 |
| Kestrel |
One of the downsides of restricting my birding to just within the confines of Dundee's boundaries is the repetitive nature inherent in doing so. There are limited spots that are potentially interesting all year round while others are only really of much interest at particular times of year. To try to keep things a bit more interesting, I will often visit a series of spots along a particular route. This can also become repetitive, so I do try to mix things up a little, which is something I've been trying to do a bit more often recently, by trying to come up with different routes. With the weather on Saturday being an improvement on what had actually been forecast I worked out another different route that would hopefully provide a variety of species. I would start at the top of the Law, then head down through Dudhope Park and onwards to City Quay (possibly via the Howff), then up to Swannie Ponds, via either Eastern Cemetery or Baxter Park (or even both), then home via Mains Terrace, though with potential to visit Caird Park too, if the mood took me and time allowed.
I headed out just after 1020 for the 20 minute walk to the top of the Law. Feral Pigeon, Blue Tit, House Sparrow, Woodpigeon, Herring Gull, Dunnock, Starling and Carrion Crow made for a reasonable start, soon followed by Robin, Jackdaw and Magpie. Blackbird and a surprise Collared Dove were noted as I wandered up Canning Street then Chaffinch and Goldfinch were noted near the top of Mortimer Street. I added Great Tit as I headed up past the allotments on the east and south sides of the hill. Bullfinch and Siskin were the first 'new' birds on the list from the top. Just after 1100 I spotted what appears to be a resident Kestrel (which I suspect is a young male) in a tree on the north slope behind the mast, but it was chased off by a Carrion Crow, but not before I grabbed a couple of photos.
Thankfully, I was to have plenty more encounters with the Kestrel, both perched in the trees along the eastern side and in flight during my time at the top of the hill. I was hoping to see some other raptors and it didn't take too long before I managed to spot the first of the day's Buzzards - though all views from the hill were rather distant. A Crossbill was heard passing the back of the hill, heading northeast and a few minutes later a skein of Pink Footed Geese passed overhead going north. More Buzzards were spotted out to the west, drawing some attention from corvids and gulls. The Kestrel showed well in the trees near the steps before a couple of walkers coming up the stairs below its perch saw it fly off. Just after noon, I picked up another raptor out to the west and the photos seem to show the escaped Saker Falcon (which has recently also been seen and photographed across the Tay, somewhere in Fife).
Over the course of the next hour the Kestrel provided most of the interest though Goldcrest and Wren were both heard. I did eventually manage to pick out a distant Sparrowhawk lower down to the southwest, being harassed by a corvid, both silhouetted against the Tay, before deciding to move on to my second location - City Quay. A Great Spotted Woodpecker and a Bullfinch were found as I headed down Inverlaw Place towards Dudhope Park where Greenfinch was new for the day. At City Quay, there was an Oystercatcher on one of the pontoons at the aquapark and another pair by the lock gate. Out on the river were a few Cormorants, an Eider, a number of gulls and a Grey Heron roosting on Submarine Rock. I could see a distant flock of swans on the river well out to the east but although I suspected they would be Whooper Swans they were too far away to identify conclusively. With nothing much else doing I decided not to linger too long. A Red Breasted Merganser was near the clock tower flats.
I spotted a pair of Buzzards to the north as I walked up Kenilworth Avenue. Although I was intending to pop along to Eastern Cemetery, I decided to continue on to Swannie Ponds instead. What were likely the same Buzzard pair were circling somewhere towards the ponds and I eventually had reasonble views as they glided overhead as I reached Dennison Road West. I had just started walking along the street when I heard a relatively quiet Whooper Swan call and turned to see a flock of 26 swans heading very low southwards towards the river. I still had my camera around my neck and unlike Wednesday I was able to get a series of photos as they overflew the TA barracks. A Pied Wagtail was heard at the ponds but not seen. Coot, Moorhen, Mute Swan, Mallard, Tufted Duck, Goosander and surprisingly few Black Headed and Herring Gulls were noted but there was no sign of the Shoveler pair which would appear to have moved on.
A Grey Wagtail was seen landing just a little further along the path from me but it flew round to the halfway ramp area before I could get a decent photo. Just after 1500 I set off for a quick look at Mains Terrace. I was quite surprised to find a lone Fieldfare perched in one of the trees at the end of Castle Terrace. I was able to get a few photos but just as I set the camera to video, off flew the bird. A Song Thrush was in one of the other trees between there and the SuDS pond where a Grey Wagtail dropped in as I stopped for a look. I considered wandering down for a look at Caird Park ponds but instead decided to head homewards instead. I ended the day's birding with a decent total of 44 species - with Whooper Swan, Kestrel, Crossbill, Fieldfare and Saker Falcon just some of the highlights. The Kestrel in particular gave me plenty of good photo opportunities in pretty good light conditions and made for an enjoyable day's local birding and photography.
 |
| Kestrel |
 |
Pink Footed Goose
|
 |
| Kestrel |
 |
Saker Falcon (escape)
|
 |
| Kestrel |
 |
| Kestrel |
 |
| Kestrel |
 |
| Kestrel |
 |
| Kestrel |
 |
| Kestrel |
 |
| Kestrel |
 |
Kestrel & Carrion Crow
|
 |
| Kestrel |
 |
| Oystercatcher |
 |
| Oystercatcher |
 |
| Cormorant |
 |
Whooper Swan
|
 |
Whooper Swan
|
 |
| Buzzard |
 |
| Goosander |
 |
Coot & Moorhen
|
 |
Grey Heron
|
 |
Tufted Duck
|
 |
| Fieldfare |
 |
Grey Wagtail
|
Birds - Blackbird, Black Headed Gull, Blue Tit, Bullfinch, Buzzard, Carrion Crow, Chaffinch, Collared Dove, Coot, Cormorant, Crossbill, Dunnock, Eider, Fieldfare, Goldcrest, Goldfinch, Goosander, Great Spotted Woodpecker, Great Tit, Greenfinch, Grey Heron, Grey Wagtail, Herring Gull, House Sparrow, Jackdaw, Kestrel, Magpie, Mallard, Moorhen, Mute Swan, Oystercatcher, Pied Wagtail, Pink Footed Goose, Red Breasted Merganser, Robin, Feral Pigeon, [Saker Falcon], Siskin, Song Thrush, Sparrowhawk, Starling, Tufted Duck, Whooper Swan, Woodpigeon, Wren.
