Cullaloe + 2

Visit to Cullaloe at lunchtime in glorious sunshine. c20 Snipe were flushed from the marshy area around the pool and flew around a bit, and a Raven calling overhead. Takes the total to 45 - already half of the year target

Divit +2

Bullfinch and Greenfinch on a circle around the top of Preston Hill Quarry takes Divit to 52 for the year

Linnets on the move

A cracking sunrise behind Edinburgh Castle this morning, and some new year ticks for the 45 minutes time invested. A couple of groups of Linnets making their way north. Quite earl, I think, although I'd have to check. Two early Fulmars also on the scene, although maybe the mild weather and slight easterlies contributed to those. Very few Great Crested Grebe today. Are they moving to breeding areas already? Also some Pinkies south in several groups, but maybe just feeding parties. Nearby, a Firecrest has been seen in Dalgety Bay for the last three days and Smew are around at Lochore and Lochgelly, where there were 3 yesterday. Such is my disinclination to twitch these days that I haven't seen any of these, despite having actually been for a walk at Lochore Meadows. I was more excited yesterday to find my first Pygmy Woodlouse at Cullaloe. If it was new to me, I'd still go for it though.

Inverkeithing count now stands at 50 for the year, which is about in line with expectations - previous two years 51 and 58 respectively. It's also worth noting that in the last two years I haven't recorded anything "interesting" in January.

Darkness

Still pretty dark in the mornings, with the sunrise too close to work starting. Manage to squeeze in about half an hour from before dawn though. I think Mute Swan was the only addition to the year list from this morning's excursion

2013 photos

Just reviewing some pics and came across these two from Inverkeithing. A Little Gull that dropped in during August and some migrating Teal during the same month

INK +Stock Dove +Sparrowhawk

Picked up a couple of additions this morning in the Divit. Still not much available light before work, but it's doable just about. Great Tits battling it out in song and the Stock Doves appeared to be engaged in some kind of winged flirtation too.

HOB +Redwing

Frosty morning. Took a tour of the hill this morning in search of Treecreeper and Woodcock. Dipped on both, but found a nice flock of Redwing in the trees on the north side. c.10 Mipits were feeding in empty pasture on the south side.

Fieldfare and Starling were also feeding in the pasture, with the Fieldfare retreating to the trees on being disturbed as usual.

 In the field behind the houses the Highland cattle were feeling the warmth of the sun apparently, and a few farmland birds - Yellowhammer, Chaffinch and Pied Wagtail - were making the most of the disturbed ground around them.