chair

An adult Mediterranean Gull was at Out Head (1st), 10 Manx Shearwaters passed Cellardyke heading E, with 103 noted passing Fife Ness heading N, along with 53 Common Scoters passing S. Four Common Sandpipers were on the foreshore at St Margaret’s Marsh (3rd) and counted at Glen Vale were five adult and 11 juvenile Stonechats, with six adult Whinchats, but no juveniles seen. Two Manx Shearwaters passed Cellardyke E, there was a single Common Sandpiper at Cameron Reservoir (4th) and counted at the gull roost at East Wemyss (5th) were three adult and one 2nd summer Mediterranean Gull with six Manx Shearwaters also noted passing E, with a further 116 Manx Shearwaters noted passing heading E. An adult Mediterranean Gull was off Downing Point, Dalgety Bay (6th), 18 Manx Shearwaters passed W at Seafield, where a Lesser Whitethroat was still present in the car park, highlights at Newmills were three Common Sandpipers, eight Greenshanks, two Grey Wagtails, a hybrid Hooded Crow and four Sandwich Terns. A Spotted Flycatcher, the first of the year, was at Kilmany (8th) and the Mediterranean Gull count at East Wemyss was three adults, one 2nd summer and two 1st summer birds, with another adult bird seen at the Scoonie Burn, Leven. A Nuthatch flew in from the west and landed in gardens at Ferry Hills (9th) and at East Wemyss, the Mediterranean Gull count was three adults, two 2nd summers and one 1st summer bird. Seen off Cellardyke (10th) were 44 Common Scoters and a Red-throated Diver, with 153 Gannets, a Sandwich Tern, 12 Common Scoters and 25 Kittiwakes noted there (12th). An adult Mediterranean Gull was on the roof of the treatment plant at Pathhead, with 58 Goosanders also offshore, an adult Mediterranean Gull was also in Dalgety Bay. Counted at Out Head were one Bar-tailed Godwit, 37 Black-tailed Godwit S, one Whimbrel, four Sanderlings, three Ringed Plovers, 33 Dunlins, one Little Gull and one Osprey. Counted from Cellardyke (13th) were 114 Gannets E, 44 Common Scoters E, 15 Black-headed Gulls W, two Sandwich Terns W and a Fulmar E,two 2nd summer Mediterranean Gulls were at East Wemyss and noted at Tentsmuir Point NNR were a 2nd calendar year Little Gull, c220 Sandwich Terns, one juvenile Wheatear, two Green Woodpeckers (anadult and a recently fledged juvenile) and an Osprey. Seen from Cellardyke (14th) were 65 Gannets E and 45 Common Scoters E and noted at East Wemyss were 10 adult, three 2nd summer and five 1st summer Mediterranean Gulls. At Seafield (15th) were a Whinchat, seen between the car park and the sea wall, two Puffins and c100 Goosanders. At Buckhaven were an adult and a 1st summer Mediterranean Gull, with three adults and a 2nd summer Mediterranean Gull seen at East Wemyss. Noted at Tayport were one Osprey S, one Whimbrel, one Greenshank, 13 Black-tailed Godwits and 91 Bar-tailed Godwits and seen at West Wemyss (16th) was an adult Mediterranean Gull roosting on rocks with Black-headed Gulls. A Little Ringed Plover was sound recorded overnight at Inverewe Place, Dunfermline and at Ferry Hills (17th) an adult Pomarine Skua came in high and U-turned. Also, two Tree Pipits were seen, while the first two of the autumn were recorded here on 16th. Two Common Sandpipers were noted at Cellardyke, a juvenile Cuckoo was seen at Wormiston and at Cocklemill Burn four Common Sandpipers were seen as well as a Long-eared Owl unusually hunting in the bright sunshine, giving unbelievable views! Counted from the Eden Estuary Centre were two Scaup and one Tufted Duck, one Barnacle Goose, six Common Sandpipers, four Greenshanks, one Whimbrel, two Ospreys and a Kingfisher. The Long-eared Owl was again seen at Ruddons Point (18th), with a Whimbrel also noted there. Counted from Cellardyke were 146 Gannets E, 35 Common Scoters E, two Mallards W, a Kittiwake W, two Red-breasted Mergansers W, an Arctic Tern W, a Whimbrel and nine Stock Doves W, with 23 Manx Shearwaters noted heading E from Anstruther. The lone Barnacle Goose was still at Guardbridge (19th) and seen at Ruddons Point were a juvenile Red-necked Grebe, 26 Goosanders, two Arctic Skuas W, two Puffins on the sea, one Greenshank and two Common Sandpipers, with the Long-eared Owl also seen well. Counted from Cellardyke were three Sandwich Terns W, 104 Gannets E and two Red-throated Divers E. There was a good find of a female Redstart at Cameron Reservoir, the eclipse drake Garganey was still at the Wilderness, along with 20 Curlews and four Snipe. The Long-eared Owl was calling and sitting in pine trees at Ruddons Point (20th), an adult Long-tailed Skua flew high west at Kinghorn and in fields E of Chance Inn a Quail was heard calling. A seawatch at Cellardyke produced 366 Gannets E and 5W, a Whimbrel and a Red-throated Diver, a female Marsh Harrier was seen hunting over Crail Airfield (21st), three Bonxies and 118 Goosanders were noted at Pathhead, a juvenile Cuckoo was seen at Sypsies Farm, Crail and another female Marsh Harrier was watched near Drumoig. Counted at the gull roost at East Wemyss were 12 adult, two 2nd summer, five 1st summer and one juvenile Mediterranean Gulls. This included a returning ringed bird, 3ERA, which has been annual since 2017. A juvenile Cuckoo was seen from the coastal path near Crail (22nd), the count at East Wemyss was 15 Mediterranean Gulls, comprising seven adults, four 2nd summers and four 1st summers. Also 92 Manx Shearwaters and 70 Common Scoters were noted. A Crossbill was heard in song on the Rankeilour Estate (23rd) and at Ruddons Point an adult Roseate Tern was favouring the beach 100m west of the Cocklemill Burn, along with Arctic and Sandwich Terns. Also noted here were one Red-necked Grebe, one Long-tailed Duck and one Red-throated Diver. At Tentsmuir Point NNR (24th) one Arctic Skua, one 2nd calendar year Little Gull, c600 Sandwich Terns, one Red-throated Diver, one juvenile Peregrine, 257 Goosanders and c300 Bar-tailed Godwits were counted, the Roseate Tern was seen roosting with the tern flock at Ruddons Point, an adult Mediterranean Gull and one Common Sandpiper were at St Margarets Marsh, Rosyth (25th), three Pochard (two drakes), 96 Tufted Ducks, eight Goldeneye, four Common Sandpipers and one Snipe were noted at Loch Gelly and at Lindores Loch were 61 Mallards, 27 Tufted Ducks, four Mute Swans (two pairs with six & five juveniles), one Heron and one female Goldeneye, with two Mallards at Black Loch, also a fleeting glimpse of a female Marsh Harrier over far side over the marsh at Black Loch. One Arctic Skua passed Cellardyke E, a female Marsh Harrier was watched quartering fields NW of Kilrenny, a Nuthatch was seen well beside a path at Dunnikier, Kirkcaldy and seen off Fife Ness were one Bonxie and two Manx Shearwaters N. A Grey Plover was at the mouth of the Cocklemill Burn, counted passing Cellardyke were 430 Gannets E, one Fulmar W, 64 Common Scoters E, four Sandwich Terns E and two W, one Arctic Skua E and two Manx Shearwaters E and a Grasshopper Warbler was heard reeling at Blebo Craigs. Noted at Guardbridge were one Little Egret, one Osprey, one Whimbrel, one Barnacle Goose and two drake Scaup, whilst at Ruddons Point one Red-necked Grebe, one Roseate Tern, two Red-throated Divers, one Whimbrel and one Common Sandpiper were seen. A Cuckoo was seen east of Pittenweem (26th), a Little Egret was south of the bridge at Guardbridge, three Arctic Skuas were seen chasing terns on the beach at Burntisland at low tide, five adult and a 2nd summer Mediterranean Gull were on the grassy area at Pathhead, which equals the record count for this site, also c110 Goosanders. Three Ravens, five Kestrels, five adult and four juvenile Stonechats, one adult and three juvenile Whinchats, one Lesser Redpoll and one Siskin were noted in Glen Vale, an adult Mediterranean Gull, one Greenshank and one Whimbrel were at Dalgety Bay, an Osprey was seen at Tayport and over at Crail a male Merlin was seen. At East Wemyss, 13 Mediterranean Gulls, nine adults, two 2nd calendar year and two 3rd calendar year birds. Also 42 Manx Shearwaters E, 12 Velvet Scoters and c30 Swifts were noted. 236 Gannets E, 24 Oystercatchers W and two Velvet Scoters W was the count off Cellardyke, at Pathhead (27th) three adult and a 2nd summer Mediterranean Gull, one Peregrine and 37 Goosanders were present, a female Merlin was watched at Wormiston and seen at Tentsmuir Point NNR were five Little Gulls, three adults and two 2nd calendar year birds, seen at the lagoon just south of the reserve fence. Counted passing Fife Ness were 592 Gannets N and 302E, also two Manx Shearwaters N, a Green Sandpiper was noted at the Wilderness and at the East Wemyss gull roost, a count of 18 Mediterranean Gulls, included one juvenile and a Sooty Shearwater passed Cellardyke E. At Dysart East Beach (29th) an adult Mediterranean Gull was present, but was noted losing its summer plumage, an Osprey and c15 Mistle Thrushes were watched passing over Kilmany (30th), at Guardbridge a Greenshank and three Common Sandpipers were seen south of the bridge, close by on the Eden Estuary LNR, 18 Greenshanks, one Whimbrel, four Common Sandpipers, two Black-tailed Godwits, two Little Egrets, two Ospreys, one Barnacle Goose, two Kingfishers and four Peregrines were counted and at Craighall Den a juvenile Spotted Flycatcher and six Tree Sparrows were seen, at Fife Ness (31st) were one Sooty Shearwater N, 78 Manx Shearwaters N, four Common Scoters N, three Bonxies N, one Arctic Skua N, two Whimbrels N and two Purple Sandpipers on the rocks. A Cuckoo was seen at the west end of Cameron Reservoir. Off Kinghorn were two Arctic Skuas, one Manx Shearwater, 12 Fulmars, 68 Gannets, 80 Kittiwakes, 12+ Puffins, 45 Common Terns and 26 Sandwich Terns then the month finished with 24 Greenshanks and 14 Common Sandpipers at Guardbridge.

