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Apologies for the later than usual posting of this summary. This was due to circumstances outwith our control. Also, we are trying a new format for the sightings. See below.

The first sighting of the month (1^st) 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 2^nd, 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 2^nd 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 3^rd 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 4^th; 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 5^th 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 6^th 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 7^th 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 (8^th) 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 9^th but this did not deter observers who recorded one Green Sandpiper at a pool near Gillingshill Reservoir (perhaps the same one seen on 3^rd?) 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 10^th 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 11^th 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 (12^th,) 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 13^th 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 13^th. The next day (14^th) 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 (15^th) 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 16^th 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 (17^th) 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 18^th 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 (19^th) 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 (20^th) 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 (21^st) 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 (22^nd).  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 23^rd 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 24^th 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 25^th, 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 26^th 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 27^th 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 28^th 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 29^th 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 30^th 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 (31^st) 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.

After a sunny, but unusually cold, windy June and the disappointment of Scotland making an early exit from the Euros, the first report in July was of six Mediterranean Gulls in the East Wemyss area (1^st). Sightings from the Eden Estuary followed where one Little Egret, one Common Sandpiper, three Ospreys, 13 Goosanders, C120 Shelducks and an early migration of 23 Black-tailed Godwits was reported (2^nd). The unsettled, cold and windy weather continued on 3^rd with an early morning report from Fife Ness giving one Roseate Tern N, 36 Manx Shearwaters N and one Red-throated Diver S, this was followed by four Mediterranean Gulls in the East Wemyss area, then five Manx Shearwaters W and two Puffins at Dalgety Bay.  Also on 3^rd, the highlight of the month (to that point) was a Turtle Dove seen and photographed around Burnturk village. This is a species that has seen a dramatic decline over recent years, but a recent ban on it being hunted during part of its western passage has seen a gradual increase in numbers. The bird remained in the area until 7^th. Sea-watchers at Fife Ness on 4^th recorded one Arctic Skua, one Whimbrel, 16 Manx Shearwaters N, eight Sandwich Terns and one Common and one Arctic Tern. An early VisMig visit to Ferry Hills (5^th) was rewarded with an unusual sighting of one Honey-buzzard and hearing a Nuthatch calling, with signs of early migration continuing when a Whimbrel was seen at Culross. One Manx Shearwater N was recorded at St Andrews and six Mediterranean Gulls and 55+ Manx Shearwaters were seen at East Wemyss. The final record of the day was of four Swifts feeding over Ladybank. The unsettled weather continued on Saturday 6^th which began with 10 Tree Pipits seen at Ferry Hills, the first of this year’s ‘autumn’ migration!  37 Manx Shearwaters NE, one Arctic Skua NE and 15 Common Scoters NE were seen at Kilminning. 80 Manx Shearwaters N in 15 minutes were spotted at Fife Ness followed by a further 119 N, one Greenshank N, one Arctic Skua N, two Red-throated Divers N and eight Common Scoters N. A later visit to Fife Ness that day saw one summer plumage Great Northern Diver S and a further 350+ Manx Shearwaters N. Once again, the first record on Sunday 7^th came from Ferry Hills where a female Quail was disturbed in the early morning. Eight Great Northern Divers, 13 Black-throated Divers and 27 Red-throated Divers were spotted on the water at St Andrews Bay, along with one Black-throated Diver N, 14 Little Gulls S, one Arctic Skua and 17 Manx Shearwaters moving around.

The second week of the month (8^th) began with separate reports of five Quail heard in the Crail, Arncroach and Boarhills areas, with a Short-eared Owl flushed from a field west of Crail where a Cuckoo was also reported. Five Mediterranean Gulls with complete black heads were seen at East Wemyss and three more Mediterranean Gulls were spotted in St Andrews Bay along with one Black-throated Diver, 32 Red-throated Divers, three Little Gulls, one Manx Shearwater and one Whimbrel. Reports for the day ended with 11 Mediterranean Gulls at the Back Dykes roost at East Wemyss which included the return of yellow ASTV. ‘Here comes the sun’ sang the Beatles in 1969 and Tuesday 9^th dawned bright and sunny with clear blue skies over Fife and a Cuckoo seen at Rossie Bog. Counts from Fife Ness included 17 Manx Shearwaters N, eight Common Scoters N, one Red-throated Diver N, one Arctic Skua S and two Sandwich Terns S. 40+ Manx Shearwaters, four Common Scoters and one Red-throated Diver along with an increase in Gannets, Fulmars, Kittiwakes and young auks was reported from Kinghorn. Alas, summer only lasted for one day and autumn returned with a vengeance on Wednesday 10^th, bringing back cold, wet, windy weather and one Arctic Skua E at Kinghorn. This was followed by nine Manx Shearwaters N, 31 Common Scoters N and four S, one Teal S and one Arctic Skua N seen at Fife Ness. Three Common Sandpipers visited Seafield and 54 Pochards, three Whooper Swans and two more Common Sandpipers were reported from Loch Gelly, with the last sightings of the day being of 10 Mediterranean Gulls, two Red-throated Divers, about 40 Common Scoters and two Swifts seen at East Wemyss and one Great Skua N with two Arctic Skuas loitering at Fife Ness. The celebrations of England reaching the final of the Euros had hardly subsided when a Mediterranean Gull was reported at Anstruther (11^th), followed by a Spotted Flycatcher at Kilmany, a rare bird in Fife these days. Sea-watchers at Fife Ness recorded one Red-throated Diver N, two Goosanders N, 25 Common Scoters N, 18 Manx Shearwaters N, five Arctic Skuas N and one S, two Common Terns, six Sandwich Terns, one Whimbrel and 145 Kittiwakes. There were no reports from Friday 12^th, but the next day (13^th), a total of six Mediterranean Gulls were seen at East Wemyss, two E, one W with the others on the beach and another Mediterranean Gull was recorded at Anstruther. However, the highlight of the week was when three Spoonbills were spotted off Newburgh mid-morning and reported again at lunchtime. Sunday 14^th began with sightings of one Arctic Skua E, one Manx Shearwater E and two Red-throated Divers at Kinghorn. Balcomie shore saw C30 Golden Plovers, one Dunlin, eight Turnstones and 12 Ringed Plovers, with Fife Ness recording 16 Manx Shearwaters N, one Arctic Skua N, and one Arctic Tern N. 12 Mediterranean Gulls were seen at East Wemyss and one at Anstruther.

