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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

Cocklemill Marsh hosted c20 Twite on the first day of the month with a Surf Scoter and a Black-throated Diver seen off Ruddons Point (1st). Seafield held 35 Purple Sandpipers, seven Long-tailed Ducks and a Kingfisher whilst along at Abden Shore an adult Mediterranean Gull roosted on the rocks and further along the coast there was a Slavonian Grebe at Dalgety Bay (2nd). The Mediterranean Gulls increased to two at Abden the next day with 36 Long-tailed Ducks offshore there whilst the drake Surf Scoter was seen again at Ruddons Point (3rd). There was also a drake Surf Scoter in a huge scoter flock along with 26 Slavonian Grebes at Kinshaldy, a Barn Owl was seen on the Kilmany to Wormit road and a redhead Smew and a Dipper frequented Lochore Meadows CP (4th). Angle Park GP held four Shovelers, 23 Goldeneyes, 30+ Coots and 18 Lapwings. Birnie & Gaddon Lochs LNR hosted two Grey Herons, 50+ Greylags, 28 Mallards, 13 Goosanders and eight Moorhens whilst Mountcastle GP had eight Mute Swans and ten Tufted Ducks (7th).

A Greenshank and 17 Ringed Plovers were at Dalgety Bay boat club. 84 Greylags, 24 Teal, 32 Wigeon, 15 Tufted Ducks, eight Goldeneyes and five Moorhens were included in a report from Newton Sand & Gravel Pits whilst Morton Lochs NNR hosted two Teal, three Wigeon, 33 Mallards and seven Coots (8th). There were 16 Snipe at a mostly frozen Valleyfield Lagoons, two Little Egrets and two White-tailed Eagles were noted at the Eden Estuary whilst Ferry Hills had a Snow Bunting and six Bramblings over (9th). An adult Mediterranean Gull flew past Kinghorn where there were eight Purple Sandpipers on the shore (10th) and a Black Guillemot was seen drifting west off Inverkeithing harbour entrance (11th). Adult Mediterranean Gulls were reported the next day with singles at Buckhaven, Kilconquhar Loch (also two Scaup and a Shoveler here) and Ruddons Point where the drake Surf Scoter and two Little Auks were seen west of the point. Balbuthie hosted c650 Pink-feet and three Corn Buntings which were joined by Tree Sparrows, Reed Buntings and Yellowhammers (12th). Up to five Snow Buntings were at the lagoon area of Tentsmuir and three of this species were accompanied by two Stonechats at Out Head. A Short-eared Owl (not many of this species reported at the moment) was north of Halbeath interchange and a Barn Owl was at Den of Lindores (13th). A Nuthatch was seen again at Dunfermline Glen where there was also a Great Spotted Woodpecker, a Treecreeper, at least four Long-tailed Tits, six Redwings and a Buzzard whilst a Hen Harrier at Pittenweem was a good find (15th). A Tystie (Black Guillemot) was showing well in Inverkeithing outer harbour, three Mediterranean Gulls and a Purple Sandpiper were seen from the car park at Seafield and the Surf Scoter at Largo Bay was joined by two Black-throated Divers, five Red-throated Divers, two Slavonian Grebes and eleven Long-tailed Ducks (16th). The Snow Buntings at the lagoon at Tentsmuir increased to seven and there was a White-tailed Eagle and a Brambling over whilst also at Tentsmuir were 360 Dunlins, 51 Grey Plovers and a Peregrine. Nine Twite and 24 Purple Sandpipers were at Balcomie, 28 Corn Buntings frequented Coal Farm and three Little Egrets were seen at Tayport. Two Waxwings turned up at Crossford and a single adult Mediterranean Gull at Seafield (17th) was joined by another the following day when there was also one at Thornton/Balbeggie Pond and the Waxwings lingered at Crossford (18th). Seven Lapland Buntings turned up at Wormiston where there were also at least four Twite while a report from Edenside included six Cormorants, 60 Shelducks, 50+ Mallards, three drake Goldeneyes, 22 Lapwings, 33 Golden Plovers, 41 Black-tailed Godwits, a male Kestrel, a Great Spotted Woodpecker, eight Tree Sparrows and c25 Goldfinches (19th). Dunfermline Glen now yielded two Nuthatches as well as a Treecreeper, a Great Spotted Woodpecker and two Buzzards whilst the redhead Smew lingered at Lochore Meadows CP and eight Purple Sandpipers were seen from the golf museum car park at St Andrews then an adult Mediterranean Gull turned up in stubble fields west of Loch Gelly. Freshwater counts took place at Angle Park GP, where there were two Mute Swans, 48 Mallards, eight Teal, nine Goldeneyes, three Moorhens and six Coots, and also at Birnie & Gaddon Lochs LNR where there were five Mute Swans, 250 Greylags, 50 Wigeon, 70 Mallard, 12 Goldeneyes, 14 Goosanders, 17 Moorhens, 25 Coots and 21 Black-headed Gulls (20th). Lower Largo produced 12 Long-tailed Ducks, one Red-throated Diver, two Slavonian Grebes as well as the Surf Scoter. A Mediterranean Gull was at Seafield and a Fulmar returned to St Andrews Harbour where there were also ten Purple Sandpipers. Reports from Out Head included seven Snow Buntings, one Little Egret, 28 Ringed Plovers, c1700 Common Scoters, 16 Great Crested Grebes, 12 Pale-bellied Brent Geese, five Stonechats and probably ten Scaup (21st).