Information supplied courtesy of Malcolm Ware

The drake Garganey was still present on the North loch at Morton Lochs NNR (1st), an Osprey passed over East Pitkerie, N of Kilrenny heading west and a very vocal pair of Spotted Flycatchers were a good find on the Rankeillor Estate, the first seen there in four years by the observer. The Reed Warbler was still singing next to the FBC hide at Kilconquhar Loch (2nd), but only provided very brief views and at Morton Lochs NNR the drake Garganey was still showing very well. An Osprey passed over Balcomie (3rd) heading S, 10 Black-tailed Godwits were present on the wetland pools at Preston Island, Valleyfield, two Arctic Skuas and a Manx Shearwater passed east at Anstruther and at Balcomie (4th) a scarce, in these parts, Little Egret passed over N, nearby at Kilminning a Cuckoo was present and counted at Letham Pools (6th) were an adult Little Gull, two Ravens and a Redshank, close by a monitored Raven nest had seven fledglings in it, this means 100% fledging success there this year. At Luthrie, there were three pairs of Shelduck, one pair with 10 ducklings, also 15 AON Black-headed Gulls and counted from the Eden Estuary Centre were a crèche of 95 Eider ducklings and a crèche of seven Shelduck ducklings, also noted were 13 Goosanders and eight Goldeneye, up in Glen Vale (7th) a Snipe was heard drumming and at Kilconquhar Loch a distant Marsh Harrier was seen. Also in the Lomond Hills a Cuckoo was heard calling on East Lomond. A drake Garganey was present at Wilderness (8th), a Crossbill flew over Dunino and a Quail was heard calling there also. A Red Kite passed over the beach at Burntisland (11th), then drifted towards Kinghorn, two Barnacle Geese were on the Eden Estuary LNR, the drake Garganey still present at Wilderness and was noted moulting into eclipse plumage. From the Eden Estuary Centre (12th), broods of 18 and five Shelduck ducklings were noted, as were a 2nd cy Little Gull, two Barnacle Geese, one Black-tailed Godwit, four Teal, one Osprey and a Little Egret. Up at Glen Vale (14th), five Stonechats were watched which comprised of a pair and three juveniles and off Dalgety Bay one Manx Shearwater flew E, with a further 16 passing west, with these birds also seen from St David’s Harbour, where two Kittiwakes were also noted. 103 Manx Shearwaters also passed Fife Ness. An Osprey was watched passing over Inverkeithing (15th), with another seen from the bridge at Guardbridge, 18 Manx Shearwaters flew E at St David’s Harbour, with a further 131 were counted passing Crail. A Lesser Whitethroat was still singing in bushes behind the end of the car park at Seafield (16th) and a Whimbrel was seen on the shoreline at Cellardyke. A Cuckoo was watched being chased by a Meadow Pipit at Ruddons Point (18th), with another seen at Kilminning. The two Barnacle Geese were still present at the Eden Estuary LNR and there were also Shelduck broods of 17, eight, four and four. Noted off Kinghorn (19th) were two Bonxies, five Manx Shearwaters, one 2nd cy Little Gull, two Red-throated Divers and nine Goosanders, the eclipse drake Garganey was still present at the Wilderness, with also one Common Sandpiper there. Seen off Fife Ness was a brood of 12 Eider ducklings. Seen off Dalgety Bay were two Arctic Skuas, 13 Manx Shearwaters and a Red-throated Diver, with 268 Manx Shearwaters and 15 Common Scoters counted passing Fife Ness and 84 Manx Shearwaters, three Common Scoters and a Red-throated Diver noted passing Anstruther. Five Manx Shearwaters were seen passing Kinghorn (20th) and a Cuckoo was heard calling repeatedly at East Lomond in the Lomond Hills, an Osprey was watched at Cameron Reservoir, while a female Marsh Harrier was watched hunting at Golden Hill, 43 Manx Shearwaters and six Common Scoters passed Anstruther and a Cuckoo was heard calling from the car park at East Lomond (21st). Counted at Outh Muir (22nd) were two pairs of Curlews, two pairs of Oystercatchers and a pair of Grey Wagtails, all with young, one Bonxie, 10 Manx Shearwaters, four Goosanders and 20 Common Scoters were noted passing Crail and 27 Manx Shearwaters, 40 Common Scoters and 43 Goosanders were counted off Dalgety Bay (24th). An Osprey was watched from the Eden Estuary Centre (26th), a lone Canada Goose was seen at Cameron Reservoir and noted off Anstruther were one Bonxie W, 36 Manx Shearwaters E, six Common Scoters E. A Grasshopper Warbler was reeling at Kilrenny Mill (28th) and an Osprey was seen circling and fishing at Angle Park GP (29th) and was joined by a Marsh Harrier for a brief moment. A Quail was heard calling from the old railway track N of Kingsbarns (30th) and two Ospreys were seen at Lindores Loch.

Information supplied courtesy of Malcolm Ware

The first three House Martins were seen over the Harbour in Crail (1st), c65 Sandwich Terns and a White Wagtail were at Kingsbarns, five Whimbrels were in a field at Cameron Reservoir and at Balbeggie Pond, at least one Common Redpoll was in a flock of c60 Lesser Redpolls on the SW side of the pond, also two Sedge Warblers, one Whitethroat and a House Martin were seen there. A Short-eared Owl passed over Crail GC, with four Arctic Terns, seven Whimbrels and a Red-throated Diver noted passing Fife Ness. At Boghall Farm, Kingsbarns, 35 Twite, c10 White Wagtails, c2 Wheatears and nine Whimbrels were noted, two Cuckoos were seen in the Lomond Hills (2nd), an Osprey was at Lochore Meadows CP and at Boghall Farm, Kingsbarns a Yellow Wagtail, c50 Twite, six White Wagtails and c35 Corn Buntings were present, back up at the Lomond Hills, a Cuckoo, c5 Wheatears, one Osprey and a male Redstart were seen around Holl Reservoir, at Seafield a Grasshopper Warbler was heard reeling and was also seen, with a Lesser Whitethroat also heard singing c250m south of the Tower by the main path. Noted at Outh Muir were a Cuckoo and a pair of Wheatears and counted from the Eden Estuary LNR were four Greenshanks, 10 Whimbrels and three Pale-bellied Brent Geese, another Grasshopper Warbler was seen at Kilmany (3rd), while a Short-eared Owl was watched passing over Ruddons Point. In Largo Bay a count produced 36 Red-throated Divers, four Black-throated Divers, c150 Common Scoters with a pair of Tufted Ducks amongst them, also six Whimbrels and 25 Sandwich Terns passing east, the Lesser Whitethroat was still present at Seafield as were three Whimbrels, a 1st winter Glaucous Gull was noted in a field near Outh Muir and seen at Boghall Farm, Kingsbarns were seven White Wagtails, eight Twite and two Wheatears. A Raven, a scarce bird in the east of the county was seen at Kippo, one Woodcock, three Siskins, one Wheatear and a Whimbrel were at Kilminning (4th), an Osprey was watched at Lindores Loch and two Arctic Skuas seen off Out Head were unusual and noted at Loch Gelly were one Common Sandpiper, one Garden Warbler and a female type Marsh Harrier. A Garden Warbler was seen at Kilmany, three Whimbrels passed north over Letham Pools (5th) and seen from Guardbridge were a pair of Pintail, a female Scaup, two Brent Geese, six Whimbrels, 83 Curlews, two Black-tailed Godwits and an Osprey. At Troustie, near Crail, two Greenshanks were noted and a Cuckoo was heard calling on West Lomond, noted at Cameron Reservoir (6th) were one Whooper Swan, two Common Sandpipers and a Grasshopper Warbler, another Cuckoo was heard, this time on Wormit Hill and the first Sedge Warbler of the year at Cullaloe LNR was heard, an Osprey was watched circling high over Anstruther. A Wheatear was seen at Parkneuk with a Cuckoo also calling there, counted off Lower Largo were four Great Northern Divers, 42 Red-throated Divers, 57 Velvet Scoters and 97 Common Scoters, three Pale-bellied Brent Geese.

18 Whimbrels, three Common Sandpipers and a Greenshank were seen from the Eden Estuary Centre (8th) and one Wood Sandpiper and a Dunlin were at The Wilderness. A Cuckoo was seen from the old railway track near Crail (9th) and noted at Seafield were a Barnacle Goose seen heading over the Forth, with six Whitethroats, six Sedge Warblers, three Chiffchaffs and the singing Lesser Whitethroat also noted. Two Grasshopper Warblers were by the Stinky Pool at Fife Ness and seen at Out Head were a Wheatear, a Grasshopper Warbler, a Whimbrel and seven Long-tailed Ducks, The first Swift at Formonthills, Glenrothes was seen (10th) and there was a terrific find of a 2nd calendar year Caspian Gull by the river mouth at Leven, two Little Terns were flushed from the beach at Pathhead in the early morning and a drake Garganey was a good find at Letham Pools, one Osprey, four Garden Warblers, six Whitethroats, four Sedge Warblers, five Willow Warblers and three Chiffchaffs were counted at Lindores Loch and two Manx Shearwaters were seen off Anstruther. At The Wilderness a Great White Egret was a good find, but was unfortunately flushed a while later by a photographer, a Black Guillemot off Ruddons Point was a good find also. Continuing the good run of scarce birds were eight Dotterels seen just outside Pittenweem and they were still present the next day. A Whimbrel and a Cuckoo at the east end of Loch Gelly (11th), a male Whinchat, two Grasshopper Warblers and two Wheatears were at Kilminning and at Pittenweem Pool, two Whimbrels, four Whitethroats and two Sedge Warblers were seen. A pair of Whinchats, one Whitethroat and seven Linnets were seen in Glen Vale and a drake Green-winged Teal was yet another good find, this time at Letham Pools. A Spotted Flycatcher was watched in mature trees at the Stables car park, Falkland (13th) and watched at Kilminning were a Hobby passing north, one Wood Warbler, one Spotted Flycatcher and a Grasshopper Warbler. A Garden Warbler, a Grasshopper Warbler and a male Wheatear were seen at Cullaloe LNR, a Lesser Whitethroat was at Balcomie (14th), with one still present at Seafield, noted at Loch Gelly were a Whimbrel, two Ringed Plovers, 25 Goldeneye and three Gadwall.

A Hobby was seen at Kinghorn Loch and three Avocets flew north past Fife Ness (16th). At Anstruther a 2nd calendar year Glaucous Gull passed north, a Reed Warbler was at The Wilderness and noted at Glen Vale (17th) were four Ravens, two Whinchats, two Stonechats and a Cuckoo. A Spoonbill was another good find, seen from the Eden Estuary Centre and found at Luthrie were two Wood Sandpipers, two Lesser Whitethroats, were at Seafield (20th) one at the car park (bottom end) and one in a thorn bush on a rise, just south of the tower. A Red-throated Diver was a highly unusual visitor to Otterston Loch (21st) and with winds and rain coming in from the NE, a male Red-backed Shrike was found at Kilminning. Over near Saline a 2nd calendar year Iceland Gull was seen near Deanhead Farm. Two Icterine Warblers, a Red-backed Shrike, one Redstart, two Lesser Whitethroats, four Spotted Flycatchers, five Garden Warblers and c5 Willow Warblers were all seen around the Kilminning area (22nd) and the Spoonbill was still present on the Eden Estuary LNR, with at least one Whimbrel and a pair of Goosanders also noted. A Great Northern Diver, three Red-throated Divers, 33 Velvet Scoters and 80 Common Scoters were seen off Ruddons Point and watched passing over Ferry Hills (23rd) were two Arctic Skuas and 29 Kittiwakes. One of the Icterine Warblers was in the same area at Kilminning as yesterday, with a Spotted Flycatcher also noted. An adult, summer plumage Great Northern Diver was off Ruddons Point, with six Red-throated Divers and 25 Velvet Scoters also counted and close by off Leven were 400 Common Scoters. A good scattering of waders at Out Head (24th) included c20 Ringed Plovers, two Sanderlings, two Turnstones and c12 Dunlins and at Drumcarrow Flood there was a stunning male Ruff in breeding plumage, whilst nearby at the Eden Estuary LNR, two Little Egrets, six Little Gulls, all 2nd calendar year birds which came in high from the NE then headed inland and a Whimbrel were seen from the FBC hide. An Icterine Warbler was still present at Kilminning, along sheltered entrance road trees, it was also heard singing. Also present there was a Garden Warbler, with a Spotted Flycatcher noted at the upper end. Two Arctic Skuas, both dark phase adults, were watched flying west, upriver at Tayport. Also a Little Egret was noted there. Two Lesser Whitethroats were still at Seafield (25th), one at the car park and one on the embankment. A lovely male Yellow Wagtail was seen on the track down to the pond at Boarhills (27th) and at Letham Pools (28th), two adult-type Little Gulls were seen, as was a very rare Egyptian Goose, only the 2nd ever in Fife. A Whimbrel, a Water Rail and four Ravens in a family party, were all seen at Cameron Reservoir and it appears that the Great Crested Grebe nests there seem to have been flooded out. The Egyptian Goose was still present at Letham Pools (29th) also one adult Little Gull was still there and a very late Fieldfare was a good find at Kilmany. A Short-eared Owl was watched hunting over the Airfield at Crail and at Kilconquhar Loch a Reed Warbler was singing continuously, but was only seen once in 20 mins. One Little Egret was seen at the Eden Estuary LNR and a pair of Shovelers were seen at Morton Lochs NNR. At Seafield (30th) a Lesser Whitethroat was still present at the car park. Two Cuckoos were heard on Benarty Hill, a Spotted Flycatcher was watched at Little Ballo in the Lomond Hills, with a scarce Wood Warbler seen nearby at Harperleas. A single Little Gull was still present at Letham Pools (31st) and the Reed Warbler could still be heard singing at Kilconquhar Loch, two very late Snow Buntings were seen at Out Head, with 16 Ringed Plovers also noted and five Canada Geese were also seen to pass over. A drake Garganey was seen at Morton Lochs NNR, a very fitting bird for the last report of the month.

Information supplied courtesy of Malcolm Ware

“Helping Hands for Butterflies” have two online workshops on Saturday 29th May and Sunday 6th June, both 10am – noon. These will cover butterfly identification, and recording butterflies using a new iRecord Butterflies app.
Munro Moths: Tom Prescott is running workshops to show you
how to identify the moths found on Scotland’s Munros, and how to send
in your sightings of them. Thursday 3rd June and Saturday 5th June.

