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Great Crested Grebe
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Although I had managed to add a White Tailed Eagle to my Dundee145 list during Friday's trip to Balmossie, I had once again 'dipped' on Lesser Black Backed Gull. It appeared that my best bet to catch up with one would be a trip to Clatto after all. The downside of Clatto is that there's not a whole lot to see on the way there and it is almost an hour's walk for me to get there. I decided that I would head for Clatto on Saturday morning via Caird Park and Trottick Ponds. I hoped that I might at least add a few extra species to the list for the day, even if I didn't find anything new. It would mean a slightly longer, but more 'bird-y', walk to get there, which I hoped would work in my favour.
My planned early start fell by the wayside though I did eventually head out at 0945. Herring Gull and Feral Pigeon were fairly typical species to start the day's list off, with the local Jackdaws and House Sparrows joining them almost immediately. Woodpigeon, Goldfinch and Carrion Crow were next with Robin, Magpie, Chaffinch and Great Tit soon after as I headed for the Kingsway and then onto Caird Park. Starling, Long Tailed Tits and Blue Tit were seen on the final stretch before I reached the Kingsway. Goldcrest was heard in the trees as I wandered down towards the Gelly Burn with the golf course on either side of me. There was no sign of the hoped for Kingfisher at the ponds but there were a few Moorhens and Mallards. I also found Wren, Blackbird and a drumming Great Spotted Woodpecker which I failed to see. I headed down to the Dighty Burn to look for Kingfisher and Dipper but was unable to find either. At Trottick Ponds there were the usual Mute Swans, Tufted Ducks and Black Headed Gulls as well as the Mallards and Moorhens. Coal Tit was added in the trees by the burn.
Round at the reedbed on the opposite side of the Dighty a pair of Roe Deer were foraging out in the open but slowly wandered up the banking into the trees when they noticed me. There was no sign of them when I wandered round to my usual viewing position in front of the houses. A handful of Snipe took flight while I scanned over the open area in the centre of the reedbed. There was plenty of activity in the trees with a flock of Goldfinch flying around, a Song Thrush, a single Lesser Redpoll, a few Greenfinches, various Tits and Chaffinches as well as a Dunnock or two. Halfway up Harestane Road a pair of Rooks were perched in the top of a dead tree. On the final stretch to get to the reservoir, I decided to try the dirt track past the new housing development though my expectations were rather low given the time of day. Surprisingly I seemed to be the only person around except for the postman in his van which drove past me as I watched a few Long Tailed Tits in the trees. I had a look at the area earmarked for the tree planting and added a Bullfinch there. A Siskin was heard calling as I wandered up to the reservoir at the western end. On the raft were a number of Herring Gulls and an Oystercatcher. In addition there was a
Lesser Black Backed Gull. Success at last!
It was soon joined by a second bird and I eventually managed to find another 3 on the water. As I was scanning through the assorted gulls on the water - adding Common Gull to the list for the day, up popped another new bird for my Dundee145 list in the shape of a single
Great Crested Grebe. With 2 new birds taking my list to 95, I wondered about perhaps finding a Little Grebe at Ardler Pond or maybe a Crossbill in the trees nearby. Scanning over the water I was able to note Coot, Goosander and Goldeneye. Unfortunately the relative peace was soon shattered by the noisy arrival of 9 or 10 trail bikes which sent all the gulls skywards as they roared along the reservoir-side path and down the hill at the far end. I could hear them racing through the trees to the north and they reappeared in what was previously the "Christmas tree field".
I had intended on checking out the trees beyond the farm but decided it wasn't worthwhile given the likelihood of further disturbance by the bikes. I added a single Grey Wagtail down by the water's edge. A Jay called noisily from the trees and a Buzzard drifted north being harassed by a handful of gulls. A pair of Yellowhammers overflew before a Raven did likewise, quite possibly the same individual Lainy had seen killing a Carrion Crow earlier in the week there. It flew off to the south out of sight beyond the eastern end of the reservoir. I headed for home via Ardler Pond where a Reed Bunting and a pair of Redwings gave me another few species for the day's list. Not unexpectedly I failed to add any Little Grebe there, though it can only be a matter of time before at least one reappears there. A rather circuitous route homewards failed to add anything new so the total for the day was 46 species of which 2 (in bold) were new for the yearlist/Dundee145. Although it hadn't been a particularly great day for photo opportunities I had done quite well for the variety of species noted, making it another worthwhile outing.
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Roe Deer
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| Wren |
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Roe Deer
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Coal Tit
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| Greenfinch |
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Herring Gull, Lesser Black Backed Gull & Carrion Crow
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Great Crested Grebe
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Lesser Black Backed Gull
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Black Headed Gull
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Grey Wagtail
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| Goosander |
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Common Gull, Lesser Black Backed Gull & Black Headed Gull
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Carrion Crow
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| Buzzard |
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| Yellowhammer |
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| Goosander |
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| Raven |
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Tufted Duck
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| Redwing |
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| Chaffinch |
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Song Thrush
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Birds - Blackbird, Black Headed Gull, Blue Tit, Bullfinch, Buzzard, Carrion Crow, Chaffinch, Coal Tit, Common Gull, Coot, Dunnock, Goldcrest, Goldeneye, Goldfinch, Goosander,
Great Crested Grebe, Great Spotted woodpecker, Great Tit, Greenfinch, Grey Wagtail, Herring Gull, House Sparrow, Jackdaw, Jay,
Lesser Black Backed Gull, Lesser Redpoll, Long Tailed Tit, Magpie, Mallard, Moorhen, Mute Swan, Oystercatcher, Raven, Redwing, Reed Bunting, Robin, Feral Pigeon, Rook, Siskin, Snipe, Song Thrush, Starling, Tufted Duck, Woodpigeon, Wren, Yellowhammer.
Mammals - Roe Deer.
