Bird Sightings

September started with four Ruff, one Green Sandpiper, one Greenshank, one Common Sandpiper and a Snipe at Stenhouse Reservoir (1st), two Black Terns, two Arctic Skuas and 37 Manx Shearwaters were seen off Kinghorn (1st) and a Short-eared Owl and a Merlin were seen at Lower Kilminning (1st). So far this autumn there appears to have been a good influx of Long-tailed Skuas, with a dark juvenile seen at Ferry Hills, along with an Arctic Skua, three Red-throated Divers W, 35 Common Terns and 39 Sandwich Terns (1st). A Hobby was noted at Foodie Ash (1st) and at The Wilderness, one Green Sandpiper, 15 Greenshanks, two Black-tailed Godwits, three Snipe, two Oystercatchers, c295 Lapwings and a female Mandarin Duck were seen (1st) and a Marsh Harrier was watched at Kilconquhar (1st). The Fife Ness seawatching season continues apace with 188 Manx Shearwaters N, 2S, two Balearic Shearwaters N, 20 Sooty Shearwaters N, 215 Little Gulls N, 10S, six Arctic Skuas N, one juvenile Long-tailed Skua N, one adult Pomarine Skua N, six Bonxies N, 121 Sandwich Terns N, 62 Common Terns N, eight Arctic Terns N, 44 Common Scoters N, 2S, 26 Wigeon S, five Red-throated Divers N, 3S, six Whimbrels S, one Greenshank S, two Ruff S, two Knot N and eight Teal S (1st ). Seen at Out Head were one Little Stint, one Ruff, two Whimbrels, two Greenshanks, one Common Sandpiper, four Bar-tailed Godwits, six Little Gulls, one Barn Owl, one Osprey, 12 Arctic Terns W and 135 Canada Geese (1st). Off Fife Ness were two Sooty Shearwaters N, five Arctic Skuas N, two Red-throated Divers N, 1S, 16 Manx Shearwaters N, eight Canada Geese N, one Shelduck N, 35 Common Scoters, 76 Common Terns N, seven Sandwich Terns and one Little Gull N (2nd) and off Kinghorn a Balearic Shearwater headed W and this is another species having a bumper year in Fife, also one Manx Shearwater and one Arctic Skua were noted (2nd). A Pallid Harrier came north from the Isle of May direction and was watched heading NNW over the East Neuk (2nd), if accepted it will be only the second Fife record for this species, one which is being seen much more regularly in Scotland now. As if that wasn’t exciting enough, a Blyth’s Reed Warbler was trapped and ringed in The Patch, Fife Ness, also a Short-eared Owl was present there (2nd). A couple of observers were looking for the Pallid Harrier further north and noted 15 Ravens and four Buzzards east of Strathkinness, with the Raven count particularly notable for this area (2nd), along at Ferry Hills it was a raptor kind of morning with one White-tailed Eagle, one Osprey SW and two juvenile Buzzards SW across the Forth (2nd). At The Wilderness were one Green Sandpiper, seven Greenshanks and one Black-tailed Godwit, a Balearic Shearwater passed Fife Ness N (3rd) and one sharp observer saw a Turtle Dove fly over Kilconquhar Loch, where they also saw a Guillemot, an extremely rare bird on fresh water, in fact this was the observer’s first ever sighting of this particular seabird species at Kilconquhar Loch in many, many years of watching this site. At Guardbridge three juvenile Ruff and 27 Little Egrets were noted (3rd), with the Little Egret count being a new record count for Fife. A Water Rail was seen at Cullaloe LNR (3rd), an adult Roseate Tern NW, 280 Little Gulls and one Red-throated Divers were seen from St Andrews Pier (3rd) and at Ferry Hills, a Short-eared Owl high SW, two Arctic Skuas and two Bonxies W inland were noted (4th). Tayport had a Little Stint, one Black-tailed Godwit, three Ruff, one Greenshank, one Little Egret and, unusually, two Tree Pipits (4th). Little Stints along with Curlew Sandpipers seem to be in good numbers in Fife this year too. A juvenile Curlew Sandpiper, five Ruff and an Arctic Tern were seen at Guardbridge (4th), a Marsh Harrier, seven Black-tailed Godwits, six Greenshanks, seven Snipe and a female Mandarin Duck were noted at The Wilderness (4th), with six Ruff, three Green Sandpipers and a Greenshank seen at Stenhouse Reservoir (4th). An extremely rare Brown Booby was seen from Kinghorn (5th), a great find, with this bird also being seen well from the Lothian side of the Forth. Also from Kinghorn were a Balearic Shearwater which passed E with 12 Manx Shearwaters, later c20 Manx Shearwaters, four Arctic Skuas, one Bonxie and one Black Tern were seen there. Three juvenile Curlew Sandpipers, five Ruff, 26 Little Egrets and a Great Crested Grebe were seen at the Eden Estuary (5th), at Stenhouse Reservoir, wader numbers had dropped a bit with one Green Sandpiper, one Greenshank and two Ruff noted (5th). The seawatching day count at Fife Ness (5th) was 40 Manx Shearwaters N, three Sooty Shearwaters N, one immature Brown Booby N, 165 Little Gulls, five Arctic Skuas N, 1S, one Bonxie S, 22 Common Scoters N, 18S, two Velvet Scoter S, two Red-throated Divers N, 8S, 75 Pink-feet S, three Greenshanks, one Ruff, two Sooty Shearwaters N, 32 Manx Shearwaters N, three Red-breasted Mergansers N, 12 Knot S and four Golden Plovers N, six Black-tailed Godwits were seen at Luthrie (5th) and from Crail (5th), one Black-throated Diver, four Red-throated Divers, one Arctic Skua E, two Whimbrels and 135 Golden Plovers were counted. Further along the coast at Elie, two Black-throated Divers, nine Red-throated Divers, one Greenshank, one Whimbrel and 16 Knot were seen (5th) and off Out Head nine Red-throated Divers, two juvenile Long-tailed Skuas, eight Arctic Skuas and nine Little Gulls were watched (6th). A Yellow Wagtail, a very scarce bird in west Fife, was seen at Burntisland (6th) and nearby at Kinghorn (6th) one juvenile Long-tailed Skua W, two Pomarine Skuas, one Balearic Shearwater, 44 Manx Shearwaters, c12 Arctic Skuas, four Bonxies, two Red-throated Divers, eight Common Scoters, one Little Gull, one Greenshank and one Whimbrel were noted. Still present at the Eden Estuary were two juvenile Curlew Sandpipers and two juvenile Ruff, with four juvenile Little Gulls and 146 Pink-feet also present (6th). One Storm Petrel, 50 Manx Shearwaters N, eight Sooty Shearwaters N, c303 Little Gulls, an adult Sabine’s Gull N, two Arctic Skuas N, 1S, six Bonxies N, 32 Common Scoters N, 25S, six Red-throated Divers S, four Teal N, 45S, 13 Wigeon N, two Red-breasted Mergansers N, one Whimbrel and one Greenshank were all counted from Fife Ness (7th) and at Fairmount, south of St Andrews, two Whitethroats, two Greenshanks, 16 Teal and two Pink-footed Geese W, were seen (7th). Further west, at Newmills, a Little Egret was seen, another species very scarce in the west of Fife (7th). Single Green Sandpiper and Ruff were still at Stenhouse Reservoir (7th).

