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The month commenced with two Ravens at Balgownie, a Kingfisher at Cocklemill Marsh and an immature Marsh Harrier at Newburgh where there was also a Peregrine (1st). A pair of Goosanders on the Motray Burn, Kilmany was noted as only the second record of this species there in the last 24 years. The Green-winged Teal was still visible from the Eden Estuary Centre, three Pintails, one Pink-footed Goose and a Whooper Swan were at Wilderness while Dunshalt’s Plains Farm hosted five of the latter species along with 12 Grey Partridges and c50 Yellowhammers (2nd). The redhead Smew was still at Lochore Meadows CP and six Crossbills and c35 Siskins were seen at Loch Glow (4th). Single adult Mediterranean Gulls appeared at Kinghorn Loch and Levenmouth then two Green Woodpeckers graced Tentsmuir Point NNR where there were also three Ravens and one Snow Bunting (5th). The redhead Smew lingered at Lochore Meadows CP (6th) and the ‘black-bellied’ Dipper was still present at Hallow Hill, St Andrews.A report from Newton Quarry included 11 Canada Geese, 14 Wigeon, 11 Tufted Ducks, four Gadwalls and c25 Goldeneyes. (7th).

A first winter Mediterranean Gull was at East Wemyss. Ravens were seen in the Lomond Hills at Lower Ballo, where there were three, and there was a single at Rossie Bog where there was also a male Hen Harrier. An adult Black Guillemot in summer plumage was noted off Kingsbarns and sightings at Morton Lochs NNR included one Little Egret, three Dabchicks, three Canada Geese, 38 Teal, 14 Wigeon, c40 Tufted Ducks, two Gadwalls, three Goldeneyes and a Great Spotted Woodpecker (8th). Magpies gathered in an unusually large group of c60 at Dalgety Bay, 28 Brent Geese were noted at Eden Estuary LNR (9th) and a first year Glaucous Gull was at Anstruther (10th). An adult and a second winter Mediterranean Gull were at Buckhaven (11th). Balbuthie Farm held c500 Pink-footed Geese, Ruddons Point continued to host a Whimbrel along with four Twite and observations from the Eden Estuary Centre included 20 Teal, a Great Spotted Woodpecker and 12+ Tree Sparrows (12th). Two Merlins were seen at Crail Airfield (14th).

One adult and one first summer Mediterranean Gull were at East Wemyss (15th). Kirkcaldy’s Ring-necked Parakeet was reported in the Bennochy Cemetery area that was frequented regularly by an individual of this species from 2004-2010 (18th). An adult Mediterranean Gull at Buckhaven had gained almost a full hood, three Ravens were at Knockhill and two male Crossbills were feeding on a pine cone on the road near the Craigmead car park. 26 Scaup were spied off West Sands, St Andrews, c300 Wigeon congregated at Luthrie Floods and a report from Letham Pools included c50 Wigeon, six Gadwalls and seven Goldeneyes (19th).

Mediterranean Gulls were reported at Dysart (adult with almost complete hood) and Buckhaven (one second winter). 14 Bramblings were found at Camilla Loch and sightings from the Eden Estuary Centre included one Little Egret, 16 Teal, two Goldeneyes, ten Black-tailed Godwits, c300 Redshanks, a Sparrowhawk and around ten Tree Sparrows (23rd). A male Blackcap was in a Dunfermline garden (24th) and Buckhaven’s Mediterranean Gulls were an adult with a black hood (25th) then an adult and a second winter bird whilst there was also a Black-throated Diver in the bay (26th). A Dipper was spotted from a bridge in Inverkeithing, a Whimbrel was seen at the mouth of Cocklemill Burn and 24 Fieldfares were in a field at Balhelvie (27th). Another large gathering of Magpies was 34 at Balbeggie (28th), two Ravens were at Elie Ness, 17 Grey Plovers were at Ruddons Point, an adult male Hen Harrier was in the air at Lethans Muir and a Song Thrush decided it was spring by bursting in to song at Gauldry (29th).

