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JUNE 2018 SIGHTINGS

The month started with a female Marsh Harrier passing south over Strathkinness (1st). A Grasshopper Warbler was still reeling, just south of the fish factory at Fife Ness and 50 Canada Geese were on the sea off Leven (2nd). Ten Black-tailed Godwits were present at Wilderness (4th) with eight still there a few days later when there were also two Great Crested Grebes at Lindores Loch as well as four pairs of Mute Swans, three with small cygnets and another three pairs with b5, b6 and b8. A count at Birnie & Gaddon Lochs LNR included five Mute Swans (with two cygnets), 20 Greylag Geese (+11 goslings), ten Mallards (+ two young), one Blackcap, two Chiffchaffs, five Willow Warblers and there was the interesting sight of Oystercatchers nesting atop a Sand Martin barrel (7th).

Cameron Reservoir hosted 63 Mute Swans, three Tree Sparrows and a Yellowhammer whilst at Strathburn at St Michaels there were 75 Rooks in a field with sheep and newly dumped carrots (8th). An Osprey flew north over Kilmany and another Osprey flew west between Kilmany and Gauldry (14th)

Fife’s contribution to the Rose-coloured Starling influx was one present for its second day at Leven (15th). Morton Lochs NNR held three Herons, two Mute Swans, two pairs of Canada Geese (with b2 & b5), three Teal, 18 Mallards, four Tufted Ducks, eight Coots (with ten young), a Blackcap and two Jays. Drumoig hosted two Canada Geese (+ one small gosling), c30 Herring Gulls and c25 Lesser Black-backed Gulls then a Tawny Owl was seen half way along the Tayport to St Michaels road near Vicarsford Lodge (16th). A report from Newton Sand & Gravel Pit included four Dabchicks (with four young), two Mute Swans (+ seven young), three Canada Geese (with b2 & b4), two Teal, ten Mallards, 13 Tufted Ducks, 45 Black-headed Gulls, a Skylark and five Reed Buntings. East Links Wood Pond held three Dabchicks, five Canada Geese (with three young), eight Shelducks, six Tufted Ducks, a Spotted Flycatcher and two Reed Buntings. 74 Black-tailed Godwits were at Culross, reported as one of the biggest flocks seen there, then a busy day was rounded off by the presence of a Spoonbill in front of the Eden Estuary Centre (17th). On higher ground, seven Whinchats, four Stonechats and three Ravens were all noted at Glen Vale before four juvenile Tree Sparrows were seen on feeders in an Auchtermuchty garden (18th). 15 Black-tailed Godwits were present at Wilderness (19th).

A two hour House Martin survey at Gauldry revealed 36 completed nests, including six double nests (22nd). A female Yellow Wagtail was seen briefly at Guardbridge (23rd).Two Mute Swans (+ seven young), 14 Mallards (+ 20 young) and five Moorhens (with one young) were all noted at Tayport Pond (24th). A Grey Wagtail was at Burnside, Cupar and an adult non-breeding Little Gull was an unusual find at Letham Pools (26th). A report from Wormit Bay included four Herons, two Mallards, six Oystercatchers, three Curlews, ten Redshanks and 12 Black-headed Gulls (27th).

Eight  Whinchats and seven Stonechats were counted at Glen Vale on the last day of the month (30th).

Information provided courtesy of Malcolm Ware and Graham Sparshott

April 2018 Sightings

The first day of the month brought signs of spring with a female Blackcap in a Kirkcaldy garden. The drake Surf Scoter lingered at Ruddons Point and the single Greenland White-fronted Goose was still present at Letham Pools along with c600 Pink-feet. A male Wheatear was north of Balcomie Beach whilst a male and female Black Redstart were seen nearby at Fife Ness (1st) and were present the next day when there was also a Chiffchaff at Fife Ness Muir. The Black-necked Grebe reported last month was showing very well off Elie harbour (2nd) and was present the following day (3rd). A Bean Goose joined the Greenland White-fronted Goose and c600 Pink-feet at Letham Pools, an Osprey and a Peregrine were noted at Newburgh whilst the former was also seen over Balmullo and over Guardbridge where there was also a Sand Martin. A Red-necked Grebe was present off Dalgety Bay Sailing Club again, a Nuthatch was seen in Pittencrieff Park, Dunfermline, a Hawfinch was spotted flying over Fife Ness and the Black-necked Grebe remained at Elie (5th). Ten Sand Martins were at Letham Pools and a report from Ruddons Point included two Sandwich Terns, a Whimbrel, eight summer plumaged Slavonian Grebes, a Black-throated Diver, seven Red-throated Divers, 290 Velvet Scoters and 600+ Common Scoters (6th).The following day was a busy one starting with a male Black Redstart at Fife Ness, a Short-eared Owl over Ferry Hills and two Crossbills and two Green Woodpeckers at Pitmedden Forest. The Greenland White-fronted Goose and the Bean Goose were still accompanied by c600 Pink-feet at Letham Pools whilst Mountcastle GP held four Dabchicks, two Great Crested Grebes, six Mute Swans and a Chiffchaff then Luthrie Flood hosted two Shelducks, 20+ Teal, a pair of Shovelers and four Lapwings (7th).

