Bird Sightings

The month of November started with a late Swallow and a Great Northern Diver at Ferry Hills, with single Little Gull and Little Auk seen at Fife Ness on the 2nd. Two Black-throated Divers were off Kirkcaldy promenade on the 3rd, with two Sandwich Terns seen nearby at Seafield. Four Taiga Bean Geese was seen from Ferry Hills on the 4th with a Marsh Harrier at Newburgh and a Swift sp. seen briefly at Cupar. 46 Little Auks and a Great Northern Diver went past Fife Ness on the 5th with a Snow Bunting also seen there and 27 Twite were at Wormiston. It was certainly a “diver” day in the inner Forth with four Great Northern Divers and 59 Red-throated Divers seen passing Kinghorn early morning and three Great Northern Divers, a Black-throated Diver and 74 Red-throated Divers at Ferry Hills. A juvenile Arctic Tern and a female Pintail were also seen from Kinghorn that morning. The next day was very similar with 24 Little Auks past Fife Ness and, at Kinghorn, four Great Northern Divers, 56 Red-throated Divers and seven Little Gulls were noted. Twite were seen at the Stinky Pool, Fife Ness, with 50 counted, and 22 were at Boarhills later in the day. On the 7th a juvenile Little Stint was seen on the salt marsh at Edenside and a Lesser Whitethroat was seen in St Andrews.

First light at Kinghorn on the 8th saw 54 Red-throated Divers flying west with four Little Gulls offshore while later at Fife Ness, five Little Auks were seen. The following day, a Marsh Harrier was seen at Newburgh and a Bonxie was off Lower Largo. On the 10th from Kinghorn, 38 Red-throated Divers and a Great Northern Diver passed going west with the latter probably relating to the bird seen heading inland at Ferry Hills. Four Little Auks were seen at Fife Ness and one lucky observer at Ruddons Point watched an aerial skirmish between a Goshawk and a Buzzard. A winter-plumaged Black Guillemot was seen at Fife Ness going north on the 11th. The 12th was a busy day in the county with 18 Little Auks, a Great Northern Diver and a Little Gull past Fife Ness. Kinghorn had seven Taiga Bean Geese and 28 Little Gulls (27 of which flew high to the west in one flock) while at Ferry Hills a Tree/Olive-backed Pipit was heard but couldn’t be located on the ground, with 61 Red-throated Divers noted flying inland. A Hawfinch was seen and heard calling in St Andrews before nearby, on the Eden Estuary LNR, 19 Brent Geese and c55 Scaup were seen. A Red Kite was at Moonzie before flying off north and at least seven Bearded Tits were on Mugdrum Island viewed from Newburgh. The 13th began with 49 Little Gulls west at Kinghorn with 30 Red-throated Divers also seen. This number paled in comparison to the 159 seen at Ferry Hills that morning, the consensus being that a lot of these individuals were already in the Inner Forth area and headed inland at first light. Also seen there were a Great Northern Diver and a Snow Bunting with Short-eared Owls watched at Boarhills and Kilminning. At Fife Ness c48 Little Auks and a Little Gull were seen and at Out Head a Pomarine Skua, Great Northern Diver, 51 Little Gulls and two Snow Buntings were reported. 2000 Fieldfares flew south-west over Ferry Hills on the 14th and a Waxwing was seen in Crail. Coble Shore had six Brent Geese and c50 Scaup with a Pomarine Skua and a Great Northern Diver passing Fife Ness, where Little Auks were reported passing but unfortunately no information on numbers was given.