The third week of July (15^th) began with an early morning report from St Andrews of two Tree Pipits S, and later by sightings of nine Manx Shearwaters N, nine Arctic Terns N, five Sandwich Terns S at Fife Ness and of five Common Sandpipers at Kilminning. The next reports came on 17^th when 58 Sandwich Terns, including 16 juveniles, were reported from Torry Bay, along with a Hooded Crow cross and one early Wigeon. A report from Letham Pools later that day indicated a good breeding season with 64 Coots including 18 young, one Tufted Duck with four small young, one Shoveler with one large young and one Gadwall with eight large young seen, along with one Water Rail.  At last, the weather was improving and beginning to warm up, although not at Royal Troon for the Open Golf, perhaps autumn hadn’t given up yet! One Mediterranean Gull, 55 Sandwich Terns, one Osprey, three Whimbrels, four Greenshanks and one Common Sandpiper were seen at Tayport (18^th) and an interesting afternoon count from the Eden Estuary Centre gave one Osprey, one Kestrel, eight Little Egrets, about 275 Redshanks, one Dunlin, two Common Sandpipers, nine Black-tailed Godwits, 20 Goosanders, about 45 Shelducks, 35 Curlews and about 40 Eiders. The final report of the day was from the Back Dykes roost, East Wemyss where 12 Mediterranean Gulls were seen. The first report on Friday 19^th was also of a Mediterranean Gull seen at Leven. This was followed by the exciting report of two Long-tailed Skuas W viewed from Ferry Hills and then two Whimbrels and nine Little Egrets recorded at the Eden Estuary Centre. One Merlin was spotted near Kilrenny before flying off E and the last report of the day was the sighting of a Little Tern seen at Out Head. Gloriously sunny weather was roasting the south on 20^th, with temperatures up to 31° felt. However in Fife, although it was warmer, cloudy and clammy weather prevailed. One Common Sandpiper and one Golden Plover were seen at Kilrenny Mill before four Little Gulls and then three (possibly four) Curlew Sandpipers were recorded at Tayport, with the final report of the day being of 21 Greenshanks seen at Guardbridge. An early morning survey at Loch Gelly (21^st) recorded a remarkable 105 Pochards, one Goldeneye, three Whooper Swans, 46 Tufted Ducks, 36 Little Grebes, and 32 Coots. Two Ospreys, one Little Egret, nine Little Gulls, five Goldeneyes and one Great Crested Grebe were then recorded at Out Head, followed by one Hobby at Kilmany. The final report of the day was from East Wemyss where 26 Mediterranean Gulls, one Kittiwake, 48 Sandwich Terns, one Red-throated Diver, one Common Sandpiper and seven Swifts were seen.

