1000 : Birding In Dundee.

This is the 1000th post of my birding blog so to mark this milestone I've decided to do a special post all about where you can go birding in Dundee and what you might reasonably expect to see if you do. I hope that you will find this special post both informative and useful. Thanks to everyone who I've spent time birding with and also to those who have ever read any of my blog-posts (and if you've read them all, an extra large THANKS to you). Here's to many more blog-posts in future....

Long Eared Owl

Introduction

Although Dundee has not completely shaken off its image of being a rather industrial city where the 3 Js - Jute, Jam and Journalism, (along with shipbuilding and whaling), have shaped the city in a variety of ways, the redevelopment of the city over the past 20 or 30 years has seen that image changing to reflect the slogan "The City of Discovery" which has since morphed into "Dundee - One City, Many Discoveries". The relatively recent arrival of V & A Dundee and the impending creation of an offshoot of the Eden Project has seen Dundee become a popular tourist destination for visitors from all over the world. It may not seem an obvious location for birding but it does offer some reasonable opportunities for doing so throughout the year. It is also ideally located for relatively quick access to most of Scotland's mainland within an hour or two with much less of the traffic congestion of the 3 larger cities.

 

Jay

Although this post cannot claim to be a completely comprehensive guide to birding in the city of Dundee, it should at least offer a taste of what is possible. The city is an almost perfect size, neither too big or too small, and from a central base most of the best birding areas are actually reachable on foot, if you're reasonably fit. Public transport is also an option, though some areas are better served than others by bus (and even train in a couple of cases). There are a variety of habitat types dotted around the city from the coastal habitat provided by the Firth of Tay to the wooded slopes of Balgay Hill and a number of other parks, as well as the winding Dighty Burn and assorted small ponds. Farmland borders the city along 3 sides. On any given day throughout the year it is possible to see birds of all sizes from the tiny Goldcrest to the impressive White Tailed Eagle. Waders, waterfowl, raptors, corvids, garden birds and even the occassional rarer migrant are all distinct possibilities.

Sedge Warbler

Site Guide

The main birding locations within the city are Clatto Reservoir, the Dighty Burn, Riverside Nature Park and Balmossie/Broughty Ferry. In addition there are a number of more localised areas that can provide some interest - Balgay Hill, Trottick Ponds, Baxter Park, Swannie Ponds and City Quay. Caird Park, Camperdown Park, Templeton Woods, Ninewells Arboretum and Community Garden, Stannergate, The Miley, Ardler Pond and a few spots around the outskirts can also throw up some decent birds but are perhaps best treated as additional spots to visit on the way to one or more of the main locations. It is possible to chain together the best birding areas in the city in such a way that a continuous route around the city is possible, though realistically much shorter sections of the route would be the more sensible options.

Wheatear

Starting and finishing at City Quay this route takes in 23 distinct locations of varying sizes and potential interest. City Quay - The Howff - Dudhope Park - Dundee Law - The Miley - Balgay Hill - Ninewells Arboretum - Riverside Nature Park - Liff Area (Western Outskirts) - Camperdown Park - Ardler Pond - Templeton Wood - Clatto Reservoir Area - Trottick Ponds - Caird Park - Swannie Ponds - Baxter Park - Eastern Cemetery - Dighty Burn - Clearwater Park - Balmossie - Broughty Ferry - The Stannergate and back to City Quay again. For the purposes of this guide the locations will be covered in the above order.

Mallard

City Quay is the area to the east of the Tay roadbridge landfall and can be accessed easily from the city centre. Although it does tend to be rather quiet with low numbers of birds to be seen, some weather conditions can see birds taking shelter within the quay area. Continental (Sinensis race) Cormorants can often be found in mid-winter. Little Grebes are another species that turns up in the winter months. Kingfisher has also been seen taking advantage of the ice-free water around the same time of year. An injured Red Throated Diver (known locally as Dave The Diver) spent almost 3 years in the relative safety of the Quay area. Long Tailed Duck, Goldeneye, Razorbill, Guillemot, Shag, Mallard, Red Breasted Merganser and even a trio of Slavonian Grebes have been seen here outwith the summer months. Oystercatchers and Herring Gulls breed in summer though generally the area is very quiet during the summer months. Rock Pipits and a handful of Linnets are the most notable of the smaller birds that can be seen around here but Peregrine Falcon, Sparrowhawk and even the occassional Buzzard can sometimes be seen overhead. It is possible to scan out over the river from in front of the large blocks of flats though most of the species already mentioned are the most likely to be seen when doing so. There is also a reasonable chance of Grey Seal, and potentially Otter, out on the river.

Skylark

Dundee City Centre's best location for finding birds is The Howff, a medieval graveyard nestled in behind the Overgate and Reform Street. A variety of smaller birds, mostly tits and finches, can be found here throughout the year. Redwings and Waxwings can sometimes be seen in winter and Siberian Chiffchaff has also been noted here and nearby in trees beside the Overgate Centre in late winter. Waxwings have also been seen in trees by the City Churches in front of the Overgate, feeding just feet away from oblivious shoppers. Dudhope Park lies to the north and slightly west of the Howff. It is a fairly typical mix of finches, tits and thrushes that are likely to be seen there along with Treecreepers, Magpies and Carrion Crows.

