Tour of Fife
It was supposed to have rained overnight, leaving me with a cloudy, but dry day. As I headed out at first light, I realised that it had not rained, but it was threatening too. Indeed, as I headed to my first site for the day, it started to rain. Things were not off to a good start.
I arrived at Shell Bay, and immediately headed along the beach and out to Ruddon's Point. There was It was misty and grey, however, not so much that I couldn't get a good view across Largo Bay. Largo Bay was empty apart from Eider.
I headed to the Cocklemill Burn, but there was little of interest there, so I headed back to the car. At this point, my list for the day, including birds seen on the drive, consisted of LBBG, Herring Gull, Rook, Woodpigeon, Carrion Crow, Common Gull, Pheasant, Heron, Oystercatcher, Eider, Curlew, Redshank, Black-Headed Gull, Starling, Pied Wagtail, Sandwich Tern, Dunlin, Goosander, Ringed Plover, Goldfinch, Magpie and Blackbird.
Next stop was a quick visit to Kilconquhar Loch. The trail to the hide was overgrown and looked like it hadn't been used in weeks. Opening up one of the viewing slots, I found a very quiet looking loch, but was quickly able to add Mallard, Coot, Mute Swan, Moorhen, Gadwall, Little Grebe, Tufted Duck and Sand Martin.
On the way back to the carI added Blue Tit to the list, then it was off through the mist of the coast road towards Kilminning, adding House Sparrow to the record on the way, but not a hoped for Corn Bunting.. Arriving at Kilminning, things seemed to be livening up a bit, as the sun attempted to cut its way through the mist. In the bushes around the car park area I quickly added Great Tit, Yellowhammer, Stonechat, Whitethroat and Linnet. I also found a pristine Spotted Flycatcher. Overhead there were Swallow, and in the neighbouring stubble field, I found a very elusive Grey Partridge.
I was tempted to stay longer at Kilminning, but I wanted to be at the Eden Estuary for a couple of hours before the high tide due at 14:40 hrs. I still had Fife Ness to visit beforehand, so I headed off., adding Stock Dove to the running log on the way.
Arriving at an almost sunny Fife Ness, I headed up into the Muir. My hope was that I would find some early migrants, but apart from Woodpigeon exploding out of every possible tree and bush, I found nothing. I then headed out to the sea watching hide, but did not even bother to enter, as the mist was still thick a little out to sea. On the rocks though, I did note Cormorant, Shag and GBBG.
Now I headed off towards the Eden Estuary for the main event. I was heading to a new spot there by visiting the hide in Balgove Bay. Main target for the day was to be the White-Tailed Eagle. I have spent nearly two years missing/dipping this bird, but was determined that today was going to be the day.
Parking at the golf club, I set off down the track that heads west across the Balgove course. I was limping heavily as a slight strain of the right achilles, decided to become more than a strain, but I was determined to give myself every chance to see my long sort after eagle. After about 15 to twenty minutes, I started to become unsure if I should still be on the track or if I should have cut across the fairway to my right, so as to reach the edge of the salt marsh. I decided to cross the fairway. It proved to be the right and wrong decision. As I passed besides a patch of gorse, a Wheatear took to the air. Then after crossing the fairway, a Grey Wagtail flew over and landed in the marsh area.
I found I was now trapped between the marsh and the golf course. I couldn't retrace my steps as there were now golfers playing up the fairway. Not wanting to sully the reputation of birders, I stepped out of bounds and out of sight, onto the back edge of the marsh. I waited till they had played through, then clambered the bank back up onto the course, crossing the fairway behind the golfers and rejoining the original track. A little further along the track, I found and entered the Balgove hide.
Having set up in the hide, I started viewing the birds out on the marsh and across at the edge of the airfield. There were posts across there where the eagles are known to perch. Slightly obscured by the mist, I found one of the posts had a bird perched on it, but even before the excitement disappeared, I realised that this was an Osprey with its back to me. Scanning further along that far bank, I also found a Little Egret, then the heavens opened and the far bank disappeared.
With the incoming tide pushing waders towards me, along with Shelduck and Wigeon, I concentrated on them. In the midst of the crowd of Curlew, I was pleased to find a Whimbrel. Lapwing and Jackdaw were also present on the flats, and another Osprey was seen along the bank eating a flat fish atop a power line pole. No W-T Seaeagle though.
With the water now up close to the hide there were few birds in front of me, and although the rain had stopped, the mist was heavy and made searching for the eagle impossible. I noted a group of Black-Tailed Godwit to my right, then exited the hide and limped back to the car, noting a Skylark along the way.
Next stop was a quick call in at the Eden Estuary Centre. It was very dark and gloomy when I entered the centre, but not as dark and gloomy as my mood when I was updated by another birder that the W-T Eagle had been there in the morning.
I didn't stay long, but it was long enough to note Greenfinch, Tree sparrow and Chaffinch at the feeder tables. Also, Feral Pigeon was seen flying by. If I'd had any sense I'd have called it a day. The mist was obviously thickening, but so was my thought process. Maybe I'd get a glimpse of the W-T E at Tentsmuir I thought.
By the time I got to Kinshaldy beach at Tentsmuir, I could just about get a glimpse of the sea, no matter anything else. That said, I did spot a couple of Sanderling at the waters edge, and a couple of groups of Kittiwake flew by close and low.
"Time to go home", said the realist inside me. "Let's try Morton Lochs", said the dreamer. So Morton Lochs it was. Shrouded in fog, there was nothing happening at Morton Lochs. I tried for the Kingfisher, but there was no sign. I headed off for home.
It was my intent to head straight home, however, south of Cupar the mist was minimal and the sun was threatening to break through. A detour to the Wilderness was decided upon. Even in the minutes I was there, the mist started to thicken again, but not before I had added Greylag, Greenshank, Ruff and Snipe to the list. I also called in at Letham Pools. It would have been rude not too, but found nothing new there.
On the way home, a Buzzard was the final addition to the list. Not the raptor I would most like to have seen on that day, but always a welcome sighting.
