Decided to have an impromptu trip up to Lower Largo on the Fife coast to try and add Stejnegers Scoter to my UK and Life lists. What a picturesque little village in a beautiful setting overlooking the Firth of Forth. The scoter flock, in recent days, have moved to the eastern end of Largo Bay and, at times, have been as far east as Ruddons Point. Prior to this, they afforded what must have been superb views straight out from the village itself. Thus, I positioned myself just over a mile east of the village by the pillboxes and on the dunes. The weather on both days was quite warm and sunny and on Wednesday, the sea was calm, great for seawatching. Highlights :-
There are at least two White-winged Scoter within the flock although I was unable to pick either of these out but was more than happy with my two seawatches totalling around five hours.
Phil Owen said
Sat Oct 20 9:05 PM, 2012
A 4am start this morning for myself, Jason Atkinson and Alex Jones took us on the long trip to Kilminning Castle, Fife for the Eastern Olivaceous Warbler
Upon arrival the bird could be heard calling and was proving to be elusive as it gave us and the others present the run around.
After an hour or so however, finally and to our delight, the bird showed well in one of the bushes close to the car park and we enjoyed great views through the binoculars as it fed and were able to study it's main features.
A Radde's Warbler also showed well for us within 100 metres or so away and a walk down to the main entrance Car Park gave us good views of a 1w Red Breasted Flycatcher together with a Chiffchaff and 4 Goldcrests amongst a Tit flock.
4 Whooper Swans flew over and out at sea were a flock of Eiders and a Red Throated Diver.
A great place to visit with some great habitat, we started our journey back home very happy.
PS, I did put a search in for Fife before posting, but it is under North East England not Scotland?
-- Edited by Phil Owen on Saturday 20th of October 2012 09:30:46 PM
-- Edited by Phil Owen on Saturday 20th of October 2012 09:31:26 PM
Mike Chorley said
Tue Mar 10 12:05 AM, 2009
"rather large"?! tickets won't be needed-they'll be beaming the pictures back from space
Mark Rigby said
Mon Mar 9 7:41 PM, 2009
08/03/09 Scotland-weather,very poor and very good!
A one day whistle stop tour of Fife's premier birdwatching sites with both Warfords, Mr Woosey and me(Riggers).
The weather forecast was for a dry morning and wintery showers in the afternoon. Quite a surpise on the way up there as we encountered blizzard conditions north of Beatock at 5.30am.
Our first stop was Anstruther for the long staying Iceland Gull. Picture the scene, horizontal snow and a force 9 gale with Warfy(junior) throwing 3 slices of Warburtons finest over the harbour wall, for it to be blown back over the wall and into the harbour-enter Iceland Gull. Our joy was short lived as a wave came crashing over said harbour wall and gave me and Warfy a good wetting. Rock and Water Pipit were added to the list.
Next stop was Earlsferry for King Eider. A blue sky meant we had a small window of oppertunity before the next blizzard. The King Eider was quickly found by Warfy(senior). We watched the Eider for a good 40 minutes as it rounded the headland for the shelter of the bay which was viewable from the car.
Next stop was Largo Bay for Surf Scoter. Arrival at Ruddons point was greeted with the worst blizzard of the day and a quick lunch was had to allow the storm to pass over. Again with blue sky overhead, we headed out to the point. Warfy(junior) quickly found Long Tailed Duck and Velvet Scoterbut there was no sign of the Surf Scoter. One person in the car was heard to say, " If we found the Surf Scoter, he would show a rather large part of his body on Edinburgh town hall steps".
Eventually, my good self found the Surf Scoter on the far side of the bay. Me and my big mouth and tickets are on sale!
Seawatching at various other locations in Fife and Edinburgh produced 6 Slavonian grebe, summer plumage Red Necked Grebe, Great Northern Diver plus loads of Velvet Scoters and Long Tailed Ducks.
A quick stop on the way home at Strathclyde C.P. for Ring Billed Gull proved fruitless but our 2nd Iceland Gull of the day was found by Warfy (junior) in the gull roost.
A cracking day out (except the weather and 10ft swell) and thanks for the good company and banter
Common Eider (c.75)
Common Scoter (c.25)
Velvet Scoter (c.500)
Surf Scoter (2)
Stejnegers Scoter (1)
Long-tailed Duck (4)
Red-breasted Merganser (c.12)
Gray Partridge (4)
Red-necked Grebe (1)
Oystercatcher (18)
Common Ringed Plover (12)
Ruddy Turnstone (14)
Sanderling (c.25)
Guillemot (3)
Common Tern (1)
Sandwich Tern (3)
Red-throated Diver (4)
Northern Gannet (32)
European Shag (1)
Eurasian Skylark (11)
Greater Whitethroat (11)
European Stonechat (3)
Yellowhammer (3)
There are at least two White-winged Scoter within the flock although I was unable to pick either of these out but was more than happy with my two seawatches totalling around five hours.
Upon arrival the bird could be heard calling and was proving to be elusive as it gave us and the others present the run around.
After an hour or so however, finally and to our delight, the bird showed well in one of the bushes close to the car park and we enjoyed great views through the binoculars as it fed and were able to study it's main features.
A Radde's Warbler also showed well for us within 100 metres or so away and a walk down to the main entrance Car Park gave us good views of a 1w Red Breasted Flycatcher together with a Chiffchaff and 4 Goldcrests amongst a Tit flock.
4 Whooper Swans flew over and out at sea were a flock of Eiders and a Red Throated Diver.
A great place to visit with some great habitat, we started our journey back home very happy.
PS, I did put a search in for Fife before posting, but it is under North East England not Scotland?
-- Edited by Phil Owen on Saturday 20th of October 2012 09:30:46 PM
-- Edited by Phil Owen on Saturday 20th of October 2012 09:31:26 PM
A one day whistle stop tour of Fife's premier birdwatching sites with both Warfords, Mr Woosey and me(Riggers).
The weather forecast was for a dry morning and wintery showers in the afternoon. Quite a surpise on the way up there as we encountered blizzard conditions north of Beatock at 5.30am.
Our first stop was Anstruther for the long staying Iceland Gull. Picture the scene, horizontal snow and a force 9 gale with Warfy(junior) throwing 3 slices of Warburtons finest over the harbour wall, for it to be blown back over the wall and into the harbour-enter Iceland Gull.
Next stop was Earlsferry for King Eider. A blue sky meant we had a small window of oppertunity before the next blizzard. The King Eider was quickly found by Warfy(senior). We watched the Eider for a good 40 minutes as it rounded the headland for the shelter of the bay which was viewable from the car.
Next stop was Largo Bay for Surf Scoter. Arrival at Ruddons point was greeted with the worst blizzard of the day and a quick lunch was had to allow the storm to pass over. Again with blue sky overhead, we headed out to the point. Warfy(junior) quickly found Long Tailed Duck and Velvet Scoterbut there was no sign of the Surf Scoter. One person in the car was heard to say, " If we found the Surf Scoter, he would show a rather large part of his body on Edinburgh town hall steps".
Eventually, my good self found the Surf Scoter on the far side of the bay. Me and my big mouth and tickets are on sale!
Seawatching at various other locations in Fife and Edinburgh produced 6 Slavonian grebe, summer plumage Red Necked Grebe, Great Northern Diver plus loads of Velvet Scoters and Long Tailed Ducks.
A quick stop on the way home at Strathclyde C.P. for Ring Billed Gull proved fruitless but our 2nd Iceland Gull of the day was found by Warfy (junior) in the gull roost.
A cracking day out (except the weather and 10ft swell) and thanks for the good company and banter
-- Edited by Mark Rigby at 21:12, 2009-03-09