Norm Milligan
@normmill.bsky.social
Mainly Birding, mainly Lothian and mainly Midlothian
Geese at Gullane Point today. Confiding juvenile Brent Goose and a close pass of a flock of yapping Barnacle Geese #BirdingLothian
October 30, 2025 at 8:46 PM
Geese at Gullane Point today. Confiding juvenile Brent Goose and a close pass of a flock of yapping Barnacle Geese #BirdingLothian
Yesterday at Gladhouse, probable Tufted Duck x Scaup, one remaining Slav Grebe and m&f Pochard @birdinglothian.bsky.social
October 30, 2025 at 7:59 PM
Yesterday at Gladhouse, probable Tufted Duck x Scaup, one remaining Slav Grebe and m&f Pochard @birdinglothian.bsky.social
Good to bump into this Siberian Chiffchaff in the gloomy, damp under-storey of the wood at Barns Ness this morning @birdinglothian.bsky.social
October 21, 2025 at 7:37 PM
Good to bump into this Siberian Chiffchaff in the gloomy, damp under-storey of the wood at Barns Ness this morning @birdinglothian.bsky.social
Gladhouse this afternoon had 3 Little Egrets for the first time and the cooler conditions brought in 2 Whooper Swan and 2 Goldeneye (both unusual here in September) #birdinglothian
September 22, 2025 at 6:52 PM
Gladhouse this afternoon had 3 Little Egrets for the first time and the cooler conditions brought in 2 Whooper Swan and 2 Goldeneye (both unusual here in September) #birdinglothian
Citrine Wagtail at Gladhouse this afternoon @birdinglothian.bsky.social
September 16, 2025 at 9:21 PM
Citrine Wagtail at Gladhouse this afternoon @birdinglothian.bsky.social
Bumped into this nicely showing Great Egret this morning at Gladhouse. Increasing in Lothian but still scarce inland #Birdinglothian
August 28, 2025 at 2:30 PM
Bumped into this nicely showing Great Egret this morning at Gladhouse. Increasing in Lothian but still scarce inland #Birdinglothian
An eclectic morning at Gullane Point. Wall Browns fluttering around my feet as I watched a Minke Whale feeding below a cloud of diving Gannets. A Sooty Shearwater joined in and a total of 79 Manx Shearwater were seen. Little Tern also and always good to see Little Gulls (5nr) #birdinglothian
August 15, 2025 at 7:35 PM
An eclectic morning at Gullane Point. Wall Browns fluttering around my feet as I watched a Minke Whale feeding below a cloud of diving Gannets. A Sooty Shearwater joined in and a total of 79 Manx Shearwater were seen. Little Tern also and always good to see Little Gulls (5nr) #birdinglothian
Interesting to pick up this albino Sandwich Tern sw past Gullane Point this morning. Assume same as 27 July (see previous post) but also same seen off Ayrshire 31 July. Has it returned after yesterday’s storm? @dorseth.bsky.social @lothianrecorder.bsky.social #birdinglothian
August 5, 2025 at 6:05 PM
Interesting to pick up this albino Sandwich Tern sw past Gullane Point this morning. Assume same as 27 July (see previous post) but also same seen off Ayrshire 31 July. Has it returned after yesterday’s storm? @dorseth.bsky.social @lothianrecorder.bsky.social #birdinglothian
Thought this was a leucistic bird due to dusky underwing from BOC shots but probable photo artefact and more likely to be an albino Sandwich Tern sw past Gullane Point this morning. (3 albinos ringed at Forvie NNR to date). Thanks to @lothianrecorder.bsky.social for info
July 27, 2025 at 3:38 PM
Thought this was a leucistic bird due to dusky underwing from BOC shots but probable photo artefact and more likely to be an albino Sandwich Tern sw past Gullane Point this morning. (3 albinos ringed at Forvie NNR to date). Thanks to @lothianrecorder.bsky.social for info
A common butterfly but I have never seen so many Green-veined White (or butterflies in general) together. 1000 along 1Km of hill road in Midlothian yesterday @savebutterflies.bsky.social
July 21, 2025 at 3:49 PM
A common butterfly but I have never seen so many Green-veined White (or butterflies in general) together. 1000 along 1Km of hill road in Midlothian yesterday @savebutterflies.bsky.social
Three juvenile Goldeneye amongst the Eider flock in the mist and murk of Musselburgh last night. Yesterday morning, a moulting Red Kite in the Midlothian hills #birdingscotland
July 21, 2025 at 3:23 PM
Three juvenile Goldeneye amongst the Eider flock in the mist and murk of Musselburgh last night. Yesterday morning, a moulting Red Kite in the Midlothian hills #birdingscotland
It was good to see my first Sanderling at Gladhouse last night (a single bird). I also enjoyed seeing a brood of three Curlew chicks nearby as I thought that the nest may have been destroyed by the farmer working his field. #birdinglothian
June 16, 2025 at 6:42 PM
It was good to see my first Sanderling at Gladhouse last night (a single bird). I also enjoyed seeing a brood of three Curlew chicks nearby as I thought that the nest may have been destroyed by the farmer working his field. #birdinglothian
Although not looked for with the same vigour that other migrants are, White Wagtail are almost exclusively a coastal migrant to Lothian during Spring so it was good to see this 2cy female at Gladhouse today - my first inland Spring record #birdinglothian
May 6, 2025 at 7:28 PM
Although not looked for with the same vigour that other migrants are, White Wagtail are almost exclusively a coastal migrant to Lothian during Spring so it was good to see this 2cy female at Gladhouse today - my first inland Spring record #birdinglothian