A Wheatear, two White Wagtails and a Sandwich Tern were observed at Fife Ness, a Swallow graced Kilminning and a report from Out Head included 70+ Eiders, 13 Long-tailed Ducks, two pairs of Scaup, 50+ Oystercatchers, six Skylarks, four Meadow Pipits and two Reed Buntings. At Lochore Meadows CP 52 Lesser Black-backed Gulls were serenaded by at least seven singing Chiffchaffs and there was also one at Wilderness as well as 18 Whooper Swans. A Swallow was at Loch Gelly along with a pair of Gadwall and eight Goosanders whilst the Greenland White-fronted Goose loitered at Letham Pools (8th). A Wheatear, one Little Egret and a Green Woodpecker were at Tentsmuir Point NNR then Eden Estuary LNR hosted an Osprey, a Willow Warbler and two Wheatears (9th).Three Slavonian Grebes in summer plumage were admired from the Eden Estuary Centre (11th) and a report from  Angle Park GP included 24 Wigeon, 14 Tufted Ducks, three Dabchicks, two Great Crested Grebes, 21 Goldeneyes and 30+ Coots before a count at Birnie & Gaddon Lochs LNR comprised seven Mute Swans, 18 Greylags, one Canada Goose, 28 Tufted Ducks, 12 Goldeneyes, three Chiffchaffs and a Bullfinch (12th). A Great Northern Diver was spied off Shell Bay with a Raven and a White Wagtail at Kincraig whilst further up the coast at Kilminning a Lesser Whitethroat was present and a Whimbrel passed over. Freshwater counts included seven Dabchicks, two Canada Geese on nests, two Gadwalls and 12 Teal at Morton Lochs NNR, six Dabchicks at Linkswood and the same number of this species at Newton Sandpit where there were also three pairs of Canada Geese, five Shelducks, 36 Teal, 28 Tufted Ducks, 12 Goldeneyes, and c120 Black-headed Gulls (14th).

A Black-throated Diver, a summer plumaged Slavonian Grebe, a Whimbrel and a White Wagtail were all present at Ruddons Point and a Great Northern Diver and a White Wagtail were noted nearby at Kincraig Point (15th). Wilderness held two Black-tailed Godwits and c25 Sand Martins while a Whooper Swan at Letham Pools was accompanied by c130 Pink-feet and c25 Greylags. An adult Iceland Gull was off Dysart and flew north past West Wemyss, a Whimbrel was present at Braefoot Point and an Arctic Skua passed by Anstruther (16th). Letham Pools held a first winter Mediterranean Gull (18th), a Yellow Wagtail was in a field next to main road into Crail and the Black-necked Grebe was still showing well at Elie (and also the following day) and a Jay flew over St Fort (19th). A singing male Nuthatch was heard on the edge of North Queensferry, a Short-eared Owl, two Whimbrels, a Wheatear and two White Wagtails were seen at Ruddons Point, two Common Sandpipers were at Mountcastle GP and a record from Lindores Loch included three Wigeon, 23 Tufted Ducks, six Goldeneyes and a drake Pochard. Two Red-throated Divers flew past Elie where the Black-necked Grebe was still off the harbour (21st) and was still present the next day.

