News

The next outing will be to the Tay Reedbeds and Kingoodie on Sunday 24th March. We will meet at the top of Gas Brae where it meets the High Street by the Cross in Errol at 10:00.

The next outing will be to to Tayport and Tentsmuir on 24th February. See the February edition of ‘FBC News’ or the email to members for further details.

“The European Breeding Birds Atlas: Birdwatchers Collaborating Across the Continent”. Jeremy Greenwood

In a change to our advertised programme (do they still say that on the BBC?) the next Indoor Meeting will be on Thursday 14th February 2019. (What better way to spend Valentine’s Day evening?). The venue as usual will be the Dean Park Hotel, Kirkcaldy. Please note this replaces the meeting orginally scheduled for 31st January.

The next presentation due to be delivered by David Steel will no longer be on 31st January 2019.

 It is hoped that David will be available for a date in February ……. watch this space for confirmation.

The next Fife Bird Club Indoor Meeting will be on Thursday 6th December 2018 at 7.30pm in the Dean Park Hotel in Kirkcaldy.

GOSHAWKS
Usually a shy forest species, the Goshawk has in recent years successfully colonised urban environments across continental Europe. Professor Christian Rutz has conducted one of the most detailed investigations of urban-breeding Goshawks to date. In this talk, he will present some of his work on Goshawks’ nest-site choice, ranging behaviour and prey selection in the city of Hamburg, Germany.

Mediterranean Gulls at East Wemyss:

On the first day of the month three were present in the morning then one adult and four juveniles, one with yellow darvic ring: AYYT, were reported (1st).

Three juveniles present  then at the evening roost there were 13 birds comprising three adults (including red darvic) and ten juveniles (all unringed) (2nd).

An adult and ten juveniles present including AYYT (3rd).

Two adults and four juveniles including yellow AYYT and AYKJ noted then 15 birds present comprising three adults (red PRP6) and 12 juveniles including yellow AYYT (4th).

Three juveniles then later four adults and nine juveniles (5th).

Eight adult, one first summer and 13 juveniles present (8th).

Three adults and 12 juveniles noted then at the evening roost 30 were counted, comprising 26 juveniles (including yellow darvic), three adults (including red PRP6) and a first summer (with metal ring) – a new Fife record count (11th).

11 juveniles (13th).

The  Fife Record count was extended to 36 with six adults, one first summer and 29 juveniles (15th).

Ten reported including yellow ATUK and red PRP6 (17th).

An evening count increased the record to 37 with 33 juveniles including yellow ATUK, three adults including white 3ERA, and one first summer (almost moulted into second winter plumage) (19th).

24 present with 18 moulting juveniles and six adults including 3ERA then a roost count brought the record up to 54 with five adults, including PRP6 and 36L1, and 49 juveniles (21st).

The record became 62 with five adults, including red PRP6 and white 3ERA, two second winter birds and 55 moulting juveniles including yellow ATUK (23rd).

Only (!) 58 noted – eight adults including red PRP6, white 3ERA and 36L1 along with two second winters (one metal ringed) and 48 moulting juveniles including yellow ATUK (25th).

The record of 62 was equalled in the evening with five adults, including 36L1 and PRP6, one second winter and 56 juveniles including ATUK (27th).

Other Sightings:

Wilderness held one Wood Sandpiper, a Green Sandpiper, two Ruff, four Greenshanks, 29 Black-tailed Godwits, four Dunlins and two Common Sandpipers (1st) and the following day the same site had one Ruff, four Greenshanks, three Dunlins, three Common Sandpipers and 20 Black-tailed Godwits. A juvenile Mediterranean Gull was present at West Wemyss then a Green Sandpiper and six Common Sandpipers turned up at Loch Gelly before Fife Ness produced four Manx Shearwaters, 38 Knot and seven Sandwich Terns (2nd). A report from Ferry Hills included 89 Tree Pipits, 74 Arctic Terns in two flocks high inland as well as eight Whimbrels and ten Crossbills (3rd) then this site produced 110 Tree Pipits the next day when a count from Fife Ness comprised a Sooty Shearwater, 27 Manx Shearwaters, two Bonxies, two Red-throated Divers, two adult Roseate Terns and one juvenile Mediterranean Gull (as well as 21+ Bottlenose Dolphins).Wilderness hosted two Green Sandpipers, two Greenshanks, one Ruff, 14 Snipe, and 32 Black-tailed Godwits with a female/juvenile Merlin flying through and 11 Crossbills in the roadside trees. Two Ospreys and a Little Egret were present at Edenside, an adult Little Gull was at East Wemyss, an adult Mediterranean Gull was off the  harbour at Dysart and 150 Woodpigeons were at Leckiebank Farm (4th). Four Manx Shearwaters, one Whimbrel, three Knot, 17 Dunlins (and five Bottlenose Dolphins) were seen at Fife Ness, a Whimbrel was at East Wemyss where two Arctic Terns and a Common Tern were amongst a Sandwich Tern flock and at Leven an adult Little Gull was present (5th). 14 Manx Shearwaters, a Whimbrel and a Bonxie were spied from Seafield whilst Wilderness held a Little Ringed Plover, a Green Sandpiper, a Common Sandpiper, a Spotted Redshank, a Greenshank and c30 Black-tailed Godwits (6th).

Also at Wilderness were two Greenshanks, four Dunlins, three Common Sandpipers, 15 Black-tailed Godwits as well as four Crossbills flying towards the trees at the railway line. About 80 Golden Plovers were on the rocks out from St Monans Windmill (8th). Mediterranean Gulls were present at Pathhead where there was an adult and at Buckhaven where two juveniles were joined by a Roseate Tern. 18 Mute Swans, eight Canada Geese, five Teal, four Goosanders, 55 Lapwings, 11 Knot, c35 Dunlins and two Ospreys were noted at Edenside (9th). One adult and a juvenile Grey Partridge (not often reported these days) were at Fincraigs, Gauldry and two juvenile Black Terns passed Kinghorn (10th). 200+ Common Terns were on the beach at Seafield where one Grey Plover, one Goosander, a Sparrowhawk, two Whitethroats, two Chiffchaffs and two Willow Warblers were also noted. 11 Black-tailed Godwits, a Little Ringed Plover, three Dunlins and eight Crossbills over were recorded at Wilderness, an adult Mediterranean Gull was present at Dysart and 126 Goosanders were at West Wemyss whilst a juvenile Wheatear turned up at East Wemyss. A busy day continued with three Green Sandpipers and two Common Sandpipers at Loch Gelly then ten Dabchicks, seven Teal, c70 (and eight young) Mallards, ten (and two young) Moorhens, 18+ Coots, a Kingfisher and two Willow Warblers at Morton Lochs NNR. Further freshwater reports included ten Dabchicks, 18 Mallards, 16 Tufted Ducks, three (and three young) Moorhens, nine+ Coots, six Lapwings, 20 Lesser Black-backed Gulls, four Swallows and two Stock Doves at Newton Sand & Gravel Pit then nine Dabchicks at East Links Wood Pond where there were also two Blackcaps with two young, four Willow Warblers, eight Swallows and at least ten Goldfinches (11th). Reports from seawatching at Kinghorn included one Sooty Shearwater, 19 Manx Shearwaters, two Bonxies, 24 Fulmars, 35 Kittiwakes, four Puffins and 226 Gannets then later an adult and a juvenile Roseate Tern, three Arctic Skuas, a Bonxie and six Manx Shearwaters were noted. Along at Pathhead 39 Goosanders and a Red-necked Grebe were offshore whilst a juvenile Mediterranean Gull on the grassy area there was suggested as a site first and there were also three adults present.

