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| Carrion Crow |
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| Black Headed Gull |
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| Herring Gull |
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| Herring Gull |
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| Herring Gull |
Christmas Day 2014 dawned bright and clear. Well, I assume it did, as I was asleep at the time, but when I did get out of my bed, just before mid-day it looked to be a lovely cold but clear typical Dundee winter day. As I was going to my Mum's for Christmas Dinner I declined my brother's offer of a lift in favour of taking the rather more scenic route on foot and seeing if I could see anything of interest on my way.
Before I left the house I spent a few minutes watching from my living room window. A Jackdaw flew onto the rooftops opposite, half-hidden in the shadows. A Blackbird could be seen wandering around a bit closer. A small group of Carrion Crows flew up onto the roofs and a Herring Gull stood on the chimneys. The Crows and a pair of Jackdaws took flight and a Feral Pigeon flew over my roof. I could hear House Sparrows chirping loudly but it took a few moments before I saw any. Two birds were being chased away by a male Blackbird for some reason.
Once I was organised I decided to head for Swannie Ponds. I changed my mind before I had gone too far as to which route to take, and headed uphill. A Starling called from a chimney and a Herring Gull glided over. As I wandered along Clepington Road I could see a flock of Feral Pigeons swooping around above the houses further on. A Black Headed Gull flew over my head westwards. Crossing Forfar Road I spotted a Woodpigeon perched in one of the taller trees. A Magpie flew out from the same area and over the road into the gardens opposite.
The ponds themselves were largely frozen, though there was still a decent amount of open water at the near end. The Mute Swan family and many of the Mallards were in the water, with the majority of the Black Headed Gulls out on the ice and the path, with a few Herring Gulls of various ages nearer the island. A few Tufted Ducks were diving near the edge of the ice a little further round. I managed to see two ringed Black Headed Gulls, one white ringed bird (likely J4U2) and a metal ringed bird. Unfortunately only having the SX50 with me the detail on the photos wasn't sufficient to determine which bird it was. I spotted two Common Gulls on their own further around. It was largely Black Headed Gulls on the frozen lower pond too. I did hear a Wren calling from the island and a possible Long Tailed Tit call.
I headed out of the park and crossed the road heading for the Kingsway taking a shortcut down a small street. House Sparrows flew over and a Woodpigeon was perched in a tree in someone's garden. As I neared the Kingsway two Collared Doves flew out of a tree on the central reservation. A Blue Tit flew into a smaller tree a little further on. On reaching the opposite side of the road, I saw movement in a small bush by the church. A Robin appropriately enough for Christmas Day and a Blackbird. There wasn't too much else seen before I reached my Mum's except a few more Blackbirds and a Starling or two. While sat in my Mum's living room I did see Starlings, Feral Pigeon, Herring Gull and Carrion Crows.
Just 17 species seen in total but considering the time of day and the route taken a not too bad haul. Species seen - Blackbird, Black Headed Gull, Blue Tit, Carrion Crow, Collared Dove, Common Gull, Herring Gull, House Sparrow, Jackdaw, Magpie, Mallard, Mute Swan, Robin, Feral Pigeon, Starling, Tufted Duck, Woodpigeon.