Although it was blowing a gale outside, the temperature was forecast to be relatively mild for this time of year, so rather than sit at home all day I decided to go out for a walk and to see if I could find anything interesting on Christmas Eve although my expectation levels were set rather low. Having had another lie-in, it was around 1250 before I was ready to head out to see what I could find.
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| Buzzard |
A few Herring Gulls were zipping around in the wind, side-slipping and gliding as if enjoying the conditions. A Blackbird was spotted between tenement blocks. A few Feral Pigeons flew over. Jackdaw was added on Clepington Road, and nearing Swannie Ponds I managed to add a couple of Woodpigeons perched in a mature tree behind the old bus depot building. There seemed to be fewer birds around at the ponds with Mallards, Herring Gulls and Black Headed Gulls making up the bulk of the numbers. In addition there were around half a dozen Tufted Ducks and single Moorhen and Coot. A pair of Dunnocks flew into the bushes and a Blackbird showed briefly further along the path. A Magpie was heard calling.
With the water unfrozen again it was difficult to find any ringed birds with most of the gulls on the rather choppy water or stood together on the grass where their legs were largely hidden. The Mute Swan family were on the bottom pond though the adults did walk up the grass bank and fly onto the other pond before I set off for Eastern Cemetery. A single Pink Footed Goose flew over as I walked along Rodd Road. The cemetery was rather quiet with most birds seemingly out of sight in the thicker bushes. Woodpigeons and Carrion Crows were the exceptions. A pair of Stock Doves flew into a conifer where Woodpigeons were perched.
A trio of Greenfinches landed in another tree as I walked down towards Arbroath Road, and I spooked a few Mistle Thrushes from a Yew tree. Redwings were heard as was a Robin but neither were seen. As I was about to head out the gate I noticed a Buzzard perched in a tree nearby and decided to get a few photos. The camera had stayed in the bag until this point and the Buzzard seemed quite relaxed by my presence, though I kept my distance, before crossing the road to catch a bus into town and on to City Quay to look for the Kingfisher.
A couple of prrobable Sinensis race Cormorants were seen swimming near the Unicorn and a third bird was in the outer quay area. A Pied Wagtail flew over and an Oystercatcher was seen near the sea Griffon boat used by the Sea Cadets. There was no sign of the Kingfisher on any probable perch including the lock gate. I had better views of an Oystercatcher on the quayside here and got a few photos before it flew off. Linnet was heard but not seen. A Grey Heron flew off across the quay from where it had been stood unseen by me. House Sparrows were heard from the bushes in front of the flats but again were unseen.
I headed along the waterfront but the Tay was quiet. A Grey Seal was briefly seen, and a few Herring Gulls and a Cormorant were out at Submarine Rock and nearby. A pair of Herring Gulls were on the ramps at the Fox Lake part of the quay and a pair of Carrion Crows were checking the floating debris for edibles by the Fox Lake walkway. A trio of Goldfinches behind the Apex hotel were joined by another 20 or so birds. A Grey Wagtail flew over as I walked under the Tay Road Bridge access ramp giving me another species for the list.
I headed up through the City Centre where I found a smaller flock of Goldfinches near the Overgate Centre side door opposite the City Churches eastern end. I detoured into the Howff but again the majority of small birds were staying out of sight and quiet. I spooked a male Sparrowhawek from the middle of the graveyard and it flew up over the roofs of Reform Street where it swooped down over the roofs a few times before circling round and heading off eastwards and out of sight. Nothing else was added until I was almost home when a small part of the local Starling roost were seen on the Tannadice Park floodlights.
27 species seen and another 5 species heard only. Nothing too spectacular though Sparrowhawk and Stock Dove were decent enough birds for Dundee and the Buzzard posed nicely. The likely Sinensis race Cormorants were another good one to get, keeping up the Yuletide records of the subspecies at the site that I've managed most years since 2012. All in all a better way to spend a few hours than sitting at home.
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| Buzzard |
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| Buzzard |
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| Cormorant (probable Sinensis race) |
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| Cormorant (probable Sinensis race) |
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| Cormorant (probable Sinensis race) |
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| Cormorant (probable Sinensis race) |
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| Grey Heron |
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| Oystercatcher |
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| Oystercatcher |
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| Herring Gull & Cormorant |
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| Herring Gull |
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| Carrion Crow |
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| Sparrowhawk |
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| Sparrowhawk |
Species seen - Blackbird, Black Headed Gull, Buzzard, Carrion Crow, Common Gull, Coot, Cormorant, Dunnock, Goldfinch, Greenfinch, Grey Heron, Grey Wagtail, Herring Gull, Jackdaw, Mallard, Mistle Thrush, Moorhen, Mute Swan, Oystercatcher, Pied Wagtail, Pink Footed Goose, Feral Pigeon, Sparrowhawk, Starling, Stock Dove, Tufted Duck, Woodpigeon.
Heard only - House Sparrow, Linnet, Magpie, Redwing, Robin.
