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The arrival of three first summer Mediterranean Gulls at East Wemyss provoked the thought that this corner of Fife could once again be Scotland’s hotspot for this species. At Wilderness the Whooper Swan and adult Little Gull remained from last month and were accompanied by three Common Sandpipers, four Black-tailed Godwits and one Whimbrel then Angle Park GP hosted a Green Sandpiper (1st). A first summer Mediterranean Gull was on Balcomie Beach, 216 Manx Shearwaters passed Anstruther and 100 Black-tailed Godwits, with many in full summer plumage, were at Valleyfield Lagoons. 11 Manx Shearwaters, two Greenshanks, two Peregrines and 38 Goosanders were at Dalgety Bay (2nd). A Quail was calling at Balcomie, 12 Manx Shearwaters, 51 Puffins and an Arctic Skua all flew west past Kinghorn, the Green Sandpiper was still present at Angle Park GP and at East Wemyss the Mediterranean Gull count was one adult, one second summer and five first summer (3rd) with the same totals there the following day. Four Dabchicks were accompanied by three young at Morton Lochs NNR with two of this species also noted at Drumoig (4th). At Balcomie a Quail was in a field between the castle and the entrance to Kilminning and a Knot was on the beach, then at Kingsbarns a Quail was in a poppy field just before the entrance to beach car park. At Newton Sandpit the Black-headed Gull colony was down to c20, while other species noted there included a Kestrel, five Stock Doves, a Sedge Warbler and four Dabchicks then five of the latter species were recorded at Linkswood Pond/Flood (6th). Eight first summer and one second summer Mediterranean Gulls were at East Wemyss, a pair of nesting Spotted Flycatchers produced young at Falkland Estate’s ‘Pillars of Hercules’ and a Quail was still singing at the entrance to Balcomie with a first summer Mediterranean Gull and a Knot seen on the beach there (7th).

The Quail was still present at Balcomie the next day (8th), a Green Sandpiper and the Whooper Swan remained at Wilderness (10th) and a Common Sandpiper was noted at Cullaloe NR then a Manx Shearwater and a group of ten Whimbrels flew over Fairmont (12th). 27 Manx Shearwaters, 101 Goosanders and an Arctic Skua were off Pathhead, four Black-tailed Godwits, and four Common Sandpipers were present at Wilderness and the first Tree Pipit of the autumn was recorded at Ferry Hills where three Little Gulls and three Red-throated Divers flew inland (13th). Edenside held three Little Egrets, 14 Cormorants, six Grey Herons, one Osprey, 35 Lapwings, 29 Curlews and 48 Redshanks. Sightings at Pathhead included four adult and one first summer Little Gulls, one Manx Shearwater, 90+ Goosanders and a Common Sandpiper. A busy day continued with three Mediterranean Gulls (two adult, one second summer) at Inverkeithing Harbour, two (possibly three) Quail near Troustie House, and a count from Fife Ness of 36 Manx Shearwaters, one Arctic Skua, one Bonxie and two Mediterranean Gulls (14th).

A female Redstart was at Cameron Reservoir, two Quail were singing near Troustie House and three Green Sandpipers turned up at Angle Park GP (15th). Seawatching at Fife Ness produced eight Manx Shearwaters, a Great Northern Diver and one Whimbrel then one of the now regular reports from Wilderness included three Common Sandpipers, one Black-tailed Godwit and seven Snipe. Two Quail were still at Troustrie, 12 Mute Swans were accompanied by 17 young at Newburgh and the East Wemyss gull roost included three adult and one first summer Mediterranean Gulls (16th). At Wilderness there were three Common Sandpipers with the same number also at  Angle Park GP as well as a Green Sandpiper (17th) which lingered the following day when the Wilderness tally was four Common Sandpipers, one Black-tailed Godwit and the Whooper Swan. The East Wemyss Mediterranean Gull count was two adults, seven first summer and a juvenile (18th) changing to eleven first summer and one second summer the next day when an adult was also seen on Dysart east beach. Our contribution to the Wood Sandpiper influx was one in the north-east corner of Letham Pools (19th) and it was also there the next day as well as a Water Rail. Wilderness hosted one Green Sandpiper, two Common Sandpipers, one Black-tailed Godwit and a Little Egret while Caiplie held one Yellow Wagtail (20th). Two Quail were singing from fields to the north of the beach car park at Kingsbarns and 46 Golden Plovers were on rocks at St Monans saltpans (21st).

