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October 2022 Sightings

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One Sooty Shearwater and 30 Little Gulls were seen from Fife Ness on the 1st with a juvenile Black Tern seen on the Eden Estuary. A Spoonbill was reported from Dalgety Bay on the 2nd with 68 Mediterranean Gulls at the roost at East Wemyss. The following evening at the same location the record was again broken with 135 individuals counted. Also on the 3rd a Hawfinch flew over Bogward Road, St Andrews calling and at Guardbridge at least seven Curlew Sandpipers and 13 Little Egrets were seen. Two Todd’s Canada Geese were briefly at The Wilderness on the 4th with 88 Mediterranean Gulls at East Wemyss. Seven Curlew Sandpipers and three Ruff were at Guardbridge on the 5th with eight of the former there the next day. The Scottish record count was again smashed on the 6th when an unbelievable 170 Mediterranean Gulls were present at the evening roost at East Wemyss and 126 were there on the 7th.

A Lapland Bunting was at Wormiston on the 8th and a Snow Bunting came in off the sea at Fife Ness. A Great Northern Diver was seen at Ferry Hills with another the next day with a Curlew Sandpiper showing at Edenside on the 8th and 9th. 162 Mediterranean Gulls were counted at East Wemyss on the 8th with 121 the following evening when 28 Sooty Shearwaters passed Fife Ness. The 10th began with a Long-tailed Skua and two Great Northern Divers at Fife Ness then a Yellow-browed Warbler turned up at the Eden Estuary Centre. Four Curlew Sandpipers were seen there later that day and another count at the roost at East Wemyss heralded another Scottish record count of Mediterranean Gulls with 175 noted. Early morning at Kinghorn resulted in a Great Northern Diver, three Little Gulls and nine Mediterranean Gulls being seen on the 11th when a Yellow-browed Warbler was found at Crail. A Pomarine Skua and 48 Little Gulls were off Fife Ness on the 12th with 22 of the latter off Kinghorn later that day with a Black Guillemot also seen there. A Green Sandpiper was at Angle Park GP with a Ruff and two Curlew Sandpipers at Edenside and seven Greenshanks and nine Little Egrets at Morton Lochs NNR. An American Wigeon was found at Ballo Reservoir on the 13th with 41 Little Gulls heading inland at Ferry Hills. Fife Ness continued its run of excellent seabirds with a juvenile Sabine’s Gull being seen with a Sooty Shearwater, two Pomarine Skuas and 17 Little Gulls also noted. Two Little Auks at Fife Ness on the 14th were early for this species with two Sooty Shearwaters and c500 Redwings also there. 156 Little Gulls and c1200 Razorbills were off Kinghorn with a Snow Bunting seen going over St Andrews. The American Wigeon was still showing at Ballo Reservoir and c30 Little Gulls were at Kinshaldy where a Jack Snipe was a good find in the dunes. 95 Little Gulls flew west past Kinghorn on the 15th with a Jack Snipe seen at Cocklemill, a Hawfinch and an impressive 3900 Redwings were seen at Ferry Hills and a Hen Harrier was noted at Boarhills. The next day began with eight Little Gulls and two Great Northern Divers past Kinghorn in blustery conditions with a Jack Snipe found at Cameron Reservoir. The American Wigeon was still to be found at Ballo Reservoir on the 17th with two Bramblings the highlight at Fife Ness that day. Two Jack Snipe were at Tayport and a late Sand Martin was seen flying over the road at Freuchie. 11 Bramblings flew over Bogward Road in St Andrews on the 18th, a Marsh Harrier passed over Mugdrum Island, Newburgh and a Pomarine Skua and 31 Little Gulls were off Fife Ness. The wind changed to easterly on the 19th and migrants started to arrive with a Yellow-browed Warbler, Lesser Whitethroat, 15 Bramblings and a Short-eared Owl all in the Fife Ness area. Yellow-browed Warblers were also found at Denburn Wood, Kittock’s Den and St Andrews where there was another Lesser Whitethroat and 13 Bramblings also noted. Off Dysart, a juvenile Pomarine Skua and four Little Gulls were seen in the afternoon. Fife Ness Muir played host to two Red-breasted Flycatchers, a Redstart and a Yellow-browed Warbler on the 20th with a Lesser Whitethroat nearby at Craighead and a Black Redstart at Kilminning. Two Little Auks and three Little Gulls went past Kinghorn with a Black-throated Diver at Dalgety Bay. The 21st was a very productive day at Kilminning, with a Barred Warbler, Black Redstart, Yellow-browed Warbler, possible eastern Lesser Whitethroat and the second Red-flanked Bluetail of the autumn seen. A Red-breasted Flycatcher was still at Fife Ness Muir with a Black Redstart, Siberian Chiffchaff, Yellow-browed Warbler and a Lesser Whitethroat also seen. Two Yellow-browed Warblers were at Balcomie with a Black Redstart at Craighead and a Waxwing seen in Crail.

Lots of good birds were still around on the 22nd with the Red-flanked Bluetail still present at Kilminning with a Barred Warbler, Yellow-browed Warbler and Ring Ouzel also in that area. A Richard’s Pipit was flushed from the path to Wormiston from Crail and later a very interesting “Eastern Stonechat” was seen opposite the airfield. At Balcomie there was a possible Olive-backed Pipit, heard three times but not seen subsequently. A Lesser Whitethroat and two Yellow-browed Warblers were also to be seen in and around Balcomie. At St Andrews, a Lesser Whitethroat, Black Redstart, Ring Ouzel and a single Lapland Bunting were noted with the Lesser Whitethroat thought to be of Eastern origin. The following day the “Eastern Stonechat”/possible Stejneger’s, was still present in the same area with Yellow-browed Warblers seen at Balcomie and Kilminning while Lesser Whitethroats were seen at Fife Ness Muir and St Andrews. The “Eastern Stonechat“ was seen again opposite the airfield at Crail on the 24th with two Ring Ouzels and two Lesser Whitethroats nearby at Kilminning. A Lesser Whitethroat and a Yellow-browed Warbler were at Fife Ness Muir and a Ring Ouzel and Snow Bunting were sighted around St Andrews. On the 25th the “Eastern Stonechat“ was still in its favoured place opposite the airfield at Crail in the fenced off compound. Kilminning had three Ring Ouzels and a Lesser Whitethroat was still present with a female Black Redstart well inland on a roof in Dunshalt. At Elie Ness 12 Little Auks, a Great Northern Diver and an adult Little Gull were watched from this headland. The 27th started with three Hawfinches at Ferry Hills and two Short-eared Owls in off the sea at Out Head with a Lesser Whitethroat still residing at Kilminning. At East Braes, Kinghorn nine Little Gulls were seen on the 28th and an immature Marsh Harrier was on Mugdrum Island.

Fife Ness had nine Little Gulls on the 29th, three Black-throated Divers, two Little Egrets, a Little Auk and four Pomarine Skuas, were all seen passing with a Lapland Bunting showing well on the path at Wormiston Spinney and seven Snow Buntings were at Tentsmuir. Early morning on the 30th at Kinghorn, saw 92 Little Gulls move west and a Ring Ouzel at Bogward Road, St Andrews. Kilminning had a fall of thrushes that day with 680 Redwings, 390 Fieldfares, 330 Blackbirds and two Ring Ouzels counted. A late Swallow was noted in Kirkcaldy on the 31st and Fife finally got in on the influx of Swifts when two presumed Pallid Swifts were watched in Tayport in the afternoon, another potential Fife first.

Information supplied courtesy of Malcolm Ware

September 2022 Sightings

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Two juvenile Long-tailed Skuas, c7 Sooty Shearwaters and 200 Manx Shearwaters at Fife Ness started the month off. At Fairmont, St Andrews a Pomarine Skua, two Little Gulls and 17 Whimbrels were seen and at Letham Pools a Curlew Sandpiper, 31 Black-tailed Godwits and two Little Ringed Plovers were affording good views. Nine Little Egrets were at Morton Lochs NNR on the 2nd with the Curlew Sandpiper still at Letham Pools. At Fife Ness during the day there were two Long-tailed Skuas, 41 Sooty Shearwaters, 161 Manx Shearwaters and a Pomarine Skua with one of the latter also seen from Kinghorn. The 3rd began with a Hobby and 23 Ravens at Lindores Loch with 13 Little Egrets and eight Greenshanks at Morton Lochs NNR. Fife Ness highlights were at least two Long-tailed Skuas, a Pomarine Skua, 13 Sooty Shearwaters, 150 Manx Shearwaters and a Pied Flycatcher in The Patch. A juvenile Long-tailed Skua passed Boarhills along with 14 Little Gulls and seven Ruff and Fairmont, St Andrews had similar sightings with a juvenile Long-tailed Skua, two Sooty Shearwaters and 11 Little Gulls. Two Pomarine Skuas, a Sooty Shearwater and 300 Manx Shearwaters were off Kinghorn that evening. The next day at Fife Ness another Great Shearwater went north with 344 Manx Shearwaters, eight Sooty Shearwaters, nine Long-tailed Skuas, seven Pomarine Skuas and 104 Little Gulls counted during the day. In and around Fife Ness there were at least seven Pied Flycatchers and three Redstarts. Another Redstart and a Wood Sandpiper were seen at Cambo with the sandpiper coming in off the sea calling. A Redwing over Bogward Road, St Andrews was the first reported of the autumn and nearby at Fairmont, a Barred Warbler was elusive and two Pied Flycatchers were also present with a juvenile Long-tailed Skua off Kinghorn. The 5th saw seven Sooty Shearwaters, a Pomarine Skua and two Great Northern Divers off Fife Ness and at least four Pied Flycatchers in the surrounding area. Letham Pools had a Wood Sandpiper, 31 Black-tailed Godwits and six Ruff present, while at Guardbridge there were c8 Curlew Sandpipers,15 Little Egrets and a Spotted Redshank. A juvenile Turnstone at the Wilderness was a fantastic record for this species at an inland site in our county. A Cory’s Shearwater passed Fife Ness on the 6th with three Sooty Shearwaters and a Pomarine Skua also seen. Two Pied Flycatchers were at Kilminning with five Curlew Sandpipers and the Spotted Redshank still at Guardbridge. There were at least seven Pied Flycatchers around the Fife Ness area on the 7th with a Curlew Sandpiper at Out Head. At Ferry Hills 738 Meadow Pipits and 31 Tree Pipits were counted.

