Jim Nicholson

[Jim Nicholson @JpgnicJim]

Aberlady Bay (from Kilspindie, 15-16:30) GWE showing well in the bay with 6 Little Egrets. Also 2 pb Brent Geese, 2 Little Gulls (ad), juv Common Tern and 4 Wheatears @birdinglothian #LowCarbonBirding

[Jim Nicholson @JpgnicJim]

Aberlady Bay (from Kilspindie) 05:30-06:30 2 Little Terns at the end of the sand-spit on the incoming tide (flew off E), also Marsh Harrier, Peregrine, 3 Whimbrel, Black-tailed Godwit and 12 Snipe (W) #LowCarbonBirding @birdinglothian

[Jim Nicholson @JpgnicJim]

Long day at Aberlady Bay ended with 83 species. 300 Barnacle Geese leaving the beach and heading N at 05:30 the highlight. Also 13 Grey Plover, 4 Whimbrel, 3 Common Sandpipers, 2 SEO, GND, Turnstone and Lesser Whitethroat @birdinglothian #LowCarbonBirding #LocalBigYear

[Jim Nicholson @JpgnicJim]

Aberlady Bay (07:30-09:20) - Common Sandpiper on the Peffer Burn, Cuckoo heading S across the bay towards Aberlady village, 4 Wheatears, 3 Sedge Warblers and a Whitethroat @birdinglothian #LowCarbonBirding #LocalBigYear

[Jim Nicholson @JpgnicJim]

A drake Mandarin on the Peffer Burn at Aberlady Bay this morning was a first on my local patch. A Whinchat, singing Lesser Whitethroat, 2 SEO, GND and Whimbrel also present but not many common migrants #LocalBigYear #LowCarbonBirding @birdinglothian

[Jim Nicholson @JpgnicJim]

A grey and damp Monday at Aberlady Bay but a Great Northern Diver off the beach, 2+ Short-eared Owls over the marsh and dunes and 2 Greenshanks flying over the timber bridge brightened things up @birdinglothian #LowCarbonBirding

[Jim Nicholson @JpgnicJim]

8 hours at Aberlady Bay LNR today started with a Barn Owl before it got light and finished with a small flock of Goldfinches in the gloaming for a total of 76 species. Highlights included Barnacle Geese, GND, Whimbrel, Jay, Greenshank & Twite @birdinglothian #LowCarbonBirding

[Jim Nicholson @JpgnicJim]

Aberlady Bay (07:40-10:20) - Great Northern Diver, Peregrine, 2 Sprawks, 2 Kestrels, 2 Woodcocks and 32 Twite were the highlights out of 54 species this morning @birdinglothian

[Jim Nicholson @JpgnicJim]

Aberlady Bay (07:00-10:15) 66 species including 22 Waxwings, 14 RTD, 6 Barnacle Geese, 22 LTD, SEO, Peregrine, 2 Kestrels, Sprawk, 4 Rock Pipits and 4 Stonechats @birdinglothian #LowCarbonBirding #LocalBigYear

[Jim Nicholson @JpgnicJim]

Shoveler and Gadwall amongst 86 Mallards during my WeBS count at Gosford Ponds this morning - both new for me there. Also a Barn Owl at Lufness earlier and 14 Little Egrets along the Peffer Burn at Aberlady yesterday afternoon #LocalBigYear @birdinglothian @WeBS_UK

[Jim Nicholson @JpgnicJim]

65 species in the mist at Aberlady Bay this morning (06:50-10:00) included 2 SEO, Manx Shearwater, Ruff, Greenshank, 9 Little Egrets and 43 Pink-feet @birdinglothian

[Jim Nicholson @JpgnicJim]

Cuckoo (presumably juv) flew S over McGregor Pend, Prestonpans this morning @birdinglothian

[Jim Nicholson @JpgnicJim]

Cuckoo singing from a garden in Gullane at 5:15 this morning. Also Sedge Warbler along the Peffer Burn at Luffness plus House Martins returned to Luffness New GC takes my #LocalBigYear total to 113 @birdinglothian #LowCarbonBirding

[Jim Nicholson @JpgnicJim]

A male Holly Blue was flying strongly in warm midday sunshine at Prestonpans today @BCeastscotland

[Jim Nicholson @JpgnicJim]

Grasshopper Warbler reeling in Muirfield Dunes near Gullane this morning - my earliest ever by 5 days! Puffin, Kittiwake, Wheatear, Swallow and Willow Warbler also added to my #LocalBigYear list this weekend #LowCarbonBirding @birdinglothian

[Jim Nicholson @JpgnicJim]

A Chiffchaff singing (rather half-heartedly to be honest) along the Mill Burn S of Gullane this afternoon was the first summer migrant of my #LocalBigYear #LowCarbonBirding @birdinglothian

[Jim Nicholson @JpgnicJim]

@ijandrews1 @NewhailesNTS @birdinglothian Currently 10 nests in trees by Bankton House on the S edge of Prestonpans but they're still building so there's a chance of more. All of last year's nests (16 AON I reckoned) were blown out over the winter so they've had to start again this Spring

[Jim Nicholson @JpgnicJim]

Mixed flock of Mute and Whooper Swans near Drem takes my 2023 #LocalBigYear total to 100 - Water Rail, Red Kite, Jack Snipe and Merlin the highlights so far @birdinglothian #LowCarbonBirding

[Jim Nicholson @JpgnicJim]

Just a single goose swimming in Aberlady Bay at high tide (16:05) this afternoon - but it was a White-front! Also 5 Gadwall at Seton Burn earlier @birdinglothian #LocalBigYear #LowCarbonBirding

[Jim Nicholson @JpgnicJim]

Finished my 2022 #LocalBigYear around Gullane on 152 species. Found some decent local birds inc Little Tern, LEO, Red Kite and Wood Warbler but missed Brent Goose, Manxie, Bonxie & Garden Warbler and dipped WRS, Kentish P and GBT. Hoping for better in 2023 #LowCarbonBirding