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.
As previously noted in an email to members the scheduled speaker for the Indoor Meeting on 25th January has had to withdraw. The good news is that the meeting will go ahead well-known FBC member Harry Bell will deliver a presentation entitled “Raptor Monitoring in Fife.” With birds of prey seldom out of the birding headlines these days this will be an ideal opportunity to hear about the situation in the Kingdom from the perspective of Harry and his expert team.
Members have been emailed a link to a questionnaire from a St Andrews University student whose dissertation involves an evaluation of the impact of the White-tailed Eagle re-introduction programme in Fife. Members are encouraged to participate.
Cost-Benefit Analysis of Reintroducing White-Tailed Sea Eagles
Questionnaire Cover Sheet:
This research seeks to value the benefits and costs of reintroducing White-Tailed Sea Eagles to Tentsmuir, East Fife. The cost and benefits will be framed using an ecosystem service framework. As such, values will be calculated for their impact on nutrient cycling, biological control, food sources, recreation, their aesthetic value, cultural and artistic value, spiritual and religious value and lastly, science and educational value.
This study is being conducted as part of Duncan Leese’s, Honours Degree thesis in the School of Geography and Sustainable Development.
The Questionnaire:
Initially, you will come across the survey participation sheet. This sheet provides all of the background information with regards to the study. This is followed by the participation consent form. On the consent form are 8 tick boxes, to begin the survey ALL boxes must be ticked. If one is not ticked, then the survey cannot be undertaken.
With regards to any questions about the study – please contact the contact email (listed in participation information form) as we are than happy to answer any questions about the study.
By pressing on either of the following links, you will be taken to the study:
https://standrews.eu.qualtrics.com/jfe/form/SV_0BsXdI7256W1RDT
Valuation of White-Tailed Sea Eagles
I would be tremendously grateful if you could complete this questionnaire as part of my research. Thank you so much for your time.
Kind Regards,
Duncan Leese
Members who have read the Fife Free Press on a regular basis over recent years will be aware that each summer there is correspondence about urban gulls defending their young. The gulls are often the subject of misinformed comment unworthy of a response. However the situation has become more serious with Councillor Gordon Langlands of Burntisland and John Bruce of Burntisland Community Council calling for a cull. (Apparently a cull has already taken place in Dundee). FBC member Leo du Feu is leading the way in attempting to educate the local public and politicians regarding the facts about urban gulls and their behaviour. He has given permission for his letter to the press and his communication to relevant parties to be posted in the Documents section of the website along with a couple of images. Members may wish to follow Leo’s example. If press and councillors are inundated with well informed contributions from members perhaps there will be the chance of tolerance prevailing.
This is the new Fife Bird Club website. It is at an early stage of development.
‘The Breeding and Wintering Birds of Fife’ now has a likely publication date of 26th August. Information about this publication can be found in a promotion document in the ‘Documents’ section of our website.
Members are requested to note any sightings of White-tailed Eagles in Fife since 29th November 2016 and/or over the next few weeks and send the information to