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| Jay |
Although I had managed to add Stonechat to my #2025Dundee150 list on my previous visit to the area around Jack Martin Way and Middleton Wood I had drawn a blank on Grasshopper Warbler and Sedge Warbler at the same time. Although date-wise it was still a bit on the early side, I decided to make another attempt to get either one, or both, of these species (and maybe even something else) on Saturday the 19th of April. Although I had intended on a sunrise start, I slept in a bit longer than I wanted to but was still ready to head out at around 0725.
Herring Gull, Feral Pigeon, Woodpigeon, House Sparrow, Magpie, Blackbird, Goldfinch, Blue Tit and Carrion Crow were all noted as I took the 'low road' route towards a brief check at Swannie Ponds. Starling, Chaffinch, Dunnock and Robin were added as I wandered up past Morgan Academy. The ponds held Lesser Black Backed Gull, Grey Heron, Mallard, Tufted Duck, Moorhen, Coot and Mute Swan. I found a Great Tit in the trees before I crossed the road to cut down through Linlathen to cross the 'bridgie' to Fintry. After crossing the bridge I wandered up the brae towards Fintryside and Fintry Gardens where Chiffchaff, Wren, Oystercatcher, Willow Warbler, Blackcap and Collared Dove lengthened the day's list a little more.
I was headed to Cheviot Crescent to cross to Jack Martin Way. A Song Thrush was seen in the gardens between Finella Place and Finella Gardens. A Meadow Pipit flew over as I passed the shops which have changed greatly since my last visit (a long time ago) - though "The Powrie" is still there. Once I left Cheviot Crescent to head along the fenceline by the new warehouse site, a Skylark was seen and heard singing from high above. Yellowhammer, Reed Bunting, Linnet and Pheasant were easy enough to find but there was no sign of the Stonechat I'd seen with nest material previously, though I didn't spend too much time looking. As I headed for the small pond, a Buzzard was seen and a Rook overflew as I had a quick look at the rather quiet pond.
Things were also rather quiet at Middleton Wood with not much birdsong to be heard and certainly no obvious Grasshopper or Sedge Warblers. An overflying lone Greylag Goose was a bit of surprise. I did find a Whitethroat by the slope down to the small burn by the side of 'Tarzan's Island' and a Coal Tit was in the trees behind the houses as I made my way up the slope to The Elms. Nothing of any note was found on the walk down to Drumgeith Road and the Dighty Burn. I did however almost immediately discover a Dipper's nest not far from the bridge. Continuing on again, a Great Spotted Woodpecker called from the usual stand of trees. Movement down in the Dighty turned out to be a bathing Jay, and by standing still and remaining back a bit from the burn I was able to watch, and photograph, the action for a few minutes.
I wasn't quite so lucky from a different angle of a second Jay which spotted me just as I spotted it when it flew up into the tree to join its mate. As I was checking the reedy area, a bird sped overhead, but moving too quickly to grab a photo. It was a Snipe, likely flushed from cover a little further on, by an off-lead dog. I bumped into Bill, the regular walker on this stretch and he joined me for the wander along to the road at the other end. Swallow, Pied Wagtail, Greenfinch and Long Tailed Tit, as well as 2 more Dipper nests were the main highlights along that particular section of the burn. Bill headed off homewards and I crossed the road to check out the West Pitkerro Industrial Estate surroundings.
Again, there was no sign of any Grasshopper or Sedge Warblers which was disappointing, if not surprising. I did have some decent views of a Grey Wagtail and there were a number of Jackdaws in the fields to the east. There were also a few Swallows, Sand Martins and House Martins zipping around, mostly low to the ground, catching insects. The temperature wasn't quite as warm as it had been forecast to be, which did have its pros as well as its cons. Stock Dove was another addition before I retraced most of my earlier journey back along the burn, adding just Bullfinch on the way, before cutting up the Kingsway to Swannie Ponds.
I spent a bit of time around the upper pond photographing the very 'tame' Grey Heron which now flies in to grab some bread when the ducks and swans are being fed, and I was able to get some very close views from about 5 feet away. In one of the Coots nests there were a couple of youngsters coming out for food from under the adult and I was able to get some photos of them too. I eventually headed home, mildly disappointed by the lack of any new additions, but happy with some of the photo opportunities and the resultant photos. A total of 53 species of birds were noted, but no butterflies or mammals.
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| Pheasant |
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| Greylag Goose |
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| Reed Bunting |
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| Jay |
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| Buzzard |
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| Greenfinch |
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| Collared Dove |
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| Dipper |
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| Blue Tit |
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| Swallow |
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| Grey Wagtail |
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| Grey Wagtail |
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| Pied Wagtail |
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| Blackbird |
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| Bullfinch |
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| Lesser Black Backed Gull |
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| Willow Warbler |
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| Magpie |
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| Coot |
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| Grey Heron |
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| Woodpigeon |
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| House Martin |
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| Mallard |
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| Coot |
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| Coot |
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| Moorhen (& Coot) |
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| Jackdaw |
Birds - Blackbird, Blackcap, Blue Tit, Bullfinch, Buzzard, Carrion Crow, Chaffinch, Chiffchaff, Coal Tit, Collared Dove, Coot, Dipper, Dunnock, Goldfinch, Great Spotted Woodpecker, Great Tit, Greenfinch, Grey Heron, Grey Wagtail, Greylag Goose, Herring Gull, House Martin, House Sparrow, Jackdaw, Jay, Lesser Black Backed Gull, Linnet, Long Tailed Tit, Magpie, Mallard, Meadow Pipit, Moorhen, Mute Swan, Oystercatcher, Pheasant, Pied Wagtail, Reed Bunting, Robin, Feral Pigeon, Rook, Sand Martin, Skylark, Snipe, Song Thrush, Starling, Stock Dove, Swallow, Tufted Duck, Whitethroat, Willow Warbler, Woodpigeon, Wren, Yellowhammer.