At Loch Glow there were two Ospreys fishing, two Ravens, three Great Black-backed Gulls and a flock of at least ten Crossbills (22nd). A Red Kite was being mobbed by a Buzzard and corvids near Lochhead Landfill. Wilderness held a Common Sandpiper (23rd). A Whimbrel was at East Wemyss with seven also noted at Kingsbarns as well as a Quail, the Wood Sandpiper was still present at Letham Pools (24th) and was also seen the following day when a Green Sandpiper and a Common Sandpiper were at Wilderness and two Ospreys were observed from the Eden Estuary Centre. The  Fife Ness count was a Sooty Shearwater, 107 Manx Shearwaters, one Arctic Skua and seven Knot. East Wemyss held seven first summer Mediterranean Gulls (25th) increasing to nine the next day along with one adult and one second summer as well as a Whimbrel. Still with gulls, 260 Little Gulls were in the air and on the sea at St Andrews East Sands in the evening (26th) and an immature Mediterranean Gull was on Balcomie Beach accompanied by a Whimbrel, 70 Dunlins and 20 Sanderlings. Back at East Wemyss the tally was one adult, two second summer, three first summer and one juvenile Mediterranean Gull (27th) but only one adult, three first summers and one juvenile were noted the following day. Kinghorn sightings included ten Manx Shearwaters, 19 Puffins, 26 Common Scoters and a Tufted Duck then a further report from Pettycur comprised three Manx Shearwaters, a Whimbrel and seven Turnstones. Whimbrel sightings continued with one at Edenside, two over Morton Lochs NNR and one on the rocks at Fife Ness from where one Sooty Shearwater, 116 Manx Shearwaters, three Bonxies, three Arctic Skuas, 67 Common Scoters, two Velvet Scoters and an adult Little Gull were also spied as well as a Yellow Wagtail at the golf practice area. Valleyfield /Newmills hosted four Common Sandpipers, two Knot, 85 Redshanks, two Greenshanks and 28 Dunlins and Edenside held two Little Egrets (28th).

One second calendar year Long-tailed Skua and four Arctic Terns flew inland at Ferry Hills where nine Tree Pipits passed over. Four Dabchicks were noted at Morton Lochs NNR, a Quail was flushed from the coastal path at Fife Ness where a Whimbrel and a Manx Shearwater were seen passing and a juvenile Mediterranean Gull was east of the mouth of the River Leven (30th). Wilderness held a Little Stint and a juvenile Water Rail then a later report was of a Temminck’s Stint, one Black-tailed Godwit and two Snipe. 40 Goosanders were at Dalgety Bay, a flock of up to 20 Tree Sparrows were feeding in a wheat field at Bathmoor Plantationand an Osprey was on Preston Island at Valleyfield Lagoons where also noted were a Green Sandpiper, one Short-eared Owl, 18 Lapwings, two Common Sandpipers, 30+ Common Terns, four+ Sandwich Terns and a Mediterranean Gull. A Greenshank was present at Fairmont, St Andrews where offshore were spied two adult Long-tailed Skuas, a second calendar year Long-tailed Skua, four Arctic Skuas and 132 Little Gulls (31st).

Information supplied courtesy of Malcolm Ware and Graham Sparshott

38 Canada Geese were seen flying south over Strathkinness and two Grey Partridges were noted at Rathillet (1st). A Cuckoo was singing at Kilmany and a Common Sandpiper was at Braefoot Point while a pair of Grey Wagtails and two juveniles were seen on Auchtermuchty Burn. A pair of Tree Sparrows with two juveniles was also in an Auchtermuchty garden (2nd). At Anstruther 232 Manx Shearwaters, an Iceland Gull, two Tysties and two Black-throated Divers were noted (5th). Five Crossbills passed over St Andrews (6th).