The seven Snow Buntings and 12 Pale-bellied Brent Geese were still present at Out Head the following day (22nd). Lindores Loch held 88 Mute Swans, including 14 immature birds (23rd). There were now eight Lapland Buntings at Wormiston with 28 Twite nearby on the shore at Balcomie whilst a Merlin was also in the area. At Kinghorn, a Little Gull was observed as well as three Long-tailed Ducks (24th). At Wormiston, at least three Lapland Buntings, 19 Twite and a Merlin were still present, Kilconquhar Loch hosted three Scaup and Moss Plantation had two Woodcocks while Valleyfield Lagoons yielded 16 Snipe, 65 Linnets, three Greenshanks and a Water Rail (26th).The redhead Smew remained at Lochore Meadows CP (27th).There were at least two adult Mediterranean Gulls in a large gull flock just outside Kinghorn and at least six Lapland Buntings were still at Wormiston with at least 50 Twite nearby at Balcomie (28th).

At Seafield an adult Mediterranean Gull flew west and a Great Northern Diver was offshore then 28 Purple Sandpipers were noted at Anstruther (30th). On Hogmanay there were still at least 30 Twite on the beach at Balcomie with at least seven Lapland Buntings in the stubble fields at Wormiston (31st).

Information courtesy of Malcolm Ware

A Barn Owl was seen on a fence post by the A91 between Auchtermuchty and Strathmiglo on the first day of the month. A Spotted Redshank was recorded from the Eden Estuary Centre (1st) and was joined the following day by three Little Egrets, four Pale-bellied Brent Geese and a White-tailed Eagle. At least four of the Northern Bullfinches lingered at Ferry Hills where two Great Northern Divers flew over. Two Twite flew west over Inverkeithing and 45 Red-breasted Mergansers frequented Dalgety Bay. 63 Whooper Swans were present at Clatto Reservoir whilst a Black Guillemot, a Black Throated Diver, 27 Red-throated Divers and 47 Razorbills were noted off Ruddons Point (2nd). 53 Scaup were in St Andrews Bay, a male Merlin was at Pittenweem and the Spotted Redshank was still present from the Eden Estuary Centre (3rd). There were several reports the next day starting with 2000 Pink-footed Geese at Coal Farm, a Twite at Elie Ness then three Slavonian Grebes, one Red-necked Grebe and two Red-throated Divers at Largo Bay. The Lade Braes/Hallow Hill area of St. Andrews held 11 Bramblings, a decent record for there. A drake Velvet Scoter, a Red-throated Diver, and nine Long-tailed Ducks were off Seafield where 96 Shags and 18 Purple Sandpipers were on the rocks and c30 Goldfinches, eight Reed Buntings, a Tree Sparrow, a Goldcrest and a Grey Wagtail were also present. 42 Snipe loitered at Valleyfield Lagoons in the afternoon and a freshwater count at Linkswood Pond/Flood comprised four Dabchicks, two Mute Swans, 13 Teal, 60 Wigeon, 33 Mallards, a female Shoveler, five Moorhens and six Coots with Newton Farm Pond holding six Dabchicks, seven Mute Swans and ten Moorhens (4th). All eight of the Northern Bullfinches were still about at Ferry Hills where there was a Hawfinch over. Seven Redwings were flitting about at the Cullaloe NR car park and an adult Mediterranean Gull was in the bay at