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| Guillemot |
With no real plan in mind for the day's birding on Friday the 2nd of October, I decided to visit a few places I've not visited much lately such as Swannie Ponds and Eastern Cemetery. I would then make my way out to Dawson Park in search of the rather elusive Ring-necked Parakeet that I've yet to see in 2026. Depending on how things panned out, I would head likely down to the river then walk back home via City Quay. My expectation levels and motivation were both on the low side so the possibility of not even making it to Dawson Park was very real. I was ready to go just after 0900 having spent a bit longer in bed than usual due to the lack of motivation.
Goldfinch, Robin, Magpie, Starling, Feral Pigeon, Carrion Crow, Jackdaw, Blue Tit and Herring Gull made for a fairly slow start as I wandered along to Dura Street where a Woodpigeon was noted. I detoured into Baxter Park where Blackbird and Wren were found near the entrance opposite Morgan Academy. A Grey Squirrel plus Coal Tit and Chaffinch were spotted before I reached Spring Grove which was very much full of vegetation though no obvious birds. I continued on up to Swannie Ponds from there. At the ponds, Mute Swan, Mallard, Moorhen, Coot, Grey Heron and the unexpected sight of a (likely returning) drake Shoveler as well as some migrating Skylarks and Meadow Pipits overhead made for a slightly more interesting visit than had been expected. A Jay flew over the road from the trees by Clepington Road and a single Tufted Duck was noted before I headed in the direction of Eastern Cemetery.
Greenfinch and House Sparrow were spotted on the way to the cemetery though birds were in rather short supply when I got there. There were a few Rabbits there as well as a few thrushes - Song Thrush, Mistle Thrush and a Redwing. Goldcrest and Chiffchaff were in the bushes towards the eastern end but overall it was very quiet. Great Tit was the only addition between the cemetery and Dawson Park. Long-tailed Tits were rather vocally feeding by the side gate there but not unexpectedly things proved disappointingly quiet there, with no sign of the hoped-for Ring-necked Parakeet. I did consider asking some of the multitude of dog walkers if they had seen it recently but decided not to. I reached the end of Douglas Terrace just before 1100. A skein of Pink-footed Geese overflew while down on the shore were Curlew, Oystercatcher and Redshank with a Cormorant seen out on the river. A bit further on, a Black-headed Gull was by the water's edge. I had decided I might as well walk along to the castle to check the river beyond, seeing as I was nearby anyway. A Guillemot close in by the lifeboat station was a bit of a surprise, the nearby Goosander much less so.
The Pied Wagtail and Turnstones a little further on were no surprise at all. From the castle itself I was able to add Eider, Red-throated Diver and Common Gull as I scanned out over the river. A couple of Rock Pipits and a few Linnets were also around. With no scope with me and not much happening out on the river (though the sky was looking rather threatening with obvious rain out to the west over the city and river), I decided to head back homewards just before 1230. A few Swallows headed out over the water as I passed the harbour. A Little Egret was spotted heading upriver as I reached the Winkie the Pigeon sculpture. A Grey Seal was seen bottling from the sailing club sheds and a Red Admiral butterfly was near the entrance to the Docks Way cycle path. Buzzard and Sparrowhawk were not unexpected, but still welcome, additions along the railway line. A Grey Wagtail overflew opposite the Nynas tanks. The day's final addition was a Great Black-backed Gull at Submarine Rock. I headed home from there making it home around 1445. The total for the day was 54 species of birds plus 1 of butterflies and 3 of mammals. Nothing new for my #2026Dundee150 list was disappointing but not a surprise.
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| Shoveler |
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| Grey Heron |
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| Grey Heron |
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| Greenfinch |
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| Blackbird |
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| Mistle Thrush |
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| Song Thrush |
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| Pink-footed Goose |
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| Herring Gull |
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| Redshank |
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| Guillemot |
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| Goosander |
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| Goldfinch |
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| Eider |
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| Eider |
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| Red-throated Diver |
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| Pied Wagtail |
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| Pink-footed Goose |
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| Guillemot |
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| Starling |
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| Turnstone |
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| Little Egret |
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| Carrion Crow & Sparrowhawk |
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| Buzzard |
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| Cormorant |
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| Great Black-backed Gull |
Birds - Black-headed Gull, Blackbird, Blue Tit, Buzzard, Carrion Crow, Chaffinch, Chiffchaff, Coal Tit, Common Gull, Coot, Cormorant, Curlew, Eider, Goldcrest, Goldfinch, Goosander, Great Black-backed Gull, Great Tit, Greenfinch, Grey Heron, Grey Wagtail, Guillemot, Herring Gull, House Sparrow, Jackdaw, Jay, Linnet, Little Egret, Long-tailed Tit, Magpie, Mallard, Meadow Pipit, Mistle Thrush, Moorhen, Mute Swan, Oystercatcher, Pied Wagtail, Pink-footed Goose, Red-throated Diver, Redshank, Redwing, Robin, Feral Pigeon, Rock Pipit, Shoveler, Skylark, Song Thrush, Sparrowhawk, Starling, Swallow, Tufted Duck, Turnstone, Woodpigeon, Wren.
Butterflies - Red Admiral.
Mammals - Grey Seal, Grey Squirrel, Rabbit.
