1452 : Windy And Wild (19/10/25)

Gannet

Saturday's 'Indian Summer' vibe (despite the jetski disturbance) was forecast to be rather quickly replaced by strong easterly winds and heavy rain showers for Sunday. Given the time of year, I needed to get out birding, with Storm Arwen at a very similar time back in 2023 really delivering a nice mix of species into the Tay with lots of Kittiwakes and Little Gulls found but also Great & Arctic Skuas, Storm Petrels and Little Auks all being found - as well as Ring Ouzel, Yellow-Browed Warbler and Firecrest in the bushes and trees at either end of the city. Despite the similarities in time-frame between the 2 'storms' the relative brevity of the easterlies didn't look quite as likely to deposit some 'good' birds where I could find them. However, I had to try regardless...

There appeared to be a bit of 'window' early in the afternoon when the rain looked like stopping. I decided that would be the best time to head out for the walk to Broughty Ferry. I would hopefully have a few hours before the rain returned, to find hopefully find something good out on the river. I decided not to take my scope with me, and instead just rely on just binoculars and camera. I messaged Lainy to see if she fancied joining me but she was already out, improving habitat for Small Blue butterflies in Monifieth. I headed out just after 1235. I was slightly over-dressed but that was definitely a better option than being under-dressed gien the conditions I might encounter.

Feral Pigeon, Carrion Crow, Magpie, Robin and Blackbird made for a relatively slow start as I headed towards Arbroath Road. I did consider catching a bus out to Broughty Ferry but with none due particularly soon I decided to keep walking. Sparrowhawk, House Sparrow, Starling and Herring Gull were all noted as I headed along Arbroath Road and down onto Craigie Avenue. Blue Tit, Linnet and Goldfinch were found as I reached the Stannergate area. Heading out along the relatively wild river I did still manage to find Cormorant, Turnstone, Black-headed Gull and a few young but distant Gannets. A German Navy vessel heading into Dundee Docks provided a bit of a distraction as it passed by. Common Gull was seen at the lifeboat station along with Redshank and a young Great Black-backed Gull. I continued on towards the Castle.

Although it was a bit too windy to spend any time up in the Catsle grounds I had a quick look from there before reloacting round to the eastern side which wasn't much more sheltered from the south-easterly winds. Nevertheless, I did still manage to spot Eider, Red-throated Diver, Pied Wagtail and Grey Seal. i decided to continue on out towards Balmossie. There were a number of gulls feeding along the water'sm edge but I failed to find anything out of the ordinary amongst them. There were a couple of Oystercatchers among the gulls but I continued on eastwards. The waves were relatively big (for the Tay) and it was tricky to find anything as a result. A single Wigeon then a small flock flew past as I used what little shelter from the wind that I could find to give me some respite from the conditions.

I ended up using the 'Tay Haze' art installation as a bit of a winbreak to photograph a couple of young Gannets that were coming in relatively close to shore. There were more gulls feeding among the waves close in, but nothing unusual among them. Lainy messaged me to see if I was still at Broughty Ferry and soon joined me. We headed up to the brick shelter to scan from there using her scope. The only addition from there was a trio of Shelducks before we headed homewards as the expected rain arrived. Mallard and Coot were seen as we passed Swannie Ponds, which took my total for the afternoon's efforts to 28 species. Unfortunately there were no new birds for my #2025Dundee150 list to be found amongst those, but it was still worthwhile getting out, just in case.

Herring Gull

Cormorant

Turnstone

Common Gull & Black-headed Gull

Turnstone & Redshank

Turnstone

Turnstone

Red-throated Diver

Red-throated Diver

Cormorant

Herring Gull

Gannet

Wigeon

Gannet

Gannet

Gannet

Gannet

Gannet

Gannet

Herring Gull

Herring Gull & Black-headed Gull

Birds - Black-headed Gull, Blackbird, Blue Tit, Carrion Crow, Common Gull, Coot, Cormorant, Eider, Gannet, Goldfinch, Great Black-backed Gull, Herring Gull, House Sparrow, Linnet, Magpie, Mallard, Oystercatcher, Pied Wagtail, Red-throated Diver, Redshank, Robin, Feral Pigeon, Shag, Shelduck, Sparrowhawk, Starling, Turnstone, Wigeon.

