1436 : Hill And Back (19/9/25 & 20/9/25)

Great Spotted Woodpecker

Walking to and from work on Thursday was hard going following the additional walking I'd done on Tuesday and Wednesday, so when Friday came around, I didn't really fancy walking too far. I actually contemplated not doing any birding - and with a back-log of blog-posts and associated photo editing to catch up with, staying at home appeared to be a decent option. However I couldn't get motivated to do any of those either, so eventually I decided to head out for some fresh air and a bit of exercise with a walk up to the Law. As it was already late morning, most of the vis-mig traffic would likely be over, limiting what I could expect to see even more. Raptors might be my best bet.

It was 1115 by the time I headed outside, much later than is ideal for birding at the Law. Needs must though, so I set off for the Law. Feral Pigeon, Herring Gull, Swallow and Magpie were noted practically as soon as I stepped outside. Carrion Crow, Starling, Meadow Pipit, House Sparrow, Jackdaw, Blue Tit and Robin were all noted between home and Canning Street. The first skein of the day of Pink Footed Geese overflew as I headed up to the top of Mortimer Street. A Chiffchaff was heard there and as I crossed the road, a Goldfinch was in the tree-tops opposite. I made it to the top of the Law shortly after but things were relatively quiet. A distant Buzzard was seen, before a Lesser Black-backed Gull gave a close fly-by. Chaffinch, Dunnock, Coal Tit, Great Tit, Treecreeper, Goldcrest and Great Spotted Woodpecker were all seen or heard from the top of the hill.

With nothing much happening at the top I decided to head down the steps on the east side but part-way down I chanced upon an apparently lingering Spotted Flycatcher, which was a bit of a surprise. Needless to say I took a lot of photos of this bird over the next few hours. There were also a number of Blackcaps in the bushes and small trees around the front side of the hill and I was able to watch these and some Chiffchaffs from the path round the front of the hill-top. With so much happening in, and between, these bushes and trees I spent ages watching and photographing the birds I could see. Blackbird, Sparrowhawk, a Red Admiral butterfly, a flock of overflying Redpoll, a few Bullfinches, a single Buzzard, a calling Wren and a few Woodpigeons kept my interest up. A Garden Warbler sharing a small Rowan tree with Blackcaps and a Song Thrush was a nice surprise.

Things slowed down considerably as the sun moved round and my only addition to the day's list after 1345 was a Black-headed Gull on the walk home. This bird took my total for the day to 35 species of birds as well as1 of butterflies. I took advantage of the photo opportunities provided over the course of my visit, including an attenpt to get closer views of the bushes I was photographing from below, but this proved a bit too tricky and I gave up. Considering that I couldn't really get motivated before finally leaving the house, I wasn't bored at any point during my visit and there was a surprising amount of activity, and the bonus Spotted Flycactcher kept me occupied.

Pink-footed Goose

Lesser Black-backed Gull

Chaffinch

Treecreeper

Blackcap

Carrion Crow

Chiffchaff

Spotted Flycatcher

Spotted Flycatcher

Sparrowhawk

Spotted Flycatcher

Chiffchaff

Spotted Flycatcher

Spotted Flycatcher

Garden Warbler

Chiffchaff

Meadow Pipit

Spotted Flycatcher

Spotted Flycatcher

Birds - Black-headed Gull, Blackbird, Blackcap, Blue Tit, Bullfinch, Buzzard, Carrion Crow, Chaffinch, Chiffchaff, Coal Tit, Dunnock, Garden Warbler, Goldcrest, Goldfinch, Great Spotted Woodpecker, Great Tit, Herring Gull, House Sparrow, Jackdaw, Lesser Black-backed Gull, Magpie, Meadow Pipit, Pink-footed Goose, Redpoll, Robin, Feral Pigeon, Siskin, Song Thrush, Sparrowhawk, Spotted Flycatcher, Starling, Swallow, Treecreeper, Woodpigeon, Wren. 

Butterflies - Red Admiral. 

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Despite the relative success of Friday's visit to the Law, I wasn't feeling particularly motivated the following morning either. I contemplated trips to Riverside Nature Park or Broughty Ferry but the thought of a long walk to either made me think staying at home might even be a much better option. Eventually I decided I would head back to the top of the Law to see which birds had stuck around and which, if any, had moved on overnight. The weather forecast wasn't quite as promising as the day before had been, with the wind speed increasing, and as a result of a northerly component to the direction of that wind, it was meant to get much cooler as the day progressed. Neither was ideal but out I went anyway just after 0910.