The third week of the month (22^nd) began with a further report from East Wemyss where eight Mediterranean Gulls and 163 Sandwich Terns, including 62 juveniles, were recorded. Five Common Sandpipers, two Turnstones and three Ringed Plovers were seen between Kilminning and Sauchope, followed by a sea-watching report from Fife Ness of 16 Manx Shearwaters N, 60 Sandwich Terns N with many juveniles, seven Arctic Terns N with juveniles and one Common Sandpiper. The final sighting from a mostly sunny day, was of one Whimbrel W at Kilmany. An uncommon sighting of a Red Kite over Blebocraigs on the morning of 23^rd was followed later by a report from Fife Ness of 16 Little Gulls, four Arctic Skuas S, and 29 Manx Shearwaters N. A new contender for ‘bird of the month’ appeared in St Andrews the next day (24^th), when a rare (to Britain) Lesser Yellowlegs from North America was spotted on the shore near the Cathedral. Occasionally, the bird was joined by a Common Sandpiper and was still present at the end of the month; perhaps it had booked a package holiday? Two Arctic Skuas were seen over St Andrews Bay (27^th) accompanied by an increasing number of terns and auks with Fulmar chicks panting in the heat! On 28^th, an Osprey was spotted at Loch Fitty and reports of three Little Gulls and an Arctic Skua were received from Fife Ness. That evening, two further Arctic Skuas S and SE were seen off St Andrews. A Black Tern W was seen off Anstruther (30^th), then 44 Mediterranean Gulls, 41 Swifts and one Whimbrel were reported from the Back Dykes roost, East Wemyss. Summer seemed to have arrived at last and the final day of July brought a series of reports. An unusual number of 18 Little Egrets, along with one Whimbrel and one Greenshank were seen at Guardbridge, followed by one Whimbrel and one Long-tailed Duck reported from St Andrews. At least two Black-tailed Godwits were noted flying by Dalgety Bay and two Lapwings were seen at Kilminning. Observations from Out Head late in the day produced one Great Skua, four Arctic Skuas, 380 Arctic and Common Terns with a large number of Sandwich Terns, one Black-tailed Godwit NW, two Whimbrel, one Greenshank NW, five Knot S, six Sanderlings and four Dunlins, with the final report of the month being the day-count from Fife Ness of 327 Manx Shearwaters N, one Sooty Shearwater N, 200 Fulmars N, one Arctic Skua N, 101 Sandwich Terns, 13 Common Terns, eight Arctic Terns, two Roseate Terns, 35 Common Scoters N, one Little Gull N and one Whimbrel. 

In early June a Quail was heard calling near Spalefield (5th) and this was the first of quite a few reports of this species this month. A Greenshank was an unusual visitor to Luthrie (6th).

A drake Lesser Scaup was a fine find at Loch Gelly (8th), with 31 Pochards, four Goldeneyes, 29 Tufted Ducks and three Whooper Swans also present alongside the Lesser Scaup the next day. Seen in St Andrews Bay (9th) were two Great Northern Divers, five Red-throated Divers, two Velvet Scoters, 85 Common Scoters and one Ringed Plover, 14 Manx Shearwaters N and one Arctic Skua N were seen passing Fife Ness (11th) and a Cuckoo was seen at lower Kilminning. The drake Lesser Scaup was last reported from Loch Gelly on (12th). A Quail was also heard calling at Bonnytown. Seen off Fife Ness (13th) were three Manx Shearwaters, 24 Common Scoters, one Red-throated Diver, one Arctic Skua and six Sandwich Terns, with a summer-plumaged Black Guillemot seen from that site the next day.

An unseasonable adult Whooper Swan was on the mud flats at the Eden Estuary LNR (15th), with the three Whooper Swans still present at Loch Gelly, where a female Mandarin Duck was also present. A scarce Little Tern was seen passing Fife Ness (16th), with 11 Manx Shearwaters and three Arctic Skuas also noted, a Kingfisher was seen in Glenrothes Town Park (17th) and a Barn Owl was heard calling in a Kilmany garden, the first there in a few years. A Quail was heard from the track up to Harperleas Reservoir in the Lomond Hills (18th) and a pair of Cuckoos were watched feeding on caterpillars at Rossie Bog. Another Quail was also heard at Kingsbarns. Passing Fife Ness (20th) were 18 Manx Shearwaters N, 19 Fulmars N, 52 Common Scoters N, 17 Sandwich Terns S, six Red-throated Divers 3N, 3S.

 A Wheatear was an unusual visitor to Kilmany (22nd) for the time of year, single Ospreys were seen from Out Head and Kingsbarns, two Quail were heard in the Boarhills area (23rd) and a Whooper Swan was an out-of-season visitor to Balcomie (24th). A Common Sandpiper was a very welcome visitor to the Kilminning Pond (25th) and a Red Kite drifted over the A91 E of Auchtermuchty and another Quail was heard near Stenhouse Reservoir. A scarce bird this year, a Green Sandpiper was seen near Rossie Bog and seen from Kinghorn were 38 Manx Shearwaters E, c80 Puffins E, seven Gannets E, c60 Common Terns E, 12 Kittiwakes E, four Common Scoters W and four Fulmars E. Two dark morph Arctic Skuas were seen over fields near Boarhills (26th). One Cuckoo was still present at Rossie Bog (27th), a Red Kite drifted NW over Kirkcaldy and seen passing Fife Ness were two Common Scoters N, one Red-throated Diver N, 36 Manx Shearwaters N, 15 Sandwich Terns, c5 Puffins and c6 Swifts. Two, possibly three Quail were heard near Balmonth (29th), with another heard near Anstruther the next day. An out-of-season Long-tailed Duck was off Ruddons Point (30th), with three Velvet Scoters, eight Manx Shearwaters and a Whimbrel also seen. A passage Little Ringed Plover was near Leuchars, nine Common Sandpipers and 20 Black-tailed Godwits were at Guardbridge and finally, seen from Fife Ness were 427 Manx Shearwaters N, one 2nd calendar year Mediterranean Gull W, one 2nd calendar year Little Gull feeding offshore and three Arctic Skuas.

