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Following on from COP 26, members may wish to examine a timely report from the BTO which deals with the effect of climate change on our avifauna: https://www.bto.org/our-science/publications/research-reports/climate-change-and-uks-birds

Three Wigeon E, one Bonxie W, one Common Scoter E, one Manx Shearwater E, one Sparrowhawk and one Grey Wagtail were all seen from Cellardyke (1st), an adult Hobby flew over S at Morton Lochs NNR, also a Peregrine and a Sparrowhawk were noted there, at Balcomie, in the bay N of Balcomie GC and Kingsbarns, three Little Gulls were on the sea. At The Wilderness, one Hobby and two Ruff were seen. The Seawatching Day Count at Fife Ness was 42 Sooty Shearwaters N, 62 Manx Shearwaters N, nine Arctic Skuas, eight Bonxies, eight Little Gulls, five Red-throated Divers, 36 Common Scoters N and 25 Pale-bellied Brent Geese S and seen at Seafield (2nd) was an adult Roseate Tern on the beach amongst c50 Sandwich Terns and 20 Common Terns, also three Pale-bellied Brent Geese passed E. One adult and a 1st winterMediterranean Gull were at Pathhead, also 85 Goosanders were present. Off Kinghorn was one adult Pomarine Skua passing E, one juvenile Roseate Tern was fishing close in off Lammerlaws, Burntisland, six Crossbills passed S over St Andrews and the Seawatching Day Count at Fife Ness was 47 Sooty Shearwaters N, 70 Manx Shearwaters N, 24 Bonxies, five Pomarine Skuas, 17 Arctic Skuas, 34 Little Gulls, 129 Common Scoters N, 11 Red-throated Divers N, four Teal N and one Red-breasted Merganser S. Seen at Newburgh (3rd) was a juvenile Bearded Tit W of slipway in a small patch of reeds, there were also two Ravens there, three Roseate Terns, one adult and two juveniles were seen feeding offshore at Burntisland, also present were 75 Goosanders and nearby at Kinghorn, c25 Pale-bellied Brent Geese W, one Great Northern Diver, four Arctic Skuas, four Bonxies and one 2nd winter Little Gull were seen. Seen from Cellardyke were one Sooty Shearwater N, one Red-throated Diver E, 75 Sandwich Terns E and one Grey Wagtail, as well as nine Grey Partridges in two coveys, one of seven and the other two and noted off Carlingnose Point were 16 Arctic Skuas, two Bonxies, one Red-throated Diver, 52 Sandwich Terns, two Common Terns, three Fulmars W, 12 Gannets and 55 Kittiwakes. Counted from St David’s Harbour were four Arctic Skuas, 15 Gannets, 12 Common Terns, one Puffin, 15 Guillemots and two Razorbills, the Seawatching Day Count from Fife Ness was 12 Sooty Shearwaters N, 24 Manx Shearwaters N, 26 Common Scoters N, 11 Red-throated Divers N, four Bonxies N and three Arctic Skuas and off Carlingnose Point (4th) were two Red-throated Divers W, three Arctic Skuas, two Bonxies and nine Gannets, at Rossie Bog a juvenile Marsh Harrier was watched and two Ospreys were on fence posts in the Eden Estuary LNR. Seen at Ferry Hills were one juvenile Long-tailed Skua, eight Arctic Skuas, six Red-throated Divers, 10 Dunlins, 319 Sandwich Terns, 311 Meadow Pipits and 15 Tree Pipits, with one Tree Pipit also seen passing over upper Kilminning, 12 Brent Geese passed W at lower Kilminning. Noted in Aberdour Harbour were 30 Guillemots and c30 Sandwich Terns, 18 Grey Herons were in stubble at Barns Farm and noted off Cellardyke were one Arctic Skua E and two Red-throated Divers E. The Seawatching Day Count at Fife Ness was 10 Sooty Shearwaters N, four Manx Shearwaters N, three Bonxies, 10 Arctic Skuas, 55 Brent Geese S, 10 Barnacle Geese S, 27 Red-throated Divers S, seen at Out Head were one Merlin, two Arctic Skuas, 11 Little Gulls, seven Pintail, 13 Manx Shearwaters, three Red-throated Divers and 15 Sanderlings. At Ferry Hills (5th) were 16 Arctic Skuas, 23 Wigeon, eight Pintail, 40 Teal, 43 Tree Sparrows, 333 Meadow Pipits, 38 Tree Pipits, two Jays and one Spotted Flycatcher and noted at Guardbridge were three Ospreys, five Little Egrets, two Pintails and one adult Mediterranean Gull. Between Kingsbarns and Kenly Water, c90 Little Gulls, one Manx Shearwater, c75 Canada Geese and two Wheatears were noted and at Loch Gelly a Spotted Redshank was a good find, with one Greenshank, seven Snipe, two Ruff, 44 Lapwings, one Curlew, 108 Teal, seven Gadwall, six Wigeon and five Goldeneye also noted. Seen off Out head were 12 Brent Geese, 76 Red-breasted Mergansers, 65 Knot and one Peregrine, whilst much further inland near Crossgates a Wheatear and c50 Goldfinches were seen. The Seawatching Day Count at Fife Ness was four Sooty Shearwaters N, three Manx Shearwaters, 135 Little Gulls, 15 Red-throated Divers, one Pomarine Skua N, 15 Bonxies and nine Arctic Skuas. At Kilminning (6th) a Garden Warbler was seen, an adult Mediterranean Gull was noted at Kilrenny Mill and counted from the Eden Estuary Centre were five Pintail, two Ospreys, one Sparrowhawk, one Peregrine, seven Little Egrets, one Greenshank, 17 Knot and one Guillemot. Two Ruff were at The Wilderness, one Tree Pipit passed S over St Andrews and at Newburgh a juvenile Marsh Harrier and an Osprey were seen. Noted at Loch Gelly were one Greenshank, 15 Snipe, one Ruff, 61 Lapwings, 13 Wigeon and four Goldeneye, at Fife Ness one Red-throated Diver N, 3S, two Sandwich Terns N, 15S, one Arctic Skua, 18 Golden Plovers and c60 Goldfinches were noted. Seen from Cellardyke were four Common Scoter E, one Great Northern Diver W and one adult Mediterranean Gull W and counted in St Andrews Bay were one adult Sabine’s Gull S, one adult Mediterranean Gull NW, 49 Little Gulls, 11 Manx Shearwaters, 10 Brent Geese SE, 203 Canada Geese NW and one Arctic Skua N. Seen at Pathhead (7th) were two adult and a 1st winter Mediterranean Gull, two Wheatears and a Whinchat was also on the scrub below the castle. The count at Ferry Hills was 26 Red-throated Divers, two Shovelers, one Pomarine Skua, six Arctic Skuas, 547 Sandwich Terns, one Snipe, one Golden Plover, 599 Swallows, 34 Grey Wagtails, 20 Tree Sparrows, 32 Tree Pipits and 834 Meadow Pipits and at Balcomie Beach two Turnstones, two Ringed Plovers, c10 Redshanks and 40 Little Gulls were present.

