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| Redshank |
January started off really well but a combination of non-birding things have contributed to a rather stop/start spell from the middle to the end of the month, with not much of note being seen when I have actually managed to get out birding. Having visited both Broughty Ferry and Riverside Nature Park at the weekend I decided that I would try again, in slightly better (much less windy) conditions, at Broughty Ferry for my mid-week birding during the final week of the month. Knot at Riverside Nature Park on Sunday had taken me to 87 species for the month on my #2025Dundee150 list. By the end of January in 2024, my list was just 3 species short of 100. I'm already 11 species behind that number, though it is still rather early in the year and there is long enough ahead to make up for lost time.
It was a fairly late start. I headed out just after 1100 noting Herring Gull, Feral Pigeon, Carrion Crow and House Sparrow on my walk up to Clepington Road. Magpie, Jackdaw, Grey Wagtail, Great Tit, Dunnock, Blue Tit and Chaffinch were all noted as I made my way along to Swannie Ponds. At the ponds I found most of the usual suspects - Goosander, Mute Swan, Black Headed Gull, Moorhen, Mallard, Tufted Duck, Coot, Common Gull and a Grey Heron. A small party of Oystercatchers flew over calling loudly. I headed along to Eastern Cemetery next noting Blackbird, Woodpigeon, Goldfinch and Robin there as well as a few Rabbits and a Rook. Greenfinch was heard just as I reached the Stannergate.
The walk out along the river was slightly better than the weekend's had been with more birds out on the river. Redshank, Turnstone, Cormorant and Red Breasted Merganser were out on the water while to the north of the railway line both Goldcrest and Mistle Thrush were seen. From around the castle I was able to pick out a few Eiders as well as a Grey Seal 'bottling' but obce again things were disappointingly quiet. A distant pair of Wigeon were caught in flight heading towards Tentsmuir Point. Both Pied Wagtail and Rock Pipit were seen nearby and a few Starlings overflew before I eventually gave up. There was little point in heading out to Balmossie with the tide being in, so I headed homewards instead. The only addition on the walk back along the river following what was another rather disappointing visit was a Wren, taking my total number of species for the day to just 39.
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Redshank (& Turnstone)
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| Turnstone |
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| Oystercatcher |
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| Oystercatcher |
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| Oystercatcher |
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Red Breasted Merganser
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| Turnstone |
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| Cormorant |
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Red Breasted Merganser
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Herring Gull
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| Eider |
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Rock Pipit
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Rock Pipit
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Rock Pipit
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| Oystercatcher |
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| Oystercatcher |
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| Oystercatcher |
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Black Headed Gull
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Black Headed Gull
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Birds - Black Headed Gull, Blackbird, Blue Tit, Carrion Crow, Chaffinch, Common Gull, Coot, Cormorant, Dunnock, Eider, Goldcrest, Goldfinch,
Goosander, Great Tit, Greenfinch, Grey Heron, Grey Wagtail,
Herring Gull, House Sparrow, Jackdaw, Magpie, Mallard, Mistle Thrush, Moorhen,
Mute Swan, Oystercatcher, Pied Wagtail, Red Breasted Merganser, Redshank, Robin, Feral Pigeon, Rock Pipit, Rook, Starling,
Tufted Duck, Turnstone, Wigeon, Woodpigeon, Wren.
Mammals - Grey Seal, Rabbit.