Three Pale-bellied Brent Geese, three Pintail, two juvenile Little Gulls and five Greenshanks were at Tayport (8th) and not too far away at Out Head (8th) were one juvenile Sabine’s Gull on the water, one juvenile Pomarine Skua, seven Arctic Skuas, one Bonxie, 37 Little Gulls and 122 Velvet Scoters. Birds counted passing at Fife Ness (8th) included seven Manx Shearwaters N, six Sooty Shearwaters N, 4S, five Arctic Skuas, one Bonxie, five Little Gulls, one juvenile Sabine’s Gull S, 26 Sandwich Terns N and 18 Common Scoters. Two Marsh Harriers were seen from Newburgh (8th), at Carlingnose Point, two Long-tailed Skuas headed inland together, one juvenile Pomarine Skua and six Arctic Skuas were also noted (8th). From Elie (8th) one Sooty Shearwater W, 23 Manx Shearwaters E, 22 Common Scoters E and six Little Gulls E were counted and from St Andrews, one juvenile Long-tailed Skua NW, one adult Mediterranean Gull NW, two Bonxies, four Arctic Skuas, three Manx Shearwaters and 79 Little Gulls were noted (8th). Seen from the Eden Estuary Centre (9th) were three Curlew Sandpipers, a Ruff was at Balcomie (9th) and at Tayport, the Spotted Redshank was still present (9th). Highlights from a visible migration watch at Ferry Hills were 726 Meadow Pipits, 466 Siskins and 129 Lesser Redpolls all noted, also a Nuthatch was heard calling from woodland (9th). Seen at Lindores Loch (9th) were eight drake Pochard, a species in real decline in Fife and the day count from Fife Ness (9th) was one Pomarine Skua N, two Arctic Skuas N, four Bonxies N, seven Manx Shearwaters N, 180 Little Gulls, seven Knot on the rocks, also 12N, 9S, one Golden Plover N, 2S, one Red-throated Diver N, 2S, 13 Common Scoters N, 10S, one Goosander S and two Red-breasted Mergansers S. At Angle Park GP (10th) were six Green Sandpipers and 19 Snipe at Ferry Hills three Arctic Skuas headed inland, five Black-tailed Godwits, three Bar-tailed Godwits, 27 Knot, one Spotted Flycatcher, 652 Meadow Pipits and 386 Siskins were logged (10th). Two Curlew Sandpipers were still present at the Eden Estuary, also one Osprey (10th), at Stenhouse Reservoir (10th) were two Green Sandpipers, two Ruff and two Snipe. Down at Kinghorn one juvenile Long-tailed Skua was on the water, two juvenile Long-tailed Skuas passed slowly W together, four Arctic Skuas, c8 Manx Shearwaters, three Fulmars, c150 Gannets and 20 Knot W were seen (10th). Noted at Out Head (10th) were two Wheatears, one Osprey and one Arctic Skua, two Little Egrets were seen at Newburgh (11th), a scarce bird for this site and across at the Eden Estuary, two Little Stints, one Curlew Sandpiper and three Ruff were present (11th). An adult Roseate Tern was in St Andrews Bay (11th), single Spotted Redshanks were seen at Tayport and The Wilderness (11th), the first autumn skein of Pink-footed Geese over Dunfermline were seen (11th) and still present at Angle Park GP were three Green Sandpipers and c20 Snipe (12th). One juvenile Pomarine Skua E and five Arctic Skuas W was the count from Kinghorn (12th), a single Green Sandpiper was at Cullaloe LNR (12th) and the seawatching day count from Fife Ness (12th) was 383 Manx Shearwaters N, 2S, 117 Sooty Shearwaters N, one Balearic Shearwater N, 239 Little Gulls, one dark juvenile Long-tailed Skua N, one Pomarine Skua N, one Bonxie N, 13 Arctic Skuas N, 2S, three Great Northern Divers S, five Red-throated Divers N, 12S, one Wigeon S, one Golden Plover N, 55S, three Knot N, 20S, 22 Pale-bellied Brent Geese N, 43S, 34 Common Scoters N, 5S, 14 Sandwich Terns, 17 Common Terns and six Puffins N. Seen from Ferry Hills (13th) were one juvenile Pomarine Skua, one Arctic Skua, one Bonxie and 11 Red-throated Divers and from Inchcolm, one Little Egret, one Arctic Skua and two Bonxies were seen (13th). Two Pomarine Skuas, c12 Arctic Skuas, six Bonxies, three Brent Geese W, four Little Gulls, four Pintail, one Shoveler, three Wigeon, c25 Teal and c25 Golden Plovers were seen passing Kinghorn (13th), one adult and two juvenile Roseate Terns W, one Arctic Skua NW and 23 Little Gulls were seen north of the Castle Golf Course, St Andrews (13th). Noted at the Cocklemill Burn were three Brent Geese, 61 Red-breasted Mergansers, three Teal, one Wheatear and one Merlin (13th) and logged passing Fife Ness (14th) were four Manx Shearwaters N, two Sooty Shearwater S, seven Bonxies N, two Arctic Skuas N, two Red-throated Divers N, 18S, one Great Northern Diver N, three Canada Geese S, one Greylag Goose S, 30 Pink-feet S, five Brent Geese S, nine Common Scoters N, 18S, 21 Teal, three Knot S, one Bar-tailed Godwit N, two Common Terns and three Sandwich Terns S. 10 adult Mediterranean Gulls and three 2nd calendar year Mediterranean Gulls were counted at Dysart (14th), 19 Greenshanks, 26 Black-tailed Godwits, one Ruff and 23 Pink-footed Geese were at The Wilderness (14th) and seen from Carlingnose Point (14th) were two juvenile Pomarine Skuas, four Arctic Skuas, one Bonxie, one Little Egret and c70 Common Terns. Three Green Sandpipers were still present at Angle Park GP (14th), five Brent Geese W, 214 Little Gulls, one Arctic Skua, two Whimbrels W, one Greenshank, two Knot, 16 Wigeon NW and 57 Common Terns were seen in St Andrews Bay (14th) and counted at Kinghorn (14th) were one juvenile Sabine’s Gull, one Black Tern, three Little Gulls, two Pomarine Skuas, three Arctic Skuas, one Bonxie, 24 Red-throated Divers W, 820 Meadow Pipits S and one Common Sandpiper.

