @lothianrecorder.bsky.social on 06/08 @birdinglothian.bsky.social

Wardens and police have issued an urgent plea to dog owners after uncontrolled pets attacked a colony of Little Terns on the Norfolk coast, killing at least four chicks and endangering dozens more:

Huge Sand Martin roost at Blindwells continues, none on mud banks after first day and I feel slightly reduced but fairly steady ~8k; entry to roost has been later, tonight when brighter mainly 30-40 mins after sunset. Numbers for 22nd (mismatch) and 25-26th (I arrived late) adjusted #BirdingScotland

@scottishbirding.bsky.social @btoscotland.bsky.social @birdinglothian.bsky.social

Update on *mega* Sand Martin roost at Blindwells MTS 22 July - numbers grew rapidly 10 mins to sunset, but many rising from banks/bare earth on main Blindwells site, first entry to roost 7 mins after sunset; seems by far highest Lothian count, one of highest ever in Scotland #birdingscotland [1/2]

10k+ hirundines mainly Sand Martin over Blindwells minewater treatment scheme reedbeds, Sprawk patrolling...

ad Little Gull with Sandwich at mouth of Seton Burn 17:00hrs Sat, then same bird with three of its mates on Longniddry shore just after sunset - soon departed! 3 RNG again roosted off the Bents...

Survivor: Sandwich blue-TZR at Seton 8/7/25 per Billy (BOC pic), ringed as chick Texel 7/7/23, year after great HPAI outbreak there in 2022, ads immune but many chicks died 2023 and of 50 ringed this was only one testing +ve for HPAI; in the Med during 1st and 2nd winters; seen since at Minsmere...

Great Black-backed Gulls preferred coastal areas & harbours, similar to Herring Gulls, which were also more likely to visit urban areas. Lesser Black-backed Gulls largely visited farmland, which is common around the colony. Across species, several individuals strongly selected landfills #ornithology

Partial Niche Partitioning in Three Sympatric Gull Species Through Foraging Areas and Habitat Selection | Ecology and Evolution | doi.org/10.1002/ece3... | #ornithology 🌍🧪#seabirds

Wood Sand calling over Seton Burn heading W at dusk (but didn't stop and failed to capture recording); RNG down to 1 today after 2 prs on 24 & 26 June, none in sight on 27 June when wind surfer on their patch; first juv BHGs back on Longniddry shore...

Red-necked Grebes - head-shaking display at dusk, pr close off Seton Sands, plus a single off Longniddry Bents; typical pattern as per last 5 yrs of intermittent Apr/May records then regular from early June, roosting off Bents - this yr pr display 30/4, pr 23/5, pr 7/6, where do they go in between?

Now back to hybrid gulls, a regular Seton ad Lesser Black-backed x Herring Gull, one with quite yellow legs...

On WeBS pond, drake Green-winged Teal paired with f Teal, and 2nd pr Teal; first May records of Teal in >5k logged at site over last 20 yrs; present Mon 26 May, all but the drake (Eurasian) Teal absent Wed 28 May; presumably the Musselburgh drake (14,16,21,22 May) relocating... #birdinglothian [1/3]

The 2024 Bass Rock Gannet Count is complete✅ A high-resolution drone survey - carried out in partnership with @edinburgh-uni.bsky.social School of Geosciences, @ukceh.bsky.social & @edinburghnapier.bsky.social in July 2024 - provided a detailed new look at the Bass Rock gannet colony. 📷©️G Macvean

Basking shark lingering off Longniddry Bents, distant record shot from Seton prom, in line with Ferny Ness...

Local one - here are the details of the latest four to ‘disappear this year’: "Female hen harrier named ‘Dina’, Tag ID 254837. Date of last contact: 12 January 2025 at grid reference NT 681512, near a grouse moor in the Lammermuirs, south Scotland."

Another interesting LWHG at Seton, good candidate for YLG 3cy, many similarities to Jul-24 bird: mantle shade/tone, yellowish legs, blocky head, solidly dark tertials with broad white tips, bill deeper at gonys and large dark mark with red; arrived 20:43hrs (7 mins after sunset) flew out 20:59hrs...

1/ 🧵Bird songs and calls are an important way that people experience the natural world. They’re also one of the key means of surveying bird populations. In this #BOU2025 talk I will review @btobirds.bsky.social research to explore opportunities and challenges of #bioacoustics in #ornithology

Special reminder for all birdwatchers 📣 If you see any Pink-footed Geese or Greylag Geese during the 22nd/23rd March, please enter this in @birdtrack.bsky.social if you are not registered for an IGC site, as this feeds into the Icelandic-breeding Goose Census part of GSMP #ornithology #UKBirding

Thanks to @birdtrack.bsky.social for 2024 stats - nearly all birding on home Seton/Gosford patch, records and species a bit down with some enforced breaks, but totals up with over 500k birds counted, incl sea duck influx, and usual gull sp though also first 3cy YLG; again 300+ gull darvic rings read

Single Sand Martin hawking insects around small golf course at Dalmeny House, Lothian, today (per A & K Little) is our earliest ever by some margin - only one Feb record since 2004 in Spring Migrant Arrivals Table (27/2/19 Islay): www.the-soc.org.uk/pages/spring... #BirdingLothian #BirdingScotland

If and when we get some clear, sunny days, February and March provide the best opportunity to record breeding Goshawks as they display over territories - here’s some encouragement from RBBP Secretary @markaeaton.bsky.social #ukbirding #ornithology youtu.be/hVgl6jYOX6A?...

Drake WWS straight out from W end of Gullane Sands, only c. 20 scattered Velvets at west end, inshore from c. 8k Commons. Also Whimbrel on rocks...

Gulls count for @btobirds.bsky.social #WinGS at Seton, total well down on 2024 (below), BHG very low only c10% of small gulls, cf c40% in Sept count; previous day no small gulls on sea at Tantallon, but large gulls roosting on the Bass, 53 GBB gathered on platform over sheer west cliffs, 290 Herring

With thanks to Louise at @btobirds.bsky.social #ringing Team for assistance, the metal-ringed Twite from Dec photoed by at least 5 of us now confirmed as AET6143 2nd-yr f ringed Reif, Achilitibue in NW Highlands 11/4/22 (AE...3 c/o James, ET c/o Bill, 614 c/o Norman!) * app.bto.org/ringingteam/...

Possible ad Caspian on the Seton Burn dusk, picked up on mantle shade 25 mins after sunset, white-headed, small dark eye, thin bill, decent primary projection, suggestion of big white tip on P10; did not come fully out of water and no chance for open wing photos as it flew out to roost 16:09hrs...

7 Twite on Seton prom dusk, found by Billy Thu, feeding low to ground on weed seeds, mat of dead stems poss common chickweed (hopefully no weedkiller?!); metal ring left AB*3 per James; flying to wall/shore with each passing dog/walker; flew high S 15:50hrs presumably to roost; patch tick!

Gosford Bay scoter flock much reduced (after storms?) but 1 ad drake Surf still, also 2 Red-necked Grebes, Great Crested Grebe, ad Great Northern Diver, courting Long-tailed Ducks; full counts: app.bto.org/birdtrack/pu... @birdinglothian.bsky.social #BirdingScotland

Drake White-winged Scoter still among Velvets off Ferny Ness, also 4 drake Surfs together distantly to north-west - some chasing and display (pics), also 1 GND, 5 RNG, 20 Slavs, 90+ LTD @birdinglothian.bsky.social