Mark Holling
@shoremark.bsky.social
Birder and cyclist, especially in East Lothian.
Delta Velbron tripod. Free to first interested person who can collect (North Berwick) or who can meet at mutually convenient place in area. Needs a quick release plate but these are still available. DM me if interested #BirdingLothian
November 17, 2025 at 4:01 PM
Delta Velbron tripod. Free to first interested person who can collect (North Berwick) or who can meet at mutually convenient place in area. Needs a quick release plate but these are still available. DM me if interested #BirdingLothian
Thanks to @jarrodhadfield.bsky.social: adult Lesser White-fronted Goose at Tyninghame with Pinks and Barnacles. Relief after just dipping the Howgate one 8 days ago by 2 mins. Is it the same bird? What is its provenance? Behaving as if wild - if so only 2nd for Lothian I think #BirdingLothian
October 6, 2025 at 9:20 PM
Thanks to @jarrodhadfield.bsky.social: adult Lesser White-fronted Goose at Tyninghame with Pinks and Barnacles. Relief after just dipping the Howgate one 8 days ago by 2 mins. Is it the same bird? What is its provenance? Behaving as if wild - if so only 2nd for Lothian I think #BirdingLothian
White-rumped Sandpiper still at north end of Thorntonloch beach early this afternoon. Good call by @kingleby1.bsky.social #birdinglothian
August 15, 2025 at 5:48 PM
White-rumped Sandpiper still at north end of Thorntonloch beach early this afternoon. Good call by @kingleby1.bsky.social #birdinglothian
8 Aug. Big sit coming up to high tide at Tyninghame. 6 Blackwits headed inland up the river. Good to see 11 juvenile Shelducks with 3 adults still. 17 Greenshanks, 14 Little Egrets. 840 Greylags is fewer than recent August counts (1020, c1700, c1250 in last 3 years).
August 8, 2025 at 6:06 PM
8 Aug. Big sit coming up to high tide at Tyninghame. 6 Blackwits headed inland up the river. Good to see 11 juvenile Shelducks with 3 adults still. 17 Greenshanks, 14 Little Egrets. 840 Greylags is fewer than recent August counts (1020, c1700, c1250 in last 3 years).
Annual local House Martin nest count in SW North Berwick. Huge decline to 14 cf 31 last year and 53 in 2023. Most nests show sign of young already fledged - earlier than in previous years. Several half complete but apparently abandoned nests, new sites mainly on N and E facing walls. #BirdingLothian
July 24, 2025 at 4:45 PM
Annual local House Martin nest count in SW North Berwick. Huge decline to 14 cf 31 last year and 53 in 2023. Most nests show sign of young already fledged - earlier than in previous years. Several half complete but apparently abandoned nests, new sites mainly on N and E facing walls. #BirdingLothian
Aberlady around high tide today. Huge numbers of Sand Martins around spit, resting on beach and in dunes. Min 800 but prob 1200+ as noted by @jpgnic.bsky.social recently. Also 3 Little Gulls & 8 Arctic Terns, 126 Sanderlings, 23 Dunlins, 6 Grey Plover etc. #BirdingLothian
July 23, 2025 at 4:26 PM
Aberlady around high tide today. Huge numbers of Sand Martins around spit, resting on beach and in dunes. Min 800 but prob 1200+ as noted by @jpgnic.bsky.social recently. Also 3 Little Gulls & 8 Arctic Terns, 126 Sanderlings, 23 Dunlins, 6 Grey Plover etc. #BirdingLothian
Brilliant to see the singing Blyth’s Reed Warbler by the Tweed at Upsettlington this morning. Also 3 generations of the Bramhall family. Their youngest called 4 flying Whooper Swans, unusual for July. If you go, please keep to path - BRW is a potential rare breeder after all. #BirdingScotland #RBBP
July 3, 2025 at 4:51 PM
Brilliant to see the singing Blyth’s Reed Warbler by the Tweed at Upsettlington this morning. Also 3 generations of the Bramhall family. Their youngest called 4 flying Whooper Swans, unusual for July. If you go, please keep to path - BRW is a potential rare breeder after all. #BirdingScotland #RBBP
Bonus on my @webs-gsmp.bsky.social count today. At the last site, near Redside (E Lothian) there was a Quail calling from this bean field. @birdinglothian.bsky.social
May 24, 2025 at 5:04 PM
Bonus on my @webs-gsmp.bsky.social count today. At the last site, near Redside (E Lothian) there was a Quail calling from this bean field. @birdinglothian.bsky.social
