JUNE 2018 SIGHTINGS
The month started with a female Marsh Harrier passing south over Strathkinness (1st). A Grasshopper Warbler was still reeling, just south of the fish factory at Fife Ness and 50 Canada Geese were on the sea off Leven (2nd). Ten Black-tailed Godwits were present at Wilderness (4th) with eight still there a few days later when there were also two Great Crested Grebes at Lindores Loch as well as four pairs of Mute Swans, three with small cygnets and another three pairs with b5, b6 and b8. A count at Birnie & Gaddon Lochs LNR included five Mute Swans (with two cygnets), 20 Greylag Geese (+11 goslings), ten Mallards (+ two young), one Blackcap, two Chiffchaffs, five Willow Warblers and there was the interesting sight of Oystercatchers nesting atop a Sand Martin barrel (7th).
Cameron Reservoir hosted 63 Mute Swans, three Tree Sparrows and a Yellowhammer whilst at Strathburn at St Michaels there were 75 Rooks in a field with sheep and newly dumped carrots (8th). An Osprey flew north over Kilmany and another Osprey flew west between Kilmany and Gauldry (14th)
Fife’s contribution to the Rose-coloured Starling influx was one present for its second day at Leven (15th). Morton Lochs NNR held three Herons, two Mute Swans, two pairs of Canada Geese (with b2 & b5), three Teal, 18 Mallards, four Tufted Ducks, eight Coots (with ten young), a Blackcap and two Jays. Drumoig hosted two Canada Geese (+ one small gosling), c30 Herring Gulls and c25 Lesser Black-backed Gulls then a Tawny Owl was seen half way along the Tayport to St Michaels road near Vicarsford Lodge (16th). A report from Newton Sand & Gravel Pit included four Dabchicks (with four young), two Mute Swans (+ seven young), three Canada Geese (with b2 & b4), two Teal, ten Mallards, 13 Tufted Ducks, 45 Black-headed Gulls, a Skylark and five Reed Buntings. East Links Wood Pond held three Dabchicks, five Canada Geese (with three young), eight Shelducks, six Tufted Ducks, a Spotted Flycatcher and two Reed Buntings. 74 Black-tailed Godwits were at Culross, reported as one of the biggest flocks seen there, then a busy day was rounded off by the presence of a Spoonbill in front of the Eden Estuary Centre (17th). On higher ground, seven Whinchats, four Stonechats and three Ravens were all noted at Glen Vale before four juvenile Tree Sparrows were seen on feeders in an Auchtermuchty garden (18th). 15 Black-tailed Godwits were present at Wilderness (19th).
A two hour House Martin survey at Gauldry revealed 36 completed nests, including six double nests (22nd). A female Yellow Wagtail was seen briefly at Guardbridge (23rd).Two Mute Swans (+ seven young), 14 Mallards (+ 20 young) and five Moorhens (with one young) were all noted at Tayport Pond (24th). A Grey Wagtail was at Burnside, Cupar and an adult non-breeding Little Gull was an unusual find at Letham Pools (26th). A report from Wormit Bay included four Herons, two Mallards, six Oystercatchers, three Curlews, ten Redshanks and 12 Black-headed Gulls (27th).
Eight Whinchats and seven Stonechats were counted at Glen Vale on the last day of the month (30th).
Information provided courtesy of Malcolm Ware and Graham Sparshott