Birds to See in East Lothian in May
143 bird species on our list for East Lothian are recorded regularly in May
Of these, the most often recorded are Woodpigeon, Carrion Crow, European Herring Gull, Blackbird and Barn Swallow. New this month: Common Swift, Barnacle Goose, Arctic Tern and Mediterranean Gull and 11 more.
On the move in May
GBIF · MayArriving
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 143 birds in May
143 birds
WoodpigeonColumba palumbusResidentCommon40–42 cmRecorded all year · 2.78% in May
Carrion CrowCorvus coroneResidentCommon45–47 cmRecorded all year · 2.75% in May
European Herring GullLarus argentatusResidentCommon55–67 cmRecorded all year · 2.58% in May
BlackbirdTurdus merulaResidentCommon24–25 cmRecorded all year · 2.43% in May
Barn SwallowHirundo rusticaSummer visitorCommon17–19 cmRegularly Apr–Oct · 2.38% in May
JackdawColoeus monedulaResidentCommon34–39 cmRecorded all year · 2.35% in May
Eurasian SkylarkAlauda arvensisResidentCommon16–18 cmRecorded all year · 2.32% in May
ChaffinchFringilla coelebsResidentCommon14–16 cmRecorded all year · 2.20% in May
MallardAnas platyrhynchosResidentCommon50–65 cmRecorded all year · 2.16% in May
Eurasian OystercatcherHaematopus ostralegusResidentCommon40–45 cmRecorded all year · 2.12% in May
ChiffchaffPhylloscopus collybitaSummer visitorCommon10–12 cmRegularly Mar–Oct · 2.12% in May
MagpiePica picaResidentCommon44–46 cmRecorded all year · 2.04% in May
European GoldfinchCarduelis carduelisResidentCommon12–13 cmRecorded all year · 1.98% in May
Eurasian WrenTroglodytes troglodytesResidentCommon9–10 cmRecorded all year · 1.92% in May
European RobinErithacus rubeculaResidentCommon13–14 cmRecorded all year · 1.86% in May
Willow WarblerPhylloscopus trochilusSummer visitorCommon11–13 cmRegularly Apr–Sep · 1.82% in May
Lesser Black-backed GullLarus fuscusSummer visitorCommon52–64 cmRecorded all year · 1.70% in May
Sand MartinRiparia ripariaSummer visitorCommon12–14 cmRegularly Mar–Sep · 1.68% in May
Common StarlingSturnus vulgarisResidentCommon21–23 cmRecorded all year · 1.67% in May
Pied WagtailMotacilla albaResidentCommon17–19 cmRecorded all year · 1.67% in May
EiderSomateria mollissimaResidentCommon50–71 cmRecorded all year · 1.67% in May
Blue TitCyanistes caeruleusResidentCommon11–12 cmRecorded all year · 1.62% in May
Common ShelduckTadorna tadornaResidentCommon58–67 cmRecorded all year · 1.60% in May
Common PheasantPhasianus colchicusResidentCommon50–90 cmRecorded all year · 1.51% in May
Northern GannetMorus bassanusSummer visitorCommon87–100 cmRegularly Feb–Nov · 1.48% in May
BlackcapSylvia atricapillaSummer visitorCommon13–15 cmRegularly Apr–Oct · 1.48% in May
Mute SwanCygnus olorResidentCommon140–160 cmRecorded all year · 1.45% in May
WhitethroatCurruca communisSummer visitorCommon13–15 cmRegularly Apr–Sep · 1.45% in May
LinnetLinaria cannabinaResidentCommon13–14 cmRecorded all year · 1.37% in May
Great CormorantPhalacrocorax carboResidentCommon80–100 cmRecorded all year · 1.30% in May
House SparrowPasser domesticusResidentCommon14–17 cmRecorded all year · 1.28% in May
Reed BuntingEmberiza schoeniclusResidentCommon14–16 cmRecorded all year · 1.28% in May
Greylag GooseAnser anserResidentCommon75–90 cmRecorded all year · 1.25% in May
