White Wagtail rump shots, Scoughall, East Lothian

I nipped along the coast on Sunday morning hoping to catch some of the recent White Wagtail passage, and I was not disappointed. At least 20 birds were feeding on the uppershore. Not all were confirmed White Wags and there were a few definite black-backed Pied Wagtails in there, but this White Wagtail in particular cooperated for some definitive rump shots. The pale grey rump only has black tips on the longest feathers. If only all were this straightforward. Of course, even without seeing the rump on this this individual it is a pretty unmistakeable continental alba White rather than british yarrellii Pied. Other nice migrants on the beach were Whimbrel, Wheatear and half a dozen Willow Warblers working along the edge of the sea buckthorn.

Migrant Wheatear (left) and Whimbrel (right) on beach at Scoughall