These events require booking, and you can do so via the Events
Page of the organisation’s website.

April started bright and sunny, but with a cold wind. A Swallow was noted at Kilconquhar Loch (1st) with another along with eight Sand Martins noted at Gaddon Loch, two Pale-bellied Brent Geese were at Dalgety Bay and at Black Loch, Newburgh four Sand Martins, c8 Buzzards and two Ravens were seen. c200 Pink-footed Geese flew N over Aberdour, a Chiffchaff and a male Blackcap were noted at Waulkmill, Charlestown and noted passing Fife Ness were two Great Northern Divers and three Red-throated Divers, a Twite was seen in a Linnet flock at Elie Ness and a Blackcap singing at Kilmany (2nd) was the earliest recorded there by eight days, a Red Kite was seen at Kingsbarns heading towards Cambo and Fife Ness, at Out Head one Osprey, three Sand Martins, 19 Pale-bellied Brent Geese, five Long-tailed Ducks and one Slavonian Grebe were noted and in an Aberdour garden both Greenfinch and Coal Tit both appear to be nesting in a Cypress tree. At Blairhall Bing a pair of Ravens, a pair of Jays, one Tawny Owl, one Great Spotted Woodpecker, two Herons, one Mute Swan and three Buzzards were seen, a Peregrine allowed prolonged good views after catching prey at the Eden Estuary Centre and a Little Egret was also watched, a male Blackcap was seen in trees next to the River Leven at Methil, at Crail a Swallow was watched over farmland at Sypsies, a Great Crested Grebe was noted off Out Head and at East Devilla a pair of Ravens, four Buzzards and a Swallow were seen. At Boghall, Kingsbarns 90 Twite were still present and up Bishop Hill, two Curlews, one Stonechat and one Wheatear were noted, two Chiffchaffs were singing at Magus Muir, Strathkinness and counted off Leven were one Red-Necked Grebe, eight Slavonian Grebes, two Great Northern Divers, 25 Red-Throated Divers, 57 Long-tailed Ducks 63 Velvet Scoters and 37 Common Scoters. One Blackcap was heard at Low Valleyfield (3rd), at Knockhill, two Wheatears, a pair of Ravens and one Sparrowhawk were seen, at the Riverside Park, Glenrothes one Blackcap was heard singing and three Dippers were seen on the Lothrie Burn. A Blackcap singing in Balgeddie, Glenrothes yesterday? was the earliest record there. A Blackcap was at Barns Farm, noted off Lower Largo were one Black-throated Diver, 47 Red-throated Divers, 12 Slavonian Grebes, 41 Long-tailed Ducks, 337 Velvet Scoters, 181 Common Scoters and 98 Razorbills, also a big increase in Guillemots was noted. A male Blackcap was singing and three Sand Martins were seen feeding over the River Eden at Cupar and many Chiffchaffs were reported singing at Kinghorn Loch, four Long-tailed Ducks were off Pettycur Harbour, 10 Long-tailed Ducks, two Sand Martins, two Great Crested Grebes, at least three Stonechats and two Reed Buntings were at Out Head and at Mount Hill were one Raven and two Grey Partridges. One Raven and two Swallows were at Kincraig Head and nearby off Ruddons Point were two Great Northern Divers and 10 Slavonian Grebes, whilst not far away at Elie was another littoralis Rock Pipit, a Greenshank was at East Sands, St Andrews and an Osprey flew low over a retail park in Kirkcaldy heading NW. The highlights at Torry Bay were one Blackcap singing, three Chiffchaffs calling, six Great Crested Grebes displaying, two Grey Partridges and one Grey Plover, at Kilconquhar 10 Buzzards were watched soaring high up and across at Cameron Reservoir a Red Kite was seen over the west end. Noted at Gauldry were a Lapwing, one Buzzard, two Chaffinches, 20 Pheasants, one Kestrel and two Blue Tits, with three Herons, three Mute Swans, nine Mallards, nine Moorhens, one Song Thrush and a Chiffchaff all noted at Tayfield. Two Buzzards, c50 Pheasants, 27 Woodpigeons, 10 Jackdaws and two Chiffchaffs were all counted at Gauldry Woods and an early House Martin was seen amongst a few Sand Martins over Kilconquhar Loch (4th). A female Goshawk and a pair of Kestrels were seen in the Lomonds, a Twite was at Kincraig Point and at Cameron Reservoir there was a drake Scaup, one Whooper Swan and two Water Rails. The Green Sandpiper was seen from the hide again at Lochore Meadows CP (5th), at Pathhead 12 Long-tailed Ducks and six Velvet Scoters were offshore, a pair of Goosanders were on the burn and c20 Sand Martins were back at their nesting area, further west a Nuthatch was heard calling again in front of the Peacock Café in Pittencrieff Park, Dunfermline. In Kilmany (6th) six Crossbills were seen feeding in Alders and the male amongst them was also heard singing, also at Kilmany a Sand Martin went W, the earliest in the last 25 years there by nine days. At Kilminning, a Chiffchaff was at the top end and not far away at Sauchope, Crail a Sandwich Tern was seen. In Beveridge Park, Kirkcaldy a female Ring-necked Duck was present, a Marsh Harrier passed over Mugdrum Island, being harassed by corvids and at Birnie & Gaddon Lochs LNR a Water Rail was feeding in the open at the edge of the marsh c100 metres to the west of the car park, also two Swallows and c50 Sand Martins were seen over Gaddon Loch, two Sandwich Terns were off West Wemyss, with four also seen off Kilrenny Mill, with two Wheatears also noted there. At Cameron Reservoir there was a drake Scaup and one male Brambling, with a Whooper Swan and two Water Rails also seen there (7th). Watched at Kincraig Point were a Raven, one Peregrine and five Twite, a Willow Warbler was heard singing in gardens behind the Coop in Cupar and off Out Head were three Long-tailed Ducks, two Slavonian Grebes, one Great Crested Grebe and two Wheatears and off Braefoot Point a Red-throated Diver was watched fishing. There was no sign of female Ring-necked Duck at Beveridge Park (7th), also noted yesterday was a pair of Coots with six very small young, which was down to four today, a Green Woodpecker and 17 Slavonian Grebes in summer plumage were seen at Tentsmuir and counted off Lower Largo were one Great Northern Diver, 14 Redthroated Divers, 589 Velvet Scoters, 82 Common Scoters, 18 Long-tailed Ducks and 11 Slavonian Grebes.

A Kestrel was noted at Hawkcraig, Aberdour and seen at Out Head (8th) were three Wheatears and a Swallow, whilst at Auchtermuchty Common 18 Fieldfares and a male Peregrine were noted, eight Pintail, one Treecreeper, one Chiffchaff and two Bullfinches were seen at the Eden Estuary Centre and over at Cameron Reservoir (9th) were a female Ring-necked Duck, one drake Scaup and a Whooper Swan and counted at Holl Reservoir were c200 Sand Martins and a Reed Bunting. Five Sandwich Terns went W at Elie, a 2nd calendar year Glaucous Gull, a 2nd calendar year female Scaup, 12 Tufted Ducks, three adult Whooper Swans, 32 Sand Martins and 10 Meadow Pipits were counted at Craigluscar Reservoirs and two Red-legged Partridges were by the roadside near Gauldry. 1000 Pink-footed Geese went N over Anstruther (10th), one Great Northern Diver, 300 Velvet Scoters, 200 Common Scoters, 25 Slavonian Grebes and three Whooper Swans W were off Lower Largo and noted at St Margaret’s Marsh, Rosyth were 740 Pink-footed Geese, with seven Crossbills passing over, and one Water Rail and two Snipe were on the marsh, a Green Woodpecker was noted in the Falkland Estate and five Pintail, three Scaup, three summer plumage Slavonian Grebes and two Grey Partridges were at Coble Shore, Eden Estuary LNR, two adult White-tailed Eagles were watched circling high to the N of Cameron Reservoir. Counted at Morton Lochs NNR were three Mute Swans, two Canada Geese, 17 Mallards, five Tufted Ducks, 11 Moorhens, four Coots and two Goldfinches, two Mute Swans, 15 Tufted Ducks and c75 Herring Gulls were at Drumoig and at Linkswood Pond were four Little Grebes, one Canada Goose, four Shelducks one Great Spotted Woodpecker drumming and one Chiffchaff. Also c250 Greylag Geese passed over N. 13 Tufted Ducks were at Newton Farm. An Osprey was watched heading NE over Anstruther, with another seen at the Eden Estuary LNR and at Cameron Reservoir the female Ring-necked Duck, one White Wagtail, one drake Scaup, one Whooper Swan, 15 Sand Martins and two Swallows were all noted. Four Grey Partridges were at Dunearn, Burntisland, a Swallow was at Carnbee Reservoir (11th) and two Water Rails were seen at Birnie Loch, with one showing very well next to the path from the car park, a Common Sandpiper, one Black-tailed Godwit, two female Pochards, four Swallows, six Sand Martins, one Canada Goose, five Whooper Swans and seven Gadwall were counted at Loch Gelly and over at Boghall, Kingsbarns c100 Twite, eight Lesser Redpolls, c20 Sandwich Terns and a Whimbrel were seen. A Nuthatch was heard calling in a strip of woodland slightly to west of the Peacock Café, in Pittencrieff Park, Dunfermline and two Chiffchaffs were also heard. A Wheatear was seen on Bishop Hill in the Lomonds, with another two Wheatears and also two Chiffchaffs seen at Kilrenny Mill, a single Black-tailed Godwit was seen at the Wilderness and a pair of Shelducks had started nesting at Dumbarnie GC. Not far away at Ruddons Point, a Great Northern Diver, 10 Slavonian Grebes, one Red-necked Grebe, 250 Common Scoters, five Sandwich Terns and one Swallow were seen, with two Ravens at Kincraig Point and three White Wagtails and one Wheatear were nearby on Earlsferry Beach. Letham Pools became another site to host a Ring-necked Duck, this year when a female was seen and over at Burntisland (12th) the Great Northern Diver was still present off the Harbour, also a Sand Martin was noted there. Four Wheatears were counted on East Lomond in the Lomond Hills and the Green Sandpiper was still present at Lochore Meadows CP, along with a Snipe, 37 Gadwall were also counted, while a Goosander and numerous hirundines were seen feeding on Loch Ore, a Puffin was a fairly unusual sighting off Aberdour at this time of year, two Sandwich Terns were off Kinghorn and counted off the eastern end of Leven were 79 Velvet Scoters and 47 Long-tailed Ducks. Another scarce bird for this time of year, a Manx Shearwater, was seen lingering with Kittiwakes off the salmon bothy at Boarhills and making their presence known in Beveridge Park, Kirkcaldy were two Ring-necked Parakeets, a House Martin in Balmullo (13th), was the first of the year for that site and a Hooded Crow was seen feeding in field just north of the farm cottages at Boghall, Kingsbarns, also noted were two pairs of Grey Partridges, four Sand Martins, one Wheatear, six Lesser Redpolls, c50 Twite and five Corn Buntings. A House Martin went N over Dunfermline, with two Ravens, one Stock Dove and at least three Chiffchaffs, also seen. Two Willow Warblers were singing at Angle Park, a Common Sandpiper was watched from the Eden Estuary Centre and the first Willow Warbler was heard singing at Strathkinness. A 2nd calendar year Iceland Gull went N over Anstruther, two Willow Warblers, three Whooper Swans and one Sand Martin were at Craigluscar NR, the Green Sandpiper was still at Lochore Meadows CP and a pair of Shelducks were watched near West Lomond, an Osprey went over Kilmany (14th), a pair of Red-breasted Mergansers, one drake Goosander, five Slavonian Grebes in full breeding plumage, with one pair also displaying and eight Long-tailed Ducks, were all at Out Head and several Sand Martins were seen prospecting the dunes. A drake Scaup, one Whooper Swan, one Common Sandpiper and four Goosanders were on Cameron Reservoir, a pair of Grey Wagtails were seen in St Andrews and c30 Whooper Swans were watched flying W at Aberdour and nearby at Dalgety Bay c90 Red-breasted Mergansers were spooked by canoes, then flew E. From Boarhills to Kingsbarns, two Sandwich Terns, 23 Twite, a pair of Dippers carrying food, a pair of Grey Wagtails and four Chiffchaffs were noted.

