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| Mallard (male) |
This particular blog-post is intended to highlight around 100 or so species of birds that are relatively easy to find from within Dundee, and is largely intended for those with an interest in birds, or who are fairly inexperienced birders (for now). Once more details are added, those looking for particular species within Dundee, mat find it more useful than in its basic initial form.
You'll likely need at least a pair of binoculars to spot some of these birds, but this blog-post is intended to help in doing so with photos of the species (and later, some hopefully helpful info, with regards where/when to look for the birds, and other assorted basic info).
However, it turns out that there is a LOT of effort required to do this project justice, so it will be completed in stages. I've posted a selection of photos of the birds in a variety of plumages, and ages, as well as a few flight shots. The links at the end of the post, point to my photo albums of the species on my flickr page, which will give a wider range of plumages/ages/habitat-type shots etc.
I will add more details with regards ID, habitat, and likely locations for finding the birds a bit later.
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Other things that might be useful.
A field guide (Wildguides "Britain's Birds" or their "British Birds - A Concise Guide" or the more comprehensive Collins Bird Guide, would be those I'd recommend - though second-hand copies of bird books of variable standard can be found in charity shops etc).
Binoculars/camera/scope - anything that gives you a bit more reach can be helpful, but in general, the better the quality of the gear, the more detail you'll be able to see. Second-hand gear from the likes of Wex, or Ffordes can get you very good gear at a fraction of the price of buying new. Avoid Amazon where the 'amazing binoculars/camera/scope' for £10 is nothing of the sort. Save a tenner and stick two toilet roll tubes together for a similar performance.
Merlin app - this phone app is very good, but far from infallible. You can use it as a sort of fieldguide and browse through the species list, listen to the birds' calls and songs, check distribution maps, view a variety of photos etc. You can have Merlin only list the birds that you are likely to see locally at a particular time of year (this is not always accurate, as it is based on incomplete and sometimes erroneous data from eBird). You can answer some questions to narrow down the species that you MIGHT be seeing. You can also have Merlin identify the birds you can hear singing. However, be aware that it regularly misidentifies a number of common Dundee birds as being something much less common. It will also ignore particular calls too, which can be frustrating. Remember, just because Merlin said you had a very rare American warbler in Cairdie, doesn't mean it is correct. The more experienced you get the more obvious the errors Merlin makes will be to you. If it tells you it can hear a particular bird, try to see it to confirm the 'record'. Alternatively, you can compare the sonagram (the rolling 'picture' of the sounds) against those on the Xeno-Canto.org website which has a library of bird sounds from around the world.
* In the captions below I have used the description "youngster" to mean an actual juvenile plumaged bird, duckling, cygnet etc, up to actual adult plumage (for species such as some gulls, Gannets etc this can take 4 years or so)
**I have also tried to keep the captions consistent. Breeding plumage (used to be known as Summer plumage) is usually seen in Spring and Summer, though some birds might show such plumage earlier (or later). Non-breeding plumage (formerly Winter plumage) is usually seen in Autumn and Winter though with similar potential for some overlap.
***Male/female refers to the adult birds (though some female and 'youngster' plumage may be very similar, and I've tried to mention this where there might be some ambiguity).
**** Birds marked with an asterisk * in the photos below are species that are a little bit harder to find than the main 101 species featured.
*****There may be errors in the captions due to the failure of the proof-reader (me). If you find any, please do let me know.