A singing Quail was at Wormiston Farm. A Spotted Flycatcher, a Raven and ten Woodcock ‘fly-bys’, probably of two birds, were all noted at Morton Lochs NNR then Earlshall also hosted a Woodcock as well as two Spotted Flycatchers and an Osprey (8th). In the Crail to Kippo area two Red Kites were seen heading north to Boarhills. At Wilderness a Quail, four Whooper Swans (one colour-ringed) and a Black-tailed Godwit were present and at Collessie a Lesser Whitethroat was singing (9th). A Goosander and two young were seen off Ruddons Point and four Spotted Flycatchers were noted at Linkswood St Fort (10th). A Red Kite was heading north-west over Blairhall and an adult female Honey-buzzard was spied near ‘The Secret Bunker’ flying towards St Andrews. A pair of Canada Geese bred at Drumoig for the first time where there were also 33 Lesser Black-backed Gulls and 90 Herring Gulls. Meanwhile at Edenside two Little Egrets, 50+ Mute Swans, eight Shelducks (including five young), one Common Scoter and an Osprey were reported (11th). A Barn Owl was seen at Culross then Angle Park GP held five Greylags, five Gadwall, c60 Coots with c70 Sand and House Martins active over the water. Two Mute Swans with two small cygnets were at Birnie & Gaddon Lochs LNR where 11 Greylags included two goslings (12th). Three Ospreys frequented Edenside and a day count from the hide at Fife Ness comprised six Storm Petrels, five Bonxies, 24 Common Scoters, one Tystie, 19 Sanderlings, nine Sandwich Terns, 16 Arctic Terns, 97 Manx Shearwaters, two Red-throated Divers and two Velvet Scoters (13th). Away from the coast, Glen Vale hosted five Ravens and a pair of Whinchats (14th).

At Dunfermline’s Duloch Park two Reed Warblers, a singing male and a second foraging bird, were recorded. A Tystie and a single Manx Shearwater were off Dysart Harbour car park. Two Spotted Flycatchers were at Linkswood, 14 Canada Geese (including seven young) and a Pochard were seen at Newton Sandpit and two Mute Swans were with six cygnets at Morton Lochs NNR (15th). A report from Edenside included five Grey Herons, 30+ Mute Swans, 20 Shelducks (including three young) and two Ospreys then an adult Little Gull in full summer plumage was discovered at Letham Pools (19th). A Garden Warbler was in song at Tayfield(20th). A Blackcap and a Whitethroat were noted at Kirkton of Balmerino and a single Whimbrel was at Ravenscraig beach (21st).

Six Black-tailed Godwits, a Whooper Swan, three Common Sandpipers and probably the same adult summer Little Gull were present at Wilderness (23rd) with all of these, except the godwits, lingering the next day when a Red-necked Grebe was at Dalgety Bay (24th). An adult Little Gull was seen over Letham Pools again (26th) then two were present at Wilderness. Two Great Crested Grebes and 14 Mute Swans (including seven cygnets) were at Lindores Loch (28th) before an adult Little Gull, three Black-tailed Godwits, a Common Sandpiper, the Whooper Swan and two Pochard were observed at Wilderness. A Common Sandpiper and three first summer Mediterranean Gulls were found at East Wemyss (will the record be broken again this year?) (30th).

Information supplied courtesy of Malcolm Ware and Graham Sparshott

The month opened with a Dipper at Dura Den/Kemback then a Lesser Whitethroat, 29 Black-tailed Godwits, two Whimbrels and two Swifts were at Ferry Hills (1st) with the Lesser Whitethroat still present there the following day along with a Grasshopper Warbler. A Swift was at Anstruther and seven Manx Shearwaters, six Red-throated Divers and a Wheatear were at Fife Ness (2nd) where one Great Northern Diver and a Bonxie were noted the next day. Two Ospreys and four Little Egrets were seen from the Edenside hide, 37 Mute Swans were in a field at Parkhill, Newburgh and c100 Sand Martins were active over the water at Lindores Loch. Two Gadwalls and four Shelducks were at Luthrie (3rd).Two Lesser Whitethroats were at the opposite ends of Kilminning then Edenside held two drake Garganeys, five Whimbrels and four Little Egrets (4th). A Bonxie and a Manx Shearwater passed Anstruther whilst two Yellow Wagtails were accompanied by four White Wagtails at Balcomie Beach (5th) where the four White Wagtails lingered the following day and were joined by five Whimbrels, four Black-tailed Godwits and a Wheatear. Edenside held four Little Egrets, 28 Shelducks, an Osprey and five Tree Sparrows then two Green Woodpeckers were reported at Bath Moor Plantation (6th).Three Goosanders, four Blackcaps and a Whitethroat were at Kirkton of Balmerino (7th).