25 Sanderlings were at Seafield (8th) and from the Eden Estuary Centre one Ruff, one Greenshank, three Little Gulls, two Gadwall, one Pintail, one Osprey and one Guillemot were counted, one Black-tailed Godwit, one Chiffchaff, which was calling, eight Snipe and two Water Rails were noted at Cullaloe LNR and from Fife Ness 19 Common Scoters N, 3S, one Kestrel, 20 Fulmars S 18N, three Manx Shearwaters N, two Sooty Shearwaters N, five Red-throated Divers S, 1N, 18 Sandwich Terns 17S, 130 Gannets N, 80S and 23 Swallows N. An adult Pomarine Skua, one Bonxie and one Little Gull were seen off Kinghorn (9th), at Kilmany one female Merlin and one Redshank were seen, with the Redshank the 2nd record there in 25 years, six Black-tailed Godwits and eight Snipe were at Cullaloe LNR (10th) and noted at Ferry Hills were one Osprey NW, one 1st winter Mediterranean Gull, three Arctic Skuas, 35 Teal, 12 Wigeon and 260 Meadow Pipits. At Letham Pools were five Pintail, 10 Shoveler and two Water Rails, a Wood Warbler showed well at the entrance to Kittock’s Den, while two White Wagtails were also present there, seen on the Eden Estuary were seven Little Egrets, two Ospreys and one Ruff. 11 Black-tailed Godwits were on the marsh area of Fairmont GC and eight Greenshanks were on the shore nearby, one Greenshank, one Common Sandpiper, 10 Snipe and 16 Wigeon were counted at Loch Gelly and from Kinghorn c200 Guillemots, 14 Common Scoters, two Bar-tailed Godwits, five Dunlins, two Ringed Plovers, two Redshanks, 48 Teal, four Little Gulls, three Arctic Skuas, one Bonxie and four Red-throated Divers were logged. Seen from Fife Ness (11th) were one juvenile Long-tailed Skua N, two Red-throated Divers, one Velvet Scoter, 10 Common Scoters N, five Little Gulls, c400 Razorbills S, 12 Common Terns N, one Arctic Tern and eight Sandwich Terns, two juvenile Marsh Harriers were seen at Rossie Bog and seen from Ferry Hills were one Ruff, 13 Knot, five Arctic Skuas and 568 Meadow Pipits. A juvenile Marsh Harrier was watched at Wormiston, three Pale-bellied Brent Geese passed Balcomie Beach N and at Crail two Ruff were seen. At the East Wemyss gull roost, 26 Mediterranean Gulls were present, 16 adults, a new site high total for adults, five 3rd calendar year and five 1st winter birds were noted, four Buzzards and three Snipe were seen at Rossie Bog and a 1/4 mile W of Kingseat a Yellow Wagtail was seen on wires. 30 Sanderlings were between the car park and the harbour wall at Seafield and c2000 Guillemots and Razorbills were counted off East Sands, St Andrews. In the Lomond Hills at West Feal (12th), c50 Lapwings were seen and from Ferry Hills one juvenile Pomarine Skua flew inland, seven Arctic Skuas, eight Red-throated Divers, 456 Meadow Pipits, 23 Siskins and two Spotted Flycatchers were noted. From the Eden Estuary Centre one adult White-tailed Eagle, one Osprey, one Little Egret, one Greenshank, 200 Razorbills, 80 Guillemots, one juvenile Ruff and two Kingfishers were seen and not far away at Out Head two adult White-tailed Eagles, one Osprey, six Little Egrets and one Red-throated Diver S were noted. Noted passing Fife Ness were one Sooty Shearwater N, five Arctic Skuas, seven Red-throated Divers S and from Kinkell Braes, St Andrews one Black-throated Diver NW, and eight Red-throated Divers were seen, three on the water, 3NW, 2SE, also one Bonxie NW, 3SE, two Greenshanks and five White Wagtails were seen. One juvenile Long-tailed Skua, two Arctic Skuas, three Bonxies, 36 Red-throated Divers, one Black-throated Diver, 70 Lapwings and 418 Meadow Pipits were logged at Ferry Hills (13th) and from the Coastal Path one mile W of Crail, a Short-eared Owl was watched hunting, a Kingfisher was seen over the Tay at Newburgh, a male Merlin flew over road near entrance at Cullaloe LNR, where four Black-tailed Godwits and three Snipe were seen. The Seawatching Day Count at Fife Ness was 40 Sooty Shearwaters N, 21 Manx Shearwaters N, one juvenile Long-tailed Skua N, 12 Arctic Skuas N, two Bonxies N, 260 Little Gulls, nine Red-throated Divers, one Black-throated Diver S, three Velvet Scoters S, five Common Scoters S, 10 Pale-bellied Brent Geese S, five Teal S and 20 Sandwich Terns. Seen from Out Head (14th) were two White-tailed Eagles, 30 Sandwich Terns and one Osprey and further up the estuary, 265 Sandwich Terns, eight Common Terns, 3150 Razorbills, 540 Guillemots, one Little Egret, one Kingfisher, four Ospreys, one Peregrine, one Greenshank and at least one Little Tern were seen from the Eden Estuary Centre. There was an excellent sighting of a Jack Snipe at Loch Gelly, where c10 Snipe, two Greenshank, at least one Ruff, one White Wagtail, one Grey Wagtail and c12 Pied Wagtails were also noted. Two Roseate Terns, 700 Razorbills and 200 Guillemots were seen off Dalgety Bay and the Seawatching Day Count at Fife Ness was three Sooty Shearwaters N, two Manx Shearwaters N, one Bonxie, 10 Little Gulls N, six Red-throated Divers S, nine Pale-bellied Brent Geese, four Teal, four Common Scoters N and one Red -breasted Merganser S.

