STONEFACTION BIRDING: 03/19/23

1087 : Three In One (9/3, 11/3, & 12/3/23)

Gadwall

During Wednesday's trip to Balmossie, Lainy had messaged me to let me know she'd found two Gadwall drakes at Clatto. Being about as far away as it is possible to be, while still in Dundee meant I'd have to wait and hope that the birds hung around until I was able to get to Clatto, most likely on Saturday. However, the more I thought about it on Wednesday evening the more risky that strategy seemed. I decided that I would head for Clatto after work on Thursday. It would mean at least an hour's walk there, then another hour's walk home. The weather forecast wasn't particularly brilliant either with potential for snow showers. Lainy said she'd let me know if the birds were still around on Thursday to save me the possibility of a wasted journey.

I took my camera and binoculars with me to work all set for my trip after work. I had another brainwave when I got there though. One of my colleagues lives very near Clatto and drops off another colleague nearby as well. I decided to ask if she would mind an extra passenger. With confirmation from Lainy in the morning that the ducks were still around, I asked the question and got an affirmative answer (Thanks, Linda). The weather forecast kept changing and it was looking like it might be snowing either when I got to Clatto or while I was on my way home. Thankfully, I was organised for that possibility with waterproof trousers as well as my Country Innovation Ventile jacket.

Oystercatcher and Woodpigeon were seen from the car a few minutes before I was dropped off at the end of the driveway into Clatto. Walking along from there I was able to add Goldfinch, Blackbird, Magpie, Blue Tit and Great Tit before I reached the reservoir. There were a few Goosander on the water which initially caught my eye as they drifted away from the shore. However, as my focus was on seeing Gadwall I looked around and spotted the two drakes either side of a Coot. They were robbing the Coot of some of its food everytime it surfaced after a dive. I turned round and spotted Lainy unexpectedly walking along to meet me. With the Gadwall safely on the list, I had a look at what else was around - Lesser Black Backed Gull, Black Headed Gull, Herring Gull, Common Gull, Mallard, Goldeneye, Tufted Duck, Mute Swan and Moorhen were all noted along with a Pied Wagtail.

Lainy and I had a wander down to check the work which had been going on with regards the council's tree planting. A whole swathe of bushes and vegetation below the wires which ran alongside the wall had been ripped out and Lainy pointed out that there had also been some trees chopped down where the fenceline was going to be. Removing trees to plant more trees appears to be something that councils across the UK seem to be doing - even if it makes more sense to leave the more mature trees in place. We added Bullfinch, Feral Pigeon, Carrion Crow, Chaffinch, Greenfinch, Long Tailed Tit, Dunnock and Goldcrest as we wandered. After a lengthy chat, I headed homewards noting Starling on the way, taking my total number of species for the afternoon's short visit to 30 species (including a Dundee145 tick in bold).

Birds - Blackbird, Black Headed Gull, Blue Tit, Bullfinch, Carrion Crow, Chaffinch, Common Gull, Coot, Dunnock, Gadwall, Goldcrest, Goldeneye, Goldfinch, Goosander, Great Tit, Greenfinch, Herring Gull, House Sparrow, Lesser Black Backed Gull, Long Tailed Tit, Magpie, Mallard, Moorhen, Mute Swan, Oystercatcher, Pied Wagtail, Feral Pigeon, Starling, Tufted Duck, Woodpigeon.

Gadwall

Gadwall & Coot

On Saturday, I couldn't be bothered going too far so I decided to have a wander up to the top of the Law to see if I could see any raptors displaying, and maybe some Whooper Swans on migration. I headed out at 0825 noting House Sparrow, Herring Gull, Jackdaw, Collared Dove, Carrion Crow, Starling, Chaffinch and Magpie in the first 5 minutes. Blackbird and Blue Tit were seen shortly after. I decided to check the old Norco site on the off-chance that there might be a Black Redstart around. There wasn't. I did see a Lesser Black Backed Gull there. I continued on up Kinghorne Road towards the Law. Great Tit, Greenfinch, Goldfinch, Woodpigeon, Robin and Feral Pigeon were all spotted on the last stretch.