An unprecedented day at Fife Ness on the 8th began with both large shearwater species passing within half an hour of each other. Firstly, a Great Shearwater flew north followed by a Cory’s Shearwater soon after. Added to the list were 19 Sooty Shearwaters, 155 Manx Shearwaters, 42 Brent Geese and a juvenile Long-tailed Skua. Up to three Redstarts were around the Fife Ness area and surrounds with Whinchat and Spotted Flycatcher also seen. Nine Ruff were on the golf course at Fife Ness early morning and some of these birds may have accounted for the four at Kilminning later that day. Kinghorn scored with a Leach’s Petrel on the 9th along with a Little Tern, Black Tern and two juvenile Long-tailed Skuas. At Fife Ness 29 Sooty Shearwaters, 23 Little Gulls and two Roseate Terns were counted with Pied and Spotted Flycatchers seen at Kilminning, Boarhills, Cambo and Denburn Wood. An early Red-flanked Bluetail made an appearance near the old fish factory area at Fife Ness on the 10th but proved extremely elusive. From the headland nearby, 20 Sooty Shearwaters, two Pomarine Skuas, Black Tern, Black Guillemot, 82 Manx Shearwaters and seven Little Gulls were seen. Newton Sandpit had a juvenile Spotted Redshank while at Guardbridge ten juvenile Curlew Sandpipers and 14 Little Egrets were counted. Six of the latter were at Morton Lochs NNR with seven Greenshanksand seven Little Egrets also at Tayport. A fantastic count of 23 Ruff on the golf course at Fife Ness were watched being shepherded around the greens by the golfers and a Little Stint was with Dunlin at Ruddons Point. The next day at Fife Ness another good bird was found in the shape of an Arctic Warbler at Craighead. There were Pied and Spotted Flycatchers, Lesser Whitethroat, Garden Warblers and Redstart to be found in and around Fife Ness. 34 Sooty Shearwaters were counted and the 23 Ruff were still to be found on the golf course or commuting to the Stinky Pool. Nearby, a Little Stint appeared at Balcomie Beach at the end of the golf course and another was seen at Ballo Reservoir. A moulting Red-necked Grebe was seen at Kinghornwhile at Guardbridge an excellent count of 15 Curlew Sandpipers was made. The 12th was an interesting day with a Black Kite photographed on the Eden Estuary at Out Head before flying over Leuchars and not seen again. A Yellow-browed Warbler was seen at Spinkie Den in St Andrews, a Hobby was at Kilmany and the Little Stint remained at Ballo Reservoir. The Arctic Warbler was reported again at Craighead on the 13th when 17 Ruff and 54 Black-tailed Godwits were at The Wilderness. Two Green Sandpipers were at Angle Park GP and one was at Kilmany with a Red Kite watched between Dalgety Bay and Braefoot. At Fife Ness on the 14th the Arctic Warbler and c20 Ruff were still present at Craighead and the golf course respectively.

On the 15th there were two 1st winter Little Gulls off the promenade at Kirkcaldy with three Ruff flying west. Two Sooty Shearwaters were seen from Fife Ness, c21 Ravens were counted in the Lomond Hills and 31 Black-tailed Godwits seen at Letham Pools. An eventful day at Fife Ness on the 16th; 11419 Razorbills were counted with a Balearic Shearwater, 37 Sooty Shearwaters, 133 Manx Shearwaters and 245 Little Gulls also seen. The next day at Fife Ness another Cory’s Shearwater was seen along with 68 Sooty Shearwaters, 393 Manx Shearwaters, 67 Red-throated Divers, two Great Northern Divers and 26 Little Gulls with a juvenile Long-tailed Skua off St Andrews. Fife Ness was the place to be on the 18th with another “Big Shear” day with five species of Shearwater noted in total: two Great Shearwaters a Cory’s Shearwater, a Balearic Shearwater, 28 Sooty Shearwaters and 1012 Manx Shearwaters, as well as a juvenile Long-tailed Skua and 366 Little Gulls. Two Yellow-browed Warblers were caught and ringed at Fife Ness Muir on the 19th with 22 Sooty Shearwaters and 407 Manx Shearwaters past the headland. A Red-necked Grebe was at Ruddons Point with a Curlew Sandpiper, eight Slavonian Grebes and a single Little Gull on the Eden Estuary. The 20th began with a juvenile Long-tailed Skua heading inland at Ferry Hills and 2048 Meadow Pipits going through. Two Common Cranes flew over St Andrews and another Yellow-browed Warbler was at Fife Ness Muir with 43 Black-tailed Godwits at Letham Pools. Early morning at East Wemyss on the 21st saw 30 Mediterranean Gulls and a Little Gull present and that evening the number of Mediterranean Gulls rose to 40 with an adult Roseate Tern for company. At Ferry Hills a Great Northern Diver and 58 Red-throated Divers were seen, Kinghorn had six Little Gulls and a Curlew Sandpiper was on the Stinky Pool at Fife Ness.

The next day the Curlew Sandpiper had relocated to Balcomie Beach and the adult Roseate Tern was still showing well at the gull roost at Back Dykes, East Wemyss. At least seven Curlew Sandpipers and eight Ruff were viewable from the Eden Centre on the 23rd with the Roseate Tern at East Wemyss. Two Twite were seen at Dalgety Bay on the 24th with three Roseate Terns at East Wemyss and 21 Mediterranean Gulls at West Wemyss. A juvenile Long-tailed Skua was at Ferry Hills with 12 Sooty Shearwaters seen at Fife Ness. Six Curlew Sandpipers were at Guardbridge and eight were noted at the Eden Centre the next day with a Spotted Redshank whiletwo Roseate Terns were still at East Wemyss and another Spotted Redshank was at Letham Pools. The 26th was a memorable day at East Wemyss with the hundred barrier broken for the first time when 105 Mediterranean Gulls were counted in the evening. Two Roseate Terns were seen there earlier in the day with three Ruff at Anstruther and five Whooper Swans at Angle Park GP. There was another record-breaking count at East Wemyss roost on the 27th with an incredible 129 Mediterranean Gulls present. At Fife Ness c45 Little Gulls were seen and a Marsh Harrier was at Letham Pools. A Balearic Shearwater was off Fife Ness on the 28th with 16 Sooty Shearwaters, a Pomarine Skua and 232 Little Gulls also seen. Four Sooty Shearwaters, a Pomarine Skua and 20 Little Gulls were noted off St Andrews and nearby on the Eden Estuary a Curlew Sandpiper was seen. Mediterranean Gull numbers dropped to 35 at East Wemyss from the record number the previous day but still a good count. Further west 13 Mediterranean Gulls were seen between Seafield and Dysart with four Little Gulls off Seafield.

Another epic day of seawatching at Fife Ness on the 29th resulted in a Great Shearwater, 885 Manx Shearwaters, 68 Sooty Shearwaters, three Long-tailed Skuas and three Sabine’s Gulls all being seen. Yellow-browed Warblers were at Fife Ness Muir, Lower Kilminning, Wormiston and Hammer Inn, Crail with a Common Rosefinch being reported in St Andrews. A Pomarine and a Long-tailed Skua were off Fife Ness on the last day of the month with three Sooty Shearwaters past Anstruther, an impressive 487 Little Gulls at Kinghorn and seven Curlew Sandpipers reported at Edenside.

Information supplied courtesy of Malcolm Ware

August 2022 Sightings

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The first count of Tree Pipits from Ferry Hills came on the first of the month when 48 were seen. 14 Little Egrets were at Guardbridge and nearby at Dairsie there was a Red Kite noted. Letham Pools had six Greenshanks and eight Black-tailed Godwits on its muddy margins with a Green Sandpiper at Ballo Reservoir the next day. The 3rd began with an excellent record of an adult and two juvenile Little Terns at Kingsbarns. There were Mediterranean Gulls to be seen also, with eight at East Wemyss and three at Levenmouth. The number at East Wemyss rose to an amazing 81(including 48 juveniles) the following day with four adults also seen at Dysart, where seven Little Gulls moved west early morning. The 5th began with 112 Tree Pipits at Ferry Hills, then another White-rumped Sandpiper was found near Kilrenny Mill, the second record for the county, fast on the heels of the first at Letham Pools in July. A juvenile Ruff and 12 Little Egrets were at Edenside, the former being the first reported of the autumn. Then the following day seven Ruff flew west together past East Wemyss with 17 Mediterranean Gulls also there and 17 Little Egrets at Edenside. The 7th saw Green Sandpipers at Morton Lochs NNR and Lochore Meadows CP, six Whimbrels were at Balcomie then four passed Anstruther later.