Seen from Lundin Links (15th) was one Black Guillemot, with another bird seen from Lower Largo the same day. The day count from seawatching at Fife Ness (15th) was two juvenile Long-tailed Skuas, two Arctic Skuas N, 4S, one Black Guillemot N, one Sooty Shearwater N, 26 Manx Shearwaters N, 53 Red-throated Divers, 97 Little Gulls, 25 Common Scoters N, 7S, 230 Pink-footed Geese S, three Whimbrel S, one Greenshank S, two Wheatears and one Grey Wagtail and the count from there (16th) was two juvenile Sabine’s Gulls 1N, 1S, 33 Manx Shearwaters N, 10 Sooty Shearwaters N, two Arctic Skuas N, 12S, one juvenile Pomarine Skua N, one juvenile Long-tailed Skua S, one Bonxie N, five Red-throated Divers N, 5S, 52 Wigeon N, one Pintail N, 101 Common Scoters N, 63S, 29 Teal N, 4S, 49 Pale-bellied Brent Geese, 13 Eiders N, nine Little Gulls N, 16 Common Terns N, 26S and 16 Sandwich Terns N, 10S. One Green Sandpiper, 17 Greenshanks and two Black-tailed Godwits were seen at The Wilderness (16th), a Sooty Shearwater, two Arctic Skuas and 16 Red-throated Divers were seen from Elie Ness (16th). Seen from Kinghorn (16th) were an adult and juvenile Pomarine Skua, three Arctic Skuas, three Little Gulls, 12 Manx Shearwaters, 21 Common Scoters, 59 Teal W, seven Wigeon W and one Shoveler W. A juvenile Sabine’s Gull flew E at Dalgety Bay (16th), also a juvenile Long-tailed Skua was seen from there heading inland, though quite high. Close by at Carlingnose Point, two juvenile Long-tailed Skuas, one juvenile Pomarine Skua, one Arctic Skua, one Black Tern, five Little Gulls, one Manx Shearwater, 30 Teal and two Pintail were counted (16th) and seen from West Sands, St Andrews were five Arctic Skuas, one juvenile Long-tailed Skua, one 2nd calendar year Mediterranean Gull, 85 Little Gulls, 63 Common Terns, seven Red-throated Divers and 12 Teal W. Back at Carlingnose Point (17th) one Black Tern, one Pomarine Skua, 15 Arctic Skuas, two juvenile Long-tailed Skuas W, one Manx Shearwater, two Roseate Terns, 35 Common Terns W, one Arctic Tern W and one Whimbrel W were noted. Logged passing Fife Ness (17th) were 67 Sooty Shearwaters N, one Balearic Shearwater N, 367 Manx Shearwaters N, 7S, one Cory’s Shearwater N, one Leach’s Petrel N, one Storm Petrel N, 1S, one adult Sabine’s Gull S, one dark juvenile Long-tailed Skua, 33 Arctic Skuas N, 5S, three Bonxies S, 10 Fulmars N, 19 Red-throated Divers N, 59S, 33 Little Gulls, 18 Pale-bellied Brent Geese N, 40S, one Red-breasted Merganser N, one Goosander N, c242 Common Scoters, one Velvet Scoter S, nine Sandwich Terns N, five Puffins N, two Grey Herons, 11 Wigeon N, 20 Teal N, 150 Golden Plovers N, one Dunlin N and a Peregrine. Nearby at upper Kilminning, a Barred Warbler was heard calling and a Lesser Whitethroat was seen in The Patch at Fife Ness (17th). Further west up the Forth at Dalgety Bay, one Black Tern, one Pomarine Skua E, two Bonxies, c10 Arctic Skuas, nine Sandwich Terns, c45 Common Terns, one Arctic Tern, one juvenile Long-tailed Skua W, three Little Gulls, one Red-throated Diver E, c12 Kittiwakes and c50 Gannets were seen (17th). three Curlew Sandpipers, two Ruff, one Greenshank, one Osprey, one Peregrine, 13 Little Egrets and one Arctic Skua were seen at Guardbridge (17th) and an adult Mediterranean Gull was seen at West Wemyss (18th). One juvenile Long-tailed Skua W, eight Arctic Skuas W, three Red-throated Divers W, 65 Common Terns, two Greenshanks and four Little Egrets were seen at Tayport (18th) and noted at Fife Ness were four Little Gulls N, four Arctic Skuas N, 21 Sandwich Terns, one Red-throated Diver N, 7S, eight Brent Geese S and 17 Common Scoters S (18th). In St Andrews, at Bogward Road (19th) a Redstart and four Redpolls S were seen, a Green Sandpiper was still present at Angle Park GP (19th), one Little Stint, two juvenile Curlew Sandpipers, one Ruff and three Greenshanks were at Guardbridge (19th) and at Out Head (19th) were a Spotted Redshank and five Slavonian Grebes, with the Spotted Redshank particularly noteworthy at this site. An adult Sabine’s Gull passed W at Kinghorn (20th), with c80 Little Gulls, 12 Arctic Skuas and two Manx Shearwaters seen not far from there at Hawkcraig Point, Aberdour (20th). Two Little Stints and three Greenshanks were seen at Guardbridge (20th), one juvenile Pomarine Skua, six Arctic Skuas, one Little Gull, one Black Tern, 150 Common Terns, 15 Sandwich Terns, 10 Arctic Terns and 12 Kittiwakes were counted at Carlingnose Point (20th). Noted passing through Ferry Hills (21st) were 64 Red-throated Divers W and 1600 Meadow Pipits. A single juvenile Curlew Sandpiper was at Guardbridge (21st), a Little Egret and 22 Pale-bellied Brent Geese were seen at the Kenly Burn, Boarhills (21st) and from Dalgety Bay one Black Tern, two juvenile Little Gulls, two Pomarine Skuas, five Arctic Skuas and six Manx Shearwaters were seen (21st). A Black Tern, three Ruff, one Whimbrel and a Peregrine hunting Teal were seen at Stenhouse Reservoir (21st) and seen at Guardbridge (21st) were five Curlew Sandpipers, two Little Stints, one Ruff and an Osprey.

