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Observers were out in force on the first day of the year, perhaps engaged in traditional New Year’s Day excursions. They discovered some birds from last month extending their residence in to 2019 e.g. the Black-necked Grebe at Elie, the two Surf Scoters at St Andrews and the Water Pipit at Cocklemill Burn. A Red-necked Grebe was present at Ruddons Point and 122 Corn Buntings were counted between Waterless Bridge and Ardross Farm. A Chiffchaff was near the coastal path at Dysart, a Greenshank was at Kenly Burn, Boarhills and a Pomarine Skua was harassing large gulls well out from Kingsbarns beach. Lochore Meadows CP hosted a redhead Smew, a Great Crested Grebe and 16 Whooper Swans on the main loch with five Pintails and three Gadwall at the nature reserve end and a Kingfisher was at Kilconquhar Loch (1st). A redhead Smew was also at Cameron Reservoir along with eight Crossbills and three Whooper Swans. The Water Pipit, the Black-necked Grebe and the two Surf Scoters were at their usual locations and were also noted on the following two days. A Raven was seen over the caravan park at Shell Bay (2nd). Many of the freshwater bodies were iced over to a variable extent with reports of 13 Mute Swans, 14 Mallards and five Goldeneyes at Letham Pools, seven Mute Swans, six Whooper Swans, 23 Mallards, eight Gadwall, c50 Tufted Ducks and 11 Goldeneyes at Mountcastle GP, eight Mute Swans, eight Goldeneyes, c65 Coots and a Jay at Angle Park GP, and ten Wigeon, 12 Tufted Ducks, five Goldeneyes, 27 Black-headed Gulls and five Common Gulls at Birnie & Gaddon Lochs LNR. 16 Waxwings were in central Kirkcaldy (3rd) and 15 of this species were reported at Ballantager Farm the following day. A Great Northern Diver and a Slavonian Grebe joined the Black-necked Grebe at Elie and an adult Mediterranean Gull, two Manx Shearwaters and a Red-necked Grebe were all noted off Kinghorn. The Kingdom kicked off its 2019 share of the Brambling influx with c40 south of Craigrothie whilst c30 Twite were in a field near St Monans. Cameron Reservoir held two redhead Smew (4th) then the redhead at Lochore Meadows CP was accompanied by 22 Whooper Swans on the main Loch with five Pintails on the nature reserve. A male Peregrine was seen at St Andrews, 15 Tree Sparrows were noted at Edenside and the Black-necked Grebe at Elie had a Red-throated Diver and six Long-tailed Ducks for company (5th) and was seen again the next day. Morton Lochs NNR hosted four Crossbills and five Bramblings before an adult Mediterranean Gull was picked out at in a high tide roost at Burntisland (7th).

The Water Pipit was with five Rock Pipits at Cocklemill Burn, a single Whimbrel was present at Ruddons Point, two Wigeon, eight Teal, 16 Mallards and 14+ Moorhens frequented Tayport Pond with ten Wigeon offshore there. The Smew count at Cameron Reservoir rose to three, two Slavonian Grebes were offshore at Out Head, and 12 Crossbills and eight Bramblings were seen at Morton Lochs NNR. 40 Twite were in a field near Pittenweem whilst a Peregrine and Sparrowhawk didn’t seem to deter the c100 Bramblings at Craigrothie. Two Shovelers were in Dalgety Bay and the two Surf Scoters loitered at St Andrews (8th) and were spied again the next day as well as 80+ Scaup and a Slavonian Grebe, with a Greenshank on the rocks. Three Brent Geese and two Slavonian Grebes were seen in Balgove Bay, the Brambling flock at Craigrothie numbered c40 and were joined by unspecified numbers of Yellowhammers and Corn Buntings. Cocklemill Burn’s Water Pipit lingered as did Elie’s Black-necked Grebe, with a Great Northern Diver and two Red-throated Divers there also (9th). Lochore Meadows CP still had the redhead Smew, six Pintails and 25 Whooper Swans, the Cocklemill Burn Water Pipit was joined by a Jack Snipe, a Whimbrel and a Water Rail (10th) and the pipit was noted again the next day when a Kingfisher was at Kilconquhar Loch and two redhead Smews were still present at Cameron Reservoir where seven Crossbills included a singing immature male. Two coveys of nine and ten Grey Partridges were welcome sightings at Cellardyke where 95 Curlews were on a fresh winter crop before two Chiffchaffs and two Crossbills were observed at Kilrenny (11th). 2000 Pink-feet and a finch flock of ‘hundreds’, including Goldfinches, Linnets, Tree Sparrows and buntings, were noted between Ardross and Balbuthie and three Waxwings were just north of Leuchars Railway station. Morton Lochs NNR hosted ten Crossbills, a Little Egret, 20 Redpolls, 20+ Siskins and three Bramblings while ten Crossbills were also seen at Kinshaldy Car Park. The two drake Surf Scoters remained at St Andrews (12th) and a Nuthatch was seen with a Treecreeper in Kirkcaldy’s Ravenscraig Park. The Morton Lochs NNR Crossbills increased to c12 and there were now two Little Egrets there. Four Waxwings were present between Guardbridge and Leuchars rail station (13th) with three seen at Leuchars Rail Signal Box North the next day when c70 Bramblings were between Craigrothie and Union Farm. Meanwhile Tentsmuir Point NNR held one Little Egret, a Greenshank, a Green Woodpecker and a Merlin, then a report from Out Head / Balgove comprised 54 Pintails, 11 Slavonian Grebes and 14 Brent Geese. An adult Mediterranean Gull was on the beach at Burntisland and there was a further report of a Nuthatch at Ravenscraig Park (14th) and also the following day.