The Ruff was still at Edenside on the 9th with four Whimbrels and a Greenshank at Ruddons Point. A Red Kite was again seen just south of the Tay Bridge on the A92 at Newport. The next morning 141 Tree Pipits flew over Ferry Hills and 18 Little Egrets were counted at Edenside later that day. Early on the 11th a Balearic Shearwater headed west into the Forth on a sunny morning at Fife Ness. A juvenile Little Ringed Plover was at Kilrenny Mill and 17 Mediterranean Gulls were counted from Seafield to Pathhead in the evening. The Little Ringed Plover was still at Kilrenny Mill the next day, while a passage juvenile Marsh Harrier was also noted there. A count of five Whimbrels was made on the coastal path from Elie to St Monans, while later that day on Edenside an adult Pectoral Sandpiper was picked out. On the 13th 15 Black-tailed Godwits and 30 Snipe were counted at Letham Pools and eight Greenshanks and an impressive 54 Whimbrels were at Boarhills, the latter flying south-east. 11 Mediterranean Gulls and eight Black-tailed Godwits passed East Braes, Kinghorn and a Green Sandpiper was at The Wilderness. The next day two Green Sandpipers were at Angle Park GP with five Greenshanks and 12 Black-tailed Godwits at Letham Pools. At East Braes, Kinghorn a Great Northern Diver, a Little Gull and five Mediterranean Gulls were noted.

The 15th was Mediterranean Gull day in the Kirkcaldy area with 21 (including 17 juveniles) at Dysart, a fantastic count for there, then six at the west end of the promenade. 17 Black-tailed Godwits were at Letham Pools and single Pied and Spotted Flycatchers were seen at Kilminning. At Fife Ness 128 Manx Shearwaters, seven Whimbrels and a large shearwater species which eluded definite identification, but was thought to be a Great Shearwater, passed. The next day Pathhead had six Mediterranean Gulls (including three juveniles) at first light feeding on the grass and just along the coast at Dysart 17 were counted (including 12 juveniles) with three Little Gulls also noted. A Spoonbill was found roosting with the egrets and herons at Guardbridge, while at Fife Ness two Pomarine Skuas were loitering for a while before heading into the Forth. The 17th was a memorable day at Fife Ness with not one but two Great Shearwaters passing the headland, with five Sooty Shearwaters, 367 Manx Shearwaters and a Pomarine Skua added to the list. Kinghorn had c11 Arctic Skuas and two Mediterranean Gulls and at Tayport three Brent Geese, seven Little Egrets and a Little Gull were seen. Fife Ness highlights for the 18th were nine Sooty Shearwaters, 194 Manx Shearwaters, a Black Tern, a Pomarine Skua and 71 Whimbrels south. Off Dysart a juvenile Black Tern, 71 Manx Shearwaters and six Mediterranean Gulls (including four juveniles) were seen. East Wemyss at midday had 22 Mediterranean Gulls (including 16 juveniles) and four Ruff showed at Letham Pools, rising to five the next day, when 28 Black-tailed Godwits were also present. At Out Head two juvenile Black Terns were feeding in a flock of at least 1000 terns at the estuary mouth on the 19th with one still present the following day. A Ruddy Shelduck turned up at Dalgety Bay on the 20th with five Ruff, 18 Black-tailed Godwits and an adult Hobby seen at Letham Pools. There was a good count of four Black Terns at Fife Ness and 16 Ravens at Lindores Loch were noted. A Fea’s-type Petrel was reported past Fife Ness around midday. A Spotted Redshank was a great find at Cameron Reservoir and other notable wader sightings on the 21st included 29 Black-tailed Godwits and seven Ruff at Letham Pools and four Ruff at Loch Gelly. At Ferry Hills 98 Tree Pipits were counted with a Black-throated Diver and a Green Sandpiper also seen. At Back Dykes, East Wemyss in the early afternoon 30 Mediterranean Gulls were present on the rocks (including 20 juveniles).

Continuing the recent trend of good waders in the county, an American Golden Plover was seen briefly on the Eden Estuary along with a Spotted Redshank, 25 Whimbrels and a Black Tern on the 22nd. Four Sooty Shearwaters and a Roseate Tern went past Fife Ness, seven Ruff and a Green Sandpiper were at Letham Pools and a juvenile Red-necked Grebe was at Pettycur also that day. Two Redstarts were at Ferry Hills the next day, six Ruff were at Letham Pools and two Sooty Shearwaters were seen from Fife Ness. The upper Forth was the place to be on the 24th with Kinghorn having a Long-tailed Skua, 16 Arctic Skuas, three Mediterranean Gulls and a great sighting of a juvenile Little Tern. Nearby at Pettycur Sands there was a juvenile Black Tern and two more juvenile Black Terns and three Pomarine Skuas were off Dalgety Bay, with another Pomarine Skua seen from Ferry Hills later. At East Wemyss there were 74 Mediterranean Gulls at the Back Dykes roost (including 54 juveniles). The following morning at Dysart an adult Pomarine Skua and 14 Mediterranean Gulls (including 10 juveniles) were seen, and Ferry Hills had 18 Arctic Skuas, 13 Whimbrels, six Spotted Flycatchers and 146 Tree Pipits. The juvenile Black Tern was still at Pettycur Sands, with 12 Black-tailed Godwits at Newmills Bay. A new Scottish record count of Mediterranean Gulls of 93 (including 52 juveniles) was recorded on the 25th at Back Dykes, East Wemyss. What makes this area of rocky shoreline in a small Fife village a magnet for this species is the question, but long may it continue. On the 26th at Letham Pools, a Green Sandpiper and eight Ruff were seen and at Ferry Hills 21 Whimbrels, 71 Tree Pipits and a Redstart were noted. Three Little Gulls and 14 Whimbrels were at Fife Ness and a juvenile Spotted Redshank was at Guardbridge. A Honey-buzzard and a Red Kite were seen from Ferry Hills on the 27th and a Wood Sandpiper turned up at the Wilderness. Ruddons Point had at least six Black Terns in the area with two juveniles also seen from Dysart and two Black-throated Divers noted from East Braes, Kinghorn. Five Sooty Shearwaters flew past Fife Ness on the 28th with 120 Manx Shearwaters also recorded. Boarhills was host to a Pied Flycatcher and later that day a Hobby, while at Dalgety Bay an adult Pomarine Skua was seen. Seven Ruff and 17 Black-tailed Godwits were at Letham Pools and a Green Sandpiper was at Holl Reservoir. The highlight from Fife Ness on the 29th was a juvenile Long-tailed Skua, with a supporting cast of 19 Sooty Shearwaters, 183 Manx Shearwaters and three Little Gulls. Eight Mediterranean Gulls were at Dysart with a Pomarine Skua still in the Forth at Burntisland and the Spotted Redshank was on the Eden Estuary. Three Ruff, 18 Black-tailed Godwits and seven Greenshanks were at Letham Pools on the 30th with 16 Sooty Shearwaters and 331 Manx Shearwaters at Fife Ness. The last day of the month started with two juvenile Long-tailed Skuas heading inland at Ferry Hills, with another at Fife Ness, where five Little Gulls, seven Sooty Shearwaters and 179 Manx Shearwaters were also noted with a Pomarine Skua off Kinghorn.

Information supplied courtesy of Malcolm Ware

July 2022 Sightings

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17 Black-tailed Godwits were at Letham Pools on the 2nd of the month. A 2nd calendar year Mediterranean Gull was at Ruddons Point the next day with an adult at Kinghorn and two adults and a 2nd calendar year bird at East Wemyss on the 4th and an adult, a 1st calendar year and a 2nd calendar year there on the 7th. A good early July record from the Back Dykes roost at East Wemyss was made on the 9th with 11 adult Mediterranean Gulls, two 2nd calendar year and six 1st calendar year birds. A Whimbrel was also noted. Next day numbers dropped to five birds (four adults and a 1st calendar year) with the Whimbrel still present. On the Eden Estuary on the 11th a good count of 18 Little Gulls was recorded with six Little Egrets and a Mediterranean Gull also seen. Back at East Wemyss there were 21 Mediterranean Gulls counted including 11 adults, a 2nd calendar year, eight 1st calendar year and the first reported juvenile. An early morning seawatch from Dysart Harbour on the 12th had highlights of two adult and a 1st calendar year Mediterranean Gull plus an adult Little Gull passing, while at Letham Pools two Greenshanks were present. There were 24 Mediterranean Gulls in the roost that day at East Wemyss (no ages given) and a 3rd calendar year bird flew past Kinghorn on the 14th. 17 Mediterranean Gulls were present at East Wemyss on the 16th (eight adults, three 2nd calendar year, four 1st calendar year and two juveniles) with another adult seen at Ruddons Point. An adult Long-tailed Skua was loitering off Dysart on the 17th for 15 minutes with an adult Mediterranean Gull also seen. At Kinghorn a 2nd calendar year Mediterranean Gull and 56 Manx Shearwaters were seen from East Braes and an adult Pomarine Skua flew west past the harbour later with 46 Manx Shearwaters. Two adult Mediterranean Gulls were at the river mouth at Leven, a regular haunt for this species in the past. An amazing day at Letham Pools on the 19th with a potential first for Fife in the form of a White-rumped Sandpiper which had a Pectoral Sandpiper for company, plus 23 Black-tailed Godwits and three Greenshanks. A Green Sandpiper was seen at The Wilderness the same day. The Pectoral Sandpiper and the White-rumped Sandpiper were both still present on the 20th with the latter seen flying high to the south-west with two Ringed Plovers mid-morning and not seen subsequently. A Green Sandpiper and 13 Little Egrets were counted at Guardbridge on the 21st with an adult, a 3rd calendar year and two 2nd calendar year Mediterranean Gulls at Anstruther. Another adult Mediterranean Gull was at Tayport, with a Whimbrel also there. A report of a Rose-coloured Starling in Aberdour surfaced on Facebook and appeared genuine but the bird could not be relocated. The 22nd began on a very similar note with 10 Mediterranean Gulls at East Wemyss (Seven adults, two 2nd calendar year and a juvenile) and three Whimbrel flew east. Along the coast at Kinghorn an adult, a 2nd calendar year and a juvenile Mediterranean Gull were seen with a Whimbrel noted, two juvenile Mediterranean Gulls were at the golf club at Anstruther and two adult Little Gulls were at Tentsmuir. Late evening in the Back Dykes roost at East Wemyss an adult Bonaparte’s Gull was found and back at Kinghorn there was an adult Pomarine Skua and nearby at Pettycur a Roseate Tern was seen. The Bonaparte’s Gull was present again at East Wemyss the next day and eventually showed well before departing late morning. Also seen there were 46 Mediterranean Gulls (no ages given) and 59 Manx Shearwaters and at Kinghorn two adult and a 1st calendar year Little Gulland an adult, a 1st calendar year Mediterranean Gull and 43 Manx Shearwaters were noted. Guardbridge had two adult Mediterranean Gulls, 12 Little Egrets and six Greenshanks with an adult Mediterranean Gull and four Brent Geese being found at Tayport. A juvenile and three 2nd calendar year Mediterranean Gulls showed well in Anstruther. There were 14 Little Egrets seen from the Eden Centre on the 24th and two adult Little Gulls with a juvenile Mediterranean Gull were seen from the promenade at Kirkcaldy. A Wood Sandpiper was a great find at KilrennyMill on the 25th and a Cory’s Shearwater was watched drifting east at Kinghorn. Nearby at Pettycur Sands a 1st calendar year and two juvenile Mediterranean Gulls were picked out amongst the hundreds of terns present. Next day the Cory’s Shearwater was still off Kinghorn showing well at times and it’s remarkable to think that this bird, much sought-after by seawatchers of old, has become twitchable in our county. Three Sooty Shearwaters were seen passing Fife Ness early that morning, hopefully the first of many, with 63 Manx Shearwaters. Three adult Mediterranean Gulls were at Dysart, with juveniles at Kinghorn and Fife Ness. The Cory’s Shearwater was still showing well at Kinghorn at times on the 27th and two Storm Petrels, a Sooty Shearwater and 268 Manx Shearwaters were off Fife Ness. 16 Little Egrets were counted on the Eden Estuary but possibly 18 birds were present. Kinghorn was still graced by the Cory’s Shearwater’s presence the next day with 18 Mediterranean Gulls (four juveniles) at East Wemyss. An adult and a juvenile were also seen at Levenmouth and eight Whimbrel were counted at Out Head. Anstruther had a flyby Red-necked Grebe and two Little Gulls with a single of the latter at Kilconquhar Loch. The 29th had a familiar ring about it with the Cory’s Shearwater still off Kinghorn, while two Sooty Shearwaters, 70 Manx Shearwaters and three Bonxies were seen at Fife Ness. At the roost at East Wemyss 41 Mediterranean Gulls were counted, with no ages given. The next day the Cory’s Shearwater was becoming more elusive at Kinghorn but was seen by a few observers slightly east of Pettycur. The last day of July was a quiet affair with only a Green Sandpiper watched at The Wilderness and a juvenile Mediterranean Gull at Kinghorn to end a fantastic month.

