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Mute Swan
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The early start on the Thursday 31st of August tired me out much more than I thought it would and a combination of that and the weather the following day meant I didn't go anywhere. However, I didn't want to waste 2 days in a row if I could help it. As the weather on the Saturday was forecast to be relatively decent I decided I would go somewhere but I was still lacking in energy. I had passed Swannie Ponds on my way to Broughty Ferry a few days before and noted that the lower pond having been mostly drained looked like it might be tempting for a passing Green Sandpiper or similar. I decided I would head there first and then see how I was feeling before deciding if I would go anywhere else, or not.
I headed out at 0935. Things were relatively busy in my street with a few Goldfinches overhead, Herring Gulls on the roofs, a Carrion Crow on the road and a Magpie perched on a satellite dish. A Feral Pigeon flew off another roof while the local House Sparrows chirped loudly from a small bush. I added a vocal Starling as I headed along the 'low road' route. There were still a few House Martins around near the primary school where they still nest. A Dunnock called from a garden on the opposite side of the road. I headed up past Morgan Academy noting Robin, Blue Tit and Woodpigeon. I reached the Swannie Ponds around 15 minutes after leaving the house. A few Swallows and House Martins were swooping low over the small patches of water and a Grey Wagtail called as it flew past. There were a few men clearing the weedy tangles from the exposed mud. This did mean there was no hope of any waders dropping in and rather negated my reason for the visit.
I had a look at the top pond instead. There were still 6 Mute Swan cygnets as well as the 2 adults. I noticed that one of the cygnets has a bill deformity, with the lower mandible projecting out further than the top. There were still plenty of Mallards and a few Black Headed Gulls around. Among the Herring Gulls on the water were still a few Lesser Black Backeds, though their numbers will start to dwindle as they head off to their wintering grounds. The local Grey Heron appeared to be even less wary than previously, being tempted off the rocks by a piece of bread thrown in its direction, though it stayed back behind the Mallards. There were a few Moorhens and Coots around, as usual. I heard a Meadow Pipit go over and managed to see it, not too high above tree-top height. A Goldcrest was heard from the trees. I decided to wander the whole way round the top pond to see if there were any Tufted Ducks at the back of the island. A surprise there were 2 Teal. Not a common species at the ponds, though I have seen a single bird there previously. There didn't appear to be any Tufted Ducks yet though.
After spending an hour or so at the ponds, I decided I might as well have a wander up to the top of the Law to see if there were any local raptors around or with a lot of luck maybe a migrant raptor such as Hobby or Honey Buzzard passing over on its way back south. As I wandered past the lower pond, a decent sized fish shot across one of the pools away from one of the 'workies'. It was easily caught in a net by another one of the men. It turned out to be a Perch (one of the few fish I can recognise) and there were another 2 which were also caught and transferred to the top pond. I briefly stopped off at home to lose a layer of clothing as it was by this time quite warm, before continuing on my walk to the Law. A Red Admiral butterfly flitted past me as I wandered up past Tannadice stadium. Nothing new was added as I headed up to the hill except for a male Blackbird near the allotments. It didn't take too long to spot the first raptor of the day from the hill-top with a Sparrowhawk seen off to the north.
A Blackcap 'chacked' loudly from the trees on the west side of the hill. A Peacock butterfly flew past before a Red Admiral landed briefly on the shed wall. A pair of Sparrowhawk were spotted circling up above the hill before drifting off to the southwest. What was likely the same pair were seen again a bit later too. I eventually managed to see a trio of Buzzards soaring upwards on a thermal. They drifted eastwards before heading back west towards Balgay Hill. What were likely the same trio were seen later with a 4th bird again circling high in the sky. I finally headed for home around 1345 adding a Small White butterfly as I headed down the road from the hill. While not a classic sort of day by any manner of means, I had made the effort to get out somewhere and the Teal at Swannie Ponds were unusual enough to justify that effort. A total of 30 species were noted during the 4 and a half hours I was out and about.
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| Moorhen |
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Grey Heron
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Teal & Mallard
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Meadow Pipit
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Grey Heron
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Grey Heron
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Mute Swan
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| Coot |
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| Mallard |
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| Mallard |
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Mute Swan
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| Sparrowhawk |
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| Swallow |
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| Buzzard |
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| Sparrowhawk |
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| Sparrowhawk |
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| Sparrowhawk |
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| Buzzard |
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| Buzzard |
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| Buzzard |
Birds - Blackbird, Blackcap, Black Headed Gull, Blue Tit, Buzzard, Carrion Crow, Chaffinch, Coal Tit, Coot, Dunnock, Goldcrest, Goldfinch, Grey Heron, Grey Wagtail, Herring Gull, House Martin, House Sparrow, Lesser Black Backed Gull, Magpie, Mallard, Meadow Pipit, Moorhen, Mute Swan, Robin, Feral Pigeon, Sparrowhawk, Starling, Swallow, Teal, Woodpigeon.
Butterflies - Peacock, Red Admiral, Small White.
