Birds to See in East Lothian in August
144 bird species on our list for East Lothian are recorded regularly in August
Of these, the most often recorded are European Herring Gull, Carrion Crow, Woodpigeon, Black-headed Gull and Eurasian Oystercatcher. New this month: Ruff, Greenshank, Grey Plover and Barnacle Goose and 14 more.
On the move in August
GBIF · AugArriving
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 144 birds in August
144 birds
European Herring GullLarus argentatusResidentCommon55–67 cmRecorded all year · 2.92% in Aug
Carrion CrowCorvus coroneResidentCommon45–47 cmRecorded all year · 2.80% in Aug
WoodpigeonColumba palumbusResidentCommon40–42 cmRecorded all year · 2.78% in Aug
Black-headed GullChroicocephalus ridibundusResidentCommon38–44 cmRecorded all year · 2.61% in Aug
Eurasian OystercatcherHaematopus ostralegusResidentCommon40–45 cmRecorded all year · 2.57% in Aug
Pied WagtailMotacilla albaResidentCommon17–19 cmRecorded all year · 2.28% in Aug
CurlewNumenius arquataResidentCommon50–60 cmRecorded all year · 2.27% in Aug
Barn SwallowHirundo rusticaSummer visitorCommon17–19 cmRegularly Apr–Oct · 2.26% in Aug
RedshankTringa totanusResidentCommon27–29 cmRecorded all year · 2.12% in Aug
Lesser Black-backed GullLarus fuscusSummer visitorCommon52–64 cmRecorded all year · 2.08% in Aug
MallardAnas platyrhynchosResidentCommon50–65 cmRecorded all year · 2.05% in Aug
Sandwich TernThalasseus sandvicensisSummer visitorCommon36–41 cmRegularly Apr–Oct · 1.90% in Aug
MagpiePica picaResidentCommon44–46 cmRecorded all year · 1.89% in Aug
Great CormorantPhalacrocorax carboResidentCommon80–100 cmRecorded all year · 1.88% in Aug
Northern GannetMorus bassanusSummer visitorCommon87–100 cmRegularly Feb–Nov · 1.79% in Aug
European GoldfinchCarduelis carduelisResidentCommon12–13 cmRecorded all year · 1.78% in Aug
EiderSomateria mollissimaResidentCommon50–71 cmRecorded all year · 1.68% in Aug
Grey HeronArdea cinereaResidentCommon90–98 cmRecorded all year · 1.66% in Aug
Common StarlingSturnus vulgarisResidentCommon21–23 cmRecorded all year · 1.60% in Aug
Great Black-backed GullLarus marinusResidentCommon64–79 cmRecorded all year · 1.50% in Aug
JackdawColoeus monedulaResidentCommon34–39 cmRecorded all year · 1.49% in Aug
DunlinCalidris alpinaResidentCommon16–22 cmRecorded all year · 1.42% in Aug
Mute SwanCygnus olorResidentCommon140–160 cmRecorded all year · 1.41% in Aug
Canada GooseBranta canadensisResidentCommon76–110 cmRecorded all year · 1.37% in Aug
Greylag GooseAnser anserResidentCommon75–90 cmRecorded all year · 1.32% in Aug
Bar-tailed GodwitLimosa lapponicaResidentCommon37–41 cmRecorded all year · 1.29% in Aug
Common GullLarus canusResidentCommon40–46 cmRecorded all year · 1.28% in Aug
Sand MartinRiparia ripariaSummer visitorCommon12–14 cmRegularly Mar–Sep · 1.28% in Aug
Northern LapwingVanellus vanellusResidentCommon28–31 cmRecorded all year · 1.27% in Aug
Eurasian WrenTroglodytes troglodytesResidentCommon9–10 cmRecorded all year · 1.16% in Aug
LinnetLinaria cannabinaResidentCommon13–14 cmRecorded all year · 1.14% in Aug
Blue TitCyanistes caeruleusResidentCommon11–12 cmRecorded all year · 1.11% in Aug
European RobinErithacus rubeculaResidentCommon13–14 cmRecorded all year · 1.11% in Aug