Black Headed Gull

Dundee Law is the city's highest point and as such provides a more or less 360 degree vista over the city and surrounding area. The sides of the hill are partially wooded. A Buzzard can often be seen soaring close by, usually accompanied by some of the local gulls or corvids. The Law comes into its own during autumn migration when an early morning visit can see birds passing over the  hill, such as Siskins, Redpoll, Meadow and Tree Pipits, and assorted hirundines, thrushes, finches and buntings. A Hawfinch was seen dropping in to the trees on the south side of the hill in early October 2021. A Spotted Flycatcher was also seen briefly around the same time. Sparrowhawk and Peregrine are a regular sight in the skies above, with a chance of Kestrel too. Potentially almost anything could pass over, though the first couple of hours after sunrise do tend to be the best for catching movements in autumn, though late morning and early afternoon seem to be better for raptors. Other less common birds noted from the top of the hill include Osprey and Raven as well as Crossbill. In Summer, Blackcap, Whitethroat, Chiffchaff and Willow Warbler can all be found singing in the trees around the hill, while Greenfinch, Bullfinch and Chaffinch are all regular sights throughout the year.

Shag

The Miley is a mile long urban nature reserve between Clepington Road and Loons Road created from the route of an old railway line. Warblers, finches, tits and thrushes make up the bulk of the birds to be expected here in the trees and bushes bordering the path along with Dunnocks, Wrens, Robins, Treecreepers and corvids. Peregrines perch on Cox's Stack (a large brick chimney to the west of the reserve) and may be visible from some stretches of the reserve. Outwith the breeding season however, the site can at times feel very quiet.

Kestrel

Balgay Hill is another large hill overlooking the western half of the city. The hill is split in two with both halves linked by a footbridge and is mostly covered with mature trees. These trees have recently provided nest sites for Nuthatches to breed within the city for what is thought to have been the first time and numbers of these birds are increasing rapidly, which will hopefully lead to the colonisation of the city's other wooded areas, and the wider local countryside by these small and rather charismatic birds. Buzzards and Sparrowhawks nest on the hill and Tawny Owl can often be heard in the early morning gloom in winter. A young Long Eared Owl was heard begging on the hill in summer 2020 but there has been no further sign since of this species. Great Spotted Woodpecker, Jay and Stock Dove are a regular sight. Siskins, Bullfinches, Greenfinches and Treecreepers can all be found all year round along with Chiffchaff and Blackcap in summer. Crossbills are possible at any time though often elusive. The football pitches to the north often have large mixed flocks of gulls in the early morning and at quieter times during the day though so far these haven't turned up anything out of the ordinary. Both Grey and Red Squirrel can be found here and a Fox might be encountered when things are quiet.

Little Auk

Ninewells Arboretum, a wooded area behind the large Ninewells Hospital site holds a similar mix of species to those found at Balgay Hill and a few feeders at the Community Garden allow good close views of Nuthatch, Great Spotted Woodpecker and even the local Stock Doves which are usually a very shy and wary bird. The sky above the site is always worth keeping an eye upon with Osprey, White Tailed Eagle and Red Kite all having been seen overhead, along with the more usual Buzzard and Sparrowhawks. Jays, Jackdaws and Magpies are also a regular sight and sound. Oystercatchers nest on the hospital roofs in summer and can often be heard alarm calling from the grassy area between the garden and the hospital. Peregrines often perch on the hospital building and the large chimney to the east in winter. Roe Deer wander around the area when things are quiet, as do occasional Foxes and Wood Mouse can be seen under the feeders in the Community Garden.

Fieldfare

Riverside Nature Park could easily fill a full post on its own. The park itself is a network of paths through mostly grassland/wildflower meadow with some small fenced off wooded areas and bushes running alongside some of the paths. It is bordered on the west by Invergowrie Bay which provides a large chunk of the park's list total of 153 species since it opened in June 2011. At times the park can seem very quiet but it is one of those places that tends to reward taking your time and actually looking and listening, rather than bombing round expecting birds to magically appear in front of you. There can be a lot of disturbance by dogs off leads (despite signs in place in summer to prevent disturbance to nesting Skylarks) which can be very frustrating and the vegetation overlooking the bay and around the hide in the northwestern corner is increasingly limiting the view of some of the more productive parts of the bay. However, the park is still one of the best birding sites in the city throughout the year. The park list boasts such great birds as Red Backed Shrike, Crane, Barred Warbler, Yellow Legged Gull, 3 species of Owl, Blue Headed Wagtail, Green Winged Teal, Yellow Browed Warbler, Jack Snipe, Hawfinch and White Tailed Eagle. Osprey is a regular sight hunting over the bay in summer and Marsh Harrier also seems to be appearing more frequently over the park. The Fife White Tailed Eagles do sometimes pass overhead and Peregrine, Buzzard, Sparrowhawk and Kestrel (though much less often than when the park first opened) are all fairly regular if you happen to look up. The waders and gulls are always worth checking through for something less common such as Yellow Legged Gull, Mediterranean Gull or Little Gull among the gulls, and Spotted Redshank, Little Stint, Ruff, Curlew Sandpiper, Greenshank and Whimbrel among the waders. So far we've not had any North American waders or gulls show up but they are surely a possibility. Lesser Whitethroats did breed in the park for a few years but latterly have not been seen or heard though they may yet return. A very recent addition to the park list was an unexpected Hen Harrier. The small pools near the picnic tables can be good for Smooth Newts and Common Toads in spring and also Azure Damselflies a little later.