A Merlin, one Spotted Flycatcher and seven Crossbills were seen at Ferry Hills (22nd), three Curlew Sandpipers were still at the Eden Estuary LNR (22nd), an adult Little Gull was seen at St Margaret’s Marsh, Rosyth (22nd), c20 Crossbills and a late Swift were noted at Cameron Reservoir (22nd) and the seawatching day count at Fife Ness (23rd) was one Grey Phalarope S, one Black Guillemot N, three Sooty Shearwaters N, 38 Manx Shearwaters N, two Arctic Skuas N, 28 Little Gulls, 1645 Pink-footed Geese S, 34 Barnacle Geese S, seven Sandwich Tern, S, two Common Terns, 62 Common Scoters, three Velvet Scoters, 56 Red-throated Divers, four Teal, five Goosanders and 131 Swallows S. A Curlew Sandpiper, one Ruff and six Greenshanks were at Tayport (23rd), two Curlew Sandpipers and four Greenshanks were at Guardbridge (23rd) and the highlights from Ferry Hills (23rd) were 35 Barnacle Geese, 1200 Pink-feet, 20 Red-Throated Divers, two Arctic Skuas and 190 Lesser Redpolls. A Barred Warbler was trapped and ringed in The Patch, Fife Ness (23rd), three Manx Shearwaters, one Bonxie, four Arctic Skuas, two Arctic Terns, nine Common Terns, c12 Sandwich Terns, c35 Barnacle Geese and 57 Pink-feet were seen from Dalgety Bay (23rd) and one juvenile Rednecked Grebe, eight Slavonian Grebes, one juvenile Little Stint, one juvenile Curlew Sandpiper and c5 Arctic Skuas were seen from Out Head (23rd). At the Kenly Burn, Boarhills, c240 Canada Geese, nine Pale-bellied Brent Geese, one Barnacle Goose, one Greylag and two Pink-feet were noted, a lone Whooper Swan was seen flying in from the E at Craighead Farm, Fife Ness (23rd), a single Crossbill was at Clatto Reservoir (23rd) and from Out Head (24th) one juvenile Red-necked Grebe, four Slavonian Grebes, one juvenile Curlew Sandpiper, seven Pale-bellied Brent Geese and 12 Barnacle Geese were seen. Five juvenile Curlew Sandpipers, five Ruff, one Greenshank, three Black-tailed Godwits and an adult Mediterranean Gull were at Guardbridge (24th) and seen from Fife Ness (24th) were two juvenile Black Terns, 15 Little Gulls, six Manx Shearwaters, one Arctic Skua S, one Little Egret, one Bar-tailed Godwit and 31 Barnacle Geese S. c60 Golden Plovers were seen from the Eden Estuary Centre (24th), with a White-tailed Eagle seen on one of the posts off Out Head (24th). 20 Barnacle Geese passed Kincraig Point S (24th), a juvenile Long-tailed Skua, seven Arctic Skuas and 17 Barnacle Geese SW were seen from Tentsmuir Point NNR (24th) and along from there at Tayport a Little Stint, one Whimbrel, five Grey Plovers, two Common Terns and a Kingfisher were seen (24th). From Kingsbarns south to the Kenly Burn, c350 Barnacle Geese S, eight Snipe, 35 Corn Buntings c300 Canada Geese, three Pink-footed Geese, one Whitethroat, four Wheatears and a Peregrine were seen (24th), two Wheatears were noted at Preston Island, Culross (24th) and six Curlew Sandpipers along with six Ruff were seen from the Eden Estuary Centre (25th). Seen from Kinghorn (25th) were one Bonxie W, three Arctic Skuas, c10 Manx Shearwaters, c150 Little Gulls, c150 Meadow Pipits and 50 Swallows, a juvenile Little Stint and a juvenile Ruff were at Tayport (25th) and seen at Bogward Road, St Andrews was a Spotted Flycatcher, with a Black Tern seen offshore at St Andrews also (26th). A Great Shearwater was reported flying past Kinghorn (26th), five Curlew Sandpipers were seen at Guardbridge (26th) and seen at Loch Fitty (26th) were five Crossbills, four Mistle Thrushes, one Kestrel, one Great Spotted Woodpecker, 12 Great Crested Grebes, two Little Grebes, seven Tufted Ducks, five Mute Swans and three Swallows. Around Kittock’s Den, Boarhills a female Goshawk, one Lesser Whitethroat, one Whitethroat, two Chiffchaffs, one Stonechat, 564 Swallows SW and 127 Pied Wagtails W (26th). Seen from Hawkcraig Point, Aberdour (27th) were two Black Terns E, one Little Gull, three Manx Shearwaters, c10 Arctic Skuas, two Bonxies and c6 Red-throated Divers, three Curlew Sandpipers and two Arctic Skuas were noted at Out Head (27th) and a Hooded Crow was seen at East Wemyss (27th). The seawatching day count at Fife Ness (28th) was one juvenile Pomarine Skua N, five Arctic Skuas N, 43 Purple Sandpipers S, 84 Barnacle Geese S, 12 Wigeon S, eight Teal S and 11 Common Scoters, three juvenile Black Terns were seen off Coble Shore (28th) with an Arctic Skua and a Kingfisher seen from Edenside (28th). A Red Kite SE, 235 Barnacle Geese, one Chiffchaff and a Blackcap were seen around South Fairmont, St Andrews (28th), c150 Golden Plovers, two Red-throated Divers, c60 Knot, one Whimbrel, three Common Gulls, c5 Goldcrests c5 Treecreepers and a Wheatear were seen around the Ruddons Point/Cocklemill Burn area (28th). A juvenile Curlew Sandpiper S and a Red-necked Grebe N, were seen passing Fife Ness (28th). The Mediterranean Gull count rose to 81 at East Wemyss (28th), 47 Barnacle Geese, 14 Little Egrets, one Pintail, one Scaup, 50 Knot, two Greenshanks, four Ruff, four Curlew Sandpipers, 10 Ringed Plovers and two Red-throated Divers were seen from the Eden Estuary Centre (28th).

