My WEB'S site was fog bound, so I headed to the coast. Sadly, there was no smart Caspian at Leven but a nice adult Mediterranean Gull with a large number & assortment of gulls. A smart colour ringed Cormorant, met Mark Wilkinson, who got the ring details, not local ringed in Cheshire in June. 🌟

Went back to Angle Park in N/E Fife today to try & see the Caspian Gull again (only 2 accepted records in Fife, so still a rare bird). The light was very harsh, making it hard work trawling through over 1000 large gulls. I did pick it up eventually, but only poor record shots. #gulls #birds

Another morning & another walk with wee George. We walked around Townhill Loch, but it was pretty quiet. 22 Canada Geese & a family of Mute Swans, loads of Mallards & Morhen & a few Herring, Lesser Black-backed & Black-headed Gulls, Grey Wagtail was nice. More fungi, too. #fungi #Townhill #birds

George & I had a grand visit to Angle Park in N/E Fife this afternoon. I was happy to see Simon Pinder's 1st winter Caspian Gull amongst the large gull flock. On our walk, we saw lots of Fungus & several Common Darter dragonflies. #birds #fifebirdclub.org.uk #scottishbirds

George & I enjoyed a visit to the local cycle path. So much fungi growing, its clearly been a bumper year. Still Broad-leaved Helleborines in seed. Back home George got excited by a tiny baby hedgehog in our garden 😀 #orchids #fungi #Dunfermline

I was checking Geese around Lochgelly this morning. One large flock of Greylags with a few Pink-footed & 2 Whooper Swans. Two orange collard Greylags in this flock were ringed at Loch Leven in July by Les Hatton. #birds #fifebirdclub.org.uk

Yesterday, George & I went up to Loch Leven, Perth & Kinross. I saw 3 Great Egrets & 4 Little & loads of Wildfowl. #birds #lochleven

George & I had a very local walk this morning. Still a few chiffchaffs, Skylarks calling & just a few Geese overhead. The fungi was my main focus. #fungus #Dunfermline

Some other highlights from this week include Pink-footed Geese near Vane Farm & a Hummingbird Hawkmoth in Dunfermline.

On my 1st morning at home from Switzerland, i was determined to go down to Ferryhills as the weather looked ideal for migration. A juvenile, Honey Buzzard, was the clear highlight, but lots of passerines were moving & Gannets heading west & my 1st Pink-footed Geese of the autumn. 🍂 #birds

Some grand scenery from our recent trip to Switzerland to celebrate our approaching 50th wedding anniversary ❤️

RIP Danny Thompson: bassist for Pentangle, Richard Thompson, Nick Drake, Davy Graham, Bert Jansch, June Tabor, John Martyn, Donovan … www.clashmusic.com/news/legenda...

On Friday, we went on a 3-hour Ferry trip from Thun to West Interlaken. I was pleasantly pleased to see a feeding Black-necked Grebe. Shortly after, I was even more surprised to see two Eider ducks (one adult drake & one 1st year drake, quite rare on Lake Thun) I believe? #birds #birdingSwizzerland

A long day in the Swiss countryside in fine weather. A few late wild flowers, & beautiful mountains & lakes were enjoyed. #alpineflowers #Swissalps

10 years ago today, a beautiful juvenile Red-footed Falcon was found on the Isle of May. These photos were taken on my old Cannon SX50 two days later, on the 16th of September 2015. I went over with Ken Shaw & Willie Irvine on the May Princess. A great memory of a lovely bird. 🌟 #birds #IOMbirds

My friend Dave Boggon struck Fife gold with his visit to Angle Park today & finding Fife's 1st twitchable Glossy Ibis. 👏 #birds #scottishbirds @Fifebirdclub.org.uk

It's been an interesting few days at Ferryhills, Kinghorn, Carlingnose Point & Loch Leven. Best from Kinghorn a dark juvenile Long-tailed Skua, my 1st of the year. A few Black Terns & Little Gulls. Some of today's highlights are attached.