Lindores Loch hosted 22 (and six immature) Mute Swans, 18 Wigeon and ten Goosanders. Four Waxwings were seen again between Guardbridge and Leuchars rail station and the long-staying Water Pipit and the two drake Surf Scoters were in their usual haunts (15th). Newton Farm & Sandpit Ponds held seven Dabchicks ten Mute Swans (including six immatures), ten Canada Geese, c75 Wigeon, 41 Mallards, 18 Tufted Ducks, two Gadwall, 23 Goldeneyes, 14 Moorhens, six Coots and a Kestrel. Around c500 Woodpigeons were note at Linkswood while a single Waxwing was seen near Leuchars rail station (17th). A report from an icy Morton Lochs NNR included six Wigeon, c45 Teal, four Grey Partridges, a Kestrel, two Great Spotted Woodpeckers drumming, a Jay, 33 Fieldfares, six Great Tits, four Long-tailed Tits, six Goldfinches, two Bullfinches and a Yellowhammer. A Kestrel and c25 Fieldfares were noted at Gauldry. Elie’s Black-necked Grebe was accompanied by three Red-throated Divers and was also seen the following day, the Surf Scoters were spied at St Andrews again and the Ravenscraig Park Nuthatch (18th) was joined by another the next day. A Short-eared Owl ranged widely over the golf course at Kingsbarns and five Twite and a Red-throated Diver were seen in Balgove Bay. Larid reports included an argentatus Herring Gull at Seafield, single adult Mediterranean Gulls at Buckhaven and Loch Gelly and a first winter bird at Ruddons Point with two of this species also noted off Kinghorn, as well as 35 Long-tailed Ducks, and nine Purple Sandpipers were on the rocks there (19th). The adult Mediterranean Gull was present again at Buckhaven, Elie’s Black-necked Grebe remained and the two ‘Surfies’ at St Andrews had six Velvet Scoters and around ten Scaup for company. At higher altitude, a Snow Bunting was on the east side of East Lomond and also a Merlin. Seven Crossbills frequented Morton Lochs NNR while only one Nuthatch was reported at Ravenscraig Park (20th) and also the following day. Cocklemill Burn’s Water Pipit was still in place, with a Stonechat and a Green Sandpiper also in the area (21st).

