Birds to See in Scottish Borders in September
119 bird species on our list for Scottish Borders are recorded regularly in September
Of these, the most often recorded are European Robin, Woodpigeon, Carrion Crow, Barn Swallow and Jackdaw. New this month: Eurasian Wigeon, Pink-footed Goose, Tawny Owl and Yellow-browed Warbler and 14 more.
On the move in September
GBIF · SepArriving
At their peak
From Scottish Borders’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 119 birds in September
119 birds
European RobinErithacus rubeculaResidentCommon13–14 cmRecorded all year · 3.15% in Sep
WoodpigeonColumba palumbusResidentCommon40–42 cmRecorded all year · 2.97% in Sep
Carrion CrowCorvus coroneResidentCommon45–47 cmRecorded all year · 2.90% in Sep
Barn SwallowHirundo rusticaSummer visitorCommon17–19 cmRegularly Apr–Oct · 2.39% in Sep
JackdawColoeus monedulaResidentCommon34–39 cmRecorded all year · 2.19% in Sep
Blue TitCyanistes caeruleusResidentCommon11–12 cmRecorded all year · 2.09% in Sep
ChiffchaffPhylloscopus collybitaSummer visitorCommon10–12 cmRegularly Mar–Nov · 2.09% in Sep
European Herring GullLarus argentatusResidentCommon55–67 cmRecorded all year · 2.05% in Sep
Eurasian WrenTroglodytes troglodytesResidentCommon9–10 cmRecorded all year · 2.00% in Sep
ChaffinchFringilla coelebsResidentCommon14–16 cmRecorded all year · 1.96% in Sep
BlackbirdTurdus merulaResidentCommon24–25 cmRecorded all year · 1.90% in Sep
Meadow PipitAnthus pratensisSummer visitorCommon14–15 cmRecorded all year · 1.86% in Sep
MallardAnas platyrhynchosResidentCommon50–65 cmRecorded all year · 1.76% in Sep
Pied WagtailMotacilla albaSummer visitorCommon17–18 cmRegularly Mar–Jan · 1.74% in Sep
Great TitParus majorResidentCommonRecorded all year · 1.70% in Sep
Northern GannetMorus bassanusSummer visitorCommon87–100 cmRegularly Feb–Nov · 1.66% in Sep
BuzzardButeo buteoResidentCommon51–57 cmRecorded all year · 1.62% in Sep
European GoldfinchCarduelis carduelisResidentCommon12–13 cmRecorded all year · 1.62% in Sep
Rock DoveColumba liviaResidentCommon31–34 cmRecorded all year · 1.62% in Sep
DunnockPrunella modularisResidentCommon14–15 cmRecorded all year · 1.55% in Sep
Coal TitPeriparus aterResidentCommon10–12 cmRecorded all year · 1.53% in Sep
GoldcrestRegulus regulusResidentCommon9–10 cmRecorded all year · 1.47% in Sep
House MartinDelichon urbicumSummer visitorCommon13–15 cmRegularly Apr–Sep · 1.43% in Sep
Great Black-backed GullLarus marinusResidentCommon64–79 cmRecorded all year · 1.41% in Sep
LinnetLinaria cannabinaSummer visitorCommon13–14 cmRegularly Jan–Nov · 1.27% in Sep
MagpiePica picaResidentCommon44–46 cmRecorded all year · 1.25% in Sep
RookCorvus frugilegusResidentCommon45–47 cmRecorded all year · 1.23% in Sep
European ShagGulosus aristotelisResidentCommon65–80 cmRecorded all year · 1.21% in Sep
Grey HeronArdea cinereaResidentCommon90–98 cmRecorded all year · 1.19% in Sep
House SparrowPasser domesticusResidentCommon14–17 cmRecorded all year · 1.12% in Sep
Common StarlingSturnus vulgarisResidentCommon21–23 cmRecorded all year · 1.10% in Sep
Black-headed GullChroicocephalus ridibundusResidentCommon38–44 cmRecorded all year · 1.06% in Sep
TreecreeperCerthia familiarisResidentCommon12–14 cmRecorded all year · 1.04% in Sep
Eurasian TealAnas creccaWinter visitorCommon34–38 cmRegularly Aug–Jun · 1.02% in Sep
Great CormorantPhalacrocorax carboResidentCommon80–100 cmRecorded all year · 1.02% in Sep
MoorhenGallinula chloropusResidentCommon30–38 cmRecorded all year · 1.02% in Sep
FulmarFulmarus glacialisResidentCommon45–50 cmRegularly Nov–Sep · 1.00% in Sep
Little GrebeTachybaptus ruficollisResidentCommon23–29 cmRecorded all year · 1.00% in Sep
