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| Great Crested Grebe |
How many species of birds would it be possible to find from within Dundee in a single day? Obviously the timing of any attempt would play a part, as would the route chosen, the weather conditions and the tide times. I'd considered attempting it on foot a few times but that would have meant limiting myself to either the eastern half or the western half of the city, which would impact on the number of species likely to be found. Early May (or late August/early September) seemed to offer a decent mix of species with some crossover between winter and summer migrants potentially possible. I had discussed the possibility of attempting a Big Dundee Day with Lainy and rather than the 24 hours of a proper 'Big Day' we settled on the slightly easier challenge of a 'half-day' - 12 hours. We decided on a 0600 start around Clatto which would hopefully get us a nice mix to start the day....
The weather forecast was largely in our favour with blue skies and sunshine once again forecast though it was to be a little bit windier than would be ideal, as the day progressed. The tide times were also relatively decent. I had compiled a list of possibilities that we could hopefully encounter of over 100 species. Realistically however, I felt a total of somewhere between 75 and 80 species was much more likely. We could only count birds both of us managed to see, or hear, and we knew there were always going to be birds that seemed reliable that would go into hiding on the day. I somehow managed to get out of my bed as planned at 0400 and was ready to head out just before 0505. The birds I encountered between home and our agreed meeting point at Ardler Pond wouldn't count for the list, but those between 0600 and 1800 most certainly would.
The walk up to Ardler Pond began with Blackbird, Wren, Feral Pigeon, Dunnock, Herring Gull, House Sparrow, Carrion Crow, Woodpigeon, Blue Tit, Goldfinch, Starling and Jackdaw. Magpie, Grey Wagtail, Song Thrush, Chaffinch, Lesser Black Backed Gull and Coal Tit soon followed as I headed out along Clepington Road past Kings Cross Hospital. Greenfinch, Chiffchaff and Pied Wagtail were noted either side of The Miley's northern entrance. Oystercatchers were on the football pitches across the Kingsway. Willow Warbler and Bullfinch were noted as I passed the Crematorium. Great Tit and Goldcrest were in the trees on Rosemount Road. I arrived at Ardler Pond at 0545 and was very quickly joined by Lainy. Mute Swan and Moorhen were seen on the water while House Martins were seen overhead as the clock ticked down towards 0600 and our starting time. We discussed the general plan as well as ensuring we were both 'on the same page' for giving out directions etc to get the other onto particular birds.
Before we knew it, it was 0600 and the timer was started. We were now officially counting the birds we saw and heard. Blackbird, Song Thrush, Great Tit, Chaffinch, Woodpigeon, House Sparrow, Blue Tit, Goldfinch, Feral Pigeon, Blackcap, Wren, Starling, Magpie, Long Tailed Tit, Mute Swan, House Martin, Lesser Black Backed Gull, Black Headed Gull and Moorhen were all noted within 15 minutes or so. A passing Fox that obviously didn't expect to see two humans stood at the end of the pond, ran off when it did notice, but was a nice bonus mammal tick for the day. We headed up to Clatto, arriving there at just before 0630. Mallard, Tufted Duck, Yellowhammer, Great Crested Grebe, Herring Gull, Swift, Great Spotted Woodpecker, Chiffchaff, Willow Warbler, Oystercatcher, Grey Heron and Robin made for a reasonable haul as we headed round the edge of the reservoir.
There was no sign of the hoped for Common Sandpiper around the edges before we headed out along the farm track to hopefully add a few more species. Pheasant, Skylark, Pied Wagtail and Swallow were all easily found. I was pleasantly surprised to find the Grey Partridge pair in the same area as my previous visit, as in general they are very much a hit or miss species in Dundee, except in winter, when they are slightly easier to find. We had decided not to bother with Tempelton Woods as Ravens and Crossbills have been almost entirely absent so far this year. We headed back along the north side of the reservoir (again, there was no sign of Common Sandpiper) to check the wooded areas to the east. Dunnock, Whitethroat, Garden Warbler, Bullfinch, Jackdaw and Jay were all easily found, but frustratingly the Grasshopper Warblers weren't playing ball.
