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| Whooper Swan |
The weather for the last Saturday in March wasn't particularly great with rain forecast to come in around 1230. Otherwise it was rather grey and overcast, as well as being not overly warm. I wanted to get out regardless and despite it being a weekend I decided that a trip to Broughty Ferry, and possibly out to Balmossie might prove to be productive. I would try for early returning Blackcap and Willow Warbler along the Docks Way cycle path, then head out along the river at least as far as the castle. There was a slim chance of seeing a partial solar eclipse along the way too. My expectations were quiet low but an Osprey was at least a possibility.
I headed out at just before 0910. I knew an earlier start would have given me more time to play with, but circumstances dictated that I would just have to make do with the time I had available. Starling, Feral Pigeon, Herring Gull, House Sparrow, Blue Tit, Magpie, Blackbird, Woodpigeon, Wren, Dunnock and Jackdaw were all noted as I headed up to Clepington Road. I diverted in for a look at Mains Terrace and what I found there rather deflated my mood for the majority of the rest of the morning. Most of the vegetation in below the trees just off the diagonal path had been removed, though it appeared to be a 'work in progress', so there was still more habitat to be lost. Yet more decent warbler habitat destroyed, and just before the birds arrive back to breed. A sole Chiffchaff was around, but Willow Warbler, Blackcap and Whitethroat were seen there last summer and likely bred. There is now little hope of a repeat.
Swannie Ponds failed to lift my mood though there were most of the expected birds in situ - Mallard, Lesser Black Backed Gull, Mallard, Moorhen, Coot, Tufted Duck, Mute Swan and a slightly unexpected late pair of Goosander were all noted. Moving on again I added Coal Tit, Greenfinch, Carrion Crow, Great Tit, Chaffinch and an overflying Meadow Pipit as I cut down through Baxter Park on my way to the Docks Way cycle path. Unfortunately for me, things proved to be rather quiet along there with the only warbler to be found being another Chiffchaff, rather than either of the hoped for pair of Blackcap and Willow Warbler. A Buzzard was seen but it disappeared over the trees before I got a close view. Oystercatcher and Pied Wagtail were also noted before I reached the Stannergate.
The walk out along the river was also relatively quiet with Redshank, Curlew and some Eiders the only 'new' species noted. The thin grey cloud made it just possible to make out the partial solar eclipse above but I failed to get a proper photo before more cloud drifted over blocking the view completely. A couple of Turnstones gave me close views near the lifeboat station and at Beach Crescent a trio of Whooper Swans flew past very close in to shore seemingly following the shoreline round to the west. A Rock Pipit was heard. I spent most of the next hour sheltering round the side of the castle, out of the cold wind. A Shag and a couple of Common Gulls were noted. Lots of scanning failed to turn up anything of note until I picked up 2 low flying dark birds, which turned out to be my first Razorbills of 2025 - and my 100th species from within Dundee this year.
With the sky looking increasingly gloomy and with rain forecast to start sooner rather than later, I set off homewards around 1230. Rabbits were seen at the Stannergate and as I wandered up through Eastern Cemetery I managed to find Rook, Goldfinch and Goldcrest taking the list for the day to 40 species, with the main highlight being my single new addition (in bold). There was a brief shower of rain before I made it home but slightly frustratingly the afternoon remained largely dry, meaning that I could have stayed out longer after all. The disappointment of the habitat destruction at Mains Terrace was tempered a little by finally reaching the century of species within the city in 2025. Only another 50 more to go now....
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| Buzzard |
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| Redshank |
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| Jackdaw |
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| Eider |
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| Mute Swan |
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| Mute Swan (Lime UBN) |
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| Common Gull |
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| Turnstone |
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| Turnstone |
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| Eider |
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| Herring Gull & Oystercatcher |
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| Whooper Swan |
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| Whooper Swan |
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| Whooper Swan |
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| Pied Wagtail |
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| Razorbill |
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| Razorbill |
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| Redshank, Turnstone & Oystercatcher |
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| Oystercatcher, Redshank & Turnstone |
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| Redshank & Turnstone |
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| Turnstone & Oystercatcher |
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| Turnstone |
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| Eider |
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| Mute Swan |
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| Turnstone |
Birds - Blackbird, Blue Tit, Buzzard, Carrion Crow, Chaffinch, Chiffchaff, Coal Tit, Common Gull, Coot, Curlew, Dunnock, Eider, Goldcrest, Goldfinch, Goosander, Great Tit, Greenfinch, Herring Gull, House Sparrow, Jackdaw, Lesser Black Backed Gull, Magpie, Mallard, Meadow Pipit, Moorhen, Mute Swan, Oystercatcher, Pied Wagtail, Razorbill, Redshank, Feral Pigeon, Rock Pipit, Rook, Shag, Starling, Tufted Duck, Turnstone, Whooper Swan, Woodpigeon, Wren.
Mammals - Rabbit.
