Off early across to Fife in reasonable weather, at least it was fine. Had woven in the opportunity to get some birding in during the first part of the day, which saw me at Largo overlooking the Firth of Forth and having some breakfast. A few Northern Eider and distant Scoter were in evidence, but little else. With the weather improving I sped around to Ruddons Point in the hope of connecting with the Surf Scoter which is present in that area at times. The weather suddenly began to deteriorate with a strong wind blowing out of the Forth and grey visibility developing. By the time I got to the actual Point it was gusting F6/7 and unpleasant. I actually got blown over, in the sense of losing my balance, and a leg of the telescope tripod got damaged. Great!
Crouched in a gully I had some great views of Long-tailed Duck, Goldeneye, Velvet Scoter, Common Scoter, Red-throated Diver, Great crested Grebe and 5/6 Red=necked Grebe, the latter and the Common Scoter having being blown very close to the shore. Wind and waves conspired to make anything at distance an impossible task and despite a long time scoping distant views of Common and Velvet Scoter parties which kept appearing and disappearing in the troughs the Surf Scoter remained elusive. The walk back to the car was a disappointment, particularly as it started to rain!
A look at the lake at Kilconquhar from the confines of the churchyard produced a few common duck but nothing else, so I began my journey on to Glenrothes in what , for a period, was marginally improving weather.
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