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| Dipper |
Having managed to add a couple of species to my #2026Dundee150 list on Saturday the 2nd of May, I was hoping that I might manage to continue that success the following day. I had arranged with Rohan to show her some of the spots I visit in the eastern half of the city. Having missed out on Grasshopper Warbler the previous day, it was my most likely new addition, with a few spots where I've had the species in previous years on the list of places we would be visiting. We had originally arranged to meet up at 0730, but a claim of a Hooded Crow sighting the previous morning needed to be checked out, just in case it was genuine (though this seemed unlikely given the track record of the 'finder'), so we moved the meeting forward by 10 minutes.
I headed out just before 0720 to meet Rohan nearby. Herring Gull, House Sparrow and Feral Pigeon were noted before Rohan turned up, right on time. We headed for the location where the Hoodie had been reported. Woodpigeon, Magpie and Lesser Blacked-back Gull were seen en route. Amongst the Carrion Crows at the location, there was actually a grey and black bird, though it wasn't a Hooded Crow but a Jackdaw. Also nearby were Blackcap, Greenfinch, Starling and Common Gull. We moved on to our first planned spot - Trottick Ponds. Willow Warbler, Chiffchaff, Blackbird, Robin, Goldfinch, Coal Tit, Great Tit, Chaffinch, Great Spotted Woodpecker and Long-tailed Tit were seen as we headed to the actual ponds, where Mallard, Mute Swan and Moorhen were found. Whitethroat, Siskin and Jay were noted on our way back to Rohan's car.
Our second spot was Jack Martin Way and this proved to be relatively productive with Yellowhammer, Skylark, Swallow, Dunnock, Blue Tit, Oystercatcher, Grey Partridge, Reed Bunting, Pheasant and Pied Wagtail all being found. There was no sign of Stonechat or Sedge Warbler and despite having seen Grasshopper Warbler in the general area we were out of luck with that species too. Collared Dove was added at our next brief stop, but once again we drew a blank on the hoped for Grasshopper Warbler. Our next stop was the Dighty Burn between Douglas and Whitfield though we did visit the stretch of burn beside Sainsbury's first. Once again, no Grasshopper Warblers were found, though we did have numerous Sand Martins hawking low over the Dighty and a couple of drake Goosanders a bit further downstream. A Sedge Warbler was heard.
Crossing to the main stretch of the burn, a Dipper was almost immediately spotted by the bridge. The walk along the burn proved to be relatively quiet though we did manage to find a Kingfisher which flew off ahead of us, as well as a Grey Heron and a Swift. Heading back to the car we had decent views of Chiffchaff, Willow Warbler and Reed Bunting as well as another Dipper. Song Thrush and Bullfinch were in the trees near the car. A quick drive-by at Swannie Ponds added Tufted Duck and Coot to the list, plus a House Martin flying low along the road by the ponds. Rohan dropped me off at home a few minutes later. Although we failed to get Grasshopper Warbler (or the 'Hooded Crow') we did end the morning with a total of 54 species of birds, which was relatively decent, given the relatively rushed nature of our 'east side tour'.
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| Grey Partridge |
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| Goosander |
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| Dipper |
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| Dipper |
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| Whitethroat |
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| Dipper |
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| Willow Warbler |
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| Goosander |
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| Collared Dove |
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| Grey Heron |
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| Great Tit |
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| Willow Warbler |
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| Wren |
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| Swift |
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| Reed Bunting |
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| Reed Bunting |
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| Dipper |
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| Dipper |
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| Dipper |
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| Dipper |
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| Dipper |
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| Dipper |
Birds - Blackbird, Blackcap, Blue Tit, Bullfinch, Carrion Crow, Chaffinch, Chiffchaff, Coal Tit, Collared Dove, Common Gull, Coot, Dipper, Dunnock, Goldfinch, Goosander, Great Spotted Woodpecker, Great Tit, Greenfinch, Grey Heron, Grey Partridge, Herring Gull, House Martin, House Sparrow, jackdaw, jay, Kingfisher, Lesser Black-backed Gull, Linnet, Long-tailed Tit, Magpie, Mallard, Moorhen, Mute Swan, Oystercatcher, Pheasant, Pied Wagtail, Reed Bunting, Robin, Feral Pigeon, Sand Martin, Sedge Warbler, Siskin, Skylark, Song Thrush, Starling, Stock Dove, Swallow Swift, Tufted Duck, Whitethroat, Willow Warbler, Woodpigeon, Wren, Yellowhammer.