Wilderness hosted a Wood Sandpiper, two Common Sandpipers, two Goosanders, a Whooper Swan and five Pink-feet. Angle Park GP held a Ringed Plover and a Common Sandpiper with an Osprey over while a Dunlin and a Common Sandpiper were present at Luthrie (8th). The Wood Sandpiper, two Common Sandpipers and a Whooper Swan remained at Wilderness along with a Black-tailed Godwit. Up to four Bonxies, a Manx Shearwater, one Whimbrel and eight Sandwich Terns were seen off Fife Ness, two White Wagtails, a Wheatear and three Whimbrels were noted at Balcomie Beach with three of the latter species also noted at Culross. Six Black-tailed Godwits were at Letham Pools. Up in the hills, a juvenile Dipper, three Wheatears, a single male Whinchat, three pairs of Stonechats with a single juvenile and a pair of Ravens were all noted at Glen Vale (9th). Four Wood Sandpipers were now present at Wilderness as well as three Common Sandpipers, one Black-tailed Godwit, three Pink-feet and a Whooper Swan. A Pied Flycatcher was at Denburn Wood and a Black-tailed Godwit was at Letham Pools (10th). Three Whimbrels were seen flying over Dalgety Bay (11th) and a Spoonbill flew north-west over Kirkcaldy at height. Angle Park GP hosted two Wood Sandpipers and three Black-tailed Godwits then a White Wagtail was present at Luthrie and a Cuckoo was heard near Harperleas Reservoir. A pair of Stonechats along with five fledglings was seen at Elie Ness where the Black-necked Grebe was in the harbour again (12th). Six Whinchats and a group of nine Stonechats, including two fledglings, were noted at Glen Vale and a Hobby flew low over Kilmany. A Temminck’s Stint turned up at Angle Park GP, where three Black-tailed Godwits were also present, while a Wood Sandpiper lingered at Wilderness (13th).

An Osprey was seen circling low over Kilrenny and three Black-tailed Godwits were still present at Angle Park GP (15th) where one Wood Sandpiper was noted the next day. Seawatching at Fife Ness produced one Great Northern Diver, six Red-throated Divers, c30 Manx Shearwaters (c20 in one flock) and also a Yellow Wagtail over the rocks. Freshwater observations included seven Dabchicks, 15 Canada Geese (including nine goslings), five Shelducks and c100 Black-headed Gulls at Newton Sandpit and c100 Herring Gulls at Drumoig (16th). Morton Lochs NNR held 12 Dabchicks, including four young, and 20 Coots including ten young. Two Little Egrets flew inland over Anstruther (17th). A Bonxie, 28 Manx Shearwaters and five Common Scoters were noted off Fife Ness whilst nearby towards Kilminning up to three Spotted Flycatchers, a Lesser Whitethroat and a Wheatear were reported. A Cuckoo was calling at Craigluscar Hill and a Hobby was seen flying strongly north-west at Balchrystie near Colinsburgh (18th). A single Lesser Whitethroat was at Wormiston and two were at Kilminning where there was also a male Whinchat, a Wood Warbler, two Garden Warblers and at least one Pied Flycatcher. A Cuckoo was heard calling at Craigmead (19th). Single Lesser Whitethroats were reported at Seafield Tower and at Wilderness where there were also six Black-tailed Godwits with two of this species at Angle Park GP whilst a Grasshopper Warbler appeared at Roome Bay (20th). A Water Rail was present at Letham Pools (21st)

A sighting of four Great Crested Grebes included two young birds at Mountcastle GP, where there was also a Green Woodpecker, then c40 Coots were noted at Angle Park GP (22nd). A Quail was heard just south of Kilmany, 43 Mute Swans were present at Edenside and a Parakeet sp. was seen flying around the Bogward area of St Andrews. A male Whinchat, a Raven and a Jay were noted at Glen Vale (23rd) then two Whinchats, a Jay and two Grey Partridges were seen there the following day (24th). A Red-legged Partridge was seen at Gauldry, a Grey Wagtail was noted at Burnside, Cupar and an Osprey flew north over Ardross Farm (25th). Two dark phase Arctic Skuas were in the bay at Pettycur Harbour then a report from Edenside included one Little Egret, c50 Mute Swans, five Canada Geese, an Osprey and  24 Black-tailed Godwits (28th) with the latter species numbering six at Wilderness where there were also six Pochard (29th). A Temminck’s Stint was at Valleyfield Lagoons (30th) and it loitered there the next day when the month was rounded off by observations at Edenside which included 55 Mute Swans, 12 Goosanders and two Ospreys (31st).

