Having already passed the 100 mark for the year, it is a case of seeing where else I can pick up more than 1 year-tick at a time until I then have to switch to just single ticks. Come mid/late-March migrants start to re-appear and it is then possible to target multiple species during a day's birding. The weather, and Nat feeling rather under the weather herself, meant that I had a lie-in before deciding that the chance of rain was worth risking in order to try for a few birds I'd missed out on so far. My original choice of destinations had been Montrose Basin or Loch of Kinnordy but in the end I settled for Dundee and 4 targets - Jack Snipe, Snipe, Jay and Coot.
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| Robin |
It was just after noon when I headed out. I had considered heading for Swannie Ponds first but chose instead to try Riverside Nature Park first, followed by Ninewells Arboretum and then finally to Swannie Ponds on my way home. I found I'd just missed a bus so decided to walk into town. Herring Gull, Blackbird and the local House Sparrows kick-started the list followed by Feral Pigeon and Carrion Crow. Woodpigeon and Blue Tit were both added on Dens Road. I heard a Redwing call on Victoria Road and saw it fly into a nearby tree. A Black Headed Gull and a few Long Tailed Tits were added as I neared the Wellgate Centre.
Nothing else was added on my way through the city centre or from the bus out to the park. Arriving at the park, I found a pair of Carrion Crows feeding in the roadside field. A flock of Redwings and Fieldfares flew over and into the trees at Buzzard Wood. I spotted a duck flying fast, heading east. It turned out to be a drake Goosander and it was followed seconds later by another good bird, a Stock Dove. Not a bad start to a visit to the park. Herring Gull and Blue Tit brought things back towards normal. A Black Headed Gull and a few Redshanks had by now joined the crows in the field along with a Pied Wagtail. A Robin perched on the fence and a Wren was missed in the undergrowth by the path, though heard well enough.
A few Chaffinches flew out from the hedge leading off from the northwest corner of Buzzard Wood. A pair of Goldfinches flew over. I heard a Bullfinch calling and found 2 perched in trees by the corner though they flew off before I was able to get a photo. A few Blackbirds picked around along the edge of the wood. I headed round to the boggy area in front of the wood. A Grey Heron flew off when it saw me come round the path. A Wren flew low over the water and into some of the vegetation. A Greenfinch and a few more Chaffinches were seen in the bushes here and Feral Pigeons were seen flying over. Woodpigeons were in the trees on the opposite side of the road.
I skirted round the edges of the boggy area looking for movement in the hope that I might manage to finally see a Jack Snipe before it saw me. I was out of luck, things appeared dead with no movement at all. Further round however, a small brown bird silently burst from the marsh and flew off low before dropping down again near where I'd come from - a
Jack Snipe. I doubled back though again the bird saw me first and off it went, this time towards the airport. I headed back round towards Buzzard Wood again. This time a
Snipe burst skywards, calling harshly as it went. A Chaffinch flew over before another Snipe flew off in the direction of the airport. Both my targets at the park successfully seen and without getting wet feet too.
A dog walker stopped to chat about birds and the park for a few minutes and I added a Starling as we chatted. She went one way round Buzzard Wood and I went the other. I found a Great Tit in the hedge between the fields and heard a Great Spotted Woodpecker and a Magpie but saw neither. Another short chat to the same lady and we once again went our separate ways. A pair of Siskins flew over, and a skein of Pink Footed Geese headed towards the river. I heard the Magpie calling again and managed to find it perched in the trees at Buzzard Wood.
A Song Thrush was seen feeding along the edge of the path to the west of the car park in the company of Blackbirds. By now the sun was attempting to come out but the change in temperature had made things rather misty, especially over the bay. I was able to make out Teal and Mallard, Herring Gull, Black Headed Gull and Common Gull, as well as Redshanks and a Curlew but soft grey silhouettes are never the best for identifying. I headed up and over the hill but saw nothing of note. A trio of Pied Wagtails, a Black Headed Gull and a few Carrion Crows were seen feeding in the lower section of the park to the west of Buzzard Wood.
