1500 : 100 Birds To See In Dundee (version 1.0)

This particular blog-post is intended to highlight around 100 or so species of birds that are relatively easy to find from within Dundee, and is largely intended for those with an interest in birds, or who are fairly inexperienced birders (for now). Once more details are added, those looking for particular species within Dundee, might find it more useful, than in its initial form.

You'll likely need a pair of binoculars to spot some of them at least, but this blog-post is intended to help in doing so with photos of the species (and later, some hopefully helpful info, with regards where/when to look for the birds, and other assorted basic info). However, it turns out that there is a LOT of effort required to do this project justice, so it is likely to be completed in stages. I've posted a selection of photos of the birds in a variety of plumages, and ages, as well as a few flight shots. The links at the end of the post, point to my photo albums of the species on my flickr page, which will give a wider range of plumages/ages/habitat-type shots etc.

I will add more details with regards ID, habitat, and likely locations for finding the birds a bit later.

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Other things that might be useful.

A field guide (Wildguides "Britain's Birds" or their "British Birds - A Concise Guide" or the more comprehensive Collins Bird Guide, would be those I'd recommend - though second-hand copies of bird books of variable standard can be found in charity shops etc).

Binoculars/camera/scope - anything that gives you a bit more reach can be helpful, but in general, the better the quality of the gear, the more detail you'll be able to see. Second-hand gear from the likes of Wex, or Ffordes can get you very good gear at a fraction of the price of buying new. Avoid Amazon where the 'amazing binoculars/camera/scope' for £10 is nothing of the sort. Save a tenner and stick two toilet roll tubes together for a similar performance.

Merlin app - this phone app is very good, but far from infallible. You can use it as a sort of fieldguide and browse through the species list, listen to the birds' calls and songs, check distribution maps, view a variety of photos etc. You can have Merlin only list the birds that you are likely to see locally at a particular time of year (this is not always accurate, as it is based on incomplete and sometimes erroneous data from eBird). You can answer some questions to narrow down the species that you MIGHT be seeing. You can also have Merlin identify the birds you can hear singing. However, be aware that it regularly misidentifies a number of common Dundee birds as being something much less common. It will also ignore particular calls too, which can be frustrating. Remember, just because Merlin said you had a very rare American warbler in Cairdie, doesn't mean it is correct. The more experienced you get the more obvious the errors Merlin makes will be to you. If it tells you it can hear a particular bird, try to see it to confirm the 'record'. Alternatively, you can compare the sonagram (the rolling 'picture' of the sounds) against those on the Xeno-Canto.org website which has a library of bird sounds from around the world.

* In the captions below I have used the description "juvenile" to mean an actual 'juvenile' plumaged bird, but also for those birds in what is known as 1st-winter plumage - quite literally the birds' plumage during its first winter alive. Sometimes this varies a bit from 'actual' juvenile plumage, but for the sake of simplicity I have used the simpler terminology here.

** There may be errors in the captions due to the failure of the proof-reader (me). If you find any, please do let me know.

