Birds to See in East Lothian in September
143 bird species on our list for East Lothian are recorded regularly in September
Of these, the most often recorded are Carrion Crow, European Herring Gull, Eurasian Oystercatcher, Woodpigeon and Black-headed Gull. New this month: Pink-footed Goose, Mistle Thrush, Horned Grebe and Little Stint and 8 more.
On the move in September
GBIF · SepArriving
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 September
143 birds
Carrion CrowCorvus coroneResidentCommon45–47 cmRecorded all year · 2.85% in Sep
European Herring GullLarus argentatusResidentCommon55–67 cmRecorded all year · 2.70% in Sep
Eurasian OystercatcherHaematopus ostralegusResidentCommon40–45 cmRecorded all year · 2.62% in Sep
WoodpigeonColumba palumbusResidentCommon40–42 cmRecorded all year · 2.60% in Sep
Black-headed GullChroicocephalus ridibundusResidentCommon38–44 cmRecorded all year · 2.55% in Sep
CurlewNumenius arquataResidentCommon50–60 cmRecorded all year · 2.39% in Sep
RedshankTringa totanusResidentCommon27–29 cmRecorded all year · 2.29% in Sep
Pied WagtailMotacilla albaResidentCommon17–19 cmRecorded all year · 2.09% in Sep
Great CormorantPhalacrocorax carboResidentCommon80–100 cmRecorded all year · 1.98% in Sep
MagpiePica picaResidentCommon44–46 cmRecorded all year · 1.96% in Sep
MallardAnas platyrhynchosResidentCommon50–65 cmRecorded all year · 1.92% in Sep
JackdawColoeus monedulaResidentCommon34–39 cmRecorded all year · 1.87% in Sep
European RobinErithacus rubeculaResidentCommon13–14 cmRecorded all year · 1.85% in Sep
Grey HeronArdea cinereaResidentCommon90–98 cmRecorded all year · 1.77% in Sep
EiderSomateria mollissimaResidentCommon50–71 cmRecorded all year · 1.73% in Sep
Great Black-backed GullLarus marinusResidentCommon64–79 cmRecorded all year · 1.72% in Sep
European GoldfinchCarduelis carduelisResidentCommon12–13 cmRecorded all year · 1.71% in Sep
Northern GannetMorus bassanusSummer visitorCommon87–100 cmRegularly Feb–Nov · 1.71% in Sep
Barn SwallowHirundo rusticaSummer visitorCommon17–19 cmRegularly Apr–Oct · 1.67% in Sep
Greylag GooseAnser anserResidentCommon75–90 cmRecorded all year · 1.61% in Sep
Common StarlingSturnus vulgarisResidentCommon21–23 cmRecorded all year · 1.55% in Sep
DunlinCalidris alpinaResidentCommon16–22 cmRecorded all year · 1.50% in Sep
Lesser Black-backed GullLarus fuscusSummer visitorCommon52–64 cmRecorded all year · 1.49% in Sep
Sandwich TernThalasseus sandvicensisSummer visitorCommon36–41 cmRegularly Apr–Oct · 1.46% in Sep
Mute SwanCygnus olorResidentCommon140–160 cmRecorded all year · 1.44% in Sep
Eurasian TealAnas creccaResidentCommon34–38 cmRecorded all year · 1.40% in Sep
Common GullLarus canusResidentCommon40–46 cmRecorded all year · 1.34% in Sep
Blue TitCyanistes caeruleusResidentCommon11–12 cmRecorded all year · 1.29% in Sep
Bar-tailed GodwitLimosa lapponicaResidentCommon37–41 cmRecorded all year · 1.23% in Sep
Eurasian WigeonMareca penelopeWinter visitorCommon42–51 cmRecorded all year · 1.21% in Sep
Eurasian WrenTroglodytes troglodytesResidentCommon9–10 cmRecorded all year · 1.19% in Sep
Northern LapwingVanellus vanellusResidentCommon28–31 cmRecorded all year · 1.16% in Sep
Canada GooseBranta canadensisResidentCommon76–110 cmRecorded all year · 1.14% in Sep