The first few days of May brought reports of some of the commoner summer visitors, as well as scarcer visitors. Two Grasshopper Warblers were at Seafield (1st), with two Ravens, three Crossbills and three House Martins seen at Redmyre and noted in Dunfermline were two Wheatears, two Whitethroats, three Willow Warblers and two Chiffchaffs. Sedge Warblers were quite widely reported, with Grasshopper Warblers noted at several other sites, such as Westfield Opencast, Out Head, Kilmany and Letham Pools. Seen from Fife Ness were one Whimbrel S, one Black Guillemot N, four Sandwich Terns N, seven Puffins N, one Red throated Diver N, 1S and 35 Common Scoters S. 14 Willow Warblers, three Chiffchaffs, one Garden Warbler, and c100 Sand Martins were reported from Westfield Opencast, a Lesser Whitethroat was at Out Head, 15 Sandwich Terns were seen off Buckhaven Harbour and the annual singing Garden Warblers at Birnie and Gaddon Lochs LNR were joined by a scarce (for this site) Jay. A female-type Ruff was a good find at Guardbridge (2nd), three Redwings at Falkland Estate were unusual, eight House Martins were seen in Crail and the excitement levels rose considerably when a female-type Red-breasted Flycatcher was a great find at lower Kilminning (3rd). Also seen in the area were a Black Redstart, two Lesser Whitethroats, a female Redstart, a Spotted Flycatcher and a White Wagtail. A Grasshopper Warbler was seen at Kinghorn, with another at Markinch. The Red-breasted Flycatcher was still present the next day, along with a Brambling, a Redstart, a male Pied Flycatcher and two Lesser Whitethroats. Two Grasshopper Warblers and two Lesser Whitethroats were seen at Kinghorn, with the Grasshopper Warbler seen again at Letham Pools. Five Whimbrels were on rocks by the Stinky Pool at Fife Ness, with a further nine seen passing Fife Ness, along with a Red-throated Diver S and three Puffins N, a male Pied Flycatcher was a good find in Denburn Wood. At Kilminning (5th) were the Red-breasted Flycatcher and a male Redstart, a Blue-headed Yellow Wagtail was a good find at Luthrie and seen coming in off the sea at Crail was a Short-eared Owl. Seen from Lower Largo were three Black-throated Divers, one Great Northern Diver, 50 Red-throated Divers, 1500 Common Scoters, 419 Velvet Scoters, 60 Long-tailed Ducks, 178 Red-breasted Mergansers and nine Whimbrels, a Black-throated Diver passed Anstruther E and seen off Out Head were 22 Long-tailed Ducks. Seven Crossbills and one Raven were seen in Tentsmuir and at Cameron Reservoir one Osprey, one Whimbrel, one Grasshopper Warbler, two Sedge Warblers and two Crossbills were seen. A Cuckoo was seen at Tayport Heath (6th), with eight Whimbrels also seen heading over NW, a Tree Pipit in-off the sea, 20 Whimbrels N, 412 Common Scoters N, one Manx Shearwater N, c80 Barnacle Geese N, 44 Pink-footed Geese N, four Red-throated Divers N and one Wheatear was on the rocks at Fife Ness (7th). Nearby at Kilminning were a male Whinchat and one Lesser Whitethroat, also the Red-breasted Flycatcher showed very briefly. A Grasshopper Warbler was at Cullaloe NR and at Letham Pools were one pair Great Crested Grebes, three pairs of Shovelers, three pairs of Gadwall, two Sedge Warblers, two Little Grebes and one Pink-footed Goose. A Wood Sandpiper was at Luthrie, a Short-eared Owl, two Whimbrels, five Long-tailed Ducks, 476 Common Scoters, 137 Sanderlings, 14 Dunlins, 21 Sandwich Terns, one Wheatear, two pairs of Stonechats and four Red-throated Divers were all seen at Ruddons Point.

The Red-breasted Flycatcher was still present at Kilminning (8th), three Wheatears were seen from the car park at Kingsbarns, a single Swift was seen in St Andrews and a Quail was heard in Balmullo and also the next day. A Cuckoo was heard on the Falkland Estate (9th), a summer plumage Curlew Sandpiper was with a few Dunlin at Guardbridge, a Short-eared Owl was seen hunting along the Coastal Path near Crail, with one seen near Auchtermuchty too. A male Hen Harrier was seen near Little Ballo, two 2nd calendar year Little Gulls were on the mudflats at Tayport (11th) and two Wood Sandpipers were together at Luthrie. An immature Glaucous Gull was on the sea at Kincraig Point and off Fife Ness were, a scarce spring, Pomarine Skua N and four Manx Shearwaters N. The next day there were two Arctic Skuas N and two Manx Shearwaters S and seen from Kinghorn were Arctic Terns, c50 Common Terns, c30 Gannets, five Puffins, c4 Kittiwakes, one Red-throated Diver, three Common Scoters, c12 Sandwich Terns and one Swallow. A drake Garganey was a welcome visitor to Letham Pools (12th), with two Ravens and two Swifts also seen there. Three Whooper Swans were at Loch Gelly and between Kilmany and Logie (13th) a Quail was heard, with a second bird heard nearby at Forret Mill. A Great White Egret graced Morton Lochs NNR, a Whimbrel was on the Stinky Pool, Fife Ness (15th), two Red Kites roamed over Anstruther, the drake Garganey was still at Letham Pools (16th), three Whinchats were seen up Glen Vale and another Quail was heard at Dunino (17th). A male Red-backed Shrike and a brief Yellow Wagtail at Kilminning heralded the start of a run of scarce migrant birds around the East Neuk, with another female-type Red-breasted Flycatcher seen in The Patch at Fife Ness. A Red Kite was seen over Pitmedden Forest, a male Red-backed Shrike was found at Balcomie, a female Red-backed Shrike was found at Boarhills (18th), with a male Red-backed Shrike, a male Pied Flycatcher and a male and female Whinchat at lower Kilminning. Up in the Lomond Hills a Ring Ouzel and a Cuckoo were seen on West Lomond, two Barnacle Geese were seen from Out Head. Seen in The Patch, Fife Ness were one Spotted Flycatcher, one Garden Warbler and a few Willow Warblers, (19^th) a female Red-backed Shrike was at upper Kilminning, with the female Red-backed Shrike now on the edge of the village at Boarhills, a Cuckoo was heard at Stenhouse Reservoir and at Wormiston a Quail was flushed, with a female Red-backed Shrike seen at Wormiston, with a fine male seen near the Spinney there also. A Whooper Swan was on the rock pools at Wormiston. Ospreys were seen at Rosyth and Out Head (20th).

