9 Oct. Fair Isle day 4. Massive fall of Redwings today; many thousands with 12k estimated by wardening team; Ring Ouzel, some Bramblings and 2 Pied Flycatchers in a sheltered geo

8 Oct. Fair Isle day 3. Some new scarcities but few common migrants except Redwing. Rustic Bunting, Arctic Warbler and Barred Warbler were the best. Short-toed Lark at dawn didn't look too healthy

7 Oct. Fair Isle day 2. Better views of the Short-toed Lark, 2 Greenland-type Redpolls, Water Rail, Whooper Swans heading south.

6 Oct. Fair Isle. First day produced Olive-backed Pipit, Little Bunting and Short-toed Lark.

29 Sep. Musselburgh. The 2 Pale-bellied Brents and Whooper Swan still present plus 6 Pintail. Also 2 Mediterranean Gull dropped into the scrapes #BirdingLothian

28 Sep. Musselburgh. A different colour-ringed Pale-bellied Brent Goose with the long-staying bird; also 6W Little Gulls and 3W Arctic Skuas; 7 Ruff; adult Whooper Swan still. #BirdingLothian

26 Sep. Musselburgh. Great White Egret seen earlier off Gullane by Josh Daunt briefly landed on Inchkeith before continuing W (seen and ID'able from 6 miles away!) - average speed c15 mph. Also 8 Little Gulls west. #BirdingLothian

25 Sep. Musselburgh. New family of 5 Pale-bellied Brents (with long-stayer), Green Sandpiper, 2 Manx Shearwaters, Whimbrel, 2 Common Terns, Whooper Swan, 5 Shoveler, adult Mediterranean Gull #BirdingLothian

24 Sep. Musselburgh. Large counts of Greylags (2100) and Lapwings (524) today; 1cy Mediterranean Gull, 1cy Little Gull flew W, Pale-bellied Brent Goose still. #BirdingLothian

23 Sep. Musselburgh. Highlight was a Green Sandpiper on the new lagoons; also 7 Shoveler there. Flock of 11 Red-throated Divers flew W. Also tantalising view of a probable juv Long-tailed Skua that decided to return east before it reached me #BirdingLothian

The highlight of the past week has been an American ‘Buff-bellied’ Pipit around the Houll, along with the first Turtle Dove of the year. Read more at www.fairislebirdobs.co.uk/latest_sight... 📸 S Arlow

22 Sep. Musselburgh. Finally caught up with a Great White Egret on the site thanks to @kingleby1.bsky.social but it wasn't settled & flew off after less than 5 mins. Also 3 Red-necked Grebes, 2 Slavonian Grebes, 1 Pale-b Brent Goose and 2 very distant Marsh Harriers flew up the Forth #BirdingLothian

20 Sep. Musselburgh. 5 Shoveler today, 25 Pinkfeet amongst the Greylags, Black-tailed Godwit in the moat of the new lagoons, flock of 17 Red-throated Divers flew W. #BirdingLothian

19 Sep. Musselburgh. 1+7 Pale-bellied Brent Geese, 5 juv Little Gulls west, 1 juv Arctic Skua chasing, 6+ Ruff still #BirdingLothian

9 Sep. Musselburgh. Influx of Common Terns (110W) and Kittiwakes brought in juv Sabine's Gull and 9W Little Gulls. Both White-winged and Surf Scoters still (only 12 Velvets now). Osprey south, Red-necked Grebe still, 1 Bonxie. #BirdingLothian

Glowing review from @jrmjones.bsky.social @birdguides.bsky.social Available from the FIBO @fairislebirdobs.bsky.social website, and if you’re keen to visit the hallowed isle yourself, bookings for 2027 are now open also via the website #birds

BirdGuides@birdguides.bsky.social · last mo.

The Birds of Fair Isle review This is a fitting tribute to a most hallowed of ornithological isles and will surely work its way on to the bookshelves of many birders, says Josh Jones: https://f.mtr.cool/7r6jqqywxd

"It is a fitting tribute to this most hallowed of ornithological isles and will surely work its way on to the bookshelves of many of those birders who have visited at some point over the years – and probably a lot of those who haven't been, too. Go out and get yourself a copy – you won't regret it!"

3 Sep. Musselburgh. Male Surf Scoter, juv Little Stint, 3 Light-bellied Brent Geese arrived at the Esk mouth, an adult Osprey flew over (blue ring 8A or BA maybe). Juv Peregrine caused chaos again. #BirdingLothian

1 Sep. Musselburgh. Adult White-winged Scoter and Surf Scoter this morning. Juv Peregrine caused chaos chasing everything inc a Ruff that dived into the trees to escape! #BirdingLothian

IMPORTANT NEWS - You can now book your 2027 visit to Fair Isle Bird Observatory. There are many compelling reasons to book (see image). For more information visit www.fairislebirdobs.co.uk/accommodation The amazing offer for late October this year is still open!

29 Aug. Musselburgh. A Pintail was new in today as was a juvenile Little Stint. One male Surf Scoter, 290 Velvet Scoter and a single Green Sandpiper were still present. #BirdingLothian

20 Aug. Musselburgh. Still 3 Green Sandpipers (on scrape and then 1 on moat of new lagoons), Ruff and Snipe plus 7 juv Black-tailed Godwits. 12 Gadwall, 6 Wigeon. #BirdingLothian

19 Aug. Musselburgh. 2 White-winged and 3 Surf Scoters this morning. A Great Skua (a rarity in the last few years), 2+ Green Sandpipers still, 24 Snipe #BirdingLothian

17 Aug. Musselburgh. Still 3 Green Sandpipers, also Ruff and Black-tailed Godwits. Bar-tailed Godwit 'yellow EEH' has returned - it was ringed as a 1cy bird in Norway in Aug 2023, so now a 4cy. Has been seen in East Lothian every year, returning to Musselburgh last year on 13th Aug #BirdingLothian

15 Aug. Musselburgh. 3 Green Sandpipers (flew off 09:30 - not heard if they returned), 2 Surf Scoters, 11 Ruff, 18 Snipe, Med Gull 3447 again, Yellow Wagtail #BirdingLothian

Autumn has kicked off with our first Barred Warbler of the year on 4th, joined by a Melodious Warbler on 8th and Fair Isle’s 35th Woodchat Shrike around Kenaby yesterday. Read more of our latest sightings at www.fairislebirdobs.co.uk/latest_sight... 📸 A Penn

14 Aug. Musselburgh. Still 3 Green Sandpipers, 12 Ruff; juv Marsh Harrier flew E. The 3 Surf Scoters were also at moderate range (the Velvets were way off) - 2 lacked nape patch and were full winged, the other had a nape patch. A Heron devoured a Dunlin (not sure if/how it killed it) #BirdingLothian

12 Aug. Musselburgh. Increase to 9 Ruff. 1 Little Stint, 1 Mediterranean Gull, 1 Yellow Wagtail over, 336 Velvet Scoter including 2+ Surfs and 2+ White-winged. Good number of Ringed Plover and Bar-tailed Godwits too - photos show wing moult of latter (only 1 juv in flock so far). #BirdingLothian

Hi all, i’m writing a site profile of Musselburgh for Birdwatch mag and struggling to find a photo of the lagoons pre restoration, (preferably with birds). Does anyone have a good quality one i could submit with my article?. Full credit given of course. @birdinglothian.bsky.social #BirdingLothian

11 Aug. Musselburgh. 1 Green Sandpiper, 1 Little Stint, 1 Greenshank, 4 Ruff, my 1st juv Black-tailed Godwits, 7 Little Egrets, 2 Shoveler #BirdingLothian