Barnacle Goose (adult)
Barnacle Goose (adult)
Bar-tailed Godwit (breeding plumage)
Bar-tailed Godwit (non-breeding plumage)
Bar-tailed Godwit (non-breeding plumage) 
Blackbird (female)
Blackbird (juvenile)
Blackbird (partially leucistic - some non-pigmented [white] plumage)
Blackbird (male)
Blackcap (female/juvenile plumage)
Blackcap (male plumage)
Black-headed Gull (adult breeding plumage)
Black-headed Gull (1st winter plumage)
Black-headed Gull (adult breeding plumage)
Black-headed Gull (juvenile plumage)
Black-headed Gull (non-breeding plumage)
Black-tailed Godwit (non-breeding plumage)
Black-tailed Godwit (breeding plumage)
Black-tailed Godwit (non-breeding plumage)
Black-tailed Godwit (moulting from breeding plumage)
Black-tailed Godwit (moulting into breeding plumage), & Bar-tailed Godwit (top right - non-breeding plumage)
Blue Tit (juvenile)
Blue Tit (adult)
Bullfinch (female)
Bullfinch (juvenile)
Bullfinch (male)
Buzzard
Buzzard (& Carrion Crow)
Buzzard
Buzzard
Buzzard
Canada Goose
Canada Goose
Carrion Crow (adult)
Carrion Crow (juvenile)
Carrion Crow (adult)
Chaffinch (male)
Chaffinch (female)
Chiffchaff
Chiffchaff
Coal Tit
Collared Dove
Common Gull (adult breeding)
Common Gull (adult - non-breeding)
Common Gull (adult non-breeding)
Common Gull (sub-adult)
Common Sandpiper
Common Sandpiper
Common Tern
Common Tern
Common Tern (juvenile)
Coot (adult)
Coot (juvenile)
Coot vs Moorhen
Coot (slightly older juvenile) 
Coot (family group)
Coot (territorial dispute)
Cormorant
Cormorant
Cormorant
Cormorant
Crossbill (male)
Crossbill (female & male)
Crossbill (female)
Crossbill (male)
Curlew
Curlew
Curlew
Dipper
Dipper
Dipper (juvenile)
Dipper
Dunlin (breeding plumage)
Dunlin (non-breeding)
Dunlin
Dunlin (non-breeding)
Dunlin (1st winter plumage)
Dunlin (with 3 Sanderling - larger/whiter)
Dunlin (breeding plumage)
Dunnock
Dunnock
Eider (drake in eclipse plumage)
Eider (female)
Eider (drake)
Eider (drake)
Eider (duckling)
Feral Pigeon
Feral Pigeon
Feral Pigeon
Fieldfare
Fieldfare
Fieldfare
Fulmar
Gannet (juvenile)
Gannet (sub-adult pluamges)
Gannet (adult)
Gannet (adult)
Goldcrest
Goldcrest
Goldcrest (male)
Goldcrest
Goldcrest
Goldeneye (breeding plumage female & male)
Goldeneye (female)
Goldeneye (displaying males)
Goldfinch (juvenile)
Goldfinch (adult)
Goldfinch (adults & juveniles)
Goosander (drake)
Goosander (drake)
Goosander (juvenile)
Goosander (female)
Goosander (adult drake)
Great Black-backed Gull (adult)
Great Black-backed Gull (sub-adult)
Great Black-backed Gull (1st winter)
Lesser Black-backed Gull & Great Black-backed Gull (adults)
Great Black-backed Gull (sub-adult)
Great Crested Grebe (breeding plumage)
Great Crested Grebe (breeding plumage)
Great Crested Grebe (non-breeding)
Great Crested Grebe (adult & juveniles)
Great Spotted Woodpecker (female)
Great Spotted Woodpecker (male)
Great Spotted Woodpecker (male)
Great Spotted Woodpecker (juvenile)
Great Tit (female?)
Great Tit (male)
Great Tit (male)
Great Tit (juvenile)
Greenfinch (female)
Greenfinch (male)
Grey Heron (juvenile)
Grey Heron (adult)
Grey Heron (adult)
Grey Heron (adult)
Grey Partridge
Grey Partridge (female)
Grey Partridge
Grey Wagtail (non-breeding)
Grey Wagtail (non-breeding)
Grey Wagtail (male breeding plumage) 
Greylag Goose
Greylag Goose
Greylag Goose
Guillemot (breeding adult)
Guillemot (adult breeding)
Guillemot (juvenile)
Guillemot, Razorbill & Puffin
Guillemot (adult - non-breeding)
Guillemot (non-breeding adult)
Herring Gull (adult)
Herring Gull (adult breeding)
Herring Gull (sub-adult)
Herring Gull (chick)
Herring Gull (non-breeding adult)
Herring Gull (1st winter)
Herring Gull (sub-adult)
Herring Gull (juvenile)
House Martin (adult)
House Martin
House Martin (adult)
House Martin (juvenile)
House Sparrow (female with male)
House Sparrow (adult male & 2 juveniles)
House Sparrow (juvenile)
House Sparrow (male)
House Sparrow (male)
Jackdaw
Jackdaw
Jackdaw (juvenile)
Jay
Jay
Kestrel (adult male)
Kestrel (adult male)
Kestrel (adult male)
Kestrel (adult male)
Kestrel (female/juvenile)
Kestrel (female/juvenile)
Kingfisher (male)
Kingfisher
Kingfisher 
Kingfisher (female)
Kittiwake (breeding plumage)

Kittiwake (juvenile)

