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| Wren |
The Green Sandpiper I managed to see on Wednesday at Riverside Nature Park was my 139th species seen (or heard) while I've been in Dundee this year. It meant that I am currently just 1 species short of my target figure of 140. Last year, I thought I was fortunate to reach 135 (target was 125 - though I wasn't sure what sort of figure was achievable) but this year, I've managed to miss out on another 5 or so species that I'm aware of, so it appears that 145 could even be next year's target. Despite only needing 1 more to get the 140, I definitely can't take it for granted that I will get there. I will still need to put the effort in. Waxwings are beginning to trickle into the UK, so I decided I would check some of the places they've previously been seen in Dundee, at the weekend. Saturday's weather wasn't helpful so I didn't go anywhere. Sunday afternoon's weather improved enough to take the chance to get out and look for the Scandinavian visitors.
I wasn't overly optimistic that I would find any but if I didn't bother to look it was highly unlikely I would find any. I headed out at around 1305. Jackdaw, Feral Pigeon, House Sparrow, Herring Gull, Carrion Crow, Starling, Magpie and Robin were all noted as I made my way to Mains Terrace for a quick check of the trees there. I did manage to add a Wren but it was very quiet overall. I continued on for a look at Swannie Ponds where the usual residents were almost all to be found - Tufted Duck, Mallard, Mute Swan, Coot, Moorhen, Black Headed Gull and Herring Gull, plus a Grey Heron. The only semi-regular winter species I failed to see was Common Gull.
I set off down the Kingsway in search of Waxwings. There were a few Rowan trees still laden with berries but a distinct lack of birds of any sort. A flock of Redwings did fly over in the direction of Eastern Cemetery and I managed to get Woodpigeon on the list as well. I continued on downhill to Craigie Drive to check the trees along there but again this proved to be a bit of a waste of time. I decided I might as well check out the Stannergate. This did produce a Rook overflying and a scruffy looking drake Eider hauled out on the rock armour along the edge of the fenced off port area. I wandered on along the cycle path towards City Quay. The sun had appeared for a short while earlier but it had clouded over again and the available light was rapidly diminishing as it tends to, at this time of year.
Dunnock, Goldfinch, Pied Wagtail and Pink Footed Geese provided a little variety on the 15 minute walk along the cycle path between the railway line and the port. At City Quay things were very quiet with almost nothing to see. A Linnet did fly over and a pair of House Sparrows squabbled over a large chunk of bread behind the flats. I decided to check the Tay. I noticed a Cormorant close in to the seawall towards the roadbridge and was on my way to try and get a photo or two when I noticed a Guillemot going in the opposite direction. As I watched that bird, I spotted a Red Throated Diver a bit further downriver and decided to head in the direction of that for photos. I found a second Guillemot close in to the wall and both birds showed relatively well in what was now very poor light.
The Red Throated Diver proved rather wary, and from photos it appears that there were actually 2 individuals. Near the broken lock gates an Oystercatcher was heard but not seen and a pair of Goosanders flew upriver. Submarine Rock now looks less like a submarine having had the metalwork removed from the top but there were a couple of Cormorants and a Grey Heron roosting on top of it. With the winter light getting dimmer by the minute I decided to call it a day and head for home. I did manage to find some Long Tailed Tits on Dens Brae on the walk up which took the total number of species to 32 species. While it was certainly not one of the most exciting afternoons I've spent birding in Dundee, Red Throated Divers are always worth seeing, even if the views are not quite as good as they were when 'Dave the Diver' was a resident in City Quay (between December 2012 and early 2015).
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Moorhen & Mallard
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Mute Swan
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| Redwing |
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| Rook |
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| Eider |
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| Wren |
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Pink Footed Goose
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Pink Footed Goose
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| Magpie |
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House Sparrow
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Cormorant & Grey Heron
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| Guillemot |
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Red Throated Diver
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Black Headed Gull
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| Guillemot |
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Red Throated Diver
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| Guillemot |
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| Guillemot |
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| Goosander |
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| Guillemot |
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Herring Gull
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Birds - Blackbird, Black Headed Gull, Carrion Crow, Coot, Cormorant, Dunnock, Eider, Goldfinch, Goosander, Grey Heron, Guillemot, Herring Gull, House Sparrow, Jackdaw, Linnet, Long Tailed Tit, Magpie, Mallard, Moorhen, Mute Swan, Oystercatcher, Pied Wagtail, Pink Footed Goose, Red Throated Diver, Redwing, Robin, Feral Pigeon, Rook, Starling, Tufted Duck, Woodpigeon, Wren.
