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Jack Snipe
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I was undecided where to go on Saturday with none of the likely destinations offering much encouragement, due largely to the forecast weather of strong winds. However, just before I was about to switch off the PC and go to bed, I got a message from Lainy to say that her plans for the weekend had changed. We had talked earlier in the week about thermal imagers and I had offered to let her try out mine to get a feel for what they can and cannot do. They can be a big help in finding certain species but they do have their limitations as well. I suggested that we meet up a little before sunrise at Ardler Pond then try at Clatto for Woodcock and Trottick Ponds for Snipe and Jack Snipe.
I headed out at around 0735 though it took a few minutes before I heard the first bird of the day - a Herring Gull. A lone Carrion Crow soon followed but surprisingly it took another 15 minutes or so before the first Robin was noted. A few Redwings flew over the Kingsway Retail Park as I passed by. The first Pink Footed Geese skeins headed inland as I wandered up Rosemount Road. I had messaged Lainy to say my ETA at Ardler Pond was likely to be 0815 and that turned out to be exactly the case. We used the thermal imager for a few minutes to pick out Mallard, Blackbird, House Sparrow and a lurking ginger cat before we set off for Clatto.
We added Siskin, Goldcrest, Blue Tit, Bullfinch and Magpie on the walk up to the reservoir. Black Headed Gull, Common Gull, Goldeneye, Goosander and Cormorant were noted on the water and we added Woodpigeon and Jackdaw before venturing over the 'border' to the Christmas Tree field to try to find Woodcock and Jack Snipe which Lainy has had there recently but we drew a blank on both. There were few birds around and we didn't add anything new. We got a lift down to Trottick from Lainy's husband, Adam, which saved us some time and energy. Walking along to the reedbed we added Great Tit, Feral Pigeons and a Grey Heron which was down on the Dighty.
Using the thermal imager we were able to pick out some prospective targets among the swampy area and around the edges but we struggled to turn any of them into definite birds. There were plenty of other birds around in the trees and bushes with Chaffinch, Blue Tit, Great Tit, Fieldfare, Redwings, Goldfinch and House Sparrows all noted. A trio of Starlings overflew as we wandered nearer to the burn for a closer look at one of the 'blobs' we'd seen on the thermal imager. As we got closer, a Snipe broke cover and flew off westwards over the houses. I managed to grab a few photos though none were particularly great. Up until this point the light had been really poor and I hadn't really taken many photos, but thankfully the light was improving, though it was still fairly typical December levels.
Further round a second Snipe which we hadn't picked up with the thermal imager was also accidentally flushed. In the middle of the boggiest part of the site we could see a small 'blob' among the vegetation, but we were struggling to pinpoint exactly where it was. Lainy managed to get enough on the bird to see that it was actually a Jack Snipe and we both managed to get photos of the head and back just above the reeds and weeds. Mission accomplished. We added Buzzard, Dunnock, Long Tailed Tits, Wren, Mute Swans and Moorhen to the morning's list before heading up to Caird Park. Things were quiet as we crossed the golf course heading for the Gelly Burn, where we almost overlooked a Dipper stood quietly next to the small stone bridge. There was no sign of the Kingfisher at the ponds though as it was late morning on a Saturday it wasn't too much of a surprise. We added Jay, Mistle Thrush, Treecreeper, Sparrowhawk and a Roe Deer as we checked out other areas of the park. There was also a small flock of Siskins hanging around at the ponds.
We headed up for a look at Mains Terrace though things were very quiet there. As we waited to cross the road at Swannie Ponds, our second Sparrowhawk overflew, upsetting the gulls and pigeons at the ponds. Our only additions at the ponds were the local Coots and Tufted Ducks. We had a seat to grab some lunch before moving on again for a look at a practically 'dead' Spring Grove in Baxter Park with a Dunnock and a Blackbird all we could see there. A trio of Oystercatchers were seen in flight as we left the park. We wandered along to Eastern Cemetery, though things were no better there with the strong winds keeping most of the birds well hidden in more sheltered locations. A couple of Redwings was as good as things got. We decided to wander down to the Stannergate for a look which did get us around 50+ Red Breasted Mergansers out on the Tay and a nearby Greenfinch (as well as the usual Rabbits) before Adam picked us up for a much needed lift home (thanks again, as always) and we called it a day.
Although overall things were very quiet due to the windy conditions it was very much 'mission accomplished' as the main reason for the day's outing was to let Lainy get some experience with the thermal imager, to help inform her decision on which model to purchase for her own use. The Jack Snipe and Snipe at Trottick definitely helped with that - and also let me know that in another 2 weeks time, or so, I have a decent chance of adding these species to my new 2024 list. We ended the day with a total of 46 species of birds and 2 of mammals. As always it was great chatting about birds and birding with Lainy as well. Despite the weather, it was a good day out.
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Pink Footed Goose
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| Chaffinch |
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| Snipe |
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Jack Snipe
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Jack Snipe
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Grey Heron
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| Siskin |
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Roe Deer
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| Sparrowhawk |
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| Sparrowhawk |
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| Sparrowhawk |
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Herring Gull
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| Goosander |
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| Goosander |
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Tufted Duck
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Tufted Duck
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| Redwing |
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| Rabbit |
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Red Breasted Merganser
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Birds - Blackbird, Black Headed Gull, Blue Tit, Bullfinch, Buzzard, Carrion Crow, Chaffinch, Coal Tit, Common Gull, Coot, Cormorant, Dipper, Dunnock, Fieldfare, Goldcrest, Goldeneye, Goldfinch, Goosander, Great Tit, Greenfinch, Grey Heron, Herring Gull, House Sparrow, Jack Snipe, Jackdaw, Jay, Long Tailed Tit, Magpie, Mallard, Mistle Thrush, Moorhen, Mute Swan, Oystercatcher, Pink Footed Goose, Red Breasted Merganser, Redwing, Robin, Feral Pigeon, Siskin, Snipe, Sparrowhawk, Starling, Treecreeper, Tufted Duck, Woodpigeon, Wren.
Mammals - Rabbit, Roe Deer.