Balcomie Beach hosted a Common Sandpiper, 35 Dunlins, ten Sanderlings and a juvenile Wheatear. Up at Fife Ness an early report was of 100 Manx Shearwaters, two Bonxies, one Arctic Skua, a Whimbrel, two Red-throated Divers, three Common Scoters and a juvenile Mediterranean Gull then this was followed by a note of 202 Manx Shearwaters, six Sooty Shearwaters, three Bonxies, 19 Common Scoters, a Common Sandpiper, two Whimbrels and a juvenile Mediterranean Gull (12th). A further report from Fife Ness the next day comprised two Roseate Terns, two Sooty Shearwaters, a juvenile Mediterranean Gull, 55 Manx Shearwaters, four Little Gulls, a Ruff, one Greenshank, three Arctic Skuas, 12 Bonxies and an Osprey low north in front of the FBC hide. 47 Whimbrels flew over Dalgety Bay Sailing Club, an adult Little Gull was at East Wemyss then two juvenile Mediterranean Gulls were seen at Buckhaven (13th) before two adults were there the following day and a juvenile was at Leven where there were also 30 Goosanders. A Sooty Shearwater, c30 Manx Shearwaters, c15 Little Gulls and a Bonxie were noted off Fife Ness, a Green Sandpiper graced Loch Gelly, a Kestrel was at Myrecairnie and c60 House Sparrows were at Gauldry (14th).

A Raven flew low over the Melville Lodges roundabout while at Wilderness there were  three Green Sandpipers, one Common Sandpiper, two Dunlins, three Ruff and three Black-tailed Godwits (15th). An adult Mediterranean Gull was on playing fields at Leven and an adult and a juvenile were at Buckhaven. Two Little Egrets were at Edenside where there were also c16 Mute Swans and an Osprey (16th). Black-headed Gull JOY1 was noted back at Leven, 132 Tree Pipits passed over Ferry Hills in the early morning and Loch Gelly held two Ruff and singles of Black-tailed Godwit, Green Sandpiper and Common Sandpiper (17th). Three Ruff, seven Black-tailed Godwits, six Dunlins, a Snipe and one Ringed Plover were noted at Wilderness whilst seawatching at Fife Ness produced one juvenile Black Tern, two Manx Shearwaters, three Common Scoters and a Whimbrel with eight Turnstones, four Knot and a Sparrowhawk on the rocks (18th). Loch Gelly hosted a Little Egret, one Ruff and three Black-tailed Godwits were present. The FBC outing started at the Eden Estuary Centre with seven Ospreys, three Little Egrets, a Ruff, nine Greenshanks, c20 Black-tailed Godwits, two Common Sandpipers, two Kingfishers, a Knot and one Peregrine then continued with c20 Little Gulls, three Bonxies, an Arctic Skua, a Sparrowhawk, 12 Kittiwakes, and c40 Manx Shearwaters at Fife Ness. A Whimbrel was seen at East Wemyss and five Arctic Skuas were noted at Kinghorn (where a pod of c12 Bottlenose Dolphins were seen) (19th). An adult Mediterranean Gull was at Buckhaven plus at least three juveniles whilst a juvenile was also present at Levenmouth. Inland wader counts included four Ruff, one Green Sandpiper, ten Dunlins, eight Snipe and nine Black-tailed Godwits at Wilderness then at Loch Gelly there were 14 Black-tailed Godwits, one Green Sandpiper, a Common Sandpiper, one Ruff and also a Little Egret (20th) followed by a report from there the next day of two Ruff, 14 Black-tailed Godwits, three Green Sandpipers, two Common Sandpipers, 53 Lapwings, a Little Egret and 179 Greylag Geese. A female Tufted Duck with four very young juveniles was noted at Letham Pools and at least 780 Little Gulls and 200+ Sandwich Terns were spied roosting at St Andrews (21st).

