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Graham Sparshott @fifevismig.bsky.social · 22h

20/10/2025
Some Annual Leave meant I could make my first visit of the year to the the E Neuk. The promising migrant weather had a lot to do with; E winds and heavy overnight rain followed by a calm morning. Not a big fall but I enjoyed close views of Eastern Lesser Whitethroat and YBW.

Graham Sparshott @fifevismig.bsky.social · 1d

Double-figure Poms (11) were also feature of a nice seawatch at Kinghorn/Pettycur on 19th which also produced a Juvenile Sabines Gull.
www.trektellen.org/count/view/2...

Kinghorn (Fife, Scotland)

2025/10/19, 14:20-15:45 - Totals: 281 individuals, 11 species, 1:25 hours

www.trektellen.org

Graham Sparshott @fifevismig.bsky.social · 1d

An influx of Pom Skuas into the Forth has been very enjoybale, starting from around the 13th October and culminating for me with an awesome flock of 21 at Ferry Hills on 18th.
www.trektellen.org/count/view/1...

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Graham Sparshott @fifevismig.bsky.social · 1d

11/10/2025
Good variety on the move at Ferry Hills including a vocal Pectoral Sandpiper.
www.trektellen.org/count/view/1...

Ferry Hills - vismig (Fife, Scotland)

2025/10/11, 07:00-09:00 - Totals: 2112 individuals, 28 species, 2:00 hours, 10:45-12:15 - Totals: 1098 individuals, 16 species, 1:30 hours

www.trektellen.org

Graham Sparshott @fifevismig.bsky.social · 14d

5/10/25
A fairly small, dark, square headed and small billed Canada Goose with a normal Canada in a flock of 350 Greylag at the E end of Loch Gelly. In terms of carrier species, probably better if it had been with the 1000+ Pinks at the other end of the loch, but still an interesting looking bird.

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Graham Sparshott @fifevismig.bsky.social · 15d

Leach's a very good bird in the Forth, especially if you don't include the exceptional happenings during storm Babet in October 2023.

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Graham Sparshott @fifevismig.bsky.social · 15d

4/10/15
Kinghorn/Pettycur
Morning after the passing of storm Amy. Generally not much happening during the seawatch but two birds made it more than worthwhile; Leach's Petrel and a migrating Taiga Bean Goose battling into the wind.

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Graham Sparshott @fifevismig.bsky.social · 24d

Other misc highlights across the week included an obliging Kingfisher at Hersey Nature Reserve (almost taken by a Sprawk), Southern Hawker and Clouded Yellow.

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Graham Sparshott @fifevismig.bsky.social · 24d

IOW Trip 22/9-25/9
The best was saved to last, literally, in my last few hours spent at St Catherines Point, one of my favourite Island spots. I almost stepped on a cracking Wryneck which proceeded to give great views. Two Juv Hobby hawking insects added to a nice finish to the week.

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Graham Sparshott @fifevismig.bsky.social · 24d

Vis mig highlight was the hirundine passage, on a scale I just don't see up here in Fife. Best day was 23/9 at Whale Chine when we estimated 20,000 hirundines battling into the NE breeze over a 3.5 hr period (Approx. 60/40 Swallow/House Martin). Spectacular, never can do it justice in photos.

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Graham Sparshott @fifevismig.bsky.social · 24d

Grounded migrants generally in small numbers in the sunny weather but we pulled out some nice birds including Ouzel, Pied Fly, Lesser Whitethroat and close views of 2 Grasshopper Warbler amongst more numerous Chiffchaff and Blackcap.

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Graham Sparshott @fifevismig.bsky.social · 24d

22/9-25/9
A long overdue return trip to my native Isle of Wight to do some birding with the bro @jonsparshott.bsky.social
Good company, stunning scenery and plenty of migration. What's not to like?
We didn't find the big one but plenty to see.

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Graham Sparshott @fifevismig.bsky.social · Sep 21

14/9/25 was the best day of the autumn (so far). A certain amount of anticipation because of the classic conditons; a calm window between weather systems. It didn't disappoint.
www.trektellen.org/count/view/1...