Common MerganserMergus merganserResidentCommon58–68 cmRecorded all year · 1.08% in Sep
Ruddy TurnstoneArenaria interpresWinter visitorCommon21–24 cmRegularly Jul–May · 1.06% in Sep
European ShagGulosus aristotelisResidentCommon65–80 cmRecorded all year · 1.01% in Sep
ChiffchaffPhylloscopus collybitaSummer visitorCommon10–12 cmRegularly Mar–Oct · 1.00% in Sep
LinnetLinaria cannabinaResidentCommon13–14 cmRecorded all year · 1.00% in Sep
Meadow PipitAnthus pratensisResidentCommon14–15 cmRecorded all year · 1.00% in Sep
BlackbirdTurdus merulaResidentCommon24–25 cmRecorded all year · 0.94% in Sep
Rock DoveColumba liviaResidentCommon31–34 cmRecorded all year · 0.92% in Sep
Ringed PloverCharadrius hiaticulaResidentCommon17–19 cmRecorded all year · 0.91% in Sep
ChaffinchFringilla coelebsResidentCommon14–16 cmRecorded all year · 0.89% in Sep
RuffCalidris pugnaxPassage migrantCommon20–32 cmRegularly Aug–Oct · 0.84% in Sep
Great TitParus majorResidentCommonRecorded all year · 0.80% in Sep
Common ShelduckTadorna tadornaResidentCommon58–67 cmRecorded all year · 0.75% in Sep
RazorbillAlca tordaResidentCommon38–43 cmRecorded all year · 0.67% in Sep
Common PheasantPhasianus colchicusResidentCommon50–90 cmRecorded all year · 0.64% in Sep
Common SnipeGallinago gallinagoWinter visitorCommon25–27 cmRecorded all year · 0.64% in Sep
Velvet ScoterMelanitta fuscaResidentCommon51–58 cmRecorded all year · 0.64% in Sep
Rock PipitAnthus petrosusWinter visitorCommon16–18 cmRecorded all year · 0.62% in Sep
RookCorvus frugilegusResidentCommon45–47 cmRecorded all year · 0.61% in Sep
Red-throated LoonGavia stellataWinter visitorCommon53–69 cmRecorded all year · 0.60% in Sep
Black-tailed GodwitLimosa limosaSummer visitorCommon40–44 cmRecorded all year · 0.59% in Sep
Little GrebeTachybaptus ruficollisResidentCommon23–29 cmRecorded all year · 0.59% in Sep
Pink-footed GooseAnser brachyrhynchusWinter visitorCommon60–75 cmRegularly Sep–Jun · 0.59% in Sep
DunnockPrunella modularisResidentCommon14–15 cmRecorded all year · 0.57% in Sep
Red KnotCalidris canutusWinter visitorCommon23–26 cmRecorded all year · 0.57% in Sep
KittiwakeRissa tridactylaSummer visitorCommon37–41 cmRegularly Feb–Dec · 0.55% in Sep
Eurasian SkylarkAlauda arvensisResidentCommon16–18 cmRecorded all year · 0.53% in Sep
House SparrowPasser domesticusResidentCommon14–17 cmRecorded all year · 0.52% in Sep
MoorhenGallinula chloropusResidentCommon30–38 cmRecorded all year · 0.52% in Sep
CootFulica atraResidentCommon36–42 cmRecorded all year · 0.52% in Sep
GadwallMareca streperaResidentCommon46–56 cmRecorded all year · 0.51% in Sep
GreenshankTringa nebulariaWinter visitorCommon30–35 cmRegularly Aug–Apr · 0.51% in Sep
Common ScoterMelanitta nigraResidentCommon43–54 cmRecorded all year · 0.50% in Sep
Coal TitPeriparus aterResidentCommon10–12 cmRecorded all year · 0.49% in Sep
Red-breasted MerganserMergus serratorWinter visitorCommon52–58 cmRecorded all year · 0.49% in Sep
Reed BuntingEmberiza schoeniclusResidentCommon14–16 cmRecorded all year · 0.49% in Sep
House MartinDelichon urbicumSummer visitorCommon13–15 cmRegularly Apr–Sep · 0.48% in Sep
Great Crested GrebePodiceps cristatusWinter visitorCommon46–51 cmRegularly Jul–Apr · 0.47% in Sep
