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| Red Breasted Merganser |
Having not been out birding since the 15th, I had decided to make the effort to get out birding on Wednesday the 26th of February. Broughty Ferry/Balmossie would be my choice of destination as they seemed to offer my best bet of adding something to my #2025Dundee150 list. Sanderling, Grey Plover, Little Egret, Long Tailed Duck, Gulliemot, Razorbill and Great Northern Diver were all possible additions. Realistically I was unlikely to add them all, but even 2 or 3 would be a decent haul. Mark had messaged me on Tuesday afternoon to let me know he'd had a Great Northern Diver on the river between the castle and Tayport. This was very welcome news given the species had been elusive since before Christmas. With high tide around 1320, I knew I would have to get to Balmossie sometime before 1100, possibly nearer 1000, to check through the waders along the shore there, in the hope of Sanderling or Grey Plover. I set the alarm for the early start...
....and then unintentionally dozed off again when the alarm went off at 0545 on Wednesday morning. Thankfully, I woke up around 0645, which meant that my earliest departure time would likely be around an hour later, which was at least 30 mins later than I had been planning on. Nonetheless, I would still hopefully be able to get to Balmossie for around 1000, barring any major distractions en route. I was feeling far more optimistic than of late though nothing is ever guaranteed with regards to wildlife sightings. I headed out at 0745. Feral Pigeon, House Sparrow, Starling, Magpie, Blue Tit, Herring Gull, Song Thrush, Woodpigeon, Carrion Crow, Jackdaw, Pied Wagtail and Robin all made for a fairly busy first 5 minutes of the day's birding.
Blackbird, Chaffinch, Black Headed Gull and Greenfinch were all found at Baxter Park. Goldfinch, Bullfinch and Dunnock were next as I headed along Bingham Terrace. A Curlew overflew as I headed down Craigie Avenue, and a second bird did likewise as I neared the bottom of the road. A singing Wren and a feeding Oystercatcher by the side of the road were also added before I reached the Stannergate. As I walked out along the river, the first Grey Heron of the day was seen by one of the outflow pipes and a Siskin overflew. A pair of Eider were seen quite far out on the river. Near the sailing club huts I spotted the day's first Turnstones.
A few Redshanks were near the lifeboat station and a Common Gull was off Beach Crescent. Rather than linger around the castle, I continued on eastwards which got me Cormorant, Rock Pipit, Rook and Collared Dove. I stopped near the Glass Pavillion to scan out over the river. This proved to be relatively productive with Red Breasted Merganser and a group of 6 Red Throated Divers and a pair of Shags all being seen. Continuing on towards Balmossie, a skein of Pink Footed Geese overflew. At Balmossie I set up the scope and scanned through the assorted species down on the shore as well as the few out on the water. More Red Throated Divers were picked out (at least 3, possibly as many as 6), as well as Bar Tailed Godwit, Wigeon, Goldeneye, Dunlin, Linnet, Goosander and Great Black Backed Gull.
Once it became clear that there was likely no point in hanging around near the Dighty outflow, I wandered back westwards along the river stopping to scope out over the river at various points. This eventually bore fruit when a Great Northern Diver (new for my #2025Dundee150 list) was picked out amongst the Eiders, Shags, Red Throated Divers and gulls out on the river. After a few minutes the bird began its long take-off run before becoming airborne and heading upriver. A bit later I picked up another pair of distant Divers that at times appeared to be both species of Divers that I'd already seen but checking the photos later at home, suggests that they were actually another pair of Red Throateds. Moving on again, Goldcrest and Great Tit were found in the trees near the nature reserve. There was a bit of a shower of rain, which wasn't handy, as I scanned from the castle but I failed to find anything new from there.
I stopped briefly to photograph a couple of very confiding Turnstones near the lifeboat station. My only addition on the walk back along the river was a pair of Stock Doves seen in flight. I decided to head home via Swannie Ponds to add a few more species for the day, as despite the Great Northern Diver being found, the feeling of optimism had dwindled as the day had progressed. Mute Swan, Mallard, Coot, Moorhen and Tufted Duck were at the ponds and I made it home by around 1620 having managed to see or hear a total of 52 species, including one (very welcome) new species for my #2025Dundee150 list (in bold). I've certainly had worse days out, especially recently, so the slight change in luck was very welcome, and hopefully will continue as Spring arrives fully over the next few months.
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| Oystercatcher |
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| Grey Heron |
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| Red Breasted Merganser |
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| Redshank |
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| Curlew |
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| Chaffinch |
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| Rook |
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| Red Throated Diver |
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| Pink Footed Goose |
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| Bar Tailed Godwit |
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| Herring Gull, Great Black Backed Gull, Oystercatcher & Carrion Crow |
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| Linnet |
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| Great Northern Diver |
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| Goldeneye |
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| Red Throated Diver |
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| Great Northern Diver |
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| Great Northern Diver |
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| Great Northern Diver & Eider |
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| Great Northern Diver & Eider |
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| Wigeon |
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| Shag |
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| Common Gull |
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| Rock Pipit |
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| Turnstone |
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| Pied Wagtail |
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| Cormorant |
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| Eider |
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| Red Breasted Merganser |
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| Stock Dove |
Birds - Bar Tailed Godwit, Black Headed Gull, Blackbird, Blue Tit, Bullfinch, Carrion Crow, Chaffinch, Collared Dove, Common Gull, Coot, Cormorant, Curlew, Dunlin, Dunnock, Eider,
Goldcrest, Goldeneye, Goldfinch, Goosander, Great Black Backed Gull,
Great Northern Diver, Great Tit, Greenfinch, Grey Heron, Herring Gull, House Sparrow, Jackdaw, Linnet, Magpie, Mallard, Moorhen, Mute Swan, Oystercatcher, Pied Wagtail,
Pink Footed Goose, Red Breasted Merganser, Red Throated Diver, Redshank, Robin, Feral Pigeon, Rock Pipit, Rook, Shag, Siskin, Song Thrush, Starling,
Stock Dove, Tufted Duck, Turnstone, Wigeon, Woodpigeon, Wren.
Mammals - Grey Seal, Rabbit.