Seven Crossbills were in conifers in Glenrothes, a Dipper was at Burnside, Cupar and the Black-necked Grebe was still present at Elie (22nd). Kirkcaldy’s parks yielded not only the Nuthatch at Ravenscraig again but also a Ring-necked Parakeet in Beveridge Park, bringing back memories of the bird which patrolled the town a few years ago. A Kestrel, c15 Fieldfares and three Red-legged Partridges were noted at Gauldry and Crossbill numbers at Cameron Reservoir were estimated to be ten, with c90 Rooks seen at Hillcairnie (23rd). A Kestrel was at Peacehill Farm and larger raptors, in the form of a White-tailed Eagle and an immature Marsh Harrier, were seen at Newburgh as well as two Ravens. An hour of observation at Fife Ness produced a Great Northern Diver, eight Red-throated Divers, a Fulmar, a Kittiwake, three Long-tailed Ducks and a Razorbill with a small flock of Golden Plovers noted in a field east of Crail.The ‘long-stayers’ were still around: the Smew at Lochore Meadows CP, the Black-necked Grebe at Elie, the two Surf Scoters off St Andrews (with a Greenshank on the rocks) and the Nuthatches (back up to two) at Ravenscraig Park (24th). 60+ Scaup joined the scoters at St Andrew’s, a redhead Smew and a Green Sandpiper were at Kilconquhar Loch then Edenside had 108 Shelducks, two Buzzards, c200 Lapwings, c300 Dunlins and 18 Black-tailed Godwits (25th). A notable record came from Seafield where a Sooty Shearwater was seen from Seafield Tower and was then seen from Kinghorn with a feeding gull flock. It was picked out again later in the day, still off Kinghorn and resting on the sea while six Purple Sandpipers, two Red-throated Divers, a Manx Shearwater and 200+ Kittiwakes were also recorded there. A Chiffchaff was in an Anstruther garden, the Smew loitered at Kilconquhar Loch, as did the Black-necked Grebe at Elie (26th) and one of the Nuthatches at Ravenscraig Park. A report from Mountcastle GP included three pairs of Mute Swans, 22 Wigeon, 25 Mallards, c80 Tufted Ducks and 17 Goldeneyes then c100 Twite were spotted heading east towards the sea at Boarhills. Seawatching at Kinghorn produced 5,000+ Guillemots/Razorbills, one Manx Shearwater, a Little Gull, ten Long-tailed Ducks and six Purple Sandpipers (27th). A probable Estonian colour-ringed Common Gull was on the beach at Burntisland as was an adult Mediterranean Gull with a Belgian or Dutch ring (white), different to the one noted on 7th (28th), then an un-ringed adult was there the next day.

At Boarhills c100 Twite were still present (29th). The Short-eared Owl was still floating over the golf course at Kingsbarns, five Waxwings were seen at Dalgety Bay and Edenside hosted a Little Egret, ten Brent Geese, 100+ Shelducks, four Dabchicks, c30 Mallards, 22 Teal, four Long-tailed Ducks, 88 Lapwings, 20 Grey Plovers, 28 Black-tailed Godwits and c20 Tree Sparrows (30th). Tentsmuir Point NNR produced a Greenshank, one Green Woodpecker calling, a single Raven calling  and three Snow Buntings with four Crossbills at Kinshaldy car park. Further south at Kinghorn 6000-7000 gulls were seen spread out from Burntisland towards Kirkcaldy in a huge line of which at least 2000 were Black-headed Gulls. A Red-necked Grebe was off Seafield and Kirkcaldy’s Ring-necked Parakeet flew over, not Beveridge Park, but a different part of the Lang Toun (31st).

Information supplied courtesy of Malcolm Ware and Graham Sparshott

Waxwings continued to be a feature of reports, particularly in Kirkcaldy where the congregation in the Victoria Road car wash area increased to c170 but seemed to be quite mobile since c100 were spotted flying over Pathhead towards Dysart. Meanwhile two were present at Torryburn. A Water Pipit was on the beach at Shell Bay and 13 Twite were nearby at the bridges over Cocklemill Burn and a report from the general Ruddons Point/Cocklemill Marsh/St Ford Links area included one Jack Snipe, eight Snipe, one Purple Sandpiper, 150 Velvet Scoters, five Crossbills and 260 Fieldfares then up at Crail a Woodcock was noted (1st). Five Waxwings were on Smithy Road at Balmullo and two drake Surf Scoters were in St Andrews Bay as well as 86 Scaup and c140 Long-tailed Ducks (2nd). There were still two Smew at the far end of Cameron Reservoir and a redhead was seen by the visitors centre at Lochore Meadows CP whilst one Pintail was in the reserve area. Edenside hosted nine Tree Sparrows and a Brambling. Waxwing sightings included 19 in South Fergus Place, Kirkcaldy, at least 14 on Smithy Road and two on Lucklaw Road, Balmullo. A Short-eared Owl was seen from the track behind the golf course at Kingsbarns and an adult Mediterranean Gull was in the Shell Bay roost in the afternoon (3rd). The Water Pipit was at the bridges at Cocklemill Burn, a Black-necked Grebe was just outside Elie harbour, a redhead Smew was present at Kilconquhar Loch then c80 Golden Plovers were spied in a field east of Kilminning. Six Greenshanks were in the high tide roost just east of Kinkell Harbour (4th). There was still a redhead Smew at the dam end of Cameron Reservoir and there was also one at Dalgety Bay where 16 Waxwings were at the west end of Ridge Way, near Asda (6th). A Short-eared Owl and 34 Purple Sandpipers were noted at Kingsbarns (7th).