Mammals - Grey Seal. 

1451 : The Disturbers (18/10/25)

Herring Gull

It was just as well I didn't book the 'pelagic' trip being run by SaltDog Marine on Friday the 17th as I ended up stuck at home unwell. I did actually try to leave the house but returned having only made it as far as Provost Road. My planned destination had been Riverside Nature Park but I decided to head back to Broughty Ferry and Balmossie on Saturday instead. I planned to head for Balmossie as the tide was on its way in, then spend time scanning from the castle around high tide. However, I still didn't feel particularly great when I got out of bed and as a result it was around 1055 before I finally felt like I could head out, which meant the Balmossie part of my plan would likely fall by the wayside.

A calling Chaffinch was a different way to start the day's list though Feral Pigeon, Carrion Crow, Robin, Starling and Goldfinch were much more expected. Grey Wagtail's presence locally varies though around this time of year they do seem to be more visible, and I was able to get one from Dundonald Street. Magpie, House Sparrow, Herring Gull, Woodpigeon and Blue Tit followed as I cut down to Arbroath Road. My next additions were along the Docks Way cycle path where I found Bullfinch, Wren, Long-tailed Tit, Blackbird and Greenfinch. Pied Wagtail was seen before I reached the Tay. Across towards Fife I could see the Mute Swan family from Tayport flying in that direction.

The walk out along the river wasn't overly productive though a Red-throated Diver off the 'middle steps' was a nice bonus. A couple of Meadow Pipits flew past before I spotted Curlew and Turnstone down on the shore. A Grey Seal was seen 'bottling' out on the river. A Cormorant was fishing near the sailing club buildings and a Chiffchaff was calling from across the other side of the railway line. Eider, Black-headed Gull and a Goosander in flight were all seen before I reached Douglas Terrace. A party of Wigeon flew past out over the water as I neared the lifeboat station and a few Common Gulls and Black-Headed Gulls were perched atop the jetty at the lifeboat station itself. I had a chat to Ian from SaltDog Marine who was awaiting passengers arriving for an extra 'pelagic' trip for a few minutes before the passengers started to arrive. 

Unfortunately, there were others getting organised at the same slipway to head out onto the river. Jetskiers - 3 of them. The chances of there being much to see out on the river once they got going were rapidly diminishing and frustration loomed. I added Oystercatcher by the toilet block before heading up into the castle grounds to scan from there. A small flock of Redpoll flew over and I was able to add distant Grey Heron, Razorbill and Little Egret relatively quickly. I eventually found a couple of Guillemots mid-river just before the jetskis set off, one heading directly at a seal which had popped up by the yellow pole, before then turning to head for Tentsmuir Point, with another close behind (and a third did eventually catch up with the first two). As expected, this resulted in 1000s of Eiders, as well as divers, gulls & auks all being flushed with the majority heading out onto the sea. Not content with having cleared the river of 99% of birds they continued on to do likewise with the gulls, waders and Cormorants roosting at Tentsmuir Point. 

Not unexpectedly, birds proved difficult to find after that out on the river, though a skein of Pink-footed Geese overflying from the north, a few Jackdaws, some local Rock Pipits, and a few passing heard-only Skylarks did make it onto the list on my BirdJournal app. Unfortunately, the jetskis came back to add a bit of noise and general anti-social behaviour (blasting loud music as well as performing 'doughnuts' etc off the mouth of the harbour and round about) to what would otherwise have been a lovely, mid-October Saturday. I chatted to a few tourists who couldn't understand why the jetskis were allowed, at all, on the river, given the obvious disturbance to both the wildlife and to people's enjoyment of Broughty Ferry. They added that it was the one disappointing aspect of their visit to Dundee and Broughty Ferry. Unfortunately, I did overhear the jetskiers saying that they would be a fairly regular 'feature' over the coming months, so I will need to try to get down to Broughty Ferry before they do, at weekends. 

