Findatie & Lochore

 Despite the rain we have managed to get out a couple of times, to Findatie at Loch Leven and a short walk at Lochore. Notable there were plenty of Siskin about at Lochore in large flocks, one grop landing just outside the hide, but the light was awful, so the photo is rubbish!

At Findatie the two Herons don't seem to have moved since we visited the last time!

Although they have been joined by this Goosander,

it wasn't the only one on the river;

Back at Lochore we saw our first Scaup of the year, it wouldn't come close so a grainy shot through the reeds:

That will do, much else to report.

On the Local Patch - Lochore Meadows

 Not wanting to go far we popped down to the "Meadies" and opted for our short walk, popping into the hide on the way in and out and walking the woods stopping at our favorite coffee stops, to sit and watch.

This is the route:

It's just under 3km in total so not far. Anyway on this occasion it was very quiet, with only Teal, Little Grebe, Mallard and solitary female Goldeneye seen on the two stops at the hide.

The walks though are stunning at this time of year:

At coffee bench 1, there was quite a bit of activity from Blue, Great and Long-tailed Tit, but the Redwings were the stars!

Then a bit of a surprise at coffee bench 2, an Otter. It was fishing a fair way out and the light was terrible, so I apologise for the poor photo:

We knew there were Otters in the Loch but it's taken nearly two years to see one! Now we just need the elusive Kingfisher on the river Ore that we have been told about.

Fife Ness Again!

 We took another drive up to Fife Ness last week in the hope of seeing some of the rarer birds that had blown in (Red-flanked Blue tail, Black redstart, Richard's Pipit etc.) We actually found none of them!!

Never mind, we still had a lovely time, doing a bit of sea watching, although that was quiet too!

Se here's a few photo's from some things we did see;

A Rock Pipit (one of four) on a rock!

Surfing Seals,

Plenty of Eider passing through,

Some Brent Geese (our first of the year!) 

Oystercatchers of course,

and quite a few Curlew about

Plus Lesser Black-backed Gull and a Cormorant.

Also seen were Red-throated Diver, Goosander, Shag and Gannet.

Usual small birds around the old airfield plus some Grey Partridge in one of the fields. Lovely Day!