George & I visited Devilla Forest in west fife yesterday. Plenty of Dragonflies still & very active. Southern Hawker, Common Hawker, Black & Common Darters & lots of Emerald Damselflies. 👍 #Devilladragons #dragonflies

George & I had a brilliant few hours wader watching at Morrison's Haven Pool in East Lothian. Marsh, Wood & Curlew Sandpipers all showing well. Wader heaven. #waders #lothianbirds #scottishbirds

Late morning we had a quick look at Loch Leven. We failed to see the Great Egret, but a fine Juv Marsh Harrier hunting over St. Serfs, 3 Black Terns , 3 Little-ringed Plovers & two Ruddy Shelduck were all enjoyed (at distance). #birds #lochleven

George & I went for yesterday's morning walk up at Lochore MCP. Still two Green Sandpipers on the nature reserve with 6 Snipe & 54 Lapwing. One very distressing sighting was a cormorant tangled in discarded fishing tackle. 😠 Some nice fungi as it's Friday.

Yesterday evenings walk with George on part of the Dunfermline Cycle Path was our 1st for a while. Was pleased to see a fine looking Collared Earth Star, still several Broad-leaved Helleborines with plenty of seed pods. #fungi #Orchids @ukorchids.bsky.social

After yesterday's visit to the Forth from Cambus, we returned. The high tide waders are really great at Tullabody Inch the moment. 1 Little Stint 4 Curlew Sandpipers 45 Ruff 1 Black-tailed Godwit 6 Ringed Plovers 25 Dunlin 83 Lapwing #birds @upperforthbirds.bsky.social

Had a grand walk with George along the banks of the Forth from Cambus. Lots of waders, ducks & Geese but pretty hard to see well due to distance & high reeds. The highlights were :- 4 Curlew Sandpipers 1 Little Stint 25 Ruff 5 Snipe 9 Sandwich Terns. #birds @upperforthbirds.bsky.social

George & I had a walk from Burleigh Sands to the Burleigh Viewing screen yesterday afternoon. A few sharp showers didn't stop our trip. At least seven Ruff & a Kingfisher & 100's of Swallows we're the main highlights. #birds #Lochlevenbirds

Had a couple of enjoyable sessions seawatching off Kinghorn. My 1st local Black Tern of the year & fine supporting cast of a few Roseate Terns & lots of Arctic Skua's & a few Bonxie's. 100's of Common Terns & a few Arctic, & still plenty of Sandwich Terns. Good numbers Bottle-nosed dolphins, too.👍

My morning walk with George today was all about Hover Flies, Drone Flies & Bees. #insects #hoverflies #Droneflies #Dunfermline

Had a decent watch up at Ferryhills with GS & DB yesterday. Too calm & clear for large numbers but 30 plus Tree Pipit , 3 Spotted Flycatchers, Grey wags, Crossbills & Siskins. Also, a couple Red-throated Divers & an Arctic Skua flew west over the bridges. #birds Fifebirdclub.org.uk

Well, I headed out to Fifeness after a very decent fish tea in Anstruther. Did c4hrs & managed to dig out a Cory's Shearwater & enjoyed double figures of Sooty & Manx, too. Four Arctic Skua & 7 Little Gulls, all in fine company, sadly no Bridled Tern though. 👍 #fifeseawatching #fifeness

Cory's Shearwater, Fife Ness #birds #birdingscotland

Cory’s Shearwater past Fife Ness this afternoon- thank you @jsn54.bsky.social 😎

Yesterday afternoon George & I visited East Wemyss & were treated to some fine Mediterranean Gulls & Common (harbour) Seals. #birds #mammals Fifebirdclub.org.uk

I had a very good visit to Kinghorn today. My 1st Kinghorn Sabine's Gull & Cory's Shearwater, a few Bonxie's & Arctic Skua's & Manx Shearwaters. #birds #birdscotland Fifebirdclub.org.uk