Common MerganserMergus merganserResidentCommon58–68 cmRecorded all year · 1.10% in Aug
Eurasian TealAnas creccaResidentCommon34–38 cmRecorded all year · 1.10% in Aug
Common ShelduckTadorna tadornaResidentCommon58–67 cmRecorded all year · 1.08% in Aug
Ruddy TurnstoneArenaria interpresWinter visitorCommon21–24 cmRegularly Jul–May · 1.08% in Aug
ChiffchaffPhylloscopus collybitaSummer visitorCommon10–12 cmRegularly Mar–Oct · 1.07% in Aug
House MartinDelichon urbicumSummer visitorCommon13–15 cmRegularly Apr–Sep · 1.04% in Aug
BlackbirdTurdus merulaResidentCommon24–25 cmRecorded all year · 0.99% in Aug
Rock DoveColumba liviaResidentCommon31–34 cmRecorded all year · 0.96% in Aug
European ShagGulosus aristotelisResidentCommon65–80 cmRecorded all year · 0.95% in Aug
Black-tailed GodwitLimosa limosaSummer visitorCommon40–44 cmRecorded all year · 0.95% in Aug
Red KnotCalidris canutusWinter visitorCommon23–26 cmRecorded all year · 0.89% in Aug
Common SandpiperActitis hypoleucosSummer visitorCommon18–20 cmRegularly Apr–Sep · 0.85% in Aug
Ringed PloverCharadrius hiaticulaResidentCommon17–19 cmRecorded all year · 0.84% in Aug
KittiwakeRissa tridactylaSummer visitorCommon37–41 cmRegularly Feb–Dec · 0.83% in Aug
GreenshankTringa nebulariaWinter visitorCommon30–35 cmRegularly Aug–Apr · 0.82% in Aug
Common TernSterna hirundoSummer visitorCommon31–35 cmRegularly Apr–Sep · 0.81% in Aug
ChaffinchFringilla coelebsResidentCommon14–16 cmRecorded all year · 0.79% in Aug
RuffCalidris pugnaxPassage migrantCommon20–32 cmRegularly Aug–Oct · 0.72% in Aug
Velvet ScoterMelanitta fuscaResidentCommon51–58 cmRecorded all year · 0.72% in Aug
WhimbrelNumenius phaeopusPassage migrantCommon40–46 cmRegularly Apr–Oct · 0.70% in Aug
House SparrowPasser domesticusResidentCommon14–17 cmRecorded all year · 0.67% in Aug
Stock DoveColumba oenasResidentCommon32–34 cmRecorded all year · 0.66% in Aug
Common ScoterMelanitta nigraResidentCommon43–54 cmRecorded all year · 0.55% in Aug
Great TitParus majorResidentCommonRecorded all year · 0.55% in Aug
Meadow PipitAnthus pratensisResidentCommon14–15 cmRecorded all year · 0.53% in Aug
MoorhenGallinula chloropusResidentCommon30–38 cmRecorded all year · 0.53% in Aug
Common PheasantPhasianus colchicusResidentCommon50–90 cmRecorded all year · 0.52% in Aug
Little GrebeTachybaptus ruficollisResidentCommon23–29 cmRecorded all year · 0.51% in Aug
BuzzardButeo buteoResidentCommon51–57 cmRecorded all year · 0.49% in Aug
RookCorvus frugilegusResidentCommon45–47 cmRecorded all year · 0.48% in Aug
Common SnipeGallinago gallinagoWinter visitorCommon25–27 cmRecorded all year · 0.46% in Aug
Willow WarblerPhylloscopus trochilusSummer visitorCommon11–13 cmRegularly Apr–Sep · 0.45% in Aug
Common SwiftApus apusSummer visitorCommon16–17 cmRegularly May–Aug · 0.45% in Aug
RazorbillAlca tordaResidentCommon38–43 cmRecorded all year · 0.43% in Aug
FulmarFulmarus glacialisSummer visitorUncommon45–50 cmRegularly Dec–Sep · 0.41% in Aug
CootFulica atraResidentCommon36–42 cmRecorded all year · 0.40% in Aug
Little EgretEgretta garzettaResidentCommon55–65 cmRecorded all year · 0.40% in Aug
SanderlingCalidris albaWinter visitorUncommon18–20 cmRegularly Jul–May · 0.40% in Aug
BullfinchPyrrhula pyrrhulaResidentCommon15–17 cmRecorded all year · 0.39% in Aug