 

A Water Pipit was still present at Cocklemill Burn whilst nearby, a Whimbrel and three Purple Sandpipers were at Ruddons Point with a Raven at Kincraig Point. Two redhead Smew and a female Goosander were at Cameron Reservoir. A report from Newton Sandpit included eight Dabchicks, two Mute Swans (with seven young), 31 Greylag Geese, 38 Wigeon, 24 Mallards, 33 Teal, 18 Tufted Ducks, two Gadwall, 14 Goldeneyes, three Moorhens, 25 Starlings and c30 Fieldfares whilst six Dabchicks were at Newton Farm then Linkswood held eight Wigeon, 24 Mallards, four Moorhens and two Gadwall (8th). A redhead Smew was at Kilconquhar Loch again, the Black-necked Grebe lingered at Elie as did the Water Pipit at Cocklemill Burn where it was joined by another. A Little Egret was at Edenside and Morton Lochs NNR hosted two Mute Swans, two Canada Geese, c140 Teal, 50 Mallards, four Moorhens, a Jay, eight Long-tailed Tits and two Bullfinches with 17 Whooper Swans over. Two Waxwings were on west side of coastal car park at Torryburn, an adult Mediterranean Gull was on the beach at Dysart and 43 Purple Sandpipers were counted Kingsbarns (9th) where, the following day, an adult Mediterranean Gull was on the shore just north of the coastal path car park and also present were 21 Purple Sandpipers with five Twite seen two fields north of the golf course on the coastal path, then a further 34 of this species circling over the coastal path there. c1000 Pink-feet were in fields opposite the police station at Anstruther. The two Water Pipits at Cocklemill Burn were seen with many Rock Pipits including a yellow Darvic ringed individual (10th).Two redhead Smew were still present at Cameron Reservoir (11th). A juvenile Hen Harrier and six Twite were in fields just north of the golf course at Kingsbarns and the two Water Pipits were still around the mouth of Cocklemill Burn with 12 or more Rock Pipits (12th). A redhead Smew loitered at Cameron Reservoir and c12 Slavonian Grebes, c10 Long-tailed Ducks, 30 Scaup, nine Brent Geese, ten Pintails and 200 Knot were seen at Out Head. Sightings at Edenside included two Little Egrets, three Herons, 53 Shelducks, 63 Teal, 32 Mallards, six Goldeneyes, 55 Lapwings and 12 Tree Sparrows (13th). A Chiffchaff was at Kilrenny (14th).

 

One Water Pipit was still at Cocklemill Burn (15th). Six Dabchicks, a Little Egret, c110 Lapwings and 12 Tree Sparrows were recorded at Edenside, two redhead Smew were still present at Cameron Reservoir and two drake Surf Scoters, a female Scaup and c200 Long-tailed Ducks were noted off the Golf Museum car park at St Andrews whilst a Short-eared Owl was seen again at Kingsbarns (17th). The two Water Pipits continued their residence at Cocklemill Burn, singles of Great Northern Diver, Little Auk and Slavonian Grebe were noted in Largo Bay then observations at Out Head included nine Slavonian Grebes, 53 Pintails, 24 Scaup and 18 Long-tailed Ducks (19th). A Red-necked Grebe was off Dalgety Bay Sailing Club (20th) (A useful image of this species alongside a Great Crested Grebe can be found in the December album on the website gallery). A juvenile Marsh Harrier was seen on Mugdrum Island, viewed from the pier at Newburgh (21st).