DunnockPrunella modularisResidentCommon14–15 cmRecorded all year · 1.21% in May
Meadow PipitAnthus pratensisResidentCommon14–15 cmRecorded all year · 1.21% in May
Great TitParus majorResidentCommonRecorded all year · 1.21% in May
Song ThrushTurdus philomelosResidentCommon20–23 cmRecorded all year · 1.21% in May
CurlewNumenius arquataResidentCommon50–60 cmRecorded all year · 1.14% in May
Black-headed GullChroicocephalus ridibundusResidentCommon38–44 cmRecorded all year · 1.14% in May
Great Black-backed GullLarus marinusResidentCommon64–79 cmRecorded all year · 1.02% in May
Grey HeronArdea cinereaResidentCommon90–98 cmRecorded all year · 0.87% in May
GadwallMareca streperaResidentCommon46–56 cmRecorded all year · 0.84% in May
House MartinDelichon urbicumSummer visitorCommon13–15 cmRegularly Apr–Sep · 0.84% in May
YellowhammerEmberiza citrinellaResidentCommon16–17 cmRecorded all year · 0.82% in May
Sandwich TernThalasseus sandvicensisSummer visitorCommon36–41 cmRegularly Apr–Oct · 0.79% in May
Rock DoveColumba liviaResidentCommon31–34 cmRecorded all year · 0.79% in May
European ShagGulosus aristotelisResidentCommon65–80 cmRecorded all year · 0.76% in May
KittiwakeRissa tridactylaSummer visitorCommon37–41 cmRegularly Feb–Dec · 0.72% in May
Ringed PloverCharadrius hiaticulaResidentCommon17–19 cmRecorded all year · 0.72% in May
Common GullLarus canusResidentCommon40–46 cmRecorded all year · 0.71% in May
Sedge WarblerAcrocephalus schoenobaenusSummer visitorCommon12–13 cmRegularly Apr–Aug · 0.70% in May
RookCorvus frugilegusResidentCommon45–47 cmRecorded all year · 0.69% in May
Common SwiftApus apusSummer visitorCommon16–17 cmRegularly May–Aug · 0.67% in May
Common ScoterMelanitta nigraResidentCommon43–54 cmRecorded all year · records held back in May (protected)
Coal TitPeriparus aterResidentCommon10–12 cmRecorded all year · 0.61% in May
DunlinCalidris alpinaResidentCommon16–22 cmRecorded all year · 0.60% in May
Long-tailed TitAegithalos caudatusResidentCommon13–16 cmRecorded all year · 0.57% in May
Stock DoveColumba oenasResidentCommon32–34 cmRecorded all year · 0.57% in May
WheatearOenanthe oenantheSummer visitorCommon15–16 cmRegularly Mar–Oct · 0.55% in May
Eurasian Collared DoveStreptopelia decaoctoResidentCommon30–32 cmRecorded all year · 0.54% in May
MoorhenGallinula chloropusResidentCommon30–38 cmRecorded all year · 0.53% in May
BullfinchPyrrhula pyrrhulaResidentCommon15–17 cmRecorded all year · 0.52% in May
StonechatSaxicola rubicolaResidentCommon12–13 cmRecorded all year · 0.51% in May
RazorbillAlca tordaResidentCommon38–43 cmRecorded all year · 0.50% in May
Canada GooseBranta canadensisResidentCommon76–110 cmRecorded all year · 0.48% in May
Great Spotted WoodpeckerDendrocopos majorResidentCommon23–26 cmRecorded all year · 0.44% in May
Tufted DuckAythya fuligulaResidentCommon40–47 cmRecorded all year · 0.44% in May
BuzzardButeo buteoResidentCommon51–57 cmRecorded all year · 0.44% in May
FulmarFulmarus glacialisSummer visitorUncommon45–50 cmRegularly Dec–Sep · 0.43% in May
RedshankTringa totanusResidentCommon27–29 cmRecorded all year · 0.41% in May
GoldcrestRegulus regulusResidentCommon9–10 cmRecorded all year · 0.39% in May
