Although Roy had offered another chance at trying for the Rose Coloured Starling on Wednesday, and I knew that he was sure to see the bird if I didn't go, I couldn't muster enough enthusiasm for the train journey to Edinburgh and back again. I was also still feeling tired from Saturday so I ended up not getting up early despite the alarm going off. Instead I went back to sleep. When I did get up I decided to head for Fife Ness for the afternoon to try a spot of seawatching. With the westerlies continuing seemingly relentlessly it seemed to be the most sensible option even if the chances of adding anything new for the year were rather slim.
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| Sparrowhawk |
I headed out at 1050 to catch a bus into town. Feral Pigeon and a flyover Sparrowhawk got the day's list underway. Herring Gull was added from the bus into town. From the bus to St Andrews I spotted a Skylark fluttering over a field near St Michaels and Carrion Crow, Rook and Woodpigeon as the bus neared Leuchars. A House Martin was seen high over Guardbridge and a Grey Heron flew over as the bus arrived in St Andrews. A Pied Wagtail scurried around on the grass by the roadside.
From the bus to Crail I added Black Headed and Common Gulls following tractors loughing in the fields and a Magpie flying over at Kingsbarns. Moorhens were on the roadside farm pond near Cambo. Arriving in Crail, a Robin was seen at the top end of Denburn Wood and as I walked out towards Kilminning I found a couple of species of butterfly - Small White and Red Admiral, flitting around by the road. Starlings were in the cow field along with Rooks and a Yellowhammer perched on one of the old airfield buildings. Jackdaws and Linnets were also seen in the same area.
A quick stop at the top end of Kilminning gave me Buzzard, Swallow and Blue Tits for the list as well as a Painted Lady butterfly and a few Common Darter dragonflies. Oystercatcher, Ringed Plover, Curlew and Redshank were seen on Balcomie Beach from the golf course car park area. Meadow Pipits were seen on the golf course and offshore I could see Shags, Cormorants and Great Black Backed Gulls roosting on the rocks while Gannets passed by - a mix of adults and juveniles. A Stonechat flew ahead of me before disappearing into the brambles.
I headed into the Fife Bird Club hide and settled down to see what I could see, though expectation levels were rather low. Turnstones and Ringed Plover wandered around on the rocks out front. Common Scoter, Guillemot and a small flock of Wigeon were soon spotted while a Knot and Purple Sandpiper popped up on the rocks with the other waders. A Grey Seal pair were seen offshore. The first Red Throated Diver flew by. Dunlin was next to appear among the waders. A little later the first skein of Barnacle Geese headed southwards. Sandwich Tern, Kittiwake and Eider were next onto the list followed by Razorbill. More Gannets and Red Throated Divers plus Common Scoters passed by.
I picked up 3 distant birds out over the sea, and by their flight style I thought they might be Snipe and photos showed that they were. A Sparrowhawk landed on the rocks in front of the hide for a minute or so giving me good views. A little later a Kestrel appeared over the rocks then oddly flew out over the sea where I lost sight of it when I was distracted by another Red Throated Diver passing. An adult Arctic Skua showed quite well and a Common Tern flew by. I eventually called it a day around 1600 and set off across the golf course. Another flock of Barnacle Geese flew south close in. I was offered, and gratefuly accepted, a lift back to Crail by a birder called Carl from the village who I hadn't met before. This meant I was rather early for the bus home so I had a wander down to the shore at Roome Bay and along to the harbour but nothing other than Goldfinch was added. A Great Tit and House Sparrows were seen as I waited for the bus.
I managed to see a total of 52 species despite the rather limited scope of my birding for the afternoon as well as 3 butterflies, 1 mammal and 1 dragonfly species. Not a bad afternoon's birding though as expected a message from Roy confirmed he had indeed managed to see the Starling at Barns Ness.
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| Robin |
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| Buzzard |
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| Red Admiral |
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| Stonechat |
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| Great Black Backed Gull & Herring Gull |
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| Common Scoter |
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| Gannet |
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| Shag |
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| Gannet |
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| Gannet |
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| Ringed Plover & Knot |
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| Turnstone |
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| Oysteractcher & Turnstone |
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| Grey Seal |
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| Red Throated Diver |
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| Turnstone |
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| Dunlin |
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| Barnacle Goose |
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| Barnacle Goose |
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| Dunlin |
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| Gannet |
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| Gannet |
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| Grey Seal & Great Black Backed Gull |
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| Common Scoter |
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| Great Black Backed Gull |
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| Guillemot |
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| Sparrowhawk |
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| Sparrowhawk |
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| Gannet |
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| Eider |
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| Snipe |
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| Kestrel |
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| Kestrel |
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| Common Scoter |
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| Red Throated Diver |
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| Kittiwake |
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| Arctic Skua & Gannet |
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| Arctic Skua |
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| Kittiwake |
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| Gannet |
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| Cormorant |
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| Cormorant |
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| Gannet |
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| Red Throated Diver |
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| Barnacle Goose |
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| Gannet |
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| Sandwich Tern |
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| Shag, Cormorant & Great Black Backed Gull |
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| Magpie |
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| Shag, Cormorant & Great Black Backed Gull |
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| Meadow Pipit |
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| Barnacle Goose |
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Barnacle Goose
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Species seen - Arctic Skua, Barnacle Goose, Black Headed Gull, Blue Tit, Buzzard, Carrion Crow, Common Gull, Common Scoter, Common Tern, Cormorant, Curlew, Dunlin, Eider, Gannet, Goldfinch, Great Black Backed Gull, Great Tit, Grey Heron, Guillemot, Herring Gull, House Martin, House Sparrow, Jackdaw, Kestrel, Kittiwake, Knot, Linnet, Magpie, Meadow Pipit, Moorhen, Oystercatcher, Pied Wagtail, Purple Sandpiper, Razorbill, Redshank, Red Throated Diver, Ringed Plover, Robin, Feral Pigeon, Rook, Sandwich Tern, Shag, Skylark, Snipe, Sparrowhawk, Starling, Stonechat, Swallow, Turnstone, Wigeon, Woodpigeon, Yellowhammer.
Butterflies seen - Painted Lady, Red Admiral, Small White.
Dragonfly - Common Darter.
Mammals seen - Grey Seal.