At Out Head (15th) one adult White-tailed Eagle, two Ospreys, one Black Tern, two Little Terns on a spit with c45 Sandwich Terns, six Common Terns, two Arctic Terns, one Wheatear, two Black-throated Divers and three Red-throated Divers were noted, a Kingfisher was watched on rocks at Seafield, where 15 Razorbills were also seen feeding close to shore, a Spotted flycatcher and a Chiffchaff were at Craighead, Fife Ness, a Garden Warbler was at lower Kilminning and a lone Whimbrel was at Sauchope, Crail. An immature Merlin was also seen sitting in a ploughed field at Kilrenny. One White-tailed Eagle, c230 Sandwich Terns, c90 Common Terns and c30 Arctic Terns were seen off Out Head (16th), four Little Gulls W, one Bonxie and two Wheatears were at Dalgety Bay, a lone Pale-bellied Brent Goose was at Levenmouth and at Letham six Ravens passed over N. Seen at Ferry Hills were one juvenile Pomarine Skua, six Arctic Skuas, five Bonxies, 76 Red-throated Divers, 75 Wigeon, 12 Pintail, 18 Golden Plovers, two Little Gulls and 707 Meadow Pipits, one Red-throated Diver and one White-tailed Eagle were at Out Head and a Ring-necked Parakeet was in trees on an old hospital site in Kirkcaldy, one Red-throated Diver N, 7S, 12 Common Scoter N, seven Sandwich Tern N, 26 Pale-bellied Brent Geese S all passed Fife Ness and in St Andrews Bay three Arctic Skuas, five Manx Shearwaters, two Velvet Scoters, one Scaup with a Common Scoter flock, six Red-throated Divers, 18 Wigeon, one Great Crested Grebe and one Slavonian Grebe were seen. 90 Knot, two Arctic Skuas and 43 Red-throated Divers were seen from Ferry Hills (18th), one Greenshank, one Common Sandpiper, 15+ Snipe, one Spotted Flycatcher, one Whitethroat, two Sedge Warblers, two Blackcaps, three Chiffchaffs and a Raven were noted at Loch Gelly while at Dalgety Bay, three Wheatears were on the beach. Nearby at Barns Farm, one Spotted Flycatcher and a Whinchat were seen, at Fife Ness c12 Golden Plovers were on therocks and at Lindores Loch seven Ravens were seen. A Yellow Wagtail flew over Rumblingwell, Dunfermline and at Kilrenny Mill a 2nd calendar year Mediterranean Gull was seen in the gull roost there, three Pintail, one Common Sandpiper, five Snipe, two Goldeneye and a group of 39 Little Grebes in a loose flock, were at Loch Gelly and noted at Seafield (19th) were one Lesser Whitethroat, beside the railway line, two Whitethroats, five Blackcaps, two Chiffchaffs, two Grey Wagtails and c50 Swallows moving S and from the Eden Estuary Centre eight Little Egrets and 232 Wigeon were seen. Seen at lower Kilminning, there was one Blackcap, one Garden Warbler and one Redpoll and offshore two Sooty Shearwaters N, seven Red-breasted Mergansers S, two Bonxies N, 21 Little Gulls S, seven Arctic Terns S, 25 Sandwich Terns S, 15 Red-throated Divers S, 116 Teal S, six Pintail S, two Black-throated Divers, eight Red-throated Divers, one Bonxie SW, one Manx Shearwater NE, 18 Wigeon SW, 24 Common Scoters S, 11 Pink-footed Geese E and a Grey Phalarope S were noted and yet another first for Fife, if accepted, was a juvenile Pallid Harrier seen cruising along past the lower car park over onto Crail Airfield where it was lost from view heading W. Logged at Ferry Hills were one Arctic Skua, two Little Gulls inland, six Red-throated Divers, 75 Wigeon, two Pintail, 10 Teal, 23 Pink-feet, 211 Swallows, 838 Meadow Pipits, one Tree Pipit and 38 Siskins and at Kilrenny in the coastal fields, a juvenile Yellow Wagtail and four Twite were watched. The first group of Pink-footed Geese of the autumn passing over at Auchtermuchty were seen with a skein of 14, c150 Pink-feet flew S over Kirkcaldy, 39 passed SW over Dunfermline and 19 went over Culross. The Seawatching Day Count at Fife Ness was one Great Northern Diver S, 26 Red-throated Divers S, 4N, one Pomarine Skua N, four Bonxies N, two Arctic Skuas N, 62 Wigeon S, 2N, 106 Teal S, 65 Sandwich Terns S, four Common Terns S, 1N one Sooty Shearwater N, two Manx Shearwaters S, 19 Little Gulls S and c40 Common Scoters. Also, one Curlew Sandpiper and one Purple Sandpiper were on the rocks and counted passing there (20th) were two Red-throated Divers N, 2S, four Common Scoters S, four Turnstones, six Redshanks, one Curlew and eight Common Terns S. At The Wilderness a juvenile Marsh Harrier was watched and seen on rocks at Anstruther was a 2nd year Mediterranean Gull, with 50 Mediterranean Gulls counted at East Wemyss, comprising 24 adults, two 3rd calendar year and 24 1st winter birds. Four Pale-bellied Brent Geese, two adult and two 1st winter Mediterranean Gulls and three Red-throated Divers were seen at Pathhead (21st), a Hobby flew over Fife Ness for a few circuits before heading off W. A Curlew Sandpiper, two Dunlins and a Ringed Plover were on the stinky pool at Fife Ness (22nd) and from the Eden Estuary Centre 70 Pink-footed Geese and four Little Egrets were seen, at Lower Largo a Merlin came from inland then headed E along the coast and at Kilrenny Mill two adult winter Mediterranean Gulls were seen amongst the Black-headed Gulls there. Seen at Out Head (23rd) were two Stonechats, one Wheatear, one Meadow Pipit, c50 Razorbills, c50 Guillemots, four Red-throated Divers, 11 Red-breasted Mergansers and five Sandwich Terns and further up the Eden Estuary at Guardbridge, were six Little Egrets, five Greenshanks, six Pintail, four Scaup, one Brent Goose, one Osprey and c1000 Pink-footed Geese over SW. c1000 Pink-feet passed W over Glenrothes in 1hr, a Ring-necked Parakeet was seen flying above trees near the Victoria Hospital, Kirkcaldy and at Angle Park GP, three Ruff were present. Counted passing over Cellardyke were c1000 Pink-feet, with 2920 also counted heading SW over Dunfermline and at Rossie Bog one Marsh Harrier, one Merlin, one Kestrel and one Sparrowhawk were seen hunting and c780 Swallows, Sand Martins and House Martins were counted. One Merlin, one Osprey, c2000 Pink-feet, one Black Tern, at least one Roseate Tern, two Kittiwakes among the Black-headed Gulls, c350 Razorbills and four Guillemots were seen at Out Head and counted at Newmills Bay were two Bar-tailed Godwits, one Greenshank, one Grey Plover, two Grey Wagtails, one hybrid Hooded Crow, 32 Ringed Plovers and 1000’s of geese over SW. At Crail (24th) 366 Pink-footed Geese passed W, seven Little Gulls E and one Common Scoter E, three Scaup, 45 Red-throated Divers and 221 Pink-footed Geese were