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| Goosander |
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| Herring Gull |
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| Red Throated Diver |
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| Red Throated Diver |
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| Red Throated Diver |
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| Herring Gull |
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| Herring Gull |
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Herring Gull
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I struggled to muster much motivation to get out birding owing to a combination of a possibly iffy weather forecast and feeling rather tired after only 5 hours sleep and an earlier than normal start the day before on Sunday. A need to get out and about for a bit of fresh air resulted in the decision to have a wee wander within a half-mile or so radius of home around lunchtime.
Heading out around 1120, a Starling was first on the list, with a Herring Gull chasing a Lesser Black Backed gull following seconds later. I decided to head for Stobsmuir (Swannie) Ponds to see if there was still any sign of the long staying Iceland Gull. On my way up towards Clepington Road, I added Carrion Crow. I heard Chaffinch and Blue Tit but didn't stop to look for either.
As I headed east along Clepington Road I noticed a flock of around 15-20 hirundines above the junction of Mains Loan and Clepington Road with a few birds slightly further out from the main group. These turned out to be mostly House Martins with a few Swallows hawking around lower down. A Woodpigeon flew west over the former Keillor's factory buildings, and a Feral Pigeon displayed to a prospective mate on the roof. A House Sparrow popped out of a hedge briefly befor diving back in again when he spotted me. Further along at the junction of Castle Terrace with Lammerton Terrace a Blackbird was seen. Crossing the Forfar Road got me a Goldfinch and Great Tit was heard from a tree in a garden but wasn't out in the open.
On reaching the ponds, the usual Mallards, Tufted Ducks and Herring Gulls were on the water. Surprisingly so were four Goosanders - two males and two females. On the island, one of the Mute Swans could be seen through the low branches resting in the shade. A Chaffinch sang from one of the trees as a family threw bread to the ducks further round. A Moorhen swam out towards the path before turning tail back towards the island. I decided to head into town to check on 'Dave' the Red Throated Diver at City Quay to see how far advanced his moult was. As I left the park, a Song Thrush flew across the road into a garden and a Pied Wagtail flitted out above the lower pond.
I caught a bus opposite Morgan Academy by Baxter park, where I could hear Blue Tits calling in the bushes and trees behind me. A few Starlings glided over, their dumpy shapes with triangular wings very distinctive. I reached the city centre around 1210 and walked down to City Quay. There was no immediate sign of the Diver on the water, so I walked around past the North Carr lightship heading towards the footbridge that bisects the main quay area with the preserved frigate Unicorn moored on the other side. I saw movement out on the water but it turned out just to be a Herring Gull. Further over near the northeast corner was another bird which turned out to be 'Dave'. I crossed the bridge and slowly moved along the wooden walkway. By now the bird was diving regularly and getting closer to where I was. I stopped near where I hoped he would surface, breaking up my outline as best as I could by kneeling behind a metal fence support. Not ideal, but the nearest to camouflage or cover around. I was in luck when the bird came back up not too far in front of me and I managed a sequence of photos which showed that there was now some grey feathering coming through on the throat where it had previously just been white.
Unfortunately, it didn't take long for the bird to spot me and drift further away from me to preen before resuming fishing again. I chose to move on and check the outer quay area passing the Herring Gulls at the dry dock which eyed me suspiciously as I passed their chosen breeding site. A pair of Lesser Black Backed Gulls were perched atop a lighting pole. I could hear Linnets but failed to see them. Behind me I could hear House Sparrows around the blocks of flats but again these proved to be elusive. The outer quay area was empty of birds, but there was a small group of Starlings ferreting around on the short mown grassy area near the lock gates. Out on the river, small groups of Herring Gulls swam, but there was little else to see.
I managed a few photos of a Herring Gull which landed on the railing by the water. Out on the rocks a couple of Cormorants and a few more Herring Gulls rested. A bit of scanning finally produced an Oystercatcher tucked in by the water. I managed to see a House Sparrow perched on a low roof as I headed back away from the water. Dave was still quite far out, midway between the Unicorn and the far side of the quay, so I headed into town to catch a bus home. Herring Gulls on the bus sheds and a few Feral Pigeons were the only birds seen around the city centre.
Only 22 species seen - Blackbird, Carrion Crow, Chaffinch, Cormorant, Goldfinch, Goosander, Herring Gull, House Martin, House Sparrow, Lesser Black Backed Gull, Mallard, Moorhen, Mute Swan, Oystercatcher, Pied wagtail, Red Throated Diver, Feral Pigeon, Song Thrush, Starling, Swallow, Tufted Duck, Woodpigeon.