Angle Park GP still had two Green Sandpipers and 33 Snipe present (30th). Seen at the Kenly Burn, Boarhills (30th) were c260 Canada Geese, 21 Barnacle Geese and three Pale-bellied Brent Geese, a single Barnacle Goose passed over Kinghorn (30th), the Mediterranean Gull count at East Wemyss had dropped to c36 by (30th) and another Honey-buzzard passed over Ferry Hills (30th), this time a juvenile. A remarkable run of sightings at this site this year. Seen at Fife Ness was a ringtail Hen Harrier S, 15 Common Terns, three Sandwich Terns, c300 Pink-footed Geese and a Little Egret (30th), with four Chiffchaffs seen in The Patch, Fife Ness that day also. Along at lower Kilminning, one Whinchat, seven Stonechats and 300 Pink-footed Geese S (30th) and at Loch Gelly, one Barnacle Goose, c600 Greylag Geese, c50 Pink-footed Geese and 64 Pochard were counted (30th). A single Barnacle Goose was seen over St Monans (30th) and noted at Cameron Reservoir were a Short-eared Owl W, a juvenile Marsh Harrier S, a juvenile Green Woodpecker and c20 Crossbills (30th). A Red Kite was seen to the W of Leslie (30th) and the last seawatching day count of September from Fife Ness produced 23 Red-throated Divers S, 17 Common Scoters S, one Common Tern N, two Red-breasted Mergansers S, one Bonxie S, one Shelduck S and five Sandwich Terns N.

