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| Whitethroat |
With 12 days off work on holiday (including 2 weekends) I was determined to get my #Dundee145 list back on track and to try to catch up with as many summer migrants (and any winter migrants very late in leaving too) as I possibly could. Ian offered me a chance to try to catch up with a Stejneger's Scoter (and White Winged Scoter, Surf Scoter, King Eider and various other 'goodies') over in Fife but as I actually had plans for Saturday evening (for the first time in over 3 years!) which would require a large chunk of the afternoon to get organised, I had to decline. Instead of a lifer in Fife, I would try to add a year-tick, or two, in Dundee.
My intention for an early start slipped slightly though I was still able to get out for 0725. I planned to head for Middleton Wood, then down to the Dighty Burn and finally out to Clearwater Park. Warblers would be the main target, though as I still needed House Martin too, I would have to hope that there might be a few hawking for insects over the Dighty. Jackdaw, Herring Gull, Blue Tit, Goldfinch, Woodpigeon, Feral Pigeon and Starling got the day's list underway. I had a brief glimpse of a Sparrowhawk as I headed along Dundonald Street. Blackbird, House Sparrow and Carrion Crow were also around.
Chaffinch and a Grey Squirrel scampering across the road were added as I wandered up to Swannie Ponds where Mute Swan, Moorhen, Mallard, Coot, Tufted Duck, Lesser Black Backed Gull and numerous Herring Gulls were all to be found. In addition there was a very confiding Grey Heron stood on the rocks rather unconcerned by my close proximity. An off the lead dog ran the length of the bottom pond to bark and snarl at the male Mute Swan before the owner caught up with it and dragged it away. A Pied Wagtail put in an appearance too. I headed downhill towards the Dighty Burn. Dunnock, Goldcrest, Willow Warbler, Chiffchaff and Blackcap were all heard between the nursing home and the steps up along the eastern edge of Fintry. A Dipper was in its usual spot just below the eastern side of the bridge over the burn. The first Magpie of the day was on the Fintry side of Longhaugh Road.
I reached the bend where Berwick Drive and Longhaugh Road meet. I crossed the road to explore the small scrubby area just to the north. There were a few Whitethroat active there, giving me my first year-tick (number 108 for the Dundee145 list). Pheasant and Skylark were both around nearby. I crossed back over the road to check the pond on the opposite side. Little Grebe was heard calling and a Yellowhammer was in the trees. A Moorhen flew off across the pool when it spotted me approaching. A Blackcap showed reasonably well in one of the larger trees. I continued on up the brae to check the flooded field. There were a few Herring Gulls around but no hoped for Wood Sandpiper or Little Ringed Plover. Song Thrush and Coal Tit were in the trees by the gate into Middleton Wood.
A Great Tit was the sole addition as I explored the small wood. A Roe Deer buck was spooked when it realised I was standing watching it. A few Swallows were hawking low over the slope down to the marshy bit of ground backing onto The Elms. I continued on down through Whitfield in the direction of Drumgeith Road. A pair of Oystercatchers flew low overhead and a couple of Long Tailed Tits were in the roadside trees by the park. I wandered along the burn but overall things were rather quiet there. Robin was the one 'new' species seen in the bushes along the burn, a Dipper was down on the water and a Rook overflew. I had decent views of a perched male Sparrowhawk in trees by the recycling plant and a minute or two later I spotted a raptor going into a stoop, which turned out to be the escaped Saker Falcon again.
Having crossed the dual carriageway to explore the burn on the eastern side of the road, I bumped into a birder/photographer - David Murray, who was watching the Dippers coming and going to a nest site while hoping to see the Kingfishers passing by. As we chatted, I heard a Kingfisher calling from the burn that runs along the back of the industrial estate a short while before I heard another bird speeding towards us from further upstream. We watched as it sped by us, continuing on its way down the burn. I got a few snippets of potentially useful info from David before I continued on with my walk. It felt more like February than late April which meant that there were no hirundines swooping low over the Dighty which was disappointing. I continued on along the back of the industrial estate. I stumbled upon a pair of Bullfinches, the female toying with a slim piece of branch, which suggested a nest was being built nearby (in a Holly bush).
A Great Spotted Woodpecker was calling in the trees behind the row of houses by the road. A Tree Sparrow was heard from the garden across the road on the bend. A pair of Stock Doves showed nicely on the wires across the field. A few more Yellowhammers and Long Tailed Tits were along the track to the crossroads as were a few Linnets. Chiffchaff and Willow Warbler were noted between the track and the cemetery but disappointingly there was no sign of any other warblers. A Collared Dove was in the trees by the houses at the top of the track. I doubled back on myself heading homewards, spotting a Rabbit behind the industrial estate. There was nothing new added along the burn and things were still relatively quiet.
A slightly unexpected Grey Wagtail overflew as I walked along Longtown Road near McDonalds. I decided to pop into Swannie Ponds again on my way back home. This proved to be a good idea. As I was photographing the Grey Heron which was still loitering on the rocks, I noticed a bird swooping over the trees on the island. It didn't seem quite as sleek as a Swallow, which meant there was a chance it was a House Martin. It didn't take long to confirm that suspicion. Year-tick number 2 and number 109 for the year. I spent a while trying to photograph the House Martin in flight. A female Goosander was still around as well. I called it quits around 1400 and headed home having recorded a total of 51 species of bird (including 2 year-ticks - in bold) and 3 of mammal. Not a bad way to spend a morning, even without seeing any rare Scoters (although even Common and Velvet Scoters are 'rare' in Dundee).
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Mute Swan
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| Blackcap |
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| Moorhen |
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Roe Deer
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| Sparrowhawk |
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Saker Falcon (escaped)
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Great Tit
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| Dipper |
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Song Thrush
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| Kingfisher |
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| Bullfinch |
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| Bullfinch |
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Chiffchaff
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Stock Dove
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Blue Tit
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| Mallard |
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| Goosander |
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House Martin
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Grey Heron
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Feral Pigeon
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| Magpie |
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| Coot |
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| Mallard |
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| Magpie |
Birds - Blackbird, Blackcap, Blue Tit, Bullfinch, Carrion Crow, Chaffinch, Chiffchaff, Coal Tit, Collared Dove, Coot, Dipper, Dunnock, Goldcrest, Goldfinch, Goosander, Great Spotted Woodpecker, Great Tit, Grey Heron, Grey Wagtail, Herring Gull,
House Martin, Jackdaw, Kingfisher, Lesser Black Backed Gull, Linnet, Little Grebe, Long Tailed Tit, Magpie, Mallard, Moorhen, Mute Swan, Oystercatcher, Pheasant, Pied Wagtail, Robin, Feral Pigeon, Rook, [Saker Falcon], Skylark, Song Thrush, Sparrowhawk, Starling, Stock Dove, Swallow, Tree Sparrow, Tufted Duck,
Whitethroat, Willow Warbler, Woodpigeon, Wren, Yellowhammer.
Mammals - Grey Squirrel, Rabbit, Roe Deer.
