Birds to See in East Lothian in January
123 bird species on our list for East Lothian are recorded regularly in January
Of these, the most often recorded are Carrion Crow, European Herring Gull, Eurasian Oystercatcher, Black-headed Gull and Mallard. New this month: Mediterranean Gull, Brent Goose, Water Pipit and Iceland Gull and 1 more.
On the move in January
GBIF · JanArriving
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 123 birds in January
123 birds
Carrion CrowCorvus coroneResidentCommon45–47 cmRecorded all year · 3.37% in Jan
European Herring GullLarus argentatusResidentCommon55–67 cmRecorded all year · 3.17% in Jan
Eurasian OystercatcherHaematopus ostralegusResidentCommon40–45 cmRecorded all year · 3.08% in Jan
Black-headed GullChroicocephalus ridibundusResidentCommon38–44 cmRecorded all year · 2.81% in Jan
MallardAnas platyrhynchosResidentCommon50–65 cmRecorded all year · 2.55% in Jan
RedshankTringa totanusResidentCommon27–29 cmRecorded all year · 2.55% in Jan
CurlewNumenius arquataResidentCommon50–60 cmRecorded all year · 2.53% in Jan
WoodpigeonColumba palumbusResidentCommon40–42 cmRecorded all year · 2.43% in Jan
MagpiePica picaResidentCommon44–46 cmRecorded all year · 2.31% in Jan
Eurasian WigeonMareca penelopeWinter visitorCommon42–51 cmRecorded all year · 2.25% in Jan
BlackbirdTurdus merulaResidentCommon24–25 cmRecorded all year · 2.00% in Jan
EiderSomateria mollissimaResidentCommon50–71 cmRecorded all year · 1.98% in Jan
GoldeneyeBucephala clangulaWinter visitorCommon40–51 cmRegularly Oct–Apr · 1.92% in Jan
JackdawColoeus monedulaResidentCommon34–39 cmRecorded all year · 1.91% in Jan
Blue TitCyanistes caeruleusResidentCommon11–12 cmRecorded all year · 1.86% in Jan
European RobinErithacus rubeculaResidentCommon13–14 cmRecorded all year · 1.84% in Jan
Common StarlingSturnus vulgarisResidentCommon21–23 cmRecorded all year · 1.84% in Jan
Great Black-backed GullLarus marinusResidentCommon64–79 cmRecorded all year · 1.76% in Jan
Great CormorantPhalacrocorax carboResidentCommon80–100 cmRecorded all year · 1.68% in Jan
Common GullLarus canusResidentCommon40–46 cmRecorded all year · 1.68% in Jan
Ruddy TurnstoneArenaria interpresWinter visitorCommon21–24 cmRegularly Jul–May · 1.63% in Jan
Pied WagtailMotacilla albaResidentCommon17–19 cmRecorded all year · 1.51% in Jan
Red-breasted MerganserMergus serratorWinter visitorCommon52–58 cmRecorded all year · 1.46% in Jan
Eurasian TealAnas creccaResidentCommon34–38 cmRecorded all year · 1.44% in Jan
Eurasian WrenTroglodytes troglodytesResidentCommon9–10 cmRecorded all year · 1.42% in Jan
Mute SwanCygnus olorResidentCommon140–160 cmRecorded all year · 1.36% in Jan
Bar-tailed GodwitLimosa lapponicaResidentCommon37–41 cmRecorded all year · 1.34% in Jan
European GoldfinchCarduelis carduelisResidentCommon12–13 cmRecorded all year · 1.32% in Jan
ChaffinchFringilla coelebsResidentCommon14–16 cmRecorded all year · 1.23% in Jan
Great TitParus majorResidentCommonRecorded all year · 1.18% in Jan
European ShagGulosus aristotelisResidentCommon65–80 cmRecorded all year · 1.16% in Jan
Rock PipitAnthus petrosusWinter visitorCommon16–18 cmRecorded all year · 1.16% in Jan
Long-tailed DuckClangula hyemalisWinter visitorCommon37–60 cmRegularly Oct–May · 1.14% in Jan
DunlinCalidris alpinaResidentCommon16–22 cmRecorded all year · 1.10% in Jan
House SparrowPasser domesticusResidentCommon14–17 cmRecorded all year · 1.05% in Jan
Common PheasantPhasianus colchicusResidentCommon50–90 cmRecorded all year · 1.04% in Jan
Grey HeronArdea cinereaResidentCommon90–98 cmRecorded all year · 0.91% in Jan
Coal TitPeriparus aterResidentCommon10–12 cmRecorded all year · 0.89% in Jan
