Two Waxwings were in Glenrothes (2nd). A pair of Ravens were at Glen Vale and an Osprey flew north over Kirkcaldy (3rd) with another sighting of this species at Eden Estuary LNR the next day. The Black-necked Grebe was still off the pier at Elie and the redhead Smew was seen again at Lochore Meadows CP, as well as a Pochard (4th), and was also noted the following day. Angle Park hosted five Dabchicks, two Gadwall, four drake Pochards, nine Goldeneyes, 50+ Coots and eight Yellowhammers (5th). A Short-eared Owl was still at Kingsbarns Golf Course and a report from Birnie & Gaddon Lochs LNR included 12 Tufted Ducks, 17 Goldeneyes and a Goosander (6th).
Newburgh hosted ten Waxwings then two Whooper Swans were in a field near Guardbridge (8th). The two Nuthatches remained at Ravenscraig Park, c400 Pink-feet were noted at Loch Gelly and an immature Marsh Harrier, two Ravens and a Peregrine were seen at Newburgh (9th). At Pathhead, a male Wheatear was on the beach, a pair of Goosanders were on the burn and a Jay flew in off the sea, a site first for the observer. A Great Northern Diver was off the harbour at Dysart and a Chiffchaff joined the Nuthatches at Ravenscraig Park (10th). An adult male Hen Harrier was seen at Outhmuir in the Cleish Hills. The redhead Smew lingered at Lochore Meadows CP and a Dipper was seen at Burnside, Cupar (11th). 15 Waxwings were near Cunnoquhie Mill (12th). 44 Whooper Swans were in a cereal field near to Balmullo and a Little Egret was at East Sands, St Andrews (13th). Three Great Crested Grebes joined the redhead Smew at Lochore Meadows (14th).
Ravenscraig Park’s Nuthatches were still present, 20 Waxwings were seen from the road in the Tentsmuir area just after Craigie Farm and three Slavonian Grebes were noted at Lower Largo. At Cameron Reservoir the regular redhead Smew had two Snipe for company (17th) and a Chiffchaff was there the following day with two of this species serenading the Smew at Lochore Meadows CP. A Brambling was recorded at Bow of Fife, 19 Waxwings were at Leuchars, five Whooper Swans were present at Letham Pools and an Osprey headed north over Loch Gelly (18th).
A Greenland White-fronted Goose was with 200+ Greylags near Saline,19 Waxwings lingered near Leuchars Railway Station and Edenside held one Little Egret, eight Brent Geese, 50+ Shelducks, 22 Teal, three Goldeneyes, two Goosanders, c100 Knot and ten Tree Sparrows. Two Teal were at Creich Pond with 35 of this species also at Luthrie Floods along with two Shelducks, 14 Mallards, c175 Wigeon and four Shovelers (19th). An Osprey flew north over Aberdour and two Snow Buntings were on the beach north of Kingsbarns (20th). At least ten Waxwings were between Guardbridge and Leuchars and the Black-necked Grebe was still very close off Elie (21st).
The next day was a busy one starting with an immature Marsh Harrier, 72 Whooper Swans and two Chiffchaffs at Newburgh, 30 Waxwings over the Fife end of the Tay Bridge, and flocks of ten and 27 Whooper Swans north over Anstruther. Six Chiffchaffs were noted at Cullaloe NR, a Jay was at Morendy Wood and there was a report of an Iceland Gull at Otterston Loch. Four Dabchicks, eight Teal, two Gadwall, 60 Curlews and a Great Spotted Woodpecker were noted at Morton Lochs NNR and sightings at Edenside included two Little Egrets, a Peregrine, one Kingfisher, 76 Curlews, c250 Redshanks and nine Tree Sparrows. A Great Northern Diver and 300+ Eiders were off Tayport Harbour, c20 Yellowhammers were present at Craigie Farm and a count at Newton Sand & Gravel Pit included nine Canada Geese, seven Dabchicks, 35 Tufted Ducks, seven Goldeneyes, a Sparrowhawk, one Snipe, 14 Lapwings and three Skylarks (22nd). A Wheatear was seen near Loch Glow. Single Chiffchaffs were noted at Burntisland, at Kenly Water and at Kilminning where there was a White Wagtail with this species also turning up at Kingsbarns along with 14 Whooper Swans. Greenshanks numbered seven at at Kinkell Harbour with singles at Kittock’s Den and East Sands, St Andrews (23rd). Three Shovelers were observed at Valleyfield Lagoons (24th). A Chiffchaff was west of Culross with two of this species at Auchtermuchty Common, accompanied by 18 Fieldfares. Four Goldeneyes and two Goosanders were noted at Newburgh while Lindores Loch held 14 Mute Swans, c25 Tufted Ducks then at Luthrie Floods 16 Goldeneyes and seven Shelducks, 60 Teal, two drake Shovelers and 14 Lapwings were noted. The Smew at Lochore Meadows CP and the Black-necked Grebe at Elie were still present and correct (25th). Two Sand Martins passed over Glenrothes, a Red-necked Grebe and nine Slavonian Grebes were seen from Lower Largo and two Short-eared Owls were at Caiplie. Visits to freshwater sites produced 20 Greylags, 25 Tufted Ducks, 11 Goldeneyes and three Chiffchaffs at Birnie & Gaddon Lochs LNR, four Great Crested Grebes, 40+ Greylags, 37 Tufted Ducks and two Chiffchaffs at Mountcastle GP then one Great Crested Grebe, five Teal, 16 Gadwall, a drake Pochard and 100+ Black-headed Gulls at Letham Pools (27th).
An adult male Hen Harrier was present at Knockhill and the Nuthatches remained in place at Ravenscraig Park (28th). A Raven flew over West Muircambus, two Chiffchaffs were singing at Tayfield and four Wheatears were present at Balcomie beach. A report from Edenside included seven Pink-feet, 75 Shelducks, ten Teal, five Goldeneyes, seven Lesser Black-backed Gulls and seven Tree Sparrows (29th). 50+ Whooper Swans flew over Anstruther Wester, two Red Kites coming in off the Forth at Ferry Hills was a particularly notable report and a Short-eared Owl was seen between Leslie and Craigmead (30th). A Marsh Harrier was present and 32 Whooper Swans passed over Newburgh and the month finished in colourful fashion with the Black-necked Grebe now in summer plumage off Elie Harbour (31st).
Information supplied courtesy of Malcolm Ware and Graham Sparshott