A Bonxie W and four Manx Shearwaters W were seen from Kinghorn (22nd), a probable Black Kite was seen crossing the Forth N, being mobbed by gulls, also a Hobby went N and a Bonxie went W up the Forth. After last year’s Stone-curlew at Anstruther, no doubt many Fife birders thought “well that’ll be that for another 50 years”, not so, with another bird excellently found at lower Kilminning (24th). This bird was difficult to find once it sat down in the short crop, but with patience, most birders eventually got good views when it stretched its legs for a wander. A male Pied Flycatcher, a Spotted Flycatcher and a Short-eared Owl were also in the vicinity. Seen near Kingsbarns (24th) was a female-type Bluethroat, a very scarce bird on the Fife mainland these days, two Little Gulls were on rocks by the Spinney Pond, Dalgety Bay. A Garden Warbler and a Lesser Whitethroat were ringed in The Patch, Fife Ness (25th), unfortunately there was no sign of the Stone-curlew first thing, a Short-eared Owl was seen flying over fields near Boarhills Pond, then a Nightjar was flushed from the path near the beach there. This superb bird was then watched as it perched on the dykes around the fields near the pond, allowing plenty of birders to catch up with this very rare visitor. As if the two superb birds seen over the last two days weren’t enough, news of a Great Reed Warbler which had been trapped in The Patch at Fife Ness just added to the excitement. Whilst ringing this bird and discovering it was a male, it was hoped that once released it may well settle down and start singing, alas, no such luck for those that weren’t present when the bird was ringed and released. Almost mundane in comparison a female Pied Flycatcher was seen at Balcomie, with a female Pied Flycatcher, Grasshopper Warbler and a Blackcap seen at Boarhills Pond (26th). The excitement continued with four Spoonbills seen on the Eden Estuary LNR (27th), along with five Little Egrets. These Spoonbills were seen flying off SE late in the afternoon. A Barnacle Goose was seen distantly from the Sailing Club at Dalgety Bay, with a Long-tailed Duck on the rocks, both of these were highly unusual for this site at this time of year. At Kilminning (29th) were a Spotted Flycatcher and a Lesser Whitethroat. The sightings of scarce birds continued this spring with a Crane seen low over Kilrenny Common (30th) and two Gadwall at Dalgety Bay can be added to the unusual birds list for that site at this time of the year. Also one for the unusual bird list was a summer-plumaged Great Northern Diver in the tidal pool at St Monans and finally another scarce spring bird, an Arctic Skua, was seen passing Boarhills S (31st).

April started with a few sightings coming in of Sand Martins, Swallows and Wheatears, though none were in large numbers. A White-fronted Goose was with Greylags and Mute Swans in a grass field on the north shore of Cameron Reservoir (4th), and an Osprey was seen heading over Skelpie Farm and the first of many White Wagtails this spring was at Luthrie, alongside 25 Pied Wagtails and 75 Meadow Pipits. At least four Ospreys, three Ravens, a female Merlin and four Kestrels were seen at Loch Glow (5th), the drake Smew and an Osprey were seen at Cameron Reservoir (6th) and still present at Kilconquhar Loch was the female Long-tailed Duck. Also noted there were 11 Red-breasted Mergansers and an early House Martin. A Common Sandpiper was at Guardbridge (7th) and seen at Kinghorn were four Long-tailed Ducks, three Red-breasted Mergansers and c40 Common Scoters. There was a more substantial flock of Sand Martins seen at Loch Fitty, with c400 noted.