West Wemyss (5th). Loch Gelly held a first winter drake Scaup, a Long-tailed Duck, a Gadwall, 44 Goldeneyes, 68 Teal, c40 Tufted Ducks, eight Pochards, four Pink-footed Geese, a Water Rail and two Kingfishers. A male Merlin was at Tentsmuir Point NNR, whilst Morton Lochs NNR hosted two Gadwalls, 12+ Coots, a Buzzard and a single Mistle Thrush. A report from Newton Sandpit comprised c70 Teal, 18 Tufted Ducks, three Gadwalls, nine Goldeneyes and a Snipe. A Jay flew over Newton Farm where there were also 15+ Moorhens and at least ten of this species were at Drumoig (7th).

At Anstruther there was a Woodcock in off the sea whilst a drake Surf Scoter was offshore at Ruddons Point with a Pale-bellied Brent Goose at nearby Cocklemill Burn. Edenside held a Little Egret, two Shelducks, two Goosanders, c60 Lapwings, c300 Golden Plovers and six Tree Sparrows. At Out Head 70 Oystercatchers were counted as well as four Stonechats (8th). Reports from freshwater sites the following day included: 20 Whooper Swans, c35 Wigeon, 12 Teal and c20 Tree Sparrows at Craigluscar NR; ten Mute Swans, 67 Wigeon and five Gadwalls with, c450 Greylags over at Mountcastle GP; 12 Mute Swans, 34 Greylags, 23 Wigeon, 11 Goosanders, six Moorhens, 25+ Jackdaws and five Long-tailed Tits at Birnie & Gaddon Lochs LNR and also three Cormorants, 46 Mute Swans, a family of two adult and four Whooper Swans, c75 Wigeon, 28 Tufted Ducks and c90 Goldeneyes at Lindores Loch. 70+ Scaup were at West Sands, St Andrews (9th).Two Little Auks passed Fife Ness (10th). The eight Northern Bullfinches were still present at Ferry Hills where seven Great Northern Divers and 49 Bramblings were also seen. Largo Bay held eight Red-throated Divers, one Great Northern Diver, one Red-necked Grebe and four Slavonian Grebes whilst two Great Northern Divers were also seen at Elie Ness . A Tundra Bean Goose was reported at Ardross Farm then a Long-eared Owl was observed near the entrance to Fordell Firs Scout Centre (11th). Kilrenny hosted 50 Golden Plovers, 75 Lapwings, ten Curlews, a Treecreeper and ten Long-tailed Tits. Four Twite were at Dysart whilst Kirkcaldy saw a Barnacle Goose accompany a skein of  Pink-footed Geese over then 13 Bramblings were noted at the town’s Wester Bogie Road. A fine count of 200+ Black-tailed Godwits was made at Newmills (12th). c50 Twite were in a mixed finch flock just west of Kingsbarns (13th). 13 Mute Swans, 12 Wigeon, 55+ Teal and 28 Mallards were counted at Letham Pools and a late Sandwich Tern was at Seafield. At Ruddons Point 12 Little Auks flew east, the drake Surf Scoter was still showing well plus 105 Velvet Scoters, 250+ Common Scoters, a Black Guillemot, two Great Northern Divers, one Red-throated Diver, two Slavonian Grebes, three Purple Sandpipers and ten Grey Plovers. Kilconquhar Loch hosted two female Scaup, one female Pintail, eight Pochards, c100 Tufted Ducks and a Water Rail. Balgove Bay held three Pale-bellied Brent Geese  and 350 + Dunlins whilst at Tentsmuir NNR there were 15 Slavonian Grebes, one Great Crested Grebe , 12+ Red-throated Divers, 40 Long-tailed Ducks, 120+ Velvet Scoters and 750+ Common Scoters (14th).