Information supplied courtesy of Malcolm Ware and Graham Sparshott

The year commenced with a Little Egret at Tayport, three Crossbills at Morton Lochs NNR and an adult Mediterranean Gull at Kinghorn Loch. A favourite from last year, a drake Smew, continued its tenure at Cameron Reservoir whilst, new for the season, was a first winter Glaucous Gull at Angle Park GP (1st) which was noted again the following day along with a first winter Iceland Gull. As well as Cameron Reservoir’s Smew another long stayer was the Black Redstart at Crail’s Roome Bay (2nd) which was seen again the next day when other sightings were an immature Marsh Harrier, and a Peregrine at Newburgh and an adult Mediterranean Gull at West Wemyss (3rd). Another lingering bird from 2019 was the Ring-necked Parakeet at Kirkcaldy’s  Beveridge Park. The Smew at Cameron Reservoir had two Crossbills for land based company then adult Mediterranean Gulls were reported at Kilconquhar Loch (4th) and Pathhead where there were also 14 Whooper Swans east. The Crail Black Redstart lingered and eight Snow Buntings wereat West Sands, St Andrews, this being the first of regular reports throughout the month. Sightings at Edenside included one Slavonian Grebe, three Little Egrets, 11 Scaup and c60 Black-tailed Godwits (5th). Buckhaven hosted an adult Mediterranean Gull and the redhead Smew at Lochore Meadows CP made its first appearance of the year (6th). A Slavonian Grebe, 12 Scaup and seven Brent Geese were observed from the Eden Estuary Centre (7th).

The eight Snow Buntings at Out Head were joined by two Stonechats and 13 Ringed Plovers then 12 Crossbills were noted at Morton Lochs NNR and an adult Mediterranean Gull turned up in Anstruther (8th). Eden Estuary Centre sightings included one White-tailed Eagle, a Sparrowhawk, 13 Brent Geese, ten Grey Plovers, 40 Knot and a Treecreeper. The drake Smew was still present at Cameron Reservoir, at least 14 Purple Sandpipers were spied from the Museum car park at St. Andrews and the eight Snow Buntings were seen again at both Out Head (9th) and then at West Sands the following day when there were 12 Scaup off the Museum car park at St Andrews. At least eight Pale-bellied Brent Geese were at Eden Estuary LNR and 65 Pink-footed Geese were over Strathkinness where a female Merlin flew past twice. A Little Egret was at Edenside, a Great Northern Diver was on the sea close in at Fife Ness and four Stonechats were at Kilmany. The Cameron Reservoir Smew was still present as was the Black Redstart at Roome Bay (10th). The eight Snow Buntings were reported at West Sands and Out Head where there were also 22 Ringed Plovers, Letham Pools held up to six Whooper Swans, the Cameron Reservoir drake Smew population returned to two, Loch Glow hosted a Merlin, two Stonechats, 60+ Pink-footed Geese and several small groups of Crossbills then a juvenile male Goshawk was reported circling over St Monans. 17 Scaup and five Long-tailed Ducks were spied off St Andrews where there were 150+ Fulmars on the cliffs. Cocklemill Marsh hosted a Little Egret and Ruddons Point held one Whimbrel. Single adult Mediterranean Gulls were seen off Seafield Tower (12th) and at the customary Buckhaven haunt. A flock of 50+ Goldfinches in a Dunfermline town centre garden was a noteworthy total and 14 Mute Swans, ten Whooper Swans and 25 Greylag Geese were at Letham Pools. Out Head’s eight Snow Buntings lingered (13th) and were seen again a couple of days later.

A Red-throated Diver was off Fife Ness (15th), a male Blackcap appeared in a Glenrothes garden and c1000 Pink-footed Geese, a Greenland White-fronted Goose and one Barnacle Goose were reported at Letham Pools. Buckhaven’s adult Mediterranean Gull was joined by a second winter bird (16th). A Little Egret was at Lochore Meadows CP, 700 to 800 Pink-footed Geese were at Bowhouse Farm whilst nearby there were 18 Corn Buntings at Coal Farm and a Tawny Owl sitting on a wall north of Elie. The Black-bellied Dipper joined the local Dippers at Hallow Hill, St Andrews, 12 Snipe, one Woodcock (uncommon here) and a Greenshank were at Valleyfield Lagoons and the Out Head Snow Buntings were still present (17th) and were seen again on the following two days. Two Greenland White-fronted Geese were at Letham Pools and a drake Pintail was at Wilderness (18th). The FBC outing confirmed two drake Smew at Cameron Reservoir and one adult and one second winter Mediterranean Gull at Buckhaven whilst this species was also noted at East Wemyss where there were three adults and four first winter birds. Two Crossbills were at Kilmany Station and up on West Lomond there were 13 Snow Buntings and two Red Grouse with an unusually high count of at least 35 Snipe at Millers Loch. A report from Kinghorn included a Red-throated Diver, one Manx Shearwater and 541 Black-headed Gulls offshore with seven Purple Sandpipers on the rocks (19th). Eight Red-legged Partridges were at Gauldry (20th). Buckhaven held one adult and one second winter Mediterranean Gulls while c25 Waxwings at Ladybank Bowling Club were almost bowled over by a Sparrowhawk (21st). 