Information provided courtesy of Malcolm Ware and Graham Sparshott

At Elie, the Black-necked Grebe was still present off the harbour (1st). 20 Whooper Swans flew north over St Andrews, two Chiffchaffs were heard singing atTayfield, two Ospreys were seen circling over Loch Glow from Knockhill. Two Ospreys were also seen at different times from the Eden Estuary Centre, with both seen carrying fish and heading towards Balmullo (2nd). Three Sandwich Terns were noted at Anstruther (3rd) then a Black Guillemot was seen there the following day when a Red Kite was spotted on the east side of the Thornton bypass (4th). At the top end of Kilminning were one male Blackcap and a Chiffchaff. A report from Morton Lochs NNR included six Dabchicks, a Canada Goose, five Teal, c25 Mallards, eight Tufted Ducks, two Chiffchaffs, and a Great Spotted Woodpecker. At Elie the Black-necked Grebe was joined by two Sandwich Terns (5th). A Chiffchaff was at the top end of Kilminning, a Willow Warbler was at Kilrenny. Hirundine counts included three House Martins and five Swallows at Kilconquhar Loch, c25 Sand Martins and two Swallows at Angle Park GP and three Swallows at Loch Gelly where there were also five Gadwall, 68 Goldeneyes, two Shelducks and four Goosanders. An unusual report was an Egyptian Goose with 200 Pink-feet at Letham Pools (6th). Birnie & Gaddon Lochs LNR hosted singles of House Martin and Swallow, a Great Northern Diver passed west off Ruddons Point, a redhead Smew and three Swallows were seen at Cameron Reservoir and the Black-necked Grebe was now in summer plumage at Elie Harbour where there was also a Raven over the cliffs. Ten drake Shovelers plus a single Pintail were noted at Wilderness (7th).

The next day, the same site held 47 (37+ ten immature) Mute Swans, 88 Pink-feet, 17 Tufted Ducks, 15 Goldeneyes, 12 Coots, ten Lapwings and 12 Lesser Black-backed Gulls. Letham Pools hosted two Shovelers, a Great Crested Grebe, four Mute Swans, seven Teal, 23 Wigeon, four Gadwall and ten Oystercatchers. Seawatching at Fife Ness produced 11 Sandwich Terns, a Manx Shearwater, 16 Red-throated Divers, four Scaup, nine Common Scoters, five Long-tailed Ducks, two Puffins and two Red-breasted Mergansers (8th). A Blackcap was singing at Torry Bay then a report from Edenside included two Little Egrets and eight Tree Sparrows (9th). Two Dabchicks were at Newton Farm with five of this species at Linkswood Pond as well as four Shelducks and a Grey Partridge. Drumoig also held two Dabchicks and two Canada Geese. A Blackcap was heard singing at Culross and the redhead Smew was seen at the north-west end of Lochore Meadows CP (10th). A Willow Warbler and two Sand Martins were at Kinghorn Loch with seven Blackcaps between there and Burntisland then an Osprey flew north over Kirkcaldy. Sightings at Newton Sandpit included 12 Dabchicks, nine Canada Geese, four Shelducks, six Teal, ten Mallards, 30 Tufted Ducks, three Goldeneyes and a Chiffchaff. Observations at Fife Ness comprised five Sandwich Terns, one Swallow, six Red-throated Divers, a Black-throated Diver, 40 Kittiwakes, 18 Fulmars and six Greylags. Meanwhile at Lower Largo, a pair of Red-necked Grebes was seen offshore as well as a pair of Slavonian Grebes in summer plumage and two Red-throated Divers (11th). Kirkcaldy’sMill Dam area hosted four singing Blackcaps, Auchtermuchty’s first Willow Warblers of the year were three at Broombrae Farm and a Green Woodpecker was  seen at The Clink, Pitmedden Forest. Two Nuthatches were still at Ravenscraig Park then at Anstruther there was an evening fly-past of a juvenile/first winter Mediterranean Gull and a Manx Shearwater (13th). Two Ravens and a Great Spotted Woodpecker were noted at Ferry Hills while the redhead Smew was seen at Lochore Meadows CP as well as four Crossbills, three Willow Warblers, two Blackcaps, eight Swallows and 19 Sand Martins (14th).

