 |
| White Winged Black Tern |
While I was wandering out to Broughty Ferry on Saturday morning I was messaged by Dougie Edmond, a birder from Ayrshire who I met back in January 2020 for a day out around Angus so he could hopefully catch up with some of the local specialities. He wanted to know if the White Winged Black Tern which had turned up exceptionally early for the species a few miles away at Monikie on Thursday, had been reported that morning. It hadn't, but as I was typing up a reply to him, word came through that the bird had been seen again. He was toying with the idea of travelling up to see it but eventually decided that as the weather looked better on Sunday, he and his pal, Mark, would wait till then instead. I mentioned that I'd considered going for it, as it would be a lifer, but hadn't and he very kindly offered to pick me up en route as he would be passing through Dundee anyway. We arranged for pick-up some time around 0900 at Old Glamis Road, with him letting me know as they were leaving Perth.
I was up and organised in plenty of time and headed out just after Dougie phoned a bit before 0900. I had no idea how quickly he would reach Old Glamis Road so I hurried a little more than was necessary. On the way I noted House Sparrow, Feral Pigeon, Lesser Black Backed Gull, Pied Wagtail, Magpie, Woodpigeon and Carrion Crow. As I waited a Grey Wagtail flew over and a Dunnock popped out of a garden hedge briefly. A Starling flew over just before Dougie and Mark arrived and we set off for Monikie. I spotted a Skylark over a field as we headed out of Dundee. House Sparrow was heard from the car as we passed through Newbigging. Five minutes later we reached Monikie Country Park.
Around the car park we quickly picked up Chiffchaff, Great Tit, Wren, Chaffinch and Blackbird. In addition to the expected Mallards at the island pond, there were a few Great Crested Grebes and Mute Swans around. A quick scan of the Denfind Pond added a couple of Canada Geese and Coot as well as a few Tufted Ducks. Black Headed Gull and Wigeon were then both seen before Dougie picked out our target bird - the White Winged Black Tern which was hawking over the Denfind. Unfortunately, it flew off towards the North Pond before I managed to get a clear enough view for a photo. Before we set off in pursuit, a Pheasant was heard and a Little Grebe was seen near the Tufties. We hurried round to the area beyond the trees to the east where we could see the North Pond on one side, and the Island Pond on the other.
A Great Spotted Woodpecker was heard calling from the trees. We managed to see the Tern hawking low over the water, but our views were rather distant. A pair of Goldeneye were also added. As we contemplated walking round for a better view, the Tern flew closer, allowing me to grab some video, before flying past us and out towards the southern side of the Island Pond. A Cormorant was seen in flight and a Rook also flew over. A Reed Bunting in the bushes by the water gave us another new species for the day. As we watched the Tern hawking above the water, I picked up a small flock of gulls and grabbed a few photos as they looked like Little Gulls. They were.
We made our way back round to where we started and were soon rewarded with the Tern catching insects relatively close to where we were sat on the banking. Angus Duncan and Mark Caunt were also there. After about an hour of rather good views we decided to call it a day. A quick look at the Denfind Pond added Teal, Moorhen and Lesser Black Backed Gull. I picked up a Sparrowhawk a bit to the north and just as we were setting off back towards the car park I turned around to see ny first Osprey of the year above the Denfind Pond, which was a nice bonus sighting. I grabbed a few photos before it headed off northwards again.
Dougie dropped me off at City Quay while he and Mark continued on to the Tay reedbeds where they were hoping to catch up with a few of the local specialities. The walk up the road got me Goldfinch, Chaffinch and Robin. My total for the day was 42 species - made up of 33 outwith Dundee, and 13 within. The White Winged Black Tern was the obvious highlight, though the Little Gulls, Canada Geese and Osprey were all new birds for the year - though all were ineligible for my #2025Dundee150 list. I did take quite a few photos and have posted more than usual below. Once again, big thanks to Dougie for the opportunity to see a lifer.
 |
| White Winged Black Tern |
 |
| White Winged Black Tern |
 |
| Little Gull |
 |
| Tufted Duck |
 |
| Little Grebe |
 |
| Black Headed Gull |
 |
| White Winged Black Tern |
 |
| White Winged Black Tern |
 |
| Little Gull & White Winged Black Tern |
 |
| White Winged Black Tern |
 |
| White Winged Black Tern |
 |
| White Winged Black Tern |
 |
| Little Gull |
 |
| Little Gull |
 |
| White Winged Black Tern |
 |
| White Winged Black Tern |
 |
| White Winged Black Tern |
 |
| White Winged Black Tern |
 |
| White Winged Black Tern |
 |
| White Winged Black Tern |
 |
| White Winged Black Tern |
 |
| White Winged Black Tern |
 |
| White Winged Black Tern |
 |
| White Winged Black Tern |
 |
| White Winged Black Tern |
 |
| White Winged Black Tern |
 |
| White Winged Black Tern |
 |
| White Winged Black Tern & Little Gull |
 |
| White Winged Black Tern & Little Gull |
 |
| White Winged Black Tern |
 |
| White Winged Black Tern |
 |
| Little Gull |
 |
| Little Gull |
 |
| White Winged Black Tern |
 |
| White Winged Black Tern |
 |
| White Winged Black Tern |
 |
| White Winged Black Tern |
 |
| White Winged Black Tern |
 |
| Osprey |
 |
| Osprey |
 |
| Osprey |
 |
Great Crested Grebe
|
Birds (Dundee) - Carrion Crow, Chaffinch, Dunnock, Goldfinch, Grey Wagtail, House Sparrow, Lesser Black Backed Gull, Magpie, Pied Wagtail, Robin, Feral Pigeon, Starling, Woodpigeon.
Birds (outwith Dundee) - Black Headed Gull, Blackbird, Blue Tit, Canada Goose, Carrion Crow, Chaffinch, Chiffchaff, Coot, Cormorant, Goldeneye, Great Crested Grebe, Great Spotted Woodpecker, Great Tit, House
Sparrow, Jackdaw, Lesser Black Backed Gull, Little Grebe, Little Gull, Mallard, Moorhen, Mute Swan, Osprey, Pheasant, Reed Bunting, Rook, Skylark, Sparrowhawk, Teal, Tufted Duck, White Winged Black Tern, Wigeon, Woodpigeon, Wren.