Information supplied courtesy of Malcolm Ware

June 2022 Sightings

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A pair of Garganey put in a brief appearance at Kinghorn Loch on the 1st and a probable migrant Short-eared Owl was at Crail that day. Two Brent Geese were on Lucky Scalp at Tayport on the 3rd with one still there the next day when a Whimbrel was noted at Ruddons Point. The Little Gull was seen at Letham Pools on the 5th. A Black Redstart was a good find at Kilminning on the 9th but not seen subsequently. A Red Kite did a tour of the north-east of Fife on the 10th and was seen at various locations from Dunino to just south of the Tay bridge. Roseate Terns were seen from Kinghorn on the 11th and 12th with singles on both days. In the early hours on the 14th a Quail was heard singing going over Bogward Road in St Andrews, with 20 Black-tailed Godwits at Letham Pools later that day. Eight Red-throated Divers, 140 Manx Shearwaters and five Ravens were at Ruddons Point on the 15th. The following day 232 Manx Shearwaters flew north at Fife Ness, with four Brent Geese at Tayport and two Greenshanks on the Eden Estuary. 2nd calendar year Mediterranean Gulls were a feature on the 18th with one at Kinghorn early morning and two seen at Ruddons Point later with possibly one of these at the river mouth at Leven the next day. A Merlin was at Anstruther on the 20th with 180 Manx Shearwaters east past there the following day. 15 Black-tailed Godwits were at Letham Pools on the 25th with 17 the next day, along with two Green Sandpipers. 14 Black-tailed Godwits and one Green Sandpiper remained at Letham Pools on the 27th. The 29th saw the 14 Black-tailed Godwits still at Letham Pools and two Whimbrel flew south at Fife Ness. The relatively quiet month ended with adult Mediterranean Gulls being seen at Anstruther and Balcomie on the 30th.

Information supplied courtesy of Malcolm Ware

May 2022 Sightings

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A Wood Sandpiper was again seen at Luthrie on the first day of May with the Ruff and 11 Black-tailed Godwits at Letham Pools that day. A Bonxie and six Manx Shearwater flew north at Fife Ness with two Great Northern Divers heading in that direction the next day there. An adult Little Gull was at Letham Pools with the Ruff still in attendance and joined by a Wood Sandpiper later. These were all still in residence on the 3rd joined by a Whimbrel and a Jack Snipe and at the river mouth at Leven a third calendar year Iceland Gull was seen. There were two Wood Sandpipers at Letham Pools with the adult Little Gull on the 5th and a Short-eared Owl was watched at Crail coming in off the sea. At Kinghorn on the morning of the 6th a male Hen Harrier was watched crossing the Forth and heading north. The 7th began with a Temminck’s Stint showing well at Letham Pools with the adult Little Gull, Black-tailed Godwit and four Water Rail noted during the day. At Kingsbarns a male Ring Ouzel was found with a Quail and 53 Corn Buntings nearby. An excellent record of two adult Pomarine Skuas flying high east past West Wemyss, one a dark phase individual, a rare occurrence in spring.

The Temminck’s Stint was still at Letham Pools the next day and showed well at times despite an overzealous photographer in the reeds nearby. Also on the 8th a Hobby was watched coming in off the sea at lower Kilminning and over the airfield heading North. The next day had a very similar feel with the Temminck’s Stint still on the North Pool at Letham with the adult Little Gull, a Hobby was watched chasing hirundines at Kilmany and the first Swifts were reported. The Temminck’s Stint and Little Gull continued their stay at Letham Pools on the 10th with five Black-tailed Godwits for company and a Garganey was at The Wilderness and was still present the next day. Four Little Gulls and a Black-throated Diver were off Kingsbarns on the 11th with the Little Gull and 11 Black-tailed Godwits at Letham Pools. A Red Kite flew over Auchtermuchty on the 12th with a Garganey reported at Morton Lochs NNR and again the following day. One Curlew Sandpiper was noted on the Eden Estuary and another Wood Sandpiper turned up at the well-watched Letham Pools with an impressive tally of 21 Black-tailed Godwits and Little Gull also seen. 69 Manx Shearwaters were counted at Kinghorn on the 14th with the Garganey still at Morton Lochs NNR and the Curlew Sandpiper on the Eden Estuary. Two Wood Sandpipers, 21 Black-tailed Godwits and the Little Gull were at Letham Pools that day with a Temminck’s Stint appearing later, possibly a different bird than the previous well-watched individual.

At Fife Ness a seawatch included a Long-tailed Skua, 161 Manx Shearwaters and a Black-throated Diver. The Temminck’s Stint, Little Gull and four Black-tailed Godwits were at Letham Pools early on the 15th with a Temminck’s Stint also noted at The Wilderness. Another sighting of Pomarine Skua occurred with a dark phase bird passing Kinghorn and as a county we should be looking for them at this time as they undoubtedly pass through. At Kilminning a male Common Rosefinch was seen briefly, the Garganey was still at Morton Lochs NNR and a Wood Sandpiper was seen at Holl Reservoir, the second of the year there. A Black Tern, 117 Manx Shearwaters and a Black-throated Diver all passed Fife Ness going north in the evening. Early morning on the 17th began with 18 Black-tailed Godwits and the adult Little Gull in the mist at Letham Pools and later that morning a Temminck’s Stint was seen along with a drake Garganey. A scattering of Lesser Whitethroats and Spotted Flycatchers were seen around the Fife Ness area. The Garganey and 12 Black-tailed Godwits (25 on the 19th) were still at Letham Pools and a Hobby was near Tayport on the 18th. Two drake Garganey were at Letham Pools on the 20th. The 21st began with a fantastic record of visible migration at Kinghorn of a Temminck’s Stint flying in off the Forth and over the houses. Letham Pools still had one Garganey, Wood Sandpiper, 25 Black-tailed Godwits, Little Gull and unusually a Barnacle Goose. The Wilderness also produced the goods with a Garganey and a drake Ring-necked Duck. Two Black Guillemots were close inshore at Ruddons Point, a drake Mandarin was noted at Morton Lochs NNR and a Curlew Sandpiper was at Tentsmuir Point NNR all on the 22nd with Letham Pools still in fine form with two Garganey, a Wood Sandpiper and 30 Black-tailed Godwits seen throughout the day and a Hawfinch was at Rossie House. The Wood Sandpiper and 22 Black-tailed Godwits were still at Letham Pools the following day. Black Guillemots were seen at two sites on the 24th with one early morning at Pathhead and another at Ruddons Point. A Wood Sandpiper at Letham Pools with a Garganey and the adult Little Gull with the latter two species still there with 20 Black-tailed Godwits the next day. On the 26th a first summer Mediterranean Gull was a good find on the Eden Estuary with three first summer Little Gulls for company and the adult Little Gull at Letham Pools with one first summer Little Gull still on the Eden Estuary on the 28th. On the 29th another brilliant skua record for an already decent month for them was of an adult Long-tailed Skua off Kinghorn chasing terns with a Roseate Tern and Arctic Skua also noted with two Hooded Crows at Newburgh. A Pectoral Sandpiper was at Letham Pools on the 30th and probably present the previous day.

