Birds to See in East Lothian in October
146 bird species on our list for East Lothian are recorded regularly in October
Of these, the most often recorded are Carrion Crow, European Herring Gull, Eurasian Oystercatcher, Black-headed Gull and Redshank. New this month: Goldeneye, Long-tailed Duck, Redwing and Fieldfare and 15 more.
On the move in October
GBIF · OctArriving
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 146 birds in October
146 birds
Carrion CrowCorvus coroneResidentCommon45–47 cmRecorded all year · 3.11% in Oct
European Herring GullLarus argentatusResidentCommon55–67 cmRecorded all year · 2.81% in Oct
Eurasian OystercatcherHaematopus ostralegusResidentCommon40–45 cmRecorded all year · 2.73% in Oct
Black-headed GullChroicocephalus ridibundusResidentCommon38–44 cmRecorded all year · 2.66% in Oct
RedshankTringa totanusResidentCommon27–29 cmRecorded all year · 2.37% in Oct
CurlewNumenius arquataResidentCommon50–60 cmRecorded all year · 2.33% in Oct
MagpiePica picaResidentCommon44–46 cmRecorded all year · 2.22% in Oct
European RobinErithacus rubeculaResidentCommon13–14 cmRecorded all year · 2.20% in Oct
WoodpigeonColumba palumbusResidentCommon40–42 cmRecorded all year · 2.17% in Oct
MallardAnas platyrhynchosResidentCommon50–65 cmRecorded all year · 2.04% in Oct
Great CormorantPhalacrocorax carboResidentCommon80–100 cmRecorded all year · 1.98% in Oct
Common StarlingSturnus vulgarisResidentCommon21–23 cmRecorded all year · 1.96% in Oct
JackdawColoeus monedulaResidentCommon34–39 cmRecorded all year · 1.92% in Oct
EiderSomateria mollissimaResidentCommon50–71 cmRecorded all year · 1.75% in Oct
Eurasian WrenTroglodytes troglodytesResidentCommon9–10 cmRecorded all year · 1.72% in Oct
Great Black-backed GullLarus marinusResidentCommon64–79 cmRecorded all year · 1.71% in Oct
Common GullLarus canusResidentCommon40–46 cmRecorded all year · 1.67% in Oct
Pied WagtailMotacilla albaResidentCommon17–19 cmRecorded all year · 1.65% in Oct
European GoldfinchCarduelis carduelisResidentCommon12–13 cmRecorded all year · 1.61% in Oct
BlackbirdTurdus merulaResidentCommon24–25 cmRecorded all year · 1.55% in Oct
Eurasian WigeonMareca penelopeWinter visitorCommon42–51 cmRecorded all year · 1.53% in Oct
Blue TitCyanistes caeruleusResidentCommon11–12 cmRecorded all year · 1.44% in Oct
Mute SwanCygnus olorResidentCommon140–160 cmRecorded all year · 1.43% in Oct
Grey HeronArdea cinereaResidentCommon90–98 cmRecorded all year · 1.39% in Oct
ChaffinchFringilla coelebsResidentCommon14–16 cmRecorded all year · 1.26% in Oct
Bar-tailed GodwitLimosa lapponicaResidentCommon37–41 cmRecorded all year · 1.25% in Oct
Eurasian TealAnas creccaResidentCommon34–38 cmRecorded all year · 1.23% in Oct
European ShagGulosus aristotelisResidentCommon65–80 cmRecorded all year · 1.20% in Oct
Ruddy TurnstoneArenaria interpresWinter visitorCommon21–24 cmRegularly Jul–May · 1.19% in Oct
DunlinCalidris alpinaResidentCommon16–22 cmRecorded all year · 1.18% in Oct
Greylag GooseAnser anserResidentCommon75–90 cmRecorded all year · 1.17% in Oct
Pink-footed GooseAnser brachyrhynchusWinter visitorCommon60–75 cmRegularly Sep–Jun · 1.17% in Oct
Northern GannetMorus bassanusSummer visitorCommon87–100 cmRegularly Feb–Nov · 1.16% in Oct
Rock PipitAnthus petrosusWinter visitorCommon16–18 cmRecorded all year · 1.14% in Oct