Five Little Egrets, four Ospreys, a Little Gull, two Ruff and 20 Greenshanks were observed from the Eden Estuary Centre, an adult winter Mediterranean Gull was present at Dalgety Bay, c380 Golden Plovers were at St Monans and there were evening reports of three Green Sandpipers and two Ruff at Wilderness and a juvenile Marsh Harrier over Loch Gelly where there were also five Common Sandpipers, four+ Black-tailed Godwits, a Green Sandpiper, two Ruff and one Little Egret (22nd). The following day brought an adult Hobby to Loch Gelly where a (white) goose sp. was seen flying away with Greylags at distance and was probably the Snow Goose that was previously seen in the Lothians. Five Little Egrets, a Kingfisher, a Little Gull, one Spotted Redshank, two Ruff and seven Ospreys were seen from the Eden Estuary Centre and one Arctic Skua, four Bonxies, two Manx Shearwaters north and  20 Little Gulls were offshore at Fife Ness (23rd). Buckhaven hosted four juvenile /first winter and an adult Mediterranean Gull and there were also 400+ Swallows west (24th). Red and white darvic ringed Black-headed Gulls were present at East Wemyss, a female Marsh Harrier was at Wilderness and a Red Kite and 105 Tree Pipits flew over Ferry Hills. Nine Wheatears were counted at Fife Ness where four Bonxies and 15 Manx Shearwaters offshore were accompanied by a Minke Whale and a Bottlenose Dolphin. Nearby at Balcomie three Wheatears and a Whimbrel were seen then along at Kilminning one Whinchat, four Wheatears, a Whimbrel and a Merlin were noted (25th). Separate reports from Fife Ness were 21 Manx Shearwaters, two Arctic Skuas, a Bonxie and a Knot then 64 Manx Shearwaters, five Common Scoters and one Knot (and c10 Bottlenose Dolphins). An early report from Kinghorn was of an adult and a juvenile Roseate Tern, a Pomarine Skua, four Arctic Skuas and five Bonxies then this was followed by sightings of 14 Little Gulls, two Manx Shearwaters, three Bonxies, seven Arctic Skuas and two Red-throated Divers. At least two Black Terns were present nearby at Pettycur (26th) where the following day three Roseate Terns (two adults, one juvenile), 320 Sandwich Terns, 84 Common Terns and 15 Arctic Terns were counted. At Kinghorn a first winter Little Gull and four juvenile Black Terns were feeding just off the harbour car park then an Arctic Skua and a juvenile/first winter Mediterranean Gull flew past west before there was a further report of a Black Tern, six Bonxies and two Arctic Skuas. Off Tentsmuir Point NNR ten Arctic Skuas and a Bonxie were noted. Loch Gelly held six Ruff, a Black-tailed Godwit and a Green Sandpiper (27th). A Black Tern lingered at Kinghorn where five Long-tailed Skuas, four dark phase Arctic Skuas, four Bonxies, seven Little Gulls and a Peregrine were all noted before further observations brought five moulting juvenile Mediterranean Gulls west, two Bonxies and three Arctic Skuas. Nearby at Pettycur four Roseate Terns (two adults and two juveniles), c350 Sandwich Terns (many with colour rings), 210 Common Terns and 40 Arctic Terns were counted. At Ferry Hills the highlights were one Black-throated Diver and 140 Tree Pipits. A juvenile Mediterranean Gull was present at Anstruther Harbour and four Pale-bellied Brent Geese, four Ospreys, two Ruff and two Whimbrels were counted at Balgove Bay (28th).

Two adult Pomarine Skuas, 26 Manx Shearwaters, four Bonxies, three Arctic Skuas and six+ Bottlenose Dolphins were noted off Kinghorn (29th) and along at Burntisland two adult and one juvenile Roseate Terns were on the beach whilst a juvenile Black Tern was on the beach with Common and Sandwich Terns at Pettycur Sands. Seawatching at Kinghorn produced seven Arctic Skuas, a Bonxie and 100 Goosanders. Two Peregrines were perched on Braefoot terminal, two Wheatears were present at Braefoot Point and an Osprey passed over Inchcolm (30th). At Fife Ness there were 25 Brent Geese south, 40 Knot high south and also 32 Teal, three Goldeneyes and a Bonxie south then at Kinghorn an adult Roseate Tern and a juvenile Black Tern passed east and two Arctic Skuas were noted then the month ended with juvenile Black and Roseate Terns on Pettycur Sands (31st).