Monthly sighting summaries are based on information submitted to the Fife Bird News WhatsApp group. A full list of contributors is published in Scope. Thank you.

The first sightings reported in February were two Marsh Harriers on the 1st at Newburgh then a Black Guillemot was at Fife Ness the next day. The 3rd was a return to the norm with the female Ring-necked Duck at Birnie Loch and the drake Smew at Cameron Reservoir. An adult Little Gull was off Leven and at Tayport a 3rd winter Glaucous Gull was a good find. A 1st winter Iceland Gull was seen on Kirkcaldy promenade on the 4th with a Tundra Bean Goose and a Short-eared Owl noted in the St Andrews area. A Black Guillemot was off Lower Largo on the 5th with at least three Red-necked Grebes at Leven and the drake Smew was at Cameron Reservoir up to the 7th.

An excellent count of 48 Snipe was made at Valleyfield on the 8th and the female Ring-necked Duck was still at Birnie Loch from the 9th to the 12th. The drake Smew was reported again at Cameron Reservoir on the 11th and two Black-throated Divers and a Red-necked Grebe were seen between Pathhead and Dysart. A Great White Egret was a good find at Loch Fitty on the 12th and a 1st winter Iceland Gull was seen flying over Bleachfield Meadow heading towards Coaltown of Balgonie, presumably the same individual seen there between December and February. A Green Sandpiper was seen on the Nature Reserve at Lochore Meadows CP along with a Great White Egret, possibly the Loch Fitty bird relocating. Counted off Leven on the 12th were six Red-necked Grebes, two Slavonian Grebes and up to five Black-throated Divers, a Great White Egret was again at Loch Fitty on the 13th, with a European White-fronted Goose also reported from that location on the 14th. A Red Kite was seen near Easter Cash Farm on the Falkland to Strathmiglo road on the 14th.

Noted off Kinghorn on the 16th were 14 Common Scoters, four Long-tailed Ducks, 140 Red-breasted Mergansers, six Guillemots, 15 Razorbills and two Red-throated Divers. The drake Smew was still showing well at Cameron Reservoir on the 16th and nearby in St Andrews a possible Northern Bullfinch, 12 Crossbills S, seven Siskins and a Raven were seen. Two adult Mediterranean Gulls were seen off Pettycur on 17th, a Barnacle Goose and a Greenland White-fronted Goose were seen amongst 2000 Pink-feet in the Bow of Fife area and adult Mediterranean Gulls were also seen at both Guardbridge and Tayport. A Manx Shearwater went N past Fife Ness on the 18th, a Black Guillemot was off Leven and the Great White Egret was still at Loch Fitty. Also on the 18th at Ruddons Point were one Red-necked Grebe, one Slavonian Grebe, three Purple Sandpipers and 25 Twite. The Green Sandpiper was still to be seen on the Nature Reserve at Lochore Meadows CP on the 18th with a Jack Snipe and an excellent count of 52 Snipe at Cocklemill Marsh, also on the 18th. On the 19th a drake Ring-necked Duck, 64 Pochard, 93 Goldeneye and 74 Tufted Ducks were seen at Loch Gelly, with a female Ring-necked Duck seen at The Wilderness, with this bird presumably being the bird previously seen at Birnie Loch up until at least the 15th. Further east a Hooded Crow was seen on the beach at Boarhills on the 19th, with five Dark-bellied Brent Geese, 13 Pale-bellied Brent Geese and one Greenshank also seen in the area, a Raven was also seen flying over East Wemyss that day. The drake Smew was still at Cameron Reservoir on the 20th, while the female Ring-necked Duck was seen back in the NW corner of Birnie Loch and at Fife Ness a Short-eared Owl was watched coming in off the sea. The Great White Egret was still being reported from Loch Fitty up to at least the 21st.

The female Ring-necked Duck was seen at Angle Park GP, as it continues to tour around the central Fife waterbodies. A Greenland White-fronted Goose was noted at Loch Fitty on the 22nd, it was amongst Canada Geese, Pink-feet and Greylags. A Chiffchaff was seen in Dunfermline, with one heard at Magus Muir also and not far away from there at Craigtoun Park, a Green Woodpecker was heard, with five Woodcocks and two Ravens noted there too. On the 23rd at Loch Fitty a European White-fronted Goose, 10 Pink-footed Geese, 24 Canada Geese, 164 Greylag Geese and four Gadwall were noted, a Black Guillemot went S past Fife Ness and an adult Mediterranean Gull was seen from the car park at Burntisland on the 24th. eight Red-throated Divers, one Black-throated Diver and two Manx Shearwaters passed Fife Ness, with a Black Guillemot and one Manx Shearwater seen passing there on the 25th. two Snow Buntings were at Out Head on the 25th, with the drake Ring-necked Duck and 63 Pochard still present at Loch Gelly, 13 Brent Geese, three Greenshanks and a Little Egret were seen at Coble Shore and the wintering Whimbrel was seen once again at Shell Bay. At The Wilderness were two Pintail and three Whooper Swans, a Great Northern Diver was seen from Kincraig Head and on the 26th two Black Guillemots and 35 Purple Sandpipers were seen at Fife Ness. The female Ring-necked Duck was seen again at Angle Park GP, two Tundra Bean Geese were seen with Pink-feet at Luthrie and at Tayport three Little Egrets were seen. Nine Snow Buntings, nine Slavonian Grebes and four Pale-bellied Brent Geese were seen at Out Head, a Greenland White-fronted Goose was seen with 400 Pink-feet near Bow of Fife and at Coble Shore 34 Pale-bellied Brent Geese were seen. A Raven passed over Letham Pools and at Buckhaven Harbour on the 27th were 200 Common Scoters and 56 Velvet Scoters. 28 Redwings and 18 Fieldfares were seen in Strathkinness on the 28th, two Nuthatches were seen at Rankeilour, 114 Pochards, 97 Tufted Ducks, 82 Goldeneye, three Shelducks, three Great-crested Grebes, two Lesser Black-backed Gulls and three Whooper Swans were counted at Loch Gelly and seen from Kincraig Head were one Red-necked Grebe and a Red-throated Diver. Nearby at the Cocklemill Burn, seven Twite were seen. A Hooded Crow, 17 Whooper Swans and 101 Wigeon were seen at Craigluscar and the female Ring-necked Duck was still present at Angle Park.