About 60 Redwings were at the Bowling Club the next day but only four Waxwings were left. Nine of this species flew west over Wilderness where there were also three Pintails, c400 Teal, a Shelduck, one Greenland White-fronted Goose, one Barnacle Goose and 71 Whooper Swans with c100 Greylag Geese and c650 Pink-footed Geese in fields just east of Ramornie Mains. At Out Head the Snow Bunting count was still eight whilst offshore there were about ten Great Crested Grebes and one Red-throated Diver with a Common Scoter flock. Mediterranean Gull sightings continued with one second winter at Buckhaven and one adult and one first winter at Dysart. Kirkcaldy’s Ring-necked Parakeet was flying about over the town (22nd). A Little Egret was at Cocklemill Marsh and an immature female Goshawk was reported at Cameron Reservoir where there also two Ravens (23rd). Torry Bay hosted about seven Greenshanks and four Black-tailed Godwits then a Barn Owl was seen hunting along a roadside verge on the road between Freuchie and Dunshalt (24th). An adult Mediterranean Gull flew west past Seafield, a Jack Snipe was at Camilla Loch and an adult Tystie in near summer plumage was spied off Kingsbarns where a Black-throated Diver flew north. A Barnacle Goose was still present with hundreds of Pink-footed Geese, c50 Whooper Swans and c40 Greylag Geese at Wilderness (25th) with the Whooper Swan tally increasing to 73 the next day. A second winter Mediterranean Gull was at Buckhaven again and seven Pale-bellied Brent Geese flew into Balgove Bay with 26 of this species being seen in an adjacent cereal field later on. Dunshalt’s Plains Farm hosted five Whooper Swans, c500 Pink-footed Geese and 32 Yellowhammers (26th). Mixed finch flocks comprised 50 to 60 Linnets, two Corn Buntings and ten Chaffinches at Pittenweem’s Coal Farm and Goldfinches, Greenfinches, Linnets, Yellowhammers, four Skylarks and three Corn Buntings at Bowhouse Farm where there was also one Grey Partridge. The redhead Smew continued its  residence at Lochore Meadows CP (27th). There were only four Snow Buntings at Out Head, a Kingfisher was at Tayfield and 20+ Brent Geese and one Little Egret were seen from the Eden Estuary Centre (28th). Two Waxwings were noted in Glenrothes (30th) and the month closed with a female Merlin seen from the Eden Estuary Centre (31st)

