The first sighting of the month (1st) was from the Eden Estuary Centre, where a Curlew Sandpiper was seen. The Lesser Yellowlegs was still at St Andrews where it remained until last reported on 2nd, and a Merlin was spotted at East Wemyss, where the Mediterranean Gulls were flushed by dogs. A Short-eared Owl was reported at Out Head and finally the day count from Fife Ness included, one Cory’s Shearwater, six Arctic Skuas, three Little Gulls and one Black Tern. The first report on 2nd was of a Little Ringed Plover off Billow Ness, Anstruther. Five Greenshanks were then reported from Newmills Bay and a Yellow Wagtail was seen at Kilminning, before one Curlew Sandpiper, 19 Little Egrets and one Osprey were recorded at the Eden Estuary Centre. Saturday 3rd attracted a Green Sandpiper to a pool near Gillingshill Reservoir and a Marsh Harrier to fields near Carnbee. A further two Green Sandpipers were seen from Ferry Hills, along with one Whimbrel and 11 Tree Pipits. Reports from the Eden Estuary LNR listed 26 Little Egrets, one Curlew Sandpiper, two Ospreys, one Greenshank and at least one Whimbrel. Another Curlew Sandpiper and one Greenshank were then recorded at Coble Shore. The day count from Fife Ness included: one Arctic Skua, three Black Terns, two Puffins, 66 Sandwich Terns and two Whimbrels. The recent settled spell of warm weather was interrupted by showers on 4th; however a Quail was heard calling near Kingsbarns and a most welcome Green Sandpiper was then seen on the new wetland at Kilminning, a positive sign for the future! Monday 5th began with a sighting from Kilminning of a Sooty Shearwater. This was followed by a report from Billow Ness, Anstruther, of a Cory’s Shearwater and another Sooty Shearwater, with a Cory’s Shearwater also seen off Crail. Three Manx Shearwaters and two Arctic Skuas were then spotted from Earlsferry. Finally, the day count from Fife Ness included: two Arctic Skuas, one Little Gull, four Sooty Shearwaters and 28 Whimbrels. The first report on the 6th was again from Fife Ness and included one Sooty Shearwater, one Great Skua, one Arctic Skua, and five Puffins. The next report was from Billow Ness, Anstruther, where one Black Tern, one Mediterranean Gull and 18 Common Scoters were seen. A Mediterranean Gull along with a Little Gull and 14 Manx Shearwaters were then spotted from Earlsferry. Two Roseate Terns were seen from Pettycur Harbour, before the final record of the day was of two Marsh Harriers seen over a field of oats north of Kilrenny. After a spell of warm but showery days, Wednesday 7th dawned with gusty south-westerly winds and the report of a Quail calling south of Kilmany. A Green Sandpiper was then spotted flying SE over Kirkcaldy, before a Kingfisher was seen at the pond in Belleknowes Industrial Estate, Inverkeithing. An observer at Seafield saw one Bar-tailed Godwit, six Dunlins, 10 Ringed Plovers, three Curlews and two Redshanks. The only count from Fife Ness that day included 20 Common and three Velvet Scoters.
The second week of August (8th) began with a report from Pettycur Harbour of four Arctic Skuas, four Manx Shearwaters, six Fulmars, two Little Egrets and one Red-throated Diver. This was followed by sightings of a Marsh Harrier and two Tree Pipits near Crail and then a report of C50 Golden Plovers also seen near Crail. The first Great Shearwater of the season was recorded at Fife Ness, along with many other species including: two Arctic Skuas, one Great Skua, 85 Sandwich Terns and C200 Gannets. A spell of very windy weather from the SW swept across Fife on 9th but this did not deter observers who recorded one Green Sandpiper at a pool near Gillingshill Reservoir (perhaps the same one seen on 3rd?) and a Roseate Tern at Pettycur Harbour. Early evening records from Fife Ness included: four Sooty Shearwaters, one Pomarine Skua lingering, one Wheatear on the rocks and two Stonechats. The final report of the day was from East Wemyss and was of 65 Mediterranean Gulls of which 11 were juveniles. Saturday 10th was again windy with strong gusts from the SW, however it proved to be a busy day for observers in Fife with several Marsh Harriers seen (times of observations given in case of duplication.) A juvenile Marsh Harrier, one Whimbrel and two Greenshanks were reported from Boarhills (08.55) followed shortly after by a sighting at Kilrenny of a juvenile Marsh Harrier along with an adult (09.10). A further sighting of a juvenile Marsh Harrier was from St Andrews (12.45) with Marsh Harriers also seen at Letham Pools (13.15, 16.00 and between 19.15 -19.50) and at the Eden Estuary Centre (17.45 -19.45). An Osprey was seen at Newburgh and a Grey Partridge with four juveniles was recorded at Out Head. One Whinchat, one Marsh Harrier (as above), one Snipe and one Curlew were seen at Letham Pools, before 30 Black-tailed Godwits, 50+ Manx Shearwaters, three Shovelers and three Arctic Skuas were reported from Pittenweem. Records from the Eden Estuary Centre included one Osprey, four Greenshanks, 10 Knot, three Black-tailed Godwits, 14 Goosanders, c125 Dunlins, c265 Redshanks, four Swifts, nine Little Egrets and one Marsh Harrier (as above.) Additional sightings from Letham Pools were: one Marsh Harrier (as above,) 82 Coots, 26 Gadwalls, c45 Mallards, 15 Little Grebes, one Tufted Duck with two young, three Shovelers, one with seven young, and 14 Teal. The final record of the day (apart from Fife Ness totals,) came from Birnie & Gaddon Lochs LNR where a Green Sandpiper was seen. The day totals from Fife Ness included: two Arctic Skuas, 76 Common Scoters, 46 Dunlins, two Great Skuas, three Little Gulls, one Marsh Harrier (as above,) two Red-necked Grebes, 30 Ringed Plovers, one Ruff, one Sooty Shearwater and 62 Swallows. Sunday 11th dawned bright and sunny and proved to be a lovely summer’s day. The first sightings were from Ferry Hills where 460 Tree Pipits were recorded, a UK day record on Trektellen (a site for Visible Migration or VisMig,) along with one Black-throated Diver, two Red-throated Divers and one Snipe. An Osprey was reported from Cupar followed by records from Pettycur Harbour of three Arctic Skuas, one Pomarine Skua, a flock of 15 Black Terns, one Red-throated Diver, three Little Terns and 221 Manx Shearwaters. Seven Mediterranean Gulls were at East Wemyss and an observer at Out Head recorded one Pomarine Skua, five Arctic Skuas, one Black Tern, one Osprey, one Mediterranean Gull, one Little Gull and 11 Manx Shearwaters. The day totals from Fife Ness included: 779 Manx Shearwaters, three Sooty Shearwaters, one Long- tailed Skua, 202 Common Scoters, 21 Puffins, 275 distant Arctic or Common Terns, one Little Gull and two Red-throated Divers. A brief spell of easterly winds marked the beginning of the next week (12th,) unfortunately they were immediately followed by thunderstorms putting an end to the sunny weather of yesterday. One Roseate Tern, five Arctic Skuas, one Little Gull, 10 Manx Shearwaters, 60+ Fulmars and three Teal were noted at Pettycur Harbour in the morning with 30 Manx Shearwaters and 51 Arctic Terns seen during the evening. A juvenile Marsh Harrier flying low was recorded from Ferry Hills. Finally, the total day count from many observers at Fife Ness included: one Balearic Shearwater, seven Sooty Shearwaters, 31 Arctic Skuas, one Long-tailed Skua, four Little Gulls, one Roseate Tern, one Pintail and a very noteworthy Caspian Tern. The first report on 13th was from St Andrews, by the aquarium, where 32 Common Scoters, 36 Canada Geese, 13 Arctic Terns, five Common Terns, 28 Sandwich Terns and about 12 Fulmar chicks still on the cliffs were recorded. An unusual Carrion/Hooded Crow was seen in Kirkcaldy and a reeling Grasshopper Warbler was heard near Pitlair, quite late in the season to be vocal. Two Water Rails and a huge flock of over 160 Mallards, many in eclipse plumage, were noted at Cullaloe LNR, before c250 Swallows were seen north of Strathmiglo, a sure sign of the impending autumn migration. A report of one Green Sandpiper near Rossie Bog completed the records for the 13th. The next day (14th) proved to be warm and sunny with observations beginning with an early morning report of two Whinchats near Kinghorn. An Arctic Skua, two Little Gulls, 60 Common Terns, 55 Sandwich Terns and five Goosanders were then seen at Balcomie Beach, before three Ospreys were noted at Tayport. A juvenile Cuckoo at Morton Lochs NNR was a reminder that although many adult Cuckoos were by now south of the Sahara, this year’s young still had the long journey to complete on their own – amazing! An early evening count from East Wemyss included 63 Eiders in various stages of moult and nine Turnstones. An observer at Out Head saw one juvenile Black Tern being chased by two Arctic Skuas, also seen were three Little Gulls, two Whimbrels, one Manx Shearwater and one juvenile Whinchat. Although reported as “generally very quiet,” sightings from Pettycur Harbour included one Little Gull, c30 Kittiwakes, 24 Arctic Terns, three Fulmars, eight Gannets and one Scaup along with good numbers of other species. Finally, the day count from several observers at Fife Ness included: 291 Manx Shearwaters, 17 Arctic Skuas, 19 Dunlins, and three Golden Plovers.
