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| Oystercatcher |
Having been sidetracked in midweek at Eastern Cemetery by the reappearance of the Ring-necked Parakeet, my plan for Saturday the 6th of December was to head out to Broughty Ferry to see if I could find anything at all new for my #2025Dundee150 list there. As with Wednesday, Little Auk and Slavonian Grebe were my most likely additions, though neither were particularly likely. However, just because something is unlikely, doesn't mean that it isn't worth looking anyway. The weather forecast was a bit on the unsettled side, with the possibilty of at least some inclement weather at times. However, I was determined to get out regardless.
It was just after 1030 when I headed out. Feral Pigeon, Herring Gull and Blue Tit were easily found in my street. Starling, Dunnock and House Sparrow were next as I headed along Dundonald Street. Baxter Park got me Jackdaw, Redwing, Mistle Thrush, Fieldfare, Goldfinch, Pied Wagtail, Robin, Blackbird and Magpie. Woodpigeon and Greenfinch were found at the eastern end of Bingham Terrace. Eastern Cemetery added Long-tailed Tits and Grey Squirrel, with Coal Tit spotted in the trees across the road at Balgavies Avenue. I reached the Stanneregate just after 1010. Oystercatcher, Bullfinch, Black-headed Gull, Carrion Crow, Common Gull, Cormorant and Turnstone were soon on the list. A Grey Heron and a skein of Pink-footed Geese were next as I walked out along the river. A Grey Seal was seen bobbing around mid-river.
Unfortunately for me, Mark messaged to say he had a White-tailed Eagle visible from Riverside Nature Park. There was little point in me turning round as there was no guarantee the bird would stay put - and it didn't, though it would still have been visible from Riverside Nature Park, depending on how quickly I was able to get there. Eider and Rock Pipit were spotted from the castle area and a Great Black-backed Gull was perched atop the marker pole offshore on the east side. I set up the scope near the castle and scanned out over the river. Birds were either mostly distant, or closer to the Dundee side of the river in very short supply. Lots of effort resulted in very little return. I did pick out a flock of Wigeon flying over towards Tayport but it was otherwise very slow going. It also began to rain which wasn't particularly ideal. It was rather drizzly but not to any great degree and I chose not to move to a more sheltered spot.
I did finally manage to see a few new species - a Red-throated Diver and a drake Red-breasted Merganser. A distant auk turned out to be a Guillemot. The rain then got a bit heavier so I moved to below the overhanging roof, at the Windmill car park toilet block. From here I was able to get a few Meadow Pipits (and Pied Wagtails) as well as Redshank and Shag. With little likelihood of adding anything else as the light got gradually worse (though the rain did eventually stop) I decided to head for home. A Wren was heard from the crazy golf course as I packed up my stuff. I took the 'inland' route home. A Chaffinch was heard as I wandered along Albany Road. More surprising was a Little Egret which flew over Craigie Drive heading northwest towards Gardyne College a bit further on in my journey. Goldcrest and Rook were the day's final new birds as I wearily wandered up through Eastern Cemetery. These took my total for the day to 43 species of birds and 2 of mammals. Not the greatest of day's birding this year but not the worst either.
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| Turnstone |
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| Grey Heron |
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| Pink-footed Goose |
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| Black-headed Gull |
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| House Sparrow |
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| Redshank |
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| Common Gull |
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| Starling |
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| Pied Wagtail |
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| Jackdaw |
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| Rock Pipit |
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| Rock Pipit |
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| Guillemot |
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| Black-headed Gull |
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| Oystercatcher |
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| Rock Pipit |
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| Cormorant |
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| Black-headed Gull |
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| Redshank & Turnstone |
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| Oystercatcher |
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| Turnstone |
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| Turnstone |
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| Guillemot |
Birds - Black-headed Gull, Blackbird, Blue Tit, Bullfinch, Carrion
Crow, Chaffinch, Coal Tit, Common Gull, Cormorant, Dunnock, Eider, Fieldfare, Goldcrest, Goldfinch, Great Black-backed
Gull, Greenfinch, Grey Heron, Guillemot, Herring
Gull, House Sparrow,
Jackdaw, Little Egret, Long-tailed Tit, Magpie, Meadow Pipit, Mistle Thrush, Oystercatcher, Pied
Wagtail, Pink-footed Goose, Red-breasted Merganser,
Red-throated Diver, Redshank, Redwing, Robin,
Feral Pigeon, Rock Pipit, Rook, Shag, Starling, Turnstone,
Wigeon, Woodpigeon, Wren.
Mammals - Grey Seal, Grey Squirrel.