A Brambling was a good find in a Dalgety Bay garden (15th), a Nuthatch was watched again in Markinch, 130 Pink-footed Geese and a Crossbill passed over Kilmany, a Blackcap was in song along the Kinness Burn, St Andrews (16th) and at Cameron Reservoir, the female Ring-necked Duck, one drake Scaup, one Whooper Swan and one Common Sandpiper were present. Also heard were 18 Willow Warblers and two Blackcaps. A single Ring-necked Parakeet was noted in Beveridge Park, Kirkcaldy (17th), two Willow Warblers and two Wheatears were seen at Wormiston, with a White Wagtail and one Wheatear nearby at Balcomie, a Willow Warbler was also seen in The Patch at Fife Ness. 40 Golden Plover were seen on Bishop Hill in the Lomonds, a 2nd calendar year Glaucous Gull, one Whimbrel and one Knot were at Ruddons Point and noted passing at Fife Ness were one Whimbrel, four Sandwich Terns and one Red-throated Diver, a 2nd calendar year Glaucous x Herring Gull hybrid (aka Viking Gull) was seen at Tayport, a Green Sandpiper and two White Wagtails were at Rossie Bog, a Green Woodpecker and six White Wagtails were at Luthrie and further west, two Puffins were seen from Braefoot Terminal. A drake Pintail was at the Wilderness (18th) and at Letham Pools there were three Pochard. North of Pitcairn, Glenrothes, two Green Woodpeckers, two Great Spotted Woodpeckers and two Yellowhammers were seen, a summer plumaged male Lapland Bunting, with possibly a second bird also, were seen at Boghall, Kingsbarns, with c120 Twite, one Raven, a flock 12 Corn Buntings and a Wheatear also seen. A male Ring Ouzel in a paddock at Dunnikier, Kirkcaldy was a good find and was in a field briefly with Mistle Thrushes, Song Thrushes and a Blackbird. A Wheatear was unusual for Cullaloe LNR and the Great Northern Diver was watched sitting out from the dock gates at Burntisland (19th), a Green Woodpecker was heard yaffling and several Red Grouse on the moorland were calling at Gask Park in the Lomond Hills, a Common Sandpiper was present at Luthrie and at Fincraig Farm Pond, Gauldry were two Dabchicks two Mute Swans, two Moorhens, two Coots and a Willow Warbler was heard singing. Vicarsford Cemetery had a Buzzard, nine Pheasants and two Magpies. An Osprey was watched from the Eden Estuary Centre, four Pintails were in Dalgety Bay and a stunning male Redstart was a good find at Kilmany, even better finds were a Green Woodpecker and a Nuthatch at Kilminning (20th), both were seen briefly though. Also at Kilminning were three Wheatears, two Stonechats, two Reed Buntings and a Peregrine flew over, a scarce Goshawk was seen W of Kinglassie and the Great Northern Diver was still off Burntisland. A Common Sandpiper was at the Wilderness (21st), a female Ring-necked Duck was at Cameron Reservoir, with a Sedge Warbler heard singing there also.

A Common Sandpiper was at Letham Pools (22nd) and a Grasshopper Warbler was heard reeling at Kilmany, across at Pittenweem a Whitethroat was heard near Pathhead Nurseries and another Whitethroat was heard at Bowhouse, St Monans. As well as an Osprey, a Swift was watched from the Eden Estuary Centre, a Tree Pipit went over Rumblingwell, Dunfermline and at Out Head (23rd) a Swallow and two Sandwich Terns were seen. Not far away at Blebo Craigs a Cuckoo was heard, a Whitethroat was heard at The Binn, Burntisland and the female Ring-necked Duck was still present at Cameron Reservoir (24th), with an Osprey and a Whooper Swan was also present. Two Wheatears were at Braefoot Point, with another noted west of Kingsbarns, seven Manx Shearwaters, three Arctic Terns and two Red-throated Divers were noted passing Fife Ness, five Whimbrels were on Balcomie Beach and six Sandwich Terns were seen between Kingsbarns and Boarhills. Single Whimbrel and Wheatear were noted at Ferry Hills (25th) and counted at Ruddons Point were one Black-throated Diver, 20 Red-throated Divers, 27 Long-tailed Ducks, 400 Common Scoters, c3 Whimbrels and a White Wagtail, at Kilminning were two Whimbrels N, one Whitethroat and two Manx Shearwaters N. A Yellow Wagtail was seen at Sauchope, Crail and some positive news came from Newburgh where a colony of c30 Sand Martins were at a recent excavation on the Cupar Road. A Tree Pipit went N over Bogward Road, St Andrews and there was a good count of c100 Golden Plovers on Bishop Hill in the Lomonds. Noted at the Eden Estuary Centre (26th) were one Spotted Redshank (in summer plumage), one Common Sandpiper, one Greenshank, one Whimbrel, two Pintails and three Black-tailed Godwits, including one colour ringed bird. In Glen Vale were one Ring Ouzel, two Wheatears and one Stonechat, at Letham Polls (28th) were two Little Ringed Plovers, one adult Little Gull, one 2nd calendar year Mediterranean Gull, three Pochard and c30 Sand Martins, a Cuckoo was heard calling in the Lomonds and a White-tailed Eagle was watched flying north over Parkhill Farm Newburgh (29th). Two Whimbrels flew north over Randolph Playing Fields, Kirkcaldy and at Letham Pools (30th) a 1st summer Mediterranean Gull was on the N side with a Grasshopper Warbler reeling at the W end. Noted at Loch Gelly were four Whimbrels, 19 Curlews, a pair of Shovelers, 16 Goldeneyes, at least one Sedge Warbler and Whitethroat singing. A Sedge Warbler and a Whitethroat were singing at Fife Ness and over at Cameron Reservoir the Whooper Swan and a Swift were noted, a Grasshopper Warbler was reeling in the dunes scrub at Earlsferry and not far away at Lower Largo a count there produced one Black-throated Diver, two Great Northern Divers, 40 Velvet Scoters, 15 Long-tailed Ducks and a Sandwich Tern. At Fife Ness c8 Whimbrels were counted at the high tide roost, with also a Wheatear present and over at Dalgety Bay another Whimbrel was seen on the beach.

Information supplied courtesy of Malcolm Ware

As restrictions start to ease, the intention is to allow member access to our hides once again. Health and safety guidance and a new combination for the keypad will be issued shortly.

After some hard weather during February, March started bright and sunny. Seven White-fronted Geese passed over Kilmany heading W (1st), the resident Glaucous Gull and Great Northern Diver were both still present at Burntisland Harbour, four Buzzards were seen at Aberdour and a female Merlin was watched bathing in a stubble field at Easter Kilwhiss and a Green Sandpiper was noted at the Nature Reserve at Lochore Meadows CP. Counted off Ruddons Point (3rd) were three Great Northern Divers, 11 Red-throated Divers, two Great Crested Grebes and two Slavonian Grebes, while across at Torry Bay (5th) the highlights were 27 Bar-tailed Godwits, two Collared Doves, seven Great Crested Grebes, three Knot, c40 Linnets, one Rock Pipit, two Skylarks singing and c40 Yellowhammers and two Ravens were still present at Braefoot. A flock of 23 Reed Buntings included at least five Yellowhammers at Letham Pools, where a Water Rail was also heard calling and two Peregrines and four Goldeneye were seen from the Eden Estuary Centre. At Newton Farm Pond (6th) two Mute Swans, seven Mallards, 13 Moorhens, two Oystercatchers and a Skylark in song were noted, a Bean Goose flew low west over Birnie Loch with c500 Pink-footed Geese and an adult Peregrine was watched circling over South Street, St Andrews. At Pathhead (7th) a Little Egret was seen flying E, also one Chiffchaff was noted and there was also a pair of Scaup off the pier, the first for many years at this site. One drake Smew and 11 Whooper Swans were seen at Cameron Reservoir where a very scarce Corn Bunting was heard singing from the top of pines on the north shore. Two Little Egrets and two Pale-bellied Brent Geese were seen from the Eden Estuary Centre and at Lower Largo 21 Slavonian Grebes and 286 Velvet Scoters were counted. A female Merlin was watched flying over Dunino Wood (8th), 105 Twite were near to Pitkierie Cottage, NE of Kilrenny Common (9th) and the Great Northern Diver was still present off the sea wall at Burntisland Harbour (11th), but there had been no sign of the Glaucous Gull for several days. Seen off the S side of Mugdrum Island were an Iceland Gull, c100 Herring Gulls and a Lesser Black-backed Gull, while nearby at Lindores a Red Kite was watched drifting SW. 17 Whooper Swans were in a field S of the A91 near East Kincaple Farm and 21 Whooper Swans were seen near the Gamekeepers Cottage at Rossie Bog. The drake Smew was still present at Cameron Reservoir and five Bramblings were still with the north shore Chaffinch flock. c100 Golden Plovers were noted in a ploughed field near to Caiplie, a Little Egret, 88 Scaup and a Peregrine were seen from the Eden Estuary Centre and at Tayfield were two Mute Swans, eight Mallards, seven Moorhens, while a Kingfisher was also watched in flight. Noted in Balgove Bay (13th) were 240 Curlew, 21 Brent Geese, one Pintail and a Wigeon, 17 Whooper Swans were not far away at East Kincaple Farm, a Great Northern Diver and a Red-throated Diver were noted off Seafield and at Kilconquhar Loch, a 1st winter Mediterranean Gull, two Whooper Swans and a pair of Goosanders were present. Seen from the Eden Estuary Centre were a Peregrine, a Little Egret and 31 Scaup, an immature Marsh Harrier was noted off Newburgh and at Letham Pools (14th) a 1st winter Iceland Gull was watched flying south with Herring Gulls. On West Lomond two Peregrines and four Ravens were seen, a Raven was heard over Kemback and at Boghall 90 Twite were present. A Lesser Black-backed Gull and 60 Corn Buntings were at Kingsbarns and a juvenile Iceland Gull was seen amongst c500 Herring Gulls at Lower Melville Wood Refuse Tip. A Barnacle Goose was in with a mixed flock of 200 grey geese near Newburgh and off Leven’s eastern car park a Black-throated Diver was seen close inshore. A Chiffchaff was heard singing at Wormit (15th) and the Green Sandpiper was still present at Lochore Meadows CP, seen from the hide, at Craigluscar a female Scaup, 16 Tufted Ducks, 83 Wigeon, 12 Whooper Swans and six Little Grebes were counted and another sign of spring edging closer was a pair of Dippers building a nest on the Kinness Burn, St Andrews, with a pair of Tree Sparrows also watched nest building in a Ladybank garden. A Chiffchaff was seen at Port Laing. A pair Greenfinches were noted prospecting their annual nest site at Aberdour (16th) and another Dipper was seen and heard singing on the Keithing Burn in Inverkeithing. The Green Sandpiper was still visible from the hide at Lochore Meadows CP (17th), at least two littoralis Rock Pipits were at Kilrenny Mill, with a Chiffchaff and 50 Redwings noted at nearby Kilrenny Common. In the early morning at Pathhead (18th) one lucky observer saw two Cranes high up heading NE, c100 Corn Buntings, one Lapland Bunting and one Snow Bunting were seen at Kingsbarns, the 17 Whooper Swans were still present at Easter Kincaple Farm, a Chiffchaff was singing at Kilmany (19th) and noted off Ruddons Point were a Great Northern Diver, a Red-necked Grebe, and 32 Slavonian Grebes (including two summer plumage birds and a displaying pair). Also eight Buzzards were counted in the area. Chiffchaffs were heard at both Lochore Meadows CP and Dunfermline, noted off Out Head were one Red-necked and one Slavonian Grebe, the drake Smew was still present at Cameron Reservoir and a Chiffchaff was noted in Glenrothes (20th), with one also in St Andrews. Amongst the usual species at Valleyfield were two Shovelers and one Pochard, as well as two Greenshanks, not far away at Oakley (21st) another Chiffchaff was heard. There was a good count of at least eight Great Northern Divers at Ruddons Point, with two groups of Whooper Swans seen heading over, eight NW and 20 W. There was a strong movement of Whooper Swans noted elsewhere in the UK and Fife was no exception, with 14 W and 64 NW over Dunfermline, 14 NE over Kingsbarns, 43 W over Kincraig Head, c36 on the Eden Estuary and 15 NE over Crail. A Little Egret was seen from the Eden Estuary Centre, a Lapland Bunting and c80 Corn Buntings were see near Kingsbarns and a Red Kite was watched coming in off the sea and heading N high over Kincraig Head, across at Tentsmuir, there were some impressive counts with 135 Slavonian Grebes, 448 Red-breasted Mergansers and 63 Red-throated Divers noted, also a Little Egret flew S. The regular wintering Whimbrel was noted at Ruddons Point and two Ravens were watched at Braefoot apparently nest raiding, but were chased by corvids and gulls, also three Buzzards were present. c600 Pink-footed Geese were present on the Eden Estuary LNR, also seen were a White-tailed Eagle, which flew over Guardbridge, as well as two Greenshanks a Little Egret, a Goldeneye and c4 Teal. A Raven was watched displaying in the Lomond Hills and counted at Out Head were 44 Brent Geese, 58 Whooper Swans, c2700 Pink-feet and c650 Knot, a Merlin and a Chiffchaff were noted at Boarhills and two lucky observers watched and photographed three Cranes circling Crail. Counted passing Fife Ness (22nd) were 1200 Razorbills N, two Red-throated Divers, three Common Scoters, a Peregrine and eight Shelducks and in St Andrews Bay at least eight Gannets were seen plunge diving, up at Out Head four Snow Buntings were present and the Green Sandpiper was still present on the Nature Reserve at Lochore Meadows CP, with two Shelducks and three Gadwall noted also. Two Great Crested Grebes and two Whooper Swans were also seen on the Loch. Off Kinshaldy 118 Slavonian Grebes and 400 Red-breasted Mergansers were counted, a Chiffchaff was calling in Coul Den and a Black-throated Diver and four Red-breasted Mergansers were seen passing Fife Ness N, the count of Snow Buntings at Out Head (23rd) rose to seven and 20 Whooper Swans passed over N, close by at Easter Kincaple Farm, the 17 Whooper Swans were still present and a count at Cullaloe LNR produced four Little Grebes, two Wigeon, four Mallard, two Moorhens, two Coots, two Long-tailed Tits and two Buzzards. In Dunfermline, a Red Kite was seen flying into a strong breeze, drifting WNW towards the Townhill area. In Glenrothes Town Park (24th) three Dippers were noted along part of the Lothrie Burn, two of them at previously used nest sites. Two Grey Partridges were seen at Braefoot and at Pathhead there was a Great Northern Diver offshore and 11 Whooper Swans passed over NE, a Dipper was heard singing in Craighall Den and at Dalgety Bay 30 Shelducks and four Wigeon were noted. A Chiffchaff was heard at Townhill CP, a Sand Martin was watched at Balcomie and not too far away a potential first record for Fife, an Alpine Swift was photographed passing over Fife Ness. A pair of Siskins were noted in a Strathkinness garden and seen at Braefoot were a Chiffchaff, one Buzzard, one Raven and a Sparrowhawk. 34 Whooper Swans passed over Fife Ness (25th), with 20 also seen going over Cellardyke and 39 passed W over Dunfermline. There were four male Snow Buntings seen at Out Head and c80 Twite were counted at Boghall, Kingsbarns (26th), seven Crossbills passed over Burntisland heading W and a drake Scaup and a Chiffchaff were at Cameron Reservoir. A drake Ring-necked Duck was at Kinghorn Loch (27th). A Red Kite flew W over Barns Farm, five Long-tailed Ducks and a Red-throated Diver were off Out Head (28th) and close by in St Andrews, two Purple Sandpipers and a Turnstone were roosting with Redshanks on cliffs under the Aquarium. Two Velvet Scoters were amongst c100 Common Scoters offshore also. A Little Egret and a Greenshank were seen from the Eden Estuary Centre (29th) and Nuthatches were heard in Dunnikier Woods, Kirkcaldy and Pittencrieff Park, Dunfermline (30th). Single Chiffchaffs were at both Wormiston and Kilminning, with a Siskin and a Merlin also at Kilminning. 20 Greylag Geese passed N at Fife Ness, where a Sand Martin was also noted. A Red Kite was seen in Coaltown of Balgonie and the first Osprey of the year was watched passing over West Lomond, two Swallows and a Chiffchaff were seen at Lochore Meadows CP and there were counts of 17 Sand Martins, 29 Pink-footed Geese, one Peregrine and three Cormorants over Dempster Place, Dunfermline. A Marsh Harrier, an Osprey and three Buzzards were seen at Newburgh and a Swallow passed over Winifred Crescent, Kirkcaldy, single Sand Martins were also noted at both Burntisland and East Wemyss. A count at Lower Largo (31st) produced 27 Slavonian Grebes, 29 Red-throated Divers, 22 Razorbills, 486 Velvet Scoters, 271 Common Scoters, 18 Long-tailed Ducks, one drake Scaup, and a Sand Martin and the Ring-necked Duck was with small group of Tufted Ducks at Kinghorn Loch, also a Chiffchaff was noted there. A Sandwich Tern passed Fife Ness, a Wheatear was noted at Out Head and a Chiffchaff was heard singing, two Sand Martins and 160 Pink-footed Geese over N and three Golden Plover went over E at Dempster Place, Dunfermline. Three Wheatears were watched at Sauchope, Crail and at Bath Plantation, there was one possibly two Green Woodpeckers, three Great Spotted Woodpeckers were drumming, seven Crossbills, several Chiffchaffs and three Buzzards, with also a Swallow passing over, then at Cameron Reservoir there were five Sand Martins, 10 Chiffchaffs singing and 220 Pink-footed Geese heading over N. c50 Whooper Swans passed over Dalgety Bay NW, at Out Head there was a Snow Bunting and a Wheatear and at Kilrenny Mill there were five Wheatears and a Snow Bunting.