Eurasian Tree SparrowPasser montanusResidentUncommon13–14 cmRecorded all year · 0.38% in May
Atlantic PuffinFratercula arcticaSummer visitorCommon28–34 cmRegularly Apr–Nov · 0.36% in May
Common MerganserMergus merganserResidentCommon58–68 cmRecorded all year · 0.36% in May
Eurasian TealAnas creccaResidentCommon34–38 cmRecorded all year · 0.36% in May
Eurasian WigeonMareca penelopeWinter visitorCommon42–51 cmRecorded all year · 0.35% in May
Common SandpiperActitis hypoleucosSummer visitorCommon18–20 cmRegularly Apr–Sep · 0.33% in May
WhimbrelNumenius phaeopusPassage migrantCommon40–46 cmRegularly Apr–Oct · 0.32% in May
Rock PipitAnthus petrosusWinter visitorCommon16–18 cmRecorded all year · 0.32% in May
GreenfinchChloris chlorisResidentUncommon15–16 cmRecorded all year · 0.31% in May
Bar-tailed GodwitLimosa lapponicaResidentCommon37–41 cmRecorded all year · 0.30% in May
Velvet ScoterMelanitta fuscaResidentCommon51–58 cmRecorded all year · 0.29% in May
Eurasian SiskinSpinus spinusResidentUncommon11–13 cmRecorded all year · 0.28% in May
KestrelFalco tinnunculusResidentCommon32–39 cmRecorded all year · 0.28% in May
Mistle ThrushTurdus viscivorusResidentCommon26–29 cmRegularly Sep–Jul · 0.27% in May
Grey PartridgePerdix perdixResidentUncommon28–32 cmRecorded all year · 0.27% in May
Northern LapwingVanellus vanellusResidentCommon28–31 cmRecorded all year · 0.26% in May
Eurasian NuthatchSitta europaeaResidentUncommon12–15 cmRecorded all year · 0.24% in May
TreecreeperCerthia familiarisResidentUncommon12–14 cmRecorded all year · 0.24% in May
Ruddy TurnstoneArenaria interpresWinter visitorCommon21–24 cmRegularly Jul–May · 0.23% in May
Common TernSterna hirundoSummer visitorCommon31–35 cmRegularly Apr–Sep · 0.22% in May
CootFulica atraResidentCommon36–42 cmRecorded all year · 0.21% in May
Northern ShovelerSpatula clypeataWinter visitorUncommon44–51 cmRegularly Jul–May · 0.21% in May
Red-breasted MerganserMergus serratorWinter visitorCommon52–58 cmRecorded all year · 0.21% in May
Grey WagtailMotacilla cinereaResidentUncommon17–20 cmRecorded all year · 0.19% in May
Little Ringed PloverThinornis dubiusSummer visitorUncommon14–17 cmRegularly Apr–Aug · 0.19% in May
SparrowhawkAccipiter nisusResidentCommon28–38 cmRecorded all year · 0.19% in May
Pink-footed GooseAnser brachyrhynchusWinter visitorCommon60–75 cmRegularly Sep–Jun · 0.18% in May
Grasshopper WarblerLocustella naeviaSummer visitorUncommon12–13 cmRegularly Apr–Jul · 0.18% in May
Little GrebeTachybaptus ruficollisResidentCommon23–29 cmRecorded all year · 0.18% in May
Peregrine FalconFalco peregrinusResidentUncommon34–58 cmRecorded all year · records held back in May (protected)
Yellow WagtailMotacilla flavaSummer visitorUncommon15–17 cmRegularly Apr–Sep · 0.16% in May
Eurasian JayGarrulus glandariusResidentUncommon32–35 cmRecorded all year · 0.15% in May
SanderlingCalidris albaWinter visitorUncommon18–20 cmRegularly Jul–May · 0.15% in May
Common RavenCorvus coraxResidentUncommon54–67 cmRecorded all year · 0.15% in May
Red GrouseLagopus scoticaResidentUncommon37–42 cmRecorded all year · 0.15% in May
Red-throated LoonGavia stellataWinter visitorCommon53–69 cmRecorded all year · 0.13% in May
Little EgretEgretta garzettaResidentCommon55–65 cmRecorded all year · 0.12% in May
