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| Brambling |
I was rather undecided where to go on Sunday the 8th of March. The weather forecast was relatively decent, so I decided to focus on raptors (either displaying or on the move). I considered another walk out along the Dighty Burn but decided against it, likewise a trip up to the top of the Law. Riverside Nature Park was also ruled out. I eventually settled on a trip up to Clatto. I was hoping for a Red Kite, but any raptor species that wasn't already on my #2026Dundee 150 list would do, even if any of those were highly unlikely. There was also the photo-shy male Brambling(s) visiting the car park feeders, as a potential bonus/substitute.
Herring Gull, Woodpigeon, Carrion Crow, Starling, House Sparrow and Feral Pigeon started off my list for the day as I wandered up past Tannadice Park football stadium. Black-headed Gull, Lesser Black-backed Gull, Magpie, Dunnock and Blue Tit were noted as I continued on past Dens Park. Great Tit and Robin were next before I reached Clepington Road where Jackdaw and Greenfinch were both heard. Goldfinch was added as I crossed the Fairmuir playing fields with Coal Tit and Goldcrest in gardens on Strathmartine Road. Having crossed the Kingsway, I found Chaffinch on West School Road then Blackbird on Charlotte Street.
A trio of vocal Oystercatchers flew over as I started along Turnberry Avenue. A Pied Wagtail and a Song Thrush joined the other species already on the list as I headed for Ardler Pond. Once I got there, I was able to add Coot, Reed Bunting and Mallard. A very noisy but well hidden Water Rail was also heard, and there were Siskins in the nearby trees. I headed up to Clatto from there. Rather than spend time at the feeders, I decided to check the reservoir first. Cormorant, Goldeneye, Great Crested Grebe, Moorhen, Mute Swan, Goosander, Tufted Duck, Wigeon and a Grey Wagtail didn't take vey long to find.
I messaged Lainy to see where she was, as I'd noticed her car at the car park. She was round towards the new houses so I said I'd pop round to join her. A Crossbill overflew as I walked along the east side path. Chiffchaff, Bullfinch and Wren were spotted before I finally reached Lainy. Wren and Great Spotted Woodpecker were seen as we chatted. We then decided to check out the track towards the farm, as it offered the best view of the open sky to the north and it wasd already around 'raptor time'. Common Gull was added at the reservoir, and Long-tailed Tits were in the trees near the 'Kingfisher' shed. Skylarks could be heard from high above the fields, despite the noise of the farmer's tractor.
We managed to get Rook, Yellowhammers, a trio of Buzzards, a skein of Pink-footed Geese and a Sparrowhawk which helped to keep things reasonably interesting while we were along by the farm. Lainy happened to mention that she'd seen Stonechat in that area this year - a bird that isn't easy to get in Dundee these days, and one I still 'needed' for my #2026Dundee150 list. We had a look for it but unfortunately for me, we were out of luck. Jay and Pheasant were seen along past the farm buildings but we decided against heading up through Templeton Woods. Instead we wandered back to the reservoir and the feeders.
I spent a few hours at the feeders once Lainy headed homewards. A Treecreeper was the only addition, having seen most of the other birds which were visiting the feeders already, earlier in the day. There was one exception to this selection. The male Brambling put in an appearance and I managed to get onto the bird with the camera just as it decided it wasn't hanging around. A single relatively decent photo and 3 not so decent ones were the end result. I was joined by Craig from Swannie Ponds for the last hour before I called it a day just before 1600. The walk home didn't get me anything else new so I finished the day's birding with a total of 54 species of birds and 1 of mammals, and some reasonably acceptable photos.
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| Song Thrush |
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| Crossbill |
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| Chiffchaff |
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| Great Tit |
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| Bullfinch |
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| Great Spotted Woodpecker |
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| Pink-footed Goose |
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| Buzzard |
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| Buzzard |
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| Buzzard |
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| Skylark |
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| Great Crested Grebe |
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| Wigeon |
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| Wigeon |
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| Great Crested Grebe |
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| Grey Wagtail |
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| Yellowhammer |
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| Chaffinch |
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| Dunnock |
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| Siskin |
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| Siskin |
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| Great Spotted Woodpecker |
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| Treecreeper |
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| Long-tailed Tit |
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| Grey Squirrel |
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| Coal Tit |
Birds - Black-headed Gull, Blackbird, Blue Tit, Brambling, Bullfinch, Buzzard, Carrion Crow, Chaffinch, Chiffchaff, Coal Tit, Common Gull, Coot, Cormorant, Crossbill, Dunnock, Goldcrest, Goldeneye, Goldfinch, Goosander, Great Crested Grebe, Great Spotted Woodpecker, Great Tit, Greenfinch, Grey Wagtail, Herring Gull, House Sparrow, Jackdaw, Jay, Lesser Black-backed Gull, Long-tailed Tit, Magpie, Mallard, Moorhen, Mute Swan, Oystercatcher, Pheasant, Pied Wagtail, Pink-footed Goose, Reed Bunting, Robin, Feral Pigeon, Rook, Siskin, Skylark, Song Thrush, Sparrowhawk, Starling, Treecreeper, Tufted Duck, Water Rail, Wigeon, Woodpigeon, Wren, Yellowhammer.
Mammals - Grey Squirrel.
