Birds to See in East Lothian in April
136 bird species on our list for East Lothian are recorded regularly in April
Of these, the most often recorded are Carrion Crow, Woodpigeon, European Herring Gull, Chiffchaff and Eurasian Oystercatcher. New this month: Barn Swallow, Sandwich Tern, Willow Warbler and House Martin and 20 more.
On the move in April
GBIF · AprArriving
At their peak
From East Lothian’s bird records, 2019–2024: arriving birds are regular this month but not last; leaving birds are regular this month but not next.
Other months
All 136 birds in April
136 birds
Carrion CrowCorvus coroneResidentCommon45–47 cmRecorded all year · 2.91% in Apr
WoodpigeonColumba palumbusResidentCommon40–42 cmRecorded all year · 2.82% in Apr
European Herring GullLarus argentatusResidentCommon55–67 cmRecorded all year · 2.81% in Apr
ChiffchaffPhylloscopus collybitaSummer visitorCommon10–12 cmRegularly Mar–Oct · 2.42% in Apr
Eurasian OystercatcherHaematopus ostralegusResidentCommon40–45 cmRecorded all year · 2.27% in Apr
Eurasian WrenTroglodytes troglodytesResidentCommon9–10 cmRecorded all year · 2.25% in Apr
Eurasian SkylarkAlauda arvensisResidentCommon16–18 cmRecorded all year · 2.24% in Apr
ChaffinchFringilla coelebsResidentCommon14–16 cmRecorded all year · 2.22% in Apr
MallardAnas platyrhynchosResidentCommon50–65 cmRecorded all year · 2.21% in Apr
BlackbirdTurdus merulaResidentCommon24–25 cmRecorded all year · 2.18% in Apr
Blue TitCyanistes caeruleusResidentCommon11–12 cmRecorded all year · 2.12% in Apr
European GoldfinchCarduelis carduelisResidentCommon12–13 cmRecorded all year · 2.12% in Apr
JackdawColoeus monedulaResidentCommon34–39 cmRecorded all year · 2.05% in Apr
European RobinErithacus rubeculaResidentCommon13–14 cmRecorded all year · 1.94% in Apr
MagpiePica picaResidentCommon44–46 cmRecorded all year · 1.94% in Apr
Pied WagtailMotacilla albaResidentCommon17–19 cmRecorded all year · 1.90% in Apr
CurlewNumenius arquataResidentCommon50–60 cmRecorded all year · 1.79% in Apr
EiderSomateria mollissimaResidentCommon50–71 cmRecorded all year · 1.70% in Apr
RedshankTringa totanusResidentCommon27–29 cmRecorded all year · 1.68% in Apr
Lesser Black-backed GullLarus fuscusSummer visitorCommon52–64 cmRecorded all year · 1.65% in Apr
Great TitParus majorResidentCommonRecorded all year · 1.63% in Apr
Common StarlingSturnus vulgarisResidentCommon21–23 cmRecorded all year · 1.52% in Apr
Common PheasantPhasianus colchicusResidentCommon50–90 cmRecorded all year · 1.42% in Apr
Meadow PipitAnthus pratensisResidentCommon14–15 cmRecorded all year · 1.41% in Apr
Mute SwanCygnus olorResidentCommon140–160 cmRecorded all year · 1.40% in Apr
Great CormorantPhalacrocorax carboResidentCommon80–100 cmRecorded all year · 1.38% in Apr
DunnockPrunella modularisResidentCommon14–15 cmRecorded all year · 1.37% in Apr
Common ShelduckTadorna tadornaResidentCommon58–67 cmRecorded all year · 1.30% in Apr
Eurasian TealAnas creccaResidentCommon34–38 cmRecorded all year · 1.30% in Apr
Sand MartinRiparia ripariaSummer visitorCommon12–14 cmRegularly Mar–Sep · 1.24% in Apr
Willow WarblerPhylloscopus trochilusSummer visitorCommon11–13 cmRegularly Apr–Sep · 1.19% in Apr