The third week of the month (15th) began with rain sweeping across Fife, retribution for yesterday’s lovely weather!? Amongst the sightings by observers at the Eden Estuary Centre were: two Ospreys, eight Little Egrets, one Ruff, 24 Goosanders, one Kingfisher, 14 Black-tailed Godwits, c450 Redshanks and c45 Dunlins. 30 Swifts were seen and heard at Cellardyke with 10 more seen high above Kennoway. Finally, an early afternoon count from several observers at Fife Ness included: four Arctic Skuas,14 Ringed Plovers and a huge number of some 2000 Gannets. Friday 16th began with the sighting of a Black Tern, 56 Manx Shearwaters, 12 Fulmars and two Common Scoters along with many Kittiwakes, Common and Sandwich Terns at Pettycur Harbour. Unusually, three Kingfishers together were seen at Newmills Bay before a Green Sandpiper was recorded at the lagoons in Tentsmuir NNR. A very bright Chiffchaff was seen briefly in Cellardyke and finally four Ruff, 15 Greenshanks, 15 Little Egrets and 375 Canada Geese were recorded at the Eden Estuary Centre. The next day (17th) a very early morning record from Fife Ness was of the second Great Shearwater seen this month and is included in the abbreviated day count later. A Nuthatch was seen in the cemetery near Dunfermline Football Ground before a report from Pettycur Harbour noted two Arctic Skuas, 22 Manx Shearwaters and four Black-tailed Godwits. The new pool at Kilminning was continuing to attract waders, with one Greenshank seen today, before a Black-tailed Godwit, two Common Sandpipers and 32 Curlews were recorded near Stenhouse Reservoir. A Short-eared Owl and four Whimbrels were seen at Balgove Bay and a Marsh Harrier was observed over a cereal field near Guardbridge. Finally, the day count from Fife Ness included: one Great Shearwater, three Sooty Shearwaters, two Black Guillemots, one Arctic Skua, one Ruff, 54 Ringed Plovers, 92 Dunlins and one Osprey. Strong south-westerly winds returned on Sunday 18th which may have deterred bird watchers as the only report, other than from Fife Ness, was of a juvenile Black Tern off Pettycur Harbour. The total day count from four observers at Fife Ness included: five Sooty Shearwaters, one Balearic Shearwater, 2859 Gannets, six Arctic Skuas, one juvenile Long-tailed Skua, one Velvet Scoter, one Black Guillemot, nine Whimbrels, 47 Black-tailed Godwits and one Ruff. The first report of the new week (19th) was from Ferry Hills where, once again, the UK day record for migrating Tree Pipits was broken with a count of 926! A survey at Loch Gelly revealed one Osprey, three Whooper Swans, one Greenshank, one Water Rail, 17 Canada Geese, 136 Greylag Geese, one lone Wigeon, 67 Pochard, 82 Tufted Ducks, 14 Gadwall, 41 Coots, 85 Little Grebes, 12 Great Crested Grebes (including five juveniles), with a female still on a nest and finally, 53 Mute Swans plus eight juveniles. A juvenile Cuckoo was seen in a Burntisland garden before two Arctic Skuas, two Whimbrels, and a flock of 87 Fulmars were recorded at Pettycur Harbour. Five Manx Shearwaters were seen by the aquarium at an otherwise quiet St Andrews and the day count from Fife Ness included: one Balearic Shearwater, eight Great Skuas, three Arctic Skuas and four Little Gulls. The next day (20th) a Green Sandpiper and a Water Rail were seen during a WeBS survey at Lochore Meadows CP and three Whinchats were reported at Boarhills. Records from the Eden Estuary Centre, before a very high tide, included one Ruff, 12 Little Egrets, four Greenshanks, 32 Black-tailed Godwits and 134 Canada Geese. A juvenile Long-tailed Skua was seen at Crail and a juvenile Marsh Harrier was reported from the Eden Estuary LNR. Finally, the day count from Fife Ness included: one Arctic Skua and one Pomarine Skua. A Hobby was seen chasing Swallows at Kilmany the next day (21st) and a Cory’s Shearwater was observed from Pettycur Harbour before a Sooty Shearwater and 20 Manx Shearwaters were seen at Pittenweem. Finally, an Arctic Skua and Great Skua were included in the Fife Ness day counts.
