Scozmo's Photery

March 29th 2025 – The Final Walk

All good things must come to an end and this was our last day in Anstruther / Cellardyke so I was up and out for my last walk of the holiday.

In my opinion, this is a walk of two halves; when I go out for a walk with my camera(s), I go for a walk and look out for birds, beasties and anything of interest to photograph, makes the walk a little more interesting and now, I find it’s almost impossible for me to walk, on my own, without a camera! Also, I have come to realise that walking with the camera, especially where bird photography is concerned, isn’t always best, in editing the shots for this morning I realised that there are a pile of better images (IMO) and that I had sat down, watched and waited at that time. I need to think about my future walks a bit more, am I out for opportunities or to get good shots.

I also rarely carry a tripod but really ought to more often, those shots that I consider good in this set are all hand held in fairly strong winds so I am pretty amazed at some of them; that and I obviously got it right on the day with camera settings.

But, to start the walk and this final article for this holiday.

It was one of those dank, grey mornings, not the best for photography but, needs must for me. I had walked to the far quay to shoot across the harbour with the tide out and noticed that person just standing, looking, maybe listening to something? Maybe just contemplating in the quiet of morning?

This was March, it’s not holiday season by any means but there are always people here, from all over the world. Where was he/she from?

I loved photographing this harbour in good light and when the harbour is full of water, the reflections can be stunning but, today, the tide was out.

I wandered around to the far side, my walk would take me down that road to the left of the far white house / red roof.

There was a Rock Pipit hunkered down on the sea wall, until I got too close.

I walked all the way along the street to the open air salt water pool, and spotted a raft of Shags out on the water, “Did someone mention fish?

There are always lots of seabirds along the coast here, I always keep an eye on the fence line as I walk along the shore here, in fact my head is swiveling constantly 🙂

I spotted this Linnet on the wire and as I was focused on it, something caught my eye right beside me.

A Wren landed on this Bramble stem not very far from me at all and proceeded to sings its heart out!

I’ve now realised that they build nests and start calling out for a mate, I read recently that the male can have a few nests on the go at one time!!!!

I’ve mentioned before that the rock pools along this path almost always have waders foraging there.

This Redshank wasn’t too put out by my proximity at all.

Now I mentioned two halves and better images, many of these are typical grab shots for me.

This Stonechat pair were posing on the weeds as i approached the area, I love that about them, they sit up high for photographs 🙂

I spotted this lone Yellowhammer …. out standing in its own field 🙂

And this female Reed Bunting keeping an eye on me as i wandered by, this Bramble patch was to become a favourite birding spot for me.

I alos soon came to realise that those Stonechats i saw earlier probably nest in this area.

I liked that shot because of the wind in his feathers.

Just next to this area of weeds there is a small gravel and shell beach and i wanted somewhere to get out of this cold wind for a while so I found a suitable rock to perch myself on.

The female Stonechat dropped onto the beach really close by, I was really pleased that I managed to get that shot of her behind that rock.

Of course, as many of us know, bird photography isn’t always straightforward ….

I had heard a different call, looked around and there was a Greenshank, a bit of a rarity for me and still was as it took off 🙂

Dammit 🙂 Never mind, there were Turnstone about as well.

I spotted that Turnstone eyeing me over on the rocks nearby, they can be beautiful birds when they change colouration.

Now; it was at this point that my photo-session took a turn for the better. Remember that female Stonechat that landed nearby?

She dropped onto the beach right beside me and started foraging like I didn’t exist! It was wonderful just sitting there, so close as she went about her business.

I guess this is the point at which I should apologise for the plethora of images I am about to add, please bear with me or, skip on to something else? 🙂

She hopped onto a rock right in front of me!

The weeds I’d seen them both on earlier were right by this little beach so when she did hop off, when people walked by for example, she didn’t go far!

For me, although harder to keep steady, the wind was making for more interest as her feathers blew around.

And then the male dropped in front of me!

I’d just like to add, some of these shots are barely cropped at all, both birds were that close.

Then a Wren dropped onto the rocks nearby!

They are such fast and usually shy birds, it was great seeing one foraging near me.

The female Stonechat was back and hopping around in front of me again, I was very happy to get this shot.

It was actually beginning to get busy on this wee beach, I didn’t know which way to look.

The Wren had temporarily disappeared but now popped up again, then the Stonechats dropped in again!

Oh look, Blackbird!

I guess the fact that I was sitting still and other birds were wandering around in front of me meant it was safe.

There was a Redshank wandering over the rocks on the opposite side of the pool on this beach.

The Turnstone was still over on those rocks and a Redshank popped up beside it.

I’m not sure if that’s a younger Redshank, it’s beak looks paler than most I’d seen? The Stonechats were definitely the stars of my morning sitting on a rocky beach.

Some of you may remember my Stonechat pair on our patch, they let me get up close too, wonderful. 🙂

However, you’ll be pleased to hear, other birds were available that day 🙂

A Rock Pipit was foraging near an old Lobster creel and stopped to check me out. This area is awash with birds that are wee bug eaters due to all the seaweed, there’s no shortage of them.

Down the hatch!

This turned into another marathon session with this one bird.

Yet another example of, sit still, wait and watch, this bird hopped around quite close by for what felt like a long time, only a couple of minutes.

OK, almost there.

I don’t think I’ve ever been so close to or had that time to sit, watch and photograph a Rock Pipit before.

Note to self! Stop, wait and be patient.

I think you got that it was windy, right?

I had started making my way back along the shore when I spotted one of many Pied Wagtails foraging on the weed, it’s almost lost in all that colour.

I also came upon a Redshank that performed a little ballet then turned to pose for me 🙂

There is no shortage of them on this shore but, I had just missed a Greenshank earlier and there it was!

They’re shy birds and I’ve only ever seen a few, this was a first for me here.

Once again, a lot of shots there, apologies 🙂 I don’t see them often at all.

So, that was my final walk of that visit in March of 2025, our first trip to the area and we loved it. We had a small family get-together for a couple of days with my brothers coming from Chesterfield and N. Ireland.

My mum, Jo, sister and I all packed up the car and headed North again, back homewards but, we would be back!

Thank you for joining me on the Fife coast, we did go back, so I’ll start on those asap but, great news for us! We’ve just booked to go back again at the end of this month woohoo!!!!

Stay safe and well all

wanderings