A Grasshopper Warbler was reeling away by the coastal footpath near Kilrenny Mill and a male White Wagtail, five House Martins and three Wheatears were present at Kilrenny while Letham Pools held a pair of Shovelers and c300 Pink-feet with a Whimbrel over then two of this species were reported at Loch Gelly (22nd). Further Whimbrel reports were seven at Seafield (23rd) and two at Culross (24th). Eden Estuary LNR hosted two Ospreys, one Ruff, two Common Sandpipers, 190 Black-tailed Godwits and a Whitethroat (25th). The Nuthatch was still calling from gardens at Ferry Hills where singles of Black-throated Diver, Tree Pipit and Whimbrel flew over with 12 of the latter species also seen at Balcomie along with four White Wagtails (28th).

Observations at Ferry Hills continued with a Spotted Flycatcher and two Great Spotted Woodpeckers then the Black-necked Grebe was seen along with two Whimbrels at Elie (29th). The month ended with Sedge Warblers noted at Loch Gelly and Lochore Meadows CP (30th).

Information courtesy of Malcolm Ware and Graham Sparshott

MARCH 2018 SIGHTINGS

The month opened with an Iceland Gull over Aberdour on the first day (1st) then Lochore Meadows CP hosted nine Whooper Swans, nine Goosanders, five Pochards (all drakes), the regular redhead Smew and a Barn Owl whilst an adult Mediterranean Gull and at least ten Kittiwakes were at Seafield (5th). There was a similar report from Pathhead the following day when a second winter Mediterranean Gull and 20 Kittiwakes were seen (6th).

Tentsmuir Point NNR held one Greenshank, one Little Egret, one Green Woodpecker, one Great Northern Diver and a Crossbill while the sighting of two Magpies was noted as unusual here (8th). A count of 18 Moorhens was reported as a record for Tayport Pond (9th) then an Osprey passed over Kirkcaldy (11th). An adult White-fronted Goose was present with 550-600 Pink-footed Geese at Letham Pools (12th) and they were all noted there the next day when a Hawfinch was seen briefly at New Gilston as well as two Bramblings then several of the latter species were seen at Bow of Fife (13th). A drake Mandarin Duck was on the south shore of Loch Gelly, a Little Egret flew upstream and 24 Whooper Swans flew past heading north at the Eden Estuary Centre and the geese flock lingered at Letham Pools (14th).

This site held two Shelducks, c110 Wigeon, 18 Tufted Ducks, eight Gadwall, four Pochards, 16 Coots, 16 Oystercatchers and c25 Lapwings the next day when a Slavonian Grebe was offshore at Braefoot Point and a count at Luthrie Floods included one Pink-footed Goose, two Shelducks, c125 Wigeon, 90 Teal, one Shoveler and at least 100 Woodpigeons (15th). 16 Scaup, one Great Northern Diver, 55 Kittiwakes, one Pale-bellied Brent Goose and a Greenshank were all seen on a rising tide at Edenside (16th). An adult Mediterranean Gull was present at Seafield (17th) then the following day was a busy one starting with a Slavonian Grebe and two Red-breasted Mergansers at Kilconquhar Loch, a Little Gull past Kincraig Point then a Jack Snipe at Largoward followed by a Great Northern Diver, a Mediterranean Gull and a first-winter Iceland Gull past Kinghorn before an adult Mediterranean Gull, two Great Northern Divers, 80 Kittiwakes and 50 Guillemots were counted between North Queensferry and Inverkeithing (18th). There were even more reports the next day commencing with a Little Egret at Morton Lochs NNR, a Black Redstart at Fife Ness and the redhead Smew still present at Lochore Meadows CP. Freshwater counts included four Dabchicks, two Greylag Geese, four Canada Geese, 34 Wigeon, 16 Teal, 27 Tufted Ducks, 26 Goldeneyes and 22 Lapwings at Newton Sandpit then eight Dabchicks, four Mute Swans, four Canada Geese, 30 Mallards, 12 Teal, 14 Tufted Ducks, seven Moorhens, and ten Coots at Morton Lochs NR before the day ended with a Woodcock at Auchtermuchty and a Barn Owl east of Upper Largo (19th). A pair of Merlins flew over Auchtermuchty, an Osprey flew north-west over Wemyss Wood, a Jack Snipe and 34 Snipe were present at Barnyards Marsh and the drake Surf Scoter, 745 Velvet Scoters, a Whimbrel and a Raven were all noted at Ruddons Point. An Osprey flew over Mugdrum Island where a Little Egret and 11 Goosanders were also present, the White-fronted Goose loitered at Letham Pools along with c400 Pink-feet whilst a Chiffchaff heralded spring at Loch Gelly (20th). An adult Mediterranean Gull was at West Sands and 26 Scaup were in St Andrews Bay (21st).

