I had planned to be looking for Lapland Bunting near Crail yesterday, but some unexpected business had taken up most of my morning, so I had decided to stay closer to home, spending an hour at Loch Gelly before heading down to the strip.
The visit to Loch Gelly produced my first Fife Fieldfare, so I had Fieldfare firmly in mind as I patrolled the coastal path. There were no Fieldfare in sight at Seafield, however despite a cold fog rolling in off the Forth, there were still a few birds around.
Kingfisher was again present. Two I think, as I saw one at the harbour, then what I believe to be another up at the tower. It may have been the same bird, but I doubt it. It is some time since I've seen two together at Seafield, but several times I've suspected there were two about when I've made repeat spots.
Out on the calm waters, there were Long-Tailed Duck in close enough to see in the murk and mist. Another birder I bumped into had seen a Red-Throated Diver far out, but with the fog worsening by the minute, I had no opportunity to make it a personal patch tick. I was nearly back at the car park when I met the afore mentioned birder. In addition to the R-T Diver, he also reported a Mediterranean Gull to me. He had seen it halfway between the harbour and tower. There are some particular rocks in that area used as a roost by waders and gulls. Two resident Bar-Tailed Godwit often sit there at high tide. I mentioned the Godwit and the birder confirmed the Med Gull had been right next to them.
Despite the failing light due to sunset only being three quarters of an hour away, coupled with the fog, I headed back to the roost. I had checked it for Med Gull when I passed on my way back the first time, but I found that in the intervening time, a lot more BHG had moved in. There were nearly two hundred to sort through, but at least they were close in. Twenty minutes of scanning revealed no Med Gull.
I headed back towards the car, passing the harbour and then the length of the seawall until I reached the spot where I had chatted with my fellow birder half an hour or more ago. He was long departed, but there paddling about just off the beach was the Mediterranean Gull. I am fairly sure it was smirking.