Northern LapwingVanellus vanellusResidentCommon28–31 cmRecorded all year · 0.89% in Jan
Velvet ScoterMelanitta fuscaResidentCommon51–58 cmRecorded all year · 0.89% in Jan
Rock DoveColumba liviaResidentCommon31–34 cmRecorded all year · 0.85% in Jan
Long-tailed TitAegithalos caudatusResidentCommon13–16 cmRecorded all year · 0.82% in Jan
BuzzardButeo buteoResidentCommon51–57 cmRecorded all year · 0.80% in Jan
DunnockPrunella modularisResidentCommon14–15 cmRecorded all year · 0.80% in Jan
RookCorvus frugilegusResidentCommon45–47 cmRecorded all year · 0.79% in Jan
BullfinchPyrrhula pyrrhulaResidentCommon15–17 cmRecorded all year · 0.75% in Jan
Common ShelduckTadorna tadornaResidentCommon58–67 cmRecorded all year · 0.75% in Jan
Greylag GooseAnser anserResidentCommon75–90 cmRecorded all year · 0.73% in Jan
MoorhenGallinula chloropusResidentCommon30–38 cmRecorded all year · 0.71% in Jan
Meadow PipitAnthus pratensisResidentCommon14–15 cmRecorded all year · 0.70% in Jan
RedwingTurdus iliacusWinter visitorCommon20–24 cmRegularly Oct–Apr · 0.69% in Jan
Grey PloverPluvialis squatarolaWinter visitorCommon27–30 cmRegularly Aug–May · 0.67% in Jan
StonechatSaxicola rubicolaResidentCommon12–13 cmRecorded all year · 0.67% in Jan
Pink-footed GooseAnser brachyrhynchusWinter visitorCommon60–75 cmRegularly Sep–Jun · 0.62% in Jan
Mistle ThrushTurdus viscivorusResidentCommon26–29 cmRegularly Sep–Jul · 0.61% in Jan
CootFulica atraResidentCommon36–42 cmRecorded all year · 0.56% in Jan
Great Spotted WoodpeckerDendrocopos majorResidentCommon23–26 cmRecorded all year · 0.56% in Jan
FieldfareTurdus pilarisWinter visitorCommon22–27 cmRegularly Oct–Mar · 0.56% in Jan
Horned GrebePodiceps auritusWinter visitorCommon31–38 cmRegularly Sep–Mar · 0.55% in Jan
KestrelFalco tinnunculusResidentCommon32–39 cmRecorded all year · 0.55% in Jan
Canada GooseBranta canadensisResidentCommon76–110 cmRecorded all year · 0.55% in Jan
Ringed PloverCharadrius hiaticulaResidentCommon17–19 cmRecorded all year · 0.53% in Jan
Song ThrushTurdus philomelosResidentCommon20–23 cmRecorded all year · 0.51% in Jan
Red-throated LoonGavia stellataWinter visitorCommon53–69 cmRecorded all year · 0.50% in Jan
Stock DoveColumba oenasResidentCommon32–34 cmRecorded all year · 0.50% in Jan
Purple SandpiperCalidris maritimaWinter visitorUncommon20–22 cmRegularly Aug–Apr · 0.49% in Jan
Eurasian SkylarkAlauda arvensisResidentCommon16–18 cmRecorded all year · 0.47% in Jan
SanderlingCalidris albaWinter visitorUncommon18–20 cmRegularly Jul–May · 0.45% in Jan
Common ScoterMelanitta nigraResidentCommon43–54 cmRecorded all year · 0.45% in Jan
Grey WagtailMotacilla cinereaResidentUncommon17–20 cmRecorded all year · 0.43% in Jan
Little GrebeTachybaptus ruficollisResidentCommon23–29 cmRecorded all year · 0.43% in Jan
Common MerganserMergus merganserResidentCommon58–68 cmRecorded all year · 0.42% in Jan
LinnetLinaria cannabinaResidentCommon13–14 cmRecorded all year · 0.42% in Jan
Eurasian Collared DoveStreptopelia decaoctoResidentCommon30–32 cmRecorded all year · 0.42% in Jan
GadwallMareca streperaResidentCommon46–56 cmRecorded all year · 0.40% in Jan
Reed BuntingEmberiza schoeniclusResidentCommon14–16 cmRecorded all year · 0.38% in Jan
Tufted DuckAythya fuligulaResidentCommon40–47 cmRecorded all year · 0.38% in Jan
Little EgretEgretta garzettaResidentCommon55–65 cmRecorded all year · 0.38% in Jan
GoldcrestRegulus regulusResidentCommon9–10 cmRecorded all year · 0.36% in Jan
Eurasian SiskinSpinus spinusResidentUncommon11–13 cmRecorded all year · 0.35% in Jan
Great Crested GrebePodiceps cristatusWinter visitorCommon46–51 cmRegularly Jul–Apr · 0.34% in Jan
SparrowhawkAccipiter nisusResidentCommon28–38 cmRecorded all year · 0.34% in Jan