I heard a Goldcrest from the top of the hill. Things were relatively quiet with regards birds flying past initially though a distant skein of Pink Footed Geese were seen heading north. Wren and Oystercatcher were both heard. Thankfully, it wasn't too cold as it took until around 1020 before I managed to see my first raptor of the day, a Sparrowhawk. Buzzard was added shortly after. There were a few other sightings of each before I happened to look up and saw the escapee Saker Falcon head over heading towards the northeast. Unfortunately, the camera failed to focus and I missed out on the photos. The spraypaint artist whose paintings of (mostly) birds adorns various sites across the city, Paco Graff, was working on tidying up his artwork on the shed below the mast and we had a brief chat about what birds I was seeing.

There were a couple of Buzzard vs Sparrowhawk encounters, and a trio of Buzzards seen over Balgay. Around 1235, I spotted the Peregrine pair, which I hadn't seen up until that point - despite regularly checking Cox's Stack where they often perch, heading east past the front of the hill. I managed to get a few photos this time, though against the light. Twenty minutes later, I got my third falcon species of the day, when a Kestrel drifted past westwards a little to the north of the hill. I had a longer chat with Paco before finally calling it a day around 1340. Redwings were in the trees at the foot of the steps down from the top which took my total for the day to 27 species.

Birds - Blackbird, Blue Tit, Buzzard, Carrion Crow, Chaffinch, Collared Dove, Dunnock, Goldcrest, Goldfinch, Great Tit, Greenfinch, Herring Gull, House Sparrow, Jackdaw, Kestrel, Lesser Black Backed Gull, Magpie, Oystercatcher, Peregrine, Pink Footed Goose, Redwing, Robin, Feral Pigeon, (Saker Falcon), Sparrowhawk, Starling, Woodpigeon, Wren.

Pink Footed Goose

Hoverfly sp.

Sparrowhawk & Carrion Crow

Buzzard

Goldfinch

Peregrine

Magpie

Kestrel

Feral Pigeon

I couldn't muster much enthsiasm on Sunday either but decided to go for a walk anyway. I headed out at 1025. It was colder than Saturday had been. House Sparrow, Collared Dove, Herring Gull, Blackbird, Magpie and Starling were noted before I'd even left my street. Carrion Crow, Dunnock, Jackdaw and Woodpigeon were added as I headed for Mains Terrace for a look there. I was hoping to perhaps run into a returning Chiffchaff but I only managed to find Bullfinch, Blue Tit and Chaffinch there before I continued on to Swannie Ponds after around 15 minutes searching.

A Pied Wagtail was at the far end of the top pond as I descended the steps to check the water. Mallard, Coot, Black Headed Gull, Herring Gull, Mute Swan, Moorhen, Tufted Duck, Goosander and a Lesser Black Backed Gull made up the mixture of species that were about. Goldfinch, Siskin, Long Tailed Tit, Goldcrest, Robin, Feral Pigeon and Great Tit completed the list for the ponds visit. I decided to head down to Spring Grove in Baxter Park for a look there. It proved to be very quiet there. A Grey Wagtail flew over as I watched Dunnock, Blue Tit, Chaffinch and Robin going about their business in the grove. A Sparrowhawk circled overhead before drifting off to the east.

A Coal Tit dropped in for a bath and a Greenfinch pair showed briefly. A bit of commotion turned out to be some of the local gulls harassing a passing Grey Heron. Another Sparrowhawk was seen before I decided I'd had enough. I briefly considered heading for a look at City Quay but as the sky was looking like it might rain, or even snow, I decided home was a better idea. I finished the day having noted a total of 34 species.

Birds - Blackbird, Black Headed Gull, Blue Tit, Bullfinch, Carrion Crow, Chaffinch, Coal Tit, Collared Dove, Coot, Dunnock, Goldcrest, Goldfinch, Goosander, Great Tit, Greenfinch, Grey Heron, Grey Wagtail, Herring Gull, House Sparrow, Jackdaw, Lesser Black Backed Gull, Long Tailed Tit, Magpie, Mallard, Moorhen, Mute Swan, Pied Wagtail, Robin, Feral Pigeon, Siskin, Sparrowhawk, Starling, Tufted Duck, Woodpigeon.