Once again I was working on Christmas Day though a later start of 1000 meant not getting finished till 1800. With no public transport running it would require a 3+ mile walk in each direction. As always I would be birding en route and this year I decided to try the Ninewells Arboretum for Tawny Owl after dark on my way home. Nothing ventured, nothing gained....
 |
| Robin |
Although it is roughly a 55 minute walk to work I decided to leave a little earlier so I could dawdle a bit. In addition I took a small set of binoculars which would mean I could check Cox's Stack for Peregrines and also birds at the top of trees etc too. I headed out around 0855 into the cold. Herring Gull, Woodpigeon and Carrion Crow were seen almost immediately followed soon after by one of the local Feral Pigeons. Starlings flew over towards Tannadice Park and a Black Headed Gull glided by. Redwings were heard calling but I couldn't see them.
Further on, a Blackbird flew across the road and a flock of Fieldfares headed west towards Strathmore Avenue. A Goldfinch passed overhead at Kings Cross Hospital and a Magpie allowed me to approach to just a few feet before it flew a little higher onto a branch from its previous perch on the stone wall. A small skein of Pink Footed Geese headed inland. A small flock of House Sparrows were noted as I neared Brantwood Avenue. I heard a Great Spotted Woodpecker calling loudly from behind me as I headed along Brantwood Avenue but couldn't see it. There was no sign of any Peregrine on Cox's Stack.
A flock of Redwings flew over as I headed down Loons Road and I then found them sharing the trees near the junction at the bottom with a few Mistle Thrushes. On Ancrum Road I finally managed to see a Robin which flew down off a hedge when it saw me approaching. Crossing the road I found a few Common Gulls on the grass at the park with Black Headed Gulls. A few Blue Tits were seen in the trees at the edge of the park. I decided to take the path along behind the houses at the bottom of Balgay Cemetery. This produced a Great Tit for the list but not much else. A Coal Tit was the final addition before I arrived at work just before 0955.
Finishing at 1800 I headed out to the sound of Pink Footed Geese overhead in the darkness. I headed for the Arboretum and played Tawny Owl calls on my phone to try to elicit a response. This did cause a couple of corvids to fly off from their roost. I played the call a few times as I wandered along but got no response of any sort from any Owl. Behind the hospital I heard a Pied Wagtail and a few singing Robins but nothing else of an avian nature was encountered on the remaining 3 miles home.
In total I saw 19 species and heard 1 other on the morning's walk. Without a camera I didn't take any photos so this post is illustrated with photos from other day's birding outings (all older photos from between 2004 and 2010).
 |
| Blackbird |
 |
| Redwing |
 |
| Fieldfare |
 |
| Black Headed Gull |
 |
| Common Gull |
 |
| Blue Tit |
 |
| Coal Tit |
 |
| Great Tit |
 |
| Carrion Crow |
 |
| Magpie |
 |
| Herring Gull |
 |
| Greenfinch |
 |
| House Sparrow |
 |
| Pink Footed Goose |
 |
| Feral Pigeon |
 |
| Woodpigeon |
 |
| Starling |
 |
| Mistle Thrush |
Species seen - Blackbird, Black Headed Gull, Blue Tit, Carrion Crow, Coal Tit, Common Gull, Fieldfare, Goldfinch, Great Tit, Herring Gull, House Sparrow, Magpie, Mistle Thrush, Pink Footed Goose, Redwing, Robin, Feral Pigeon, Starling, Woodpigeon.