Scaup numbers off West Sands increased to c70 accompanied by two Great Northern Divers then the Smew at Lochore Meadows CP was joined by a singing Chiffchaff, two drake Pintails, three pairs of Gadwall and two Ravens (22nd). Two Tree Pipits were seen at Blairadam then  Fife Ness yielded one Short-eared Owl, seven Purple Sandpipers, one Red-breasted Merganser, two Pale-bellied Brent Geese, a Red-throated Diver, two Scaup, a Goosander and two Common Scoters (24th). A Red-necked Grebe was seen off Dalgety Bay and 600 Pink-feet at Letham Pools were joined by one Greenland White-fronted Goose, one European White-fronted Goose and a Tundra Bean Goose (25th) with both White-fronts still there the next day and the Pink-feet increasing to 1400 whilst a Raven flew over. Bow of Fife had a flock of Bramblings, Levenmouth produced 25+ Eiders, four Red-breasted Mergansers, 16 Oystercatchers, a Ringed Plover, 20+ Redshanks and seven Lesser Black-backed Gulls and the Red-necked Grebe was a bit closer off Dalgety Bay Sailing Club (26th) and was seen again the next day (27th).

An Osprey headed over the Eden Estuary Centre carrying a fish, a Little Egret was present at Kincardine and a late afternoon inspection of Dunfermline Glen produced a Nuthatch, a Treecreeper and two Great Spotted Woodpeckers (28th). Four Chiffchaffs were at Cullaloe NR, a Sand Martin, one Jay and two Green Woodpeckers were at Bath Moor and a Glaucous Gull, in white second year plumage, was present at the west end of the beach at Earlsferry. Meanwhile the drake Surf Scoter, one Purple Sandpiper, two Red-necked Grebes, six Red- throated Divers and at least six Slavonian Grebes were recorded at Lower Largo and a visit to Cameron Reservoir produced nine Whooper Swans, c350 Pink-feet, ten Teal, 18 Mallards, 14 Tufted Ducks, c20 Goldeneyes, six Goosanders, a Buzzard, a Kestrel, 12 Lesser Black-backed Gulls, four Tree Sparrows, two Long-tailed Tits and three Pied Wagtails (29th). A Little Gull and 30+ Kittiwakes were spied off Seafield (30th) and the month closed with a Chiffchaff seen bathing in an Anstruther garden pond.

Information courtesy of Malcolm Ware and Graham Sparshott

2018 opened with up to nine Lapland Buntings and c30 Twite in the stubble fields at Wormiston with 20 of the latter species also on the beach at Balcomie. The redhead Smew at Lochore Meadows CP put in its first appearance of the year and two White-tailed Eagles were seen from Out Head before Kilrenny Common welcomed 800 Pink-footed Geese, a Snipe, three pairs of Bullfinches, two Sparrowhawks, three Buzzards, five Tree Sparrows and a Great Spotted Woodpecker (1st). A Little Gull, ten Long-tailed Ducks and 130 Shags were seen at Kinghorn, where five Herring Gulls were identified as being of the argentatus race, then 66 Goldeneyes were counted at Kirkcaldy harbour (2nd). Observers were out in force the next day with report highlights including a small flock of Twite again at Wormiston, one adult and one second winter Mediterranean Gull at Balcomie beach with other adult winter individuals at Buckhaven, Anstruther and between Pittenweem and St Monans whilst the Smew was still at Lochore Meadows CP. Two Scaup, three Pochards and a drake Shoveler were at Kilconquhar Loch then the drake Surf Scoter was seen off Lower Largo’s Carrick Villa along with two Slavonian Grebes and a Red-throated Diver (3rd). Kinghorn proved to be a favourite location for viewing Humpbacked Whales and other cetaceans throughout the month but the avian sightings commenced with five Purple Sandpipers, 12 Turnstones, 23 Red-throated Divers, 52 Long-tailed Ducks, 40 Common Scoters, 180 Pink-footed Geese, two Guillemots and three immature Gannets (4th). A Snow Bunting was in the dunes north of the car park at Tentsmuir where there were four Slavonian Grebes offshore and a Raven and White-tailed Eagle over (6th). Craigmead hosted nine Crossbills and three Red Grouse, the Smew was still at a frozen Lochore Meadows CP whilst at Kinghorn an adult Mediterranean Gull was noted as well as one adult Gannet, 45 Common Scoters and 20+ Long-tailed Ducks (7th).