Moorhen

The western boundaries to the city lie to the west of Camperdown Park and it is possible to walk along some of the reasonably quiet country roads that lie north of the A90, though care should be taken as not all cars adhere to the speed limit. Bird-wise Yellowhammer, Tree Sparrow, Skylark, Pied Wagtail, Pheasant and Buzzard are most likely to be seen, but given the nature of the area, Quail should not be impossible in summer though obviously a lot of luck would be required to run into even an unseen calling bird. Grey and Red Legged Partridge might also be possible. Jays are around in the more mature trees surrounding the former Liff Hospital building and flock of (mostly) Pink Footed Geese and mixed gulls do frequent some of the fields in the area in winter and autumn respectively. Like much of Dundee the area is very much underwatched and the geese and gull flocks are probably the most likely to turn up a rarity, though almost anything could fly over. The few Red Kites seen so far around the western end of Dundee have all been heading in this general direction and they may well become a common sight over this rather open area in the next few years.

Woodcock

Camperdown Park is a mix of open grassy areas and a now closed golf course which is slowly returning to nature, bounded by mature trees. There is also a small "wildlife centre" (zoo) from where exotic bird calls can sometimes be heard so it is worth bearing that in mind when something unusual is heard in the vicinity. Nuthatch has been seen in the park and as they spread out from Balgay Hill it is likely the park will be one of the areas where the population takes off rapidly as it has done at Balgay. Siskins, Redpoll and other finches are plentiful in the treetops. Buzzards and Jays are numerous and Tawny Owl is very likely though I suspect actually seeing one may prove more difficult given the thousands of options for a perch available. Red Squirrel and Roe Deer are both a regular sight within the park. Treecreeper, Sparrowhawk, tits and warblers are all likely too. As with almost all of the city's best birding spots the park is very popular with dog walkers, mountain bikers and runners so disturbance is highly likely.

Grey Heron

Ardler Pond is a small pond surrounded by reeds and bordered by Dalmahoy Drive and Turnberry Avenue. Mute Swans and Mallard are the main inhabitants but Moorhen, Coot and Little Grebe are also to be expected. Water Rail also frequent the pond but the limited viewing points around the reeds do make actually seeing one rather tricky, though their 'sharming' calls can be heard at times. A few thousand Starlings roost here in winter and can provide quite a spectacle as their murmurations grow overhead before they drop en masse into the reeds for the night. Be aware that watching this spectacle from close to the pond can often be a 'messy' affair (wear a hat!). Reed Buntings and House Sparrows do also frequent the reedbed and a mixture of species can sometimes be seen around the western end where the water flows into the pond providing somewhere for some of the smaller local birds to bathe and drink.

Dunnock

Downfield Golf Course is bounded by Templeton Woods to the west and north and the bird species to be found here are broadly similar to Camperdown Park which lies on the opposite side of Coupar Angus Road. The Roe Deer here are not particularly shy and good views can be had, though the Red Squirrels can be a bit trickier. Great Spotted Woodpecker, Teecreeper, Buzzard and Siskin are all relatively easy to find in the wood and tits, finches and Goldcrests add to the mix. Much of the wood is made up of conifers so the numbers of species to be expected are somewhat low. Nevertheless, it can add a little variety to a walk around the western end of the city.

Swallow

Clatto Reservoir and especially the area to the north and east of the pond is a bit of a hidden gem among Dundee birding sites, with new discoveries being made here regularly by Lainy McCormack. The reservoir itself has the city's only breeding Great Crested Grebes, though the Little Grebes that were previously here seem to have relocated to Ardler Pond recently. In winter there can be a decent mix of duck species including Goldeneye, Goosander, Wigeon and Teal. Gull numbers also rise in winter and an Iceland Gull has been found here in the past so it is always worth scanning out over the water. Common Sandpiper does pass through in spring but disturbance from dogs and walkers does make them unlikely to linger for too long. Grey Wagtail is an increasingly common sight throughout the city and Clatto is no exception. Winter thrushes can be seen most often in the open areas and trees just south of the reservoir. Bullfinches and Greenfinches are a common sight all around. Crossbills are possible but as these birds are very nomadic a lot of luck will be required to run into some here. Linnets and Yellowhammers can be found among the gorse and the fields to the north and west. Woodcock does show up in the winter months with some of the wetter areas of woodland being where these might be encountered though again disturbance by dogs and others do limit the chances greatly. An early morning visit may prove the best bet though. Warblers are one of the area's specialities with May and early June in particular being probably the best time to visit. On a good day, 7 species - Whitethroat, Chiffchaff, Willow Warbler, Blackcap, Sedge Warbler, Garden Warbler and Grasshopper Warbler might be heard, or if you're lucky, seen though again an early morning visit is probably the best option, and the earlier the better, as the dog walkers also start early in the summer months. Roe Deer and Foxes are also a regular sight on an early morning visit. House building nearby is already encroaching on good habitat and the warbler sites may yet be the next to be bulldozed. Hopefully that won't be the case but as with much of the city's green spaces and wildlife habitat the threat of 'development' is never far away, with more and more green space vanishing each year.