seen at Ferry Hills and at Morton Lochs NNR c70 Teal and 10 Whooper Swans were noted. A juvenile Marsh Harrier and a juvenile Peregrine were noted at The Wilderness and seen from the A92 near Loch Gelly was a juvenile Goshawk, four Black Terns, two adult Roseate Terns, c200 Sandwich Terns, c100 Common Terns, c40 Arctic Terns, 1280 Pink-footed Geese and two Canada Geese were at Out Head and at Fife Ness one juvenile Curlew Sandpiper was still on the stinky pool, eight Wheatears, three White Wagtails and 150 Pink-footed Geese were also noted. Two Greenshanks, one Ruff, 12 Black-tailed Godwits, five Bar-tailed Godwits, one adult Mediterranean Gull, 11 Little Egrets, two Common Sandpipers, 1500 Pink-footed Geese and 25 Canada Geese were seen from the Eden Estuary Centre and logged at Ferry Hills (25th) were one Great Northern Diver, 3906 Pink-feet, 1841 Meadow Pipits, 101 alba Wagtails, 50 Red-throated Divers, 10 Arctic Skuas, one Bonxie, one female/immature Merlin, 14 Golden Plovers and one Spotted Flycatcher, six Wheatears were on Balcomie Beach and not too far away at Crail were two alba Wagtails. Seen at Out Head were one White-tailed Eagle, three Black Terns, one adult Mediterranean Gull, 41 Little Gulls, six Slavonian Grebes, one Arctic Skua, 37 Wigeon, 27 Grey Plovers, six Red-throated Divers, two alba Wagtails, two Chiffchaffs and a Little Stint on the beach with Ringed Plovers and at Cameron Reservoir were one Common Sandpiper, 76 Little Grebes, 104 Tufted Ducks, 42 Wigeon and 22 Teal, the Seawatching Day Count at Fife Ness was one drake Surf Scoter S, one adult Pomarine Skua N, four Arctic Skuas N, two Sooty Shearwaters N, 16 Manx Shearwaters N, 300 Little Gulls, seven Red-throated Divers, 14 Common Scoters, 1000 Pink-footed Geese and at Anstruther two Ruff WSW, 131 House Martins WSW, 225 Swallows WSW, five Red-throated Divers W, two Bonxies E, one Arctic Skua, 80 Common Gulls W, 85 Pink-feet W, 15 Linnets W, six Siskin W, three Chaffinches W, three Wigeon W and 65 Meadow Pipits W were all logged. Seen from Crail (26th) were a juvenile Slavonian Grebe E, one Sooty Shearwater E, one Manx Shearwater E, 28 Wigeon W, 12 Common Scoters E and nine Red-throated Divers W. Counted from Fife Ness were two Sooty Shearwaters N, three Manx Shearwaters N, one Slavonian Grebe N, one Velvet Scoter S, 34 Common Scoters N, five Wigeon N, one Teal N, 10 Red-throated Divers S, two Great Northern Divers S, one Bonxie N, two Arctic Skuas N, 7 Sandwich Terns S, 3N, two Little Gulls N and three Skylarks came in off the sea. 14 Grey Plovers were seen at Out Head and the day count at Ferry Hills was 68 Red-throated Divers, four Pale-bellied Brent Geese, 976 Pink-feet, four Whooper Swans, two Bonxies, two Little Gulls, 69 alba Wagtails and 421 Meadow Pipits. A juvenile Curlew Sandpiper was seen on Balcomie Beach, with a male Brambling also noted there, three Black-tailed Godwits were at Cullaloe LNR and at Kilconquhar Loch were a pair of Scaup, two drakes and a female Pochard, 18 Whooper Swans and two Water Rails. An Osprey was watched at Tayport, a juvenile Spotted Redshank was seen from the Eden Estuary Centre and seen passing Anstruther were two Velvet Scoters W, three Common Scoters E, four Red-throated Divers W, a Bonxie W and 30 Skylarks E. Seen at Boarhills were a Yellow Wagtail S, four Bramblings S, 98 Meadow Pipits S, 106 E, 27 Pied Wagtails E, at least three White Wagtails E and two Chiffchaffs. Noted at the Eden Estuary Centre (27th) were two Little Egrets, one Kingfisher, one Greenshank, one Ruff and two Chiffchaffs, at Lindores Loch c10 Ravens, three Whooper Swans over S, three Pochard, one Blackcap and a Chiffchaff were seen and at Pittencrieff Park, Dunfermline, two Nuthatches were seen together. A Peregrine and a Marsh Harrier were watched at Newburgh and noted at Guardbridge were two Greenshanks, one Ruff, one adult Mediterranean Gull, one Little Egret, one Goldeneye and a Razorbill, across at Kilminning, four Chiffchaffs and three Bramblings were seen at the upper end, with three Wheatears seen at the lower end. Seen off Leven were an adult Mediterranean Gull and a drake Long-tailed Duck, the highlights at Ferry Hills (28th) were 70 Red-throated Divers, with the largest flock being 16, two Bonxies, one Arctic Skua, 37 alba Wagtails, two White Wagtails and 382 Meadow Pipits, not far away at Dalgety Bay, one juvenile Little Gull, two juvenile Pomarine Skuas were seen, with two Ravens still being seen over Braefoot Plantation. A partial summer-plumaged Red-throated Diver was in Burntisland Harbour, a juvenile Marsh Harrier, three Pintail and three Water Rails were at Letham Pools and seen at Kilminning were two Chiffchaffs, eight Ringed Plovers were in the field opposite the green shed, with a large movement of Skylarks and Pipits over the golf course also evident. Seen from Fife Ness were a Whimbrel on the rocks in front of the FBC hide, 19 Common Scoters N, one Velvet Scoter S and 16 Red-throated Divers S, one N, a Black-tailed Godwit, a Chiffchaff singing, a Jay and eight Snipe were at Cullaloe LNR and seen from Ferry Hills (29th) were one juvenile Long-tailed Skua, 1054 Pink-feet, 26 Red-throated Divers, 323 Meadow Pipits, 38 alba Wagtails and 35 Siskins. A Grey Plover and an adult Mediterranean Gull were noted at Seafield and the juvenile Curlew Sandpiper was still present on Balcomie Beach, at Guardbridge were an adult Mediterranean Gull and four Greenshanks and seen from Out Head were four Slavonian Grebes, one Arctic Skua, 30 Sandwich Terns and 46 Grey Plovers, nine Pale-bellied Brent Geese were seen at Tayport (30th) and counted passing Fife Ness were 54 Red-throated Divers S, 3N, two Arctic Skuas N, 61 Common Scoters N, one Red-breasted Merganser S, c150 Gannets, six Sandwich Terns S, one Little Gull S, one Fulmar N and a Whimbrel on the rocks in front of the FBC hide. Seen on Balcomie Beach were c20 Ringed Plovers, eight Redshanks, 10 Dunlins, six Sanderlings, one Bar-tailed Godwit, one Curlew Sandpiper, one Whimbrel and one Turnstone. Two Red-throated Divers were off Dalgety Bay, two juvenile Little Terns were off Leven and the count of Mediterranean Gulls at East Wemyss was a season record of 62, which included 26 adults, five 3rd calendar year and 31 1st winter birds. Two Whimbrels and a Wheatear were at Balcomie GC and seen at West Sands, St Andrews were three female/juvenile and a male Wheatear.

