from The Birds of Midlothian by J. Kirke Nashe (1935)
Little Grebe (frequenting both rivers and lochs, but no specific mention of the Esk)
Mallard
Moorhen
Lapwing
Common Sandpiper
Stock Dove (?first for Midlothian 1886, but now well distributed)
Woodpigeon
Tawny Owl
Bee-eater (bred 1920)
Skylark
Sand Martin (colonies ... in all the [Midlothian] river valleys)
Swallow
House Martin
Meadow Pipit
Rock Pipit (winter visitor to Midlothian - no mention of breeding in text except on Inchmickery)
Grey Wagtail (often observed at the mouth of the ... Esk [in winter])
Pied Wagtail
Wren
Dunnock
Robin
Blackbird
Song Thrush
Mistle Thrush
Sedge Warbler (.. found here and there in the river valleys ..)
Whitethroat
Garden Warbler (rare and local in Midlothian ... I have met with it in the valley of the Esk..)
Willow Warbler
Spotted Flycatcher
Coal Tit
Blue Tit
Great Tit
Magpie (said to be familiar resident around Edinburgh .. where more numerous than in any parts of Midlothian, although it is fairly well distributed)
Jackdaw
Rook (1928 survey of Inveresk Parish - Pinkie House 108, Musselburgh and Fisherrow (three small town rookeries) 38, Newhailes 248; 1929 addition Campie 8)
Starling (thought to have been rare in mid 1800s; it must have been scarce at Musselburgh, because Dr James Howden, of Musselburgh, considered a Starling at Whittighame as a "prize" in 1847)
House Sparrow
Tree Sparrow (especially in the valleys of the Esk ...)
Chaffinch
Greenfinch
Linnet
Yellowhammer
Reed Bunting ([nests at] various places in the valleys of the Esk ...)
Corn Bunting (appears to be more numerous in the parishes of ... and Inveresk)