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| Blackbird |
Once again the weather was the determing factor for my midweek day off birding plans. Rain seemed to be on the cards for the majority of the limited daylight that late November allows. Although some of that rain was relatively light there were some heavier showers forecast too, mostly around lunchtime. The high tide times weren't particularly favourable, which more or less ruled out both Riverside Nature Park and Broughty Ferry as worthwhile destinations. An early start fell by the wayside due to me staying in my bed, so by the time I did actually get up, I'd already lost some of the available birding time, which obviously wasn't ideal.
I was finally ready to head out by 1000. If the forecast proved to be accurate I would have between 90 and 120 minutes worth of birding time before the heavy rain arrived. Far from ideal, but as I was determined to get out regardless, I headed out with no real plan for where I was going, and no actual target species. The light was abysmal, with low grey clouds blocking out even the low winter sun completely. Herring Gull, Robin, Magpie, Goldfinch, Jackdaw, Blackbird, Feral Pigeon and Starling were noted between home and the Dura Street/Albert Street junction. A pair of Mistle Thrushes high above Pitkerro Road were a chance sighting as I happened to look up as they flew over. A Grey Squirrel and a Carrion Crow were picking around in the grass just inside the fence-line at Baxter Park, as I wandered up towards Swannie Ponds.
The ponds held most of the usual suspects - Mallard, Mute Swan, Black-headed Gull, Herring Gull, Coot, Grey Heron and Tufted Duck. Neither Common Gull nor Moorhen were seen this time though. A Goldcrest was heard from the trees between the 2 ponds. I continued down from there to Eastern Cemetery to check things out. Woodpigeon, Blue Tit, House Sparrow and the day's first Fieldfares were seen on the way. At the cemetery there was quite a bit of activity with a few flocks of thrushes dropping in from high above, as if they had just arrived, which may well have been the case. In addition to Mistle Thrushes and Redwings, there were also a few Song Thrushes and a few flocks of Fieldfares which didn't linger. A single Curlew overflew as I wandered around, and a drake Mallard did likewise shortly after.
Coal Tit, Rook, Greenfinch and Chaffinch were also found in the cemetery. I had a chat to a dog walker who had asked if I'd seen anything interesting. The sky was beginning to look a bit more threatening and there were a few spots of rain so I headed along to Baxter Park, so I didn't have too far to walk if the rain did start to get heavier. Long-tailed Tits and Great Tits were added to the list at Spring Grove where there seemed to be a lot of Blackbirds, mostly squabbling over bathing spots. Chaffinches, Goldfinches, Greenfinch, Blue Tit and a Song Thrush were also seen there as was a Woodpigeon and a Magpie. With the time approaching noon, I headed home before the worst of the weather was due to arrive.
The heavy rain didn't actually materialise so around 1345 I decided to head out again. I wanted to see if I could find out how many Ring-necked Parakeets there might be around the Gardyne College area, by hopefully catching them going to roost (assuming that was the general area where 'they' do roost). With a few comments on Facebook mentioning sightings of 'some' of these birds, rather than just the odd single bird, I figured I might as well use the opportunity to try to find out. I headed out along the Arbroath Road, though I did a spot of exploring along quiet streets to the south that I wouldn't usually have any reason to visit. Although I failed to find anything along these streets, I now have a better idea of what may or may not be likely there.
I headed down into the car park area at Gardyne College via the football pitches to the northeast. A couple of Redwings and a few Rooks were the only obvious birds. Given the locations of the sightings of 'some' Parakeets, I realised that Dawson Park might provide a good 360 degree view of the sky giving me a decent chance of picking out any decent-sized birds at a distance, if any were headed past en route to Gardyne College, or elsewhere. I checked out a few more unvisited streets on my way there though I did see a group of 5 birds in flight towards the college as I passed the driveway of a house just beyond the college. Unfortunately, I didn't get a great view and I couldn't even be sure what size the birds were - though they may have been Mistle Thrushes or Magpies. I couldn't use the binoculars as I would look like I was looking into the house itself from the main road.
I stood by the rugby pitch goals at Dawson Park and looked out eastwards. The light by this time was even gloomier than it had been earlier when it had looked like it was going to rain. I did succeed in adding a few flocks of Oystercatchers, a Stock Dove, a Kestrel and a few Starlings but there was no sign of any parakeets. Gulls going to roost started to pass overhead. I decided to head back up through Gardyne College grounds before the light went completely. Needless to say, I drew another blank on any parakeets. There were plenty of Rooks in the trees by this time. The walk home from there got me Wren and Pink-footed Geese and took the day's list to a total of 37 species. I may well try again to see parakeets around Dawson Park/Claypotts sometimes soon, when the weather is better and the days are still short on daylight.
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| Mallard |
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| Carrion Crow |
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| Black-headed Gull (White J0214) |
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| Fieldfare |
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| Curlew |
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| Mistle Thrush |
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| Redwing |
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| Redwing |
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| Redwing & Mistle Thrush |
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| Song Thrush |
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| Greenfinch |
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| Chaffinch & Goldfinch |
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| Chaffinch |
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| Coal Tit |
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| Chaffinch |
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| Goldfinch |
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| Blue Tit |
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| Blackbird |
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| Chaffinch |
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| Great Tit |
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| Song Thrush |
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| Woodpigeon |
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| Oystercatcher |
Birds - Black-headed Gull, Blackbird, Blue Tit, Carrion Crow, Chaffinch, Coal Tit, Common Gull, Coot, Curlew, Dunnock, Fieldfare, Goldcrest, Goldfinch, Great Tit, Greenfinch, Grey Heron, Herring Gull, House Sparrow, Jackdaw, Kestrel, Long-tailed Tit, Magpie, Mallard, Mistle Thrush, Mute Swan, Oystercatcher, Pink-footed Goose, Redwing, Robin, Feral Pigeon, Rook, Song Thrush, Starling, Stock Dove, Tufted Duck, Woodpigeon, Wren.
Mammals - Grey Squirrel.