 

An adult Mediterranean Gull was in a feeding flock of c450 Black-headed Gulls at Seafield where two Red-throated Divers and 12 Purple Sandpipers were also seen. 75 Whooper Swans were in fields between Freuchie and Kettlebridge and a count at Out Head / Balgove included 27 Pintails, 35 Scaup, 18 Brent Geese, one White-tailed Eagle, ten Slavonian Grebes, two Great Crested Grebes and 12 Long-tailed Ducks (22nd). A Red-necked Grebe and 22 Long-tailed Ducks were seen off the Tiel Burn at Kirkcaldy’s promenade whilst along at Kinghorn a Black-throated Diver and eight Purple Sandpipers were seen. The Black Necked Grebe and a Great Northern Diver were off the sailing club car park at Elie. A White-tailed Eagle, five Red-throated Divers and a pair of Stonechats were noted at Out Head and another pair of the latter species were seen at Kingsbarns as well as, presumably, the lingering Short-eared Owl. The two drake Surf Scoters off the St Andrews Golf Museum car park were accompanied by c1800 Common Scoters, six Velvet Scoters, 200 Long-tailed Ducks, 60 Scaup, and one Great Crested Grebe whilst ten Purple Sandpipers were on the rocks and a  Peregrine was on the cliffs. Four Crossbills were seen at Morton Lochs NNR (23rd). The two drake Surf Scoters in St Andrews Bay were joined by a Great Northern Diver and 11 Red-throated Divers then c18 Waxwings were reported at the bottom of Oriel Road, Kirkcaldy (24th). 17 Purple Sandpipers and a Slavonian Grebe were noted at Anstruther (25th). At Pathhead an adult Mediterranean Gull was on the sea first thing and 32 Waxwings passed over heading east. At Kingsbarns 18 Twite were between the golf course and the Kenly Water. A Woodcock was recorded at Kilrenny and the two drake Surf Scoters remained at St Andrews (26th). 12 Waxwings were briefly in trees at rear of Sainsbury’s in Kirkcaldy and three were in Crossford then c20 Corn Buntings, c15 Yellowhammers, ten Reed Buntings, c100 Linnets were all counted at Kingsbarns and the two drake Surf Scoters lingered at St Andrews. A female Marsh Harrier graced  Rossie Bog and c2500 Pink-feet were in fields at the west end of the Standing Stane road (27th). The Black-necked Grebe was still present at Elie Harbour, the two drake Surf Scoters looked set for a long stay at St Andrews and c20 Waxwings were seen again at the bottom of Oriel Road, Kirkcaldy (28th).

 

 

A Chiffchaff was seen and a probable Siberian Chiffchaff was calling and seen briefly in the same area of Dysart where a couple of likely candidates turned up in mid-winter 2016/2017. At Luthrie there were three Black-tailed Godwits, a Redshank, 40 Lapwings, 470 Wigeon, 180 Teal, 15 Mallards and a Raven (29th). 80 Corn Buntings were counted at the waterless bridge by Pittenweem and 12 of this species were seen at Ardross Farm, St Monans. Balgove Bay/Out Head hosted a Little Egret, 15 Brent Geese (including one dark-bellied), good numbers of Pintail and two Slavonian Grebes. The year ended with c80 Scaup and the two drake Surf Scoters off St Andrews and one Water Pipit still at Cocklemill Burn (30th) and also on Hogmanay (31st).

 