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| Barnacle Goose* |
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| Barnacle Goose* |
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| Bar-tailed Godwit (breeding plumage) |
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| Bar-tailed Godwit (non-breeding plumage) |
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| Bar-tailed Godwit (non-breeding plumage) |
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| Blackbird (female) |
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| Blackbird (youngster) |
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| Blackbird (partially leucistic male) |
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| Blackbird (male) |
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| Blackcap (female/youngster) |
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| Blackcap (male) |
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| Black-headed Gull (breeding plumage) |
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| Black-headed Gull (youngster) |
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| Black-headed Gull (breeding plumage) |
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| Black-headed Gull (youngster) |
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| Black-headed Gull (non-breeding) |
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| Black-tailed Godwit |
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| Black-tailed Godwit (breeding plumage) |
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| Black-tailed Godwit (non-breeding plumage) |
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| Black-tailed Godwit (moulting into breeding plumage) |
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| Black-tailed Godwit (non-breeding plumage) [Bar-tailed Godwit nbp, top left] |
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| Blue Tit (youngster) |
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| Blue Tit |
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| Bullfinch (female) |
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| Bullfinch (youngster) |
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| Bullfinch (male) |
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| Buzzard |
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| Buzzard (mobbed by Carrion Crow) |
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| Buzzard |
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| Buzzard |
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| Buzzard (variation) |
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| Canada Goose |
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| Canada Goose |
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| Carrion Crow |
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| Carrion Crow (youngster) |
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| Carrion Crow |
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| Chaffinch (male) |
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| Chaffinch (female) |
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| Chiffchaff |
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| Chiffchaff |
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| Coal Tit |
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| Collared Dove |
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| Common Gull (breeding plumage) |
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| Common Gull (non-breeding plumage) |
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| Common Gull (non-breeding plumage) |
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| Common Gull (youngster) |
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| Common Sandpiper* |
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| Common Sandpiper* |
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| Common Tern (breeding plumage)* |
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| Common Tern (breeding plumage)* |
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| Common Tern (youngster)* |
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| Coot |
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| Coot (youngster) |
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| Coot (& Moorhen) |
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| Coot (youngster) |
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| Coot (family) |
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| Coot (territorial dispute) |
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| Cormorant |
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| Cormorant |
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| Cormorant |
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| Cormorant |
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| Crossbill (male) |
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| Crossbill (female & male) |
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| Crossbill (youngster) |
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| Crossbill (male) |
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| Curlew |
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| Curlew |
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| Curlew |
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| Dipper |
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| Dipper |
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| Dipper (youngster) |
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| Dipper |
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| Dunlin (breeding plumage) |
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| Dunlin (non-breeding plumage) |
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| Dunlin (mixed plumages - post breeding season) |
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| Dunlin (non-breeding plumage) |
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| Dunlin (youngster) |
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| Dunlin (post breeding moult) [Sanderling, 3rd, 4th, 6th from left] |
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| Dunlin (breeding plumage) |
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| Dunnock |
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| Dunnock |
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| Eider (male in eclipse plumage) |
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| Eider (female) |
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| Eider (male) |
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| Eider (youngster) |
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| Eider (male) |
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| Feral Pigeon (variation) |
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| Feral Pigeon (variation) |
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| Feral Pigeon (variation) |
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| Fieldfare |
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| Fieldfare |
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| Fieldfare |
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| Fulmar |
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| Gannet (youngster) |
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| Gannet (youngster) |
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| Gannet (adult) |
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| Gannet |
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| Goldcrest |
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| Goldcrest |
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| Goldcrest (male, with orange showing) |
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| Goldcrest |
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| Goldcrest |
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| Goldeneye (female & male) |
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| Goldeneye (female) |
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| Goldeneye (male & female - displaying) |
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| Goldfinch (youngster) |
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| Goldfinch |
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| Goldfinch (mixed ages) |
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| Goosander (male) |
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| Goosander (male) |