February started with two Ravens, two Kestrels and five Buzzards seen around the Lindores/Redmyre area (1st), a 1st winter Glaucous Gull, one Great Northern Diver and two Little Grebes were in Burntisland Harbour, with three Bonxies also seen flying together mid channel of the Forth. The drake Ring-necked Duck popped back up at Beveridge Park, Kirkcaldy (2nd), while not far away at Kinghorn Loch a sinensis Cormorant was a good find and the 1st winter Glaucous Gull was still at Burntisland Harbour. At Barns Farm 100 Redwings and 50 Curlews were seen, a 2nd winter Glaucous Gull and a Black-throated Diver were noted at Fife Ness and midway of the Forth between North and South Queensferry an adult Mediterranean Gull was seen. Counted passing Kinghorn (3rd) were four Bonxies, eight Red-throated Divers, two Gannets, 32 Fulmars, 550 Kittiwakes, 1200 Guillemots/Razorbills and 28 Long-tailed Ducks and the 1st winter Glaucous Gull was once again at Burntisland Harbour. A probable Grey Phalarope was only seen once, in extremely high waves off St Andrews Pier and in very difficult viewing conditions, a Great Northern Diver, eight Red-throated Divers, Auks and Kittiwakes were noted close in to shore in higher than usual numbers for this time of year. One adult and one 2nd calendar year Little Gull were in Dalgety Bay (4th) and alongside the Ring-necked Duck at Beveridge Park, Kirkcaldy was a Lesser Black-backed Gull. Counted from Fife Ness were 323 Shags S, 16 Cormorants S, two Guillemots S, two Fulmars N and one S, one Eider, one Red-breasted Merganser, nine Oystercatchers, eight Curlews, one Kittiwake N and 18 Great Black-backed Gulls S and noted in Dalgety Bay (5th) were six Great Crested Grebes, one Red-throated Diver and a Razorbill. At Dalgety Bay (7th) were one Red-necked Grebe, three Slavonian Grebes, c8 Great Crested Grebes and a Great Northern Diver, while close by at Braefoot Point two Red-throated Divers were seen flying E and dozens of Auks were also seen heading E. Noted at Cameron Reservoir were a female Ring-necked Duck, a drake Smew, one Little Egret, one Raven, two Scaup, seven Pintails, 245 Wigeon, 55 Teal, 130 Tufted Ducks, 75 Goldeneye and 11 Goosanders. Seven Snow Buntings were watched in the dunes E of Reres Wood and across at Kingsbarns a 2nd calendar year Little Gull was present. A Kingfisher was at Aberdour and the day count at Anstruther was 570 Razorbills, c12 Red-throated Divers, two Great Northern Divers, one Black-throated Diver, 14 Common Scoters, one Velvet Scoter, 34 Kittiwakes and 17 Fulmars and an adult Little Gull, three Twite, a Peregrine and a dead adult Puffin were seen at Out Head. At Burntisland Harbour (8th) both the 1st winter Glaucous Gull and a Kittiwake were readily coming to bread, other more well behaved birds there were a Great Northern Diver, two Goosanders, 20 Eider Ducks, two Cormorants and a Little Grebe and between Dalgety Bay and Braefoot one Great Northern Diver, one Red-throated Diver, two Slavonian Grebes, one Greenshank and 36 Shelducks were counted. One Peregrine, one Brambling and three Grey Partridges were noted at Newburgh, with two Peregrines watched chasing Starlings there (9th), a Great Spotted Woodpecker was heard drumming in Moss Plantation, 11 Skylarks passed over Ladybank heading S and the Ring-necked Duck, an immature male Goshawk, one Dipper, one Goosander, c30 Bullfinches and c200 Skylarks were seen at Kinghorn Loch. At Windmill Road, Cellardyke there were eight Bullfinches, eight Crossbills, four Goldfinches, c50 Fieldfares, one Redwing, 11 Grey Partridges, four Skylarks, 38 Curlews, two Siskins and seven Grey Herons were noted at the pond, across at Dalgety Bay, two Snipe, eight Turnstones, one Slavonian Grebe, three Great Crested Grebes, six Goldeneye and three Rock Pipits were seen and a cold weather movement was noted at Dysart (10th) where a heavy passage of Fieldfares, Redwings and lesser numbers of Skylarks, Woodpigeons and Pink-feet passed through. In a Strathkinness garden two Tree Sparrows, six Chaffinches, two Greenfinches, one Brambling, two Robins, three Pheasants, one Dunnock and five Blackbirds were counted and alongside the Ring-necked Duck at Kinghorn Loch was a single Pochard with a Snipe also noted. Seven Snipe, two Little Grebes, 70 Pink-feet, a Sparrowhawk and a female Goshawk were watched at Dalgety Bay, a Guillemot and c40 Tufted Ducks were noted at Newburgh, with both species being unusual this far up the Tay. Also two Woodcocks and c10 Bullfinches were seen. A Cormorant on the roof of an Aberdour house gave some local children a thrill, mistaking it for a penguin! Two Woodcocks were flushed at St Andrews University (11th) and back at Burntisland Harbour alongside the resident 1st winter Glaucous Gull and Great Northern Diver were one Red-throated Diver, two Slavonian Grebes, one littoralis Rock Pipit and a Kittiwake and along at a near frozen Kinghorn Loch (12th), the Ring-necked Duck, one Mediterranean Gull and 217 Tufted Ducks were present. Counted at Dalgety Bay were one Slavonian Grebe, eight Great Crested Grebes, five Little Grebes, six Goldeneyes, one Red-throated Diver, three Goldcrests and a Buzzard, along with 10 Redwings on the beach and nearby at Barns Farm 50 Curlews and c300 Greylags were counted. One Snow Bunting and a Skylark were at West Sands, St Andrews and two Long-tailed Ducks joined the growing resident list of 1st winter Glaucous Gull, Great Northern Diver, Red-throated Diver and Kittiwake at Burntisland Harbour, a Jack Snipe and a Woodcock were noted at Fife Ness, c200 Fieldfares, c1250 Skylarks and three Snow Buntings were seen at Kingsbarns, c150 Chaffinches, one male Brambling, c470 Skylarks, c130 Corn Buntings, c100 Reed Buntings and c150 Yellowhammers were at Hillhead Farm, Boarhills and at Pitmilly c900 Fieldfares, c325 Redwings and three Woodcocks were seen. Three Russian White-fronted Geese, c1200 Skylarks and c400 Linnets were noted at Pittenweem (13th), an adult Little Gull and an adult Lesser Black-backed Gull were at Leven and between Kilconquhar and St Monans a Tundra Bean Goose was a good find amongst a large flock of 2000 Pink-feet present, an adult Mediterranean Gull was seen feeding just offshore with dozens of Common Gulls at Pathhead and back at the east coast, a Lapland Bunting, four Snow Buntings, four Bramblings and a Merlin were near Kingsbarns, with a further eight Lapland Buntings, one Brambling and one Merlin seen at Hillhead Farm, Boarhills. Two Woodcocks and a female Merlin were at Kilminning, a Snow Bunting was close by at Balcomie Castle and at Balcomie Beach, two Grey Plovers and a Knot were noted. There was a huge flock of 9307 Woodpigeons counted together just north of Anstruther and not far away at Pittenweem a count of c1300 Linnets was made. At Ardross a Snow Bunting, c500 Linnets and c1000 Skylarks were counted. Seven Grey Partridges were watched in a Strathkinness garden (14th), a Peregrine and a male Kestrel were at both at Elie Ness, one Little Egret and four Bar-tailed Godwits were seen from the Eden Estuary Centre, eight Bramblings, 60 Chaffinches, 240 Yellowhammers, 40 Reed Buntings, two Dippers and a Greenshank were noted at Kenly Water and over at Elie Harbour, one Red-throated Diver, 25 Eiders, one Shag, eight Cormorants, six Redshanks and two Guillemots were seen. Between Kingsbarns and Kenly Water 80 Twite, several thousand Skylarks, one Snow Bunting, four Bramblings, a male Merlin and a Lapland Bunting were noted and at Ardross Farm, near St Monans 1000 corvids, c500 Skylarks, c800 Fieldfares and Redwings, 400 of a mixed flock of Linnet, Twite and Corn Buntings, a Merlin was chasing the Skylarks and at least 100 Golden Plover were also counted. A Jack Snipe was a scarce visitor to Kilmany, a Brambling and two Woodcocks were seen in Spinkie Den Wood, St Andrews and at Dalgety Bay two Slavonian Grebes, four Great Crested Grebes, two Little Grebes, 60 Goldeneye, one Sparrowhawk and a Buzzard were seen. A Red-necked Grebe, one Little Auk, one Glaucous Gull, three Slavonian Grebes and a Purple Sandpiper were all at Burntisland Harbour (15th), a Ring-necked Parakeet was making its presence known in Kirkcaldy and at Tayport a Water Rail, one adult winter Mediterranean Gull, two Pintail, four Snipe and 20 Redwings, which included at least one of the Icelandic race. A Woodcock and two Buzzards were at Kilminning (16th), two Red-breasted Mergansers joined the resident Glaucous Gull, Red-necked Grebe and Great Northern Diver at Burntisland Harbour and the highlights of a count at the Newmills Bay area were two Bar-tailed Godwits, three Black-tailed Godwits, two Greenshanks and one Shoveler. Joining the resident trio at Burntisland Harbour were a littoralis Rock Pipit, two Kittiwakes and a Siskin and a Ring-necked Parakeet was heard “squawking loudly” in conifers by Beveridge Park pond (17th). The drake Ring-necked Duck was present again at Kinghorn Loch and was watched displaying to a Tufted Duck at one point, three Woodcocks, one adult Peregrine, 10 Teal, eight Goldeneye, four Tufted Ducks and a Goosander were noted at Thornton Pond and a very scarce bird in west Fife, a Black-necked Grebe was off Downing Point, Dalgety Bay. 30 Scaup were counted from the Step Rock car park, St Andrews, with two Red-throated Divers seen from the East Sands, St Andrews also. A juvenile Merlin was seen briefly at Ladybank Bowling Green (19th), 15 Red-legged Partridges were counted at Morton Lochs NNR, two drake Smew were at Cameron Reservoir, but there was no sign of any Ring-necked Ducks and at Largo Bay, 320 Velvet Scoters, 30 Common Scoters and two Crossbills were noted, with a scattering of tideline corpses which included 78 Guillemots, 59 Razorbills, 10 Kittiwakes (including an adult), two Shags, one Fulmar, one Little Grebe, one Red-breasted Merganser, one Eider, one Teal, one Common Gull, three Woodcocks and also one Bottlenose Dolphin and an adult Harbour Porpoise. Three (Russian) White-fronts were seen near Pittenweem (20th), a 1st winter Little Gull was off Leven and an adult Mediterranean Gull, 32 Long-tailed Ducks and a Kingfisher were seen at Pathhead (21st). In the Hillhead Farm area, Boarhills two Lapland Buntings and a Greenshank were present and at Seafield one Kingfisher, six Knot, two Mute Swans, c10 Turnstones, c20 Redshanks, one Curlew, two Wrens and two Shags were counted, a scarce, for this site, Slavonian Grebe was at Kilconquhar Loch and at Drumcarrow Flood were two Pintail and 140 Wigeon. A Chiffchaff was heard contact calling in Dunfermline (22nd), four Canada Geese, 120 Greylags, five Herons, one Goldeneye and a Tufted Duck were counted at Otterston Loch and the Glaucous Gull was still present at Burntisland Harbour (24th). Two Ravens were watched scavenging auk corpses at Braefoot Point. At Wester Kilwhiss (25th) a Taiga Bean Goose was in with Greylags, also two Grey Partridges were noted and nearby at Bowhouse Farm, Dunshalt amongst c400 Pink-feet a Barnacle Goose was noted. Four Ravens were watched doing aerobatics at Braefoot Plantation, with 75 Jackdaws and two Carrion Crows also seen, a drake Smew, two female Scaup and a Brambling were at Cameron Reservoir (27th) and over at Devilla Forest four Ravens were watched. Noted at Fife Ness were one Red-throated Diver N, one Fulmar N, 10 Cormorants, five Shags on rocks, one pair of Stonechats in front of the caravans and a pair of Kestrels over the patch and along at The Secret Bunker nine Bramblings and a Woodcock were present, two Dippers and a Greenshank were at Kenly Water and not far away at Hillhead Farm, Boarhills 12 Corn Buntings were noted. 60 Twite and a Lesser Redpoll were at Boghall, Kingsbarns, with 25 Purple Sandpipers, three Long-tailed Ducks and a Red-breasted Merganser at Kingsbarns, further along the coast, amongst a huge flock of 1000 Linnets, several Twite were seen, with a Crossbill flying over also. A Black Guillemot still in mostly winter plumage and an increase to 20 Lesser Black-backed Gulls were noted at Leven Beach (28th) and two Ravens were calling at Braefoot Plantation, a solitary Knot and a single Pale-bellied Brent Goose were on Balcomie Beach and a drake Long-tailed Duck was with a group of Eiders in Dysart Harbour. Two Little Egrets and a pair of Pintail were watched from the Eden Estuary Centre, with another two Little Egrets also seen at Tayport.