Buzzard

A mile or so to the east of Clatto Reservoir lies Trottick Ponds, a small local nature reserve bordered to the south and west by the Dighty Burn. The ponds themselves hold Mallard, Coot, Moorhen, Mute Swan and Tufted Duck, with Goosander joining them in winter if the water isn't frozen. Black Headed Gulls and sometimes the odd Common and Herring Gulls add a little variety. Kingfisher can sometimes be seen around the ponds and Dippers are often seen or heard on the Dighty Burn. The trees and bushes hold much the same mixture of 'garden' birds as elsewhere and a mix of Warblers can be expected in summer, with Sedge Warbler in particular being a bit of a local speciality. In winter a reedy patch with a rather damp central area just to the west of the burn can be good for Snipe, and even the odd Jack Snipe. Pheasants, Grey Heron, Buzzards, Sparrowhawks, Jays and Great Spotted Woodpecker are all in the area and may be expected. A Migrant Hawker dragonfly provided some non-avian interest at the ponds in 2019, so as with the other birding sites around the city there is always the chance of a surprise and it can be worthwhile paying attention to the other wildlife that is around in addition to the birds.

White Tailed Eagle

Caird Park lies to the south of Trottick Ponds and is a large park featuring a castle, a couple of ponds and a small burn as well as a few golf courses. There are a lot of mature trees in some areas which do support a lot of the birdlife. A similar variety to Camperdown Park can be expected, though the ponds do add the possibility of Kingfisher along with a very tame Grey Heron, Moorhen and Mallards. Dipper has been seen on the very small Gelly Burn which runs through the park before joining the Dighty Burn. As with elsewhere in the city parks Buzzard, Great Spotted Woodpecker, Sparrowhawk, Jay and Tawny Owl are all possibilities. Crossbill and even a Yellow Browed Warbler have been noted at the park in the past.

Red Breasted Merganser

A little to the south of the park is a small triangular area of rough ground at Mains Terrace which can often hold a few of the winter thrushes as well as Bullfinches and other 'garden birds' and can be worth a quick look if you are walking from Caird Park to Swannie (or more correctly Stobsmuir) Ponds. Swannie Ponds are a pair of relatively small urban ponds at the eastern end of Clepington Road. Mallard, Tufted Duck, Mute Swan, Coot, Moorhen, Herring Gull and Black Headed Gull can all be expected throughout much of the year. Goosander join them in winter and Grey Herons are increasingly using the ponds. Lesser Black Backed Gull and Common Gulls often join the other gulls and both Iceland Gull and Mediterranean Gull have turned up here previously. Gadwall, Teal and Wigeon have all stopped off for a few days and a Mandarin Duck is also reported to have done so a few years ago. There is a slight chance of White Tailed Eagle passing overhead as it seems to favour a route over adjoining areas on flights over Dundee, though Buzzard and Sparrowhawk are most likely to be the cause of any panic among the Gulls and Feral Pigeons, but it is always worth looking for the source of any disturbance.

 

Great Northern Diver

A little further to the south of the ponds is Baxter Park. A large flock of gulls - mostly Herring Gulls and Black Headed Gulls can be seen early in the morning on the large area of grass around the southern end of the park outwith the breeding season. The mature trees to the north and bordering the rest of the park hold finches and tits as well as Woodpigeon and the odd Stock Dove. Tawny Owl can be heard at dusk in winter sometimes near the eastern entrance though it may well roost in some of the nearby large gardens. The main focal point for birds in Baxter Park is Spring Grove. It is a small, fenced off area with a tiny trickle of water running through the middle, which provides bathing and drinking opportunities for the local birds. Good views of most of the smaller bird species around can be had, with patience and luck, in winter and spring. The vegetation in summer hides most of the area from view though making your chances of seeing anything at all rather miniscule. Both Field Vole and Wood Mouse can often be seen scurrying around beside and below a large rock with a bush on top just to the left of the water, near the gate at the bottom end which provides the best view of the site. Redwing and Fieldfare often pick around among the leaf litter around the pavilion building in winter.