A Chiffchaff  and a Willow Warbler were at Craigtoun CP, a male ‘Blue-headed’ Yellow Wagtail was present at Letham Pools and another particularly noteworthy sighting was a Hoopoe at Boarhills (16th). There was an unconfirmed report of two Avocets at the lagoons at Tentsmuir Point NNR (17th). Kilminning held a Black Redstart and sightings from Edenside included 40 Black-tailed Godwits (18th). A female Marsh Harrier flew over Letham Pools and one was also noted over Luthrie. Three Little Egrets and an Osprey were at Guardbridge, the Black-necked Grebe was still off the pier at Elie, a Moorhen was at the caravans at Fife Ness and a report from Birnie & Gaddon Lochs LNR included three Willow Warblers, six Chiffchaffs, two Blackcaps and two Swallows (19th). A Black Redstart was reported at Balcomie, where there was also a Wheatear, and a male Common Redstart was at Kilminning. Five Wheatears, a Swallow, 18 Purple Sandpipers and eight Turnstones were at Kingsbarnswhilst apair of Pintails and a single Black-tailed Godwit were noted at Wilderness. Two Waxwings were seen at Glenrothes and two House Martins were overhead at Gauldry (20th). Rossie Bog hosted a singing Grasshopper Warbler, a Wheatear, two Snipe and two Water Rails, Wilderness held one Black-tailed Godwit, two Pintails and a singing Grasshopper Warbler before Luthrie produced a Snipe and a Wheatear. A report from Loch Gelly included a Sedge Warbler, six Sand Martins, three Goosanders, 73 Goldeneyes and a pair of Pochard then four Whimbrels, a Sandwich Tern and an Osprey were seen from the Edenside hide. A male Common Redstart was found again at Kilminning where a male Brambling, a Whitethroat, 20+ Willow Warblers and three Wheatears were also noted as well as a Black Redstart at the bottom end. Sightings at Newton Sandpit included seven Canada Geese, four Shelducks, one Gadwall, two Teal, 16 Tufted Ducks, four Lapwings, c90 Black-headed Gulls, three Skylarks, two Swallows, a Chiffchaff, a Willow Warbler and a Reed Bunting. Meanwhile Morton Lochs NNR held eight Dabchicks, four Mute Swans, three Canada Geese, 12 Mallards, eight Tufted Ducks, nine Moorhens, eight Coots, a Blackcap, one Chiffchaff and a Bullfinch (21st).

A Little Tern was with two Sandwich Terns on the beach at Leven where there were also c200 Long-tailed Ducks offshore. A single Little Gull and a Whimbrel flew west up the Forth, seen from Ferry Hills where there were also two Wheatears whilst two of this species were also seen at Dunshalt. A female Black Redstart at Kilminning was accompanied by a White Wagtail, two Fieldfares, one House Martin, a Blackcap and five Willow Warblers (22nd). Two Grasshopper Warblers were heard at Loch Gelly where a Redwing also turned up (23rd). Two Red-legged Partridges were at Ballindean Farm near Gauldry (24th). A Lesser Whitethroat was in the trees around Erskine Hall, Anstruther and up to three of this species were noted at Kilminning as well as a male Pied Flycatcher and a Yellow Wagtail. A male Hen Harrier was seen at Kellie Law, a Short-eared Owl patrolled fields at Caiplie and one was also reported at Bankhead Farm between Kilrenny and Crail. Two Wheatears were atBalcomie, a Little Egret was at Edenside, two Common Sandpipers were noted at Dalgety Bay and two Dippers were seen feeding at Burnside, Cupar (25th). A Wood Warbler was heard singing and was showing well at Denburn Wood where there was also a Pied Flycatcher with a male of this species still present at Kilminning. A Whimbrel passed over Anstruther and two of this species were at St Bridgets, Dalgety Bay. 21 (including eight young) Mallards, a Chiffchaff,  two Blackcaps, a Bullfinch and a Grey Wagtail were at Tayfield while there were six Shelducks at Wormit Bay (26th). The Wood Warbler was still present at  Denburn Wood, and a Black-tailed Godwit, two Whimbrels and a Wheatear were seen at Balcomie Beach. Meanwhile at  Kilminning at least two Pied Flycatchers, one Whitethroat and one Lesser Whitethroat were at the top end and a Pied Flycatcher, a Wheatear and a Lesser Whitethroat were reported at the bottom end (27th). Noted at this site the next day were a Lesser Whitethroat, a female Pied Flycatcher, a Sedge Warbler and a Willow Warbler with a Green Woodpecker over. A Nuthatch was on the Broomhall Estate, Dunfermline, the Wood Warbler lingered at Denburn Wood and 20 Teal and a Barn Owl were at Cullaloe LNR. Two Avocets flew south from Kingsbarns beach, two pairs of Whinchats and two Ravens were noted at Glen Vale. A Garden Warbler was singing at The Binn, Burntislandll, a Lesser Whitethroat was on Bogward Road, St Andrews and one Common Sandpiper, a single Whooper Swan, a pair of Shovelers and a pair of Pintails were noted at Wilderness (28th).

