Birds...

[cassimer]

Was driving along at about 7.30 and there was this massive flock of birds... can anyone tell me what they might have been?
They appeared to have longish necks, but seemed to small to be geese so maybe ducks?
Isnt it a bit late to be migrating?
They were in big formations with probably a thousand or more birds.
Am on the east coast of scotland if this helps at all, in Fife.
Hope someone can help as would love to know...
Thanks

[Cetti]

Could you be a bit more specific on your location cassimer, as there are huge numbers of  geese and ducks all along the Fife coast, and pinning it down might help in identification.

[cassimer]

Just outside st andrews. They were flying from the direction of Leuchars/south dundee. Thanks for your help!

[Cetti]

If I lived near you I'd think that I'd died and gone to heaven - birdwize, that is!!

 There are just too many places even around the St Andrews area to make a guess....so here's a website giving the Fife location plus what birds you would  expect to see this time of year. The probables are Pink-footed Geese, as these gather in hundreds and sometimes thousands and would pass overhead on their way to roost. Another might be the Common or Velvet Scoter. A largish duck with long slender neck. The flying formation suggests a goose though.

http://www.the-soc.fsnet.co.uk/fife-soc-sites-guide.htm

[cassimer]

Thank you very much for your help - looking at the website now. Didnt know i was so lucky! And a little surprised the birds want to live anywhere near the jet base just across the estuary.. will have a good look next time i'm out.
Thanks again.