Over the next couple of hours birds proved few and far between with a few sightings of Red-throated Divers in flight, a single Shag on the river and a perched Great Black-backed Gull on the Larick Beacon buoy. Just before I packed up, I picked out a group of Gannets diving for fish in Monifieth Bay and some of these flew upriver before swinging across towards Lucky Scalp and back out the Tay again. The walk home finally got me a Redshank for the day, as well as a couple of Rooks crossing the river to take my total for the day to a rather disappointing 46 species. Had the jetskiers not been about, I suspect a few more species may have been possible. Without the jetski disturbance it would have been a really enjoyable afternoon of fairly lazy birding from the castle, in some calm, sunny conditions, even without managing to add anything to my #2025Dundee150 list. With, it was anything but.

Mute Swan

Red-throated Diver

Turnstone

Red-throated Diver

Cormorant

Goosander

Eider

House Sparrow

Pied Wagtail

Redpoll

Eider (a small section of the birds disturbed by the jetskiers)

Red-throated Diver

Red-throated Diver

Red-throated Diver

Red-throated Diver

Red-throated Diver

Guillemot

Pied Wagtail

Grey Seal

Gannet

Turnstone & Redshank

Herring Gull

Pink-footed Goose

Birds - Black-headed Gull, Blackbird, Blue Tit, Bullfinch, Carrion Crow, Chaffinch, Chiffchaff, Common Gull, Cormorant, Curlew, Dunnock, Eider, Gannet, Goldfinch, Goosander, Great Black-backed Gull, Greenfinch, Grey Heron, Grey Wagtail, Guillemot, Herring Gull, House Sparrow, Jackdaw, Little Egret, Long-tailed Tit, Magpie, Meadow Pipit, Mute Swan, Oystercatcher, Pied Wagtail, Pink-footed Goose, Razorbill, Redpoll, Red-throated Diver, Redshank, Robin, Feral Pigeon, Rock Pipit, Rook, Shag, Skylark, Starling, Turnstone, Wigeon, Woodpigeon, Wren.

Mammals - Grey Seal. 

1450 : Sunny Day By The Tay (15/10/25)

Tree Sparrow

I had seen online that SaltDog Marine were doing a series of end of season 4 hour 'pelagic' trips out from Broughty Ferry and round some of the Fife coast and back. The Friday trip seemed to offer the best timing for me, and would also be a way to round off my Autumn migration holidays in a bit of style. However, I wasn't totally sure of the logistics of taking a camera (and camera bag) on a RHIB. I decided to head down to Broughty Ferry to do a bit of research (by asking the boat skipper himself) and see what else I could find there bird-wise. My expectations were relatively low, but there were quite a few birds that seemed likeliest to turn up around there and around this time of year, that I still required for my #2025Dundee150.

I headed out just after 0720 for the walk to Broughty Ferry. Robin, Herring Gull, Jackdaw, Feral Pigeon, Blackbird, Magpie, Wren, Blue Tit, Woodpigeon and Great Tit were all noted between home and Baxter Park. Coal Tit, Goldcrest and Carrion Crow were found as I headed along towards Craigie Avenue where House Sparrow and Starling were both added to the day's list. I reached the Stannergate at around 0800 and soon managed to find a few more species down by the river - Black-headed Gull, Turnstone, Linnet, Curlew, Cormorant and Common Gull, as I set off along the esplanade. the day's first Grey Heron, Oystercatcher and Rock Pipit were all spotted as I made my way along towards Douglas Terrace. I spotted a pair of Mallards way across towards Tayport just before a Stock Dove dropped in to pick something off the beach.

I spotted the SaltDog RHIB heading across from Tayport towards Broughty Castle and made it to the harbour at roughly the same time. As it turned out the other person aboard was Jacqui Herrington, a bird photographer/birder from Fife I used to sometimes go birding with back in the pre-covid days. We had a bit of a chat while other passengers were arriving. Although I did get a brief chance to chat with Ian (the SaltDog owner), he got sidetracked by other passengers arriving before I got a chance to ask about the logistical side of taking my camera & bag etc on a 4 hour boat ride. I was still undecided about booking Friday's trip but asked Jacqui to let me know what they saw on their trip, in order to help me make up my mind, and she said she would.