House SparrowPasser domesticusResidentCommon14–17 cmRecorded all year · 1.17% in Apr
Northern GannetMorus bassanusSummer visitorCommon87–100 cmRegularly Feb–Nov · 1.15% in Apr
Black-headed GullChroicocephalus ridibundusResidentCommon38–44 cmRecorded all year · 1.13% in Apr
LinnetLinaria cannabinaResidentCommon13–14 cmRecorded all year · 1.11% in Apr
BlackcapSylvia atricapillaSummer visitorCommon13–15 cmRegularly Apr–Oct · 1.09% in Apr
Eurasian WigeonMareca penelopeWinter visitorCommon42–51 cmRecorded all year · 1.05% in Apr
Great Black-backed GullLarus marinusResidentCommon64–79 cmRecorded all year · 1.01% in Apr
Barn SwallowHirundo rusticaSummer visitorCommon17–19 cmRegularly Apr–Oct · 1.00% in Apr
Song ThrushTurdus philomelosResidentCommon20–23 cmRecorded all year · 0.99% in Apr
Coal TitPeriparus aterResidentCommon10–12 cmRecorded all year · 0.94% in Apr
Reed BuntingEmberiza schoeniclusResidentCommon14–16 cmRecorded all year · 0.94% in Apr
Greylag GooseAnser anserResidentCommon75–90 cmRecorded all year · 0.87% in Apr
Grey HeronArdea cinereaResidentCommon90–98 cmRecorded all year · 0.84% in Apr
Rock DoveColumba liviaResidentCommon31–34 cmRecorded all year · 0.83% in Apr
GadwallMareca streperaResidentCommon46–56 cmRecorded all year · 0.76% in Apr
MoorhenGallinula chloropusResidentCommon30–38 cmRecorded all year · 0.71% in Apr
Common GullLarus canusResidentCommon40–46 cmRecorded all year · 0.70% in Apr
RookCorvus frugilegusResidentCommon45–47 cmRecorded all year · 0.69% in Apr
BuzzardButeo buteoResidentCommon51–57 cmRecorded all year · 0.68% in Apr
Common ScoterMelanitta nigraResidentCommon43–54 cmRecorded all year · records held back in Apr (protected)
BullfinchPyrrhula pyrrhulaResidentCommon15–17 cmRecorded all year · 0.67% in Apr
European ShagGulosus aristotelisResidentCommon65–80 cmRecorded all year · 0.66% in Apr
Red-breasted MerganserMergus serratorWinter visitorCommon52–58 cmRecorded all year · 0.66% in Apr
Velvet ScoterMelanitta fuscaResidentCommon51–58 cmRecorded all year · 0.65% in Apr
Long-tailed TitAegithalos caudatusResidentCommon13–16 cmRecorded all year · 0.65% in Apr
Ruddy TurnstoneArenaria interpresWinter visitorCommon21–24 cmRegularly Jul–May · 0.65% in Apr
WheatearOenanthe oenantheSummer visitorCommon15–16 cmRegularly Mar–Oct · 0.60% in Apr
YellowhammerEmberiza citrinellaResidentCommon16–17 cmRecorded all year · 0.58% in Apr
GoldeneyeBucephala clangulaWinter visitorCommon40–51 cmRegularly Oct–Apr · 0.56% in Apr
Long-tailed DuckClangula hyemalisWinter visitorCommon37–60 cmRegularly Oct–May · 0.56% in Apr
Stock DoveColumba oenasResidentCommon32–34 cmRecorded all year · 0.56% in Apr
Tufted DuckAythya fuligulaResidentCommon40–47 cmRecorded all year · 0.52% in Apr
FulmarFulmarus glacialisSummer visitorUncommon45–50 cmRegularly Dec–Sep · 0.48% in Apr
GreenfinchChloris chlorisResidentUncommon15–16 cmRecorded all year · 0.48% in Apr
Eurasian NuthatchSitta europaeaResidentUncommon12–15 cmRecorded all year · 0.48% in Apr
KittiwakeRissa tridactylaSummer visitorCommon37–41 cmRegularly Feb–Dec · 0.47% in Apr