Coal TitPeriparus aterResidentCommon10–12 cmRecorded all year · 0.38% in Aug
Reed BuntingEmberiza schoeniclusResidentCommon14–16 cmRecorded all year · 0.38% in Aug
SparrowhawkAccipiter nisusResidentCommon28–38 cmRecorded all year · 0.38% in Aug
Great Crested GrebePodiceps cristatusWinter visitorCommon46–51 cmRegularly Jul–Apr · 0.38% in Aug
Long-tailed TitAegithalos caudatusResidentCommon13–16 cmRecorded all year · 0.37% in Aug
GadwallMareca streperaResidentCommon46–56 cmRecorded all year · 0.36% in Aug
Grey WagtailMotacilla cinereaResidentUncommon17–20 cmRecorded all year · 0.35% in Aug
WheatearOenanthe oenantheSummer visitorCommon15–16 cmRegularly Mar–Oct · 0.35% in Aug
Eurasian WigeonMareca penelopeWinter visitorCommon42–51 cmRecorded all year · 0.35% in Aug
Northern ShovelerSpatula clypeataWinter visitorUncommon44–51 cmRegularly Jul–May · 0.33% in Aug
WhitethroatCurruca communisSummer visitorCommon13–15 cmRegularly Apr–Sep · 0.32% in Aug
DunnockPrunella modularisResidentCommon14–15 cmRecorded all year · 0.31% in Aug
Eurasian SkylarkAlauda arvensisResidentCommon16–18 cmRecorded all year · 0.31% in Aug
Rock PipitAnthus petrosusWinter visitorCommon16–18 cmRecorded all year · 0.29% in Aug
YellowhammerEmberiza citrinellaResidentCommon16–17 cmRecorded all year · 0.29% in Aug
Eurasian Collared DoveStreptopelia decaoctoResidentCommon30–32 cmRecorded all year · 0.28% in Aug
Red-breasted MerganserMergus serratorWinter visitorCommon52–58 cmRecorded all year · 0.28% in Aug
Little GullHydrocoloeus minutusPassage migrantUncommon25–30 cmRegularly Jul–Mar · 0.26% in Aug
Peregrine FalconFalco peregrinusResidentUncommon34–58 cmRecorded all year · 0.26% in Aug
StonechatSaxicola rubicolaResidentCommon12–13 cmRecorded all year · 0.24% in Aug
Great Spotted WoodpeckerDendrocopos majorResidentCommon23–26 cmRecorded all year · 0.24% in Aug
GoldcrestRegulus regulusResidentCommon9–10 cmRecorded all year · 0.22% in Aug
Tufted DuckAythya fuligulaResidentCommon40–47 cmRecorded all year · 0.22% in Aug
Arctic JaegerStercorarius parasiticusPassage migrantUncommon41–46 cmRegularly Jul–Oct · 0.21% in Aug
Green SandpiperTringa ochropusPassage migrantUncommon21–24 cmRegularly Aug–Sep · 0.20% in Aug
KestrelFalco tinnunculusResidentCommon32–39 cmRecorded all year · 0.20% in Aug
Curlew SandpiperCalidris ferrugineaPassage migrantUncommon18–23 cmRegularly Aug–Oct · 0.19% in Aug
Grey PloverPluvialis squatarolaWinter visitorCommon27–30 cmRegularly Aug–May · 0.19% in Aug
BlackcapSylvia atricapillaSummer visitorCommon13–15 cmRegularly Apr–Oct · 0.19% in Aug
Arctic TernSterna paradisaeaSummer visitorUncommon33–39 cmRegularly May–Sep · 0.18% in Aug
Wood SandpiperTringa glareolaPassage migrantUncommon19–21 cmRegularly Aug–Sep · 0.17% in Aug
Common KingfisherAlcedo atthisResidentUncommon16–17 cmRecorded all year · 0.17% in Aug
Eurasian Tree SparrowPasser montanusResidentUncommon13–14 cmRecorded all year · 0.16% in Aug
Song ThrushTurdus philomelosResidentCommon20–23 cmRecorded all year · 0.15% in Aug
Mediterranean GullIchthyaetus melanocephalusSummer visitorUncommon37–40 cmRegularly May–Feb · 0.15% in Aug
Spotted RedshankTringa erythropusResidentUncommon29–31 cmRegularly Aug · 0.15% in Aug
Eurasian NuthatchSitta europaeaResidentUncommon12–15 cmRecorded all year · 0.14% in Aug