Knot (juvenile)
Knot (breeding plumage/moulting into non-breeding plumage, plus 1 juvenile)
Knot
Knot (adult)
Knot (juvenile)
Lesser Black-backed Gull (adult)
Lesser Black-backed Gull (adult - ringed in Portugal)
Lesser Black-backed Gull (adult)
Linnet
Linnet (female/juvenile)
Linnet (non-breeding male)
Linnet (breeding plumage male)
Little Egret
Little Egret
Little Egret
Little Grebe (breeding plumage adult)
Little Grebe (breeding plumage adult)
Little Grebe (non-breeding adult)
Little Grebe (juvenile)
Long-tailed Tit (juvenile)
Long-tailed Tit (adult)
Long-tailed Tit (adult)
Magpie (adult)
Magpie (adult)
Mallard (male)
Mallard (female with ducklings)
Mallard (female)
Mallard (male in eclipse plumage)
Mallard (male)
Meadow Pipit (adult)
Meadow Pipit
Meadow Pipit (adult - post breeding)
Meadow Pipit (adult)
Mistle Thrush (adult)
Mistle Thrush (juvenile)
Mistle Thrush (adult)
Moorhen (adult & juvenile)
Moorhen (juvenile moulting into adult plumage)
Moorhen (adult)
Mute Swan (juvenile moulting into adult plumage)
Mute Swan (juvenile/cygnets)
Mute Swan (adult)
Nuthatch (adult)
Nuthatch (adult)
Nuthatch (juvenile)
Osprey (adult)
Osprey (adult in hover)
Osprey (adult)
Osprey (adult)
Oystercatcher (adult)
Oystercatcher (juvenile)
Oystercatcher (adult moulting into non-breeding plumage)
Oystercatcher (non-breeding plumage/juvenile)
Peregrine (adult with prey - Feral Pigeon)
Peregrine (adult)
Peregrine (adult)
Peregrine (adult)
Peregrine (adult)
Peregrine (juvenile)
Pheasant (female/juvenile)
Pheasant (male - non-standard plumage)
Pheasant (female)
Pheasant (juvenile)
Pheasant (adult male)
Pheasant (female/juvenile)
Pheasant (melanistic - very dark - bird)
Pied Wagtail (adult female)
Pied Wagtail (juvenile)
Pied Wagtail (adult male)
Pied Wagtail (adult female)
Pied Wagtail (adult male)
Pied Wagtail (juvenile)
Pink-footed Goose
Pink-footed Goose
Pink-footed Goose
Razorbill (juvenile)
Razorbill (adult breeding plumage)
Red Kite
Red Kite
Red Kite
Red-breasted Merganser (adult male in breeding plumage)
Red-breasted Merganser (juvenile)
Red-breasted Merganser (female)
Redshank (adult breeding plumage)
Redshank (juvenile)
Redshank (non-breeding plumage)
Redshank (non-breeding plumage)
Redshank (non-breeding plumage)
Redshank (breeding plumage)
Red-throated Diver (adult breeding plumage)
Red-throated Diver (juvenile/non-breeding plumage)
Red-throated Diver (adult breeding plumage)
Red-throated Diver (juvenile/non-breeding plumage)
Redwing
Redwing
Redwing
Redwing
Reed Bunting (male in non-breeding plumage)
Reed Bunting (male in breeding plumage)
Reed Bunting (female)
Ringed Plover (juvenile/non-breeding plumage)
Ringed Plover (& Dunlin)
Ringed Plover (breeding plumage)
Robin (adult)
Robin (juvenile moulting into adult plumage)
Robin (juvenile)
Rock Pipit (adult variation)
Rock Pipit (adult variation)
Rock Pipit (adult variation)
Rock Pipit (adult variation)
Rock Pipit (adult variation)
Rook (adult)
Rook (at nest colony or 'rookery')
Sand Martin (at nest colony)
Sand Martin
Sand Martin
Sandwich Tern (adult breeding plumage)
Sandwich Tern (adult)
Sandwich Tern (juvenile)
Sedge Warbler (adult)
Sedge Warbler (juvenile)
Shag (juvenile/non-breeding plumage)
Shag (juvenile/non-breeding plumage)
Shag (breeding plumage)
Shelduck (male)
Shelduck (female with ducklings)
Siskin (male)
Siskin (female)
Skylark (juvenile)
Skylark (adult)
Skylark (adult display/song flight)
Skylark (adult display/song flight)
Skylark (adult)
Skylark (adult)
Song Thrush (juvenile)
Song Thrush (adult)
Song Thrush (adult)
Song Thrush
Sparrowhawk (male)
Sparrowhawk (female)
Sparrowhawk (female)
Sparrowhawk (male)
Sparrowhawk (male)
Sparrowhawk (female)
Sparrowhawk (typical hunting view)
Sparrowhawk (male)
Starling (post breeding flock)
Starling (adult feeding juvenile)
Starling (adult male - female has pink base to bill, blue on male)
Starling (juvenile moulting into adult plumage)
Starling (juvenile)
Stock Dove (adult)
Stock Dove (adult)
Stock Dove (adult)
Stock Dove (juvenile)
Swallow (adult)
Swallow (adult)
Swallow (juvenile)
Swallow (adult)
Swift
Swift
Swift
Tawny Owl (adult)
Tawny Owl (adult)
Teal (male in breeding plumage)
Teal (male & female)
Teal (male in eclipse plumage)
Teal (female)
Teal
Treecreeper (juvenile)
Treecreeper (adult)
Treecreeper (juvenile)
Treecreeper (adult)
Tufted Duck (male in breeding plumage)
Tufted Duck (female/juvenile?)
Tufted Duck (female/juvenile?)
Tufted Duck (male in breeding plumage)
Turnstone (non-breeding plumage)
Turnstone (non-breeding plumage)
Turnstone (breeding plumage)
Turnstone
Waxwing (adult male)
Waxwing (typical non-feeding group)
Waxwing
Waxwing (juvenile)
Whitethroat (adult male)
Whitethroat (adult)
Whitethroat (juvenile)
Whitethroat (juvenile)
Whooper Swan
Wigeon (male in breeding plumage)
Wigeon (female & male in breeding plumage)
Wigeon (fenale & male in 'eclipse plumage')
Willow Warbler
Willow Warbler (juvenile)
Willow Warbler
Woodpigeon (juvenile)
Woodpigeon
Woodpigeon
Wren (juvenile)
Wren
Wren
Yellowhammer (male)
Yellowhammer (male)
Yellowhammer (female)
Yellowhammer (juvenile)

