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| Gannet |
Whenever I read a book about birders attempting a 'big year' - whether it is a global attempt, or a country specific attempt, a 'pelagic' trip is a necessity. A pelagic trip in this context is a boat trip out to the open sea to catch up with some of the species that are hard to see from land. A trip out to sea for my Dundee145 list would be a non-starter, but a boat trip from Dundee is actually possible. I'd forgotten that Taymara ran Tay river trips until a sighting of their boat "Missel Thrush" reminded me of the possibility and a search on their website found some spaces on dates that would suit me. My rules for my Dundee145 were that I, or the bird, had to be 'in' Dundee (and identifiable) to be countable. Getting on a boat would technically take me out of Dundee, and as the actual boundaries of Angus, Fife and Perthshire vary in their distance from Dundee's shoreline, I've decided on a compromise. I can count any bird seen from the boat (as they would all be potentially visible from Dundee using a decent scope from somewhere along the shoreline, if I was there, rather than on the boat). Some might consider that 'cheating' but at the end of the day (or year), the list is really just a reason for me to get out birding, and everyone's list is unique to their circumstances and can't really be compared other than in very broad terms. A retiree (for example) will be able to get out more than someone who works full-time, just as I can get out more often than someone with a family to consider.
My first of three trips out was to be at 1030 on Wednesday July 12th. I wasn't feeling too great on Tuesday and the weather looked like it might cause issues as the trip drew closer. I felt a little better on Wednesday morning when I got up and having noticed on Tuesday evening that there was a space on the 0930 sailing I decided I would see if there was any possibility of filling the vacant spot, assuming of course that I made it to Broughty Ferry in time. I headed out at 0755. The local Swifts screamed overhead, Herring Gulls called loudly from the rooftops and House Sparrows chirped loudly from nearby bushes while a Goldfinch flew over. Blackbird, Carrion Crow and Feral Pigeon were next onto the list, then Starling, Blue Tit, Grey Wagtail and Chaffinch.
Passing through Baxter Park, I found Coal Tit, Swallow, Magpie and Woodpigeon there with Goldcrest being noted as I continued on eastwards along Bingham Terrace. A flock of Long Tailed Tits were heard as I wandered down Craigie Avenue. A single Small Tortoiseshell butterfly was resting on the pavement a little further on but flew off ahead of me when I got closer. The Rabbits were in their usual spots at the Stannergate and on the shoreline with the Herring Gulls were a few Oystercatchers. Pied Wagtail, Wren and Linnet were near the small car park. I was annoyed to note that even more of the vegetation behind the fence has been stripped out - as previously, during the breeding season (with likely nesting House Sparrows, Linnets and Greenfinches among others in that area behind the fence). As you rarely, if ever, hear of 'developments' anywhere being put on hold due to active nest sites it would seem likely that when/if checks do actually take place, that nests are being 'missed'.
Moving on along the river Black Headed Gull and a Grey Heron were down by the shoreline. A Chiffchaff sang from somewhere across the railway line. A young Goosander was on the pipe at Douglas Terrace before Common Gull and Eider were spotted near the lifeboat station. While scanning from the small viewing 'tower' near Broughty Harbour I heard Common Sandpiper calling and eventually managed to spot 2 of the birds flying around nearby. A Lesser Black Backed Gull glided by. I spoke to the lady from Taymara who was checking passengers for the first trip who said she'd check with the skipper of the boat when it arrived as to whether I could fill the vacant place. It turned out to be OK and I took my seat on the boat.
We headed out into the river. Birds were in relatively short supply beyond a few Black Headed Gulls. I soon spotted a small pod of Bottlenose Dolphins in the direction of Monifieth, though within 30 seconds or so, more had appeared right alongside the boat. We were then treated to really close views for the next 20 minutes or so, including a breaching individual. A pair of Goosander and an Eider were spotted while watching the dolphins. There were a number of Cormorants at Tentsmuir Point. A Gannet passed the boat as we headed back upriver, giving me a Dundee145 tick. Back at the harbour, I discovered Fife birder Andy Cage and his artist wife, Alison, had been onboard. He'd seen a Puffin from the other side of the boat but had missed the Gannet - the opposite of my luck.
The second trip out proved slightly less productive for the dolphins, though we still had decent views. It proved to be slightly better for birds though with a second Gannet, a Guillemot and a welcome Common Tern all being seen. A Grey Seal popped up and watched us as we were sailing back to Broughty Ferry harbour. The Guillemot and Common Tern were both new birds for my Dundee145 list, though neither they nor the Gannet would be unexpected birds for the year even without the boat trip - the Puffin I missed might tunr out to be a bigger 'miss' though. At home later, I booked another 2 trips in addition to the 2 I already had outstanding so there should still be opportunities to catch a Puffin in the Tay.
Just off the boat back at the harbour I happened to look up and realised there was an Osprey (carrying a Rainbow Trout) about to overfly a little to the west of us. I pointed it out to those nearby before heading off to Balmossie. A couple of Sand Martins overflew and a few Small White butterflies were seen in the fenced off dunes. A Rook was seen over the Glass Pavilion restaurant and a very distant second Osprey was seen well out over the Tay towards Fife. Things proved to be relatively quiet at the mouth of the Dighty though there were still plenty of Mute Swans around. A single Common Sandpiper picked around among the gulls and crows. The only other waders around were a few Oystercatchers.
There was little to see on the walk back homewards. A few young Long Tailed Tits at the local nature reserve and a Sparrowhawk hanging in the wind, while side-slipping along above the houses on Douglas Terrace, were the main highlights. A Greenfinch was heard at the Stannergate and a House Martin was added as I wandered up to Eastern Cemetery. I headed for a quick look at Swannie Ponds which gave me 2 more species for the day - Mallard and Coot, and another 2 were seen as I walked back along Clepington Road - Jackdaw and Collared Dove, taking the day's total to 45 species of which 2 were new for the year (in bold) and Guillemot was new for the Dundee145 list, having seen the species on my one trip outwith Dundee this year, at Easthaven with Ian. All in all, a reasonable return for the first boat trip of the season. Roll on the next one and whatever species it might bring....
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Grey Heron
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Snail sp.
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| Goosander |
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Common Sandpiper
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| Swift |
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Carrion Crow & Herring Gull
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| Eider |
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Bottlenose Dolphin
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Bottlenose Dolphin
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| Gannet |
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Bottlenose Dolphin
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Common Tern
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Bottlenose Dolphin
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| Guillemot |
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Common Gull
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Grey Seal
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| Osprey |
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| Rook |
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House Sparrow
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Great Black Backed Gull
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Pied Wagtail
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7-Spot Ladybird
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Long Tailed Tit
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| Sparrowhawk |
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| Rabbit |
Birds - Blackbird, Black Headed Gull, Blue Tit, Carrion Crow, Chaffinch, Chiffchaff, Coal Tit, Collared Dove, Common Gull, Common Sandpiper, Common Tern, Coot, Cormorant, Eider, Gannet, Goldcrest, Goldfinch, Goosander, Greenfinch, Grey Heron, Grey Wagtail, Guillemot, Herring Gull, House Martin, House Sparrow, Jackdaw, Lesser Black Backed Gull, Linnet, Long Tailed Tit, Magpie, Mallard, Mute Swan, Osprey, Oystercatcher, Pied Wagtail, Feral Pigeon, Rook, Sand Martin, Sandwich Tern, Sparrowhawk, Starling, Swallow, Swift, Woodpigeon, Wren.
Butterflies - Small Tortoiseshell, Small White.
Mammals - Bottlenose Dolphin, Grey Seal, Rabbit.