I headed round to the Lochan. Unfortunately it was still frozen and only a Pied Wagtail was seen here, though a Yellowhammer male was working its way along the hedge near the hide. A few Jackdaws were seen on the way to the hide overlooking the bay, but again the misty conditions made seeing much rather tricky. I did add an overflying Cormorant and from the bridge over the railway added a pair of Great Black Backed Gulls out on the pipe.
I'd managed to see 36 species in the park, including both my target birds, something I hadn't really expected as early morning is usually the best time to try and see them, before dog walkers have had a chance to investigate that area with their canine charges.
Species seen in the park (year-ticks in bold) - Blackbird, Black Headed Gull, Blue Tit, Bullfinch, Carrion Crow, Chaffinch, Common Gull, Cormorant, Curlew, Fieldfare, Goldfinch, Goosander, Great Black Backed Gull, Great Tit, Greenfinch, Grey Heron, Herring Gull,
Jack Snipe, Jackdaw, Magpie, Mallard, Pied Wagtail, Pink Footed Goose, Redshank, Redwing, Robin, Feral Pigeon, Siskin,
Snipe, Song Thrush, Starling, Stock Dove, Teal, Woodpigeon, Wren, Yellowhammer.
From the park I headed through the underpass towards the Technology Park. I would head up through here and along to the Ninewells Arboretum. I was hoping that I would find Jay in the trees along the way, having had success in this are previously. Unfortunately, it appeared my luck was out this time. A few Goldcrests were in the trees when I crossed the road though things were mostly rather quiet in the Tech Park. A Sparrowhawk and a few Woodpigeons were seen by the Gore building. More pigeons were seen and a few Redwings heard before I reached the Arboretum behind the hospital. I did find plenty of corvid activity but little else. Jackdaws, Carrion Crows and a single Magpie but no sight or sound of any Jays.
I caught the bus back into town, chatting to a work colleague who was on the bus and then caught another one heading for my final stop at Swannie Ponds. I chatted to a friend on this one too which meant I didn't really look out of the window so nothing was added. By the time I reached the ponds the light was beginning to go. I added the local Mute Swans, a Moorhen, a Tufted Duck and some Mallards. Black Headed Gulls, Common Gulls and Herring Gulls stood on the ice. I made a circuit of the pond but again there was no sign of any Coot so I headed for home, stopping to chat to another friend who is keen to come out birding sometime, so we made some tentative arrangements to get something properly organised.
Outwith the park I managed to see 19 species (of which 7 - in italics, hadn't been seen at the park). It was slightly disappointing failing to get either Jay or Coot but as neither are particularly difficult to see, I'm not overly concerned.
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| Goosander |
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| Stock Dove |
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| Stock Dove |
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| Fieldfare |
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| Redwing |
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| Black Headed Gull & Redshank |
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| Chaffinch |
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| Grey Heron |
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| Fieldfare |
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| Jack Snipe |
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| Jack Snipe |
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| Jack Snipe |
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| Jack Snipe |
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| Jack Snipe |
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| Snipe |
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| Snipe |
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| Snipe |
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| Snipe |
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| Great Tit |
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| Pink Footed Goose |
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| Robin |
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| Herring Gull |
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| Carrion Crow, Herring Gull, Black Headed Gull |
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| Magpie |
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| Carrion Crow, Herring Gull, Black Headed Gull |
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| Curlew |
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| Black Headed Gull |
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| Black Headed Gull |
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| Pink Footed Goose |
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| Redwing |
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| Cormorant |
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| Great Black Backed Gull & Herring Gull |
Species seen outwith the park - Blackbird, Black Headed Gull, Blue Tit, Carrion Crow, Common Gull,
Goldcrest, Herring Gull,
House Sparrow, Jackdaw,
Long Tailed Tit, Magpie, Mallard,
Moorhen, Mute Swan, Redwing, Feral Pigeon,
Sparrowhawk, Tufted Duck, Woodpigeon.
