On both days there were 14 other birders with seven brave souls going on both outings!
On the Saturday, we visited the scrub, trees and farmland around the Torness Power Station and Thorntonloch caravan park; moved briefly onto Skateraw; and eventually spent a good few hours in the Barns Ness area, including Whitesands Quarry.
It was rather overcast most of the day with some light drizzle so no opportunities for any decent photographs - a photo of Barns Ness taken in May this year will have to suffice!
Barns Ness - May 2012
Despite the conditions, the Group saw at least 72 different species, albeit no one saw them all! We saw 16 species of wildfowl including Barnacle Goose, Long-tailed Duck, Common Scoter and Whooper Swan; and 8 species of wader including Golden Plover. Other highlights included Peregrine, Brambling, Tree Sparrow, Stonechat and Blackcap.
Moving on to the Sunday we spent most of our day in the east neuk of Fife, east of Crail. There had clearly been a 'fall' of birds with the main problem knowing whether we should all stick together or spread out!
We saw lots and lots of Goldcrests, some feeding just a few feet away; although they were constantly moving so it was difficult to get any sharp photos. The following photo was taken through the netting of a 'heligoland' trap - I was inside the trap!
The highlights, however, were 2 Red-breasted Flycatcher, at least 1 Ring Ousel, 3/4 Black Redstart, 1 Common Redstart, 1 Spotted Flycatcher, Brambling, Chiffchaff, Willow Warbler and 2 late Swallows.
Off shore, from Fife Ness, we saw many Gannets, 1 Great Skua, 1 Manx Shearwater, 1 late Sandwich Tern, 3 Velvet Scoter, 3 Long-tailed Duck and a good few Red-throated Divers.
Views from Fife Ness - 14 October 2012
In total, the Group saw at least 58 species, but again not everyone saw every bird.
For the two days at least 88 species were recorded, of which I saw 81.
All in all, a tiring but rewarding two days of birding!
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