Information supplied courtesy of Malcolm Ware

April 2022 Sightings

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Garganey were still showing at St Andrews and Cameron Reservoir on the 1st with the pair and the drake respectively. 35 Golden Plover were counted on East Lomond, a Greenshank was on the Stinky Pool at Fife Ness and a Red Kite went over Tentsmuir. A female Marsh Harrier at Luthrie early morning on the 2nd flushed 128 Wigeon and nearby at Letham Pools an Osprey
flew NW with five Water Rail showing well. Another Osprey flew over Golden Loch, 470 Pinkfooted Geese were at Rossie Bog with the first reported Wheatear seen later in the day and two Short-eared Owls were noted at Cameron Reservoir. Good conditions early on the 3rd resulted in a Black-necked Grebe, three Red-necked Grebes, six Black-throated Divers, one Great Northern Diver, four Red-throated Divers and ten Slavonian Grebes being seen off Lower Largo. The only report on the 4th was of 21 Corn Buntings in a field near the caravan park at Cellardyke and the first reported Swallow sighting came from St Andrews the next day. The Garganey was reported again at Cameron Reservoir on the 6th as was the Green Sandpiper at Lochore Meadows Country Park. Four Greenshank were at The Wilderness on the 7th and at Fife Ness that day a seawatch included 20 Red-throated Divers (13S and 7N) and a Blackthroated Diver with six Purple Sandpipers on the rocks.

An Osprey flew north over Ferry Hills on the 8th with single Red-necked Grebe and Blackthroated Diver at Lower Largo and two Twite located in a Linnet flock upstream at Guardbridge. Early morning on the 9th began with three Ospreys coming in off the sea at Kinghorn, with two Great Northern Divers and four Red-throated Divers seen. Just along the coast at Dysart at the same time another Osprey and two Greenshanks flew over and two Black-throated Divers flew E with 70 Twite noted at Boghall, Kingsbarns. A White-fronted Goose was reported in the Pitlessie area, a Willow Warbler was at Crossford and a Short-eared Owl was watched at Caiplie. At Fife Ness the next day 17 Red-throated Divers passed going N with a Whimbrel also seen and nearby 30 Twite were still at Boghall, Kingsbarns with two Manx Shearwaters heading north at Fife Ness on the 11th. 100 Golden Plover were still to be found at the airfield at Crail on the 13th with a few more of the commoner migrants i.e. Wheatear, Swallows and Willow Warblers appearing throughout the county at this time. 46 Pintail and two Scaup were at the Eden Estuary the following day with five White Wagtails seen at Kilrenny Mill.

The 15th began with an excellent record of 62 Velvet Scoters first thing at Pathhead and an adult Little Gull at Letham Pools. A Merlin flew over Shell Bay on the 16th with c260 Common Scoters and 53 Velvet Scoters off Dysart and nearby a Firecrest was reported from Ravenscraig Park, Kirkcaldy. The first Tree Pipit went over Ferry Hills early morning and a Marsh Harrier was at Letham Pools. Grasshopper Warblers were noted on the 17th at Blairhall and Kinghorn with a Whimbrel and 12 Purple Sandpipers at Ruddons Point. c35 Twite were still at Boghall, Kingsbarns and a single Manx Shearwater flew S there with another at Fife Ness the next day and a Whimbrel seen. Two Common Cranes were also photographed flying S over Loch Glow on the 18th. Two Sedge Warblers were at Letham Pools on the 19th, the first reported returning birds and an excellent find there the next day was a Spotted Crake showing well at times. Unfortunately there was no sign on the 21st when a Black-throated Diver and a Whimbrel flew past Fife Ness.

Late afternoon on the 22nd there was a report of a Great Shearwater going north past Kingsbarns then turning and heading S. 11 Manx Shearwaters, two Scaup, a Whimbrel, seven Red-throated Divers and two Arctic Skuas flew N at Fife Ness on the 23rd. The following day two Green Sandpipers were at Luthrie and nine Manx Shearwaters passed Ruddons Point heading E with a Whimbrel also there. 23 Manx Shearwaters, two Arctic Skuas and two Bonxies went N past Fife Ness, also on the 24th. Three Ruff were noted at Letham Pools on the 25th with only one remaining the following day. 65 Barnacle Geese and 62 Common Scoters went past Fife Ness on the 27th and a Yellow Wagtail flew over Bogward road St Andrews, calling as it did so. A Wood Sandpiper graced the floods at Luthrie on the 28th with the single Ruff remaining at Letham Pools and a Quail was heard singing at Kilmany late that evening. A Lesser Whitethroat was seen on the coastal path between Kinghorn and Seafield Tower on the 29th. The last day of the month saw a Wood Sandpiper flushed by a dog at Holl Reservoir while Grasshopper Warblers were being seen at various sites throughout the county and the first reported Spotted Flycatcher was at Lower Kilminning. Letham Pools was visited by eight Black-tailed Godwits with the Ruff still present and c4 Water Rail.

Information supplied courtesy of Malcolm Ware

March 2022 Sightings

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March began as February had ended with the Green-winged Teal and two Greenshanks still showing at The Wilderness and the potential first accepted record for Fife of Ross’s Goose seen in that vicinity before returning to the Pitlessie/Kingskettle area. Another goose put in an appearance when a Greenland White-fronted Goose was spotted amongst the Greylags at Letham Pools and a Water Rail was seen. At Newburgh a Peregrine, Sparrowhawk, six Buzzards and six Ravens were noted while another raptor in the form of a male Goshawk was watched flying high to the North over Bogward Road in St Andrews. One lucky observer had two Short-eared Owls hunting over a field near St Monans and near Dunshalt a Twite was picked out amongst 60 Linnets. The second day of the month began with a drake Scaup and at least two Sinensis Cormorants at Loch Gelly and a Green-winged Teal upstream from the bridges at Guardbridge. The Greenland White-fronted Goose was still showing at Letham Pools and c200 Golden Plover were on the airfield at Crail with Bogward Road in St Andrews the venue for four Bramblings flying south. At Cameron Reservoir the drake Smew and nearby 17 Whooper Swans were seen on the 3rd dropping to 15 the following day. Newburgh was graced by a female Marsh Harrier on the 4th and Water Rail again showed at Letham Pools with two seen. The Green-winged Teal and the two Greenshank were at the Wilderness and 28 Purple Sandpipers roosted at St Andrews. A leucistic Herring Gull at Roome Bay, Crail caused a bit of head scratching before its identity was confirmed. The 5th started with nearly 2000 Pink-footed Geese NE of the Wilderness with the Greenland White-fronted Goose and later a Tundra Bean Goose seen. Nearby at Rossie Bog c1000 Pink-footed Geese were in flight including a partial leucistic bird, and probably involved birds from the Wilderness flock. Another c500 Pink-footed Geese were at Cairnsmill Caravan Park, St Andrews with the drake Smew and 24 Whooper Swans at Cameron Reservoir. The Green-winged Teal was at The Wilderness where a Woodcock was also seen and Kincraig had five plus Bramblings and two Ravens. A single male Snow Bunting showed at Kilrenny Mill and a Merlin at Morton Lochs NNR. The following day was much the same with the Greenland White-fronted Goose and Tundra Bean Goose still in the area NE of the Wilderness and the drake Green-winged Teal showing well at the Wilderness itself and all three still there on the 7th. Two pairs of Crossbills and 20 Corn Buntings were seen at Cellardyke with the male Snow Bunting and a Merlin at Kilrenny Mill. A male Black Redstart was moving through Bogward Road, St Andrews, singing occasionally, and nearby on the Eden Estuary a Black-necked Grebe was reported. The wintering Common Sandpiper, 41 Scaup and three Little Egrets were at Guardbridge on the 7th and unusually a Green Woodpecker was seen in Methil.

An adult Little Gull flew east past the sailing club at Dalgety Bay on the 8th when a Merlin was at Kincraig. 19 Whooper Swans were still in residence in the field just outside Star of Markinch and Green-winged Teals were showing at the Wilderness and Guardbridge on the 9th and the following day. Distantly off Coble Shore on the Eden Estuary the same day, a Black-necked Grebe was noted. Drumtenant Farm, Freuchie hosted a Greenland White-fronted Goose, c200 Greylag Geese, 21 Whooper Swans and 35 Mute Swans on the 10th. The drake Smew and c800 Pink-footed Geese were at Cameron Reservoir with a Woodcock flushed at Elie Estate and nearby Kincraig had Bramblings in a mixed finch flock numbering up to 1000 individuals. A seawatch from Fife Ness on the 11th had a summer-plumaged Black Guillemot as the highlight with 42 Long-tailed Ducks, seven Red-throated Divers and 200 Razorbills flying south. For the second year running two Common Cranes flew over the county in March. This time it was at Kinghorn and again early morning on the 12th. A Black Guillemot was again seen passing Fife Ness and Boghall, Kingsbarns had an impressive 72 Twite with Valleyfield Lagoons holding 30 Snipe, two Water Rails, 40 Teal and a Greenshank. Cameron Reservoir on the 13th had a Garganey, Smew and 17 Whooper Swans with the Black-necked Grebe again seen on the Eden Estuary with eight Slavonian Grebes for company. A Green Sandpiper was watched on the nature reserve at Lochore Meadows Country Park and was still there on the 14th with two singing Chiffchaffs for company. The latter species was being noted at a few sites around this time throughout the county.