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| Goosander (youngster) |
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| Goosander (female) |
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| Goosander (male) |
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| Great Black-backed Gull |
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| Great Black-backed Gull (youngster) |
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| Great Black-backed Gull (youngster) |
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| Lesser Black-backed Gull & Great Black-backed Gull (adults) |
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| Great Black-backed Gull (moulting into adult plumage) |
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| Great Crested Grebe (breeding plumage) |
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| Great Crested Grebe (breeding plumage) |
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| Great Crested Grebe (youngster) |
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| Great Crested Grebe (breeding plumage) |
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| Great Crested Grebe (adult with youngsters) |
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| Great Spotted Woodpecker (female) |
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| Great Spotted Woodpecker (male) |
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| Great Spotted Woodpecker (male) |
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| Great Spotted Woodpecker (youngster) |
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| Great Tit |
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| Great Tit |
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| Great Tit |
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| Great Tit (youngster) |
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| Greenfinch (female) |
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| Greenfinch (male) |
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| Grey Heron (youngster) |
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| Grey Heron |
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| Grey Heron |
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| Grey Heron (roosting group) |
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| Grey Heron |
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| Grey Partridge* |
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| Grey Partridge (female)* |
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| Grey Partridge (female?)* |
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| Grey Wagtail (non-breeding plumage) |
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| Grey Wagtail (male in breeding plumage) |
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| Grey Wagtail (non-breeding plumage) |
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| Greylag Goose |
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| Greylag Goose (adult with youngsters) |
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| Greylag Goose |
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| Guillemot |
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| Guillemot (adults in breeding plumage - 4th from left is a 'bridled' variation) |
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| Guillemot (youngster) |
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| Guillemots, Razorbills and Puffins (in breeding plumage - except extreme right bird) |
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| Guillemot (non-breeding plumage) |
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| Guillemot (moulting from breeding plumage) |
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| Herring Gull (breeding plumage) |
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| Herring Gull (breeding plumage) |
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| Herring Gull (youngster) |
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| Herring Gull (youngster) |
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| Herring Gull (non-breeding plumage) |
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| Herring Gull (youngster) |
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| Herring Gull (youngster) |
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| House Martin |
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| House Martin |
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| House Martin (youngster) |
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| House Martin |
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| House Sparrow (youngsters with adult male - right) |
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| House Sparrow (youngster) |
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| House Sparrow (female and male behind) |
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| House Sparrow (male) |
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| House Sparrow (male) |
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| Jackdaw |
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| Jackdaw |
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| Jackdaw |
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| Jackdaw (youngster) |
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| Jay |
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| Jay |
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| Kestrel (male) |
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| Kestrel (male) |
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| Kestrel (male) |
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| Kestrel (probable female) |
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| Kestrel (youngster) |
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| Kestrel (female) |
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| Kingfisher (male) |
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| Kingfisher |
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| Kingfisher |
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| KIngfisher (female) |
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| Kingfisher (male) |
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| Kittiwake (youngster) |
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| Kittiwake (breeding plumage) |
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| Kittiwake (non-breeding plumage) |
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| Knot (probable youngster)* |
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| Knot (post breeding variation - youngster far right)* |
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| Knot (non-breeding plumage)* |
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| Knot (non-breeding plumage)* |
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| Knot (youngster)* |
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| Lesser Black-backed Gull (darker individual - breeding plumage) |
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| Lesser Black-backed Gull (breeding plumage) |
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| Lesser Black-backed Gull (breeding plumage) |
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| Lesser Black-backed Gull (youngster) |
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| Lesser Black-backed Gull (adult) |
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| Linnet |
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| Linnet (youngster) |
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| Linnet (non-breeding plumage - male) |
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| Linnet (breeding plumage male) |
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| Little Egret |
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| Little Egret |
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| Little Egret |
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| Little Grebe (breeding plumage) |
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| Little Grebe (youngster) |
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| Little Grebe (breeding plumage) |
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| Little Grebe (non-breeding plumage) |
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| Long-tailed Tit (youngster) |
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| Long-tailed Tit |
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| Long-tailed Tit |