KestrelFalco tinnunculusResidentCommon32–39 cmRecorded all year · 0.98% in Sep
CurlewNumenius arquataResidentCommon50–60 cmRecorded all year · 0.96% in Sep
Song ThrushTurdus philomelosResidentCommon20–23 cmRecorded all year · 0.96% in Sep
Common RavenCorvus coraxResidentCommon54–67 cmRecorded all year · 0.92% in Sep
CootFulica atraSummer visitorCommon36–42 cmRegularly Jan–Nov · 0.90% in Sep
KittiwakeRissa tridactylaSummer visitorCommon37–41 cmRegularly Mar–Nov · 0.88% in Sep
Eurasian OystercatcherHaematopus ostralegusResidentCommon40–45 cmRecorded all year · 0.84% in Sep
Tufted DuckAythya fuligulaResidentCommon40–47 cmRecorded all year · 0.84% in Sep
Eurasian SkylarkAlauda arvensisSummer visitorCommon16–18 cmRegularly Jan–Nov · 0.78% in Sep
Eurasian WigeonMareca penelopePassage migrantCommon42–51 cmRegularly Sep–Apr · 0.78% in Sep
Mute SwanCygnus olorResidentCommon140–160 cmRecorded all year · 0.78% in Sep
Common MerganserMergus merganserWinter visitorCommon58–68 cmRecorded all year · 0.74% in Sep
StonechatSaxicola rubicolaSummer visitorCommon12–13 cmRegularly Feb–Nov · 0.74% in Sep
Common PheasantPhasianus colchicusResidentCommon50–90 cmRecorded all year · 0.72% in Sep
Grey WagtailMotacilla cinereaResidentCommon17–20 cmRecorded all year · 0.72% in Sep
Reed BuntingEmberiza schoeniclusSummer visitorCommon14–16 cmRegularly Jan–Nov · 0.70% in Sep
WheatearOenanthe oenantheSummer visitorCommon15–16 cmRegularly Mar–Oct · 0.70% in Sep
Willow WarblerPhylloscopus trochilusSummer visitorCommon11–13 cmRegularly Apr–Oct · 0.70% in Sep
BlackcapSylvia atricapillaSummer visitorCommon13–15 cmRegularly Apr–Oct · 0.65% in Sep
Great Spotted WoodpeckerDendrocopos majorResidentCommon23–26 cmRecorded all year · 0.63% in Sep
Pink-footed GooseAnser brachyrhynchusPassage migrantCommon60–75 cmRegularly Sep–May · 0.63% in Sep
EiderSomateria mollissimaWinter visitorCommon50–71 cmRegularly Aug–Jun · 0.59% in Sep
Eurasian Tree SparrowPasser montanusSummer visitorCommon13–14 cmRegularly Jan–Nov · 0.59% in Sep
Manx ShearwaterPuffinus puffinusPassage migrantCommon30–38 cmRegularly Jul–Sep · 0.59% in Sep
RazorbillAlca tordaSummer visitorCommon38–43 cmRegularly Feb–Dec · 0.59% in Sep
BullfinchPyrrhula pyrrhulaResidentCommon15–17 cmRecorded all year · 0.57% in Sep
Common ScoterMelanitta nigraResidentCommon43–54 cmRegularly Aug–Nov · 0.55% in Sep
Eurasian NuthatchSitta europaeaResidentCommon12–15 cmRecorded all year · 0.55% in Sep
Red-throated LoonGavia stellataResidentCommon53–69 cmRegularly Jul–Feb · 0.55% in Sep
Common GullLarus canusWinter visitorCommon40–46 cmRecorded all year · 0.53% in Sep
Rock PipitAnthus petrosusResidentCommon16–18 cmRecorded all year · 0.51% in Sep
YellowhammerEmberiza citrinellaSummer visitorCommon16–17 cmRegularly Jan–Nov · 0.51% in Sep
Arctic JaegerStercorarius parasiticusPassage migrantCommon41–46 cmRegularly Jul–Oct · 0.49% in Sep
Greylag GooseAnser anserResidentCommon75–90 cmRecorded all year · 0.49% in Sep
Long-tailed TitAegithalos caudatusWinter visitorCommon13–16 cmRecorded all year · 0.49% in Sep
Eurasian JayGarrulus glandariusResidentCommon32–35 cmRegularly Aug–Jun · 0.45% in Sep
Eurasian SiskinSpinus spinusResidentCommon11–13 cmRecorded all year · 0.45% in Sep
SparrowhawkAccipiter nisusWinter visitorCommon28–38 cmRegularly Aug–Jun · 0.45% in Sep
European Pied FlycatcherFicedula hypoleucaPassage migrantUncommon12–14 cmRegularly May–Sep · 0.43% in Sep
Sandwich TernThalasseus sandvicensisSummer visitorCommon36–41 cmRegularly Apr–Sep · 0.43% in Sep
Eurasian Collared DoveStreptopelia decaoctoSummer visitorCommon30–32 cmRegularly Mar–Jan · 0.39% in Sep