Lesser WhitethroatCurruca currucaPassage migrantUncommon11–13 cmRegularly Apr–Oct · 0.12% in May
Garden WarblerSylvia borinPassage migrantUncommon14–15 cmRegularly Apr–Jun · 0.11% in May
Surf ScoterMelanitta perspicillataWinter visitorUncommon48–60 cmRegularly Sep–May · 0.11% in May
Black-tailed GodwitLimosa limosaSummer visitorCommon40–44 cmRecorded all year · 0.11% in May
Long-tailed DuckClangula hyemalisWinter visitorCommon37–60 cmRegularly Oct–May · 0.10% in May
Red-legged PartridgeAlectoris rufaResidentUncommon32–34 cmRecorded all year · 0.10% in May
Grey PloverPluvialis squatarolaWinter visitorCommon27–30 cmRegularly Aug–May · 0.10% in May
Spotted FlycatcherMuscicapa striataSummer visitorUncommon14–16 cmRegularly May–Aug · 0.09% in May
Common RedpollAcanthis flammeaResidentUncommon12–14 cmRecorded all year · 0.09% in May
Red KnotCalidris canutusWinter visitorCommon23–26 cmRecorded all year · 0.09% in May
WhinchatSaxicola rubetraSummer visitorUncommon12–14 cmRegularly Apr–Jul · 0.08% in May
CuckooCuculus canorusPassage migrantUncommon32–34 cmRegularly May–Jun · 0.08% in May
Barnacle GooseBranta leucopsisPassage migrantCommon58–70 cmRegularly May–Nov · 0.08% in May
Common KingfisherAlcedo atthisResidentUncommon16–17 cmRecorded all year · 0.07% in May
DipperCinclus cinclusResidentUncommon17–20 cmRecorded all year · 0.07% in May
GarganeySpatula querquedulaPassage migrantUncommon37–41 cmRegularly May–Aug · 0.07% in May
Common Reed-warblerAcrocephalus scirpaceusPassage migrantUncommon13–14 cmRegularly May–Jun · 0.06% in May
Common SnipeGallinago gallinagoWinter visitorCommon25–27 cmRecorded all year · 0.05% in May
OspreyPandion haliaetusSummer visitorRare54–58 cmRegularly May–Jul · 0.04% in May
Short-eared OwlAsio flammeusWinter visitorUncommon34–43 cmRegularly Sep–May · 0.04% in May
Common RedstartPhoenicurus phoenicurusPassage migrantRare13–15 cmRegularly May–Jun · 0.04% in May
Tawny OwlStrix alucoResidentUncommon37–43 cmRecorded all year · 0.04% in May
Arctic TernSterna paradisaeaSummer visitorUncommon33–39 cmRegularly May–Sep · 0.03% in May
Brent GooseBranta berniclaPassage migrantUncommon55–66 cmRegularly Sep–May · 0.03% in May
Tree PipitAnthus trivialisPassage migrantRare14–16 cmRegularly Apr–Jun · 0.03% in May
Golden PloverPluvialis apricariaWinter visitorUncommon26–29 cmRecorded all year · 0.03% in May
Ring OuzelTurdus torquatusPassage migrantUncommon23–24 cmRegularly Apr–Oct · 0.03% in May
Glaucous GullLarus hyperboreusPassage migrantRare62–68 cmRegularly Feb–May · 0.02% in May
Mandarin DuckAix galericulataResidentRare41–49 cmRegularly Apr–Sep · 0.02% in May
Red KiteMilvus milvusResidentRare60–66 cmRegularly May–Sep · 0.02% in May
Little TernSternula albifronsPassage migrantUncommon21–25 cmRegularly May–Aug · 0.02% in May
Manx ShearwaterPuffinus puffinusSummer visitorUncommon30–38 cmRegularly May–Oct · 0.02% in May
Mediterranean GullIchthyaetus melanocephalusSummer visitorUncommon37–40 cmRegularly May–Feb · 0.01% in May
Hen HarrierCircus cyaneusScarceRare41–52 cmRegularly Feb–Jul · records held back in May (protected)
Arctic LoonGavia arcticaResidentUncommon58–77 cmRegularly Apr–Jan · records held back in May (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