Friday turned out to be a lot wetter than it was originally meant to be though there were to be a few small windows where it would most likely be dry according to the weather forecast. These kept changing however. Having resolved to get out every day while I am on holiday this time, I was determined that I was going birding somewhere, even if only for an hour or so. Although there are a few sites not too far away, none of them are particularly likely to throw up something unexpected, but with birds you just never know, and Autumn is probably the time when something unexpected might put in an appearance, possibly having been forced to take shelter from the rain - as a Water Rail which was found under some stacked chairs outside the museum in the city centre some years ago was doing.
 |
| Moorhen |
Although the rain hadn't quite stopped it was very light not long after noon, so I decided I would head out for a walk and see if I could find something interesting. Even if I didn't I would still be getting out birding. Just before 1230 I headed out. I had no real set plan or route. It was all really weather dependent and very much subject to change. I headed uphill towards Caird Park first of all. Feral Pigeon, Robin, Herring Gull, Magpie, Jackdaw, House Sparrow, Blue Tit and Collared Dove were noted before I reached the park via Mains Loan.
Coal Tits and Long Tailed Tits were heard in the trees down by the running track and velodrome. The paths round the ponds were rather muddy but there was a Grey Heron, a number of Mallards and a few Moorhens. A Grey Squirrel put in an appearance - the first of a few seen throughout the afternoon. A wee wander up the Gelly Burn to the golf course and back only added Chaffinch, Carrion Crow, Blackbird and Wren. I then headed downhill to the Dighty Burn to try for Kingfisher and Dipper but I drew a complete blank on both, even when I walked right along to Trottick Ponds. A flyover Black Headed Gull and a Great Tit were scant consolation.
Reaching Trottick Ponds, a Jay was seen in flight, as was the first Woodpigeon of the day. A single Coot, a few Mute Swans, Mallards and Moorhens were all I could find there despite wandering right around the small reserve. It was very quiet. As I left to head back to Caird Park a skein of Pink Footed Geese passed over northwards. Two Buzzards were heard mewing from the nine hole golf course as I reached the road into the park again but I failed to see them. Song Thrush and Goldcrest were added as I wandered through on my way to Swannie Ponds via the Mains Terrace wasteground.
A Dunnock was seen there before a Sparrowhawk zipped by being pursued by a Magpie. The Magpie followed it into a tree near the road and off went the Sparrowhawk again. A flock of about a dozen Mistle Thrushes passed by following the line of Clepington Road. A Starling was on a TV aerial in Lammerton Terrace and a flock of Goldfinches were seen at Swannie Ponds. In addition to the usual suspects there which I'd already seen elsewhere there were three Tufted Ducks. I decided to continue on to Eastern Cemetery to see if there were any Redwings there and if the weather held perhaps continue to the Stannergate then back home via City Quay.
An Oystercatcher flew over as I walked to the cemetery but things were very quiet there also. Unfortunately after a few minutes the rain began to get heavier. I spotted a conifer where it appeared there was an area underneath which had managed to stay dry despite the rain, so I stood there waiting for the rain to either stop completely or to at least relent enough to get walking again. I photographed a Grey Squirrel under the next tree while I waited. Eventually it seemed to return to the previous light rain and the sky looked a lot more promising than it had at any point thus far during my walk. I decided I would head for the Stannergate after all.
I set off through the cemetery, stopping to try to photograph a trio of migrating House Martins hawking overhead. As I walked towards the southeastern gate the rain began to get heavier again, so I abandoned my plan and headed back to the shelter of the same tree once more. After some more hanging around I decided I might as well give up and go home via Baxter Park rather than extend the walk. I checked the Spring Grove there but it was very quiet. There was a bit of agitation among the local crows and Magpies on the other side of the park. My suspicion was a raptor and as I walked by trying to see if I could see anything, out flew a Buzzard pursued by the corvids once more.
I made it home around 1600 having noted a total of 35 species of bird and 1 of mammal. As expected it wasn't the most inspiring of outings though the Mistle Thrushes and House Martins were good to see. The former just arriving for the winter and the latter en route for somewhere warmer for their winter. It would have been easy to stay at home and waste the day completely but I was glad that I'd managed to get out into the fresh air and got some exercise and some welcome birding.
 |
| Moorhen |
 |
Grey Heron
|
 |
Mute Swan
|
 |
| Coot |
 |
| Mallard |
 |
| Jay |
 |
| Moorhen |
 |
Pink Footed Goose
|
 |
Carrion Crow
|
 |
Magpie & Sparrowhawk
|
 |
| Sparrowhawk |
 |
Mistle Thrush
|
 |
Mistle Thrush
|
 |
Tufted Duck
|
 |
Tufted Duck
|
 |
Tufted Duck
|
 |
Tufted Duck
|
 |
Grey Squirrel
|
 |
Grey Squirrel
|
 |
Grey Squirrel
|
 |
Grey Squirrel
|
 |
Grey Squirrel
|
 |
Grey Squirrel
|
 |
House Martin
|
 |
House Martin
|
 |
Woodpigeon
|
Birds - Blackbird, Black Headed Gull, Blue Tit, Buzzard, Carrion Crow, Chaffinch, Coal Tit, Collared Dove, Coot, Dunnock, Goldcrest, Goldfinch, Great Tit, Grey Heron, Herring Gull, House Martin, House Sparrow, Jackdaw, Jay, Long Tailed Tit, Magpie, Mallard, Mistle Thrush, Moorhen, Mute Swan, Oystercatcher, Pink Footed Goose, Robin, Feral Pigeon, Song Thrush, Sparrowhawk, Starling, Tufted Duck, Woodpigeon, Wren.
Mammals - Grey Squirrel.