In almost 60 years of birding and after many failed attempts, I’ve finally seen a Purple Heron in Britain. At Burham, Kent. Conveniently I was heading to Kent (normally well out of my birding zone) for a couple of extra birding days after a week in Lesvos. Celebrations have been had 🍻 #UKBirding
April 27, 2025 at 9:53 PM
In almost 60 years of birding and after many failed attempts, I’ve finally seen a Purple Heron in Britain. At Burham, Kent. Conveniently I was heading to Kent (normally well out of my birding zone) for a couple of extra birding days after a week in Lesvos. Celebrations have been had 🍻 #UKBirding
Did my early @bbs-birds.bsky.social survey this morning; very pleased to see this male Marsh Harrier heading north over Seafield Pond as it was my first Lothian Marsh Harrier since 1989! Having enjoyed watching it, I was a bit late with camera hence blurry distant shot! @BirdingLothian
April 18, 2025 at 11:21 AM
Did my early @bbs-birds.bsky.social survey this morning; very pleased to see this male Marsh Harrier heading north over Seafield Pond as it was my first Lothian Marsh Harrier since 1989! Having enjoyed watching it, I was a bit late with camera hence blurry distant shot! @BirdingLothian
North Berwick Law this morning. No Ring Ouzels found but one Wheatear. @birdinglothian.bsky.social
April 13, 2025 at 9:08 AM
North Berwick Law this morning. No Ring Ouzels found but one Wheatear. @birdinglothian.bsky.social
Out doing @webs-gsmp.bsky.social & checking local ponds on bike. First broods of Coot at Balgone (b6,b2). 38 Tufted on 5 ponds (25mm:13ff). Also (at 1345) frustrating views of an egret flying W south of Seacliff, looked big and toes seemed all dark (in good light), so suspect Great. @BirdingLothian
April 12, 2025 at 4:07 PM
Out doing @webs-gsmp.bsky.social & checking local ponds on bike. First broods of Coot at Balgone (b6,b2). 38 Tufted on 5 ponds (25mm:13ff). Also (at 1345) frustrating views of an egret flying W south of Seacliff, looked big and toes seemed all dark (in good light), so suspect Great. @BirdingLothian
Chilly day along the E Lothian coast with @philloscopus.bsky.social (thanks 4 photos). Namesake Shore Lark Barns Ness, Greenshank & Whimbrel Dunglass, Scandi Rock Pipit Dunbar where also 1st 2 Kittiwakes at colony. 3 Snow Buntings Gullane c/o @normmill.bsky.social #BirdingScotland #BirdingLothian
March 10, 2025 at 9:00 PM
Chilly day along the E Lothian coast with @philloscopus.bsky.social (thanks 4 photos). Namesake Shore Lark Barns Ness, Greenshank & Whimbrel Dunglass, Scandi Rock Pipit Dunbar where also 1st 2 Kittiwakes at colony. 3 Snow Buntings Gullane c/o @normmill.bsky.social #BirdingScotland #BirdingLothian
#btobirds WeBS counts today. At Balgone the Coot numbers are even higher, now 56, first time over 50 this winter. Also 3 Grey Herons already loafing at probable future nest sites in reedmace at North Berwick Law Marsh. #BirdingScotland #BirdingLothian #Ornithology
February 16, 2025 at 1:46 PM
#btobirds WeBS counts today. At Balgone the Coot numbers are even higher, now 56, first time over 50 this winter. Also 3 Grey Herons already loafing at probable future nest sites in reedmace at North Berwick Law Marsh. #BirdingScotland #BirdingLothian #Ornithology
White-winged Scoter among Velvets this morning n Gullane Bay. Appears in the middle of the flock about half way through. #BirdingLothian #BirdingScotland
February 14, 2025 at 1:05 PM
White-winged Scoter among Velvets this morning n Gullane Bay. Appears in the middle of the flock about half way through. #BirdingLothian #BirdingScotland
It was the annual SOC Lothian & Borders low tide rocky shore count today. I did my usual Seacliff to Scoughall section, took 4 hours. 28 spp, 654 birds plus some flybys including a GN Diver. Common Scoter flock c200 birds. Grey Seal pup on St Baldred’s Boat (photo) #BirdingLothian #BirdingScotland
February 2, 2025 at 7:38 PM
It was the annual SOC Lothian & Borders low tide rocky shore count today. I did my usual Seacliff to Scoughall section, took 4 hours. 28 spp, 654 birds plus some flybys including a GN Diver. Common Scoter flock c200 birds. Grey Seal pup on St Baldred’s Boat (photo) #BirdingLothian #BirdingScotland