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| Magpie |
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| Magpie |
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| Mallard (male) |
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| Mallard (female with youngsters) |
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| Mallard (female) |
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| Mallard (male moulting from eclipse plumage) |
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| Mallard (male) |
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| Meadow Pipit |
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| Meadow Pipit |
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| Meadow Pipit |
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| Meadow Pipit |
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| Mistle Thrush |
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| Mistle Thrush |
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| Mistle Thrush (youngster) |
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| Moorhen |
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| Moorhen (adult with youngster) |
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| Moorhen (youngster) |
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| Mute Swan |
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| Mute Swan (youngster) |
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| Mute Swan (youngster) |
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| Nuthatch |
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| Nuthatch |
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| Nuthatch (youngster) |
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| Nuthatch (male) |
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| Osprey (probable male) |
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| Osprey |
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| Osprey |
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| Osprey (probable female) |
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| Osprey (probable male) |
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| Oystercatcher (breeding plumage) |
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| Oystercatcher (youngster) |
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| Oystercatcher (non-breeding plumage) |
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| Oystercatcher (youngster?/non-breeding plumage) |
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| Peregrine |
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| Peregrine |
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| Peregrine |
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| Peregrine |
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| Peregrine |
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| Peregrine (youngster) |
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| Pheasant (female/youngster?) |
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| Pheasant (male - variation) |
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| Pheasant (youngster) |
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| Pheasant (female) |
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| Pheasant (male) |
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| Pheasant (youngster/female) |
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| Pheasant (male - dark variation) |
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| Pied Wagtail (female) |
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| Pied Wagtail (youngster) |
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| Pied Wagtail (male) |
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| Pied Wagtail (female) |
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| Pied Wagtail (male) |
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| Pied Wagtail (youngster) |
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| Pink-footed Goose |
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| Pink-footed Goose |
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| Pink-footed Goose (skeins leaving roost site) |
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| Razorbill (non-breeding plumage) |
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| Razorbill (breeding plumage) |
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| Razorbill (youngster) |
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| Red Kite* |
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| Red Kite* |
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| Red Kite* |
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| Red-breasted Merganser (male) |
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| Red-breasted Merganser (youngster) |
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| Red-breasted Merganser (female) |
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| Redshank (breeding plumage) |
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| Redshank (youngster) |
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| Redshank (non-breeding plumage) |
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| Redshank (non-breeding plumage) |
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| Redshank (non-breeding plumage) |
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| Redshank (moulting into breeding plumage) |
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| Red-throated Diver (breeding plumage) |
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| Red-throated Diver (youngster) |
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| Red Throated Diver (breeding plumage) |
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| Red-throated Diver (youngster) |
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| Red-throated Diver (moulting into breeding plumage) |
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| Redwing |
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| Redwing |
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| Redwing |
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| Redwing |
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| Reed Bunting (female) |
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| Reed Bunting (male - non-breeding plumage) |
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| Reed Bunting (male - breeding plumage) |
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| Ringed Plover (youngster) |
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| Ringed Plover (breeding plumage) [& 4 Dunlin] |
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| Ringed Plover (breeding plumage) |
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| Robin (adult) |
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| Robin (youngster) |
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| Robin (youngster) |
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| Rock Pipit |
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| Rock Pipit |
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| Rock Pipit |
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| Rock Pipit |
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| Rock Pipit |
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| Rook |
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| Rook (at rookery) |
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| Sand Martin |
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| Sand Martin (youngster) |
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| Sand Martin |
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| Sand Martin |
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| Sandwich Tern (& Arctic Tern) (breeding plumage) |
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| Sandwich Tern (breeding plumage) |
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| Sandwich Tern (youngster) |
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| Sandwich Tern (breeding plumage) |
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| Sandwich Tern (non-breeding plumage adult & youngster behind) |
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| Sedge Warbler |
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| Sedge Warbler (youngster) |
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| Sedge Warbler |
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| Shag (youngster) |
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| Shag (youngster) |