Great SkuaStercorarius skuaPassage migrantUncommon50–58 cmRegularly Aug–Sep · 0.39% in Sep
GreenfinchChloris chlorisResidentCommon15–16 cmRecorded all year · 0.39% in Sep
Spotted FlycatcherMuscicapa striataSummer visitorUncommon14–16 cmRegularly May–Sep · 0.39% in Sep
Lesser Black-backed GullLarus fuscusSummer visitorCommon52–64 cmRegularly Jan–Oct · 0.35% in Sep
Sooty ShearwaterArdenna griseaPassage migrantUncommon40–51 cmRegularly Aug–Nov · 0.35% in Sep
Peregrine FalconFalco peregrinusResidentUncommon34–58 cmRegularly Mar–Jan · 0.33% in Sep
Yellow-browed WarblerPhylloscopus inornatusPassage migrantCommon10–11 cmRegularly Sep–Oct · 0.33% in Sep
DipperCinclus cinclusWinter visitorCommon17–20 cmRecorded all year · 0.31% in Sep
Common RedstartPhoenicurus phoenicurusPassage migrantUncommon13–15 cmRegularly May–Sep · 0.29% in Sep
Mistle ThrushTurdus viscivorusResidentCommon26–29 cmRecorded all year · 0.27% in Sep
RedshankTringa totanusWinter visitorCommon27–29 cmRegularly Aug–May · 0.27% in Sep
WhitethroatCurruca communisSummer visitorCommon13–15 cmRegularly May–Sep · 0.27% in Sep
Barnacle GooseBranta leucopsisPassage migrantUncommon58–70 cmRegularly Sep–Oct · 0.25% in Sep
Common RedpollAcanthis flammeaSummer visitorUncommon12–14 cmRegularly Jan–Nov · 0.25% in Sep
Common TernSterna hirundoPassage migrantUncommon31–35 cmRegularly May–Sep · 0.20% in Sep
Arctic TernSterna paradisaeaPassage migrantUncommon33–39 cmRegularly Aug–Sep · 0.18% in Sep
Tawny OwlStrix alucoResidentCommon37–43 cmRegularly Sep–May · 0.18% in Sep
Velvet ScoterMelanitta fuscaResidentUncommon51–58 cmRegularly Sep–Nov · 0.18% in Sep
WhimbrelNumenius phaeopusPassage migrantUncommon40–46 cmRegularly Jul–Sep · 0.18% in Sep
Golden PloverPluvialis apricariaPassage migrantUncommon26–29 cmRegularly Aug–Oct · 0.16% in Sep
WhinchatSaxicola rubetraPassage migrantUncommon12–14 cmRegularly Jun–Sep · 0.16% in Sep
Common KingfisherAlcedo atthisResidentUncommon16–17 cmRegularly Sep–Mar · 0.14% in Sep
Red-legged PartridgeAlectoris rufaResidentUncommon32–34 cmRegularly Sep–Jun · 0.14% in Sep
Sand MartinRiparia ripariaSummer visitorCommon12–14 cmRegularly Apr–Sep · 0.14% in Sep
Red CrossbillLoxia curvirostraResidentCommon15–17 cmRegularly Feb–Nov · 0.12% in Sep
Tree PipitAnthus trivialisPassage migrantUncommon14–16 cmRegularly Aug–Sep · 0.12% in Sep
Brent GooseBranta berniclaScarceUncommon55–66 cmRegularly Sep · 0.10% in Sep
GadwallMareca streperaResidentUncommon46–56 cmRegularly Sep–Feb · 0.10% in Sep
Grey PartridgePerdix perdixSummer visitorUncommon28–32 cmRegularly Feb–Sep · 0.10% in Sep
MerlinFalco columbariusPassage migrantUncommon24–33 cmRegularly Sep · 0.10% in Sep
Pomarine JaegerStercorarius pomarinusPassage migrantUncommon46–51 cmRegularly Aug–Sep · 0.10% in Sep
Red-breasted MerganserMergus serratorResidentUncommon52–58 cmRegularly Mar–Oct · 0.10% in Sep
Ruddy TurnstoneArenaria interpresPassage migrantUncommon21–24 cmRegularly Aug–Feb · 0.10% in Sep
Sedge WarblerAcrocephalus schoenobaenusSummer visitorCommon12–13 cmRegularly May–Sep · 0.10% in Sep
Yellow WagtailMotacilla flavaPassage migrantUncommon15–17 cmRegularly Aug–Sep · 0.10% in Sep
Common SnipeGallinago gallinagoResidentUncommon25–27 cmRegularly Sep–May · 0.08% in Sep
Ringed PloverCharadrius hiaticulaScarceUncommon17–19 cmRegularly Aug–Sep · 0.08% in Sep
Bar-tailed GodwitLimosa lapponicaResidentUncommon37–41 cmRegularly Sep · 0.06% in Sep
Little EgretEgretta garzettaPassage migrantUncommon55–65 cmRegularly Sep–Jan · 0.06% in Sep
Northern LapwingVanellus vanellusResidentCommon28–31 cmRegularly Mar–Oct · 0.06% 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