Out of Scotland for the Northumberland American Buff-bellied Pipit at Ross. Bit of a hike but a hell of a cracker. Shared with Phil Dean, Fifer Malc Ware & Airdrie (?) Stevie, lifers for us all 🍻✔️ #UKbirding
January 30, 2025 at 8:05 PM
Out of Scotland for the Northumberland American Buff-bellied Pipit at Ross. Bit of a hike but a hell of a cracker. Shared with Phil Dean, Fifer Malc Ware & Airdrie (?) Stevie, lifers for us all 🍻✔️ #UKbirding
Decent calm conditions in the Forth. Good count of Long-tailed Ducks (120) also 2 Red-necked & 19 Slavonian Grebes off Ferny Ness. 173 Shelduck in Aberlady Bay also notable. #BirdingLothian #BirdingScotland
January 27, 2025 at 12:54 PM
Decent calm conditions in the Forth. Good count of Long-tailed Ducks (120) also 2 Red-necked & 19 Slavonian Grebes off Ferny Ness. 173 Shelduck in Aberlady Bay also notable. #BirdingLothian #BirdingScotland
BTO WinGS gull roost count this evening at Fidra/Lamb/Eel Burn coast, East Lothian with Phil Bysh. Less than half numbers of Herring Gull than in Sept count at 1395. 29 GBBs also on islands. 69 BH & 1 Med Gull on sea. #BirdingLothian #BirdingScotland @btobirds.bsky.social
January 19, 2025 at 6:07 PM
BTO WinGS gull roost count this evening at Fidra/Lamb/Eel Burn coast, East Lothian with Phil Bysh. Less than half numbers of Herring Gull than in Sept count at 1395. 29 GBBs also on islands. 69 BH & 1 Med Gull on sea. #BirdingLothian #BirdingScotland @btobirds.bsky.social
Local bike-birding day, 30km round trip to south and east of North Berwick. 59 spp including 300+ Linnets (etc.) in this hedge. Sad to see 5 orphaned juvenile Whoopers at Lochhouses where 1 dead adult under wires (apparently other parent also killed recently). #BirdingLothian #BirdingScotland
January 2, 2025 at 4:26 PM
Local bike-birding day, 30km round trip to south and east of North Berwick. 59 spp including 300+ Linnets (etc.) in this hedge. Sad to see 5 orphaned juvenile Whoopers at Lochhouses where 1 dead adult under wires (apparently other parent also killed recently). #BirdingLothian #BirdingScotland
Monthly #WeBS today. Big clear out perhaps after short cold snap in late Nov. No Tufted or Little Grebe. Only 86 birds (7 spp) across 3 sites, over half of which Coot (45, similar to last month, at Balgone, pic). Moorhen numbers back to normal (15). #BirdingScotland #BirdingLothian
December 15, 2024 at 3:08 PM
Monthly #WeBS today. Big clear out perhaps after short cold snap in late Nov. No Tufted or Little Grebe. Only 86 birds (7 spp) across 3 sites, over half of which Coot (45, similar to last month, at Balgone, pic). Moorhen numbers back to normal (15). #BirdingScotland #BirdingLothian
Rare twitch for a rare bird. The Grey-headed Lapwing at East Chevington, Northumberland, 14 December. Lifer for me and Phil Bysh. #ukbirding
December 14, 2024 at 3:36 PM
Rare twitch for a rare bird. The Grey-headed Lapwing at East Chevington, Northumberland, 14 December. Lifer for me and Phil Bysh. #ukbirding
Some of the 128 Taiga Bean Geese near Jawcraig (Slamannan plateau) yesterday #BirdingScotland
December 10, 2024 at 3:58 PM
Some of the 128 Taiga Bean Geese near Jawcraig (Slamannan plateau) yesterday #BirdingScotland
Thanks for video tip. These pesky icons., obvious when you look! Here’s a short video of some busy Feral Pigeons in Peterborough.
December 8, 2024 at 9:56 PM
Thanks for video tip. These pesky icons., obvious when you look! Here’s a short video of some busy Feral Pigeons in Peterborough.
Away in foreign East Anglian lands. So caught up on some birds I don’t normally see: Bewick’s Swan, Crane, Cattle Egret, Shore Lark (might see 1 at home but there were 8). Not great conditions even for my rubbish photos but here’s some dark-bellied Brents (pity we can’t do video here). #ukbirding
December 7, 2024 at 9:27 PM
Away in foreign East Anglian lands. So caught up on some birds I don’t normally see: Bewick’s Swan, Crane, Cattle Egret, Shore Lark (might see 1 at home but there were 8). Not great conditions even for my rubbish photos but here’s some dark-bellied Brents (pity we can’t do video here). #ukbirding