Fife seawatching

I spent a few days in Fife recently, the normal family stuff but at the same time I had hoped to be able to get some time in seawatching. It didn't quite turn out like that and I could only spend one weekend morning out at Fife Ness during which the conditions were some way from being classic. My plan had been to take a weekday off on a better (i.e. worse!) weather day but due to various factors I wasn't able to take the time off from work. Storm Floris thus completely passed me by which is a shame. That said those strong winds on Monday were not ideal for Fife Ness either and whilst there was some movement there wasn't anything spectacular brought in. The day before I arrived there was a twitchable Cory's Shearwater lingering in the Forth.....when booking my trips this year I had picked promising dates, but I went home Cory-less again. One day one of my visits will coincide with the perfect weather pattern and I will experience an unforgettable seawatch, but for now it remains yet another one that got away. One day I'll be free to do whatever I want... 

  

Even though I knew the weather wouldn't deliver anything I went anyway. For a land-locked birder like me the weather is sort of irrelevant - I don't normally get to look at the sea at all and so even on a dull day in Fife I can have fun. The hide out at Fife Ness has had some serious TLC recently and is looking tip top with many more years in it. I spent an hour there on Sunday morning and was able to pick up Manx Shearwater, lots of Kittiwakes, Arctic, Common and Sandwich Terns, Shags, Common Scoter. Gannets probably stole the show, hundreds upon hundreds heading north to fish or returning south to the Bass Rock. Almost all were adults, I just love watching lines of them rise and fall in complete coordination. On the rocks in front of the hide were Oystercatcher, Curlew, a single Whimbrel, Redshank and Turnstones. On Balcomie Beach Sanderling and Ringed Plover skittered around, and Eider and Goosander rested on the rocks. Most of these birds I have never seen in Wanstead, a couple I see once in a blue moon. I take none of them for granted when I am up here.