0764 : Windy City (16/2/20)

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.

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.

Black Headed Gull (Green J5M5)

Tufted Duck

Goosander

Tufted Duck

Tufted Duck

Black Headed Gull

Feral Pigeon

Coot

Black Headed Gull

Black Headed Gull (Green J5M5 and White J4U2)

Animatronic Peregrine

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.