Blue Tit, Herring Gull, Robin and Feral Pigeon were first onto the day's list with Pied Wagtail, Woodpigeon, Jackdaw, Magpie, Meadow Pipit, Starling and Chiffchaff all noted on the way to Dens Road. The first skein of Pink-footed Geese overflew Bruce Street as I routed up there towards the lower slopes of the Law. House Sparrow and Carrion Crow were also noted before I reached Law Road where Goldfinch was added along with Goldcrest and Wren. I ended up spending my time halfway up the steps on the east side of the hill photographing Blackbird, Coal Tit, Chaffinch and Blackcap before I finally made it up to the top of the steps. A Great Spotted Woodpecker showed reasonably well in the edge of the Rowan tree before flying down to a wooden post nearby.

A skein of 14 Canada Geese headed over southbound, a slight surprise given the Pink-footed Geese movements also happening at the same time. Skylarks were heard calling from somewhere high above as they passed overhead unseen. Great Tit was seen down in the bushes and a flock of Redpoll overflew. A small flock of Swallows zipped over heading southwest before a couple of Sparrowhawks put in an appearance over the south side of the hill before drifting off to the north side where the corvids took an interest. The Garden Warbler reappeared in the same Rowan tree as Friday, but there appeared to be no sign of the Spotted Flycatcher. The temperature did seem to be dropping and the wind was picking up strength, which although expected, certainly wasn't ideal. I added Siskin and a pair of tussling Buzzards (a youngster and a moulting adult) but things tailed off rapidly soon after.

I had a bit of a wander around the lower parts of the hill, out of the wind to see if I could find anything else but only managed to add another overflying skein of Canada Geese, a Dunnock, a calling Jay, a single Grey Squirrel and a Red Admiral butterfly before finally calling it a day and heading homewards. My total for the day's birding was 34 species of birds, 1 of butterflies and 1 of mammals. Although it was slightly disappointing to find the Spotted Flycatcher had seemingly moved on overnight, it would be fair to say that I didn't actually need any more photos of the species from the Law, given how many opportunities I have had there of late with the Spotties.

Pink-footed Goose

Blackcap

Great Spotted Woodpecker

Canada Goose

Blackcap

Blackcap

Woodpigeon

Song Thrush

Sparrowhawk

Chiffchaff

Garden Warbler

Blackcap

Robin

Buzzard

Pink Footed Goose

Canada Goose

Magpie

Birds - Blackbird, Blackcap, Blue Tit, Buzzard, Canada Goose, Carrion Crow, Chaffinch, Chiffchaff, Coal Tit, Dunnock, Garden Warbler, Goldcrest, Goldfinch, Great Spotted Woodpecker, Great Tit, Herring Gull, House Sparrow, Jackdaw, Jay, Magpie, Meadow Pipit, Pied Wagtail, Pink-footed Goose, Redpoll, Robin, Feral Pigeon, Siskin, Skylark, Song Thrush, Sparrowhawk, Starling, Swallow, Woodpigeon, Wren. 

Butterflies - Red Admiral. 

Mammals - Grey Squirrel. 

1435 : The Door Is Open (17/9/25)

Curlew

The extra walking I'd done on Tuesday trying to refind the Clouded Yellow butterfly at Riverside Nature Park did mean my legs were feeling rather heavy on Wednesday and it was a bit of a struggle to get motivated to walk out to Broughty Ferry and Balmossie. However, with relatively strong winds from the southeast around high tide I figured I really should make the effort, just in case something good passing up the coast of Fife found itself in the outer Tay as a result of the wind direction and strength. Ordinarily the mouth of the Tay is rather narrow and the prevailing winds are usually from the west. For a few hours, the mouth of the Tay and the wind direction would create a large opening and with a bit of luck something new for my #2025Dundee150 might sneak in. If so, I wouldn't see it while sat in the house.

Robin, Herring Gull, Woodpigeon, Starling, Carrion Crow, Siskin, Meadow Pipit, Blue Tit, House Sparrow and Jackdaw were all noted as I walked up for a look at Swannie Ponds, something I haven't done too many times recently. Things were relatively quiet at the ponds with just a handful of gulls (Herring Gull, Black-headed Gull and Lesser Black-backed Gull), as well as Mallard, Coot, Mute Swan and Moorhen. There was no sign of any Tufted Ducks however. A Blackbird was in the trees on the island. I headed down through Eastern Cemetery next. Magpie, Chaffinch, Rook, Song Thrush and Goldcrest were noted there. Wren, Dunnock, Chiffchaff, Goldfinch and Greenfinch were found along by the railway line at the Stannergate. A few Rabbits were on the grass by the sewage tank, as usual.

Along the river, Cormorant, Curlew, Eider, Oystercatcher, Common Gull, Turnstone and Grey Heron were all seen between Stannergate and Douglas Terrace. A few Swallows headed out across the Tay. A few Redshanks and half a dozen Sandwich Terns were added at the lifeboat station. A Pied Wagtail scurried along the path ahead of me at Beach Crescent. A Goosander was seen off the mouth of the harbour, with another 2 hauled out on the rocky islet opposite. Scanning out over the river from beside the castle added a Great Black-backed Gull, a small flock of Teal and a few Gannets, though many more were seen fishing later off Tentsmuir Point. I continued on along to Balmossie to see what I could add from there. Feral Pigeon, a couple of Red-breasted Mergansers and a summer-plumaged Red-throated Diver were added as I stood by the side of the footbridge, trying to stay out of the worst of the strong wind blowing in off the river.

