Quality Day Out May 7th. 

Following some nice easterlies that brought the first drift migrants of the year to the Kilminning area including a female Red-breasted Flycatcher, I decided to treat myself to a day out over the bank holiday weekend.

But I did include a West Fife site on the itinerary, Loch Gelly and it proved to be a great start to a cracking days birding. 

A very atmospheric spring scene here with lots of hirundines (c100 sand martin, 70 swallow) low over the water in the cool cloudy conditions, fresh in singing Sedge Warblers, Garden Warbler and best of all, a male cuckoo, an uncommon bird in Fife. It gave a few low key calls but perched up nicely in the open, I suspect it was a migrant dropped by overnight rain. Not only birds to enjoy though with an otter showing well catching fish at the west end. Otters seem quite reliable here if you visit early in the morning. 

Despite Scotland being something of a stronghold for this declining species, its not easy to see one in Fife

Next stop was Letham Pools. Water levels were on the high side but not so high that there was no potential for waders. Awesome views of 2 Jack Snipe feeding out in the open, the best views I've had of this lovely species in a long time. 

Then Kilmining where with a little patience the Red-breasted Flycatcher and a lovely male Pied Flycatcher showed well. I got three species of flycatcher with my first Spotted of the year too. Throw in a few other migrants such as Lesser Whitethroat and a Whimbrel whistling overhead and an enjoyable days birding was complete.