Information supplied courtesy of Malcolm Ware and Graham Sparshott

The Red-breasted Flycatcher from last month was still present at Fife Ness Muir whilst offshore there were two Great Northern Divers and two Red-throated Divers. Elie Ness hosted a Short-eared Owl and a Twite was at Kilrenny Mill. A large flock of Whooper Swans was in a field just west of Loch Gelly and there was a report of a Hawfinch, two Crossbills, three Skylarks and a Meadow Pipit flying over a St Andrews garden whilst the recent Ring-necked Parakeet was still present in the town. Morton Lochs NNR held 60 Mallards, c180 Teal, 12 Moorhens, a Buzzard, at least three Jays, ten Blackbirds and 12 Fieldfares (1st). A Barn Owl  was seen again near Moss Plantation and six Crossbills were noted at the car park in Devilla Forest. A report from Newton Sand & Gravel Pit included two Mute Swans (and seven young), six Greylags, ten Teal, 18 Wigeon, 58 Mallards and three Gadwall (2nd). Three Waxwings were in a large Starling flock in the Chapel area of Kirkcaldy, a Goshawk was seen hunting Crail Airfield, in the Sauchope area, and 66 Whooper Swans, including 23 juveniles were noted at Wilderness. A count at Valleyfield Lagoons comprised 120 Teal, 23 Snipe, one Shoveler, five Dabchicks, four Great Crested Grebes, three Red-breasted Mergansers, three Black-tailed Godwits and two Greenshanks. There was a late evening report of a Barn Owl near Limekilns (3rd). Two drake Surf Scoters were still off the Golf Museum car park at St Andrews. A Woodcock was on the rocks at Fife Ness, with another seen in the Patch and another at Kilminning. A Red-throated Diver (still with red throat) was present at Kilconquhar Loch where also noted was a Kingfisher (4th). A Nuthatch was at Pittencrieff Park, Dunfermline, two Tawny Owls, a Merlin, a Raven and a Greenshank were observed at Tentsmuir Point NNR and a redhead Smew was present at Lochore Meadows CP (5th) and was still there the following day. At Cowdenbeath, there were 35 Whooper Swans in a stubble field beside the road to Kelty. Cameron Reservoir hosted two Herons, 46 (and six young) Mute Swans, 120 Greylags, 77 Mallards, 14 Teal, 36 Wigeon, two Pintails, c130 Tufted Ducks, 11 Goldeneye, c60 Coots, 56 Rooks, a Treecreeper, three Tree Sparrows, 36 Redwings, ten Chaffinches, six Goldfinches, nine Yellowhammers and 12 Reed Buntings. Afternoon seawatching at Kinghorn  produced a juvenile Pomarine Skua, one adult Arctic Skua, a first winter Mediterranean Gull, eight Long-tailed Ducks, four Common Scoters, four Red-throated Divers, 120 Pink-footed Geese, 12 Gannets and c80 Kittiwakes (6th). The regular early morning report from Ferry Hills included two Great Northern Divers and 28 Bramblings then three Bonxies and three juvenile Gannets flying inland the next day. At Fife Ness several species were seen passing north including singles of  Bonxie and Pomarine Skua, three Arctic Skuas, five Manx and two Sooty Shearwaters while offshore were six Little Gulls with a Kittiwake feeding flock. Two Manx Shearwaters, six Arctic Skuas and a Pomarine Skua were all seen passing east at Anstruther (7th).

At Kilminning a Jack Snipe, one Snipe, a Brambling and a flock of 25 Twite over were seen as well as three Woodcocks with this species also noted at Denburn Wood. Two Surf Scoters, a Great Northern Diver, three Red-throated Divers and 30 Scaup were spied in St Andrews Bay. A Snow Bunting passed over south at Kincraig Point then three families of five Whooper Swans were seen at Wilderness where 500+ Pink-footed Geese were also seen heading north and at least ten Twite were in fields at Kingsbarns (8th). A busy day started at Ferry Hills where a Woodlark was seen briefly as well as a Jack Snipe, 11 Whooper Swans and 29 Bramblings whilst a Black-throated Diver, three Red-throated Divers and three Little Gulls were noted at Fife Ness. A Water Pipit was on the beach near Pittenweem and 14 Twite were just north of the beach car park at Kingsbarns. A Chiffchaff was calling in St Andrews whilst in the bay there, two drake Surf Scoters, 45 Scaup, 61 Velvet Scoters, 16 Long-tailed Ducks and c1000 Common Scoters were noted. Further down the coast at Seafield c60 Common Scoters, 16 Long-tailed Ducks, three Red-throated Divers, 13 Purple Sandpipers and a Kingfisher were all recorded. Newton Sand & Gravel Pit hosted nine Dabchicks, nine Mute Swans (two adults and seven young), 12 Teal, just six Tufted Ducks, 12 Goldeneye, a Kestrel and two Tree Sparrows. c350 Pink-footed Geese were in a recently sown field at Pickletillum (10th) and c400 were seen there the next day when the early morning report from Ferry Hills included one ‘eared-owl’ species over the Forth, one Black-throated Diver, a Great Northern Diver, 99 Red-throated Divers, 259 Kittiwakes and 21 Black-tailed Godwits. Morton Lochs NNR held 68 Mallards, c200 Teal, nine Wigeon, two Goldeneye, 14 Moorhens whilst also seen were three Redwings, 45 Fieldfares, 11 Blackbirds, seven Long-tailed Tits, 12 Chaffinches and five Goldfinches (11th). A Ringtail Hen Harrier, ten Twite and five Purple Sandpipers were seen at Kingsbarns and a Slavonian Grebe was in Dalgety Bay(12th). 15 Whooper Swans passed south over Kirkcaldy and there were 78 of this species (including 14 immatures) at Wilderness where there were also eight Shovelers and c100 Lapwings with c150 Pink-footed Geese over. Two drake Surf Scoters were still with a Common Scoter flock at St Andrews, where also seen were c40 Scaup and two Red-throated Divers (13th).