Links to additional photos

Red-throated Diver - https://flic.kr/s/aHsmy13RXs 

Little Grebe - https://flic.kr/s/aHsmy14aJu 

Great Crested Grebe - https://flic.kr/s/aHsmDifCwA 

Fulmar - https://flic.kr/s/aHskR5XRba 

Gannet - https://flic.kr/s/aHsmD5j3La 

Cormorant - https://flic.kr/s/aHsmcbbQ8t 

Shag - https://flic.kr/s/aHsmcbbSzn 

Little Egret - https://flic.kr/s/aHsmDLohQf

Grey Heron - https://flic.kr/s/aHsmDLoCBe

Mute Swan - https://flic.kr/s/aHsmDQZNZp

Whooper Swan - https://flic.kr/s/aHsmDQZRAw

Pink-footed Goose - https://flic.kr/s/aHsmDQZYf8

Greylag Goose - https://flic.kr/s/aHsmDQZUpo

Canada Goose - https://flic.kr/s/aHsmDQZXMv

Shelduck - https://flic.kr/s/aHsmDR1t1Q

Wigeon - https://flic.kr/s/aHsmDR1Ap2
Teal - https://flic.kr/s/aHsmDR1NE4
Mallard - https://flic.kr/s/aHsmDR1wpv
Tufted Duck - https://flic.kr/s/aHsmDR1VsV
Eider - https://flic.kr/s/aHsmDR27vW
Goldeneye - https://flic.kr/s/aHsmDR2oNB
Red-breasted Merganser - https://flic.kr/s/aHsmDR2nAL
Goosander - https://flic.kr/s/aHsmDR2wgx

Sparrowhawk - https://flic.kr/s/aHsmDLpyj1
Buzzard - https://flic.kr/s/aHsmDLpssA
Osprey - https://flic.kr/s/aHsmDLp5Xg
Kestrel - https://flic.kr/s/aHsmDLpFNU
Peregrine - https://flic.kr/s/aHsmDLpQQr

Pheasant - https://flic.kr/s/aHsmDLqCGX

Moorhen - https://flic.kr/s/aHsmDLoLnb
Coot - https://flic.kr/s/aHsmDLoPnE

Oystercatcher - https://flic.kr/s/aHsmDR2DW6
Ringed Plover - https://flic.kr/s/aHsmDR382V
Dunlin - https://flic.kr/s/aHsmDR3gLT
Black-tailed Godwit - https://flic.kr/s/aHsmDR4xbU
Bar-tailed Godwit - https://flic.kr/s/aHsmDR4LLA
Curlew - https://flic.kr/s/aHsmDR4BLF
Redshank - https://flic.kr/s/aHsmDR2U7m
Turnstone - https://flic.kr/s/aHsmDR3GaB

Black-headed Gull - https://flic.kr/s/aHsmDR5N6H
Common Gull - https://flic.kr/s/aHsmDR5Kr8
Lesser Black-backed Gull - https://flic.kr/s/aHsmDR6atn
Herring Gull - https://flic.kr/s/aHsmDR66BQ 
Great Black-backed Gull - https://flic.kr/s/aHsmDR6cUj
Kittiwake - https://flic.kr/s/aHsmDR5SjW
Sandwich Tern - https://flic.kr/s/aHsmDR6fRf

Guillemot - https://flic.kr/s/aHskUnDd3J
Razorbill - https://flic.kr/s/aHskR5Yp4Z