RazorbillAlca tordaResidentCommon38–43 cmRecorded all year · 0.47% in Apr
Ringed PloverCharadrius hiaticulaResidentCommon17–19 cmRecorded all year · 0.47% in Apr
Great Spotted WoodpeckerDendrocopos majorResidentCommon23–26 cmRecorded all year · 0.47% in Apr
Sandwich TernThalasseus sandvicensisSummer visitorCommon36–41 cmRegularly Apr–Oct · 0.46% in Apr
Eurasian Collared DoveStreptopelia decaoctoResidentCommon30–32 cmRecorded all year · 0.46% in Apr
Canada GooseBranta canadensisResidentCommon76–110 cmRecorded all year · 0.44% in Apr
GoldcrestRegulus regulusResidentCommon9–10 cmRecorded all year · 0.44% in Apr
Bar-tailed GodwitLimosa lapponicaResidentCommon37–41 cmRecorded all year · 0.43% in Apr
CootFulica atraResidentCommon36–42 cmRecorded all year · 0.41% in Apr
DunlinCalidris alpinaResidentCommon16–22 cmRecorded all year · 0.41% in Apr
Common MerganserMergus merganserResidentCommon58–68 cmRecorded all year · 0.39% in Apr
Rock PipitAnthus petrosusWinter visitorCommon16–18 cmRecorded all year · 0.39% in Apr
StonechatSaxicola rubicolaResidentCommon12–13 cmRecorded all year · 0.38% in Apr
Grey PloverPluvialis squatarolaWinter visitorCommon27–30 cmRegularly Aug–May · 0.36% in Apr
Grey WagtailMotacilla cinereaResidentUncommon17–20 cmRecorded all year · 0.36% in Apr
Eurasian Tree SparrowPasser montanusResidentUncommon13–14 cmRecorded all year · 0.33% in Apr
Eurasian SiskinSpinus spinusResidentUncommon11–13 cmRecorded all year · 0.32% in Apr
Northern ShovelerSpatula clypeataWinter visitorUncommon44–51 cmRegularly Jul–May · 0.31% in Apr
TreecreeperCerthia familiarisResidentUncommon12–14 cmRecorded all year · 0.31% in Apr
Mistle ThrushTurdus viscivorusResidentCommon26–29 cmRegularly Sep–Jul · 0.31% in Apr
Common SnipeGallinago gallinagoWinter visitorCommon25–27 cmRecorded all year · 0.28% in Apr
Little GrebeTachybaptus ruficollisResidentCommon23–29 cmRecorded all year · 0.25% in Apr
KestrelFalco tinnunculusResidentCommon32–39 cmRecorded all year · 0.24% in Apr
WhitethroatCurruca communisSummer visitorCommon13–15 cmRegularly Apr–Sep · 0.24% in Apr
Black-tailed GodwitLimosa limosaSummer visitorCommon40–44 cmRecorded all year · 0.24% in Apr
Surf ScoterMelanitta perspicillataWinter visitorUncommon48–60 cmRegularly Sep–May · 0.24% in Apr
Common SandpiperActitis hypoleucosSummer visitorCommon18–20 cmRegularly Apr–Sep · 0.23% in Apr
Red-throated LoonGavia stellataWinter visitorCommon53–69 cmRecorded all year · 0.23% in Apr
WhimbrelNumenius phaeopusPassage migrantCommon40–46 cmRegularly Apr–Oct · 0.21% in Apr
Eurasian JayGarrulus glandariusResidentUncommon32–35 cmRecorded all year · 0.20% in Apr
SparrowhawkAccipiter nisusResidentCommon28–38 cmRecorded all year · 0.20% in Apr
Peregrine FalconFalco peregrinusResidentUncommon34–58 cmRecorded all year · records held back in Apr (protected)
House MartinDelichon urbicumSummer visitorCommon13–15 cmRegularly Apr–Sep · 0.19% in Apr
Grey PartridgePerdix perdixResidentUncommon28–32 cmRecorded all year · 0.18% in Apr
Grasshopper WarblerLocustella naeviaSummer visitorUncommon12–13 cmRegularly Apr–Jul · 0.17% in Apr
Little EgretEgretta garzettaResidentCommon55–65 cmRecorded all year · 0.17% in Apr