Information supplied courtesy of Malcolm Ware

January came in with a blast of cold weather, which curtailed a lot of birding activity, however there were still plenty of good birds around to be seen. The two female Ring-necked Ducks and two drake Smew were still present at Cameron Reservoir (1st), nine Whooper Swans flew south over Chapel Retail Park, Kirkcaldy, 52 Whooper Swans, c80 Teal, c50 Wigeon and six Goldeneye were counted on the main reservoir at Craigluscar and across in the east of the county, c10 Lapland Buntings were in a stubble field SW of the salmon bothy at Hillhead Farm, Boarhills. Nearby at Kingsbarns, c120 Twite were at Boghall, with an adult Mediterranean Gull also at Kingsbarns, off Kinshaldy c50 Long-tailed Ducks were noted and a Jack Snipe was seen at the Secret Bunker near Crail. An adult Mediterranean Gull was on the ice at Beveridge Park pond, Kirkcaldy (2nd) and the two Ring-necked Ducks and Smew at Cameron Reservoir were joined by a Scaup, two Goosanders and c70 Goldeneyes. Back at Kirkcaldy a pair of Blackcaps were watched on garden feeders, 16 Lapland Buntings, two Twite and a leucistic Herring Gull were at Hillhead Farm, Boarhills, a 2nd winter and two adult Mediterranean Gulls were on the beach at Burntisland and on Windmill Road, Cellardyke, eight Crossbills, 20 Fieldfares, 10 Mistle Thrushes, eight Bullfinches, 15 Grey Partridges and six Goldcrests were all watched feeding. 26 Great Crested Grebes were counted in Torry Bay, a Spotted Redshank was on the Eden Estuary LNR, a Greenshank and two Ravens were noted at Fairmont, near St Andrews and at Craighead Farm, Boarhills (3rd) c13 Lapland Buntings were seen, with a further c11 Lapland Buntings and 25 Twite noted at Randerston Farm, Kingsbarns. c150 Shags, 10 Gannets, six Velvet Scoters, six Long-tailed Ducks and a Red-throated Diver were off West Wemyss and at Pittenweem there was an excellent count of c600 Shags roosting and feeding just offshore. At Dalgety Bay, a Great Crested Grebe, three Little Grebes, 24 Red-breasted Mergansers and two Goldeneye were seen, a 1st winter Iceland Gull, two Kittiwakes, a Fulmar, 26 Long-tailed Ducks, c120 Eiders, 30 Razorbills, 12 Guillemots, 28 Gannets and a Red-throated Diver were seen off Kinghorn (4th), three Mediterranean Gulls, a 1st winter and two adults, were at Loch Gelly and the highlights of a count at Newmills Bay were two Black-tailed Godwits, 13 Great Crested Grebes and six Greenshanks. Four Little Grebes, two male Stonechats, 12 Cormorants and c15 Tufted Ducks were noted at Kinghorn Loch (5th) and south of Dunfermline refuse tip, 40 Whooper Swans, 54 Greylag Geese, 26 Pink-footed Geese, two Great Black-backed Gulls, 954 Herring Gulls, five Common Gulls, 10 Fieldfares and 48 Starlings were counted, a Grey Wagtail was noted at St Bridget’s, Dalgety Bay and a single Great Northern Diver was a surprise find in Burntisland Harbour (6th). c800 Pink-footed Geese were in fields near Pittenweem Dump, a female Blackcap and three Tree Sparrows were in a Wormit garden and 11 Magpies were counted in one tree in St Andrews. There was an excellent count of 128 Corn Buntings at Sandyhills, Kingsbarns, 150 Fieldfares, 15 Mistle Thrushes, c20 Twite, a Cormorant over and one Kestrel were noted at Pittenweem and not far away at Carnbee Reservoir, 12 Mallards, four Tufted Ducks, two Wigeon, 25 Teal, two Coots, two Moorhens, two Little Grebes, two Oystercatchers, two Mute Swans, two Stonechats, eight Mistle Thrushes and 10 Fieldfares were all noted. 98 Scaup, 350 Common Scoters and 50 Velvet Scoters were all seen off St Andrews and in fields just north of Baldridge estate, Dunfermline seven Whooper Swans, 55 Greylag Geese, 35 Pink-footed Geese, 48 Yellowhammers, 22 Reed Buntings, 41 Chaffinches, two Greenfinches, eight Fieldfares, two Redwings and 450 Woodpigeons were counted. c250 Skylarks, 40 Linnets, 20 Yellowhammers and a Stonechat were seen at Plains Farm, Dunshalt (7th) and the Corn Bunting count at Sandyhills, Kingsbarns rose to 140, with 60 Yellowhammers, 45 Tree Sparrows and 15 Reed Buntings also noted, 12 Goosanders were noted at Aberdour.

