My original plan for the day after Boxing Day was to get up early and head over to Fife armed with better directions for the Lapland Buntings at Crail. However, having not really slept very well I woke up with all my limbs feeling very heavy which meant that I didn't feel up to the 4 mile walk required at the very least had I tried again at Crail. As it was also bitterly cold, I stayed in bed and tried to catch up on a bit of much needed sleep. When I did get up the heavy limbs were still heavy but I decided I should venture out for some sunlight, even if only up to a hopefully frozen Swannie Ponds to check for ringed gulls.
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| Black Headed Gull (Green J63P) |
It was much later than normal, around 1345, when I did venture out and I deliberately chose a different route to see if that resulted in anything different being seen. Feral Pigeon, Herring Gull and some noisy Jackdaws got the list started followed soon after by a Starling 'singing' from atop a TV aerial high on a tenement block roof. A Pied Wagtail was a slight surprise as I walked along Dundonald Street and a Black Headed Gull was on the grass by the police station. A group of mostly Herring Gulls were rooting around among rubbish dumped in front of the recycling bins in the corner of the car park off Dura Street.
A pair of Carrion Crows were added as I walked up past Morgan Academy. There were only a couple of Black Headed Gulls on the water at the lower pond though plenty of activity could be seen by the top pond where a family were feeding the ducks. When I got there I found that only the top third was frozen and there were lots of birds on the water. Mallards and Black Headed Gulls were the most numerous, with Herring Gulls next most numerous followed by Tufted Ducks. The Mute Swans were close in among the rabble attempting to gain prime spots for free food.
There were a handful of Common Gulls around also, as well as a single Coot and a single Moorhen while a Grey Heron stood opposite me on the island enjoying the winter sunshine. Woodpigeons and Feral Pigeons were seen overflying. I sat on the bench nearest the frozen area and scanned through the mostly Black Headed Gulls stood around. It didn't take too long to find a ringed bird with one with a green ring landing amongst the group before wandering over to the far side of the ice. I expected it to be regular bird JN69, but was surprised to find instead that it was green J63P, a new one for me here.
I found a metal ringed bird soon after but photos only showed a few digits and it appears to be another 'new' one for the site based on what I was able to read. White J4U2, a regular Norwegian ringed bird landed among the group soon after as did Yellow 2XLD, a Scottish ringed regular. A second metal ringed bird appears from photos to be the upside down ringed bird. I continued to check through the birds as people came by to feed the birds resulting in much movement of the birds on the ice. A few Starlings overflew, and a Magpie landed on the island.
I spotted another birder coming down the path in my direction. It was ADBC stalwart, Bob McCurley, but rather than stop for the usual bird-y chat, he chose to stand behind the large metal notice board a short distance away to take a few photos before heading away again without any acknowledgment of me even being there. Perhaps he didn't notice me given his advanced years and obvious focus on the birds on the water, though I suspect it may have been a deliberate snub given the reasons behind my decision not to renew my ADBC membership this year. Time will tell.
I endured the cold for a while longer before calling it a day and heading for home. A flock of Redwings flew over the ponds as I was leaving and I heard, but didn't see, a Greenfinch calling. A Blackbird picked around below the bushes and another was in a tree at the end of the path. I detoured via Mains Terrace where more Redwings were found and a Blue Tit was heard, but only a few more Jackdaws, Woodpigeons and Feral Pigeons were seen before I made it home.
Not the most exciting of afternoon's birding but it is always a plus to get a new ringed bird at the ponds, highlighting again the movements of Black Headed Gulls (J63P is another Norwegian bird) from Scandinavia for the winter. Only 18 species seen with nothing too interesting among them, but the fresh air and dose of vitamin D were worth heading out for.
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| Grey Heron |
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| Black Headed Gull (Green J63P) |
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| Herring Gull |
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| Herring Gull |
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| Grey Heron |
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| Coot |
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| Black Headed Gull |
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| Black Headed Gull |
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| Black Headed Gull (White J4U2) |
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| Black Headed Gull (Yellow 2XLD) |
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| Common Gull |
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| Black Headed Gull |
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| Blackbird |
Species seen - Blackbird, Black Headed Gull, Carrion Crow, Common Gull, Coot, Grey Heron, Herring Gull, Jackdaw, Magpie, Mallard, Moorhen, Mute Swan, Pied Wagtail, Redwing, Feral Pigeon, Starling, Tufted Duck, Woodpigeon.