Ferry Hills - vismig (Fife, Scotland)

2025/9/14, 06:20-11:45 - Totals: 2954 individuals, 31 species, 5:25 hours

www.trektellen.org

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Graham Sparshott @fifevismig.bsky.social · Sep 13

1st half of Sept sees some changes in the make up of migrating passerines at Ferry Hills. Tree Pipits on the way out (high of 20 on 2nd) and Meadows heading for their peak (high of 1260 on 13th). Small numbers of Spotted Flycatcher passing through although peak was in late August with 5.

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Graham Sparshott @fifevismig.bsky.social · Sep 13

A Little Tern out E was another new bird for FH on 9th the same day also producing 2 Juv LTS and 5 Little Gull heading inland. Little Tern is a former breeder in Fife but breeding petered out in ther early 2000's. Now a scarce passage bird.

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Graham Sparshott @fifevismig.bsky.social · Sep 13

Early Sept has seen some quality seabirds at Ferry Hills topped by the sites first ever Sabines Gull, a stunning adult inland with a flock of 17 Kittiwake on 6th. You get a few in the Forth after E winds most years, but to see one on overland migration was next level.

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Graham Sparshott @fifevismig.bsky.social · Sep 2

Regular Arctic Skuas flying inland (9 on 23/8) and my lucky year for bumping into spoons continues with a superb pale Adult Pom flying inland on 28/8.

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Graham Sparshott @fifevismig.bsky.social · Sep 2

Ferry Hills continues to be steady, Tree Pipits starting to drop off as we head towards Sept and Mipits increasing. Siskins have started to increase in numbers (236 on 30/8). A very close 1st CY Osprey being mobbed by a Raven was a fine sight on 23/8.

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Graham Sparshott @fifevismig.bsky.social · Sep 2

It was not to be although the supporting cast was none too shabby: 1 Juv LTS, 1 Cory's Shearwater, 1 Black Tern, 2 Roseate Tern, many Arctic Skuas and a few Bonxie.

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Graham Sparshott @fifevismig.bsky.social · Sep 2

A week's holiday 23rd-31st August where I ended up spending a lot of time hoping the E Neuk Bridled Tern might make it up the Forth to Kinghorn/Pettycur. This area is very good for staging terns in the autumn and there were plenty to look through with 200+ Common Tern present at times.

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Graham Sparshott @fifevismig.bsky.social · Aug 17

17/08/25
A change from vis mig with a visit to Stenhouse Marsh. A 1st W White Wagtail looking very pale and clean compared to the numerous Pied Wags. 16 snipe and 4 Black-tailed Godwit. The White Wag and godwits certainly on route from Iceland and the snipe likely to be to.

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Graham Sparshott @fifevismig.bsky.social · Aug 17

Been lucky to bump into a few spooned Poms lately (or perhaps the same adults lingering in the Forth). Had up to two (1 pale, 1 dark) off Kinghorn while Angus had three lingering offshore from Ferry Hills on 10th.

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Graham Sparshott @fifevismig.bsky.social · Aug 17

Friday 15th a.m: a dark Adult Pom Skua started inland then U-turned, a very close Arctic Skua flew inland. PM: Inland bound terns inlcuded 112 Arctic. Also 229 Kittiwake inland. A flock of 30 Black-tailed Godwit up the Forth with 8 knot mixed in.

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Graham Sparshott @fifevismig.bsky.social · Aug 17

Not as busy as last weekend but steady passage at Ferry Hills. Two locally uncommon species: Juvenile Marsh Harrier through on 11th and Yellow Wag on 14th.

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Graham Sparshott @fifevismig.bsky.social · Aug 10

Angus Jennings did the PM shift and had 684 Arctic Tern heading high inland-record site total inlcuding a flock of 224! Like tree pipit, August is the month for Arctic terns here but I've never had these sorts of numbers. I do more a.m. watches though, looks like late PM/evening for terns better.

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