One Osprey, four Little Egrets and two Sandwich Terns were noted from the Eden Estuary Centre, a Garden Warbler was singing at Cullaloe LNR then a report from Letham Pools included four Teal, 29 Mallards, 18 Tufted Ducks, five Shovelers, c20 Gadwall, 14 Coots and c100 Black-headed Gulls. Angle Park GP held ten Mallards, 12 Tufted Ducks, three Gadwall, c50 Coots, three Lesser Black-backed Gulls and a Chiffchaff before the month closed with seven Greylags, three Lesser Black-backed Gulls, one Chiffchaff and a Blackcap at Birnie & Gaddon Lochs LNR (30th).

Information supplied courtesy of Malcolm Ware and Graham Sparshott

Two Waxwings were in Glenrothes (2nd). A pair of Ravens were at Glen Vale and an Osprey flew north over Kirkcaldy (3rd) with another sighting of this species at Eden Estuary LNR the next day. The Black-necked Grebe was still off the pier at Elie and the redhead Smew was seen again at Lochore Meadows CP, as well as a Pochard (4th), and was also noted the following day. Angle Park hosted five Dabchicks, two Gadwall, four drake Pochards, nine Goldeneyes, 50+ Coots and eight Yellowhammers (5th). A Short-eared Owl was still at Kingsbarns Golf Course and a report from Birnie & Gaddon Lochs LNR included 12 Tufted Ducks, 17 Goldeneyes and a Goosander (6th).

Newburgh hosted ten Waxwings then two Whooper Swans were in a field near Guardbridge (8th). The two Nuthatches remained at  Ravenscraig Park, c400 Pink-feet were noted at Loch Gelly and an immature Marsh Harrier, two Ravens and a Peregrine were seen at Newburgh (9th). At Pathhead, a male Wheatear was on the beach, a pair of Goosanders were on the burn and a Jay flew in off the sea, a site first for the observer. A Great Northern Diver was off the harbour at Dysart and a Chiffchaff joined the Nuthatches at Ravenscraig Park (10th). An adult male Hen Harrier was seen at Outhmuir in the Cleish Hills. The redhead Smew lingered at Lochore Meadows CP and a Dipper was seen at Burnside, Cupar (11th). 15 Waxwings were near Cunnoquhie Mill (12th). 44 Whooper Swans were in a cereal field near to Balmullo and a Little Egret was at East Sands, St Andrews (13th). Three Great Crested Grebes joined the redhead Smew at Lochore Meadows (14th).

Ravenscraig Park’s Nuthatches were still present, 20 Waxwings were seen from the road in the Tentsmuir area just after Craigie Farm and three Slavonian Grebes were noted at  Lower Largo. At Cameron Reservoir the regular redhead Smew had two Snipe for company (17th) and a Chiffchaff was there the following day with two of this species serenading the Smew at Lochore Meadows CP. A Brambling was recorded at Bow of Fife, 19 Waxwings were at Leuchars, five Whooper Swans were present at Letham Pools and an Osprey headed north over Loch Gelly (18th).