At Edenside there were 12 Brent Geese, 24 Shelducks, 80 Mallards, 22 Teal, at least ten Dabchicks, just two Goldeneyes, 66+ Lapwings, 90+ Dunlins, a White-tailed Eagle, a Kingfisher, two Great Spotted Woodpeckers and six Tree Sparrows. A Little Egret flew north at Tentsmuir while Kinshaldy held 22 Slavonian Grebes, 410 Velvet Scoters, 290 Long-tailed Ducks, c5000 Common Scoters and six Twite (15th). 22 Purple Sandpipers were at Anstruther, a Little Egret and five Goosanders frequented Cameron Reservoir and two tame Snow Buntings turned up at Out Head (16th). Another finch flock, slightly smaller this time, was noted west of Kingsbarns and included Twite. Newton Farm Pond held five Dabchicks, seven Mute Swans and 13 Moorhens and the Sandpit Ponds yielded 16 Greylags, c60 Teal, 32 Wigeon, 18 Tufted Ducks, four Gadwalls, 11 Goldeneyes and eight Moorhens whilst Linkswood Pond & Flood had 12 Canada Geese, 12 Teal, eight Tufted Ducks, seven Moorhens, six Coots and a Jay. A report of a Nuthatch in a Dunfermline garden near Pittencrieff Park was particularly noteworthy (17th). A Hawfinch landed briefly at Ferry Hills and the eight Northern Bullfinches were still present and correct. Kirkton Barns had five Grey Partridges (not often reported these days) and a report from Morton Lochs NNR included nine Teal, six Wigeon, 23 Mallards, 11 Moorhens,18 Coots, three Jays, one Great Spotted Woodpecker and seven Redwings but only one Dabchick(18th). Whooper Swans numbered 33 at Craigluscar NR but only two at Loch Gelly where a Long-tailed Duck and a Kingfisher were also spotted. The drake Surf Scoter was with 106 Velvet Scoters at Ruddons Point whilst a report from Tentsmuir Point NNR comprised ten Pintails, 675 Oystercatchers, 340 Dunlins, 27 Grey Plovers and a Raven. Two Little Egrets were recorded at Tayport Heath, a Swallow was an unusual sighting at Seafield where there was also a Greenshank. Five Purple Sandpipers were at Dysart as well as a Mediterranean Gull (19th).

A single of the latter species was also at the customary Buckhaven haunt (22nd). A Little Auk lingered close in at Fife Ness, Dalgety Bay held a Greenshank while a Little Egret was seen at Kincardine (23rd). A lone Snow Bunting appeared at Ruddons Point and a report from Tayport Pond included 20 Mallards, two Teal, two Wigeon, 14 Moorhens and 60 Oystercatchers as well as a Magpie (apparenty an unusual record for here) whilst offshore there were 28 Wigeon, eight Ringed Plovers and c90 Dunlins (24th). Nine Corn Buntings were recorded near Coal Farm (26th). Ferry Toll had two Ravens and a Kestrel while three adult Mediterranean Gulls, were on the mudflats at Burntisland (28th).

Wilderness hosted 16 Whooper Swans, Seafield produced four Greenshanks and 32 Purple Sandpipers at high tide then four Slavonian Grebes and one Red-throated Diver were detected among a scoter flock north of Kinshaldy and 20+ Scaup were off West Sands, St. Andrews (29th).

Information courtesy of Malcolm Ware and Graham Sparshott