The first drumming Great Spotted Woodpecker of the year was heard at Culross (8th) and the Great Northern Diver was still showing well in Burntisland Harbour. Not far away at Kinghorn Loch, the drake Ring-necked Duck, 106 Tufted Ducks, three Pochard, 20 Wigeon and seven Teal were seen and from Newburgh c6 Bearded Tits were seen on Mugdrum Island. Alongside the Great Northern Diver at Burntisland Harbour a sinensis Cormorant was noted (9th), a male Blackcap was in a Glenrothes garden and c8 Buzzards, one Sparrowhawk, c65 Fieldfares, c10 Redwings and eight Mistle Thrushes were seen in the Lindores to Redmyres area. The Ring-necked Duck was still present at Kinghorn Loch, with five Pochard, one Snipe, one Lesser Black-backed Gull and 40 Goldeneye also noted, 11 Grey Partridges, one Grey Heron, eight Mistle Thrushes, c20 Fieldfares, c10 Blackbirds, two Greenfinches and c10 Crossbills were seen on Windmill Road, Cellardyke and a Snipe was seen circling the SUDs pond, Dunfermline, with 18 Waxwings also noted flying over east towards Calais Muir Woods. 338 Greylags, 112 Pink-feet and one Lapwing were at Barns Farm, eight Crossbills were seen at the Morrisons store in Glenrothes (9th/10th) and in the west a Nuthatch was heard in Culross (10th). Two adult Mediterranean Gulls, 37 Goldeneye, two Grey Wagtails and a Peregrine were seen at Kirkcaldy Harbour and on Windmill Road, Cellardyke 12 Grey Partridges, 15 Fieldfares, one Woodcock, 12 Crossbills, four Coal Tits, six Blue Tits, 10 Blackbirds and four Robins were counted, three Buzzards were seen over Wormit Hill and the flock of 18 Waxwings were seen flying once again towards Calais Muir Woods, Dunfermline, presumably to roost. Alongside the still present Great Northern Diver in Burntisland Harbour (11th) was a 1st winter Glaucous Gull and seen over Wormit Hill were three Buzzards, one Peregrine, one Kestrel and a Sparrowhawk. A Ladybank garden (13th) hosted one Yellowhammer, 26 Greenfinches and two Bullfinches and two Great Northern Divers were seen off Aberdour. The Ring-necked Duck was still on Kinghorn Loch, alongside 182 Tufted Ducks and a Goosander and the Great Northern Diver was still present at Burntisland. Four Long-tailed Ducks, one Fulmar, one male Bullfinch, one Grey Wagtail, three Turnstones, two Redshanks and a Kestrel were noted at Ravenscraig, Kirkcaldy and a scarce Brambling and two Goldcrests were seen at Newburgh. A Black-throated Diver, 680 Eiders and 12 Long-tailed Ducks were off Pettycur, Kinghorn (15th), with a Black-throated Diver and one Razorbill nearby at Burntisland. A Short-eared Owl headed SW over the sand banks at Out Head (16th) and between Balcomie Castle and the golf course a Chiffchaff was noted, with 20 Twite mixed in with 20 Linnets also seen there, a Woodcock was watched coming in off the sea at Fife Ness, with a Red-throated Diver also seen. At Tayport, a Little Gull, one Little Egret, four Pintail, two Jack Snipe and 16 Snipe were seen, at Barns Farm, c320 Greylags were seen resting and along at Torry Bay 15 Great Crested Grebes were counted in one group, with some showing early summer plumage and at Valleyfield Lagoons, three Woodcocks were seen. 26 Golden Plovers were noted at Kilmany (17th), c50 Snow Buntings were seen just north of the car park at Kinshaldy, a genuine Hooded Crow was with Carrion Crows on the foreshore at Tayport, also two Little Egrets and two Pintail were noted. At Mairsland Farm, Auchtermuchty c45 Yellowhammers, 12 Greenfinches and eight Linnets were counted and a 1st winter Mediterranean Gull was seen flying low around houses in Dunfermline. A female Goosander at Kilmany (18th) was only the 3rd record there in 34 years. A Great Northern Diver, five Red-throated Divers, one Slavonian Grebe, 41 Scaup, two Greenshanks and two Ravens were seen from St Andrews Pier, c10 Bullfinches and a Peregrine were noted at Newburgh and in a garden in Dunfermline there was a count of 27 Redpolls (19th). A Great Northern Diver was off Burntisland Harbour and counted from a vantage point over St Andrews were 9,880 scoters, 14 Great Northern Divers, two Black-throated Divers and 27 Red-throated Divers and at Kirkcaldy the drake Ring-necked Duck was back at Beveridge Park. A Great Northern Diver was just offshore at Cellardyke and there was a good count of c500 Rooks at Kilmany (20th). A Nuthatch was in Balbirnie Park, Markinch (21st).

A White-tailed Eagle was watched at Kilmany (22nd) and counted just south of the refuse tip at Dunfermline were 24 Whooper Swans, 421 Pink-footed Geese, 60 Greylag Geese, a Peregrine (on pylon), one Brambling, c150 Chaffinches, c60 Yellowhammers, c20 Reed Buntings, 60 Linnets, 15 Tree Sparrows, eight Skylarks, 800 Woodpigeons and 1200 Herring Gulls. Not far away at the entrance to Broomhall Estate at Charlestown two Nuthatches were seen. An adult Mediterranean Gull was on the beach at West Wemyss, with another adult seen off the Lorry Park on the prom at Kirkcaldy. At Kingskettle (23rd) c800 Pink-feet were in a field to the east of Ladybank Road, the Ring-necked Duck and a Pochard were on Kinghorn Loch, a ringtail Hen Harrier was seen at Boghall, Kingsbarns and off Balcomie Beach a Black Guillemot and a Long-tailed Duck were noted. Close by off Fife Ness, seven Red-throated Divers were counted and the first of a couple of Barn Owls seen recently was on a fence post between Auchtermuchty and Dunshalt, only one female Ring-necked Duck and drake Smew were at Cameron Reservoir, where eight Goosanders and nine Whooper Swans were also present, 14 Whoopers were also watched going over the Army base at Leuchars (24th). 11 Waxwings flew over NW over Wester Bogie Road, Kirkcaldy and seven Grey Partridges were noted near Balmullo. A Kingfisher was seen on the Kinness Burn, St Andrews and the Snow Bunting flock at Kinshaldy was counted at c35, with five Skylarks also present, six pairs of Fulmars had returned early to the Harbour walls at Dysart and on Windmill Road, Cellardyke another count produced three pairs of Bullfinches, four Crossbills, two Redpolls, one Sparrowhawk, six Blackbirds, four Robins and a Woodcock on the edge of a field at the caravan park. Two adult Mediterranean Gulls and a Pochard were on Kinghorn Loch and at Seafield (25th), nine Goosanders, one Brent Goose, two Ringed Plovers, one Black-tailed Godwit, two female Stonechats, 10 Goldfinches, one Greenfinch, 10 Turnstones, one Song Thrush and two Pied Wagtails were noted and at Kinghorn Loch the lone Ring-necked Duck popped up once more. c40 Redpolls, one Sparrowhawk, one Buzzard and a Redshank on the pond, were seen at Wormit Den, an adult Mediterranean Gull was at Burntisland, 2030 Pink-footed Geese were counted at Cockairnie and the other Barn Owl reported, was at Milton of Balgonie. The Ring-necked Duck and accompanying Pochard were seen at Kinghorn Loch (26th) and the Great Northern Diver was still present at Burntisland Harbour. Seen in fields north of Baldridge Estate, Dunfermline (27th) were 24 Whooper Swans, 47 Reed Buntings, six Tree Sparrows, 21 Yellowhammers and 850 Woodpigeons and down at the east coast, two Teal, two Tufted Ducks, 20 Mallards and two Little Grebes were seen on the pond at Fairmount Golf Course, near St Andrews. A Kingfisher was seen on the Tayfield Estate at Newport and a ringtail Hen Harrier was noted at Carnbee Reservoir. One Pale-bellied Brent Goose, c9 Purple Sandpipers, two Sanderlings, 11 Ringed Plovers, one male Blackcap, one Grey Wagtail and a Red-throated Diver were noted at Seafield, with another Pale-bellied Brent Goose seen briefly at Dalgety Bay (29th), along with 267 Wigeon and over at Kingsbarns a Black Guillemot was on the sea, with two Puffins, three Great Northern Divers and nine Red-throated Divers watched passing offshore. A fine count of c21 Grey Partridges at Kilmany (30th), was noted as being the largest covey there for a long time, a female/immature Black Redstart was a good find at the lighthouse at Fife Ness, as was a Nuthatch at the east end of Culross. The Wilderness had five Pintail, three Shelducks and a Whooper Swan amongst the usual suspects and an excellent count of 21 Bullfinches along with a flock of Goldfinches was made at Culross, an adult and a 1st winter Mediterranean Gull and a Lapland Bunting were at Kenly Water, 36 Brent Geese, including a Dark-breasted bird and a Little Egret were at Balgove, 1500 Pink-feet, one Barnacle Goose and eight Whooper Swans were counted near Morton Lochs NNR and the Great Northern Diver was still at Burntisland Harbour (31st), along with a 1st winter Glaucous Gull. Along Windmill Road, Cellardyke eight Crossbills, four Bullfinches, two Great Tits, two Coal Tits, one Robin and four Blue Tits were counted and off Tentsmuir a Red-necked Grebe and c6 Slavonian Grebes were noted, while the Snow Bunting flock count was still at c35 just off the car park at Kinshaldy, c30 Redpolls were seen in Wormit and a garden in Burntisland hosted three Blackcaps, a male and two females.

Information supplied courtesy of Malcolm Ware

December started in much the same way as November had, quietly, but Fife’s fantastic autumn for rarities and scarce birds was to continue…. A Short-eared Owl was watched over Cocklemill Marsh (1st), c800 Pink-feet were around the Kilrenny area, there was a good count of 220 Sanderling at Elie and an immature Iceland Gull was a well watched at Kingsbarns. There was a ringed Bar-tailed Godwit on the lower lagoon at Valleyfield (NZU on yellow ring, right leg, red ring on left leg.) The bird was ringed in Norway in September this year. Another scarce bird in Fife, a Red Kite, was seen drifting NE over Morton Lochs NNR, two Stonechats, eight Wigeon and five Rock Pipits were noted at Fife Ness (2nd), with a Bonxie and two Red-throated Divers there (3rd). A Red-throated Diver, four Slavonian Grebes, one Great Crested Grebe, c7 Long-tailed Ducks, 13 Brent Geese, 124 Scaup and 16 Ringed Plovers were seen at Out Head, five roosting Grey Herons were noted at Aberdour, the Hudsonian Godwit, one Spotted Redshank, c60 Scaup and two Little Egrets were at the Eden Estuary LNR, 15 Whooper Swans flew W over Anstruther, an adult and a 2nd winter Mediterranean Gull were at Burntisland, where a male Blackcap was also seen on a garden feeder (4th). Two Common Scoters S, two Velvet Scoters S, two Red-throated Divers S, one Grey Heron, two Fulmars S, 19 Kittiwake S, one Kestrel, 11 Purple Sandpipers and 70 Starlings were noted at Fife Ness, a Black-throated Diver and a Kingfisher were seen at Dalgety Bay, an adult Mediterranean Gull was at Buckhaven, while another adult Mediterranean Gull, one Great Northern Diver, c75 Gannets, two Little Gulls and a Manx Shearwater, were all noted flying east close inshore at East Wemyss in 30 minutes. At Anstruther 400 Gannets, nine Long-tailed Ducks and nine Purple Sandpipers were noted. A Bonxie, 80 Kittiwakes, nine Long-tailed Ducks and 19 Common Scoters were watched passing Kinghorn, the Hudsonian Godwit was still present on the Eden Estuary (5th) and across at Cameron Reservoir a female Ring-necked Duck was a terrific find, a Woodcock was at Balcomie, with a Slavonian Grebe watched passing Fife Ness and along at Anstruther, two Black-throated Divers, one Great Northern Diver and eight Long-tailed Ducks were seen. Alongside the Ring-necked Duck at Cameron Reservoir (6th) was an immature drake Smew and three female Scaup, at the coastal strip from the mouth of the Kenly Burn to Boghall Farm, c7 Lapland Buntings, c60 Twite, 60 Tree Sparrows, six Corn Buntings, 80 Yellowhammers, 70 Reed Buntings, 60 Linnets, 40 Chaffinches, 35 Skylarks and a Greenshank were counted and across at Kinghorn Loch another Ring-necked Duck, a drake this time, was found along with two adult Mediterranean Gulls and a Pochard. A Jack Snipe, an immature male Peregrine and c1000 Woodpigeons were noted at Kilmany, a Marsh Harrier, one Buzzard, 22 Curlews and a Grey Heron were seen at Rossie Bog and c90 Curlews and c20 Oystercatchers were in fields next to Braefoot Storage Plant. A Tawny Owl was heard calling in Ladybank and yet another potential first for Fife, a Rustic Bunting, was expertly found near Kingsbarns (7th), but proved very elusive. The count of Mediterranean Gulls rose to three adults and two 1st winter birds at Kinghorn Loch, with the drake Ring-necked Duck seen briefly before flying off with Tufted Ducks. c40 Snow Buntings were at Tentsmuir Point NNR and an excellent count of 24 Magpies was made at Dalgety Bay.