A skein of Pink-footed Geese overflew. The bridge wasn't providing quite enough shelter and it was looking like it might rain (and I was getting rather cold). I took shelter from the brief shower of rain below the bridge before deciding to head along to the brick shelter on the slight rise opposite the rock garden. A Kestrel was seen hovering over the wildflower meadows as I chatted to a colleague's dad on the way there. I figured heading to the actual shelter would keep me dry and potentially slightly better sheltered from the wind. Unfortunately, it wasn't quite as 'clean' as it might've been, but by staying fairly central, it wasn't too much of an issue. A Grey Wagtail was seen flying past and across the river the Gannets could be seen diving off Tentsmuir Point. There were quite a few juvenile Gannets around. I picked up a distant bird low over the water, shearing like a shearwater. It appeared to be a Manx Shearwater, but it seemed to drop into the waves before I could be 100% sure. Thankfully, I was better prepared when a similar bird appeared shortly afterwards. It was a definite Manx Shearwater, though a lamp-post between the bird and me threw the camera focus off when the bird passed behind it and I failed to pick it up again, meaning no photos. Still, it was another very welcome #2025Dundee150 list tick.

After another shower of rain passed through, the weather seemed to calm right down, making the birding much easier, though things had quietened down out over Monifieth Bay, where the Shearwater(s) had been seen. As the tide had now receded quite a bit, I decided despite my already heavy legs to walk back along to Balmossie for another look through the numerous birds on the shore. A few Ringed Plovers and some Bar-tailed Godwits were feeding on the sandier parts of the beach. I scanned through all the gulls by the burn mouth but failed to find anything overly interesting. A small flock of Linnets was seen and out on the water I picked out a few Guillemots and a Shag. A couple of Stock Doves dropped in for their usual very quick drink. There were quite a few Wigeon around just offshore, along with Eider and Goosander. On the walk back along towards the castle I added a pair of Dunlin, a couple of distant Common Terns and even a couple of butterflies - Red Admiral and Large White. A Great Tit and some Long-tailed Tits were heard from the trees bordering the nature reserve, and what was to be my final new bird for the day was seen hauled out on a narrow strip of sand just offshore - a Razorbill.

The long walk home felt like it took forever, though not walking back along the river probably played a part in that. The extra mile or so the return to Balmossie had added to my walk, on top of the extra distance looking for the Clouded Yellow the day before, meant my already heavy legs felt like lead. I did contemplate jumping on a bus but was unfortunate with the timings and didn't feel like standing about waiting for the next one, so continued onwards, growing ever more weary. I ended the day's birding with a total of 61 species including a new addition for my #2025Dundee150 (in bold). It was also my first ever Shearwater in the Tay. Although I've never seen one before, it would appear that around high tide during easterly winds (especially southeasterly ones) may well be the best time to look for them in future, though unfortunately easterlies do tend to be in fairly short supply. However, with interesting seabirds tracking north passed Fife Ness with some regularity, who knows what might yet appear this side of Barry Buddon. Time, as always, will tell, and hopefully I'm there to see it.

Curlew

Common Gull

Cormorant

Turnstone

Grey Heron

Black-headed Gull

Turnstone

Swallow

Pied Wagtail

Eider

Goosander

Sandwich Tern

Wigeon

Red-throated Diver & Eider

Gannet

Kestrel

Guillemot

Ringed Plover, Turnstone & Mute Swan

Redshank & Ringed Plover

Ringed Plover

Oystercatcher

Redshank

Bar-tailed Godwit

Common Gull

Birds - Bar-tailed Godwit, Black-headed Gull, Blackbird, Blue Tit, Carrion Crow, Chaffinch, Chiffchaff,  Common Gull, Common Tern, Coot, Cormorant, Curlew,  Dunlin, Dunnock, Eider, Gannet, Goldcrest, Goldfinch, Goosander, Great Black-backed Gull, Great Tit, Greenfinch, Grey Heron, Grey Wagtail, Guillemot, Herring Gull, House Sparrow, Jackdaw, Kestrel, Lesser Black-backed Gull, Linnet, Long-tailed Tit, Magpie, Mallard, Manx Shearwater, Meadow Pipit, Moorhen, Mute Swan, Oystercatcher, Pied Wagtail, Pink-footed Goose, Razorbill, Red-breasted Merganser, Redshank, Ringed Plover, Robin, Feral Pigeon, Rook, Sandwich Tern, Shag, Siskin, Song Thrush, Starling, Swallow, Teal, Turnstone, Wigeon, Woodpigeon, Wren.

Butterflies - Large White, Red Admiral.

Mammals - Rabbit.