17 Little Auks were off Fife Ness on the 15th with a single Sooty Shearwater and five Little Gulls also noted, along with two late Swallows going south. The next day, 12 Bearded Tits were seen on Mugdrum Island and 400 Golden Plovers were at St Monans. A wet and windy day at Fife Ness on the 17th produced seven Little Gulls and single records of Pomarine Skua, Sooty Shearwater and Great Northern Diver. At Anstruther on the 18th a Little Auk and a Great Northern Diver were seen, with one of the latter also noted at Fife Ness along with 11 Little Gulls and a Sooty Shearwater. Further west, three Bonxies and two Little Gulls were at Kinghorn with a Great Northern Diver and a Little Gull off Dalgety Bay Sailing Club. 46 Little Gulls, a Great Northern Diver and two Red-necked Grebes flew west past Kinghorn on the 19th. A Taiga Bean Goose flew up the Forth at Ferry Hills, where three Great Northern Divers and a juvenile Pomarine Skua were watched flying inland. At Fife Ness a Grey Phalarope, Pomarine Skua, two Great Northern Divers and 148 Little Auks were seen and, nearby, c75 Twite were between Balcomie Beach and the Stinky Pool. Another Grey Phalarope was watched at Out Head and three Little Auks were also there and in St Andrews a Ring Ouzel was reported. Cameron Reservoir turned up a first calendar year drake Smew, and two Green Sandpipers were at the gravel pits at Angle Park. The 20th was a busy day in the county with a Great Northern Diver, 64 Red-throated Divers, three Black-throated Divers, 36 Little Gulls, 55 Little Auks, a 1st winter Black Guillemot and two Red-necked Grebes seen at Kinghorn. A Grey Phalarope and 16 Little Auks were at Fairmont St Andrews with a Great Northern Diver at Ferry Hills. Kingskettle hosted both single European and Greenland White-fronted Geese with a Water Pipit and 48 Twite at Cocklemill Marsh. Fife Ness excelled with nine Grey Phalaropes, 655 Little Auks, 59 Red-throated Divers, a Black-throated Diver, six Great Northern Divers and nine Little Gulls. The following day there were just 50 Little Auks at Fife Ness and three Great Northern Divers, with six Little Auks, eight Little Gulls and a Great Northern Diver at Kinghorn. The two races of White-fronted Geese were still at Kingskettle with 41 Whooper Swans and at Out Head two Grey Phalaropes, seven Little Auks, a Great Northern Diver, three Little Gulls and 92 Scaup were seen.

The 22nd began with two Little Auks and a Great Northern Diver at Kinghorn and a Drake Ring-necked Duck at Beveridge Park boating pond in Kirkcaldy. A Jack Snipe took advantage of a flooded field just outside Gauldry and, similarly, an Iceland Gull did likewise at Luthrie. An apparent Hooded Crow was seen at Out Head with the Greenland White-fronted Goose still near Kingskettle and Water Pipit at Cocklemill Marsh. Seawatching at Fife Ness rewarded the participants with a Grey Phalarope flying south and 46 Little Auks. On the 23rd Little Auks were still to be seen with 15 noted off Kinghorn in a brief seawatch. Two Little Gulls and three Little Auks were at Fife Ness on the 24th with three Little Auks also at Seafield, just offshore. A lone Waxwing was in a private garden at Newburgh with both the European and Greenland White-fronted Geese again at Kingskettle and five Snow Buntings at Out Head. The 1st winter Iceland Gull was again seen at Luthrie on the 25th while a Grey Phalarope was a good find off Burntisland. 12 Waxwings flew over St Michael’s golf course and the Smew was still at Cameron Reservoir the following day. Also on the 26th, six Little Auks flew past East Braes, Kinghorn and a female Ring-necked Duck was at Birnie & Gaddon Lochs LNR and apparently had been present since the 24th. The 27th started with a Swift sp. at Ferry Hills, just as it was getting light, but frustratingly was not seen again. The 1st winter Iceland Gull, female Ring-necked Duck and Water Pipit were seen again at Luthrie, Birnie Loch and Cocklemill Marsh. A Grey Phalarope was off Burntisland on the 28th and was present for a couple of days previously but unreported. At Fife Ness a Great Northern Diver passed and the female Ring-necked Duck continued to afford great views at Birnie Loch.

A Drake Surf Scoter was a good find for this once Fife speciality at West Sands, St Andrews. First light on the 29th the female Ring-necked Duck was still in the north- west corner of Birnie Loch and, nearby, the Greenland White-fronted Goose was at Kingskettle with a Black-throated Diver off Burntisland.

Information supplied courtesy of Malcolm Ware

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

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

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

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

Information supplied courtesy of Malcolm Ware

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

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

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

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

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

Information supplied courtesy of Malcolm Ware

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

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

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

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

Information supplied courtesy of Malcolm Ware

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

Information supplied courtesy of Malcolm Ware

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

Information supplied courtesy of Malcolm Ware

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

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

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

Information supplied courtesy of Malcolm Ware