Did an early morning watch from Carlingnose Point, North Queensferry. Later in the watch (06.00-0910), Graham Garner joined me, & just before I left, he picked an active pod of Bottle-nosed dolphins. Other highlights, Bonxie, 3 Arctic Skua, 1 Whimbrel & a smart juv Arctic Tern. #birds #birdingFife

Finally, a reasonable seawatch from Kinghorn this evening. My 1st Sooty Shearwater of the year & plenty of Manx, too. My 1st local Arctic Skua heading west up the forth. Large numbers of feeding Gannets & gulls, so good feeding, which is very good news. 👍 #birds #fifebirdclub.org.uk

Anyone who's in Edinburgh this evening, I highly recommend this incredible show on at the Queens Hall at 7.30pm. If you go, you will have a magical time. Karine Polewart & Dave Milligan are outstanding. I was there last night & I loved every second of their brilliant performance, mesmerising. 🌟

Last weekend I visited the far east - of Europe, and saw two of our continent's most iconic species. Neottianthe/Ponerorchis cucullata and Epipogium aphyllum. I'll let the pictures do the talking 😍

I did my monthly WEB'S count this morning at Lochgelly & Craigluscar, very good numbers of Tufted Duck at Lochgelly. A few pairs of Tufted have good-sized young now up at Craigluscar. Lots of birds getting ready to head south with Swallows & Sand Martins & the hedges are full of warblers. #birds

George & I visited Kinghorn this afternoon. There was a large passage of Gannets & several Kittiwakes & Fulmars, Sandwich Terns, but very few Common Terns.There were lots of Guillemots & Razorbills mostly resting on the water.. #seabirds #birds

A few Dragonflies from Devilla Forest, Fife. #dragonflies

An evening walk on part of the Dunfermline Cycle Path with George. More Broad-leaved Helleborines & my 1st Collard Earth Star. #Orchids #fungus @ukorchids.bsky.social

I had an afternoon walk to Port Laing & Carlingnose Point (Fife), Common & Sandwich Terns were fishing in the bay. The Broad-leaved Helleborines & Common Spotted Orchids are past their best now. Some smart Common Century & a Holly Blue, & a few Speckled Woods were seen. #butterflies #wildflowers

After 11 days away, I thought I would check a couple of very local (Dunfermline) Broad-leaved Helleborine sites. The hot dry weather has certainly had a detrimental effect on them. #Orchids #wildflowers @ukorchids.bsky.social

Had a fantastic few hours at Berryhead yesterday morning. It was great to spend some time with Mike Langman. It was down to his incredible session on the 29th that I went down. Still loads of rafting & flying Balearic Shearwaters, good number of Mediterranean Gulls too. (mostly adults & juveniles).

A special morning at Hailes Abbey with Duncan Dine, who kindly let me accompany him to see some beautiful Violet Helleborines. A new orchid for me, so very chuffed. Thanks, DD. 😊 🙏 #Orchids #wildflowers @ukorchids.bsky.social

I was in Edinburgh last night at the superb Voodoo Rooms to see the marvellous Bathers & special friends. 🧡 It was totally sublime. 😍 #music #thebathers

George & I visited Devilla Forest in West Fife this morning. Lots of Broad-leaved Helleborines in flower & with a few over already. 🌼 #orchids #wildflowers @ukorchids.bsky.social

A very local walk this evening on a small section of the Dunfermline Cycle Path. Orchid update, BLH's still only in bud, some decent looking Common Spotted though. 👌 #orchids #Dunfermline @ukorchids.bsky.social

I was saddened to hear Tony Marr had passed away. A lovely man & a real gentleman. I got to know him while surveying on the island of Lewis. He was a real contributor & will be greatly missed by those who were lucky to know him. I am sure much more will be written about his many achievements. 🌟

George & I did an afternoon walk in Devilla Forest, west fife. A few Common Crossbills & singing warblers (Garden, WW & CC). Loads of insects & a few plants to enjoy. Lots of Common Spotted Orchids & several Broad-leaved Helleborines. #wildflowers #Orchids #insects @ukorchids.bsky.social