Information supplied courtesy of Malcolm Ware

The next Indoor Meeting will be ‘Birding Long Point’ on Thursday 18th October at 7.30 pm in the Dean Park Hotel.

Long Point Bird Observatory in Ontario, Canada, is the oldest bird observatory in the western hemisphere, and recently the one millionth bird was ringed at the site. Eilidh McNab spent a sunny six weeks at the observatory in 2016, and will share memories of her visit  and encourage us to make the trip over!

JULY 2018 SIGHTINGS

Proceedings commenced with 21 Black-tailed Godwits, three Common Sandpipers, a Snipe and four Crossbills at Wilderness (1st). Tayfield held 16 Mallards (including six young), one Grey Heron, five Moorhens, a Song Thrush a Blackcap and two Bullfinches (2nd). A party of 46 Goldfinches, mainly juveniles, were noted at Leckiebank Farm, Auchtermuchty (6th) and an adult Little Gull was at Ironmill Bay, Charlestown (7th).

Edenside hosted three Grey Herons, 31 Mute Swans, two Canada Geese, a Buzzard and an Osprey with seawatching at Anstruther producing 71 Manx Shearwaters, 20 Velvet Scoters, and a Bonxie heading east (9th). A Little Egret and two Canada Geese were seen from the Eden Estuary Centre with four Ospreys in the outer estuary (12th). 34 Manx Shearwaters passed Anstruther heading east while off Fife Ness 19 Manx Shearwaters were heading north, with six going south and two Bonxies and a Red-throated Diver passed north (13th).

Off Tentsmuir Point NNR c185 Little Gulls were recorded and over at Morton Lochs NNR eight Dabchicks, ten Canada Geese, 66 Mallards (including six young), two Teal, ten Moorhens, 18 Coots (including two young), a Blackcap, a Willow Warbler but just one Swift were all noted. Seven Mute Swans (including five young) were at Drumoig, five Dabchicks, eight Canada Geese and a Yellowhammer were all noted at East Links Wood Pond then a count at Newton Sand & Gravel Pit comprised ten Dabchicks (including two young), nine Mute Swans (including seven young), nine Canada Geese, 34 Mallards (including four young), 36 Tufted Ducks, four Lapwings, one Common Sandpiper, a Buzzard, a single Kestrel, nine Black-headed Gulls, ten Lesser Black-backed Gulls, 12 Herring Gulls and five Sand Martins (15th).Two Snipe and an adult and a young Water Rail were reported at Letham Pools (16th). Loch Gelly’s west end held three Little Egrets with two more together at the east end, also present were two adult Mediterranean Gulls, eight Common Sandpipers and one Pochard (17th). An adult Mediterranean Gull was on the beach at Leven, the five Little Egrets at Loch Gelly were together on the spit at the west end and off Fife Ness were two Manx Shearwaters, a Bar-tailed Godwit, 12 Black-tailed Godwits and six Common Terns (18th). On higher ground 16 Stonechats (including eight young), four Whinchats (including two young) and five Ravens were seen at Glen Vale. 14 Lapwings, c25 Mute Swans, a Buzzard, a Tree Sparrow and a Greenfinch were all noted at Edenside and an adult Mediterranean Gull was at Downing Point, Dalgety Bay (19th). An adult and two juvenile Mediterranean Gulls glided past Methil and an adult Roseate Tern was on the rocks east of Dalgety Bay Sailing Club (20th). Little Egret sightings continued with a single at Letham Pools, three at Loch Gelly (as well as 16 Grey Herons and two Black-tailed Godwits there) and two at the Eden Estuary where an Osprey and a Kingfisher were also noted (21st).