Information supplied courtesy of Malcolm Ware

Counted passing Kinghorn (1st) were one Bonxie, 15 Common Scoters, 26 Puffins, 120 Guillemots, two Razorbills, 45 Kittiwakes, 70 Gannets, 15 Cormorants, 65 Sandwich Terns, 56 Common Terns and four Fulmars, four Common Sandpipers were near the Tower at Seafield, three Mediterranean Gulls, two adults and a 2nd summer and two Common Sandpipers were at St Margarets Marsh, Rosyth and counted at the Eden Estuary Centre were c538 Redshanks, c6 Curlews, one Little Egret, five Ospreys and three Peregrines. 11 Mediterranean Gulls were seen at East Wemyss and included eight adults, one 3rd calendar year, one 2nd calendar year and a juvenile, a Tree Pipit headed S over Rumblingwell, Dunfermline, the seawatchingday count at Fife Ness was one Storm Petrel, one adult Pomarine Skua, six Bonxies, six Arctic Skuas, 37 Manx Shearwaters, 41 Common Scoters all generally N, seen from Carlingnose Point were one Pomarine Skua, three Arctic Skuas, c70 Sandwich Terns, 45 Common Terns and 55 Kittiwakes. At Ferry Hills (2nd) 11 Tree Pipits, the first double-figure count of the autumn, were noted. The run of Mediterranean Gull sightings continued with a 2nd summer bird at Anstruther and two at North Queensferry, an adult and a juvenile, close by an adult Long-tailed Skua, was seen from Carlingnose Point on the water off Dalgety Bay, slightly further west at Newmills, the highlights were nine Common Sandpipers, one Cuckoo and c86 Sandwich Terns. The seawatching day count at Fife Ness was one Pomarine Skua N, seven Arctic Skuas, one Bonxie N, 53 Manx Shearwaters N, 1S, 12 Common Scoter N, one Velvet Scoter S. A juvenile Mediterranean Gull was on the river opposite the swimming pool at Leven (3rd), four Mediterranean Gulls were seen at Pathhead and included two adults, one 2nd Summer and one juvenile, also noted were c110 Goosanders and a drake Common Scoter on the burn. A single Green Sandpiper was at TheWilderness and noted off St. David’s Harbour, Dalgety Bay was an adult Mediterranean Gull, with another adult seen on the rocks at the harbour at North Queensferry, at Cellardyke a seabird passage included 22 Sandwich Terns E, 18 Common Scoter E and one Common Sandpiper. At Pathhead (4th), two Mediterranean Gulls, an adult and a juvenile were present, also seen was a Little Egret seen flying W, noted passing Fife Ness were one Little Tern N, 10 Manx Shearwaters N and three Common Scoters and nearby at Crail Airfield a juvenile Marsh Harrier was seen, on the rocks at Balcomie Beach were one adult Roseate Tern, 300 Arctic Terns, 10 Common Terns and 10 Sandwich Terns, also one Whimbrel. A Ring-necked Parakeet was very vocal and mobile at Beveridge Park, Kirkcaldy and an adult Mediterranean Gull passed over Winifred Crescent, Kirkcaldy, at Tayport a juvenile Mediterranean Gull, two Ospreys and five Greenshanks were noted and at East Wemyss (5th) the Mediterranean Gull count was six, which included three juveniles, two adults and a 2nd Summer, at Buckhaven three adult Mediterranean Gulls were present and passing over Ferry Hills were a group of four Arctic Skuas which U-turned, also seen were two Red-throated Divers and seven Tree Pipits. An adult Pomarine Skua passed high W over Anstruther, a Tree Pipit passed over S at Rumblingwell, Dunfermline, at Ruddons Point were one Greenshank, eight Goosanders, one Whimbrel and 11 Arctic Terns, a Roseate Tern was at Balcomie Beach, noted at Cellardyke were six Sandwich Terns W and four Common Scoters E. The seawatching day count at Fife Ness was two Sooty Shearwaters N, seven Bonxies N, one Roseate Tern, 22 Arctic Terns S, 102 N, 138 Sandwich Terns S, one Velvet Scoter S, 26 Common Scoters N, 17 S, eight Common Terns S, two Whimbrels and 39 Manx Shearwaters N. Seen at Tayport were one Little Egret, two Ospreys, three Greenshanks, three Grey Plovers and 152 Bar-tailed Godwits, the Mediterranean Gull count at East Wemyss rose to 15 which included seven adults, two 2nd calendar years and two 3rd calendar years and four juveniles. An adult Mediterranean Gull, two 1st Summer Little Gulls, one Bonxie and three Manx Shearwaters were at Pathhead (6th), 78 Common Scoters N, one Arctic Skua S, two Bonxies and two Red-throated Divers N were noted passing Fife Ness, two adults and a juvenile Mediterranean Gull and a Greenshank were at Buckhaven, a female Merlin and a Greenshank over were seen at Crail, seen at Guardbridge were four Little Egrets, two Black-tailed Godwits, 21 Greenshanks, six Common Sandpipers and a Kingfisher, seen from Anstruther were 167 Arctic Terns, 19 Common Terns, 39 Sandwich Terns, 37 Common Scoters and one Sanderling, all E. Counted at Kirkcaldy Harbour (7th) were 111 Goosanders, with another three seen off the Promenade, seen from Fife Ness were five Bonxies N, 11 Manx Shearwaters N, one Common Scoter N and 35 Knot S and counted at Ferry Hills were 1047 Sandwich Terns, 11 Arctic Terns, 51 Common Terns, seven Arctic Skuas, including four pale morphs which went inland and three pale morphs which flew high NE, at Ruddons Point one adult and a juvenile Mediterranean Gull were noted, also three Common Sandpipers. Seen at Balcomie Beach were a juvenile Cuckoo, 20 Knot, 35 Sanderlings, one Whimbrel and an adult Pomarine Skua close in before heading E and not far away at Kilminning a juvenile Cuckoo was noted. An adult Pomarine Skua was seen close in at Balcomie Beach before heading E, seven Little Gulls, one Bonxie, 56 Manx Shearwaters and seven Teal SE were noted in St Andrews Bay, at Guardbridge were four Little Egrets, one Barnacle Goose, one Black-Tailed Godwit, 11 Greenshanks, four Common Sandpipers and a Kingfisher. At Tayport there was a Little Egret and a female Garganey and nine Snipe were noted at Letham Pools.

