First winter 2023-early May part 2 

Fife has experienced a phenomenal run of rare birds across this period.

The first big news was Grant Robertson's discovery of a 1st winter Pacific Diver off Leven on 24th January. Only the second for Scotland and the first to be accessible. The bird remained until 30th and I managed to see it on  27th. 

No photos from me so I've nicked one of John Nadin's fine record shots. 

Pacific Diver by John Nadin

West Fife got in on the act with the discovery by Ian Thompson of a Lesser Scaup at Loch Fitty on 14th April which I saw on the 16th, plus a bonus Little Ringed Plover flying through. 

There is a good chance that this bird is the 1st W male I found at Kinghorn Loch at the end of 2022. There is an established pattern of movement of rare ducks between waterbodies in this area. 

Then of course there was the incredible scoter fest in Largo Bay late April-early May, a gathering of rare seaducks not matched by anywhere else in the UK! Between the large number of observers present here, totals of five surf scoter, 3-4 White-winged Scoter were recorded in addition to the star of the show, Stejnegers Scoter. 

I was pleased with my little haul of a WW Scoter, the Stejnegers and a pair of Surfies on the 30th April (no pics of the Stej but the 'rino horn' on the bill showed well through the scope):