Northern LapwingVanellus vanellusResidentCommon28–31 cmRecorded all year · 1.05% in Oct
LinnetLinaria cannabinaResidentCommon13–14 cmRecorded all year · 1.04% in Oct
Red-breasted MerganserMergus serratorWinter visitorCommon52–58 cmRecorded all year · 1.04% in Oct
DunnockPrunella modularisResidentCommon14–15 cmRecorded all year · 0.99% in Oct
Eurasian SkylarkAlauda arvensisResidentCommon16–18 cmRecorded all year · 0.98% in Oct
Lesser Black-backed GullLarus fuscusSummer visitorCommon52–64 cmRecorded all year · 0.96% in Oct
Rock DoveColumba liviaResidentCommon31–34 cmRecorded all year · 0.92% in Oct
Common PheasantPhasianus colchicusResidentCommon50–90 cmRecorded all year · 0.92% in Oct
Red-throated LoonGavia stellataWinter visitorCommon53–69 cmRecorded all year · 0.88% in Oct
Great TitParus majorResidentCommonRecorded all year · 0.87% in Oct
Meadow PipitAnthus pratensisResidentCommon14–15 cmRecorded all year · 0.87% in Oct
RookCorvus frugilegusResidentCommon45–47 cmRecorded all year · 0.87% in Oct
Grey PloverPluvialis squatarolaWinter visitorCommon27–30 cmRegularly Aug–May · 0.75% in Oct
House SparrowPasser domesticusResidentCommon14–17 cmRecorded all year · 0.75% in Oct
GoldcrestRegulus regulusResidentCommon9–10 cmRecorded all year · 0.73% in Oct
Velvet ScoterMelanitta fuscaResidentCommon51–58 cmRecorded all year · 0.68% in Oct
Common ShelduckTadorna tadornaResidentCommon58–67 cmRecorded all year · 0.67% in Oct
Barnacle GooseBranta leucopsisPassage migrantCommon58–70 cmRegularly May–Nov · 0.66% in Oct
Long-tailed TitAegithalos caudatusResidentCommon13–16 cmRecorded all year · 0.66% in Oct
Common MerganserMergus merganserResidentCommon58–68 cmRecorded all year · 0.61% in Oct
Canada GooseBranta canadensisResidentCommon76–110 cmRecorded all year · 0.60% in Oct
BuzzardButeo buteoResidentCommon51–57 cmRecorded all year · 0.59% in Oct
Reed BuntingEmberiza schoeniclusResidentCommon14–16 cmRecorded all year · 0.57% in Oct
Little EgretEgretta garzettaResidentCommon55–65 cmRecorded all year · 0.57% in Oct
MoorhenGallinula chloropusResidentCommon30–38 cmRecorded all year · 0.57% in Oct
Ringed PloverCharadrius hiaticulaResidentCommon17–19 cmRecorded all year · 0.56% in Oct
StonechatSaxicola rubicolaResidentCommon12–13 cmRecorded all year · 0.56% in Oct
RazorbillAlca tordaResidentCommon38–43 cmRecorded all year · 0.55% in Oct
Coal TitPeriparus aterResidentCommon10–12 cmRecorded all year · 0.54% in Oct
Common ScoterMelanitta nigraResidentCommon43–54 cmRecorded all year · 0.53% in Oct
Common SnipeGallinago gallinagoWinter visitorCommon25–27 cmRecorded all year · 0.49% in Oct
RedwingTurdus iliacusWinter visitorCommon20–24 cmRegularly Oct–Apr · 0.46% in Oct
Horned GrebePodiceps auritusWinter visitorCommon31–38 cmRegularly Sep–Mar · 0.45% in Oct
CootFulica atraResidentCommon36–42 cmRecorded all year · 0.44% in Oct
YellowhammerEmberiza citrinellaResidentCommon16–17 cmRecorded all year · 0.44% in Oct
BullfinchPyrrhula pyrrhulaResidentCommon15–17 cmRecorded all year · 0.44% in Oct
Song ThrushTurdus philomelosResidentCommon20–23 cmRecorded all year · 0.41% in Oct
KestrelFalco tinnunculusResidentCommon32–39 cmRecorded all year · 0.39% in Oct
Little GrebeTachybaptus ruficollisResidentCommon23–29 cmRecorded all year · 0.39% in Oct