Counted passing Fife Ness (8th) were four Bonxies N, one Arctic Skua dark phase S, five Manx Shearwaters N, 36 Common Scoters N, one Teal N and one Whimbrel and the highlights at Ferry Hills were 53 Arctic Terns (including a flock of 38 in from the east, high then u turned), five Whimbrels and 13 Tree Pipits. An adult Mediterranean Gull was on the grass at Pathhead, with two Bonxies W, 43 Goosanders and an Arctic Skua offshore, also noted were 14 Arctic Terns W, a Whimbrel E, a Red-throated Diver offshore and seven Manx Shearwaters W. A count at Fife Ness included 16 Common Scoters N, six Manx Shearwaters N, three Bonxies N, one Red-throated Diver N, two Knot S, one Teal S and eight Fulmars S, with one Greenshank, 11 Goosanders, seven Sanderlings, two Turnstones, 25 Sandwich Terns and c50 Arctic Terns noted close by at Balcomie Beach. Two Ravens were watched circling over roadside fields just west of Caiplie, an adult and two juvenile Mediterranean Gulls were on the shore east of West Wemyss, five Common Scoters E and one Arctic Skua E was the count from Cellardyke, with 15 summer plumage Golden Plovers watched heading east along the coast. Also c25 Swifts were seen gathering over the village. Noted from St David’s Harbour, Dalgety Bay were an adult Mediterranean Gull, one Goldeneye W, 37 Goosanders, three Fulmars, 20 Sandwich Terns, 45 Common Terns, 26 Arctic Terns, one Puffin, one Red-throated Diver and 16 Herons, a count from Fife Ness produced 13 Sandwich Terns 12N 1S, six Arctic Terns N, one Arctic Skua N and one Bonxie N and further up the coast at Boarhills, one adult Pomarine Skua W, 21 Arctic Skuas 13W, 8E, three Bonxies W, 680 Little Gulls 420W, 260E, 157 Manx Shearwaters 95W, 62E, one Yellow Wagtail W and one Whimbrel were seen. Noted at the East Wemyss gull roost were 14 adult, six 1st calendar year, four 2nd calendar year and six juvenile Mediterranean Gulls, 10 Common Scoters N, 21 Kittiwakes 18N 3S, five Sandwich Terns 3N 2S, 20 Arctic Terns, two Common Terns, one Bonxie, 16 Oystercatchers S, three Fulmars S, 522 Gannets 493N 29S were counted off Fife Ness (9th). Watched from the Eden Estuary Centre were two Ospreys, three Peregrines, three Little Egrets and two Greenshanks, an adult and a juvenile Mediterranean Gull were at Pathhead, with three adults, a 2nd Summer and two juvenile Mediterranean Gulls seen in a gull flock in a ploughed field W of Buckhaven. Three Wheatears were seen at Out Head, a single juvenile Mediterranean Gull was at Pathhead (10th), a Green Sandpiper was at Angle Park GP, a juvenile Marsh Harrier, a Tree Pipit over and one Wheatear were seen at Crail Airfield and across at the Eden Estuary Centre a juvenile Ruff and four Common Sandpipers were noted. 31 Canada Geese and four Goosanders were noted on the River Eden S of Guardbridge (11th) and at Letham a Goshawk just circled a mile or so south of the pools, putting the wind up everything then headed N vaguely in the direction of Letham Pools. At Pathhead two adult and two juvenile Mediterranean Gulls and c115 Goosanders were seen, the gull roost at East Wemyss included 12 adult, eight juvenile and a 2nd summer Mediterranean Gulls, also c40 Sandwich Terns and at Pathhead (12th) two adult and three juvenile Mediterranean Gulls were present, highlights at Ferry Hills included 61 Tree Pipits, nine Arctic Skuas, three Whimbrels, six Bar-tailed Godwits, one Knot, with also one adult Mediterranean Gull at Inverkeithing Harbour. A Green Sandpiper was noted at St Margaret’s Marsh, Rosyth, a Tree Pipit was a fly over at St Andrews and counted at Loch Gelly were two Green Sandpipers, one Common Sandpiper, one Greenshank, four Ruff, 29 Lapwings, three Pochard, 32 Swifts and c600 Sand Martins. On the lagoon at Tentsmuir Point NNR was an adult Roseate Tern, one Wood Sandpiper, a 2nd calendar year Little Gull, five Greenshanks and one Common Sandpiper, with three Arctic Skuas and two Red-throated Divers seen from nearby Kinshaldy. Three juvenile and an adult Mediterranean Gull were at Pathhead (13th), with an adult Roseate Tern noted in the tern roost at Out Head, also noted there were two Whimbrels, one Osprey and a Wheatear. Single Green Sandpiper and Greenshank both passed over Ferry Hills, an Arctic Skua, one juvenile Yellow Wagtail, one Greenshank and two Whimbrel were seen at Fife Ness and noted at Loch Gelly were three Ruff, two Greenshanks, one Green Sandpiper, 31 Lapwings and 633 Sand Martins. 40 Mediterranean Gulls were counted at East Wemyss, and included 15 adults, four 2nd calendar year, six 1st calendar year and 15 juveniles. The 3ERA Darvic ringed bird was also present. An Osprey was watched at Angle Park GP (14th), 76 Canada Geese, two Ospreys, three Little Egrets, one Greenshank and two Common Sandpipers were seen at Guardbridge, one Ruff S, two Knot S, eight on rocks, two Turnstone S, one Dunlin S, three Golden Plovers on the rocks, one Bonxie N and one Arctic Skua S were counted from Fife Ness and a juvenile Mediterranean Gull was seen at North Queensferry. Seen from Fairmont, St Andrews were one adult Roseate Tern E calling, 94 Little Gulls 78W, 16E, one Arctic Skua W, one Red-throated Diver W and also four Greenshanks.