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| Shag (breeding plumage) |
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| Shag (breeding adult) |
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| Shelduck (male) |
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| Shelduck (female - with youngsters) |
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| Shelduck (female with male behind) |
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| Siskin (male) |
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| Siskin (female) |
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| Skylark (youngster) |
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| Skylark |
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| Skylark |
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| Skylark |
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| Skylark |
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| Skylark |
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| Song Thrush (youngster) |
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| Song Thrush |
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| Song Thrush |
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| Song Thrush |
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| Sparrowhawk (male) |
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| Sparrowhawk (female) |
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| Sparrowhawk (female) |
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| Sparrowhawk (male) |
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| Sparrowhawk (male) |
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| Sparrowhawk (female) |
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| Sparrowhawk (typical stealth attack) |
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| Sparrowhawk (male) |
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| Starling (post-breeding flock) |
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| Starling (adult feeding youngster) |
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| Starling (breeding plumage male) |
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| Starling (youngster) |
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| Starling (youngster) |
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| Starling (non-breeding plumage) |
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| Stock Dove |
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| Stock Dove |
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| Stock Dove |
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| Stock Dove (youngster) |
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| Swallow (breeding plumage) |
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| Swallow (breeding plumage) |
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| Swallow (youngster) |
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| Swallow (breeding plumage) |
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| Swallow (youngsters & nest) |
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| Swift |
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| Swift |
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| Swift |
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| Swift |
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| Tawny Owl |
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| Tawny Owl |
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| Tawny Owl (youngster) |
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| Teal (male moulting to/from(?) eclipse) |
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| Teal (male in breeding plumage) |
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| Teal (female) |
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| Teal (adult female left, male right) |
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| Teal (breeding plumage male & female) |
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| Treecreeper (youngster) |
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| Treecreeper |
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| Treecreeper (youngsters) |
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| Treecreeper |
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| Tufted Duck (male breeding plumage) |
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| Tufted Duck (female) |
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| Tufted Duck (female) |
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| Tufted Duck (male in breeding plumage) |
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| Turnstone (non-breeding plumage) |
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| Turnstone (breeding plumage) |
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| Turnstone (non-breeding plumage) |
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| Turnstone (non-breeding plumage) |
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| Waxwing (adult) |
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| Waxwing (typical non-feeding flock) |
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| Waxwing |
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| Waxwing (youngster) |
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| Whitethroat |
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| Whitethroat |
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| Whitethroat (youngster) |
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| Whitethroat (youngster) |
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| Whitethroat (female) |
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| Whooper Swan (adult) |
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| Whooper Swan (youngster) |
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| Wigeon (male breeding plumage) |
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| Wigeon (female and male in breeding plumage) |
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| Wigeon (female and male moulting from eclipse plumage) |
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| Willow Warbler (youngster) |
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| Willow Warbler |
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| Willow Warbler |
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| Willow Warbler (youngster) |
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| Woodpigeon |
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| Woodpigeon (youngster) |
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| Woodpigeon |
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| Woodpigeon |
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| Wren (youngster) |
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| Wren |
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| Wren |
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| Yellowhammer (male) |
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| Yellowhammer (male) |
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| Yellowhammer (female) |
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| Yellowhammer (youngster) |
Links to additional photos
Red-throated Diver
Little Grebe
Great Crested Grebe
Fulmar
Gannet
Cormorant
Shag
Little Egret
Grey Heron
Mute Swan
Whooper Swan
Pink-footed Goose
Greylag Goose
Canada Goose
Shelduck
Wigeon
Teal
Mallard
Tufted Duck
Eider
Goldeneye
Red-breasted Merganser
Goosander
Sparrowhawk
Buzzard
Osprey
Kestrel
Peregrine
Pheasant
Moorhen
Coot
Oystercatcher
Ringed Plover
Dunlin
Black-tailed Godwit
Bar-tailed Godwit
Curlew
Redshank
Turnstone
Black-headed Gull
Common Gull
Lesser Black-backed Gull
Herring Gull
Great Black-backed Gull
Kittiwake
Sandwich Tern
Guillemot
Razorbill
Feral Pigeon
Stock Dove
Woodpigeon
Collared Dove
Tawny Owl
Swift
Kingfisher
Great Spotted Woodpecker
Skylark
Sand Martin
Swallow
House Martin
Meadow Pipit
Rock Pipit
Grey Wagtail
Pied Wagtail
Dipper
Wren
Dunnock
Robin
Blackbird
Fieldfare
Song Thrush
Redwing
Mistle Thrush
Sedge Warbler
Whitethroat
Blackcap
Chiffchaff
Willow Warbler
Goldcrest
Long-tailed Tit
Coal Tit
Blue Tit
Great Tit
Nuthatch
Treecreeper
Jay
Magpie
Jackdaw
Rook
Carrion Crow
Starling
House Sparrow
Chaffinch
Bullfinch
Greenfinch
Goldfinch
Siskin
Linnet
Crossbill
Yellowhammer
Reed Bunting
A few additional species which are a bit more difficulat to see from within the city but which are included in the photos above.
Barnacle Goose
Grey Partridge
Red Kite
Knot
Common Sandpiper
Common Tern