We headed down to the farm track to try for Linnet and perhaps something else. We were successful with the Linnets before heading back to the reservoir where a pair of Sand Martins, a pair of Grey Wagtails, a pair of Goldcrests and a Siskin were all added. We left Clatto around 0820 to head for Riverside Nature Park where we were hoping to add a decent number, and mix of species. A Grey Squirrel was seen at the Technology Park on our way down. We arrived at the park just before 0840. Our total so far was 48 species. As we were getting prepared at the car park a Rook overflew. Seconds later, an overflying Mistle Thrush was another welcome bonus and this bird took our total to 50 in less than 3 hours. There were a few Rabbits along the edges of the path as we headed round to the Lochan.
A Reed Bunting was in the bushes on the way and a Stock Dove dropped in briefly as we hoped for something new (like a Little Grebe). On our way round from the Lochan to the hide we found a Sedge Warbler, and a Shelduck was spied from the vicinity of the hide. Heading back into the park, our first butterfly of the day was a Small Tortoiseshell found in the 'bowl' to the north of the toilet before we moved round to scan out over the bay as the tide came in. Curlew, Common Gull, Goosander and Cormorant were new additions found in the first 15 minutes of scanning. Carrion Crow was added next (though it's omission may have been an oversight earlier in the day when new species were coming thick and fast at Ardler Pond or Clatto). Lainy found a pair of distant Red Breasted Mergansers out on the river taking us to 60 species before 1000. Grey Seals and an expected, but welcome, Osprey were picked up.
An Orange Tip butterfly fluttered past and distant Greylag Geese were scoped out. Lainy decided to visit the 'facilities' while I kept scanning out over the bay. Seconds later, I heard a loud shout from her "Red Kite!". I ditched the scanning and hurried to see where she was pointing - there was a Red Kite circling over the hill. A very welcome bonus bird and a first for actually 'over' the park, though I've seen 3 previously from within the park. The Kite was soon joined by a Buzzard before it drifted out of sight beyond the hill. Unfortunately, it proved to be our final addition at the park and the next hour was relatively fruitless. We reached our halfway point of noon on a reasonably decent total of 64 species.
Our next port of call was Balgay Hill where we had a few target species, primarily Treecreeper and Nuthatch. Thankfully we were successful with both (as well as a bonus Coal Tit) around the footbridge area relatively quickly so we decided to head to the top of the Law for our lunch and the hope of a Kestrel or Sparrowhawk (or both). A Holly Blue butterfly was rather unexpected there, though the Green Veined White, Orange Tip, Small Tortoiseshell and Speckled Woods also seen were less so. A Sparrowhawk overhead however was a welcome add. With the tide now on its way back out we headed out to Broughty Castle. This got us Rock Pipit and Eider but frustratingly things were relatively quiet out on the river and it was rather choppy. We relocated along to Balmossie - adding a Collared Dove from the car as we parked in South Balmossie Street. Over the next hour we checked and rechecked the birds by the mouth of the burn as well as each and every distant speck we could see.
Lainy managed to find us a Gannet which took us to 70, with less than 3 hours remaining. There were still a few possibilities that we hoped would be reliable and we intended to mop up as many of these as we could in the remaining time. Lainy had a look at the burn mouth but as she was on her way back to join me, I picked up a distant pair of Sandwich Terns using her scope and urged her to hurry back to see them. Unfortunately we were unable to relocate them and they were (perhaps surprisingly) the only species that only 1 of us managed to see/hear that the other missed out on. As we were contemplating packing up around 1520, all the birds by the burn mouth suddenly took flight. I was hoping for a Peregrine, though an Osprey was far more likely. It turned out be neither. It was however our second Red Kite of the day within the city and it continued on northwards having apparently just crossed the river. Comparing the photos at home against the earlier bird suggests that they were different birds, rather than the same one wandering. The gulls were reluctant to settle back down and the reason was a second raptor overhead. This time it was an Osprey carrying a large flatfish east - and as with the Kite, it was our second of the day.
A few minutes later, Lainy suddenly yelled 'Whimbrel' and tried to give me directions to the bird she'd spotted. I initially thought it was down on the shore but it was actually flying low eastwards and I did eventually manage to get onto the bird which was also a #2025Dundee150 species for me. With just over 2 hours left, it was now a case of trying to get as many of our 'missing, but (hopefully) easy' birds onto the list as possible. Our first stop would be the Dighty Burn near Sainsbury's. We parked up at the industrial estate and crossed the road. There was a flash of movement just beyond the bridge into the former Michelin site and we had our hoped for Dipper - which we confirmed with a slightly better view of the bird in flight low over the burn before we headed back to the car. Next stop was Pitkerro Grove Cemetery for Tree Sparrow. There was also an outside chance of a Grasshopper Warbler, a Kestrel or maybe even a Stonechat - though we had other locations to try for those elsewhere if we were unsuccessful. It proved remarkably tricky to get the Tree Sparrows but we did eventually have decent views of a few.