Information supplied courtesy of Malcolm Ware

The New Year began with a single Waxwing seen on roadside wires near Largoward, a Red-necked Grebe at Ruddons Point and two White-fronted Geese near Kilrenny. Early birds on the 2nd were treated to three different Barn Owls between Falkland and Strathmiglo sitting on roadside fences. The female Ring-necked Duck was again seen at Birnie Loch on the 2nd and 3rd with the two drake Smew at Cameron Reservoir on those dates. A Little Auk was seen off Kinghorn on the 2nd when 67 Pintail and c35 Brent Geese were counted at Out Head. Another Little Auk was at Fife Ness on the 3rd with a Little Gull feeding offshore there. The female Velvet Scoter was still showing at Carnbee Reservoir on the 4th with the two drake Smew at Cameron Reservoir and were also seen there the following day. On the 5th there was a Slavonian Grebe and an impressive count of over 200 Goldeneye at Pathhead, reminiscent of years gone past here. A Little Gull was again seen at Fife Ness on the 6th with a Black-throated Diver also seen there. Cameron Reservoir had good counts of 300 Wigeon and 200 Teal as well as the two drake Smew on the same day. Two Black Guillemots flew south at Fife Ness on the 7th when the female Ring-necked Duck was still at Birnie Loch, the two Smew were still at Cameron Reservoir and three adult Mediterranean Gulls were at Burntisland.

The Ring-necked Duck was at Birnie Loch again on the 8th of the month in its favoured area. The usual suspects were still to be seen at Cameron Reservoir and Carnbee Reservoir in the shape of the two drake Smew and the female Velvet Scoter with 15 Brent Geese at Boarhills. The Ring-necked Duck and the two Smew were still present up to the 12th and an adult Little Gull was off Kinghorn on the 10th. Only one drake Smew was present at Cameron Reservoir on the 13th while in west Fife a 3rd Winter Iceland Gull was at Townhill Loch and a Hen Harrier was noted at Dins Moss in the Cleish Hills. A Grey Phalarope dropped in briefly at Fife Ness on the 14th with 24 Brent Geese also seen at Boarhills that day. The Smew was still at Cameron Reservoir and a Marsh Harrier was at Newburgh.

Two Little Gulls and a Black Guillemot were seen at Fife Ness on the 15th with the female Velvet Scoter still in residence at Carnbee Reservoir. A lone European White-fronted Goose was in a large flock of Greylags at Bowershall on the 16th with one of its Greenland cousins just north of The Wilderness the next day. The female Ring-necked Duck was seen again at Birnie Loch on the 17th and a Black-necked Grebe was off Leven. The Greenland White-fronted Goose and the female Ring-necked Duck were still at the same locations on the 18th when at least five Waxwings were at Buckhaven and a 1st winter Iceland Gull was at Seafield. Two Marsh Harriers were seen at Newburgh on the 19th and a cracking male Hen Harrier graced the north side of Rossie Bog. The female Ring-necked Duck was still at Birnie Loch on the 20th and the 1st winter Iceland Gull was again off the tower at Seafield with a Red Kite noted at Burnturk. Drake Smew were seen at Cameron Reservoir and Coble Shore on the 21st with a Jack Snipe, Snow Bunting and two Twite seen in the dunes at Tentsmuir Point NNR. The 1st winter Iceland Gull, first seen in December last year, was again seen in Coaltown of Balgonie sitting on house roofs on Main Street in the town, an unusual occurrence and location for this “white-winger”.

 A male Hen Harrier, probably the bird seen earlier in the week at Rossie Bog, was seen at Dunshalt, then Auchtermuchty on the 22nd. Seven Brambling were seen near Falkland on the 23rd and next day the female Ring-necked Duck was seen again at Birnie Loch and a drake Smew was at Cameron Reservoir. A male Hen Harrier was noted on the 24th at Balgonie Castle with two Marsh Harriers at Newburgh and a Red-necked Grebe reported from Edenside. Seven Slavonian Grebes and a Black-necked Grebe were off Lower Largo on the 25th with three Black-throated Divers and a Red-necked Grebe off Leven. A diver first spotted on the 23rd from the east car park at Leven was confirmed as a Pacific Diver, a potential first for the county. Also at Leven on the 26th were two Black-necked Grebes, 10 Red-necked Grebes, three Black-throated Divers and a Great Northern Diver. Further east at Lower Largo a Black Redstart was seen and eight Bearded Tits were seen on Mugdrum Island at Newburgh. The Red Kite was again seen in the Burnturk area on the 26th with the Pacific Diver and Black Redstart still at Leven and Lower Largo respectively on the 27th. A Black Guillemot was offshore at Fife Ness on the 28th when the drake Smew was still at Cameron Reservoir and an adult Little Gull was at Kilconquhar Loch. Another Little Gull was noted off Leven while watching the Pacific Diver there and the Black Redstart was performing well at Lower Largo.