A drake Pochard, the first Blackcaps and six House Martins were seen at Birnie and Gaddon Lochs LNR (8th) and seen off Fife Ness were one Arctic Tern N, four Long-tailed Ducks S, five Red throated Divers N and three Black-throated Divers N. There was a good count of 56 Red breasted Mergansers at the mouth of the River Leven at Leven and two Ring Ouzels showed well at Kilminning (9th). Seen heading over Ferry Hills (10th) were a Brambling and 3220 Pink-feet N. White Wagtails were seen again, with four at Dalgety Bay and seven at Braefoot Plantation and seen passing Fife Ness were two Sandwich Terns, 21 Common Scoters, four Red-throated Divers and c20 Pink-footed Geese, whilst at Lower Largo (12th), two Black-throated Divers, 500 Common Scoters and 50 Velvet Scoters were seen. 350 Common Scoters and two Sandwich Terns were seen from Kinghorn and a superb male Redstart was a great find in a St Andrews garden. Two Greenshanks were at the much-missed pool at Rossie Bog, two Pintail, one Whimbrel, two Wheatears and four Brent Geese were seen at Coble Shore (13th) and a few more White Wagtails were seen, with seven at Cocklemill Burn and one at Ruddons Point. A very obliging flock of 12 Waxwings were seen at Coaltown of Wemyss and another two Ring Ouzels were a good find at Drumcarrow. A female Marsh Harrier came in over the Forth at Kinghorn (14th), with three Golden Plovers N and 114 Meadow Pipits N also noted passing through. A Grasshopper Warbler was heard “reeling” at Boarhills and a Cuckoo was seen at Tayport. Maybe spring was here after all! It didn’t feel like it in the colder weather though. Seen from Elie were three Manx Shearwaters and five Sandwich Terns.

11 Black-tailed Godwits were at Dalgety Bay (15th) and an early Lesser Whitethroat was at Kinghorn, where c300 Common Scoters were noted offshore. A Green Woodpecker was calling at Lathrisk, near Freuchie and another Common Sandpiper had trickled in, this time at Luthrie. A solitary Knot was at Dalgety Bay (16th) and noted at Loch Fitty were one Common Sandpiper, 120 Sand Martins, 10 Willow Warblers, eight Chiffchaffs, two Redpolls, two Jays, 64 Greylag Geese, eight Pink-footed Geese, 21 Canada Geese, 23 Tufted Ducks, four Goldeneye, four Gadwall and c4 Great Crested Grebes. 18 Pale-bellied Brent Geese and one Dark-bellied Brent Goose were in Balgove Bay and c70 Whooper Swans were still present near Freuchie. The White Wagtail flock at Braefoot Plantation had risen to 26 by (17th) and a count at Lower Largo produced 63 Red-throated Divers, 39 Velvet Scoters, 301 Common Scoters and nine Long-tailed Ducks. Seen from Ferry Hills (18th) were two Tree Pipits N and 1250 Pink-feet N, a Barn Owl was seen near Falkland and noted passing Kinghorn (19th) were 28 Black-tailed Godwits flew W, with c750 Common Scoters on the sea. At Knockhill, two Cuckoos were heard calling and a Grasshopper Warbler was heard “reeling”, an Osprey passed over Dunfermline heading NW, with another bird seen at Loch Fitty. A Lesser Whitethroat was heard singing near Stenhouse Reservoir, with c15 White Wagtails also noted on the flooded field there. A drake Pochard was seen at Letham Pools and seen off Fife Ness were one dark phase Arctic Skua S and five Manx Shearwaters N, two Common Sandpipers were at Clatto Reservoir and a Grasshopper Warbler was in the NW corner of St Margarets Marsh, Rosyth (20th). Seen from Kincraig Head were one Tree Pipit, three White Wagtails, 27 Red-throated Divers, one Black throated Diver, one Slavonian Grebe and 635 Common Scoters and off Fife Ness (21st) were two Arctic Terns N, nine Sandwich Terns, one 2nd calendar year Little Gull N, two Manx Shearwaters N, 17 Red-throated Divers, two Black-throated Divers, 58 Barnacle Goose N, three Whimbrels S and 21 Long-tailed Ducks S, also there was a new record day count of Common Scoters (337). Noted from Kinghorn were one Great Northern Diver E, four Red throated Divers W and 800 Common Scoters on the sea, a Whitethroat was at Out Head and seen at Guardbridge were two Slavonian Grebes, four Brent Geese, 22 Pintail, one Little Egret and one Greenshank. Two drake Scaup and one Little Egret were at Tayport and a single White Wagtail was seen at Valleyfield Lagoons.