GadwallMareca streperaResidentCommon46–56 cmRecorded all year · 0.38% in Oct
Grey WagtailMotacilla cinereaResidentUncommon17–20 cmRecorded all year · 0.37% in Oct
Great Crested GrebePodiceps cristatusWinter visitorCommon46–51 cmRegularly Jul–Apr · 0.34% in Oct
SparrowhawkAccipiter nisusResidentCommon28–38 cmRecorded all year · 0.34% in Oct
Long-tailed DuckClangula hyemalisWinter visitorCommon37–60 cmRegularly Oct–May · 0.33% in Oct
GoldeneyeBucephala clangulaWinter visitorCommon40–51 cmRegularly Oct–Apr · 0.33% in Oct
ChiffchaffPhylloscopus collybitaSummer visitorCommon10–12 cmRegularly Mar–Oct · 0.32% in Oct
Golden PloverPluvialis apricariaWinter visitorUncommon26–29 cmRecorded all year · 0.32% in Oct
Red KnotCalidris canutusWinter visitorCommon23–26 cmRecorded all year · 0.32% in Oct
Grey PartridgePerdix perdixResidentUncommon28–32 cmRecorded all year · 0.30% in Oct
Great Spotted WoodpeckerDendrocopos majorResidentCommon23–26 cmRecorded all year · 0.30% in Oct
TwiteLinaria flavirostrisWinter visitorUncommon13–14 cmRegularly Oct–Mar · 0.30% in Oct
Eurasian Tree SparrowPasser montanusResidentUncommon13–14 cmRecorded all year · 0.27% in Oct
Purple SandpiperCalidris maritimaWinter visitorUncommon20–22 cmRegularly Aug–Apr · 0.27% in Oct
Peregrine FalconFalco peregrinusResidentUncommon34–58 cmRecorded all year · 0.27% in Oct
Sandwich TernThalasseus sandvicensisSummer visitorCommon36–41 cmRegularly Apr–Oct · 0.27% in Oct
Common KingfisherAlcedo atthisResidentUncommon16–17 cmRecorded all year · 0.26% in Oct
GreenfinchChloris chlorisResidentUncommon15–16 cmRecorded all year · 0.26% in Oct
KittiwakeRissa tridactylaSummer visitorCommon37–41 cmRegularly Feb–Dec · 0.26% in Oct
Tufted DuckAythya fuligulaResidentCommon40–47 cmRecorded all year · 0.26% in Oct
Eurasian Collared DoveStreptopelia decaoctoResidentCommon30–32 cmRecorded all year · 0.25% in Oct
Whooper SwanCygnus cygnusWinter visitorUncommon140–165 cmRegularly Sep–Mar · 0.25% in Oct
Black-tailed GodwitLimosa limosaSummer visitorCommon40–44 cmRecorded all year · 0.25% in Oct
Mistle ThrushTurdus viscivorusResidentCommon26–29 cmRegularly Sep–Jul · 0.25% in Oct
Eurasian SiskinSpinus spinusResidentUncommon11–13 cmRecorded all year · 0.24% in Oct
SanderlingCalidris albaWinter visitorUncommon18–20 cmRegularly Jul–May · 0.23% in Oct
Barn SwallowHirundo rusticaSummer visitorCommon17–19 cmRegularly Apr–Oct · 0.23% in Oct
WheatearOenanthe oenantheSummer visitorCommon15–16 cmRegularly Mar–Oct · 0.21% in Oct
GreenshankTringa nebulariaWinter visitorCommon30–35 cmRegularly Aug–Apr · 0.20% in Oct
Eurasian JayGarrulus glandariusResidentUncommon32–35 cmRecorded all year · 0.20% in Oct
BlackcapSylvia atricapillaSummer visitorCommon13–15 cmRegularly Apr–Oct · 0.19% in Oct
Little GullHydrocoloeus minutusPassage migrantUncommon25–30 cmRegularly Jul–Mar · 0.19% in Oct
Stock DoveColumba oenasResidentCommon32–34 cmRecorded all year · 0.18% in Oct
Northern ShovelerSpatula clypeataWinter visitorUncommon44–51 cmRegularly Jul–May · 0.17% in Oct
Eurasian NuthatchSitta europaeaResidentUncommon12–15 cmRecorded all year · 0.16% in Oct
Arctic JaegerStercorarius parasiticusPassage migrantUncommon41–46 cmRegularly Jul–Oct · 0.15% in Oct
Brent GooseBranta berniclaPassage migrantUncommon55–66 cmRegularly Sep–May · 0.14% in Oct
