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| Swallow |
Following on from Wednesday's visit to Balmossie, Friday felt like a day that I should be out birding but I was struggling to get motivated. A couple of Lesser Redpolls, a pair of Collared Doves and a skein of Pink Footed Geese heading inland had been seen from my window earlier. Having spent all day typing up blog-posts the previous day, I wanted to go somewhere but there was nowhere specifically shouting that it was where I should go. In the end I decided on City Quay - Stannergate - Eastern Cemetery - Swannie Ponds, with an option of continuing along to Broughty Castle. My expectations were rather low but I headed out anyway around 1220.
Robin, House Sparrow and Feral Pigeon got the day's list underway though it was rather slow progress from there as I headed for City Quay, my first port of call. Goldcrest, Carrion Crow, a Red Admiral butterfly (the first of many), Herring Gull, Magpie and Woodpigeon were the only wildlife noted on the walk down. The waterpark area was rather busy but there was a Guillemot on the other side of the footbridge. I had close views of a couple of young Swallows perched on the railings by the former dry dock and a Pied Wagtail male wandering around on the cobblestones nearby. A skein of high flying Pink Footed Geese could be heard approaching from the north and a small flock of the local Starlings flew over to perch on a roof.
The outer part of the quay held 3 Guillemots and a Razorbill though a load of sea cadets were looking likely to send the birds elsewhere as they prepared to get out on the water. I wandered round to check the river. There were a few more Guillemots visible on the river and Submarine Rock held a number of Cormorants as well as a pair of Common Terns. An Oystercatcher was on the closer rocky islet along with another Cormorant. Cutting back through the blocks of flats I added a Blackbird and as I headed for the cycle path along to the Stannergate I heard a few Goldfinches calling but failed to see them. A Grey Wagtail flew up and landed on the roof off an office block just before I reached the cycle path.
A Buzzard was spotted flying ahead of me as I headed eastwards along the cycle path and near the closed bridge over the line a Sparrowhawk had a go at catching a Chaffinch which escaped. It flew back past me while the Sparrowhawk remained hidden within the trees on the north side of the railway line. A flock of Siskins flew over as I neared the Stannergate and a Chiffchaff sang from the other side of the railway line just before I reached the end of the cycle path. A Rabbit was seen within the docks. A Blue Tit called from somewhere among the bushes behind the Alpha Projects building. There were a few Herring Gulls and Guillemots visible at the Stannergate and careful scanning added Turnstone, Black Headed Gull, Curlew, Grey Heron, Cormorant, Shag, Goosander and a surprise Little Egret which flew upriver towards the bridges. Meadow Pipits and Siskins could be heard calling from above but proved elusive.
The sky was growing increasingly dark and threatening and rain was looking rather imminent despite not being forecast. I beat a rather hasty retreat and headed up to Eastern Cemetery. A Rook flew over as I headed up towards the main road from the Stannergate. The cemetery proved to be rather quiet with the only addition there being a single Grey Squirrel. Having heard a few Meadow Pipits earlier I finally managed to see one from Rennell Road. Swannie Ponds added a few more species - Lesser Black Backed and Common Gulls, Coots, Mallard and Mute Swans (only 5 cygnets and the 2 adults were seen) before I headed for home having managed to record a total of 40 species. Not a classic few hours birding but an interesting enough mix of species were found.
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| Guillemot |
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| Swallow |
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Pied Wagtail
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Pink Footed Goose
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| Guillemot |
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Oystercatcher & Cormorant
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| Cormorant |
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Red Admiral
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Grey Wagtail
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Carrion Crow
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Little Egret
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Little Egret
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Little Egret
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Cormorant & Grey Heron
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| Shag |
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| Turnstone |
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Carrion Crow
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| Curlew |
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Grey Wagtail
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House Sparrow
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| Rook |
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| Rabbit |
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| Goldfinch |
Birds - Blackbird, Black Headed Gull, Blue Tit, Buzzard, Carrion Crow, Chaffinch, Chiffchaff, Common Gull, Common Tern, Coot, Cormorant, Curlew, Goldcrest, Goldfinch, Goosander, Grey Heron, Grey Wagtail, Guillemot, Hering Gull, House Sparrow, Lesser Black Backed Gull, Little Egret, Magpie, Mallard, Meadow Pipit, Mute Swan, Oystercatcher, Pied Wagtail, Pink Footed Goose, Razorbill, Robin, Feral Pigeon, Rook, Shag, Siskin, Sparrowhawk, Starling, Swallow, Turnetone, Woodpigeon.
Butterflies - Red Admiral.
Mammals - Grey Squirrel, Rabbit.
