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Great Black Backed Gull
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Having had an underwhelming trip to Riverside Nature Park the previous Sunday, I decided to head in the opposite direction on Wednesday the 25th of September. I had slept a bit longer than I had intended, and then spent more time trying to decide on which route I would take to get to Broughty Ferry. I could go via Swannie Ponds, via Baxter Park, or via the Docks Way cycle path. The Baxter Park route is the most direct, the Swannie Ponds/Eastern Cemetery one tends to give a bit of variety and the Docks Way route can throw up the odd surprise. With there also being a chance of migrants following the river, I chose the latter.
I left the house at 0845. Robin, Feral Pigeon, Blue Tit, Carrion Crow, Starling and Herring Gull got things underway. I added Great Tit opposite the local Lidl supermarket followed by Magpie on Albert Street. A pair of Pied Wagtails were mobbing a Sparrowhawk as I headed down to Broughty Ferry Road. Things proved to be relatively quiet along the Docks Way though Dunnock, Buzzard, Chaffinch, Wren, Woodpigeon and Chiffchaff were all seen on the walk along. The first skein of Pink Footed Goose headed over as I explored the 'migrant trap' area. In addition to a few Rabbits I also saw Greenfinch, Goldfinch, Song Thrush, Rook, Jackdaw and a few passing Meadow Pipits. There were a couple of Black Headed Gulls down on the shore along with the roosting Herring Gulls. The first Turnstones were seen further to the east.
A Gannet was once again quite far upriver, west of the lighthouses across the water, though it did turn back towards the sea as it neared the roadbridge. A Goosander and a Great Black Backed Gull were out on the water with the gull being flushed by the local rowers. Nearing Douglas Terrace I found a couple of Oystercatchers on the beach. As I checked for Holly Blue butterflies - though I really wasn't expecting to find any, despite the sunshine, I picked up a few high flying Skylarks overhead. There were a couple of Redshank in the lifeboat jetty area. A Cormorant was seen flying downriver from Beach Crescent. There were a few House Sparrows at Castle Green near the cafe. I scanned from the raised viewpoint offered by the Castle itself.
Although things were rather quiet out on the water, a Grey Wagtail flew past, as did a small flock of Siskin. I could see the Mute Swans off Balmossie through the scope. There were a few Rock Pipits around, though I couldn't be sure they weren't incomers from Scandinavia rather than the local breeders. A Red Admiral flitted past before I set off for Balmossie. I checked the area by the tennis courts which got me Blackbird and Coal Tit. I had a short chat about birds to a local who knew Ian Ford. The nature reserve was rather disappointing with very few birds seen or heard bar a flock of Long Tailed Tits. Returning to the beachside path, I stopped to check the shore again. This did produce Curlew and a few Dunlin while some Eider could be seen out on the water, with many more hauled out at Tentsmuir Point.
A couple of Swallows passed by as I continued on towards Balmossie. There was no 'bang' this time but there was a reasonable selection of birds. Wigeon, Common Gull, Lesser Black Backed Gull, Ringed Plover, Sanderling and Bar Tailed Godwit were all noted along with a Little Egret. With nothing too exciting happening, I headed back for another look at the nature reserve. A Green Veined White butterfly was seen at the rock garden and as I suspected a couple of Speckled Woods were enjoying the sunshine in the nature reserve. A Large White butterfly was seen a bit further on within the reserve. A Grasshopper was photographed on the path along behind the dunes on the way back towards the castle. The walk home proved to be rather quiet though I did add Grey Heron and a Stock Dove on my way along Douglas Terrace. I ended the day's birding with a total of 53 species of bird, 4 of butterfly and 1 of mammal, though nothing new for the Dundee150 list once again.
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| Sparrowhawk |
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Pink Footed Goose
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| Turnstone |
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| Gannet |
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| Gannet |
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| Goosander |
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| Turnstone |
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Great Black Backed Gull
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Hoverfly sp.
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House Sparrow
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| Cormorant |
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| Goldfinch |
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Pink Footed Goose
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| Oystercatcher |
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| Swallow |
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Sanderling, Black Headed Gull & Common Gull
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Bar Tailed Godwit
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Little Egret, Herring Gull & Oystercatcher
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Speckled Wood
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Speckled Wood
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Grasshopper sp.
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Rock Pipit
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Grey Heron
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Birds - Bar Tailed Godwit, Blackbird, Black Headed Gull, Blue Tit, Buzzard, Carrion
Crow, Chaffinch, Chiffchaff, Coal Tit, Common Gull, Cormorant, Curlew, Dunlin, Dunnock, Eider, Gannet, Goldfinch,
Goosander, Great Black Backed Gull, Great Tit, Greenfinch, Grey Heron,
Grey Wagtail, Herring Gull, House Sparrow, Jackdaw, Lesser Black Backed Gull, Little Egret, Long Tailed
Tit, Magpie, Meadow Pipit, Mute Swan, Oystercatcher,
Pied Wagtail, Pink Footed Goose, Redshank, Ringed Plover, Robin,
Feral Pigeon, Rock Pipit, Rook, Sanderling, Siskin, Skylark, Song Thrush, Sparrowhawk, Starling, Stock Dove, Swallow, Turnstone, Wigeon, Woodpigeon, Wren.
Butterflies - Green Veined White, Large White, Red Admiral, Speckled Wood.
Mammals - Rabbit.