GarganeySpatula querquedulaPassage migrantUncommon37–41 cmRegularly May–Aug · 0.14% in Aug
Red-throated LoonGavia stellataWinter visitorCommon53–69 cmRecorded all year · 0.14% in Aug
TreecreeperCerthia familiarisResidentUncommon12–14 cmRecorded all year · 0.14% in Aug
Grey PartridgePerdix perdixResidentUncommon28–32 cmRecorded all year · 0.13% in Aug
GreenfinchChloris chlorisResidentUncommon15–16 cmRecorded all year · 0.12% in Aug
Common RavenCorvus coraxResidentUncommon54–67 cmRecorded all year · 0.10% in Aug
Eurasian JayGarrulus glandariusResidentUncommon32–35 cmRecorded all year · 0.09% in Aug
Atlantic PuffinFratercula arcticaSummer visitorCommon28–34 cmRegularly Apr–Nov · 0.09% in Aug
Yellow WagtailMotacilla flavaSummer visitorUncommon15–17 cmRegularly Apr–Sep · 0.08% in Aug
Golden PloverPluvialis apricariaWinter visitorUncommon26–29 cmRecorded all year · 0.08% in Aug
Little Ringed PloverThinornis dubiusSummer visitorUncommon14–17 cmRegularly Apr–Aug · 0.07% in Aug
Manx ShearwaterPuffinus puffinusSummer visitorUncommon30–38 cmRegularly May–Oct · 0.07% in Aug
Great SkuaStercorarius skuaPassage migrantUncommon50–58 cmRegularly Aug–Sep · 0.06% in Aug
Eurasian SiskinSpinus spinusResidentUncommon11–13 cmRecorded all year · 0.05% in Aug
Spotted FlycatcherMuscicapa striataSummer visitorUncommon14–16 cmRegularly May–Aug · 0.05% in Aug
PochardAythya ferinaWinter visitorUncommon42–49 cmRegularly Jul–Feb · 0.05% in Aug
Red-necked GrebePodiceps grisegenaPassage migrantUncommon40–50 cmRegularly Jul–Mar · 0.05% in Aug
Sedge WarblerAcrocephalus schoenobaenusSummer visitorCommon12–13 cmRegularly Apr–Aug · 0.05% in Aug
Pomarine JaegerStercorarius pomarinusPassage migrantUncommon46–51 cmRegularly Aug–Oct · 0.04% in Aug
Red GrouseLagopus scoticaResidentUncommon37–42 cmRecorded all year · 0.04% in Aug
DipperCinclus cinclusResidentUncommon17–20 cmRecorded all year · 0.04% in Aug
Barnacle GooseBranta leucopsisPassage migrantCommon58–70 cmRegularly May–Nov · 0.03% in Aug
Purple SandpiperCalidris maritimaWinter visitorUncommon20–22 cmRegularly Aug–Apr · 0.03% in Aug
European Pied FlycatcherFicedula hypoleucaPassage migrantUncommon12–14 cmRegularly Aug · 0.03% in Aug
Little TernSternula albifronsPassage migrantUncommon21–25 cmRegularly May–Aug · 0.03% in Aug
Tawny OwlStrix alucoResidentUncommon37–43 cmRecorded all year · 0.03% in Aug
Red-legged PartridgeAlectoris rufaResidentUncommon32–34 cmRecorded all year · 0.02% in Aug
Lesser WhitethroatCurruca currucaPassage migrantUncommon11–13 cmRegularly Apr–Oct · 0.02% in Aug
MerlinFalco columbariusPassage migrantUncommon24–33 cmRegularly Jul–Jan · 0.02% in Aug
Northern PintailAnas acutaPassage migrantUncommon59–76 cmRegularly Aug–Apr · 0.02% in Aug
Red CrossbillLoxia curvirostraWinter visitorUncommon15–17 cmRegularly Jun–Apr · 0.02% in Aug
Black TernChlidonias nigerScarceRare22–26 cmRegularly Aug · 0.02% in Aug
Western Marsh-harrierCircus aeruginosusPassage migrantRare48–56 cmRegularly Aug–Sep · 0.02% in Aug
Common RedpollAcanthis flammeaResidentUncommon12–14 cmRecorded all year · 0.01% in Aug
Arctic LoonGavia arcticaResidentUncommon58–77 cmRegularly Apr–Jan · records held back in Aug (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