The 15th heralded the first Sand Martins of the spring with three at Lochore Meadows Country Park with the Green Sandpiper still showing nearby on the nature reserve and 18 Whooper Swans flying north over Thornton Pool. The only report on the 16th was the Green Sandpiper at Lochore Meadows Country Park again with an Avocet gracing the Eden Estuary on the 17th, three Little Gulls were at Kilconquhar Loch and the Garganey was still at Cameron Reservoir. A sighting of a Green Woodpecker at Kilmany was only the second there in 25 years and 60 Whooper Swans headed north over West Sands, St Andrews with the flock at Star of Markinch rising to 33. The Smew and Garganey were still at Cameron Reservoir on the 18th with a supporting cast of ringtail Hen Harrier and Short-eared Owl. Kincraig had 15 Twite with 980 Linnets and a Red Kite while further west at Lower Largo there were 41 Slavonian Grebes and 24 Red-throated Divers on show. Lindores Loch had the pick of the day with a Great White Egret seen from the fisherman’s jetty and it was still there over the next two days. A Red-necked Grebe was off Leven on the 19th with Garganey, Smew and a ringtail Hen Harrier seen at Cameron Reservoir. An adult Little Gull was at Kilconquhar Loch with a minimum of six Jack Snipe on Cocklemill Marsh. 36 Whooper Swans flew north over Ladybank with another 12 at Letham Pools which had a flock of c500 Pink-footed Geese for company which included a European White-fronted Goose. A Short-eared Owl was noted on East Lomond and a Ring-necked Parakeet was again seen at Beveridge Park, Kirkcaldy. The Avocet appeared again on the Eden Estuary on the 20th at Guardbridge with four Little Egrets counted also. The Garganey was still showing at Cameron Reservoir with a Red-necked Grebe off Ruddons Point. An unringed drake Mandarin Duck added a bit of colour at Birnie Loch on the 21st with the Avocet still on the Eden Estuary and the Green Sandpiper at Lochore Meadows Country Park. Two sinensis Cormorants were seen at Loch Gelly with 85 Goldeneye, 32 Pochard and five Gadwall. The adult Little Gull remained at Kilconquhar Loch and a Greenland White-fronted Goose was with c500 Pink-footed Geese at Star Moss near Star of Markinch. The Avocet was continuing its stay on the Eden Estuary on the 22nd as was the Short-eared Owl at Cameron Reservoir. An Osprey flew north over Blairadam on the 23rd with an adult Little Gull at Kilconquhar Loch, a Red-necked Grebe off Leven, the Green Sandpiper at Lochore Meadows Country Park and the ringtail Hen Harrier seen again at Cameron Reservoir. The latter site still had the drake Garganey, Hen Harrier and Short-eared Owl in attendance on the 24th. The 25th was a memorable day with an adult Golden Eagle at West Lomond before flying off to the north-west. The Garganey was at Cameron reservoir with three Short-eared Owls and six Whooper Swans. Eight Whooper Swans were also noted at Loch Fitty, with nine just east of Steelend also. At Lower Largo on the 26th were a Red-necked Grebe, nine Slavonian Grebes, 18 Red-throated Divers and c200 Razorbills. The first reported Sandwich Tern was reported off Sauchope Links, Crail and two Short-eared Owls were at Cameron Reservoir. A similar start to the previous day saw a Red-necked Grebe, two Slavonian Grebes and a Sand Martin noted at a misty Pathhead first thing on the 27th. Ospreys were noted going over Lindores Loch and Newburgh with the Garganey and two Short-eared Owls at Cameron Reservoir. A lunchtime break at St Andrews University on the 28th resulted in a pair of Garganey being found on the pond there and at Golden Loch a Red Kite drifted south-west. The pair of Garganey were still showing well in St Andrews on the 29th and remained until the end of the month. At Fife Ness a Greenshank and 20 Purple Sandpipers were roosting with a Manx Shearwater passing there the next day. Just along the coast at Kilminning a Great Northern Diver flew east and 180 Golden Plovers were counted also on the 30th. The last day of March began with a report of ten Garganey at Cameron Reservoir early morning but only two were noted by mid-afternoon with the ringtail Hen Harrier also there. The Eden Estuary had eight Scaup, three Little Egrets, 35 Pintail with four of the latter at Dalgety Bay and a White Wagtail was seen at Pleasants Farm Pools.

Information supplied courtesy of Malcolm Ware


February 2022 Sightings

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Kinshaldy proved a popular place early in the month, with c20 Snow Buntings in the dunes, five Crossbills around the car park and 19 Stock Doves in fields N of the entrance road (1st), six Lesser Redpolls were seen at Newburgh, 10 Pale-bellied Brent Geese were at Coble Shore on the Eden Estuary LNR (2nd) and an adult Mediterranean Gull was on Balcomie Beach. There was a count of 15 Corn Buntings at Balbuthie Farm and seen on the Kilconquhar Estate were six Jays and two Buzzards. There were four adult Mediterranean Gulls and c120 Kittiwakes at Burntisland and noted at the lagoon at Tentsmuir Point NNR were one Shelduck, one Greenshank, c12 Wigeon, c36 Teal and a pair Long-tailed Ducks. Seen from Fife Ness (3rd) were one Great Skua N, five Common Scoters N, 30 Razorbills N, two Red-throated Divers and two Siskins, with another Great Skua seen off Kinshaldy, along with four Slavonian Grebes, two Red-throated Divers, 10 Long-tailed Ducks, also seen in the area were c16 Snow Buntings and two Crossbills. A Great Skua was also seen from St Andrews. An adult Mediterranean Gull headed W at Buckhaven, the highlights of a count at Newmills were 21 Black-tailed Godwits, one Greenshank, one Grey Wagtail, a hybrid Hooded Crow, eight Pintails and 21 Ringed Plovers. Three Stonechats were seen on Forret Hill near Kilmany (4th), a Kingfisher was seen on the Kinness Burn in St Andrews and the count of Snow Buntings at Kinshaldy crept up to 26. Seen from Kinghorn (5th) were three adult Mediterranean Gulls W, two Red-throated Divers W, 13 Common Scoters, one Peregrine, c1340 Herring Gulls W, 27 Great Black[1]backed Gulls W and also two Manx Shearwaters were seen lingering offshore, amongst the c500 Pink-feet at Cameron Reservoir a Barnacle Goose was seen, 12 Whooper Swans were also present. The drake Smew was still present at Cameron Reservoir (6th), two Little Auks went past Anstruther, a Brambling was seen at Kilmany and at Falside Mill, Kingsbarns there was an excellent count of c125 Stock Doves made. Nearby at Boghall the eight Pale-bellied Brent Geese were still present and seen from Windmill Road, Cellardyke were c30 Corn Buntings in a crop field with four Crossbills seen in the pines. A 2nd calendar year Peregrine was seen over Crail and noted passing Fife Ness were one Manx Shearwater N, one Great Northern Diver N, five Gannets N, 150 Kittiwakes, nine Common Scoters, one Red-breasted Merganser N, five Red-throated Divers and 25 Purple Sandpipers. A single Lesser Black-backed Gull was noted from Kirkcaldy Prom.12 Golden Plovers were seen on Forret Hill near Kilmany (7th), while a male Goshawk was seen high up over Kilconquhar Loch, seen in Spinkie Den, St Andrews were a Chiffchaff which was in with a large tit and Goldcrest flock, also noted were a singing Siskin, one Woodcock, one Jay and a Dipper. At The Wilderness 12 Whooper Swans and c11 Shoveler were noted, one Lesser Black-backed Gull, one Water Rail and four Snipe were at Letham Pools and at Lindores Loch, c55 Goosanders and 22 Cormorants were counted. An adult Lesser Black-backed Gull was seen at Guardbridge.

25 Snow Buntings were counted at Tentsmuir (8th), 20 Corn Buntings and at least six Yellowhammers were in a clover crop, at Cellardyke, a single adult Mediterranean Gull was in the gull roost at East Wemyss (9th) and counted from Fife Ness (10th) were two Manx Shearwaters, one Fulmar, six Gannets, 45 Shags, 20 Cormorants, 12 Purple Sandpipers, eight Turnstones and a Sparrowhawk. Three adult Mediterranean Gulls were at Dysart and seen on Balcomie Beach (11th) were 65 Sanderlings, 10 Dunlins and 35 Purple Sandpipers. The drake Smew was still present at Cameron Reservoir, an adult Mediterranean Gull was upstream of the bridges at Guardbridge, a Short-eared Owl was seen on Benarty Hill and there were still six Bramblings at Kincraig Hill (12th). A Red-breasted Merganser and a Great Crested Grebe were seen on Kilconquhar Loch, noted around the Tentsmuir Point NNR area were three Long-tailed Ducks, two Little Egrets, c25 Snow Buntings, one Green Woodpecker and a Greenshank, c1250 Pink-feet were in fields at Daubs Farm, Dunshalt and not far away at least six Ravens were seen on West Lomond. Seen at the Wilderness were one Greenshank, c10 Snipe and 14 Whooper Swans, 10 pairs of Gadwall were counted at Letham Pools and counted passing Fife Ness (13th) were one Manx Shearwater N then S, one Black-throated Diver S, four Red-throated Divers, 63 Long-tailed Ducks S, one Velvet Scoter S, two Common Scoters S, four Gannets, nine Fulmars, eight Pink-footed Geese W and 453 Kittiwakes, mostly S. Seen from Kinghorn were a Great Northern Diver, one Manx Shearwater, 17 Long-tailed Ducks, two Velvet Scoters and seven Common Scoters, a Kittiwake was noted at St Andrews and nine Snow Buntings were seen on the edge of the dunes at the Goosepools. A count from Fife Ness (14th) included 27 Gannets N, three Red[1]throated Divers, 15 Common Scoters, seven Fulmars, one Red-breasted Merganser, three Long-tailed Ducks, 244 Kittiwakes S, 300 large auks N, 30 Great Black-backed Gulls N, 150 Common Gulls and 70 Eiders S and nearby at Balcomie Beach there were 63 Sanderlings and 14 Purple Sandpipers. Seen offshore at Leven were one Red-necked Grebe, 190 Common Scoters, 30 Velvet Scoters and two Red-throated Divers and on the sea wall at Leven were 49 Redshanks, one Purple Sandpiper and two Sanderlings.