There were only two Twite on the beach at Wormiston but they were joined by two Stonechats (8th). Out Head held six Snow Buntings then observations at Kinghorn continued with a Black-throated Diver, a Bonxie heading east, at least six Kittiwakes, 18 Fulmars, 49 Long-tailed Ducks, 45 Common Scoters and three Purple Sandpipers (9th). The Snow Buntings at Out Head numbered only two but there were four Stonechats (10th) then the Surf Scoter was off Ruddons Point the next day (11th). A Great White Egret  appeared in front of Gamekeepers Cottage at Rossie Bog (12th).The next day was a busy one starting with a Black Guillemot and two Brent Geese off the car park at Seafield, three Purple Sandpipers at Kinghorn, a Whimbrel at Ruddons Point, a  first winter Iceland Gull at West Wemyss then the Surf Scoter, c400 Velvet Scoters, three Red-throated Divers, three Slavonian Grebes and two Purple Sandpipers at Largo Bay and two Waxwings at Lade Braes in St Andrews (13th). A Peregrine, 40 Common Scoters, c25 Long-tailed Ducks, one Red-throated Diver and a Purple Sandpiper were at Kinghorn, a Little Egret was at Tayport and the Smew was still at Lochore Meadows CP then there was a late report of a possible Black-necked Grebe in Elie harbour (14th).

The Great White Egret was seen again at Rossie Bog, an adult Mediterranean Gull was at  Buckhaven, a Black-throated Diver was showing well off the car park at Seafield and the Smew lingered at  Lochore Meadows CP accompanied by five Whooper Swans whilst Anstruther hosted 25 Purple Sandpipers then a report from Edenside included c50 Shelducks, c150 Lapwings and at least ten Tree Sparrows (15th). Kingsbarns held 43 Corn Buntings and six Twite and 14 of the latter species were at Balcomie beach. Three Whooper Swans and a single Greenland White-fronted Goose were at Lochore Meadows CP and a Short-eared Owl appeared at Norman’s Law (17th). A report from Newton Sandpit included five Dabchicks, 14 Teal, eight Wigeon and 19 Goldeneyes then sea-watching at Kinghorn produced one Great Northern Diver, c40 Common Scoters and c30 Long-tailed Ducks as well as two Purple Sandpipers (20th). A single Greenshank was at Culross, two Merlins, 15 Twite and two Goosanders were observed at Balcomie beach, a first winter Scaup, 67 Goldeneyes and 77 Mallards were in Kirkcaldy harbour and a Little Gull was at Kinghorn (21st).

An Iceland Gull flew over Anstruther (23rd) then an adult Mediterranean Gull was seen at Levenmouth (24th).Three Twite loitered at Balcomie beach then Out Head hosted a Snow Bunting and a Stonechat with c40 Scaup and c850 Common Scoters offshore whilst on a different part of the coast three Purple Sandpipers, 18+ Long-tailed Ducks, 33 Common Scoters, one Great Crested Grebe and eight Razorbills were seen from Kinghorn (25th) where further observations the next day produced three Purple Sandpipers, 26 Long-tailed Ducks and an adult Mediterranean Gull. Other coastal sightings included the drake Surf Scoter, 140 Velvet Scoters, 37 Red-throated Divers and 14 Slavonian Grebes at Lower Largo, a ringed adult Mediterranean Gull off Kirkcaldy promenade, 91 Goldeneyes in Kirkcaldy harbour, five Purple Sandpipers at Seafield and an adult Little Gull at Burntisland whilst a Barn Owl was seen near Auchtermuchty (27th). Buckhaven hosted a customary adult Mediterranean Gull then Pathhead yielded a Black-throated Diver and a first winter Little Gull (28th).

Kinghorn also had a Little Gull, an adult, as well as five immature Kittiwakes, ten Common Scoters, and six Long-tailed Ducks whilst eight Kittiwakes and an adult Mediterranean Gull were noted at Burntisland (30th). Fittingly, the month ended with another report of the Great White Egret at Rossie Bog (31st).

Information courtesy of Malcolm Ware and Graham Sparshott