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Great Tit
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Boxing Day is another day off work, so for me it is best put to use as another birding day before everything is 'new' again in early January. Although there is a chance of a late surprise find as the year comes to a close the reality is that is not all that likely. However, having drawn a blank on 'new' birds out on the river on Christmas Day I decided I would try a different route on the 26th. Having been to see the geese flock at Dykes of Gray out to the west a month or so ago, I decided I might find a White Fronted Goose or similar hiding in the Pink Footeds' midst. If nothing else, it would be a slight change of scenery.
I headed out to a rather frosty morning at around 0940 for the walk to the western edges of the city. I had decided to take as direct a route as possible, which meant that birds would be largely incidental along the route. Nevertheless it was relatively steady stream of species for at least a chunk of the way with Herring Gull, Jackdaw, Feral Pigeon, Starling, Carrion Crow, Magpie, Chffinch, Robin, Black Headed Gull, Wren, Coal Tit, Blue Tit, Goldfinch, Woodpigeon, Blackbird and a few Pink Footed Geese all noted in the first 25 minutes or so. Things slowed down after that with Long Tailed Tit, Grey Wagtail, Sparrowhawk, Redwing and Siskin noted before I reached the bottom end of Camperdown Park.
Around 20 minutes later I had reached the field where the Pink Footed Geese had been very active on my previous visit but there were none around. A few geese did overfly but it appeared the main flock, if it was anywhere in the vicinity, most likely lay outwith the city boundary. This was a bit disappointing. I weighed up my options. Riverside Nature Park, Camperdown Park, Ninewells Community Garden, Balgay Hill, Clatto and Trottick? I decided I would head towards the Ninewells Community Garden. Great Tit, Yellowhammer and a surprise Dipper on the Lochee(?) Burn behind the NCR building did provide some interest.
I reached the Ninewells Community Garden behind the hospital around 1145. The feeders seemed relatively quiet but it didn't take too long before birds started to appear. There were 3 Robins which would perch almost within touching distance but then would get aggressive towards the other 2 Robins and chase them off. A few Dunnocks foraged below the feeders and a stream of Blue Tits and Great Tits, as well as the odd Coal Tit dropped in at the feeders. Chaffinches were also busy around the feeders, both below them and taking food directly from them. A Wren showed briefly by the wall. A rather wary Great Spotted Woodpecker flew in but wasn't quite brave enough to land on the feeder while I was standing nearby.
It began to rain so I was glad of the shelter provided by the overhanging roof, though thankfully the shower didn't last too long. A Nuthatch did put in an appearance but moved along the branches just a bit too rapidly for me to follow and get focus before it disappeared onto the rear side of the peanut feeder. I spent an hour or so watching the comings and goings before deciding to move on again. I decided to try Balgay Hill next. I added Goldcrest and saw what was possibly a Fieldfare flying over Ninewells Avenue on the walk up. Balgay Hill was very quiet though the partially leucistic Blackbird was still in the same rough area I've seen it previously. Bullfinches were heard but not seen.
With nothing much else happening I decided to head for the area around The Howff in the city centre in case the Waxwings had relocated there from the Kingsway. A Pied Wagtail was heard nearby and a few Fieldfares were seen in the top of one of the trees at the old cemetery through the locked gates at the side. I had considered continuing down to City Quay for a look but my enthusiasm had waned to almost zero by this time, so I headed for home instead having noted a rather disappointing 31 species. On the plus side (as there is always a plus side when birding), I did manage to get some rather nice shots of a few of the birds around the Ninewells feeders with the Woodpecker and the Robins posing quite nicely in relatively decent light.
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Pink Footed Goose
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Pink Footed Goose
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| Chaffinch |
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| Dunnock |
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| Robin |
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| Robin |
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| Robin |
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Great Tit
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Great Spotted Woodpecker
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| Great Spotted Woodpecker |
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| Great Spotted Woodpecker |
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| Wren |
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| Jackdaw |
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| Robin |
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Long Tailed Tit
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| Goldfinch |
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| Great Spotted Woodpecker |
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| Great Spotted Woodpecker |
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| Great Spotted Woodpecker |
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| Great Spotted Woodpecker |
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| Blackbird |
Birds - Blackbird, Black Headed Gull, Blue Tit, Bullfinch, Carrion Crow, Chaffinch, Coal Tit, Dipper, Dunnock, Fieldfare, Goldcrest, Goldfinch, Great Spotted Woodpecker, Great Tit, Grey Wagtail, Herring Gull, Jackdaw, Long Tailed Tit, Magpie, Nuthatch, Pied Wagtail, Pink Footed Goose, Redwing, Robin, Feral Pigeon, Siskin, Sparrowhawk, Starling, Woodpigeon, Wren, Yellowhammer.