A Lapland Bunting and c30 Twite were in fields just north of Kingsbarns Golf course and ten Twite were at Boghall Farm, on the coastal path north of Kingsbarns with 120 Twite then reported on the foreshore next to the golf course at Kingsbarns. Two drake Surf Scoters and 40 Scaup were still in St Andrews Bay and a Common Tern was present at Braefoot Point. A Twite and 56 Bramblings were counted at Ferry Hills and a report from Edenside comprised one Little Egret, 30 Shelducks, just one Goldeneye, 40 Lapwings, 35 Black-tailed Godwits, a White-tailed Eagle, one Kingfisher, a Great Spotted Woodpecker and six Tree Sparrows (15th). Five Little Gulls, 165 Kittiwakes and 53 Red-throated Divers flew inland at Ferry Hills whilst at Loch Gelly 105 Pochard were accompanied by a Ferruginous type hybrid and also seen were two Water Rails, 15 Goosanders and eight Whooper Swans. At Out Head there were three Great Crested Grebes, a Red-throated Diver, one Slavonian Grebe, seven Red-breasted Mergansers, nine Long-tailed Ducks, 60 Starlings, three Stonechats and a Reed Bunting. At  Fife Ness one Great Northern Diver and 24 Red-throated Divers were counted (16th.) Two Greenland White-fronted Geese flew south over St. Andrews (17th). At Fife Ness an Arctic Skua, a Lesser Redpoll and two Woodcock were noted (18th). The hybrid Hooded x Carrion Crow was at Braefoot Point (19th). 21 Waxwings were seen in the Pitreavie area of Dunfermline and a Sandwich Tern was at Braefoot Point (20th), lingering there the following day when there also three Red-throated Divers, 12 Common Scoters, 40 Red-breasted Mergansers and a Great Crested Grebe (21st).

Seawatching at Fife Ness produced three Great Northern Divers, a Black-throated and eight Red-throated Divers, one Little Auk and eight Long-tailed Ducks. Two Grey Partridges were seen at Gauldry (22nd). 11 Fulmars were still on the cliffs at St Andrews, a redhead Smew and four Goosanders were with a large group of 70 Goldeneye along with 94 Pochard and 19 Lapwings at Loch Gelly (23rd). 14 Whooper Swans and 200 Golden Plovers were at Balbuthie Farm, the redhead Smew was still present at Lochore Meadows CP and Short-eared Owl was seen hunting over Rossie Bog (24th). A Woodcock and several Fieldfares were at Cameron Reservoir where there was a single redhead Smew (25th) increasing to two the following day. Ten Waxwings were seen at Dalgety Bay and at least 40 of this species were at the car wash on Victoria Road, Kirkcaldy. 44 Pintails, 13 Scaup, seven Brent Geese and seven Slavonian Grebes were noted at Balgove/Out Head, the Sandwich Tern loitered at Braefoot Point and three Little Egrets were seen from the Eden Estuary Centre. c70 Twite were in fields just north of Kingsbarns golf course and c30 of this species were seen along the coast path near Boarhills (26th). 33 Whooper Swans and 30+ Wigeon were at Craigluscar NR  and there were Tree Sparrows in unusually high numbers with 70+ at the north end of West Baldridge Farm, Dunfermline  and a further 40+ , then 20+ on the road edges approaching Dam Wood. The redhead Smew was still present at Cameron Reservoir, a Common Chiffchaff was in the Spinney at Dalgety Bay and one was also seen at Spinkie Den, St Andrews. 30+ Crossbills were noted at Blairadam Forest and 40 Waxwings were still by the car wash on Victoria Road, Kirkcaldy (27th) with 20 still in the area  the next day. Two Slavonian Grebes were seen with a group of eight Red-breasted Mergansers off Braefoot Point (28th).

Waxwing reports continued from Kirkcaldy with 71 seen on the corner of Oswald Road and Falkland View and at least 30 at the car wash (29th) increasing to c150 there on the last day of the month (30th).

Information supplied courtesy of Malcolm Ware and Graham Sparshott