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Black Headed Gull
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As August edges closer and closer to September and the days are beginning to shorten once more, I need to be picking up new birds for my Dundee 140 list almost everytime I go out birding if I am to reach that target figure. With that in mind it can be crucial to choose wisely when deciding where to go birding. Knowing that the likes of Guillemot, Razorbill, Sanderling, Grey Plover, Mediterranean Gull and even perhaps a Little Gull, or Great Skua should all be theoretically possible down by the Tay at this time of year, I decided that my destination on Saturday would be Balmossie.
There was no great rush due to the tide times so waiting for the weather to improve from a wet and windy start didn't make a huge amount of difference to my chances of getting something good. I headed out at 1100 towards Swannie Ponds where Lesser Black Backed Gull, Black Headed Gull (including Norwegian ringed 'Green J63P' - a returning bird), Common Gull, Mute Swan, Mallard, Coot were all added to the Herring Gulls, House Martins, Jackdaws and others already noted on the way there. Disappointingly there was no sign of any Tufted Ducks or Moorhens around but a Grey Wagtail was a nice bonus bird. Swallow was added at Eastern Cemetery along with a few other smaller birds as I headed for the river.
I reached the Stannergate at around 1145 and scanned through the small gull flock which not unsurprisingly failed to give me anything new. There were a few Turnstones down on the shoreline a little further on and a pair of Stock Doves were noted in flight near where I photographed a single bird recently. A Cormorant was seen out on the river and Curlew, Oystercatcher and Redshank were found near the Douglas Terrace outflow pipe. Pied Wagtail and Goosander were added near the Castle, and a few very distant Eider were spotted out around the middle of the river. There were signs warning of a pollution incident dotted along from the Castle eastwards but it didn't stop dog walkers from allowing their dogs, (or in one case, kids paddling), into the water. The roadworks and the earlier wet and windy weather did mean things were relatively quiet along the beach for a while, but that changed as the sun gradually came out and it didn't take too long before there were numerous dogs and walkers all along the shore.
I refound another ringed Black Headed Gull (yellow 2BA7) in much the same place I previously saw the bird back in January. I reached the main congregation of birds near Balmossie a little after 1330. I was able to add Great Black Backed Gull, Ringed Plover, Dunlin and Bar Tailed Godwit there, but failed to find anything unusual despite much scanning of the gull roost and the waders dotted around among the seaweed covered rocks and pebbles, as well as out over the river and towards Monifieth. A few Rooks were added and a couple of Ospreys gave fairly decent views as they struggled into the wind with their freshly caught flatfish. As things weren't looking too promising I decided not to linger too long and headed for home. A Grey Heron posed nicely for photos at the Stannergate before flying off over the road. Mark Wilkinson messaged me to let me know he'd had a Mediterranean Gull at Riverside Nature Park earlier which gave me a target and a destination for Sunday's birding.
I ended the day's outing with 40 species on the list with nothing particularly out of the ordinary having been seen. The Ospreys once again gave good views. We really only have another few weeks of regular sightings of these impressive raptors before they too have all departed southwards for warmer climes. There is already a bit of a chill in the air in the early mornings with the soundtrack of Meadow Pipits passing overhead. It is now more or less Autumn.....my favourite birding season. Hopefully, the time off work I have planned between now and the middle of October will be put to very good use and the 140 target figure will look like a formality by the end....
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Common Gull
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Black Headed Gull
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Grey Wagtail
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| Woodpigeon |
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Lesser Black Backed Gull
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| Cormorant |
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| Curlew |
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House Sparrow
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| Oystercatcher |
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Pied Wagtail
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Common Gull
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Bar Tailed Godwit
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| Dunlin |
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Ringed Plover
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Ringed Plover
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| Osprey |
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| Osprey |
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| Osprey |
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| Osprey |
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| Osprey |
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| Goosander |
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| Redshank |
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Grey Heron
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Birds - Bar Tailed Godwit, Blackbird, Black Headed Gull, Carrion Crow, Chaffinch, Coal Tit, Common Gull, Coot, Cormorant, Curlew, Dunlin, Dunnock, Eider, Goldfinch, Goosander, Great Black Backed Gull, Grey Heron, Grey Wagtail, Herring Gull, House Martin, House Sparrow, Jackdaw, Lesser Black Backed Gull, Magpie, Mallard, Mute Swan, Osprey, Oystercatcher, Pied Wagtail, Redshank, Ringed Plover, Robin, Feral Pigeon, Rook, Starling, Stock Dove, Swallow, Turnstone, Woodpigeon, Wren.
Mammals - Rabbit.
