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| Goldeneye |
With the White-billed Diver still lingering in the Tay, I did consider another visit on my midweek day off. Lainy had messaged me on Tuesday to let me know that the Brambling which was coming to her feeders at the car park at Clatto was still showing from time to time and Lesser Black-backed Gull numbers at the reservoir were starting to creep up, though the bird(s) could be elusive. With Jack Snipe also still needed for my #2026Dundee150 list I decided I would try for Jack Snipe then head up to Clatto after that for the Lesser Black-backed Gull, and then maybe try for some photos of the Brambling, if it showed up for me.
I was late in getting out of bed despite having planned on an early start. By the time I eventually got organised and was ready to head out it was just before 1115. Herring Gull, Feral Pigeon, Carrion Crow, House Sparrow, Goldfinch and Starling were all seen on my walk to the Kingsway and Caird Park. Wren, Blue Tit, Magpie, Blackbird, Coal Tit, Chaffinch, Long-tailed Tit, Woodpigeon and a Sparrowhawk were all noted as I cut through Caird Park and down to the bottom of Old Glamis Road. Not unexpectedly, I failed to find any Snipe or Jack Snipe at Trottick, having instead to make do with just Siskin and Pheasant.
On the walk up to Clatto I only managed to add Dunnock to the day's list. Greenfinch, Great Tit and Yellowhammer were quickly spotted near Lainy's feeders at the car park before I headed down for a quick look at the birds on the reservoir. Mallard, Goldeneye, Goosander, Black-headed Gull, Common Gull, Mute Swan, Coot, Tufted Duck and Wigeon were all easily found, but to my disappointment there was no sign of any Lesser Black-backed Gulls. Lainy joined me by the feeders for a while after she had finished up cleaning out the 'Frog pond' somewhere near Macalpine Road.
The feeders were busy with lots of Siskins in particular, as well as most of the expected birds - Great Tit, Blue Tit, Coal Tit, Long-tailed Tit, Chaffinch, Dunnock, Blackbird, 2 Treecreepers, Great Spotted Woodpecker and Robin. Less expected were a single Redpoll on the feeders and a male Blackcap which appeared in the tree behind the feeders but didn't actually come in to feed. Lainy headed off and I waited in vain for an appearance from the Brambling, which never came. I had another look at the reservoir which added Oystercatcher, Moorhen, Cormorant and Grey Wagtail. A bit more scanning found a Pied Wagtail and thankfully a single Lesser Black-backed Gull on the wooden raft.
The gull didn't seem to hang around for too long as it had gone again by the time I had another quick look before calling it a day and heading homewards. A Buzzard and a Jackdaw were my only additions on the walk home, taking my total for the day to 43 species, including a welcome #2026Dundee150 tick (in bold). It is increasingly looking likely that I might not manage to get Jack Snipe this year (or at least 'this' winter), with time rapidly running out before these skulking birds head back eastwards to breed. I will likely try a few more times as it can sometimes be April before I finally run into one. Fingers crossed though...
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| Long-tailed Tit |
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| Black-headed Gull & Herring Gull |
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| Goldeneye |
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| Siskin |
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| Yellowhammer |
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| Coal Tit |
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| Siskin |
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| Siskin |
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| Chaffinch |
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| Coal Tit |
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| Yellowhammer |
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| Chaffinch |
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| Pied Wagtail |
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| Treecreeper |
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| Buzzard |
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| Great Spotted Woodpecker |
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| Lesser Black-backed Gull |
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| Blue Tit |
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| Chaffinch |
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| Chaffinch |
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| Great Tit |
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| Redpoll |
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| Yellowhammer |
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| Wigeon & Coot |
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| Grey Wagtail |
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| Herring Gull, Lesser-black-backed Gull, Oystercatcher & Black-headed Gull |
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| Yellowhammer |
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| Chaffinch |
Birds - Black-headed Gull, Blackbird, Blackcap, Blue Tit, Buzzard, Carrion Crow, Chaffinch, Coal Tit, Common Gull, Coot, Cormorant, Dunnock, Goldeneye, Goldfinch, Goosander, Great Spotted Woodpecker, Great Tit, Greenfinch, Grey Wagtail, Herring Gull, House Sparrow, Jackdaw, Lesser Black-backed Gull, Long-tailed Tit, Magpie, Mallard, Moorhen, Mute Swan, Oystercatcher, Pheasant, Pied Wagtail, Robin, Feral Pigeon, Siskin, Sparrowhawk, Starling, Treecreeper, Tufted Duck, Wigeon, Woodpigeon, Wren, Yellowhammer.
