With winds forecast to have swung back round to the east, myself and Nat decided on another trip to Kilminning and the general Crail area for our day out on Thursday. Despite the seemingly favourable conditions for migrants to arrive, other birders were noticeable by their absence. Unfortunately, owing to me not feeling very great we had to cut short our birding day and head for home early. However, it wasn't a wasted morning....
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| Mallard |
I headed out at about 0750 to walk to the bus station to catch the bus to the other end of the Tay bridge where I was to meet Nat. There was quite a lot of activity around, which seemed promising. Carrion Crow, Herring Gull, House Sparrow and one of the local Magpies were all seen within the first few steps outside. Goldfinch and Feral Pigeon soon followed, with Blackbird and Woodpigeon minutes later. Black Headed Gull was the final addition before I reached the bus station. Cormorant was see from the bus across the Tay.
Jackdaws were seen on the roofs in Leuchars with Curlews in a field near St Andrews. Collared Dove and Starling were both added as we passed through Kingsbarns. We discussed checking out Denburn Wood but instead settled for heading straight to Kilminning. A few flocks of Redwings passed over, some birds feeding in a Rowan tree over in the southwest corner of the top concreted area. Blackbirds shared the berries along with a few Song Thrushes. Overhead the first Skylarks arrived. A skein of Pink Footed Geese passed over from the west. The first of a few Chaffinch flocks passed us, the next one containing at least a single
Brambling. A year tick for me, and a lifer for Nat.
Although I had felt fine when I left home, I was beginning to feel a bit unwell, but I did my best to put the feeling out of my mind and tried to concentrate on the birds. A flock of Tree Sparrows were next to pass over, heading towards the golf course. A Meadow Pipit called as it went in the opposite direction. Numbers of birds weren't particularly high, but there was a decent mixture of species around. We found a few Goldcrests among the bushes and a pair of Linnets to give us a flypast. A single drake Mallard sped over a little higher.
We headed down to check out the bottom area, passing a Mistle Thrush on a pole at the go-karting track. It was relatively quiet at the bottom end with much less movement and less to see in the bushes and trees also. There were a few Yellowhammers around in the trees, as well as Goldfinches and Linnets in lower numbers than in previous days. A Wren showed briefly. Woodpigeons and Magpies were much in evidence. By now, I was feeling much less than great and I debated what I might miss if I was to head for home. We sat in the car for a while to see if I felt any better. Offshore we could see Gannets passing and also a few small groups of Eiders as they headed along the coast.
A French Navy warship off the Lothian coast kept my attention for a short while but eventually I had to say to Nat, that I thought heading home made most sense. A small flock of Starlings lifted from the field and the 'local' Golden Plovers circled round above the airfield as we drove back up the track, while the Mistle Thrush was on the ground just the other side of the fence opposite the go-kart track. Heading back through Fife a female Sparrowhawk suddenly appeared in front of the car before rising up and over the top and down into the stubble field by the side of the road. Mute Swans were seen as we passed through Guardbridge.
Although the outing had to be curtailed we did still manage to see a total of 34 species including a year-tick (in bold). As things turned out, there were no rarities reported from Kilminning or elsewhere in Fife that day, so it was probably the right thing to do to go home, especially as I then slept all afternoon, though I still felt rough when I woke up.
Species seen - Blackbird, Black Headed Gull,
Brambling, Carrion Crow, Chaffinch, Collared Dove, Cormorant, Curlew, Eider, Gannet, Goldcrest, Golden Plover, Goldfinch, Herring Gull, House Sparrow, Jackdaw, Linnet, Magpie, Mallard, Meadow Pipit, Mistle Thrush, Mute Swan, Pink Footed Goose, Redwing, Robin, Feral Pigeon, Skylark, Song Thrush, Sparrowhawk, Starling, Tree Sparrow, Woodpigeon, Wren, Yellowhammer.
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| Skylark |
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| Woodpigeon |
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| Chaffinch |
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| Redwing |
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| Pink Footed Geese |
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| Tree Sparrow |
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| Tree Sparrow |
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| Starling |
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| Golden Plover |