Five to six Lapland Buntings were seen in fields north of Kingsbarns (8th), the Ring-necked Duck was still at Kinghorn Loch, as were a Water Rail, two Bullfinches and two Little Grebes and the female Ring-necked Duck was still showing well at Cameron Reservoir, along with four female-type Scaup. Six Red-breasted Mergansers and two Little Grebes were noted at Stenhouse Reservoir and an immature Marsh Harrier was watched at Newburgh and a Short-eared Owl was seen quartering fields near Kingsbarns. Four Whooper Swans were in stubble fields at Kilmany (9th), an adult Mediterranean Gull was at the river mouth at Leven and a drake Ring-necked Duck was on Beveridge Park Pond, with also a drake Goosander present. 10 Lapland Buntings were in a field west of Kenly Water, with c150 Twite nearby at Boghall, Kingsbarns, further west at Newmills Bay two Greenshanks, one Kingfisher and one Pintail were noted. Three Woodcocks in Knockhill Quarries were a good find, as was an adult Mediterranean Gull with 400 Common Gulls at Dunshalt. The drake Ring-necked Duck and two Mediterranean Gulls were present again at Kinghorn Loch (10th), with the female Ring-necked Duck, immature drake Smew, two redhead Goosanders, four Scaup, seven Pintail, 86 Wigeon and one Whooper Swan at Cameron Reservoir also. The 1st winter Hudsonian Godwit, 54 Black-tailed Godwits, one Bar-tailed Godwit, one Little Egret and 24 Knot were all noted at Guardbridge, two Green Sandpipers, a scarce species this year, were at Letham Pools and over at Kilmany, c500 Pink-footed Geese joined the four Whooper Swans there, with a large mixed flock of c450 Rooks/Jackdaws and c850 Woodpigeons also noted. An unusual count of 13 Yellowhammers in a Ladybank garden was made (11th). The drake Ring-neckedDuck was at the west end of Kinghorn Loch with Tufted Ducks and the Hudsonian Godwit was with 30 Black-tailed Godwits at the Eden Estuary, also a Slavonian Grebe and four Little Egrets were noted. At the Fairmont cliff top, near St Andrews a Pomarine Skua went W then SW, also one Great Northern Diver NW, one Red-throated Diver on the sea and a Raven W over the shore. Not far away at Boarhills (12th), 16 Lapland Buntings, were often seen flying around the stubble fields at Hillhead Farm, the female Ring-necked Duck, immature drake Smew, three female Scaup and six Pintail were all still at Cameron Reservoir and the count of Pink-footed Geese at Kilmany had risen to c1240, alongside the four Whooper Swans. Seen off Ruddons Point were a Great Northern Diver, two Black-throated Divers, nine Red-throated Divers and a Slavonian Grebe, with one Red-necked Grebe and four Red-throated Divers seen from Kincraig Point. The flock of c35 Snow Buntings were seen not far from the Kinshaldy Car Park at Tentsmuir and alongside the ever-growing Pink-footed Geese flock (c1400) at Kilmany (13th) there were four Whooper Swans, with c250 Fieldfares also seen. The Snow Bunting flock at Tentsmuir also grew with 40 seen, the Hudsonian Godwit was still with the Black-tailed Godwit flock at the Eden Estuary, also one Bar-tailed Godwit and a Greenshank were noted. At Dalgety Bay, two Slavonian Grebes, three Great Created Grebes, 31 Shelduck and 32 Wigeon were counted, an unusual sighting of a Spotted Redshank was made at St Andrews Harbour Pier and near the Dunfermline Rubbish Tip, 54 Whooper Swans, 140Pink-footed Geese and 900 Herring Gulls were seen. The Hudsonian Godwit was reported once more from the Eden Estuary (14th), two Lapland Buntings, six Yellowhammers and a flock of 40 Tree Sparrows were reported from fields near Kingsbarns, the drake Ring-necked Duck was seen again at Beveridge Park, Kirkcaldy.

A fine male Black Redstart was found at Elie (15th), the first winter Hudsonian Godwit, c50 Black-tailed Godwits, one Greenshank, one Kingfisher and a Sparrowhawk were all at Guardbridge, the drake Ring-necked Duck was still at Beveridge Park, with a Ring-necked Parakeet also seen. A Peregrine was seen on a pylon at Parkneuk and not far away at Craigluscar an immature female Scaup, a 1st record for this site, was present, also present were three drake Goosanders. Down at the coast at Dalgety Bay, two Slavonian Grebes were noted, a Merlin was seen at the roadside, near Airdrie and at Torry Bay, seven Great Crested Grebes, and two Pintails were counted. At Out Head, two Black-throated Divers and 12 Twite were seen, at Kinghorn Loch the drake Ring-necked Duck was still amongst Tufted Ducks, with also a Water Rail and many Bullfinches seen. The drake Ring-necked Duck was still present at Kinghorn Loch (16th), with the Hudsonian Godwit also still present at the Eden Estuary, a Slavonian Grebe and one Red-throated Diver were seen off Dalgety Bay and a Peregrine was seen on a post in a field east of East Wemyss, the Hudsonian Godwit, one Kingfisher, one Spotted Redshank, one Greenshank, three Little Egrets, nine Brent Geese, one Red-throated Diver, one Shoveler and c10 Greenshanks were all noted at the Eden Estuary (17th), the Lapland Bunting flock at Hillhead Farm, Boarhills had risen to 14 and at Boghall Farm, Kingsbarns 110 Twite were in a Turnip field by the coastal path. A single Waxwing was seen briefly with a flock of Goldfinches near Kinghorn Loch, the flock of c40 Snow Buntings were seen south of car park at Kinshaldy, but were very mobile and amongst a large raft of Common Scoters close inshore there, was an immature drake Surf Scoter, also c10 Slavonian Grebes. two Chiffchaffs were seen from the coastal path at east end of Sealstrand, Dalgety Bay and the Black Redstart continued to show very well at Elie Harbour Pier. At Kingsbarns (18th) a scarce juvenile Glaucous Gull and a 2nd winter Mediterranean Gull were seen well, the female Ring-necked Duck and immature drake Smew were still present at Cameron Reservoir (19th), with a very vocal tristis-type Chiffchaff in Sallows at the west end, also four Scaup were noted. An adult Mediterranean Gull was on the riverside opposite the Swimming Pool at Leven. Noted at St Andrews were c200 Fulmars, c150 Scaup, one Black-throated Diver, with the female Ring-necked Duck, a drake Smew, four Scaup and two Goosanders still present not far away at Cameron Reservoir (20th), 69 Black-tailed Godwits, five Bar-tailed Godwits and a Little Egret were counted on the Eden Estuary LNR, two Hawfinches flew S over a field at the eastern edge of Spinkie Den, near St Andrews, the Black Redstart, one Stonechat and three Rock Pipits were at Elie and the drake Ring-necked Duck along with four Mediterranean Gulls, three adults and a 1st winter, were noted at Kinghorn Loch. The Snow Bunting count was at 48 at Tentsmuir and there was still no sign of the Hudsonian Godwit amongst the 35 Black-tailed Godwits at the Eden Estuary LNR, where one Little Egret was still present. 94 Scaup were counted off St Andrews from the Aquarium Car Park.

On the beach next to the Harbour at Elie, the Black Redstart continued to show extremely well (22nd), two Slavonian Grebes were at Dalgety Bay, one Little Gull was off Tentsmuir Point NNR, one Black-throated Diver S and two Great Northern Divers SE were noted from Fife Ness (23rd), a Great Black-backed Gull flew N at Kilmany, a very scarce bird in those parts. The drake Ring-necked Duck was still at Kinghorn Loch, two adult White-tailed Eagles were seen along the Eden Estuary and three Snow Buntings were also at Out Head, an immature Marsh Harrier was noted at Newburgh and 41 Snow Buntings were still at Tentsmuir. One Spotted Redshank, 62 Black-tailed Godwits and one Bar-tailed Godwit were seen from the Eden Estuary Centre, a Ring-Necked Parakeet was seen again in Beveridge Park, Kirkcaldy and flew towards Raith Estate, three Lapland Buntings and a Merlin were seen in stubble fields north of Boarhills and at Kinghorn a 1st winter Iceland Gull flew W, two Great Northern Divers, one Black-throated Diver, four Red-throated Divers, two adult and one 2nd year Mediterranean Gull and a Velvet Scoter W were all noted. Up the Lomond Hills, between West and East Lomond, 12 Bullfinches, two Stonechats, two Ravens and two Snipe were seen (24th), between Kingsbarns and Boarhills c11 Lapland Buntings were seen in fields, the female Ring-neckedDuck, a drake Smew, four Scaup, three Whooper Swans and 11 Goosanders were at Cameron Reservoir, a female Smew flew fairly close in heading N at Tentsmuir and at Hillend Farm, Boarhills 13 Lapland and two Snow Buntings were a nice Christmas present for one lucky observer (25th). c80 Twite were at Boghall, Kingsbarns and at Kingskettle, 20 Whooper Swans were in a field to the N of village and at Kettlehill, 19 Fieldfares and three Bullfinches were seen. Two female Ring-necked Ducks, a drake Smew and a Scaup were seen at Cameron Reservoir (27th), 12 Lapland Buntings and 120 Twite were noted at Boghall, Kingsbarns, eight Siskins and 75 Fieldfares were seen at Pitmilly and across at Kirkcaldy, the drake Ring-necked Duck was once again on Beveridge Park pond. At Kincraig one Great Northern Diver passed W, one Whimbrel was amongst the Curlew flock on the grass and four Crossbills were watched drinking from the stream at the car park, an adult Mediterranean Gull was at Levenmouth, the Snow Bunting flock were still very mobile at Tentsmuir, with the count at 40 and a littoralis Rock Pipit was noted at Cellardyke, with this bird being part of a ringing project in Norway. This bird has orange coloured rings. A drake Scaup was on Kilconquhar Loch, three Little Egrets were on the Eden Estuary LNR, with another, single bird, not far away at Tayport, two Crossbills flew over Binnend, Burntisland NE (28th) and the two female Ring-necked Ducks were still on show at Cameron Reservoir, alongside two drake Smew, a Scaup and a Woodcock. c100 Scaup were counted off St Andrews, from the Sea Life Centre Car Park, 33 Snow Buntings, c20 Slavonian Grebes, one Little Egret and a Greenshank were at Tentsmuir, a Dark-bellied Brent Goose, four Pintail and two Little Egrets were at Tayport and another drake Smew popped up at Ballo Reservoir, an immature female Marsh Harrier and a Peregrine were noted at Newburgh and at Crail a 1st winter Glaucous Gull was seen in the gull flock in the field E of Sauchope (29th), with a 2nd year Iceland Gull seen taking off and flying over the houses. Also noted amongst the gulls were an adult Mediterranean Gull, and a Scandinavian Herring Gull, also one Merlin was in the vicinity, with one Lapland Bunting also in the first field to the left as you come out of Crail. A ringtail Hen Harrier was seen over fields at west end of Cameron Reservoir, where one female Ring-necked Duck and a drake Smew were present. An adult Little Gull and an adult Mediterranean Gull were seen off Kinghorn and a bit further west a Carrion Crow/Hooded Crow hybrid was among the corvids at Torry Bay. 19 Ringed Plovers and two Purple Sandpipers were at Elie, the drake Ring-necked Duck was still on Beveridge Park pond, Kirkcaldy, an immature female Marsh Harrier was at Rossie Bog and in stubble fields just north of the caravan park at Crail were two Lapland Buntings and 16 Corn Buntings. 17 Pale-bellied Brent Geese were counted in Balgove Bay and off Fife Ness, one Black Guillemot N, one Great Northern Diver N and five Red-throated Divers were counted. The Snow Buntings were counted at 38 at Tentsmuir and way over west at Craigluscar, a female Scaup, a female Goosander and 36 Whooper Swans were noted. There was negative news from the Eden Estuary area with still no sign of the Hudsonian Godwit. At Cameron Reservoir, two female Ring-necked Ducks, two drake Smew and a Scaup were seen and in fields N of thecaravan site at Sauchope, Crail, c6 Lapland Buntings were noted. c16 Lapland Buntings were seen in stubble fields at Boghall, Kingsbarns and across at Anstruther, 15 Crossbills, eight Bullfinches, 60 Fieldfares, 10 Mistle Thrushes and c18 Redwings were seen in pines on Windmill Road. At Luthrie, c100 Fieldfares were noted, a Jack Snipe, an adult Mediterranean Gull, two Little Egrets and three Pintail were at Tayport and nearby at a frozen Morton Lochs NNR a Water Rail and a Little Egret were seen. Three Little Egrets flew over the A985 at Kincardine and a minimum count of 17 Long-tailed Tits was made in a Ladybank garden. The two female Ring-necked Ducks, two drake Smew (adult and immature) and a Scaup were still showing well at Cameron Reservoir and in a Barley field W of the golf course on the St Andrews/Guardbridge road, 33 Pale-bellied Brent Geese were seen feeding (31st), there was a good count of 40 Corn Buntings at Sauchope, Crail and from the first car park at St Andrews a Great Northern Diver (close in) and c95 Scaup were counted. Finally this year there were 20 Wigeon, four Redshanks and a Little Grebe off St Bridget’s Kirk, Dalgety Bay.

Information supplied courtesy of Malcolm Ware