The Pacific Diver was showing well despite blustery conditions on the 29th and a Hooded Crow appeared at Boarhills moving between the beach and a ploughed field. The female Ring-necked Duck continued its stay at Birnie Loch as did the drake Smew at Cameron Reservoir. The Pacific Diver, Black Redstart and drake Smew were all seen at the same locations on the 30th and a Velvet Scoter was noted with the latter at Cameron Reservoir.

Information supplied courtesy of Malcolm Ware

A slow start to the last month of the year with only six Snow Buntings seen at Out Head on the 1st. The female Ring-necked Duck was seen again at Birnie Loch on the 2nd, as was the Smew at Cameron Reservoir and three Waxwings briefly in Kirkcaldy. A fantastic record of a Cetti’s Warbler at St Margaret’s Marsh Rosyth on the 3rd will constitute the 2nd record for Fife if accepted, a species we should all be looking out for now. The warbler was present the following day, but elusive and at Birnie Loch the Ring-necked Duck was still favouring the north-west corner on the 5th with three Waxwings at St Andrews that day. The Cetti’s Warbler showed briefly twice during the day on the 6th with the Smew at Cameron Reservoir a bit more obliging as was the female Ring-necked Duck at Birnie Loch the next day.

16 Little Auks and a Little Egret were noted at Fife Ness on the 8th and next day there were two drake Smew at Cameron Reservoir. Also on the 9th the drake Ring-necked Duck was relocated at Kinghorn Loch and two Waxwings were in Dunfermline. The Cetti’s Warbler was again heard briefly at St Margaret’s Marsh on the 10th and a Red-necked Grebe was seen at Pathhead. 33 Little Auks flew north past Fife Ness on the 11th and the female Ring-necked Duck was still at a semi-frozen Birnie Loch. Great Northern Divers were noted at West Wemyss and St Andrews where 14 Snow Buntings were watched coming in off the sea. Nearby there were two drake Smew at Cameron Reservoir, two Waxwings in Dunfermline and the Cetti’s Warbler was heard at St Margaret’s Marsh and seen briefly the following day. The drake Ring-necked Duck was again seen at Kinghorn Loch on the 12th and the following three days with a drake Smew seen at Guardbridge on the 13th, probably relating to the Cameron Reservoir bird relocating due to the reservoir being frozen.

An interesting Aythya at Kinghorn Loch, first spotted on the 13th, caused a bit of discussion before being confirmed as a 1st winter Lesser Scaup and was still present on the 15th. If accepted it would be the second county record.The first was present for two days in May 2007 at Loch Gellybut unfortunately was only seen by the finders. Both the Lesser Scaup and Ring-necked Duck were still showing on the 16th in pretty poor conditions and two Marsh Harriers and a Waxwing were at Newburgh. Six Little Auks went south at Fife Ness on the 17th when c80 Twite were at Coble Shore. The North American double act of drake Ring-necked Duck and 1st winter Lesser Scaup remained at Kinghorn Loch, allowing birders the chance to get it the latter on their Fife lists up until the 20th with the former seen on the 21st. On the 18th a drake Smew was seen at Cameron Reservoir with two drakes there from the 19th to the 26th. Also on the 19th there were 11 Waxwings seen in Dunfermline, a Hen Harrier at Bow of Fife and amazingly three Marsh Harriers at Newburgh. Another Hen Harrier or possibly the bird seen the previous day was watched at Bankhead Moss on the 20th. A Ring-necked Parakeet was seen at Markinch that day and possibly a different individual than the Kirkcaldy birds regularly seen.

129 Scaup were counted off the aquarium in St Andrews on the 22nd with a single Waxwing seen briefly in Cupar. A Hen Harrier was at Cameron Reservoir on Xmas eve, two Marsh Harriers were again seen at Newburgh and a 1st winter Glaucous Gull passed Fife Ness. An excellent record came from Carnbee Reservoir on the 24th of a female Velvet Scoter there, an unusual inland record, it was reported again on the 28th and 29th. The Lesser Scaup reappeared at Kinghorn Loch but due to watersport disturbance relocated to the small boating pond at Beveridge Park, Kirkcaldy. Remarkable to think that in the last two years there has been two North American rarities seen on this unlikely site whose last claim to fame was a Smew that wintered there in the late seventies. The Lesser Scaup was reported from its usual haunt of Kinghorn Loch on Xmas day. On the 26th one birder got a belated Xmas present when a 1st winter Iceland Gull flew past his window in Coaltown of Balgonie and landed on his next door neighbour’s roof. The Lesser Scaup was again off the Ecology Centre at Kinghorn Loch on the 27th and a solitary Little Auk went past Fife Ness. On the 28th the Lesser Scaup was seen briefly at Kinghorn Loch before being disturbed and resettling at Beveridge Park, Kirkcaldy.

On the 29th one drake Smew and a Hen Harrier were seen at Cameron Reservoir. The last day of 2022 started with 21 Purple Sandpipers at Seafield, then two redhead Smew were found on a roadside flood near Kingskettle before being flushed by shooters. They were relocated at The Wilderness later and the two drakes were apparently still at Cameron Reservoir but not reported to FBN.

Another exceptional year for the county and thanks to everyone who contributed. Hopefully 2023 will continue the trend.

Information supplied courtesy of Malcolm Ware

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