 |
| Red Throated Diver |
 |
| Red Throated Diver |
 |
| Red Throated Diver |
 |
| Red Throated Diver |
 |
| Red Throated Diver |
 |
| Red Throated Diver |
 |
| Red Throated Diver |
 |
| Red Throated Diver |
 |
| Red Throated Diver |
 |
| Red Throated Diver |
 |
| Red Throated Diver |
 |
| Herring Gull |
 |
| Red Throated Diver |
 |
| Red Throated Diver |
 |
| Red Throated Diver |
 |
| Red Throated Diver |
 |
| Red Throated Diver |
 |
| Red Throated Diver |
 |
| Red Throated Diver |
 |
| Herring Gull juvenile |
 |
| Herring Gull juvenile |
 |
| Red Throated Diver and juvenile Herring Gull |
|
 |
| Herring Gull |
 |
| Cormorants | |
 |
| Herring Gull |
 |
| Herring Gull |
 |
Herring Gull
|
The combination of a lack of motivation and further rain forecast resulted in me staying in bed longer than intended with the result that I was undecided as to where to go birding, with the tides fairly unfavourable at Guardbridge or Riverside Nature Park. Rather than not go anywhere I decided on a local walk finishing up at City Quay to check on the state of Dave the (Red Throated) Diver's moult. With an armed police presence at City Quay for the duration of the Commonwealth Games with shooters staying at the Apex Hotel I had avoided the area, so I was hoping that I hadn't missed the chance at some summer plumage photos.
I headed out at around 0945 to walk first of all to Swannie Ponds. I wasn't expecting a large list but rather than sit in all day I thought it best to get out while I could rustle up a bit of enthusiasm for the idea. The standard Summer trio were first onto the list almost as soon as I stepped outside - Herring Gull, Feral Pigeon and Swifts. A Woodpigeon flew up from a garden and over the rooftops, while a Carrion Crow cawed loudly from a chimney nearby. A Blue Tit foraged in a tree on the corner, proving surprisingly difficult to pick out among the leaves. Starlings, a flock of House Sparrows and a Blackbird were added in quick succession as I headed up to Clepington Road.
House Martins flitted around above the former storage yard, their calls heard easily above the Sunday morning traffic noise. I headed down to the wasteground opposite the old Kieller's factory, a few Swallows flew over but otherwise it was rather quiet. It was also rather quiet at Swannie Ponds with a few Mallards and Tufted Ducks and a selection of Herring, Lesser Black Backed and Black Headed Gulls. A Dunnock hopped around below the bushes as I walked down the steps. Mute Swans with cygnets eyed me suspiciously as I passed close by as they lazed by the path between the two ponds.
I walked down through Baxter Park and then down through the houses to Broughty Ferry Road with no birds at all seen on the way. I crossed the main road and went over the old metal footbridge into the harbour area next to the Sea Cadets building. A Goldfinch overflew, but cadets out training in rowing boats meant that there were no birds in the outer part of the quay. Linnets and a Pied Wagtail were spotted before I walked in through the gate by the clock tower flats to check the main quay area.
I didn't have to look to hard to find my target here. Dave, the resident Red Throated Diver (courtesy of a damaged wing) was asleep just a little bit out from the wall. I crouched down behind one of the small posts that support the chain "fence" and snapped a few photos. Unfortunately with the sun behind the bird, conditions weren't ideal. I chose to move round, so that although the bird would be a bit further away, the sun would be behind me. This decision improved matters from a photography point of view and once Dave woke up I was treated to a range of photo opportunities with the sunshine and the colours of the buildings around the quay conjuring up some interesting patterns in the water. His moult state didn't appear to be much further on than the last time I had visited with only a small patch of brown-red on the throat although the black and white striping down the back of the neck seemed better defined. Plenty of preening and wing flapping with further bouts of rest and even some half-hearted attempts at looking for fish below the surface kept me occupied for over an hour before I decided to check out the river and leave Dave once again.
Out on the 'submarine' rock, a few Cormorants stood with their wings outspread, one or two gulls amongst them, but otherwise the river was apparently bereft of birds. With rain looking increasingly likely I decided to head for home, stopping on the footbridge for a few distance shots of Dave with a juvenile Herring Gull close by, and also a few of a perched adult Herring Gull on a lifebouy holder. A few more gulls and Feral Pigeons were seen as I walked up into town to catch the bus home just as the rain started.
Only 22 species seen but some nice photos made the outing worth heading out for.
Blackbird, Black Headed Gull, Blue Tit, Carrion Crow, Cormorant, Dunnock, Goldfinch, Herring Gull, House Martin, House Sparrow, Lesser Black Backed Gull, Linnet, Mallard, Mute Swan, Pied wagtail, Red Throtaed Diver, Feral Pigeon, Starling, Swallow, Swift, Tufted Duck, Woodpigeon.