 |
| Turnstone |
Having 'done' Riverside Nature Park on Tuesday, it was the turn of Broughty Ferry and Balmossie on Wednesday the 2nd of September. Expectations were on the low side though there were a few possibilities for additions to my #2026Dundee150 list, though things would likely need to be a bit busier than on my previous visit, out on the river, if I was to be lucky with any of them. An early start would allow me to get to Broughty Castle for around high tide. From there I would continue out to Balmossie as the tide receded and to scan through the birds around the burn mouth and nearby. Somehow I even managed to be out of my bed for around 0500.
I made it out the front door before sunrise, around 0610. Robin, Jackdaw, Herring Gull, Feral Pigeon, Woodpigeon, Magpie, Carrion Crow, Black-headed Gull, Wren, Great Tit and Grey Squirrel were seen between home and Baxter Park. A bit further on Blue Tit and an overflying Curlew were spotted before a Fox crossed the road ahead of me and wandered into someone's front garden. Starling, House Sparrow and the day's first Meadow Pipit were all added before I reached the Stannergate. Lesser Black-backed Gull and Great Black-backed Gull amongst the other gull plus Blackbird and Chiffchaff behind me joined the other species already on the list. Turnstone, Grey Heron, Guillemot, Gannet, Sandwich Tern, Razorbill, Redshank and some distant Canada Geese were all noted between there and Douglas Terrace.
Cormorant, Common Gull and Eider were seen as I continued on to the castle. Goosander, Pied Wagtail, Long-tailed Tit, Goldfinch and a heard-only Rock Pipit were around near the castle. I set up the scope behind the crazy golf course and scanned out over the very quiet river. A distant Little Egret and pair of Mute Swans provided a few more additions (even if they were actually in Fife). A Rook overflew and just as I realised I hadn't seen any Oystercatchers on the walk out, a pair landed on the beach in front of me. There was no point in lingering longer than necessary with nothing much happening so I pressed on towards Balmossie. A quick look at the local nature reserve got me Stock Dove and Collared Dove. Back at the beach, a flock of Bar-tailed Godwits were seen in flight and a Wheatear was spotted flying low along the beach. I spooked a Rabbit among the vegetation by the rock armour.
At Balmossie, scanning the shore and burn mouth got me Wigeon, a single young Shelduck, a few Ringed Plover, a Knot and a passing Grey Wagtail. An Osprey finally put in an appearance around 1040 but needless disturbance by dog walkers and the effects of the early start was already making me think about heading home. I was chatting to a lady about Ospreys when one showed up and she was able to watch it through the scope. A second bird then joined in. Unfortunately, it began to rain so I headed along to the brick shelter and scanned from there. A Great Spotted Woodpecker was in the trees at the rock garden and Grey Seals were beginning to appear on the sandbanks out on the river. The rain showed no sign of stopping though it did abate slightly, so I called it a day and headed up through the nature reserve and caught the bus back to Blackscroft. I finished the morning's birding with a total of 51 species of birds and 4 of mammals.
 |
| Lesser Black-backed Gull |
 |
| Common Gull |
 |
| Gannet |
 |
| Redshank |
 |
| Meadow Pipit |
 |
| Cormorant |
 |
| Common Gull |
 |
| Guillemot |
 |
| Common Gull, Sandwich Tern, Great Black-backed Gull |
 |
| Sandwich Tern |
 |
| Sandwich Tern |
 |
| Turnstone |
 |
| Grey Heron |
 |
| Goldfinch |
 |
| Eider |
 |
| Pied Wagtail |
 |
| Herring Gull |
 |
| Gannet |
 |
| Oystercatcher |
 |
| Stock Dove |
 |
| Collared Dove |
 |
| Canada Goose |
 |
| Bar-tailed Godwit |
 |
| Curlew |
 |
| Wigeon & Goosander |
 |
| Little Egret |
 |
| Little Egret |
 |
| Osprey |
 |
| Little Egret |
 |
| Ringed Plover |
Birds - Bar-tailed Godwit, Black-headed Gull, Blackbird, Blue Tit, Canada Goose, Carrion Crow, Chiffchaff, Collared Dove, Common Gull, Cormorant, Curlew, Dunnock, Eider, Gannet, Goldfinch, Goosander, Great Black-backed Gull, Goldfinch, Goosander, Great Black-backed Gull, Great Spotted Woodpecker, Great Tit, Grey Heron, Grey Wagtail, Guillemot, Herring Gull, House Sparrow, Jackdaw, Knot, Lesser Black-backed Gull, Little Egret, Long-tailed Tit, Magpie, Meadow Pipit, Mute Swan, Osprey, Oystercatcher, Pied Wagtail, Razorbill, Redshank, Ringed Plover, Robin, Feral Pigeon, Rock Pipit, Rook, Sandwich Tern, Shelduck, Stock Dove, Turnstone, Wheatear, Wigeon, Woodpigeon, Wren.
Mammals - Fox, Grey Seal, Grey Squirrel, Rabbit.