Northern LapwingVanellus vanellusResidentCommon28–31 cmRecorded all year · 0.16% in Apr
Pink-footed GooseAnser brachyrhynchusWinter visitorCommon60–75 cmRegularly Sep–Jun · 0.16% in Apr
Atlantic PuffinFratercula arcticaSummer visitorCommon28–34 cmRegularly Apr–Nov · 0.15% in Apr
Common RavenCorvus coraxResidentUncommon54–67 cmRecorded all year · 0.15% in Apr
Great Crested GrebePodiceps cristatusWinter visitorCommon46–51 cmRegularly Jul–Apr · 0.15% in Apr
Red GrouseLagopus scoticaResidentUncommon37–42 cmRecorded all year · 0.15% in Apr
Purple SandpiperCalidris maritimaWinter visitorUncommon20–22 cmRegularly Aug–Apr · 0.14% in Apr
Common RedpollAcanthis flammeaResidentUncommon12–14 cmRecorded all year · 0.11% in Apr
Common KingfisherAlcedo atthisResidentUncommon16–17 cmRecorded all year · 0.08% in Apr
Little Ringed PloverThinornis dubiusSummer visitorUncommon14–17 cmRegularly Apr–Aug · 0.08% in Apr
Red KnotCalidris canutusWinter visitorCommon23–26 cmRecorded all year · 0.08% in Apr
SanderlingCalidris albaWinter visitorUncommon18–20 cmRegularly Jul–May · 0.08% in Apr
Ring OuzelTurdus torquatusPassage migrantUncommon23–24 cmRegularly Apr–Oct · 0.07% in Apr
Sedge WarblerAcrocephalus schoenobaenusSummer visitorCommon12–13 cmRegularly Apr–Aug · 0.07% in Apr
Red-legged PartridgeAlectoris rufaResidentUncommon32–34 cmRecorded all year · 0.07% in Apr
Common TernSterna hirundoSummer visitorCommon31–35 cmRegularly Apr–Sep · 0.06% in Apr
Short-eared OwlAsio flammeusWinter visitorUncommon34–43 cmRegularly Sep–May · 0.06% in Apr
DipperCinclus cinclusResidentUncommon17–20 cmRecorded all year · 0.06% in Apr
Red CrossbillLoxia curvirostraWinter visitorUncommon15–17 cmRegularly Jun–Apr · 0.06% in Apr
RedwingTurdus iliacusWinter visitorCommon20–24 cmRegularly Oct–Apr · 0.06% in Apr
GreenshankTringa nebulariaWinter visitorCommon30–35 cmRegularly Aug–Apr · 0.05% in Apr
Yellow WagtailMotacilla flavaSummer visitorUncommon15–17 cmRegularly Apr–Sep · 0.05% in Apr
Golden PloverPluvialis apricariaWinter visitorUncommon26–29 cmRecorded all year · 0.04% in Apr
Tawny OwlStrix alucoResidentUncommon37–43 cmRecorded all year · 0.04% in Apr
Garden WarblerSylvia borinPassage migrantUncommon14–15 cmRegularly Apr–Jun · 0.04% in Apr
Lesser WhitethroatCurruca currucaPassage migrantUncommon11–13 cmRegularly Apr–Oct · 0.03% in Apr
Mandarin DuckAix galericulataResidentRare41–49 cmRegularly Apr–Sep · 0.03% in Apr
WhinchatSaxicola rubetraSummer visitorUncommon12–14 cmRegularly Apr–Jul · 0.02% in Apr
Barn OwlTyto albaResidentUncommon33–39 cmRegularly Oct–Jul · 0.02% in Apr
Northern PintailAnas acutaPassage migrantUncommon59–76 cmRegularly Aug–Apr · 0.02% in Apr
Tree PipitAnthus trivialisPassage migrantRare14–16 cmRegularly Apr–Jun · 0.01% in Apr
Hen HarrierCircus cyaneusScarceRare41–52 cmRegularly Feb–Jul · records held back in Apr (protected)
Arctic LoonGavia arcticaResidentUncommon58–77 cmRegularly Apr–Jan · records held back in Apr (protected)
Data: EOD – eBird Observation Dataset (Cornell Lab of Ornithology), accessed via GBIF.org, CC BY 4.0. Records from 2019–2024, aggregated and filtered by Birdfact. How these lists are made