WheatearOenanthe oenantheSummer visitorCommon15–16 cmRegularly Mar–Oct · 0.47% in Sep
Long-tailed TitAegithalos caudatusResidentCommon13–16 cmRecorded all year · 0.47% in Sep
BuzzardButeo buteoResidentCommon51–57 cmRecorded all year · 0.47% in Sep
Stock DoveColumba oenasResidentCommon32–34 cmRecorded all year · 0.45% in Sep
SanderlingCalidris albaWinter visitorUncommon18–20 cmRegularly Jul–May · 0.42% in Sep
Little EgretEgretta garzettaResidentCommon55–65 cmRecorded all year · 0.41% in Sep
Little StintCalidris minutaPassage migrantUncommon13–15 cmRegularly Sep · 0.40% in Sep
Grey WagtailMotacilla cinereaResidentUncommon17–20 cmRecorded all year · 0.39% in Sep
StonechatSaxicola rubicolaResidentCommon12–13 cmRecorded all year · 0.39% in Sep
Curlew SandpiperCalidris ferrugineaPassage migrantUncommon18–23 cmRegularly Aug–Oct · 0.38% in Sep
KestrelFalco tinnunculusResidentCommon32–39 cmRecorded all year · 0.35% in Sep
SparrowhawkAccipiter nisusResidentCommon28–38 cmRecorded all year · 0.34% in Sep
Grey PloverPluvialis squatarolaWinter visitorCommon27–30 cmRegularly Aug–May · 0.34% in Sep
GoldcrestRegulus regulusResidentCommon9–10 cmRecorded all year · 0.32% in Sep
Common TernSterna hirundoSummer visitorCommon31–35 cmRegularly Apr–Sep · 0.31% in Sep
Peregrine FalconFalco peregrinusResidentUncommon34–58 cmRecorded all year · 0.30% in Sep
WhimbrelNumenius phaeopusPassage migrantCommon40–46 cmRegularly Apr–Oct · 0.30% in Sep
Tufted DuckAythya fuligulaResidentCommon40–47 cmRecorded all year · 0.28% in Sep
Great Spotted WoodpeckerDendrocopos majorResidentCommon23–26 cmRecorded all year · 0.28% in Sep
Sand MartinRiparia ripariaSummer visitorCommon12–14 cmRegularly Mar–Sep · 0.27% in Sep
Arctic JaegerStercorarius parasiticusPassage migrantUncommon41–46 cmRegularly Jul–Oct · 0.24% in Sep
BullfinchPyrrhula pyrrhulaResidentCommon15–17 cmRecorded all year · 0.24% in Sep
Horned GrebePodiceps auritusWinter visitorCommon31–38 cmRegularly Sep–Mar · 0.24% in Sep
Common KingfisherAlcedo atthisResidentUncommon16–17 cmRecorded all year · 0.23% in Sep
Northern ShovelerSpatula clypeataWinter visitorUncommon44–51 cmRegularly Jul–May · 0.23% in Sep
YellowhammerEmberiza citrinellaResidentCommon16–17 cmRecorded all year · 0.23% in Sep
Eurasian Collared DoveStreptopelia decaoctoResidentCommon30–32 cmRecorded all year · 0.21% in Sep
FulmarFulmarus glacialisSummer visitorUncommon45–50 cmRegularly Dec–Sep · 0.21% in Sep
Little GullHydrocoloeus minutusPassage migrantUncommon25–30 cmRegularly Jul–Mar · 0.18% in Sep
Common SandpiperActitis hypoleucosSummer visitorCommon18–20 cmRegularly Apr–Sep · 0.18% in Sep
Barnacle GooseBranta leucopsisPassage migrantCommon58–70 cmRegularly May–Nov · 0.17% in Sep
Willow WarblerPhylloscopus trochilusSummer visitorCommon11–13 cmRegularly Apr–Sep · 0.17% in Sep
Grey PartridgePerdix perdixResidentUncommon28–32 cmRecorded all year · 0.17% in Sep
Eurasian NuthatchSitta europaeaResidentUncommon12–15 cmRecorded all year · 0.16% in Sep
Brent GooseBranta berniclaPassage migrantUncommon55–66 cmRegularly Sep–May · 0.14% in Sep
Eurasian Tree SparrowPasser montanusResidentUncommon13–14 cmRecorded all year · 0.14% in Sep
Song ThrushTurdus philomelosResidentCommon20–23 cmRecorded all year · 0.14% in Sep