Relatively rare and scarce birds again at Gladhouse with Geoff’s Wood Sandpiper still and new for today, Whimbrel, two Little Egret and two Shoveler #birdinglothian
May 1, 2025 at 7:48 PM
Relatively rare and scarce birds again at Gladhouse with Geoff’s Wood Sandpiper still and new for today, Whimbrel, two Little Egret and two Shoveler #birdinglothian
Evening trip in Midlothian resulted in 6 Black-tailed Godwit at Caspian Pond and a male Ruff at Gladhouse. The latter a particularly scarce (rare) spring visitor to the county and this bird probably a first Spring record for the site #birdinglothian
April 27, 2025 at 8:52 PM
Evening trip in Midlothian resulted in 6 Black-tailed Godwit at Caspian Pond and a male Ruff at Gladhouse. The latter a particularly scarce (rare) spring visitor to the county and this bird probably a first Spring record for the site #birdinglothian
Rain influenced birding today. 5 LRP, 12 inland Redshank, flocks of 250 Sand Martin, 75 Meadow Pipit and 200 Fieldfare, and 15 Wheatear bobbing about a field. #birdinglothian
April 14, 2025 at 8:08 PM
Rain influenced birding today. 5 LRP, 12 inland Redshank, flocks of 250 Sand Martin, 75 Meadow Pipit and 200 Fieldfare, and 15 Wheatear bobbing about a field. #birdinglothian
Dull and calm this morning at Gullane Point but immature drake White-winged Scoter, immature White-billed Diver and 2 GN Divers were good to see. The Scoter is that well found by kgbirder.bsky.social at Yellowcraig last week #birdinglothian
April 8, 2025 at 7:07 PM
Dull and calm this morning at Gullane Point but immature drake White-winged Scoter, immature White-billed Diver and 2 GN Divers were good to see. The Scoter is that well found by kgbirder.bsky.social at Yellowcraig last week #birdinglothian
Quiet bird-wise at Whitesands & Barns Ness today but a few FoY for me. #birdinglothian
March 31, 2025 at 7:51 PM
Quiet bird-wise at Whitesands & Barns Ness today but a few FoY for me. #birdinglothian
Reposted by Norm Milligan
Busy at Gullane Point today with lots of feeding birds including a WW Scoter and GN Diver. Light passerine movement too but spent some time watching the coordinated flying of 50 Sanderling in nice light. Elsewhere, my first Osprey this year with its tea. #lothianbirds
March 24, 2025 at 8:46 PM
Busy at Gullane Point today with lots of feeding birds including a WW Scoter and GN Diver. Light passerine movement too but spent some time watching the coordinated flying of 50 Sanderling in nice light. Elsewhere, my first Osprey this year with its tea. #lothianbirds
Busy at Gullane Point today with lots of feeding birds including a WW Scoter and GN Diver. Light passerine movement too but spent some time watching the coordinated flying of 50 Sanderling in nice light. Elsewhere, my first Osprey this year with its tea. #lothianbirds
March 24, 2025 at 8:46 PM
Busy at Gullane Point today with lots of feeding birds including a WW Scoter and GN Diver. Light passerine movement too but spent some time watching the coordinated flying of 50 Sanderling in nice light. Elsewhere, my first Osprey this year with its tea. #lothianbirds
This caused some confusion until the internet came to the rescue - a drake Australian Wood Duck at Gladhouse this morning 😁 #Midlothianbirds
March 18, 2025 at 8:39 PM
This caused some confusion until the internet came to the rescue - a drake Australian Wood Duck at Gladhouse this morning 😁 #Midlothianbirds
Gadwall are scarce visitors to Gladhouse with most recorded in the autumn so nice to see this pair today feeding on a fly hatch. Also the first Redshank of the Spring here joining the Ringed Plovers. #midlothianbirds
March 3, 2025 at 8:49 PM
Gadwall are scarce visitors to Gladhouse with most recorded in the autumn so nice to see this pair today feeding on a fly hatch. Also the first Redshank of the Spring here joining the Ringed Plovers. #midlothianbirds
Another rural Med Gull and this time wearing its smart suit. Also, at least three pairs of Shelduck back and the county roost of Curlew now up to 180 birds #midlothianbirds
February 25, 2025 at 8:33 PM
Another rural Med Gull and this time wearing its smart suit. Also, at least three pairs of Shelduck back and the county roost of Curlew now up to 180 birds #midlothianbirds
Had to abort the seawatch at Gullane Point today due to sea haze but at least the WW Scoter showed relatively well. Back in Midlothian, noticeable increase in breeding waders & LBBGs returning and my first rural Med Gull this year #birdingscotland
February 20, 2025 at 8:53 PM
Had to abort the seawatch at Gullane Point today due to sea haze but at least the WW Scoter showed relatively well. Back in Midlothian, noticeable increase in breeding waders & LBBGs returning and my first rural Med Gull this year #birdingscotland
Saw this Herring Gull with attached plastic cup on a wet 31 Dec 24. Two days later, saw that it could use its Uropygial gland at least and today, after seven weeks, cup still attached and its obviously able to feed but mandibles growing larger #midlothianbirds
February 19, 2025 at 5:03 PM
Saw this Herring Gull with attached plastic cup on a wet 31 Dec 24. Two days later, saw that it could use its Uropygial gland at least and today, after seven weeks, cup still attached and its obviously able to feed but mandibles growing larger #midlothianbirds