The day count at Fife Ness (15th) was five Bonxies, one Sooty Shearwater N, 11 Manx Shearwaters 9N, 2S, one Little Gull N, 13 Knot, two Common Sandpiper S, 85 Sandwich Terns 70N, 15 S, 50 Arctic Terns N and seven Common Terns, three Ravens and at least three Spotted Flycatchers were seen at Hill of Tarvit, the Garganey was still present at the Wilderness, also two Greenshanks were present, at Balgownie Woods a family of 4-5 Spotted Flycatchers were watched near the back car park. A female Marsh Harrier was watched hunting over fields near Auchtermuchty, at the Stinky Pool, Fife Ness were four Knot and one Wheatear and counted from St Andrews were 30 Little Gulls, 15 Manx Shearwaters, one Bonxie, c300 Common Scoters, two Red-throated Divers and one Goldeneye noted. Also a large, c2000 mixed group of auks. Two Little Egrets were seen on Lucky Scalp, Tayport and in the gull roost at East Wemyss were 39 Mediterranean Gulls included 19 adults, two 3rd calendar year, one 2nd calendar year and 17 juvenile/1st winters. The day total at Fife Ness (16th) was 15 Sooty Shearwaters 14N, 1S, 16 Manx Shearwaters N, one Bonxie S, 169 Sandwich Terns, mostly S, 72 Arctic Terns 61N, 11S and four Common Terns N. Highlights at Ferry Hills were 219 Tree Pipits, 17 Arctic Terns and two Arctic Skuas, seen off Kinghorn were one Bonxie W, three Arctic Skuas W, one Common Scoter W, six Black-tailed Godwits W and two Turnstones on the rocks and at Pathhead were an adult and juvenile Mediterranean Gulls, as well as a Bonxie. Noted at Cullaloe LNR were a Green Sandpiper and two Water Rails, two Little Terns, an adult and a juvenile were a good find at Tentsmuir Point NNR, also a Greenshank waspresent, a female Marsh Harrier was watched quartering fields at Cornceres and at Guardbridge one juvenile Ruff, 11 Black-tailed Godwits, 345 Canada Geese, two Kingfishers, four Little Egrets, four Ospreys and five Common Sandpipers were present. The day total at Anstruther was five Bonxies W and two Arctic Skuas W, while at the Eden Estuary LNR (17th) were six Little Egrets and c200 Redshanks. Counted passing Fife Ness were one Sooty Shearwater N, 18 Manx Shearwater N, four Bonxies 3N, 1S, 28 Common Scoters N and two Shelduck S, a Whinchat and six Jays were seen at Kilmany, two Red-throated Divers, seven Bonxies, 43 Tree Pipits and two Crossbills were counted from Ferry Hills and at Burntisland below the Binn Village ruins, a Spotted Flycatcher was noted. Counted at Kinghorn were eight Manx Shearwaters 6W, 2E and one Peregrine, while noted at Guardbridge were one adult White-tailed Eagle, two Peregrines, a juvenile Marsh Harrier, c15 Ospreys, two juvenile Ruff, four Little Egrets, two Kingfishers and two Common Sandpipers, while noted at Loch Gelly were three Green Sandpipers, two Ruff, one Greenshank, one Dunlin, two Common Sandpipers, 52 Lapwings, two Curlews and a Swift. Seen at the Kenly Water, Boarhills were five Little Gulls, 148 Canada Geese and one Greenshank. 35 Black-tailed Godwits were seen at Guardbridge, three Arctic Skuas, 28 Black-tailed Godwits and 29 Tree Pipits were watched at Ferry Hills and off Cellardyke 18 Sandwich Terns 1E, 17W, two Common Scoter E, two Guillemots and c80 Black-headed Gulls feeding offshore on flying ant emergence. Two Red-throated Divers N, 37 Sandwich Terns 33N, 4S, one Puffin N and two Manx Shearwaters N was the count at Fife Ness (18th), with a female Merlin on the Airfield at Crail and a Tree Pipit noted at Caiplie. The Garganey was still present at the Wilderness, 285 Little Gulls were counted off the old Lifeboat Station at Boarhills, two Green Sandpipers, two Ruff, a female Marsh Harrier at the W end and three Red-throated Divers flying over high to the SW calling were at Loch Gelly (19th), while across at Ferry Hills a dark juvenile Long-tailed Skua was lingering over the Forth, eventually it joined two dark juvenile Arctic Skuas and drifted high towards Dalgety Bay. Also noted were five Arctic Skuas, two Bonxies, five Red-throated Divers, 16 Black-tailed Godwits and 28 Tree Pipits. The day total at Fife Nesswas 31 Manx Shearwaters N, two Sooty Shearwaters 1N, 1S, eight Bonxies 7N, 1S, three Arctic Skuas 2N, 1S, 202 Little Gulls 148N, 54S, one Red-throated Diver, one Greenshank and 17 Common Scoters. Eight Little Egrets, five Ospreys, two Greenshanks, two Ruff and 150 Canada Geese were seen from the Eden Estuary Centre and noted from East Sands, St Andrews were many groups of 10-20 Guillemots. An adult Roseate Tern was seen at Elie, a juvenile Mediterranean Gull was at Levenmouth (20th), at Kirkcaldy a juvenile Mediterranean Gull was noted on the grass at Forth Park Drive, two Tree Pipits were at upper Kilminning, with one Spotted Flycatcher and c10 Willow Warblers at lower Kilminning. One adult Roseate Tern was on the rocks behind the Harbour Café, Elie, also a probable juvenile partly hidden behind the adult before they flew off. Two adult Roseate Terns, two Little Gulls, two Ruff and an adult Mediterranean Gull were noted at Tentsmuir Point NNR and nearby at the Goosepools were an adult Roseate Tern, five Manx Shearwaters close in N, five Common Scoters and a Raven. At Kinghorn (21st) eight Arctic Skuas, three Bonxies and one juvenile Arctic Tern were noted, with five Roseate Terns, three adults and two juveniles, on exposed sands amongst large numbers of Common and Sandwich Terns at nearby Burntisland. Four Greenshanks, two Snipe, one Common Sandpiper, three Bar-tailed Godwits, two Black-tailed Godwits, two Ospreys and one Little Egret were counted from the Eden Estuary Centre.

