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| Tree Sparrow |
Having had a semi-successful day out on Tuesday I wanted to get out again on Wednesday, but the weather wasn't looking ideal (very much a recurring theme this year). Regardless, I decided to head out anyway. I had been trying to find time to attempt to get Grey Partridge and Tree Sparrow, but had been a bit side-tracked by the Glaucous Gull in the Tay. Although I didn't really fancy walking for miles and miles, I would if I had too. I had ormulated a plan - I would start at Trottick Ponds, checking for possible Jack Snipe, then head up to the Powrie Brae area. There was a chance of Tree Sparrows near the stables at the back of Claverhouse, but having seen a couple at the back of Fintry in late 2025, I had another option, If I was ultimately unsuccessful there then Pitkerro Grove Cemetery was my third option, with the stables area nearby my final option for the day. Grey Partridge would hopefully be somewhere along the road from Powrie Brae to the farm just west of Burnside of Duntrune (though hopefully still from within Dundee's boundaries).
I headed out shortly before 0950 to the sight of Herring Gull and Carrion Crow in my street. Feral Pigeon, Magpie, House Sparrow, Robin, Blue Tit and Woodpigeon were all added as I headed for Clepington Road, with Jackdaw seen when I got there. A Grey Wagtail was once again seen around the Mains Loan area. Crossing into Caird Park got me Wren, Long-tailed Tit and Blackbird. Oystercatcher was spotted on the grass by the athletics track at RPC. Continuing down to check the ponds, I found Moorhen, Mallard and Grey Heron there along with Siskins, Goldcrest, Great Tit and Song Thrush in the surrounding trees. There were also 3 Dippers on the Gelly Burn at the former golf course.
I headed downhill from Caird Park to check the Trottick Ponds area for Jack Snipe but even with my thermal imager it appeared there were no hidden birds to be found there. Chaffinch and Jay were both noted as I continued up to the end of William Fitzgerald Way. Just beyond the junction with Castlewood Avenue I stopped to view a couple of Bullfinches in the trees behind some houses. As I was photographing them a couple of Tree Sparrows popped up beside them, giving me the first of my pair of target species for the day. This was a welcome sighting and made my route from that point on, a bit easier to plan out. Common Gull was noted before I crossed the dual carriageway.
I headed up to the Black Watch memorial and decided it might be worthwhile wandering up the edge of the stubble field to the flyover, though in the end it only produced Rook, Greenfinch and Goldfinch. I headed back down to the farm behind Powrie Castle to walk out along the road from there. Things were relatively quiet around the farm and there was nothing much to be seen as I headed out past the underground reservoir. I decided to check the stubble field to the east of there where I saw 21 Grey Partridges last year, in 2 coveys. Unfortunately this time I was out of luck with no birds at all found in the stubble, let alone any partridges. As I headed back up to the road, a car sped past and up from the field on the north side of the road, lifted a covey of 11 Grey Partridges, which dropped into the field behind the cottage a little further to the west.
Having successfully managed to get both of my target species I had no real need to continue out eastwards. My legs were feeling rather heavy anyway so I decided to cut down to Jack Martin Way via the stubble field and head homewards from there (though with the options of a few potential detours on the way). I added Starling and 2 Buzzards, plus a Yellowhammer as I wandered down the relatively steep stubble field with a few slippery parts at the edges. I managed to add Black-headed Gull and a flock of Linnets as I walked back towards the dual carriageway. A couple of Fieldfares were seen in flight on the way. I then headed for Caird Park where I added Crossbill and Grey Squirrel for the day. I debated checking Swannie Ponds but decided to go home instead. My total for the day was a relatively low 38 species of birds as well as 1 of mammals, though there were of course 2 new and very welcome additions for my 2026Dundee150 list in the mix (in bold) as well. I didn't take very many photos as opportunities were rather limited.
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| Bullfinch |
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| Tree Sparrow |
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| Tree Sparrow |
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| Tree Sparrow |
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| Greenfinch, Chaffinch & Goldfinch |
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| Grey Partridge |
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| Grey Partridge |
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| Grey Partridge |
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| Buzzard |
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| Buzzard |
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| Buzzard |
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| Buzzard |
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| Goldfinch |
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| Carrion Crow & Buzzard |
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| Buzzard |
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| Buzzard |
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| Carrion Crow & Buzzard |
Birds - Black-headed Gull, Blackbird, Blue Tit, Bullfinch, Buzzard, carrion Crow, Chffainch, Common Gull, Crossbill, Dipper, Fieldfare, Goldcrest, Goldfinch, Great Tit, Greenfinch, Grey Heron, Grey Partridge, Grey Wagtail, Herring Gull, House Sparrow, Jackdaw, Jay, Linnet, Long-tailed Tit, Magpie, Mallard, Mooorhen, Oystercatcher, Robin, Feral Pigeon, Rook, Siskin, Song Thrush, Starling, Tree Sparrow, Woodpigeon, Wren, Yellowhammer.
Mammals - Grey Squirrel.