At Blairhall (22nd), a Garden Warbler was heard, a Whimbrel and two Pintail were at Tayport and seen at Hawkcraig Point were 10 Pintail, one Tufted Duck W, 13 Scaup, 115 Razorbills, 24 Puffins and one Whitethroat. Single Lesser Whitethroats were seen at Ferry Hills and Seafield (23rd) and at Langdyke two Tree Pipits and one Green Woodpecker were seen. Four Waxwings were in trees by the entrance to Ferry Hills (24th), then flew off NW, the Lesser Whitethroat was also still present, c15 Whooper Swans were still in the fields to the N of Freuchie. Seen from Fife Ness were one Arctic Skua N, one Manx Shearwater N, 34 Red-throated Divers N, 18 Sandwich Terns N and two Common Scoters N and there was a good count of 24 Purple Sandpipers at Seafield, nine Long-tailed Ducks, c12 Sandwich Terns and one White Wagtail were seen at Out Head. Noted off Fife Ness (25th) were one Bonxie N, two Manx Shearwaters N, 28 Sandwich Terns N, 4S, nine Red-throated Divers N and three Fulmars N, two Common Sandpipers were seen at Harperleas Reservoir and a Short-eared Owl was seen at Muirhead Farm. A Green Sandpiper was at Morton Lochs NNR (27th), one Arctic Tern, one Wheatear, one White Wagtail, five Bar-tailed Godwits and two Whimbrel were off Fife Ness and at Cameron Reservoir were two Grasshopper Warblers and two Canada Geese. A Sedge Warbler was singing at Boarhills Pond, also four Whimbrel were there. Seen from Coble Shore were eight Pintail, one Little Egret and three Long-tailed Ducks and a scarce Cuckoo was calling at Lockshaw Moss, where a Wheatear was also soon. Seen at Falkland (28th) were one Tree Pipit, three Ravens and one Green Woodpecker and there was a good selection of warblers at Seafield, with one Whitethroat, one Lesser Whitethroat, one Willow Warbler, one Chiffchaff, two Greylags and seen offshore were eight Gannets, 83 Common Scoters and two Sandwich Terns. Two Arctic Skuas were off Kingsbarns Beach, a Bonxie went N past Fife Ness and seen at Guardbridge were a Ruff, 25 Black-tailed Godwits, 11 Long-tailed Ducks, one Slavonian Grebe and three Little Egrets. A Grasshopper Warbler was heard at Seafield, with another heard at Kincardine, four Scaup went past Fife Ness N, a Wheatear was at Dalgety Bay (29th), with two Whimbrel and one Woodcock nearby at Braefoot. A Sedge Warbler was at Stenhouse Reservoir, two more Grasshopper Warblers were at Balgownie Woods and the first Swift of the year was seen at Kilconquhar, where two Sedge Warblers were also seen. Seen off Fife Ness were one Bonxie S, 106 Common Scoters, 96 Sandwich Terns, one Red-throated Diver N, 6S and two Black-throated Divers N and seen off Elie were one Arctic Skua, one Great Northern Diver and six Long-tailed Ducks. The month closed with a Yellow Wagtail (Blue-headed) at Luthrie (30th), two male Ring Ouzels at Anstruther, another Ring Ouzel at Kittock’s Den, two Little Terns and two Grey Plover at Out Head, one Whimbrel and a Common Sandpiper at Seafield, eight Waxwings in Kirkcaldy and three Stonechats, one Wheatear and a Cuckoo in the Lomond Hills.

The redhead Smew was still present at Angle Park GP (3rd) and was seen displaying to a Goldeneye, a Green Woodpecker was seen at Kennoway and the drake Smew continued its stay at Cameron Reservoir, with 12 Whooper Swans, one Brambling, one Little Egret, a pair of Scaup, one Stonechat, four Ravens, c10 Crossbills, two Snipe, one Jay and one Redshank also seen there. Four Whooper Swans were seen heading N over St Andrews, two Red-necked Grebes, seven Slavonian Grebes, one Black-necked Grebe, four Long-tailed Ducks and 14 Velvet Scoters were off Leven and a ringtail Hen Harrier and a Short-eared Owl were seen at East Lomond. A sinensis race Cormorant was present at Loch Gelly (4th), with 10 Goosanders, a Red-breasted Merganser, three Shelducks, 10 Tufted Ducks and c8 Pochard also noted. Two Ravens were seen at St Andrews Castle, a Nuthatch was seen in Beveridge Park, Kirkcaldy and seen offshore at Lower Largo were three Slavonian Grebes, 15 Velvet Scoters and 60 Common Scoters. A Black-necked Grebe and 410 Common Scoters were off Leven (6th), c116 Golden Plovers were seen near East Lomond and a Great Northern Diver was off Ruddons Point. The long-staying Black Redstart was still gracing Roome Bay with its presence (7th), a pair of Pintail were at Dalgety Bay and c50 Whooper Swans were in fields NE of Freuchie. A Barn Owl was seen near Dumbarnie.

A Chiffchaff was heard in St Andrews (8th), seven Crossbills were around the sawmill in Devilla Forest, a Ring-necked Parakeet was seen in Beveridge Park, Kirkcaldy, two Little Auks were seen heading E at Kinghorn (9th) and as well as a pair of Scaup, a Little Egret, 11 Whooper Swans and a Greenshank, four Crossbills were seen at Cameron Reservoir. Two Merlins were seen N of Carnbee Reservoir and at Redmyre there was an impressive count of c80 Stock Doves, with five Buzzards, four Ravens and a Crossbill also seen. A Merlin, three Woodcocks and a Snipe were seen at Fairmont, St Andrews, another Barn Owl was seen, this time at Lahill Estate, Upper Largo, a pair of Mallard wouldn’t normally get a mention in the monthly sightings, but this pair have the distinction of being the first avian visitors to the new pool at Kilminning (10th). A Red-necked Grebe, a Slavonian Grebe and eight Great Crested Grebes were off Dalgety Bay, and there were six Whooper Swans, 113 Wigeon, one Goosander, 26 Gadwall and 58 Teal at Craigluscar Reservoirs (11th), there were also 10 Snipe. Two Ravens were seen at Kilminning, two Snow Buntings were at Out Head and seen at Clatto Reservoir (12th) were two Crossbills and 87 Wigeon. Seen at Out Head (14th) was a Little Egret, a Slavonian Grebe and c23 Brent Geese.

