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| Herring Gull (with deformed bill) |
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| Herring Gull (with deformed bill) |
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| Herring Gull |
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| Herring Gull |
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| Herring Gull |
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| Common Gull |
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| Herring Gull |
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| Herring Gull |
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| Common Gull |
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| Black Headed Gull |
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| Mute Swan |
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| Herring Gull |
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| Pied Wagtail |
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| Herring Gull |
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| Herring Gull |
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| Red Throated Diver |
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| Herring Gull (possibly Argentatus subspecies) |
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| Lapwing (deceased) |
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| Oystercatcher |
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| Little Grebe |
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| Little Grebe & Red Throated Diver |
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| Little Grebe |
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| Oystercatcher |
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| Herring Gull |
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| Red Breasted Merganser |
Once again a lack of motivation saw me lying in my bed a lot longer than intended on a Saturday when I should have been up and out early, but as I didn't want to spend all day at home I decided to head out for a few hours local birding to see if I could find anything interesting, or at least get a few decent photos of the local birdlife.
It was almost quarter to two when I headed out. I decided that Caird Park was worth a visit, hoping to see the local Kingfisher which would be my first for the year. I tried several times last year to see it before finally catching a glimpse as it flew low away from me over the ponds. Herring Gull was an early tick for the list, but as I headed uphill to Clepington Road there were very few birds to be seen, though a vocal Carrion Crow on a tenement roof drew attention to itself with its loud cawing. Feral Pigeon was seen landing on a roof on Clepington Road.
Graham Street can be relatively productive compared with other similar streets nearby and I managed a few species as I walked down towards the Kingsway. House Sparrows in a garden, along with a Blackbird and a few flyover Starlings followed by a Woodpigeon in the tall trees down by the football pitches where Black Headed and Herring Gulls could be seen stood around on the grass.
Into Caird Park, once I finally made it across the rather busy dual carriageway, a flyover Siskin calling caught my attention. A few Chaffinches and a Robin fed on the ground by the path down through the golf course to the Gelly Burn. I heard a few Wrens but saw nothing as I headed along the muddy path to the ponds. A few dog walkers ensured that there wasn't much to be seen except for the expected Mallards and a couple of Moorhens. Unsurprisingly, no Kingfisher. A Dunnock perched on top of the hedge near the cottages by the golf course and a small charm of Goldfinches called from the trees opposite the running stadium. Nearing the top of the hill up to the Kingsway I spotted a Jay flying across the fairway and into the trees on the far side.
I was surprised to see a Mute Swan fly over as I stood waiting to cross the Kingsway again. I headed up to check out the waste ground opposite the former Keiller's factory where I found a pair of Magpies in the trees and a Collared Dove. Around the corner, I added Jackdaw to the list when I found a pair on a chimney. Three species from the crow family that have become more common in Dundee in recent years in around a quarter of a mile.
I headed onwards to Swannie Ponds, but it was relatively quiet though all the usual suspects were around - Mallards, Tufted Ducks, Moorhen, Mute Swans, Black Headed Gull, Common Gull and Herring Gull. One of the younger Herring Gulls had a deformed bill which was longer and much more hooked. There were far fewer gulls than normal around and certainly nothing exotic with only JN69, last year's young Black Headed Gull seen, of the ringed birds. Blackbird and Carrion Crow were also seen before I headed for Eastern Cemetery, my departure hastened slightly by the arrival of a couple of 'shady' looking characters furthr round the pond.
A Greenfinch called from its perch atop a small conifer in a garden at Loraine Road. The local House Sparrows chirped noisily from hedges and bushes but remained out of sight. There wasn't too much to see at the cemetery either, with a few Coal Tits, a Blackbird or three, Greenfinches and Woodpigeons and Great Tit added to the list. The one surprise was a Stock Dove which overflew before appearing to descent into the trees by the Dundee High School playing fields. I caught a bus into town with the intention of paying City Quay a visit.
Feral Pigeon and Herring Gull were the only birds seen as I walked down past the bus station and crossed the road into the quay area. One or two Herring Gulls were around the Unicorn, with two perched atop the front of the ship. A few others were on the poles by the old dry dock. A pair of Pied Wagtails flitted around in the area behind the wooden ship. Unsurprisingly Dave the local Red Throated Diver was in the outer quay area though further over towards the derelict boats by the Sea Cadets HQ. Also there was one of the Little Grebes, though the other bird did put in an appearance later on.
Out on the river I found a few distant Cormorants and a few Starlings were around the flats along with House Sparrows and Blackbird. A surprise find was a rather unfortunate Lapwing (or the leftovers of a probable Peregrine kill - wings and head and the breast bone and neck being about all that was left). Apologies for the photo if you're squeamish though it is interesting to find that Lapwing and Peregrine must pass through the area at times (I've seen Peregrine here recently when two birds squabbled as they headed east at dusk, but never Lapwing, though I have seen them on the opposite side of the river).
An Oystercatcher flew by and landed across the other side of the lock gate from me. A few Feral Pigeons passed over and a Common Gull glided over. I wandered back to take a few more photos of Dave as he swam around in the coloured reflections on the water. Dark blues, reds and gold made for unusual backgrounds. Deciding to head for home I chose to walk along the edge of the river first, and succeeded in finding a few Red Breasted Mergansers out on the river as well as Cormorants, Oystercatcher and Herring Gulls on the 'submarine' and then I headed into town to catch the bus home.
Although I was only out for around 3 hours and didn't venture too far from home I still managed to see 34 species which is a decent number for afternoon birding in Dundee (mornings are usually more productive). It certainly beat sitting about at home.
Species seen - Blackbird, Black Headed Gull, Blue Tit, Buzzard, Carrion Crow, Chaffinch, Coal Tit, Collared Dove, Common Gull, Cormorant, Dunnock, Goldfinch, Great Tit, Greenfinch, Herring Gull, House Sparrow, Jackdaw, Jay, Little Grebe, Magpie, Mallard, Moorhen, Mute Swan, Oystercatcher, Pied Wagtail, Red Breasted Merganser, Red Throated Diver, Robin, Feral Pigeon, Siskin, Starling, Stock Dove, Tufted Duck, Woodpigeon.