The weather forecast for Saturday was warm though overcast and with birds on the move I decided I would try to get out early and spend the majority of the day birding. I was still feeling rather under the weather but decided I would take my time and not overdo things. I decided that the Crail area would be the best bet for adding a few year-ticks with Blackcap and Wheatear the most likely additions, though almost anything could show up. (As it turned out the sky was rather blue, though slightly hazy for most of the day).
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| Blackcap |
I headed out just before 0745 noting Blue Tit, Woodpigeon, Starling, Feral Pigeon, Magpie, Goldfinch, Herring Gull and Carrion Crow in the first minute or so. A few more species were added on the walk to the bus station - Coal Tit, House Sparrow, Wren and Blackbird. A Grey Wagtail was again heard by the Bathroom World building but wasn't seen. Buzzard, Jackdaw and Mute Swan were seen from the bus to St Andrews. A Grey Heron flew over the bus station as I waited for the Crail bus. A few more species were seen on the way to the East Neuk - Skylarks, Rook, Pheasant, Greenfinch, Swallow and Oystercatcher.
On the walk along to Denburn Wood from the bus stop I spotted a few Chaffinches and an overflying House Martin. A singing Willow Warbler was eventually spotted in a tree though it was mostly obscured by branches. In the wood I could hear a Chiffchaff singing but failed to see it. A Stock Dove was perched on a bush in the graveyard. I spent a bit of effort trying to find a singing
Blackcap and finally found it deep in a bush though it did eventually break cover and gave me better views. About 30 minutes after getting off the bus I headed east out of the village, stopping first to photograph a Collared Dove near the hotel.
The first field on the right held a small flock of Curlews and a pair of Grey Partridges. The next had a pair of Corn Buntings, Meadow Pipit and Skylark as well as a Brown Hare. A little further on, Will Cresswell stopped for a quick chat as he was on his way out to check Kilminning and as we chatted a Kestrel was seen flying over the field to the north. Robin and Goldcrest and much closer views of a Brown Hare were had as I reached the top end of Kilminning. Things were relatively quiet though a flyover Pied Wagtail and numerous Swallows were spotted. A singing Dunnock and a single Sand Martin were next onto the list before a pair of Linnets flew past. Another Willow Warbler and a pair of Blackcaps were eventually found among the bushes and trees. A Green Veined White butterfly was also seen.
I wandered down the track to the bottom end finding a singing Song Thrush and a few Yellowhammers. Another pair of Blackcaps were found after much searching. Peacock and Small Tortoiseshell butterflies were spotted. A
Wheatear was seen on the heaps of earth along the bottom edge of the airfield, my first of the species this year. There were some birds passing offshore as I followed the coastal path towards Fife Ness. Gannets, Cormorant, Kittiwake, Guillemot and Shag as well as a Grey Seal were all seen. I spotted what appeared to be a female Black Redstart but only had very brief head-on views before the bird disappeared down into a hollow and despite lots of hunting and patient waiting in the sunshine I failed to see the bird again.
A pair of Sandwich Terns passed by along the coast and a male Reed Bunting perched up on a fence. I spoke to a couple who had seen a Whitethroat earlier in the morning but there was no further sign of it. I headed into the hide at Fife Ness for some seawatching around 1230. It wasn't overly busy over the water but passage was fairly steady. In addition to the species already noted I added Razorbill, Eider, Fulmar, a drake Mallard, a Curlew, 3 Red Breasted Mergansers, 4 Red Throated Divers and a Common Scoter. Great Black Backed and Common Gull were noted before I headed for a quick look around the Patch. I found a small group of 'students' having a barbecue by the ringer's hut and back-tracked out without being seen. I then headed back along the coastal path and up through Kilminning again though nothing new was added, though I did see a second Wheatear.
On the walk back along the road I stopped to photograph a Goldcrest in the trees opposite when Darell and Nat stopped for a brief chat on their way out to Kilminning. I reached Crail around 30 minutes before the bus back to St Andrews was due so I popped into Denburn Wood where I was quickly distracted by a male Orange Tip butterfly which posed nicely. There were also plenty of 7-Spot Ladybirds and an unexpected Dark Edged Bee Fly which posed nicely on the ground and hanging in the air above me. Although nothing else was added on the bus journey back to St Andrews and onwards to Dundee I did add a flyover Grey Wagtail in Reform Street and a Lesser Black Backed Gull on a lamp post on Dens Road on my way home.
I managed a total of 60 species including 2 year-ticks (in bold) and managed some reasonable photos. Being out in the fresh air and sunshine was probably beneficial and having taken my time wandering slowly and resting a lot I wasn't overly tired either, which was a major plus.
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| Willow Warbler |
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| Willow Warbler |
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| Stock Dove |
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| Blackcap |
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| Collared Dove |
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| Grey Partridge |
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| Corn Bunting |
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| Corn Bunting |
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| Corn Bunting |
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| Corn Bunting |
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| Starling |
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| Skylark |
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| Brown Hare |
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| Skylark |
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| Meadow Pipit |
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| Meadow Pipit |
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| Swallow |
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| Swallow |
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| Blue Tit |
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| Blue Tit |
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| Goldcrest |
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| Brown Hare |
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| Buzzard |
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| Green Veined White |
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| Pheasant |
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| Swallow |
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| Willow Warbler |
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| Buzzard |
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| Buzzard |
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| Swallow |
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| Buzzard |
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| Sand Martin |
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| Sand Martin |
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| Magpie |
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| Wheatear |
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| Reed Bunting |
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| Red Throated Diver |
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| Razorbill |
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| Mallard |
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| Razorbill & Guillemot |
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| Red Throated Diver |
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| Common Scoter |
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| Razorbill |
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| Gannet |
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| Carrion Crow |
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| Carrion Crow |
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| Cormorant |
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| Meadow Pipit |
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| Willow Warbler |
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| Greenfinch |
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| Carrion Crow |
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| Swallow |
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| Goldcrest |
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| Yellowhammer |
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| Yellowhammer |
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| Skylark |
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| Skylark |
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| Orange Tip |
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| 7-Spot Ladybird |
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| Orange Tip |
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| Dark Edged Bee Fly |
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| Dark Edged Bee Fly |
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| Green Veined White |
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| Green Veined White |
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| Dark Edged Bee Fly |
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| Dark Edged Bee Fly |
Species seen - Blackbird,
Blackcap, Blue Tit, Buzzard, Carrion Crow, Chaffinch, Coal Tit, Collared Dove, Common Gull, Common Scoter, Cormorant, Corn Bunting, Curlew, Dunnock, Eider, Fulmar, Gannet, Goldcrest, Goldfinch, Great Black Backed Gull, Greenfinch, Grey Heron, Grey Partridge, Grey Wagtail, Guillemot, Herring Gull, House Martin, House Sparrow, Jackdaw, Kestrel, Kittiwake, Lesser Black Backed Gull, Linnet, Magpie, Mallard, Meadow Pipit, Mute Swan, Oysteractcher, Pheasant, Pied Wagtail, Razorbill, Red Breasted Merganser, Red Throated Diver, Reed Bunting, Robin, Feral Pigeon, Rook, Sand Martin, Sandwich Tern, Shag, Skylark, Song Thrush, Starling, Stock Dove, Swallow,
Wheatear, Willow Warbler, Woodpigeon, Wren, Yellowhammer.
Butterflies seen - Green Veined White, Orange Tip, Peacock, Small Tortoiseshell.
Mammals seen - Brown Hare, Grey Seal.
Other notable insects seen - 7-Spot Ladybird, Dark Edged Bee Fly (Bombylius Major).