An early Sandwich Tern was seen off Fife Ness (15th), with two Pintail N, 15 Red-throated Divers N, 54 Kittiwakes N, one Long-tailed Duck N and five Common Scoters S. Nine Slavonian Grebes, 17 Red-throated Divers, 27 Long-tailed Ducks, 22 Velvet Scoters, 291 Common Scoters 117 Razorbills and one Guillemot were off Lower Largo. Two Great Northern Divers, three Slavonian Grebes, two Great Crested Grebes, 90 Red-breasted Mergansers and 60 Bar-tailed Godwits were seen at Ruddons Point, with six Grey Plovers and three Short-eared Owls seen at nearby Cocklemill Marsh. A Slavonian Grebe, one Woodcock, one Little Egret, four Crossbills, two Chiffchaffs, 30 Whooper Swans and one Raven were all seen at Cameron Reservoir, two Short-eared Owls were still showing well at East Lomond and a Red Kite was seen flying E at Newburgh (16th). Seen at Loch Gelly were a pair of Scaup and 55 Whooper Swans. Six Crossbills were seen at Blairadam Forest (17th), one Black-throated Diver, 10 Red-throated Divers, one Slavonian Grebe, 16 Velvet Scoters, nine Common Scoters, 42 Long-tailed Ducks, 95 Razorbills, three Guillemots and one Purple Sandpiper were seen at Lower Largo, a female Ring-necked Duck, two Chiffchaffs and two Jays were at Moor Loch and a pair of Scaup at Loch Gelly were suspected of being Lesser Scaup. These birds were quite distant and seen in poor conditions, but over the next few days, better conditions allowed for images to be checked and they were found to be Greater Scaup. 17 Pintail, including 12 drakes, and four Bar-tailed Godwits were at Torry Bay, two Nuthatches were seen in Balbirnie Park, Markinch (18th), with another bird heard calling at the Falkland Estate (19th). An Osprey was seen going over East Lomond, where c100 Golden Plovers were also seen. Two Red Kites (together) were seen heading over the A91 near Birnie & Gaddon Lochs LNR, a Sand Martin was seen at Letham Pools and seen from Ruddons Point (20th) were a Red-necked Grebe, four Slavonian Grebes, one Great Crested Grebe, 132 Red-breasted Mergansers, 122 Common Scoters, eight Velvet Scoters and 11 Red-throated Divers. A Snow Bunting and 22 Twite were seen at Kingsbarns.

Three Little Egrets were seen at Morton Lochs NNR (22nd), 18 Whooper Swans, a (presumed) sinensis Cormorant, four Cormorants, two Red-breasted Mergansers and one Great Crested Grebe were seen at Cameron Reservoir and a Red Kite was seen at Lucklaw Hill, Balmullo. The female Ring-necked Duck was still present at Moor Loch (23rd) and another Red Kite was seen near Kincraig Point (24th), not too far away at Dumbarnie Links a sub-adult White-tailed Eagle was also seen. Seen off Seafield were 20 Long-tailed Ducks and 250 Common Scoters and a Barn Owl was seen near Crail (26th). A Great Northern Diver, one Slavonian Grebe, 42 Long tailed Ducks, 47 Velvet Scoters and nine Red-throated Divers were seen from Lower Largo, a pair of Snow Buntings were at Out Head and seen at Cocklemill Marsh were a pair of Pintail, a pair of Shoveler and a Short-eared Owl. 35 Whooper Swans passed north over Winifred Crescent, Kirkcaldy (27th) and nearby at Seafield, 17 Purple Sandpipers and 142 Redshanks were counted. One Swallow and one Sand Martin were seen at Letham Pools, c54 Sand Martins, four Chiffchaffs, two Canada Geese, c50 Tufted Ducks, c8 Goldeneye, six Great Crested Grebes and two Buzzards were all noted at Loch Fitty (28th). A Waxwing was heard singing at Newport-on-Tay, a 2nd calendar year Little Gull passed Fife Ness N (29th) and seen on Kilconquhar Loch were a female Long-tailed Duck and seven Red-breasted Mergansers. Another Red Kite was seen drifting north at Cameron Reservoir, a 2nd calendar year Little Gull was seen on Kilconquhar Loch and a Great Northern Diver and 14 Velvet Scoters (passing E) were seen from Ruddons Point. Two Ospreys were seen around Loch Glow (30th) and counted off Leven were seven Slavonian Grebes, 11 Red-throated Divers, 480 Common Scoters and 20 Velvet Scoters, with 105 Velvet Scoters, 295 Common Scoters, 21 Long-tailed Ducks, four Slavonian Grebes and 14 Red-throated Divers seen not far away at Lower Largo. A Jack Snipe was at Cocklemill Marsh, a Black Redstart was seen just outside Boarhills, with a Jack Snipe also seen near the pond. A Short-eared Owl flew over Out Head, an Osprey and c40 Stock Doves were at Cameron Reservoir and a Tawny Owl was in Balbirnie Park. The long-staying drake Smew was still present at Cameron Reservoir on the last day of the month, but the other long-staying bird, the Black Redstart was last reported on the (13th). Both proved very popular.