The unseasonably wet and very windy weather continued at the start of the third week of the month (22nd). 32 Swifts were seen over Struthers Farm then an Osprey and 20 Little Egrets were recorded at the Eden Estuary Centre. Two juvenile Marsh Harriers at St Andrews and a juvenile Whinchat at Tayport were reported before the day count from Fife Ness included: three Arctic Skuas, one Great Skua and one Storm Petrel. Friday 23rd began with leaden skies and a strong SW wind, however a Spotted Flycatcher and a Garden Warbler were seen at Kilmany and selected sightings from three observers at Pettycur Harbour included: two Black Terns, one Roseate Tern, one Pomarine Skua, c60 Goosanders, one Red-throated Diver and one White Wagtail. Four Roseate Terns were also recorded at Pittenweem and evening observations from Kingsbarns included: 65 Little Gulls, seven being juveniles, four Great Skuas and three Arctic Skuas, 145 Ringed Plovers and 160 Swifts. Finally, the day count from Fife Ness included: two Arctic Skuas, three Great Skuas, one Pomarine Skua, two Roseate Terns and one Ruff. The first records from Saturday 24th were from Ferry Hills and included 251 Tree Pipits, 78 Sand Martins, 16 White Wagtails, three Red-throated Divers and one Little Egret. An Osprey and two perched Buzzards were amongst the species seen in the reserve area at Lochore Meadows CP where the main loch is now the domain of water sports enthusiasts. Two Ruddy Shelducks appeared near Stenhouse Reservoir and a Merlin, five White Wagtails, three Wheatears and three Greenshanks were seen at Fairmont. Highlights from Fife Ness included: 14 Arctic Skuas, six Sooty Shearwaters and 10 Whimbrels. Three Ruff, one Greenshank and six Whimbrels were reported from Ferry Hills early on 25th, before two Black-tailed Godwits, still in breeding plumage, were seen at Cullaloe LNR. A Red-throated Diver, 12 Arctic Skuas and two Cory’s Shearwaters were amongst the species seen from Pettycur Harbour before the day totals from Fife Ness included: one Balearic Shearwater, seven Sooty Shearwaters and one Arctic Skua. Monday 26th began with a sighting from Ferry Hills of a juvenile Marsh Harrier high to the west with another juvenile seen later at Dunino. Four Wheatears were on the rocks at Fife Ness, five were seen at Struthers Farm with two Whinchats, and four more were recorded at Out Head along with a Short-eared Owl. A further two Whinchats were seen at Letham Pools before a Balearic Shearwater and 10+ Black Terns were seen at Pettycur Harbour. 50 Mediterranean Gulls were recorded at the Back Dykes roost, East Wemyss and finally, sightings from Fife Ness included: one Balearic Shearwater and one Sooty Shearwater. Wet and windy weather returned on 27th but relented to give a sunny evening. A single Cory’s Shearwater was seen at Dysart and observers at Pettycur Harbour recorded one Balearic Shearwater, three Long-tailed Skuas, one Roseate Tern and a juvenile Peregrine amongst other species. A Grey Phalarope and Short-eared Owl were spotted at Balgove Bay and a juvenile Curlew Sandpiper was seen at Tentsmuir NNR. Highlights from over 12 hours of sea-watching by six observers at Fife Ness included: one Sooty Shearwater and one Pomarine Skua. 24 Little Egrets and four Ospreys were noted at the Eden Estuary Centre on 28th and a Cory’s Shearwater was off Pettycur Harbour. A juvenile Curlew Sandpiper was seen at Out Head and records from two separate observers at Ferry Hills included: one Yellow Wagtail, one Goshawk and large flocks of hirundines heading south. A Pale-bellied Brent Goose was seen at Carlingnose Point early on 29th and two Ruddy Shelducks were reported from Torry Bay, perhaps having flown over from the Netherlands, before sightings from the Eden Estuary Centre included five Ospreys, 27 Little Egrets, three early Pink- footed Geese and around 350 Redshanks. Sunshine on Friday 30th heralded the start of some settled weather and the promise of an easterly wind. Two Long-tailed Skuas and five Arctic Skuas were recorded at Ferry Hills. Two Long-tailed Skuas seen from Ferry Hills were also the first records of the next day (31st) before one Green Sandpiper and one Curlew Sandpiper were recorded at the Eden Estuary Centre. A Roseate Tern and two Black Terns flew past Pettycur Harbour and two Whinchats appeared at Stenhouse Reservoir. Finally for the day and the month, the day count from Fife Ness included: one immature White-billed Diver, 10 Arctic Skuas and two Sooty Shearwaters.