YellowhammerEmberiza citrinellaResidentCommon16–17 cmRecorded all year · 0.34% in Jan
Common KingfisherAlcedo atthisResidentUncommon16–17 cmRecorded all year · 0.33% in Jan
Eurasian NuthatchSitta europaeaResidentUncommon12–15 cmRecorded all year · 0.33% in Jan
TwiteLinaria flavirostrisWinter visitorUncommon13–14 cmRegularly Oct–Mar · 0.32% in Jan
Eurasian Tree SparrowPasser montanusResidentUncommon13–14 cmRecorded all year · 0.29% in Jan
Common SnipeGallinago gallinagoWinter visitorCommon25–27 cmRecorded all year · 0.27% in Jan
Red KnotCalidris canutusWinter visitorCommon23–26 cmRecorded all year · 0.27% in Jan
GreenfinchChloris chlorisResidentUncommon15–16 cmRecorded all year · 0.26% in Jan
Peregrine FalconFalco peregrinusResidentUncommon34–58 cmRecorded all year · 0.26% in Jan
TreecreeperCerthia familiarisResidentUncommon12–14 cmRecorded all year · 0.26% in Jan
Lesser Black-backed GullLarus fuscusSummer visitorCommon52–64 cmRecorded all year · 0.23% in Jan
Surf ScoterMelanitta perspicillataWinter visitorUncommon48–60 cmRegularly Sep–May · 0.23% in Jan
RazorbillAlca tordaResidentCommon38–43 cmRecorded all year · 0.21% in Jan
Eurasian JayGarrulus glandariusResidentUncommon32–35 cmRecorded all year · 0.21% in Jan
Common RedpollAcanthis flammeaResidentUncommon12–14 cmRecorded all year · 0.18% in Jan
Northern ShovelerSpatula clypeataWinter visitorUncommon44–51 cmRegularly Jul–May · 0.18% in Jan
DipperCinclus cinclusResidentUncommon17–20 cmRecorded all year · 0.17% in Jan
Common LoonGavia immerResidentUncommon66–91 cmRegularly Oct–Mar · 0.16% in Jan
Golden PloverPluvialis apricariaWinter visitorUncommon26–29 cmRecorded all year · 0.16% in Jan
Grey PartridgePerdix perdixResidentUncommon28–32 cmRecorded all year · 0.14% in Jan
Whooper SwanCygnus cygnusWinter visitorUncommon140–165 cmRegularly Sep–Mar · 0.14% in Jan
Black-tailed GodwitLimosa limosaSummer visitorCommon40–44 cmRecorded all year · 0.12% in Jan
PochardAythya ferinaWinter visitorUncommon42–49 cmRegularly Jul–Feb · 0.12% in Jan
GreenshankTringa nebulariaWinter visitorCommon30–35 cmRegularly Aug–Apr · 0.11% in Jan
Common RavenCorvus coraxResidentUncommon54–67 cmRecorded all year · 0.11% in Jan
Red GrouseLagopus scoticaResidentUncommon37–42 cmRecorded all year · 0.10% in Jan
Water PipitAnthus spinolettaPassage migrantUncommon15–17 cmRegularly Nov–Feb · 0.09% in Jan
FulmarFulmarus glacialisSummer visitorUncommon45–50 cmRegularly Dec–Sep · 0.08% in Jan
Eurasian WoodcockScolopax rusticolaWinter visitorUncommon33–38 cmRegularly Oct–Mar · 0.06% in Jan
Tawny OwlStrix alucoResidentUncommon37–43 cmRecorded all year · 0.06% in Jan
Red-legged PartridgeAlectoris rufaResidentUncommon32–34 cmRecorded all year · 0.06% in Jan
Mediterranean GullIchthyaetus melanocephalusSummer visitorUncommon37–40 cmRegularly May–Feb · 0.05% in Jan
Northern PintailAnas acutaPassage migrantUncommon59–76 cmRegularly Aug–Apr · 0.05% in Jan
Bohemian WaxwingBombycilla garrulusPassage migrantUncommon19–23 cmRegularly Dec–Jan · 0.05% in Jan
Arctic LoonGavia arcticaResidentUncommon58–77 cmRegularly Apr–Jan · 0.03% in Jan
Brent GooseBranta berniclaPassage migrantUncommon55–66 cmRegularly Sep–May · 0.03% in Jan
Iceland GullLarus glaucoidesPassage migrantRare52–60 cmRegularly Jan · 0.03% in Jan
MerlinFalco columbariusPassage migrantUncommon24–33 cmRegularly Jul–Jan · 0.03% in Jan
Red CrossbillLoxia curvirostraWinter visitorUncommon15–17 cmRegularly Jun–Apr · 0.03% in Jan
Short-eared OwlAsio flammeusWinter visitorUncommon34–43 cmRegularly Sep–May · 0.03% in Jan
Water RailRallus aquaticusResidentRare23–28 cmRegularly Jan–Jun · 0.02% in Jan
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