Yellow-browed WarblerPhylloscopus inornatusPassage migrantUncommon10–11 cmRegularly Sep–Oct · 0.14% in Oct
FieldfareTurdus pilarisWinter visitorCommon22–27 cmRegularly Oct–Mar · 0.14% in Oct
RuffCalidris pugnaxPassage migrantCommon20–32 cmRegularly Aug–Oct · 0.13% in Oct
TreecreeperCerthia familiarisResidentUncommon12–14 cmRecorded all year · 0.12% in Oct
Red-necked GrebePodiceps grisegenaPassage migrantUncommon40–50 cmRegularly Jul–Mar · 0.12% in Oct
Common RavenCorvus coraxResidentUncommon54–67 cmRecorded all year · 0.11% in Oct
BramblingFringilla montifringillaPassage migrantUncommon14–16 cmRegularly Oct–Mar · 0.10% in Oct
DipperCinclus cinclusResidentUncommon17–20 cmRecorded all year · 0.10% in Oct
Snow BuntingPlectrophenax nivalisPassage migrantUncommon15–18 cmRegularly Oct–Mar · 0.10% in Oct
Short-eared OwlAsio flammeusWinter visitorUncommon34–43 cmRegularly Sep–May · 0.09% in Oct
Surf ScoterMelanitta perspicillataWinter visitorUncommon48–60 cmRegularly Sep–May · 0.09% in Oct
Lesser WhitethroatCurruca currucaPassage migrantUncommon11–13 cmRegularly Apr–Oct · 0.08% in Oct
Mediterranean GullIchthyaetus melanocephalusSummer visitorUncommon37–40 cmRegularly May–Feb · 0.08% in Oct
Northern PintailAnas acutaPassage migrantUncommon59–76 cmRegularly Aug–Apr · 0.06% in Oct
PochardAythya ferinaWinter visitorUncommon42–49 cmRegularly Jul–Feb · 0.06% in Oct
Curlew SandpiperCalidris ferrugineaPassage migrantUncommon18–23 cmRegularly Aug–Oct · 0.06% in Oct
Common RedpollAcanthis flammeaResidentUncommon12–14 cmRecorded all year · 0.05% in Oct
Pomarine JaegerStercorarius pomarinusPassage migrantUncommon46–51 cmRegularly Aug–Oct · 0.05% in Oct
Common LoonGavia immerResidentUncommon66–91 cmRegularly Oct–Mar · 0.05% in Oct
Tawny OwlStrix alucoResidentUncommon37–43 cmRecorded all year · 0.05% in Oct
WhimbrelNumenius phaeopusPassage migrantCommon40–46 cmRegularly Apr–Oct · 0.05% in Oct
Greater ScaupAythya marilaPassage migrantUncommon39–56 cmRegularly Sep–Mar · 0.04% in Oct
MerlinFalco columbariusPassage migrantUncommon24–33 cmRegularly Jul–Jan · 0.04% in Oct
Atlantic PuffinFratercula arcticaSummer visitorCommon28–34 cmRegularly Apr–Nov · 0.04% in Oct
Black GuillemotCepphus grylleResidentUncommon30–32 cmRegularly Oct · 0.04% in Oct
Red CrossbillLoxia curvirostraWinter visitorUncommon15–17 cmRegularly Jun–Apr · 0.04% in Oct
Eurasian WoodcockScolopax rusticolaWinter visitorUncommon33–38 cmRegularly Oct–Mar · 0.03% in Oct
Jack SnipeLymnocryptes minimusPassage migrantRare17–19 cmRegularly Oct–Nov · 0.03% in Oct
Manx ShearwaterPuffinus puffinusSummer visitorUncommon30–38 cmRegularly May–Oct · 0.03% in Oct
Greater White-fronted GooseAnser albifronsPassage migrantUncommon64–81 cmRegularly Oct · 0.03% in Oct
Black RedstartPhoenicurus ochrurosPassage migrantUncommon13–15 cmRegularly Oct–Feb · 0.02% in Oct
Ring OuzelTurdus torquatusPassage migrantUncommon23–24 cmRegularly Apr–Oct · 0.02% in Oct
Barn OwlTyto albaResidentUncommon33–39 cmRegularly Oct–Jul · 0.02% in Oct
Red GrouseLagopus scoticaResidentUncommon37–42 cmRecorded all year · 0.02% in Oct
Red-legged PartridgeAlectoris rufaResidentUncommon32–34 cmRecorded all year · 0.02% in Oct
Arctic LoonGavia arcticaResidentUncommon58–77 cmRegularly Apr–Jan · 0.01% in Oct
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