Information supplied courtesy of Malcom Ware and Graham Sparshott

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

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

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

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

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

Information supplied courtesy of Malcolm Ware and Graham Sparshott

A possible Red-throated Pipit had been reported on the last day of October at Tentsmuir Point NNR and was found again but with no conclusive ID. A Woodcock was flushed at Auchtermuchty Common with two of this species also noted at Kilminning as well as one Long-eared Owl and two Blackcaps. A single Blackcap was also seen at Fife Ness Muir where there was one Short-eared Owl in off the sea. Reports from Out Head included two Snow Buntings, two Black-necked Grebes, one Slavonian Grebe, six Long-tailed Ducks, and a Little Gull. Camilla Loch hosted two Jack Snipe and a single Brambling then flocks of Fieldfares were noted with 250 over Dalgety Bay and 190 feeding on the golf course at Burntisland (2nd). Seven Pale-bellied Brent Geese flew west at Seafield where there was also a first winter Little Gull then along at Kinghorn, seawatching produced 29 Common Scoters, 55 Long-tailed Ducks, two Goldeneyes, 74 Gannets, 83 Shags and 203 Kittiwakes past as well as 216 Eiders and 144 Common Scoters offshore. A Fife Ness count included six Red-throated Divers N, one Manx Shearwater N, one Bonxie S and one Velvet Scoter N. Kilminning held a Waxwing and a Woodcock while 17 Twite frequented the coastal path at Kingsbarns (3rd). A very pale Mealy Redpoll was found at Balcomie and a redhead Smew put in her first appearance of the autumn at Lochore Meadows CP (4th). An adult Mediterranean Gull, two Little Gulls and a Sandwich Tern were seen at Pathhead, 13 Waxwings were found in St Andrews and the regular count from Fife Ness was five Little Auks, 14 Velvet Scoters, 18 Long-tailed Ducks and ten Red-throated Divers. Kilminning held five Chiffchaffs, 60 Fieldfares, 12 Long-tailed Tits and five Treecreepers (5th) then a morning report from this site the next day included a Siberian Chiffchaff , a Woodcock, a Brambling, at least ten Goldcrests, six Corn Buntings, a Blackcap, and a Great Northern Diver before further afternoon sightings included a male Redstart, two Blackcaps and a Woodcock. Nearby at Balcomie there was a first winter Black Redstart while Fife Ness produced an adult Mediterranean Gull and a Little Auk. 27 Whooper Swans flew in to Kilconquhar Loch where a Water Rail was calling. Four Snow Buntings and four Stonechats were at Out Head then a Black-necked Grebe was at Elie Harbour (6th). At Buckhaven there were one adult, one second winter and two first winter Mediterranean Gulls, there was a mobile flock of 12 Waxwings over Wormit and a Great Northern Diver was off Dalgety Bay Sailing Club (7th).

Out Head hosted a Whinchat, three Snow Buntings, a White-tailed Eagle and c15 Sanderlings, Buckhaven held two second winter Mediterranean Gulls then a Great Northern Diver was seen offshore at East Wemyss. 21 Whooper Swans and a first calendar year Marsh Harrier were noted at Newburgh (8th). At Dysart there were five Waxwings flying west then seawatching at Kinghorn yielded 21 Eiders, 114 Common Scoters, 31 Long-tailed Ducks, four Red-throated Divers, two Bar-tailed Godwits, 98 Black-headed Gulls and a Mediterranean Gull all past as well as c30 Long-tailed Ducks, c80 Common Scoters and c150 Eiders offshore. Five Little Auks were off Anstruther, three Scaup were spied from Ruddons Point and c150 of this sea duck were off the Golf Museum car park at St Andrews where there was also a Kingfisher at the harbour. A male Northern Bullfinch turned up at Shell Bay caravan park, a Merlin flew over Balcomie and this species of raptor was also seen at Tentsmuir Point NNR as well as a Greenshank and two Little Egrets. Observations from Fife Ness included seven Little Auks N and a single just offshore in addition to one Pomarine Skua N, six Common Scoters N and a Velvet Scoter N while a Swallow at Crombie Point didn’t seem to have read the migration manual (9th). A similarly confused Swallow was at Elie where the Black-necked Grebe seemed to be settling in for the winter and there were 27 Golden Plovers. A redhead Smew was at Cameron Reservoir, an adult Mediterranean Gull was at the east end of Dysart as well as a Little Auk close inshore, not in the best of health. A report from Ferry Hills included 1066 Pink-footed Geese, two Whooper Swans, three Goldeneyes, 11 Red-throated Divers, a Merlin, four Waxwings and two Bramblings over. At Out Head, sightings included six Slavonian Grebes, 11 Red-breasted Mergansers, one White-tailed Eagle, two Snow Buntings, five Stonechats and three Brent Geese. Balgownie Woods held two Ravens and two Bramblings then two Little Egrets graced Tentsmuir Point, five Jack Snipe and 17 Snipe were at Cocklemill Marsh and a Short-eared Owl patrolled Ruddons Point. An unseasonable Puffin was spied off Kincraig Point, a Red-necked Grebe was in the harbour at Inchkeith and the tally from ‪Fife Ness ‪was one Great Northern Diver, a Mediterranean Gull, one Velvet Scoter, 24 Red-throated Divers, two Purple Sandpipers, two Teal, two Shelducks, 44 Common Scoters, five Red-breasted Mergansers and 16 Gannets (10th). 81 Whooper Swans (including nine juveniles) were just north of Kingskettle, and Lochore Meadows CP retained the redhead Smew (11th). 60 Redwings visited Moss Plantation and a Blackcap decided to break in to song at Strathkinness (12th). A Short-eared Owl was over the golf course at Out Head (13th).