A single Great Northern Diver passed Fife Ness (15th) heading S, a Greenshank was close by on the stinky pool at Fife Ness, there was a count of 226 Greylag Geese on sheep pasture at Barns Farm (17th), an adult Mediterranean Gull was at Buckhaven and counted from the Bruce Embankment at St Andrews (18th) were 35 Purple Sandpipers and seven Rock Pipits. Amongst the c3500 Pink-feet present at Kincaple were four Barnacle Geese, the drake Smew was still present at Cameron Reservoir (19th), also a Jack Snipe was flushed by a dog from the SE corner and a Short-eared Owl was seen hunting over fields on the south side. A Little Egret was seen flying along the coastline between Fife Ness and Crail, a male Brambling was noted at New Gilston, seen at Loch Gelly were a Scaup, 15 Pochard, one Water Rail and 10 Oystercatchers. Four Long-tailed Ducks, two Shelducks and two Greenshanks were on the lagoon at Tentsmuir Point NNR, nine Scaup, four Red-breasted Mergansers, 11 Brent Geese, one drake Pintail and a drake Long-tailed Duck were seen on the Eden Estuary LNR (20th). The Smew was still at Cameron Reservoir, a Red Kite was seen at Morton Lochs NNR (21st), with another, or the same bird, seen feeding on carrion at Rossie Bog. A Red-throated Diver was off Braefoot Terminal, a Green-winged Teal was with c300 Teal at The Wilderness, along with three Greenshanks and 11 Whooper Swans. At Balbuthie Farm c1000 Pink-feet were seen, a male Goshawk was seen at Dairsie and a Short-eared Owl was seen on Norman’s Law.

A Green Woodpecker was in Dam Wood, Leven (22nd), the Green-winged Teal was still present at the Wilderness and another Red Kite was seen, this time in St Andrews. The over-wintering Common Sandpiper was seen at Guardbridge, along with two Pintails, one Shoveler, two Goosanders and one Little Egret. An adult Mediterranean Gull was at East Wemyss (24th), 17 Whooper Swans were at Star of Markinch, a Red-necked Grebe was seen just off the car park at Leven (25th) and the Green-winged Teal was still present at The Wilderness, along with two Greenshanks. Seen from the Golf Museum car park in St Andrews were 78 Scaup, with 22 Pale-bellied Brent Geese, two Slavonian Grebes, 19 Scaup, two Little Egrets and 70 Pintails seen in the Out Head/Balgove Bay area. Two Ravens were seen at Broombrae Farm, Auchtermuchty, the drake Smew was still at Cameron Reservoir, with the first Lesser Black-backed Gull of the spring at that site and a Short-eared Owl was watched hunting over rough ground to the south of the reservoir. Seen off Kinghorn were a Great Skua W, also a 2nd winter and at least one adult Mediterranean Gull feeding offshore, 11 Yellowhammers was an usual count at the Urquhart Depot in Dunfermline, and a Woodcock was flushed near the Silverdyke War Memorial, Kilrenny. A Ross’s Goose was an excellent find at Pitlessie (26th), a long awaited first for Fife and proved very popular until the months end. Counted at Daubs Farm, Dunshalt were c700 Pink-feet, a Greenshank was heard calling as it passed over a Kirkcaldy Retail Park in the evening, the drake Smew, 13 Whooper Swans and 3000 Pink-footed Geese were seen at Cameron Reservoir (27th) and the Green-winged Teal was still present at The Wilderness. Seen off Fife Ness were 1 Manx Shearwater N, one Scaup N, eight Common Scoters N, 30 Gannets, 200 Kittiwakes and six Red-throated Divers and on Parkdale playing fields, Leven an adult Mediterranean Gull was seen well.

Information supplied courtesy of Malcolm Ware

January 2022 Sightings

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Seen from Kinghorn (1st) were 62 Eiders E, 20W, four Common Scoters E, one Red-breasted Merganser W, two Little Gulls W and four Red-throated Divers W, two drake Pintail were in Torry Bay, a 3rd calendar year Mediterranean Gull was in the Gull roost at Cambo. A ringtail Hen Harrier flew over the stubbles near the old Kirk at Boarhills, a Kingfisher was seen at St Andrews Harbour (2nd), a Greenshank was at Kilrenny Mill and seen at Balgove Bay were two Little Egrets and c20 Pale-bellied Brent Geese. Not far away at St Andrews, c60 Scaup and a Slavonian Grebe were seen offshore from the Golf Museum Car Park. The Black-necked Grebe was still present on the S side of Cameron Reservoir, also the drake Smew, c9 Pintail, three Goosanders, c150 Wigeon, c40 Teal, c40 Goldeneye and 12 Whooper Swans were present. Three Golden Plovers and 27 Ringed Plovers were in a grass field, opposite the Golf Course at Anstruther, 35 Twite and 10 Rock Pipits were noted at Earlsferry Links and seen at Fife Ness (3rd) were a Greenshank W, a 3rd calendar year Mediterranean Gull in-off the sea and one Puffin. 60 Corn Buntings, 20 Grey Partridges, one Purple Sandpiper and one Scandinavian Rock Pipit were at Kilrenny Mill and the Black-necked Grebe, drake Smew and a Kingfisher were present at Cameron Reservoir, with the Black-necked Grebe and Smew still present at Cameron Reservoir (4th), along with a Brambling. Seen at Out Head were 16 Pale[1]bellied Brent Geese and a Snow Bunting, a Raven went over Forres Drive, Glenrothes, a scarce bird here, two Ravens were seen at Braefoot Point and nearby at Barns Farm were c200 Greylags on sheep pasture. Eight Snow Buntings, one White-tailed Eagle, one Merlin, one Little Egret and two Crossbills were seen at Tentsmuir (5th), a very scarce wintering Common Sandpiper was at Guardbridge, a Black-throated Diver was fairly close in off the seawall at Burntisland, a Greenshank was at Boarhills and noted at Kilconquhar Loch were two Scaup, a female and a 2nd calendar year drake. At Lade Braes, St Andrews, a male Goshawk, in a hunting stoop, flushed all the Woodpigeons and Herring Gulls and not far away on Bogward Road a Common Chiffchaff was heard calling. On the Eden Estuary c45 Pale-bellied Brent Geese were ina field N of the A91, 105 Scaup were offshore from the Golf Museum Car Park, St Andrews, two Scaup were on Kilconquhar Loch and an immature Goshawk was seen on Windmill Road, Cellardyke, a Great Northern Diver was at Burntisland Harbour mouth and 130 Corn Buntings and four Ravens were seen at Coal Farm, St Monans. An adult Mediterranean Gull was at Kinghorn Loch, the Black-necked Grebe was still 150m out from the east end of the sea wall at Burntisland, along with a Great Crested Grebe. The drake Smew, c50 Goldeneye, c45 Tufted Ducks, c40 Wigeon, c40 Teal and four Goldcrests were noted at Cameron Reservoir (6th), a Black Throated Diver S and one Great Northern Diver S were seen off Fife Ness (7th), seen at East Lomond, Lomond Hills were 10 Snow Buntings, one Snipe, two Red Grouse, one Raven, two Bullfinches and one Stonechat. Kilmany had c45 Golden Plovers, 25 Whooper Swans were on the pond on the S side of Loch Fitty, c45 Twite were in the field by the green and cream disused hut at Kingsbarns, also a Greenshank was present. A Ring-necked Parakeet was in the Scots Pines at Beveridge Park, Kirkcaldy and seen at Fife Ness were 13 Purple Sandpipers, two Great Northern Divers, eight Red-throated Divers and one Puffin. A possible White-billed Diver flew from St Andrews Bay towards Out Head.

1km offshore from West Wemyss (8th), c850 Shags were present. Noted at Boghall, Kingsbarns were c60 Twite, the drake Smew was present at Cameron Reservoir and counted at Falside Mill, Boarhills were c100 Stock Doves, c350 Linnets and c100 Goldfinches. Offshore from the Golf Museum Car Park at St Andrews were 106 Scaup, two Nuthatches were seen in the greenhouse garden in Pittencrieff Park, Dunfermline (9th), the drake Smew was still present at Cameron Reservoir and seen from the Coastal Path between Lower Largo and Kincraig were two Ravens seen heading N at Kincraig. A Jack Snipe was at Cocklemill, with another on a pool near Carrick Villa, three Stonechats were also seen. A ringtail Hen Harrier was first seen at Boarhills and then a short while later at Dunino, with these being presumed as the same bird. 11 Whooper Swans were seen in fields, from the track up to Cameron Reservoir and 400 Pink-feet were seen from Blacklaws Road, Kilrenny. The Black-necked Grebe was still offshore from Burntisland Harbour, with a Great Northern Diver and c8 Kittiwakes also noted, seven Bramblings were at Kincraig and three Purple Sandpipers and eight Turnstones were at Kinghorn. At Kincraig (10th) there were c56 Bramblings, c300 Linnets and 12 Grey Partridges, c17 Snow Buntings and two Snipe were at Kinshaldy, a Chiffchaff, one Goldcrest, eight Siskin and three Collared Doves were seen in Dunfermline, the Brambling flock at Kincraig had dropped to c50 (11th), while the Kinshaldy Snow Buntings had risen to 27. 12 Brent Geese, six Slavonian Grebes, a drake Shoveler and c500 Golden Plovers were at Guardbridge, 14 Whooper Swans were seen at Lochore Meadows CP and from Blacklaws Road, Kilrenny a flock of c500 Pink-feet included one Barnacle Goose. A Kingfisher was seen at Inverkeithing and the Pink-feet flock at Kilrenny included two Barnacle Geese (12th), a White-tailed Eagle flew N over Kilmany, an adult Mediterranean Gull and a Goosander were at Beveridge Park, Kirkcaldy and at Cocklemill Burn 20 Twite were seen. 19 Grey Partridges at Barns Farm was a good count, a male Goshawk graced Kilmany (13th), the c10 Bramblings amongst other finches at Kincraig were scattered by a Merlin and a large mixed finch and bunting flock at Coal Farm, St Monans included c50 Twite and c50 Linnets. A Short-eared Owl was seen at lower Kilminning and noted at Inverkeithing Harbour were one Dipper, 50 Dunlins, five Turnstones and six Curlews. At Leuchars (14th) a White-tailed Eagle passed over NW. The drake Smew, one Little Egret and 10 Whooper Swans were at Cameron Reservoir (15th). c20 Bramblings were still at Kincraig, along with seven Twite and c1000 Linnets, a Slavonian Grebe was at Dalgety Bay and at Cocklemill Marsh 12 Twite were noted. A Chiffchaff was a good find at Kinshaldy, nine Pale-bellied Brent Geese were at Kingsbarns and noted at Dysart were two adult Mediterranean Gulls, one Slavonian Grebe and 23 Long-tailed Ducks. There was a good count of 180 Siskins at Valleyfield, the Black-necked Grebe and three Black[1]throated Divers were seen from Leven and noted at St Andrews were 98 Scaup and two Purple Sandpipers.