Turnstone

Another good site for these winter thrushes is Eastern Cemetery which lies a litle further to the east from Baxter Park. Numbers vary from winter to winter and even from visit to visit but especially in the earlier half of winter Redwings and Mistle Thrush do roam the whole cemetery with the odd Fieldfare or two in the mix. They are often joined by Chaffinches, Blackbirds and Greenfinches and although much less common, Waxwing has also used the site in the past with a large flock of over 800 seen, not too many years ago. The trees lining the edges of the nearby Kingsway East can also be good for picking up Waxwings in December or early January - if the Mistle Thrushes and Redwings haven't already stripped them bare. In Eastern Cemetery it is mostly (Irish?)Yew bushes that the birds are found in, though the thick foliage of these can make the birds very hard to see. Stock Dove, Buzzard and Sparrowhawk are often to be found around the cemetery grounds and I've heard rumours of a Tawny Owl also inhabiting the site somewhere.

Common Gull

The Dighty Burn winds its way through the city from the northwest to the southeast and is fed by a few tributaries along the way. Although the majority of accessible parts of the burn will give an opportunity to see such birds as Dippers, Grey Herons and Grey Wagtails, the most productive stretch appears to be between Drumgeith Road and Baldovie Road. In addition to the aforementioned trio of species this stretch also features a variety of habitat types including a few reedy areas where Water Rail, Reed Bunting and Sedge Warbler can be found. Willow Warbler, Whitethroat, Blackcap and the odd Chiffchaff can be watched in summer along this stretch. Pheasants are quite often to be seen and heard nearby. Mallard and Moorhen can both be seen on the burn and Kingfishers are a regular, if rather flighty, sight on this stretch. Given the location is sandwiched between two large housing schemes (Douglas and Whitfield) it can be surprisingly productive for raptors with Buzzard, Kestrel and Sparrowhawk all fairly regular. Peregrine and White Tailed Eagle do also occur here from time to time. Swifts and the three species of hirundine can all be seen hawking for insects over the burn in summer. Crossing over Baldovie Road brings you to another short stretch of the burn where Grasshopper Warbler can be heard reeling in May, one of a handful of known sites in the city for this skulking species. The fields over the other side of the small burn which joins the Dighty here can have a mix of gulls and waders (primarily Curlew and Oystercatcher) in spring, with finches, buntings and thrushes in winter. Skylarks also use the fields here and Stock Doves are around too. The trees along the rear of the West Pitkerro Industrial Estate have Treecreepers, tits, finches and Great Spotted Woodpeckers as well as Buzzard. To the north a track with large mature trees with Tree Sparrows, Yellowhammer and Linnets along the edges, cuts between the fields and leads to the northwestern corner of the Clearwater Park housing development. Another track leads north to the site of a new cemetery. This is another good site for a mix of warblers among the brambles and bushes including Whitethroats, Sedge Warblers, Blackcaps, Willow Warblers, Chiffchaffs and also Grasshopper Warblers. Pheasants wander around the edge of the fields and Skylarks sing from above.

Pied Wagtail

To the south, across the A92 and down through Barnhill eventually leads to Balmossie and the area where the Dighty Burn flows into the Tay estuary. Although disturbance from walkers and dogs is an issue at times there can be good numbers of waders on the beach here. Bar Tailed Godwits, Dunlin, Ringed Plover, Sanderling, Redshank and Turnstone are the most common but Grey Plover, Knot and the occassional Black Tailed Godwits also appear from time to time. Others such as Ruff, Golden Plover and Curlew Sandpiper are also possible. There can be a sizeable gull roost here too with Mediterranean Gull and Kittiwake the most likely 'less common' gulls here, though Little Gulls can be seen from here using a scope to scan to the east around the Barry Burn area in late summer and early autumn. Mute Swans, Mallard, Wigeon, Goosander, Red Breasted Merganser, Eider and Goldeneye are all likely at various times of year, with a chance of Long Tailed Duck in winter. Divers - mostly Red Throated but also less commonly, Great Northern can be seen in the estuary during the shorter days of winter. Razorbill and Guillemot are also often seen in autumn and winter. Out over the river Gannets and Sandwich Terns can be seen in late summer, with Common Terns also showing up in small numbers. Ospreys are increasingly being seen fishing in the Tay in Monifieth Bay and around the mouth of the Dighty. A little to the west lies the small Broughty Ferry local nature reserve just west of Barnhill Rock Garden. As might be expected it sees a similar mix to other similar areas of the city with the usual tits, finches and thrushes along with other 'garden birds' making up the majority of species to be seen here. Stock Dove, Jay and Great Spotted Woodpecker can also often be seen here. Roe Deer also frequent here and are relatively used to people, though dogs do sometimes cause issues. The city's first Speckled Wood butterfly was found here earlier in 2022 and Purple Hairstreak has also been seen here (as well as at Balgay Hill and Riverside Nature Park) as well as a selection of other butterflies. Broughty Castle provides a convenient high position to scan out across the river and also as a shelter of sorts when winter easterlies push birds into the estuary such as the wreck of Little Auks in early January 2016. Birds migrating up and down the coast also pass over 'the Ferry' and Great Skua has been seen flying upriver from the harbour area before gaining height towards the city before heading for the west coast. The Forth sees much more of this sort of Skua passage than the Tay but it is likely a rather overlooked phenomenon. Autumn mornings can see Wagtails, Martins and Pipits following the river west and these same birds can also be seen passing over City Quay and Riverside Nature Park as well.