At Burntisland (22nd) were four Roseate Terns, three adults and a juvenile, not too far away at Loch Gelly two Green Sandpipers, one Greenshank and a juvenile Marsh Harrier were seen and at Balcomie Beach one Peregrine and a juvenile Yellow Wagtail were present. An eclipse drake Garganey and two juvenile Ruff were at the Wilderness, eight Little Egrets, three Ospreys, 15 Sandwich Terns and a Guillemot were noted at the Eden Estuary Centre, an adult male Goshawk was watched circling over the Dreel Tavern, Anstruther and the daily seawatching totals from Fife Ness were one Great Shearwater S, four Sooty Shearwaters N, 14 Manx Shearwaters N, 21 Bonxies N, six Arctic Skuas, one adult Sabine’s Gull lingering N, 22 Little Gulls N, three Mediterranean Gulls, seven Velvet Scoters S, 68 Common Scoters N, 31 S, 31 Teal N, nine Red-throated Divers, one Wood Sandpiper S, one Whimbrel, one Knot and three Purple Sandpipers. A Marsh Harrier, two Green Sandpipers, three Common Sandpipers, three Greenshanks, 53 Lapwings, two drake Pochard and six Goldeneye were counted at Loch Gelly (23rd), an adult Roseate Tern was seen distantly from the leisure centre at Burntisland, a Bonxie flew high E over Anstruther and nearby at Crail, two Short-eared Owls were watched hunting from the West Braes to Caiplie coastal path, also noted were one Common Sandpiper, three Pintail W and a Black-tailed Godwit W. Four Red-throated Divers were seen from West Sands, St Andrews, with four Ospreys, one Peregrine, one Whinchat, four Stonechats, four Wheatears, five Little Gulls, two Whimbrels, 10 Grey Plovers, 25 Sanderlings, one Arctic Skua, one Bonxie and 60 Manx Shearwaters seen further up at Out Head. From the East Sands, St Andrews 15 Little Gulls and three Bonxies were seen. A Red Kite flew over Dunfermline, an adult Mediterranean Gull was on the sea out from the Doocot at Pathhead and a juvenile Black Tern also drifted W there. A juvenile Little Ringed Plover, two Green Sandpipers, c170 Little Gulls, an adult Mediterranean Gull, five Greenshanks and six Whimbrels were at Boarhills and eight Little Egrets, a juvenile Ruff, four Black-tailed Godwits, 140 Teal and a Kingfisher were counted at Guardbridge. At Buckhaven (24th) four adult and a 2nd summer Mediterranean Gull were present, also an Osprey flew W, nearby at Leven, an adult Mediterranean Gull, 35 Ringed Plovers, 44 Sanderlings and two Grey Wagtails were at the Scoonie Burn, two Spotted Flycatchers, two Blackcaps, eight Willow Warblers, 10 Whitethroats, c70 Tree Sparrows, including a flock of 59, one Sparrowhawk and one Ringed Plover were all noted at lower Kilminning, one Whinchat and two Tree Pipits were on the Airfield at Crail and at Pettycur Bay were four Roseate Terns, two adults, two juveniles, also a Raven flew E and a Black-tailed Godwit was noted. Seen at the lagoon at Tentsmuir Point NNR were three Roseate Terns, two adults and a juvenile, also a juvenile Ruff, nine Greenshanks, 12 Snipe, a 2nd calendar year Little Gull, one Bonxie, one Osprey and a Wheatear, six Little Gulls, one adult Mediterranean Gull, one Manx Shearwater E and 34 Goosanders E were watched passing Anstruther and at Burntisland (25th) were nine Roseate Terns, six adults and three juveniles. Also, two Arctic Skuas were present. Seen at Cornceres were 12 Grey Partridges and a Kingfisher and from the Bruce Embankment, St Andrews a seawatch produced one adult Sabine’s Gull SE, which was then lost to sight beyond the castle. Also 42 Little Gulls, 37 Manx Shearwaters, one Bonxie N and one Arctic Skua N. 11 Little Egrets and one Osprey were counted from the Eden Estuary Centre, two Bonxies headed E past Dalgety Bay, a Sooty Shearwater E and nine Manx Shearwaters E passed Crail and at Fife Ness (26th), the seawatching daily totals were one Long-tailed Skua juvenile S, one adult N, three Bonxies S, 10N, two Arctic Skuas S, 11N, 11 Manx Shearwaters S, 59N, seven Sooty Shearwaters N, one Roseate Tern N, 14 Common Scoters N, three Wigeon N, nine Teal N and three Red-throated Divers S. Two adult Roseate Terns, three Ruff, nine Greenshanks, one Little Egret and a Green Woodpecker were seen at Tentsmuir Point NNR, nine Red-throated Divers, six Arctic Skuas, one Whimbrel, 36 Tree Pipits and two Spotted Flycatchers were seen from Ferry Hills (27th), one Ruff, one Common Sandpiper, four Greenshanks, 11 Little Egrets, two Ospreys, two Kingfishers, 40 Dunlins, two Bar-tailed Godwits, four Black-tailed Godwits, 40 Teal and 150 Canada Geese were at Guardbridge, four juvenile Yellow Wagtails were in a field on left hand side of the approach track to Balcomie, with another juvenile Yellow Wagtail at the far end of Balcomie Beach, also a Whinchat and two more Yellow Wagtails and two White Wagtails in with 40 Pied Wagtails there. An Osprey flew E at Blairadam and the seawatching day total at Fife Ness was 25 Bonxies N, 10 Arctic Skuas and 1N, 56 Manx Shearwaters N, 21 Sooty Shearwaters N, three Roseate Terns N, 14 Little Gulls N, 45 Common Scoters N, 2S, 88 Teal N and one Whimbrel.

At the High School in Kirkcaldy (28th) a Tree Pipit went over SW and three Mediterranean Gulls, two adults and a 2nd winter were roosting on the astro pitch. five Little Egrets, one Ruff and one Barnacle Goose were noted from the Eden Estuary Centre, a Garden Warbler was at lower Kilminning and at the Wilderness were five Ruff and two Marsh Harriers. The seawatching day total at Fife Ness was 32 Sooty Shearwaters N, 43 Manx Shearwaters N, five Bonxies N, one Pomarine Skua N, three Arctic Skuas N, 2S, 60 Little Gulls N, 30S, 36 Common Scoters N, 14 Teal N, one Red-throated Diver N and one Great Crested Grebe N, a great count of 10 Little Egrets were seen roosting in trees adjacent to the Eden Estuary Centre, also one Osprey. At Fife Ness (29th) the seawatching day total was eight Sooty Shearwaters N, 22 Manx Shearwaters N, eight Arctic Skuas N, 25 Bonxies N, 3S, three Velvet Scoters N, 69 Common Scoters N, 14 Teal N, three Little Gulls N, 87 Common Terns N, one Mediterranean Gull N and one Red-throated Diver N, 3S, whilethe total there on (30th) included an amazing sighting of a Fea’s Petrel N, also 17 Sooty Shearwaters N, 18 Manx Shearwaters N, 101 Little Gulls, eight Bonxies, five Arctic Skuas, 37 Brent Geese, eight Red-throated Divers N, nine Wigeon N, 55 Common Scoters N, 13 Teal N and one Curlew Sandpiper. At Pathhead (31st) were three adult and a 1st winter Mediterranean Gull, 27 Goosanders, a Whimbrel and two adult Pomarine Skuas were in the bay, eight Roseate Terns, five adults and three juveniles, two Bonxies and two Arctic Skuas were seen off Dalgety Bay Sailing Club, further west at Torry Bay, c370 Sandwich Terns and a Whimbrel were noted, a Wheatear, one Osprey and a Buzzard were seen from the Eden Estuary Centre and at both TheWilderness and Rossie Bog a juvenile Marsh Harrier was seen. Finally the seawatching day total from Fife Ness was 12 Sooty Shearwaters N, 20 Manx Shearwaters N, 11 Bonxies, two Arctic Skuas, 33 Little Gulls, 63 Common Scoter N, one Velvet Scoter N, three Pale-bellied Brent Geese, two Red-throated Divers N, one Teal, one Wigeon N, one Tystie N and 15 Golden Plovers.

Information supplied courtesy of Malcolm Ware

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

Information supplied courtesy of Malcolm Ware

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

Information supplied courtesy of Malcolm Ware

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

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

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

Information supplied courtesy of Malcolm Ware

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

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

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

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

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

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

Information supplied courtesy of Malcolm Ware

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

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