Out and about.
As well as a few visits to my Seafield patch, I've been out and about a couple of times over the holidays.
Boxing day afternoon saw me at the west end of Lochore Meadows. Large amounts of Chaffinch around the cottage nut feeders, ably supported by Siskin and Goldfinch in the trees around the little car park. Blue, Great and Coal Tits all present, with a Treecreeper and a Lesser Redpoll seen from the path on the way. The loch and the ponds were very quiet with only Mallard, Coot, Mute Swan and Goldeneye about. Red-headed Smew reported last week was not about.
Yesterday saw me at Wormiston near Crail. Lapland Bunting were the target, having been reported there about a week ago. I wasn't hopeful, as there had not been any repeat reports for a while, but it was an opportunity to explore a new area. I'd been provided with excellent access instructions, and found the spot pretty easily, but walking across the exposed stubble fields, I was soon chilled to the bone, despite having wrapped up well. Temperature was below zero and chill factor in the wind was many minus degrees below zero. I couldn't help but feel that this was the type of weather condition the Lapland Buntings had headed south to avoid.
I scoured the stubble fields in the area, finding large numbers of Meadow Pipit,Goldfinch and Linnet. Tree Sparrow were also present in the nearby cottage grounds, along with a couple of Greenfinch and a single Reed Bunting.
The plan was to push on to Balcomie to also try for Twite, however, the cold had got to me and I retreated back to the car, checking Wormiston Spinney on the way. I headed home, after a quick diversion to Kilminning.
Today, there is a report out that there are Lapland Bunting at Wormiston, with Twite down at Balcomie Beach. This is where I would insert a head in hands Smilie if there were one. But it's good to know that I have a bird that is filling the hole left by finding Snow Bunting last week. 3