Golden PloverPluvialis apricariaWinter visitorUncommon26–29 cmRecorded all year · 0.13% in Sep
BlackcapSylvia atricapillaSummer visitorCommon13–15 cmRegularly Apr–Oct · 0.13% in Sep
Mediterranean GullIchthyaetus melanocephalusSummer visitorUncommon37–40 cmRegularly May–Feb · 0.12% in Sep
WhitethroatCurruca communisSummer visitorCommon13–15 cmRegularly Apr–Sep · 0.12% in Sep
Eurasian JayGarrulus glandariusResidentUncommon32–35 cmRecorded all year · 0.12% in Sep
Manx ShearwaterPuffinus puffinusSummer visitorUncommon30–38 cmRegularly May–Oct · 0.12% in Sep
Arctic TernSterna paradisaeaSummer visitorUncommon33–39 cmRegularly May–Sep · 0.11% in Sep
TreecreeperCerthia familiarisResidentUncommon12–14 cmRecorded all year · 0.11% in Sep
Greater ScaupAythya marilaPassage migrantUncommon39–56 cmRegularly Sep–Mar · 0.10% in Sep
Red-necked GrebePodiceps grisegenaPassage migrantUncommon40–50 cmRegularly Jul–Mar · 0.10% in Sep
GreenfinchChloris chlorisResidentUncommon15–16 cmRecorded all year · 0.09% in Sep
Yellow-browed WarblerPhylloscopus inornatusPassage migrantUncommon10–11 cmRegularly Sep–Oct · 0.09% in Sep
Great SkuaStercorarius skuaPassage migrantUncommon50–58 cmRegularly Aug–Sep · 0.08% in Sep
Common RavenCorvus coraxResidentUncommon54–67 cmRecorded all year · 0.08% in Sep
Northern PintailAnas acutaPassage migrantUncommon59–76 cmRegularly Aug–Apr · 0.07% in Sep
Surf ScoterMelanitta perspicillataWinter visitorUncommon48–60 cmRegularly Sep–May · 0.07% in Sep
Eurasian SiskinSpinus spinusResidentUncommon11–13 cmRecorded all year · 0.06% in Sep
Yellow WagtailMotacilla flavaSummer visitorUncommon15–17 cmRegularly Apr–Sep · 0.06% in Sep
DipperCinclus cinclusResidentUncommon17–20 cmRecorded all year · 0.05% in Sep
Green SandpiperTringa ochropusPassage migrantUncommon21–24 cmRegularly Aug–Sep · 0.05% in Sep
Mistle ThrushTurdus viscivorusResidentCommon26–29 cmRegularly Sep–Jul · 0.05% in Sep
Lesser WhitethroatCurruca currucaPassage migrantUncommon11–13 cmRegularly Apr–Oct · 0.04% in Sep
Mandarin DuckAix galericulataResidentRare41–49 cmRegularly Apr–Sep · 0.04% in Sep
Whooper SwanCygnus cygnusWinter visitorUncommon140–165 cmRegularly Sep–Mar · 0.04% in Sep
PochardAythya ferinaWinter visitorUncommon42–49 cmRegularly Jul–Feb · 0.04% in Sep
Pomarine JaegerStercorarius pomarinusPassage migrantUncommon46–51 cmRegularly Aug–Oct · 0.04% in Sep
Red GrouseLagopus scoticaResidentUncommon37–42 cmRecorded all year · 0.03% in Sep
Red CrossbillLoxia curvirostraWinter visitorUncommon15–17 cmRegularly Jun–Apr · 0.03% in Sep
Tawny OwlStrix alucoResidentUncommon37–43 cmRecorded all year · 0.02% in Sep
Red-legged PartridgeAlectoris rufaResidentUncommon32–34 cmRecorded all year · 0.02% in Sep
Western Marsh-harrierCircus aeruginosusPassage migrantRare48–56 cmRegularly Aug–Sep · 0.02% in Sep
Red KiteMilvus milvusResidentRare60–66 cmRegularly May–Sep · 0.02% in Sep
Short-eared OwlAsio flammeusWinter visitorUncommon34–43 cmRegularly Sep–May · 0.02% in Sep
Wood SandpiperTringa glareolaPassage migrantUncommon19–21 cmRegularly Aug–Sep · 0.02% in Sep
Common RedpollAcanthis flammeaResidentUncommon12–14 cmRecorded all year · 0.01% in Sep
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