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| Skylark |
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| Redwing |
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| Golden Plover |
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| Golden Plover |
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| Blackcap |
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| Blackcap |
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| Blackcap |
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| Blackcap |
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| Guillemot |
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| Eider |
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| Cormorant |
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| Red Throated Diver |
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| Red Throated Diver |
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| Guillemot |
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| Oystercatcher |
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| Oystercatcher |
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| Carrion Crow |
Having had three days in a row of 'dipping' (not seeing the hoped for 'rare' birds seen by others), I decided to spend a bit longer in bed rather than get up early to try again. I had arranged an afternoon out with new birding pal, Nat, as she was busy in the morning, so I had time to decide on the prospective options for the afternoon - either Angus coastal sites or Fife Ness area again. I thought that Fife Ness might be the preferred option, given how we'd fared along the Angus coast on our other trip out and about, but the weather did look a bit better at Fife Ness.
I left the house at around 1220 to head down to City Quay to meet Nat. With it being around mid-day the birds were rather scarce, compared to the early mornings, with only three species seen on my walk down. Blackbird, Feral Pigeon and Blue Tit. I had just arrived at City Quay and was taking my binoculars out of my bag to scan for 'Dave' the Red Throated Diver when Nat arrived. I did manage to spot a Herring Gull on the water before we discussed the options for the afternoon's birding before we settled on Fife Ness.
There weren't many birds to see as we chatted on the trip through Fife, with Woodpigeon near Newport, and then later Rooks and Starlings near Kingsbarns all that we saw from the car. We parked at the top end of Kilminning to check out the top 'square'. A Robin was in a bush as we got out of the car and a Buzzard glided over. Checking in the small group of trees on the right over the mud bank, I managed to find a single Fieldfare before it took flight. A pair of Magpies chuckled and chacked around in the trees giving us brief glimpses as they went. A small group of Redwings dropped in briefly before leaving just as quickly. A few Skylarks passed over, new arrivals in off the sea.
I could hear Goldcrests in the sycamores and by crouching low I could see a couple of them flitting around among the branches. A few more Redwings overflew, followed by more Skylarks a minute or so behind. The Buzzard overflew again, a bit higher this time and in the opposite direction. A small group of Golden Plover headed over, no doubt part of the larger flock which frequents the area at this time of year. A Yellowhammer was our next overflying species. Re-checking the bushes towards where we had parked the car, I discovered a Chiffchaff quietly tucked among the thorny branches, its tail dipping every now and then. A Blackbird flew out and a Great Tit and a Blue Tit were a little higher in the bush. A Sparrowhawk dashed over, the Magpies rising from the trees to give chase. A Dunnock put in an appearance before we headed back to the car to drive down to the bottom end to search again for the elusive Barred Warbler.
It was rather quieter at the bottom end than it had been at our first stop with very little in the way of birds around. A Chaffinch was the only bird seen for around five minutes before movement among the bushes gave brief views of a Blackcap which promptly disappeared again. A few Greenfinches flew in to feed on the rosehips, and a different Blackcap put in an appearance. No sign of the Barred Warbler though, so I decided we should check the other bushes further round, down by the big shed. Out over the sea we could see Gannets, but it did appear to be quieter than the day before.
A small brown bird in the long grass flew away from us very low before dropping into cover, giving hope of something like a Grasshopper Warbler. An attempt at stalking it resulted in it flushing again but only flying a short distance before I managed to see it perched. Only a Wren. Still it was a new bird for the day. The Golden Plover flock was feeding in the field towards the golf course and more birds flew in to join them. A Meadow Pipit called as it went over. Heading back round to our starting point we tried again for the Barred Warbler but only succeeded in getting more prolonged views of Blackcaps feeding on Elderberries.
A spot of sea-watching from the Fife Ness hide was next on the agenda, so we headed on down across the golf course to see if we could see anything good passing by offshore. A Curlew was out on the rocks, and a few Gannets winged their steady way north. Eiders hurried by and a couple of Guillemots were further out. Black Headed, Herring and Common Gulls were around in ones and twos, milling around over the water. The first Kittiwakes passed in the company of a first winter plumaged Black Headed Gull. Razorbill was next as five off them whirred low over the waves. Four Cormorants headed out to sea in formation, almost like an air force display team. A couple of RAF Tornados from RAF Lossiemouth gave us a real air display as they flew at low level south over the water. Two Rock Pipits dropped in out on the rocks, and a Shag flew in from the direction of the Isle of May.
There was further jet action as a two Swedish Air Force Gripen fighters passed by. The next bird species to show was a Great Black Backed Gull as it glided by rather effortlessly. A Red Throated Diver in fading summer plumage though still with a red throat patch was not far offshore though the swell meant it was tricky to get decent views as it disappeared behind each new wave. More Gannets, Gulls, Guillemots and Razorbills passed by, mostly northwards, with relatively few birds going in the opposite direction. A Redshank landed on the seaweed covered rocks a few minutes before we left the hide to head back to the car. As I was locking the door of the hide, I heard Oystercatchers calling, and three of them passed over the rocks not far in front of the hide.
A couple of Carrion Crows were on the small pebbled beach and flew off to land on the rocks a little further away as we walked back to the car, before one of them flew up to the top of the telegraph pole to eye us warily from its high perch. A Grey Heron was further out among the rocks. With the time approaching quarter to five we headed for home, adding just one species - Pheasant, to the list on our way back.
Only 43 species seen (and another 'dip' on Barred Warbler) but still an enjoyable afternoon of fairly relaxed birding. Species seen - Blackbird, Blackcap, Black Headed Gull, Blue Tit, Buzzard, Carrion Crow, Chaffinch, Chiffchaff, Common Gull, Cormorant, Curlew, Dunnock, Eider, Fieldfare, Gannet, Goldcrest, Golden Plover, Great Black Backed Gull, Great Tit, Greenfinch, Grey Heron, Guillemot, Herring Gull, Kittiwake, Magpie, Meadow Pipit, Oystercatcher, Pheasant, Razorbill, Redshank, Red Throated Diver, Redwing, Robin, Feral Pigeon, Rock Pipit, Rook, Shag, Skylark, Sparrowhawk, Starling, Woodpigeon, Wren, Yellowhammer.