Dunnock, Pied Wagtail and some overflying Skylarks made their way onto the list before I wandered round to the castle - on the rocky islet were a couple of Cormorants, a Grey Heron and 2 Carrion Crows as well as a Great Black-backed Gull. Although the castle was closed I was able to add a few more species from round by the eastern side - Eider, a skein of Pink-footed Geese and a Red-throated Diver, then a flock of Bar-tailed Godwits, a small flock of Tree Sparrows, some Goldfinches and a couple of Greenfinches, plus a Grey Seal out in the river. Before moving on, a small flock of Redpoll overflew and as I photographed a Pied Wagtail perched in a tree, a Chiffchaff showed quite well in the same tree. With the scope I was able to get a Little Egret across the Fife side of the river. A flock of Long-tailed Tits were heard before I finally headed off along towards the nature reserve. A small group of Crossbills passed overhead before I made my way into the small reserve.

A Swallow - possibly my last of the year, swept low over the tree-tops heading west. Things were surprisingly quiet there and my only other new birds for the day there were Chaffinch and a Song Thrush. At the burn outflow along at Balmossie, I was able to pick out Redshank, Wigeon, Mute Swan, a couple of Knot, a very distant Shag, a few Red-breasted Mergansers, a couple of Lesser Black-backed Gulls, Goosander and Rook. More scanning found a yellow ringed Great Black-backed Gull (X-135). A single Dunlin was seen wandering around among the Redshanks before I set off back along towards the castle. A distant pair of Red-throated Divers headed upriver. I failed to add anything new on the walk backto the castle and I had a brief chat with Jacqui again when the RHIB came back in (their main highlight was a couple of Minke Whales), before heading homewards.

I detoured up to Swannie Ponds on the way home where I was able to add Tufted Duck and Coot. I then bumped into a couple (one half of which I know via work) who I usually run into at Broughty Ferry and we had a fairly lengthy but enjoyable chat about birds and migration. While we were chatting I spotted a high flying Buzzard then an even higher Sparrowhawk, which took my total for the day to a nice round 60 species. This was a relatively good total even without managing to add anything new for my #2025Dundee150 list, which is beginning to look like it might be trickier than usual to reach this year. Time will tell, but I feel like I'm needing a bit of good fortune, and soon....

Curlew

Oystercatcher

Dunnock

Starling

Carrion Crow, Cormorant, Great Black-backed Gull, Grey Heron

Eider

Pink-footed Goose

Red-throated Diver

Bar-tailed Godwit

Grey Seal

Pink-footed Goose

Greenfinch

Rock Pipit

Pied Wagtail

Chiffchaff

Cormorant

House Sparrow

Robin

Goldfinch

Greenfinch

Linnet

Knot

Great Black-backed Gull (X-135)

Redshank & Dunlin

Red-throated Diver

Grey Heron

Birds - Bar-tailed Godwit, Black-headed Gull, Blackbird, Blue Tit, Buzzard, Carrion Crow, Chaffinch, Chiffchaff, Coal Tit, Common Gull, Coot, Cormorant, Crossbill, Curlew, Dunlin, Dunnock, Eider, Goldcrest, Goldfinch, Goosander, Great Black-backed Gull, Great Tit, Greenfinch, Grey Heron, Herring Gull, House Sparrow, Jackdaw, Knot, Lesser Black-backed Gull, Linnet, Little Egret, Long-tailed Tit, Magpie, Mallard, Meadow Pipit, Mute Swan, Oystercatcher, Pied Wagtail, Pink-footed Goose, Red-breasted Merganser, Redpoll, Red-throated Diver, Redshank, Robin, Feral Pigeon, Rock Pipit, Rook, Shag, Skylark, Song Thrush, Sparrowhawk, Starling, Stock Dove, Swallow, Tree Sparrow, Tufted Duck, Turnstone, Wigeon, Woodpigeon, Wren.

Mammals - Grey Seal.