The weather this weekend has been rather wet and windy with another named storm arriving for the second weekend in a row. I did have the option of going out and about with Ros, John and Steph again on both days but decided that as the weather wasn't too promising I would stay in on Saturday and maybe head somewhere local on Sunday. As it transpired I wasn't feeling particularly great but dragged myself out for a walk anyway.
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| Goosander |
The strong wind was keeping the small birds hidden out of sight so I headed for Swannie Ponds to see if I could find anything interesting among the gulls. It was a fairly typical mix at the ponds with only a pair of Goosanders being relatively uncommon, though they are now a fairly regular bird in winter. A colleague from work, along with his wife and young child arrived to feed the ducks and I had a bit of a chat as most of the gulls were on the water making it impossible to search for or read any rings. I did eventually see a green ringed bird - J5M5 - most likely a Norwegian Black Headed Gull, which was a new bird for me here, on the path by the lower of the 2 ponds.
A second ringed bird - wearing just a single metal ring, flew off before I was able to photograph the ring and wasn't seen again. I did find a second Norwegian Black Headed Gull - White J4U2, which is a regular wintering bird, before heading off elsewhere. With no real plan I headed for Eastern Cemetery which was very quiet, though I did put up a Buzzard as I walked through. I caught a bus to City Quay where a pair of Red Breasted Mergansers was the only thing of interest except for a plastic animatronic Peregrine on a building that has been refurbished. The Tay was rather choppy but there were a few Cormorants and some Oystercatchers on Submarine Rock. I headed for home and finished up having only seen 20 species. Not overly exciting but always good to get a new ringed bird.
Species seen - Home to/and Swannie Ponds - Herring Gull, Carrion Crow, Feral Pigeon, Jackdaw, Goldfinch, Goosander, Mallard, Black Headed Gull, Coot, Tufted Duck, Magpie, Woodpigeon, Common Gull, Mute Swan.
Eastern Cemetery, City Quay to home - Buzzard, Blackbird, Red Breasted Merganser, Cormorant, Oystercatcher, House Sparrow.
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| Black Headed Gull (Green J5M5) |
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| Tufted Duck |
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| Goosander |
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| Tufted Duck |
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| Tufted Duck |
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| Black Headed Gull |
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| Feral Pigeon |
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| Coot |
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| Black Headed Gull |
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| Black Headed Gull (Green J5M5 and White J4U2) |
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| Animatronic Peregrine |
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| Red Breasted Merganser |
Species seen - Blackbird, Black Headed Gull, Buzzard, Carrion Crow, Common Gull, Coot, Cormorant, Goldfinch, Goosander, Herring Gull, House Sparrow, Jackdaw, Magpie, Mallard, Mute Swan, Oystercatcher, Red Breasted Merganser, Feral Pigeon, Tufted Duck, Woodpigeon.