We decided to try for Stonechat next, just off the end of Jack Martin Way but we were out of luck on that one. We then tried for Grasshopper Warbler where I'd had the birds earlier in the week but this also proved unsuccessful. We were on 75 species which was just at the lower end of our expectations and we had less than an hour to try for both Coot and Kestrel. Thankfully, Coot proved to be very easy to get at Swannie Ponds just before 1730. We hurried back to the Law in search of Kestrel. As we got out of the car, I saw a bird in flight along to the west a little. As it banked and turned our way, I realised it was actually a Kestrel. I blurted out "Kestrel" just as it disappeared behind the trees. Thankfully, it then flew across the 'space' created by the line of the road, allowing Lainy a second or so to get onto the bird before it vanished out of sight behind the hill. Thankfully, she was successful and we had our 77th species for the list.
We headed up to the hilltop anyway to see if there was to be one last addition, with Peregrine the most likely before the timer ran down to the end of our 12 hours. Lainy managed to get onto a bird perched on the corner of one of the multis, but it turned out to be a Magpie - though the heat shimmer made it almost impossible to decide what it was (I identified it later from video...having originally said Feral Pigeon - there was one of those opposite it). A Red Admiral butterfly - my first of the year, and a Large White butterfly were the final species for the day's efforts taking our combined efforts to 77 species of birds (including a #2025Dundee150 tick - in bold), 7 species of butterfly and 4 of mammals. All in all, a very worthwhile and enjoyable day's birding and something we are both keen to try again in future, though with the benefit of hindsight it would appear that the first few days of May might prove to be a better option with the likelihood of all the same species available as well as a few more waders (potentially).Can we break 80 next time?
Big thanks to Lainy once again for her company and conversation, her bird (and other wildlife) spotting, her positivity, and last but definitely not least, her driving that made the whole day's venture possible.
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| Swallow |
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| Grey Partridge |
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| Long Tailed Tit |
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| Willow Warbler |
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| Jackdaw |
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| Song Thrush |
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| Linnet |
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| Grey Wagtail |
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| Great Crested Grebe |
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| Sedge Warbler |
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| Blackcap |
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| Small Tortoiseshell |
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| Curlew |
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| Black Headed Gull |
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| Osprey |
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| Red Kite |
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| Red Kite |
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| Nomad Bee sp. |
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| Stock Dove |
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| Jay |
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| Sparrowhawk |
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| Speckled Wood |
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| Collared Dove |
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| Goosander |
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| Red Kite |
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| Osprey |
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| Coot |
Birds - Black Headed Gull, Blackbird, Blackcap, Blue Tit, Bullfinch, Buzzard, Carrion Crow,
Chaffinch, Chiffchaff, Coal Tit, Collared Dove, Common Gull, Coot, Cormorant, Curlew,
Dipper, Dunnock, Eider, Gannet, Garden Warbler, Goldcrest, Goldfinch, Goosander, Great Crested Grebe, Great Spotted Woodpecker, Great
Tit, Greenfinch, Grey Heron, Grey Partridge, Grey Wagtail, Greylag Goose, Herring Gull, House Martin, House Sparrow, Jackdaw, Jay, Kestrel, Lesser Black
Backed Gull,
Linnet, Long Tailed Tit, Magpie, Mallard, Mistle Thrush, Moorhen, Mute
Swan, Nuthatch, Osprey, Oystercatcher, Pheasant, Pied Wagtail, Red Kite, Red Breasted Merganser, Reed Bunting, Robin, Feral Pigeon,
Rock Pipit, Rook, Sand Martin, [Sandwich Tern], Sedge Warbler, Shelduck, Siskin, Skylark, Song Thrush,
Sparrowhawk, Starling, Stock Dove, Swallow, Swift, Tree Sparrow, Treecreeper, Tufted Duck, Whimbrel, Whitethroat, Willow Warbler, Woodpigeon,
Wren, Yellowhammer.
Butterflies - Green Veined White, Holly Blue, Large White, Orange Tip, Red Admiral, Small Tortoiseshell, Speckled Wood.
Mammals - Fox, Grey Seal, Grey Squirrel, Rabbit.
* Italics indicate species recorded during visit to Riverside Nature Park (some of which were seen elsewhere first).