A Little Egret was also at Inverkeithing, four Crossbills passed over Ferryhills and eight of this species were seen in Coalpit Den at Craigmead (22nd). Four adult Mediterranean Gulls were present at East Wemyss, a Ruff and two Ospreys were spied from the Eden Estuary Centre, a pair of Great Crested Grebes were at Ballo Reservoir with four of this species (including two young) also at Mountcastle GP where eight Dabchicks (including two young), nine Greylags, a Buzzard and two very vocal Jays were present. 28 Greylags, 30 Coots (including four young) and c50 Lapwings were all noted at Letham Pools as well as one adult and one young Moorhen whilst three Little Egrets lingered at Loch Gelly (24th). Wilderness hosted a Ruff, 13 Black-tailed Godwits and six Common Sandpipers with Snipe numbering 12 and the same total of this species was recorded at Letham Pools (25th).Three adult Mediterranean Gulls and a juvenile were counted at East Wemyss then there was a report of a major movement of Whimbrels passing Fife Ness, one flock of at least 70 and another of 80 (26th). Eight House Martin nests were counted in Gauldry and eight Mute Swans (including four young), 24 Greylags (including juveniles) and 33 Lapwings were noted at Birnie & Gaddon Lochs LNR. A Green Sandpiper, three Common Sandpipers, 52 Lapwings, 19 Grey Herons and two Goldeneyes were recorded at Loch Gelly (27th). A busy end to the month started with one Sooty Shearwater, one Arctic Skua, three Bonxies, 30+ Manx Shearwaters and two Common Scoters off Fife Ness then a further report there comprising a Sooty Shearwater, 106 Manx Shearwaters, 26 Whimbrels and 130 Knot all passing south with four Arctic Skuas, two Bonxies and a juvenile Mediterranean Gull all passing north. Seawatching at Kinghorn produced one Bonxie, three Manx Shearwaters, 14 Knot and 28 Common Scoters. Wilderness held 23 Black-tailed Godwits, two Green Sandpipers, three Greenshanks, two Common Sandpipers and a single Ruff (28th).

Further observations at Fife Ness yielded 19 Manx Shearwaters, three juvenile Mediterranean Gulls, an adult Roseate Tern, six Whimbrels, a Black-throated Diver, two Arctic Skuas and a Minke Whale, all seen heading south, then later a Sooty Shearwater, eight Manx Shearwaters, two Arctic Skuas and two Whimbrels were noted there. East Wemyss had two juvenile Mediterranean Gulls at roost, with one adult just offshore. A Wood Sandpiper, one Spotted Redshank, two Green Sandpipers, a Ruff, one  Whimbrel, three Greenshanks and 12 Black-tailed Godwits were present at Wilderness. A Little Egret at Loch Gelly was joined by eight Common Sandpipers and 22 Grey Herons (29th). Glen Vale continues to be a stronghold for chats with 11 Stonechats (including seven young) and four Whinchats (including two young) present. Meanwhile Wilderness  maintained its reputation as a wader hotspot at this time of year with one Wood Sandpiper, a Spotted Redshank, two Common Sandpipers, one Green Sandpiper, a single Ruff, three Greenshanks, a Curlew and 20 Black-tailed Godwits as well as three Water Rails (including one young). The last two days of the month were notable for Mediterranean Gull sightings starting with a first summer west of Buckhaven then an adult flew past Methil heading south-east before East Wemyss held four adults and six juveniles (one juvenile having a white Darvic ring on the left leg) (30th) then three adults and eight juveniles were seen there the next day (31st).

Information supplied courtesy of Malcolm Ware

The first Indoor Meeting of the 2018/2019 syllabus will be ‘Birding the Balearics’ on 6th September 2018.

Norman Elkins, BTO Regional Representative for Fife and Kinross, has been a regular vistor to the Balearics over the years and will talk about his many birding experiences on the islands.