The drake Smew and 12 Whooper Swans were still present at Cameron Reservoir (16th), the Black-necked Grebe was still offshore at Leven, also one Black-throated Diver and a Red-necked Grebe were noted there, five Skylarks were at Out Head and seen at Windmill Road, Cellardyke was a male Merlin. The Black-necked Grebe was still off Leven (17th), a male Merlin was seen near Dunfermline, two adult Mediterranean Gulls were at Rosyth and seen at Craigluscar were one Scaup, seven Goldeneye, four Tufted Ducks and two Whooper Swans. Two Slavonian Grebes and three Purple Sandpipers were at Lower Largo, two adult Mediterranean Gulls and eight Purple Sandpipers were noted at Dysart (19th). A Little Auk passed Fife Ness and another Black-necked Grebe was seen on the Eden Estuary and seen from Fairmont, St Andrews were one Black-throated Diver, six Red-throated Divers, three Greenshanks and two Purple Sandpipers. Noted off Fife Ness (20th) were one Red[1]necked Grebe S, one Manx Shearwater N, one Great Northern Diver N, one Black Guillemot S, one adult Little Gull N, 11 Gannets, 150 Kittiwakes N, one Goldeneye S 12 Red[1]throated Divers, four Long-tailed Ducks a Greenshank and 36 Common Scoters, the Black[1]necked Grebe, three Slavonian Grebes, two Red-throated Divers, 20 Common Scoters, three Velvet Scoters, 12 Long-tailed Ducks and one Lesser Black-backed Gull were seen from Leven, two Bramblings were seen near Lochgelly and seen from the Eden Estuary Centre were the Black-necked Grebe, 52 Black-tailed Godwits, six Grey Plovers, 82 Golden Plovers, 14 Brent Geese, two Little Egrets, and c1200 Dunlins. Seen from Windmill Road, Cellardyke (21st) were one Buzzard over, 15 Twite in a crop field, along with 12 Skylarks, 10 Corn Buntings, c20 Linnets, c15 Long-tailed Tits, eight Siskins and c12 Goldfinches, noted at Kinshaldy were c25 Snow Buntings and two Long-tailed Ducks were on the lagoon, seen from Fife Ness were one Black Guillemot W, 16 Common Scoters S, 60 Eiders S, eight Long-tailed Ducks S, two Red[1]breasted Mergansers S, five Gannets, 60 Kittiwakes and 14 Red-throated Divers and at Kincraig, c775 Linnets, c7 Bramblings and at least two Twite were seen. The drake Smew was still present at Cameron Reservoir, a 3rd calendar year Mediterranean Gull was by Anstruther Golf Club clubhouse, with another 3rd calendar year Mediterranean Gull seen heading W at Pittenweem. At Guardbridge were two Whooper Swans, one Little Egret, 73 Black-tailed Godwits and c210 Lapwings.

 The drake Smew, one Little Egret and 10 Whooper Swans were at Cameron Reservoir (22nd), seen from Fife Ness were one Black Guillemot S, 11 Long-tailed Ducks S, 15 Common Scoters S, c100 Eider S, 46 Pink-footed Geese N, four Red-throated Divers, two Red-breasted Mergansers, one juvenile Gannet N, one Lesser Black-backed Gull N, 30 Kittiwakes N, 10 Fulmars N and 345 large Auks N, with the vast majority of these being Guillemots. At Kincraig, c500 Linnets, c7 Twite and six Bramblings were seen, with c50 Twite and c200 Linnets seen nearby at Cocklemill Burn. One Red-necked Grebe, one Great Northern Diver, a 1st winter Mediterranean Gull W, five Red-throated Divers, 70 Common Scoters, two Kittiwakes, c600 Black-headed Gulls W and c200 auks, mostly Guillemots passing W were seen off Kinghorn (23rd), an adult Mediterranean Gull was at Loch Gelly and c25 Snow Buntings were still showing well at Kinshaldy, nine Pale-bellied Brent Geese were at Kingsbarns, a female Merlin was at Lumquhat Farm, Auchtermuchty and still present at Cameron Reservoir was the drake Smew, with one Water Rail, 10 Whooper Swans, three Fieldfares, two Ravens and two Goosanders also present. 29 Whooper Swans, two Shoveler and 3000 Pink-footed Geese were counted at the Wilderness, a Pintail and one Lesser Black-backed Gull were at Angle Park GP and not far away at Letham Pools, 13 Whooper Swans were noted. A Chiffchaff was at Burntisland, there was a good count of 15 Bullfinches made at East Lomond (24th) and a 2nd calendar year male Merlin was seen between Crail and Anstruther, a Red-throated Diver was off North Queensferry and a 2nd calendar year male Peregrine was seen at Pittenweem (25th). An adult Mediterranean Gull was seen off Burntisland, 147 Velvet Scoters and 41 Long-tailed Ducks were counted from Lower Largo, a Great Northern Diver, the Black-necked Grebe, 277 Common Scoters, 44 Velvet Scoters, 49 Red-breasted Mergansers, 41 Long-tailed Ducks and two Scaup were seen from Leven and the flock of nine Pale-bellied Brent Geese were still at Kingsbarns. An adult female Merlin, c14 Bramblings and c565 Linnets were seen at Kincraig, a good count at Pettycur of c12000 Gulls included three adult Mediterranean Gulls and an adult Little Gull, a Great Northern Diver passed Anstruther W and the Black-necked Grebe was still showing well in the channel on the Eden Estuary, also noted were three Greenshanks, 11 Brent Geese and eight Pintails. Four Crossbills were seen around the car park at Kinshaldy, a Merlin passed over Anstruther, three Woodcocks were seen in Bog Wood, Craigtoun and not far away at Cameron Reservoir, the drake Smew, five Goosanders and 12 Whooper Swans were noted. A Red-necked Grebe was off Leven (27th), with the Black[1]necked Grebe, seven Red-throated Divers, 25 Long-tailed Ducks and 35 Red-breasted Mergansers, also noted there, but from the east end.

A Black Guillemot, three Red-throated Divers, four Slavonian Grebes and 16 Razorbills were seen off Lower Largo, two Woodcocks and a hybrid Hooded x Carrion Crow were noted at Braefoot, 30 Common Scoters were off Kinghorn (28th), with two Scandinavian Herring Gulls and one adult Mediterranean Gull at nearby Kinghorn Loch. A ringtail Hen Harrier was seen near Freuchie, five Barnacle Geese passed W over Fife Ness (29th), a Crossbill was seen at Morton Lochs NNR and seen at Tentsmuir were 24 Snow Buntings in the dunes to N of car park, also two Greenshanks, two Dunlins, two Long-tailed Ducks, a pair of Red-breasted Mergansers, six Goldeneye, and three Teal were all on the Lagoon, a Woodcock was also seen, as were four Crossbills around Kinshaldy Car Park. A 2nd calendar year male Peregrine was seen at Kilrenny and an adult Bonaparte’s Gull was an excellent find amongst c10000 gulls at Pettycur. A Black Guillemot was off Lower Largo (30th), an adult Little Gull W, four Great Northern Divers W, seven Red[1]throated Divers W, 86 Common Scoters, c132 Shags, 2880 Black-headed Gulls, c10 Long[1]tailed Ducks, c8 Kittiwakes, six Fulmars and c60 Guillemots were seen from Kinghorn. The drake Smew was still present at Cameron Reservoir, a Black-throated Diver passed Anstruther close in heading W, at Tayport five Little Egrets were present and noted at Tentsmuir were two Greenshanks, one Little Egret and one Red-breasted Merganser, with 24 Snow Buntings in the dunes and six Crossbills around the car park at Kinshaldy. A ringtail Hen Harrier was seen to the E of Star of Markinch (31st), the Snow Bunting count crept up to 27 at Kinshaldy, also noted were three Slavonian Grebes offshore, c100 Dunlins on the beach and c10 Crossbills around the car park. A Raven passed W over Dunfermline and whilst there was no sign of the Bonaparte’s Gull at Pettycur, two adult Mediterranean Gulls were seen.

Information supplied courtesy of Malcolm Ware