I had intended on an early start and a trip to Fife Ness for some seawatching this Wednesday but when the alarm went off in the middle of the night - or at least it felt like that - I went back to sleep. When I eventually woke up the weather forecast had changed for the worse with rain now incoming from around lunchtime. I decided to head for Balmossie to walk back home from there rather than risking a trip further afield. I managed to catch the 73 bus at 1100 and set off for the mouth of the Dighty Burn. Unfortunately, it became apparent that the forecast rain had arrived early and it was already rather wet when I got off the bus.
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| Goosander |
The rain did have the benefit of keeping dog walkers indoors (mostly) so the waders (Redshank, Turnstone, Oystercatcher, Ringed Plover, Bar Tailed Godwits, Dunlin), gulls (Black Headed, Common and Herring Gulls) and ducks (Wigeon, Eider and Goldeneye) were relatively undisturbed on the shore - except for the arrival of a few Carrion Crows. A Robin was a surprise down by the sewage outlet pipe. I walked back towards Broughty Ferry via the small local nature reserve where Goldcrest was the most interesting bird seen. A pair of very late Swallows were hawking above the playpark by the Castle with a rainbow as a backdrop when I reached there. A Red Throated Diver, 2 Guillemots, some Cormorants, Eider and Red Breasted Mergansers were seen out on the river. A Grey Wagtail flew past as I chatted to a cyclist about birds by the Castle. Thankfully the rain had abated and the sun even managed to put in an appearance.
More Red Breasted Mergansers and a few Goosanders were seen as I continued along towards the Stannergate. I decided to search for Waxwings along Craigie Drive before heading up the Kingsway where the species has also been known to turn up. I drew a blank not unexpectedly, though a Red Admiral butterfly was a very unexpected sighting near Craigie High School. I detoured via Swannie Ponds where most of the usual suspects were seen - (except Moorhen and Common Gulls). I wandered down through Baxter Park with a small Wood(?) Mouse and a Grey Squirrel the highlights as well as close views of Blue Tits and Dunnocks in the small fenced off area near the Pavillion. I ended the 6 and a half mile wander around 1500 having seen 46 species of bird, 1 of butterfly and 3 of mammal.
Species seen home to Balmossie - Starling, Herring Gull, Jackdaw, Feral Pigeon, Blackbird, Carrion Crow.
Balmossie - Black Headed Gull, Cormorant, Dunlin, Eider, Goldeneye, Wigeon, Turnstone, Robin, Redshank, Common Gull, Curlew, Bar Tailed Godwit, Oystercatcher, Linnet, Grey Plover.
Broughty Ferry Nature Reserve to Stannergate - Blue Tit, Chaffinch, Goldfinch, Goldcrest, Woodpigeon, Great Tit, Pink Footed Goose, Red Breasted Merganser, Great Black Backed Gull, Pied Wagtail, Swallow, Red Throated Diver, Guillemot, Rock Pipit, Grey Wagtail, Redwing, House Sparrow, Goosander.
Mammals seen - Grey Seal.
Stannergate to home via Swannie Ponds/Baxter Park - Magpie, Mallard, Mute Swan, Coot, Tufted Duck, Dunnock.
Butterfly seen - Red Admiral.
Mammals seen - Grey Squirrel, Wood(?) Mouse.
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| Red Throated Diver |
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| Red Throated Diver |
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| Cormorant |
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| Red Breasted Merganser |
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| Eider |
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| Red Throated Diver |
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| Swallow |
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| Red Breasted Merganser |
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| Oystercatcher |
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| Curlew |
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| Curlew |
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| Redshank |
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| Black Headed Gull |
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| House Sparrow |
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| Red Breasted Merganser |
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| Goosander |
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| Goosander |
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| Goosander |
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| Goosander |
Species seen - Bar Tailed Godwit, Blackbird, Black Headed Gull, Blue Tit, Carrion Crow, Chaffinch, Common Gull, Coot, Cormorant, Curlew, Dunlin, Dunnock, Eider, Goldcrest, Goldeneye, Goldfinch, Goosander, Great Black Backed Gull, Great Tit, Grey Plover, Grey Wagtail, Guillemot, Herring Gull, House Sparrow, Jackdaw, Linnet, Magpie, Mallard, Mute Swan, Oystercatcher, Pied Wagtail, Pink Footed Goose, Red Breasted Merganser, Redshank, Red Throated Diver, Redwing, Ringed Plover, Robin, Feral Pigeon, Rock Pipit, Starling, Swallow, Tufted Duck, Turnstone, Wigeon, Woodpigeon.
Butterfly seen - Red Admiral.
Mammals seen - Grey Seal, Grey Squirrel, Wood(?) Mouse.