Coal Tit

The walk along the river to the Stannergate sees some of the smaller waders (Ringed Plover and Dunlin mostly) as well as Redshank, Curlew and Oystercatcher in small numbers while out on the river Eider and Red Breasted Merganser tend to be the birds most likely to be seen so far upriver, though auks can be seen in small numbers from time to time too, and even the odd Red Throated Diver (or Great Northern) have been seen. There is a small gull roost at the Stannergate where Mediterranean Gull has occurred though it is usually Herring Gulls and Black Headed Gulls with the odd Common or Lesser Black Backed that you are more likely to encounter. A cycle path between the docks and railway line which looked like it could potentially harbour hungry migrants in autumn has been largely butchered by Network Rail though there are still some areas of good cover which are unfortunately inaccessible. Whitethroats and Linnets and the occassional Buzzard are likely along this stretch as well as the usual smaller birds that would be expected.

Nuthatch

Walking The Route

Rock Pipit

If you were walking the route (or parts of it) on foot my suggested route would be to start at City Quay then cross the main road and walk along to and up Commercial Street then left onto to High Street before turning right up Reform Street then along Bank Street halfway up, the entrance to the Howff is just behind the Armed Forces Carers Office. Exit the Howff at Meadowside, cross the road and head west to Constitution Road and then up to the underpass below the A991 behind Bell Street Car Park then continue uphill to Barrack Road. Head west up the hill from there to the entrance to Dudhope Park. An exit near the tennis courts on the north side of the park is opposite Inverlaw Place. Continue up this street to Albany Terrace. A path from there leads up to the lower slopes of the Law on the west side of the hill.

Herring Gull

To get to The Miley from the Law, go down the steps on the western side then down the path between sections of the allotments. Follow Law Crescent round to the first junction to the north at Campbell Street. Continue downhill to Cobden Street then head north to Loons Road. Opposite the eastern fork at the end of Cobden Street is Old Kings Cross Road which leads you onto The Miley. The easiest way to get from The Miley to Balgay Hill is to return to the Cobden Street junction once you've explored the length of The reserve then continue down Loons Road to the Bridge chip shop then turn left and walk along the front of the shops until you reach some grassy slopes. Cross at the pedestrian crossing here and continue west along Ancrum Road to Lochee Park. Cut across the football pitches to Balgay Hill.

Mute Swan

Once you've explored the hill head west through the cemetery then down the long driveway in front of the houses overlooking the northern edge of the cemetery. Cross the road just down from the traffic roundabout to the top of Ninewells Avenue. Walk down the hill towards the eastern entrance to Ninewells Hospital. Following the path will take you over a small footbridge. Go (more or less) straight ahead at the end of the bridge and head down the path towards the Sterile Services Dept building and car park. Continue past this until you reach a slightly staggered crossroads. Head west along George Pirie Way and under an overhead walkway. Just before you reach the entrance to the hospital's East Block, a path leads off down into the Arboretum and Community Garden area.

Reed Bunting

To reach Riverside Nature Park from there it is probably easiest to head along the 'top path' in the Arboretum until you reach the gate, then cross Tom McDonald Avenue and continue along the footpath between the trees and Carseview Centre. At the t-junction of paths at the end of this short stretch take the left hand option which leads to the main driveway to the WL Gore building. I tend to cut over the grassy hill and down to the Perth Road but if you head down to the right there is a track which runs down the edge of the trees and open grassy area here to the same place. Cross Perth Road and continue west along the footpath which will take you to an underpass. Once you reach the other side turn left up the hill and you'll reach the western entrance into Riverside Nature Park.

Sparrowhawk

Getting from Riverside Nature Park to the area out to the west of the A90 safely necessitates a bit of a detour. I suggest doubling back via the underpass to the WL Gore driveway again then following the Green Circular path network which leads off to the west and north and follow it round until you reach Myrekirk Road where you head north. There are pedestrian crossings over the A90 that take you over towards the Asda Superstore. Once safely across the A90 take Fulton Road to the west and follow it along to Noble Road where a narrow footpath leads along the rear side of industrial units. when you reach the end of this path continue along on the grass and follow a narrow track down the hill to an old narrow road and continue westwards along this to the houses at Denhead of Grey. Continue west to Dykes of Gray Road and then head north along the front of the 'new' houses.

Greylag Goose & Pink Footed Goose

On the left hand side of the road an old road turns off to the west with a footpath to Benvie signposted opposite a small house shown as Mains Of Gray/Grayhouse. This track runs past the front of the old Liff Hospital building and eventually reaches a proper road at Benvie. Follow the road north to a crossroad and head east towards Gray Den and Liff village. This will eventually take you into Liff village at Church Road. Turn right and follow the road round eastwards until you reach the junction for Liff Primary School. Continue on eastwards along the northern edge of the village. This stretch of road doesn't have any footpaths and some of the cars using it do speed along at a fair old pace so take care especially near a double bend at the end of the long straight. When you reach the t-junction at Gourdie Brae the traffic levels increase but there is a very narrow path of sorts along the boundary wall of Camperdown Park. Some of the traffic passes very close on this stretch so be aware of the proximity of wing mirrors etc as you head uphill a short distance to the western entrance into Camperdown Park.

