 |
| House Martin |
Having alternated between Riverside Nature Park and Broughty Ferry/Balmossie for most of the summer, I was very much in need of a change of scenery for my second Autumn Friday off work. I decided I might as well head out to Clatto. Although Lainy hasn't yet run into any Spotted Flycatchers there so far this year, it was around the same time in previous years that these birds have shown up. I decided I might as well make an attempt to find some, though if they had been around, Lainy would have been highly likely to have found them by now, so my expectations were minimal. I headed out at 1010.
Herring Gull, Lesser Black-backed Gull, Feral Pigeon, Dunnock, Magpie, Robin, Woodpigeon, Blue Tit and Carrion Crow were noted as I headed up to Clepington Road. Crossing the football pitches at Fairmuir Park, I was able to add Long-tailed Tits and Swallows to the list. A few House Martins were circling high above Strathmartine Road before I reached the Kingsway. With the footbridge still in the process of being replaced, I continued along past Tesco to cross the Kingsway via the top of the sliproads. On Harrison Road I found Starlings, Coal Tit, Great Tit and Chaffinch. Goldfinch and House Sparrow were noted as I headed for Ardler Pond. Almost nothing of the pond is currently visible due to the height of the reeds all the way round, so that proved to be a waste of time.
I reached Clatto just after 1100. It didn't take too long to start picking up new birds for the day - Greenfinch, Blackbird, Blackcap and Willow Warbler were noted as I wandered along towards the playpark area where Spotted Flycatchers were very much in evidence last year around this time. A Tree Pipit overflew, then a few Siskins and a lone Crossbill. There was however no sign of any Spotted Flycatchers here. Down on the reservoir the Mute Swan family, a few Moorhens, Mallards, a Tufted Duck family, Black Headed Gulls, a Coot and a couple of Common Gulls (along with Black-headed, Lesser Black-backed and Herring Gulls) were easily found. A few young Bullfinches, Goldcrest, a couple of Chiffchaffs and a Treecreeper were seen as I wandered up the western edge of the reservoir. A single duck hauled out at the edge of the beach turned out to be a Wigeon. Nearby were a pair of Grey Wagtails. A Meadow Pipit overflew and a Pied Wagtail did likewise.
I headed along to the Garden Warbler area where there was no sign of any of these birds. A Great Spotted Woodpecker overflew and Wrens were heard scolding loudly from within the low vegetation. There were a few butterflies about - though just Small Whites and Speckled Woods. I had messaged Lainy earlier to see if she was around. She had replied to say she wasn't at home but that she'd join me once she returned if I was still going to be around. I met her round at the car park around 1245. We had a wander round the western end of the reservoir noting the Great Crested Grebes and a calling Jay. Lainy suggested we check out the House Martins at the farm, which had been showing well recently, so we had a wander along for a look. They turned out to not be quite so cooperative this time though. A Sparrowhawk put in an appearance circling up to the east of the farm buildings being mobbed by the House Martins and Swallows.
A single Roe Deer was seen in the fields to the south of the farm buildings and a Yellowhammer dropped into the crops while I was attempting to photograph a Swallow hawking low over the crops. Back at the reservoir we were able to add Jackdaw and a Red Admiral butterfly but things had quietened down considerably as the afternoon had progressed. Lainy kindly gave me a lift homewards and I finished the day's birding with a total of 47 species of birds, 3 of butterflies and 1 of mammals. Although it hadn't been the most exciting birding overall, the change of scenery was very much needed and despite the lack of Spotted Flycatchers or anything else new for my #2025Dundee150 list it was a decent enough day's birding and nice to catch up with Lainy once more.
 |
| Moorhen |
 |
| Tufted Duck |
 |
| Bullfinch |
 |
| Chiffchaff |
 |
| Treecreeper |
 |
| Wigeon |
 |
| Grey Wagtail |
 |
| Speckled Wood |
 |
| Chaffinch |
 |
| House Martin |
 |
| House Martin |
 |
| House Martin |
 |
| Goldfinch |
 |
| Sparrowhawk & Swallow |
 |
| Sparrowhawk |
 |
| Roe Deer |
 |
| Swallow |
 |
| House Sparrow |
 |
| House Sparrow |
 |
| Goldfinch |
 |
| Great Crested Grebe |
 |
| Midge exuviae? |
 |
| Lesser Black-backed Gull & Black-headed Gull |
 |
| Speckled Wood |
Birds - Black-headed Gull, Blackbird, Blackcap, Blue Tit, Bullfinch, Carrion Crow, Chaffinch, Chiffchaff, Coal Tit, Common Gull, Coot, Crossbill, Dunnock, Goldcrest, Goldfinch, Great Crested Grebe, Great Spotted Woodpecker, Great Tit, Greenfinch, Grey Wagtail, Herring Gull, House Martin, House Sparrow, Jackdaw, Jay, Lesser Black-backed Gull, Long-tailed Tit, Magpie, Mallard, Meadow Pipit, Moorhen, Mute Swan, Pied Wagtail, Robin, Feral Pigeon, Siskin, Sparrowhawk, Starling, Swallow, Tree Pipit, Treecreeper, Tufted Duck, Wigeon, Willow Warbler, Woodpigeon, Wren, Yellowhammer.
Butterflies - Red Admiral, Small White, Speckled Wood.
Mammals - Roe Deer.
