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| Kingfisher |
Having had a fairly successful wander on the 2nd of January adding another 20 species to my #2025Dundee150 list to take me to 69, I wanted to get out and about again on the 3rd. My main targets would be Kingfisher at Caird Park, Water Rail, Snipe and Jack Snipe at Trottick Ponds and Treecreeper wherever I could find one. I was going to continue on to Clatto and Templeton Woods from Trottick, in search of Raven and Crossbill. There was also a slight chance of Shoveler - with what was likely the same pair that appeared at Swannie Ponds a year ago, having been spotted at Trottick Ponds on the 2nd. However, there was a potential problem. Low temperatures overnight would likely mean that the ponds would be frozen, thus lessening my chances of success. Nevertheless, I was ready to head out around 30 minutes before sunrise.
House Sparrows, Herring Gulls, Robin and Feral Pigeon greeted me almost immediately when I stepped outside into the cold air. Carrion Crow and Wren were added as I headed for Caird Park. Magpie, Jackdaw and Fieldfare were seen as I wandered along towards Mains Loan. I had decided to check Swannie Ponds, just in case the Shoveler pair were there. Blue Tit and Woodpigeon were noted as I neared the ponds. Black Headed Gull, Goosander, Mallard, Tufted Duck, Mute Swan and Coot were added to the day's list, though the ponds themselves were largely frozen over (as expected). There were a couple of Greenfinches in the trees, a skein of Pink Footed Geese headed inland flying relatively low and a small flock of Redwings overflew. I set off towards Caird Park via Mains Terrace where I found Collared Dove and Blackbird.
At Caird Park I stumbled upon Dunnock, Coal Tit, Chaffinch and Siskin as I wandered down past the RPC Dundee complex. A Great Spotted Woodpecker was heard near the golf course car park (and another was seen in flight a bit later). With the ponds there also mostly frozen, I expected to find the Kingfisher where there was still some water moving, if it was around at all. I had taken the thermal imager with me, so I could scan ahead of me, and avoid 'spooking' the bird unnecessarily. I found the Kingfisher perched on the north side of the island at the top pond, so routed up the southern side. This worked out well and I managed to take a few photos without any reaction from the bird. Unfortunately, a dog walker inadvertantly flushed it as he walked past its perch, but it only flew a very short distance before heading back to almost exactly where it had been. I added Moorhen and Jay before searching along the Gelly Burn for Dipper.
I was unsuccessful in finding a Dipper but a Mistle Thrush perched in a tree on the golf course was a decent substitute. I headed down to Trottick Ponds via the Dighty Burn but failed to find any trace of a Dipper there either. I did find Great Tits and Long Tailed Tits in the trees and a Grey Heron stood in the middle of the burn. There were a couple of Common Gulls with Black Headed Gulls, Mallards and Moorhens at Trottick Ponds but no sign of either Water Rail or Shoveler. As I followed the path round past the ponds a Dipper flew downstream giving me another welcome Dundee150 tick. I failed to find any Snipe, Jack Snipe or Water Rail in my usual spot so I continued on up Harestane Road. I decided to check out Ardler Ponds as I've heard Water Rail there in the past, but again I found the pond there mostly frozen. A Sparrowhawk flew over as I neared the pond. The local Mute Swan family were joined by a number of Brown Rats, which wandered unconcerned just the other side of the gate, allowing me to get some nice photos of the much maligned rodents. There were a few Reed Buntings around as well and a few Starlings overflew.
After a bit too much time spent photographing the Rats, I continued on up the slope to Clatto. A Grey Wagtail flew in as I was messaging Lainy who was off birding elsewhere. At the remarkably (almost completely) ice free reservoir I added Goldeneye and Cormorant as well as a Song Thrush and a flock of Goldfinches. As I wandered out along the track towards the farm I spotted a distant Buzzard and a Kestrel did a bit of hunting over the fields to the north before flying towards Templeton Woods. There were also a few Rooks around. Unfortunately, I found things to be very quiet in amongst the trees, though I did end up having some nice views of a trio of Roe Deer and also added Goldcrest. I decided to check out some trails near Downfield Golf Course but found very few birds at all. As I wandered slowly out of the golf course for another look at Ardler Pond, I saw a flock of birds in flight which turned out to be an unexpected flock of Lapwings, heading south towards the river. These were my last addition for the day though I did find a few more Bullfinches by the pond, before I headed home. My total for the day was 50 species of bird, including 6 new (in bold) which took me to my target figure of 75 species before going back to work, with 2 days to spare.
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| Kingfisher |
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| Moorhen |
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Grey Heron
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| Bullfinch |
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| Bullfinch |
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Common Gull
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Great Tit
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| Bullfinch |
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| Bullfinch |
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Brown Rat
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Brown Rat
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Brown Rat
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Pink Footed Goose
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Brown Rat
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Magpie & Carrion Crow
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| Goldeneye |
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| Kestrel |
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| Fieldfare |
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Roe Deer
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Roe Deer
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| Jay |
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| Lapwing |
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Carrion Crow
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| Bullfinch |
Birds - Black Headed Gull, Blackbird, Blue Tit, Bullfinch, Buzzard, Carrion Crow, Chaffinch, Coal Tit, Collared Dove, Common Gull, Coot, Cormorant, Dipper, Dunnock, Fieldfare, Goldcrest, Goldeneye, Goldfinch, Goosander, Great Spotted Woodpecker, Great Tit, Greenfinch, Grey Heron, Grey Wagtail, Herring Gull, House Sparrow, Jackdaw, Jay, Kestrel, Kingfisher, Lapwing, Long Tailed Tit, Magpie, Mallard, Mistle Thrush, Moorhen, Mute Swan, Pink Footed Goose, Redwing, Reed Bunting, Robin, Feral Pigeon, Rook, Siskin, Song Thrush, Sparrowhawk, Starling, Tufted Duck, Woodpigeon, Wren.
Mammals - Brown Rat, Roe Deer.