A Greenland White-fronted Goose was with 200+ Greylags near Saline,19 Waxwings lingered near Leuchars Railway Station and Edenside held one Little Egret, eight Brent Geese, 50+ Shelducks, 22 Teal, three Goldeneyes, two Goosanders, c100 Knot and ten Tree Sparrows. Two Teal were at Creich Pond with 35 of this species also at Luthrie Floods along with two Shelducks, 14 Mallards, c175 Wigeon and four Shovelers (19th). An Osprey flew north over Aberdour and two Snow Buntings were on the beach north of Kingsbarns (20th). At least ten Waxwings were between Guardbridge and Leuchars and the Black-necked Grebe was still very close off Elie (21st).

The next day was a busy one starting with an immature Marsh Harrier, 72 Whooper Swans and two Chiffchaffs at Newburgh, 30 Waxwings over the Fife end of the Tay Bridge, and flocks of ten and 27 Whooper Swans north over Anstruther. Six Chiffchaffs were noted at Cullaloe NR, a Jay was at Morendy Wood and there was a report of an Iceland Gull at Otterston Loch. Four Dabchicks, eight Teal, two Gadwall, 60 Curlews and a Great Spotted Woodpecker were noted at Morton Lochs NNR and sightings at Edenside included two Little Egrets, a Peregrine, one Kingfisher, 76 Curlews, c250 Redshanks and nine Tree Sparrows. A Great Northern Diver and 300+ Eiders were off Tayport Harbour, c20 Yellowhammers were present at Craigie Farm and a count at Newton Sand & Gravel Pit included nine Canada Geese, seven Dabchicks, 35 Tufted Ducks, seven Goldeneyes, a Sparrowhawk, one Snipe, 14 Lapwings and three Skylarks (22nd). A Wheatear was seen near Loch Glow. Single Chiffchaffs were noted at Burntisland, at Kenly Water and at Kilminning where there was a White Wagtail with this species also turning up at Kingsbarns along with 14 Whooper Swans. Greenshanks numbered seven at at Kinkell Harbour with singles at Kittock’s Den and East Sands, St Andrews (23rd). Three Shovelers were observed at Valleyfield Lagoons (24th). A Chiffchaff was west of Culross with two of this species at Auchtermuchty Common, accompanied by 18 Fieldfares. Four Goldeneyes and two Goosanders were noted at Newburgh while Lindores Loch held 14 Mute Swans, c25 Tufted Ducks then at Luthrie Floods 16 Goldeneyes and seven Shelducks, 60 Teal, two drake Shovelers and 14 Lapwings were noted. The Smew at Lochore Meadows CP and the Black-necked Grebe at Elie were still present and correct (25th). Two Sand Martins passed over Glenrothes, a Red-necked Grebe and nine Slavonian Grebes were seen from Lower Largo and two Short-eared Owls were at Caiplie. Visits to freshwater sites produced 20 Greylags, 25 Tufted Ducks, 11 Goldeneyes and three Chiffchaffs at Birnie & Gaddon Lochs LNR, four Great Crested Grebes, 40+ Greylags, 37 Tufted Ducks and two Chiffchaffs at Mountcastle GP then one Great Crested Grebe, five Teal, 16 Gadwall, a drake Pochard and 100+ Black-headed Gulls at Letham Pools (27th).

An adult male Hen Harrier was present at Knockhill and the Nuthatches remained in place at Ravenscraig Park (28th). A Raven flew over West Muircambus, two Chiffchaffs were singing at Tayfield and four Wheatears were present at Balcomie beach. A report from Edenside included seven Pink-feet, 75 Shelducks, ten Teal, five Goldeneyes, seven Lesser Black-backed Gulls and seven Tree Sparrows (29th). 50+ Whooper Swans flew over Anstruther Wester, two Red Kites coming in off the Forth at Ferry Hills was a particularly notable report and a Short-eared Owl was seen between Leslie and Craigmead (30th). A Marsh Harrier was present and 32 Whooper Swans passed over Newburgh and the month finished in colourful fashion with the Black-necked Grebe now in summer plumage off Elie Harbour (31st).

Information supplied courtesy of Malcolm Ware and Graham Sparshott