A second winter Mediterranean Gull was at Balbeggie Pond where there were also c80 Redwings over. A good candidate for Hooded Crow was near Inverkeithing High School, 121 Velvet Scoters were off Leven and a male Merlin and a male Hen Harrier were at present at Knockhill. Examination of the sea off Fife Ness produced a Great Northern Diver, one Black-throated Diver, six Red-throated Divers, nine Scaup, 193 Eiders, 294 Common Gulls, a Wigeon, a Teal and two Long-tailed Ducks (15th). Six Waxwings frequented Dairsie, a juvenile Pomarine Skua flew east past Dysart Harbour where there were 17 Velvet Scoters offshore. Out Head sightings included 84 Scaup, 16 Pintails, six Long-tailed Ducks, 17 Slavonian Grebes and seven Great Crested Grebes while Largo Bay hosted five Scaup, four Slavonian Grebes and one Black-throated Diver. A Greylag Goose and a Barnacle Goose accompanied c8000 Pink-footed Geese north of Cupar (16th). Loch Gelly held four Scaup, two Whooper Swans, seven Goosanders, 48 Lapwings, 24 Greylags, 110 Goldeneyes, 102 Black-headed Gulls and a Kingfisher. Six Waxwings were at Cellardyke, a Little Gull was at Pettycur and two Twite were on the beach at Kingsbarns and a Kingfisher was fishing in rock pools there (17th). Five Waxwings turned up in central Kirkcaldy and the same number of this species appeared in St Andrews then a group of eight or nine Snow Buntings were noted on the east side of West Lomond (18th). Balbuthie Farm held 1000+ Pink-footed Geese over two fields and at Out Head a White-tailed Eagle (turquoise seven) and a Short-eared Owl were noted along with a stunning Grey Plover still in full summer plumage (19th). A Pomarine Skua and a Black-throated Diver were off Anstruther and a Lesser Whitethroat was at Cellardyke (20th). Five mobile Snow Buntings were at Out Head and Elie’s Black-necked Grebe remained (21st).

Buckhaven hosted an adult, one first winter and one second winter Mediterranean Gulls, a first calendar year Marsh Harrier was at                     Newburgh, a Swallow decided it preferred Burntisland to more southerly haunts (22nd) and loitered the next day (23rd). Central Kirkcaldy’s Waxwings numbered around six. 45 Goldeneyes and two Slavonian Grebes were seen at  Dalgety Bay (24th) where sightings the following day included a drake Pochard, 19 Great Crested Grebes, a Slavonian Grebe and three female Common Scoters. A scouting of Valleyfield Lagoons yielded c40 Snipe, four or five Jack Snipe, three Bearded Tits, 35 Teal, two Greenshanks, nine Bar-tailed Godwits, six Red-breasted Mergansers and six Great Crested Grebes (25th).Three Waxwings turned up in the vicinity of Kirkcaldy’s now famous car wash, giving rise to hope of a repeat of last year’s numbers, while Dalgety Bay’s single Waxwing also chose a traditional haunt – a Tesco car park. A Slavonian Grebe was close in off Burntisland (27th). Four Greenshanks were on the shore at St Andrews(28th). An adult male Goshawk was circling over woods adjacent to the Secret Bunker, a Red-necked Grebe was off Dalgety Bay Sailing Club where there was also a Chiffchaff in the trees nearby. An immature drake Smew graced Kilconquhar Loch (29th) and was still present the following day when the Ring-necked Parakeet was showing well in Kirkcaldy’s Beveridge Park. The Black-necked Grebe confirmed that it planned to be a regular occurrence at Elie. A Black Guillemot appeared off Tentsmuir Point NNR, a small party of Crossbills was at Wether Hill and a single Snipe was noted at Outh Moor. A Snow Bunting, six Slavonian Grebes and 30 Scaup were at Out Head and the month ended with a report from Kinghorn which included two Red-throated Divers, 14 Common Scoters, 252 Eiders and one Little Gull (30th).

Information supplied courtesy of Malcolm Ware and Graham Sparshott