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| Bullfinch |
Despite the run of rather uninspiring birding days over the Christmas period, I was actually looking forward to the weekend. A day out birding on Sunday with Rohan, somewhere outwith the city, would provide both good company and some much needed respite from the relative monotony of December birding in Dundee. I had also looked into the possibility of catching an early train to Montrose to see if I could find a few new species there, on Saturday. While the tide times weren't great, there was still a slight chance that I might connect with the hoped for species if I managed to get there pre-sunrise. However, a message from Rohan on Friday evening unfortunately ruled out Sunday's trip and I slept in on Saturday morning which put paid to Montrose too. The option of heading for Riverside Nature Park was also rendered rather pointless as the tide would already be well out by the time I got there.
I needed somewhere else to go, with Riverside Nature Park looking like the only option for Sunday, assuming I could get out of my bed early enough. My options for Saturday were either Clatto Reservoir and Templeton Woods, or the Dykes of Gray area. Neither filled me with anything resembling optimism. As Lainy checks her patch most days, it was unlikely Clatto would offer much of interest, and the thought of walking out to the area around Liff to search for geese that probably weren't even there was even less appealing. I decided on Clatto and headed out just before 1025. Robin, Feral Pigeon, Herring Gull, Carrion Crow, House Sparrow, Goldfinch, Starling, Black-headed Gull, Common Gull, Magpie and Jackdaw were all noted between home and Maryatt Street where a Blue Tit was added and a Grey Wagtail was heard as it flew over. A tree behind the nursery seemed to hold something of interest to the local crows and Magpies, so I investigated from the playpark side but failed to see the expected Sparrowhawk. Instead a Woodpigeon had to suffice.
A Goldcrest was heard in the trees at Hospital Street. A Jay at the Crematorium was slightly unexpected but welcome. Redwing and Blackbird were also noted there. Mallard, Moorhen and a Dunnock were found at Ardler Pond along with multiple House Sparrows. A Great Tit was heard from the trees opposite as I headed up Dalmahoy Drive. Greenfinch, Chaffinch and Coal Tit were seen along the driveway into Clatto and a scan of the reservoir got me Cormorant, Coot, Mute Swan, Goosander, Wigeon and Goldeneye, as well as Moorhen, Mallard, Black-headed Gull, Common Gull and Herring Gull all of which I had already seen. Wandering round the path at the western end, a Redpoll overflew and a small skein of Pink-footed Geese passed overhead silently. I wandered out towards the farm buildings which got me a Mistle Thrush in the tree by the farm with a few Woodpigeons, and a heard-only Skylark calling somewhere to the north. A single male Pheasant was in the field by the road and a Wren was calling loudly from the southern edge of the same field.
Things were otherwise very quiet and as a result I decided not to bother checking Templeton Woods. Instead I headed back along the northern edge of the reservoir and out the eastern end to check the areas there. Scanning the fields to the north from the dirt track past the new houses I picked out 7 distant Roe Deer. I found a small flock of Bullfinches in the Garden Warbler bushes along with a few assorted tits and finches. I decided to head homewards and was in the right place at the right time to catch an overflying Sparrowhawk. A flock of Starlings in flight almost managed a Waxwing impression. My only further addition on the long and rather weary walk home was a single Fieldfare in a tree at Nithsdale Avenue which took the day's list to another fairly underwhelming 40 species. Most of the birds seen were rather distant while the light was poor, though as I neared home there was an unexpected though brief appearance of some blue sky. Needless to say, there weren't any birds around at that point...
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| Goldeneye |
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| Pink-footed Goose |
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| Pink-footed Goose |
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| Mistle Thrush |
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| Goldeneye |
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| Goldeneye |
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| Roe Deer |
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| Bullfinch |
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| Bullfinch |
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| Bullfinch |
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| Bullfinch |
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| Bullfinch |
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| Greenfinch |
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| Coal Tit |
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| Chaffinch |
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| Sparrowhawk |
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| Sparrowhawk |
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| Sparrowhawk |
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| Starling |
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| Great Tit |
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| Great Tit |
Birds - Black-headed Gull, Blackbird, Blue Tit, Bullfinch, Carrion Crow, Chaffinch, Coal Tit, Common Gull, Coot, Cormorant, Dunnock, Fieldfare, Goldcrest, Goldeneye, Goldfinch, Goosander, Great Tit, Greenfinch, Grey Wagtail, Herring Gull, House Sparrow, Jackdaw, Jay, Magpie, Mallard, Mistle Thrush, Moorhen, Mute Swan, Pheasant, Pink-footed Goose, Redpoll, Redwing, Robin, Feral Pigeon, Skylark, Sparrowhawk, Starling, Wigeon, Woodpigeon, Wren.
Mammals - Roe Deer.