Feral Pigeon - https://flic.kr/s/aHskUtjSvY
Stock Dove - https://flic.kr/s/aHsmDb5LPF
Woodpigeon - https://flic.kr/s/aHsmDpdLD5
Collared Dove - https://flic.kr/s/aHsmDpdKKm

Tawny Owl - https://flic.kr/s/aHskRbDnS2

Swift - https://flic.kr/s/aHsmB8nCZ8
Kingfisher - https://flic.kr/s/aHsmy6LA99
Great Spotted Woodpecker - https://flic.kr/s/aHsmy6Lz6N
Skylark - https://flic.kr/s/aHsmDb5z6k

Sand Martin - https://flic.kr/s/aHsmB8nwNk
Swallow - https://flic.kr/s/aHsmy6LsfJ
House Martin - https://flic.kr/s/aHsmB8nw1t

Meadow Pipit - https://flic.kr/s/aHskUtjwqC
Rock Pipit - https://flic.kr/s/aHsmB8ntpB
Grey Wagtail - https://flic.kr/s/aHsmDb5oHr
Pied Wagtail - https://flic.kr/s/aHskRbDboF

Dipper - https://flic.kr/s/aHsmDpdpkJ
Wren - https://flic.kr/s/aHsmy6LfMU
Dunnock - https://flic.kr/s/aHskUtjmxw
Robin - https://flic.kr/s/aHsmcgSYva

Blackbird - https://flic.kr/s/aHsmDb5ckr
Fieldfare - https://flic.kr/s/aHskUtjfzE
Song Thrush - https://flic.kr/s/aHsmcgSUB8
Redwing - https://flic.kr/s/aHsmcgSTcK
Mistle Thrush - https://flic.kr/s/aHsmy6L88L

Sedge Warbler - https://flic.kr/s/aHsmB8n62a
Whitethroat - https://flic.kr/s/aHskRbCSy2
Blackcap - https://flic.kr/s/aHskUtj9Ko
Chiffchaff - https://flic.kr/s/aHsmcgSH2p
Willow Warbler - https://flic.kr/s/aHsmDpd7p9
Goldcrest - https://flic.kr/s/aHsmcgSDxF

Long-tailed Tit - https://flic.kr/s/aHsmy6KJdC
Coal Tit - https://flic.kr/s/aHsmy6KM4C
Blue Tit - https://flic.kr/s/aHsmDb4PPv
Great Tit - https://flic.kr/s/aHskRbCzQn

Nuthatch - https://flic.kr/s/aHskRbCvQP
Treecreeper - https://flic.kr/s/aHsmcgSrhi

Jay - https://flic.kr/s/aHskUtiJwd
Magpie - https://flic.kr/s/aHsmDpcLiN
Jackdaw - https://flic.kr/s/aHsmDLiZD4
Rook - https://flic.kr/s/aHsmDpcKQ3
Carrion Crow - https://flic.kr/s/aHsmDpcKrs

Starling - https://flic.kr/s/aHsmy6KBww
House Sparrow - https://flic.kr/s/aHsmDpcFYf

Chaffinch - https://flic.kr/s/aHskUtiAao
Bullfinch - https://flic.kr/s/aHsmy6Ksu3
Greenfinch - https://flic.kr/s/aHsmDpcA63
Goldfinch - https://flic.kr/s/aHskRbCgYa
Siskin - https://flic.kr/s/aHsmDb4wZi
Linnet - https://flic.kr/s/aHsmDpcDsd
Crossbill - https://flic.kr/s/aHsmy6KqzG

Yellowhammer - https://flic.kr/s/aHsmy6KoYq
Reed Bunting - https://flic.kr/s/aHskRbCdXa

A few additional species, that are a wee bit harder to see, from within the city.

Barnacle Goose - https://flic.kr/s/aHsmDR14hy
Grey Partridge - https://flic.kr/s/aHsmDLqxWF
Red Kite - https://flic.kr/s/aHsmDLpb3r
Knot - https://flic.kr/s/aHsmDR3qEj
Snipe - https://flic.kr/s/aHsmDR4TJP
Common Sandpiper - https://flic.kr/s/aHsmDR3RDB
Little Gull - https://flic.kr/s/aHsmDR5Reg
Common Tern - https://flic.kr/s/aHsmDR6ux9
Waxwing - https://flic.kr/s/aHsmDb5jga
Raven - https://flic.kr/s/aHsmDb4Ehz
Tree Sparrow - https://flic.kr/s/aHsmy6KzzL
Redpoll - https://flic.kr/s/aHsmy6Kwq9