Pheasant

To reach Ardler Pond from Camperdown Park head out the main driveway to Coupar Angus Road. Cross at the pedestrian crossing and head up Faraday Street a short distance then turn north onto Harrison Road. Follow Rosemount Drive and Dalmahoy Drive round to Turnberry Avenue and the pond is on the northeastern side of the junction. To access Templeton Woods, double back along Dalmahoy Drive to Wentworth Terrace and take the footpath opposite which leads around the back of the golf course and into Templeton Woods. Depending on your route through the woods you should eventually reach the vicinity of Clatto Reservoir and Country Park. A lot of the paths within the wood are signposted for Clatto or Camperdown so by walking north and latterly east you should find yourself somewhere close to where you want to be.

Great Crested Grebe

A network of tracks used mostly by dog walkers lies to the north of the reservoir. To get from Clatto to Trottick Ponds head out along the northern edge of the reservoir and down through the trees at the bottom of the grassy slope at the corner. You will come to a green metal gate and a dirt track leading east. Follow this to the east along the front of a lone house and then round to the north which will take you to a track downhill past a new housing development site along the edge of the fields to the north of the city. This joins Strathmartine Road at the northern edge of the city. Follow Strathmartine Road southeast and uphill until you reach a crossroads with Laird Street to the west and Harestane Road to the east. Follow Harestane Road downhill past Baldragon Academy and Harestane Care Home until you come to a right angled bend onto Old Glamis Road at the foot of Emmock Road.

Grasshopper Warbler

The green circular route path network leads from there along the back of the houses and into the Trottick local nature reserve site. A footbridge to the east of the ponds exits onto Claverhouse Old Road and if you follow that to the east where it runs between the Dighty Burn and (New) Claverhouse Road you reach the bottom end of Mains Loan through Caird Park. Once you've explored the park continue on up past Mains Castle and the new Regional Performance Centre Sports complex to the Kingsway ring road where you can cross safely and continue south up Mains Loan on the other side. As you head up here you will see the wasteground bordered by Mains Terrace. There is a track of sorts which cuts diagonally across to Castle Terrace from a small grassy area on the north side but you can instead continue on to Clepington Road and turn left at the junction there and head along to Swannie Ponds (or Stobsmuir Ponds as no-one calls them) via the Forfar Road crossroads. If you take the track to Castle Terrace, you can either divert along Lammerton Terrace eastwards to Forfar Road then across the road and south to the crossroads or continue to Clepington Road and then left at the end of Castle Terrace.

Dipper

Turn into Stobsmuir Road at the ponds and go down the steps to the 'top pond'. Once you've finished with the ponds cross Pitkerro Road and head southwest until you reach the entrance into Baxter Park. Follow the path that runs to the east of the Bowling Green and continue downhill till you come to some steps which run along the side of Spring Grove - the best site for birds in the park. From there most of the paths will take you towards the eastern gate or the Pavilion building from where you can easily see the eastern gate. To get from there to Eastern Cemetery walk along Bingham Terrace until you reach Old Craigie Road. A short distance up the hill you will see the entrance into the cemetery on the opposite side of the road.

Starling

Exit the cemetery at the southeastern corner and continue east along Arbroath Road to the 'Scott Fyffe' roundabout. Cross the Kingsway at the pedestrian crossings by the Fire Station and then head northeast up Douglas Road. Continue on past two more traffic roundabouts (Longtown Road/Ballindean Road and Happyhillock Road/Balunie Drive) onto Drumgeith Road. A short distance on you will cross the Dighty Burn and then be able to see the entrance onto the paths which run parallel to the burn along this stretch. Once you've explored this interesting section and reached Baldovie Road you will see a continuation of sorts on the opposite side of the road where there are some steps down to a track along the burn. When you come to the eastern end of the track turn along the back of the industrial units and head north through the trees. This will take you to the end of Barlow Avenue which does give decent views across the fields to the east.

Magpie

Although it is possible to continue north through the trees from here it can get rather wet and muddy. It is probably slightly easier to head back along Barlow Avenue and then north along Baldovie Road. If you cross just after the bend at the Fithie Burn there is a short stretch of Drumsturdy Road from where it is possible to see into a hidden pond to the east for the burn. Continue along Drumsturdy Road eastwards from here, though as it can be rather busy with fast cars, so take care along here. Once you cross the next burn there is a track leads off to the right with a house to the left. Head along this track till you reach a crossroads of sorts. The track to north is the one you want for the warblers. Once you've checked this out continue south past the Brae Stables then to the right down Linlathen Grove to Linlathen Road and through Clearwater Park to the A92.

Blackcap

Cross the dual carriageway here and then walk diagonally across the small playpark onto Balgillo Road. Head east and round onto North Balmossie Street until you reach the fire station. Continue down the road past the fire station to Ferry Road and across onto South Balmossie Road then cross the footbridge over the railway line. After checking out the birds here head west along to the road along the front of Barnhill Rock garden. At the western end of the Rock Garden there is a small track which leads uphill into the trees and down into the small nature reserve. At the eastern end of the reserve continue along towards the castle either on the beach or along the road. The beach can be busy with dog walkers in winter (and summer despite being banned on this stretch).

 

Woodpigeon

At the Castle continue round onto Castle Approach then Beach Crescent and Fisher Street then on past the lifeboat station and onto Douglas Terrace to the end of the footpath along the Esplanade. Continue along from there to the Stannergate car park and at the entrance to the docks take the cycle path track along parallel to the railway line. This eventually joins with the road along the back of City Quay taking you back to where this journey around Dundee's best birding sites began.

Red Backed Shrike

The unofficial Dundee Bird List.

This (very unofficial) Dundee Bird List has been compiled from as many sources as I could find, and may contain errors. (If there's anything missing, then please let me know, with details of sighting).

Arctic Skua

Avocet

Bar Tailed Godwit

Barn Owl

Barnacle Goose

Barred Warbler

Bean Goose (Taiga Bean Goose)

Bearded Tit

Bewick's Swan

Black Redstart

Black Tern

Black Headed Gull

Black Tailed Godwit

Black Throated Diver

Blackbird

Blackcap

Blue Tit

Bonaparte’s Gull

Brambling

Brent Goose

Bullfinch

Buzzard

Canada Goose

Carrion Crow

Chaffinch

Chiffchaff (also Siberian Chiffchaff)

Coal Tit

Collared Dove

Common Guillemot

Common Gull

Common Redpoll

Common Sandpiper

Common Scoter

Common Tern

Coot

Cormorant (also 'Sinensis' Cormorant)

Corn Bunting

Corncrake

Crane

Crossbill

Cuckoo

Curlew

Curlew Sandpiper

Dipper

Dunlin

Dunnock

Eider

Feral Pigeon

Fieldfare

Fulmar

Gadwall

Gannet

Garden Warbler

Glaucous Gull

Goldcrest

Golden Oriole

Golden Plover

Goldeneye

Goldfinch

Goosander

Goshawk

Grasshopper Warbler

Great Black Backed Gull

Great Crested Grebe

Great Grey Shrike

Great Northern Diver

Great Skua

Great Spotted Woodpecker

Great Tit

Green Sandpiper

Green Woodpecker

Green Winged Teal

Greenfinch

Greenshank

Grey Heron

Grey Partridge

Grey Phalarope

Grey Plover

Grey Wagtail

Greylag Goose

Hawfinch

Hen Harrier

Herring Gull

Hobby Hooded Crow

Hoopoe

House Martin

House Sparrow

Iceland Gull

Ivory Gull

Jack Snipe

Jackdaw

Jay

Kestrel

King Eider

Kingfisher

Kittiwake

Knot

Lapwing

Lesser Black Backed Gull

Lesser Redpoll

Lesser Whitethroat

Linnet

Little Auk

Little Egret

Little Grebe

Little Gull

Little Ringed Plover

Little Stint

Little Tern

Long Eared Owl

Long Tailed Duck

Long Tailed Tit

Magpie

Mallard

Mandarin Duck

Marsh Harrier

Meadow Pipit

Mediterranean Gull

Merlin

Mistle Thrush

Moorhen

Mute Swan

Nuthatch

Osprey

Oystercatcher

Peregrine

Pheasant

Pied Wagtail (also White Wagtail)

Pink Footed Goose

Pintail

Pochard

Puffin

Purple Sandpiper

Quail

Raven

Razorbill

Red Kite

Red Backed Shrike

Red Breasted Merganser

Red Necked Grebe

Red Rumped Swallow

Red Throated Diver

Redshank

Redstart

Redwing

Reed Bunting

Ring Billed Gull

Ring Necked Parakeet Ring Ouzel

Ringed Plover

Robin

Rock Pipit

Rook

Ross’s Gull

Rough Legged Buzzard

Ruddy Duck

Ruff

Sand Martin

Sanderling

Sandwich Tern

Scaup

Sedge Warbler

Shag

Shelduck

Short Eared Owl

Shoveler

Siskin

Skylark

Slavonian Grebe

Smew

Snipe

Snow Bunting

Snow Goose

Song Thrush

Sparrowhawk

Spoonbill

Spotted Crake

Spotted Flycatcher

Spotted Redshank

Starling

Stock Dove

Stonechat

Storm Petrel

Swallow

Swift

Tawny Owl

Teal

Temminck’s Stint

Tree Pipit

Tree Sparrow

Treecreeper

Tufted Duck

Turnstone

Twite

Velvet Scoter

Water Pipit

Water Rail

Waxwing

Wheatear

Whimbrel

Whinchat

White Stork

White Billed Diver

White Fronted Goose

White Tailed Eagle

Whitethroat

Whooper Swan

Wigeon

Willow Tit

Willow Warbler

Wood Sandpiper

Wood Warbler

Woodcock

Woodpigeon

Wren

Wryneck

Yellow Wagtail (Blue Headed Wagtail)

Yellow Browed Warbler

Yellow Legged Gull

Yellowhammer Great White Pelican Escapes/Unknown Origin Black Swan Great White Pelican