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| Kingfisher |
Although I once again considered heading out early for Quail in a field being harvested (which would require two pieces of luck - picking a field being harvested in the correct part of the city at the time I got there and it actually having Quail in it), I slept in a bit longer than ideal for doing that. Instead, I decided to head back to Broughty Ferry and Balmossie. There were still a few species I could realistically have a reasonable chance of finding. The most likely of these was probably Arctic Tern, slightly less likely were Mediterranean Gull and Sanderling, and maybe a skua species. High tide was around 0945 so I would have a bit of time to play with before the tide turned. My plan was to head to the castle area, watch from the crazy golf slope, then head into the castle when it opened, before walking out to Balmossie for around 1100-1130. I would spend some time there then wander back to the castle and then home again sometime during the afternoon, hopefully with at least one, or ideally more, new species for my #2026Dundee150 list.
I was out the door at 0700. My intention was to take the usual more direct route which would save me around 10 minutes on Wednesday's route. Feral Pigeon, Robin, House Sparrow, Herring Gull, Carrion Crow, Magpie and House Martin were noted as I headed along to Dura Street. Woodpigeon, Coal Tit, Goldfinch and Blue Tit were found between there and Old Craigie Road. The Autumn's first Meadow Pipit migrating overhead was seen as I headed down Craigie Avenue. Long-tailed Tits were heard further down the hill and Wren near the end of Kinnordy Terrace. Greenfinch, Blackbird, Dunnock and the day's first Rabbits were in the bit of scrubby ground by the railway line behind Alpha Projects. A Chiffchaff was in bushes opposite the small car park. Down on the beach I spotted a young gull that looked potentially like a Caspian Gull, but as always turned out to be just a Herring Gull.
A Curlew was down on the shore along with a Black-headed Gull. A young Linnet was in the bushes at the start of the path along the river. A pair of Grey Wagtails headed west overhead before the morning's first Redshank and Turnstones were seen. The day's first Grey Heron was a bit further on. The river was flat clam making it easy to pick out a few Grey Seals. A couple of Sandwich Terns announced their presence by calling loudly as they flew downriver. A Gannet was seen over towards Tayport. A pair of Goosander flew out from the end of Douglas Terrace. I reached the other side of the castle a little later than I had expected, though still with plenty of time to play with before high tide. With the scope set up atop the slope by the crazy golf course I was able to add Oystercatcher, Guillemot, Pied Wagtail, Great Black-backed Gull and Eider.
A bit of a surprise was a small flock of Tree Sparrows, heard chirping loudly as they circled over the crazy golf course. I did photograph a trio of birds a little later which were 2 House Sparrows and a Tree Sparrow, so I'm not sure just how many actual Tree Sparrows were present. A flock of Starlings flew from the castle towards the town. A Tree Pipit then flew past and I somehow managed to get a reasonably decent photo. The cruise liner Ambition had sailed past as I walked from the lifeboat station to the castle and as I watched the large barge Brave Wind (with parts of the rather large wind turbines set to be put together along at the docks) I spotted the Bottlenose Dolphin family - 2 adults and a youngster a little closer in to shore. They didn't linger once the ship passed and by the time Salt Dog's rhib headed out, they were off Tentsmuir Point where they put on a reasonable display for the passengers.
Things were rather quiet out on the river and rather than wait for the castle to open I decided I might as well just head out to Balmossie instead. I had messaged Lainy earlier to see if she fancied popping down and having replied that she might head down later, I let her know that I was on my way to Balmossie a bit earlier than planned. The usual Mute Swans were off the Dighty Burn outflow and I was able to get the day's first Common Gulls. Unfortunately, things were just as quiet there with nothing out of the ordinary seen. I did eventually manage to pick out a couple of Common Terns and a single Arctic Tern well out over the river. The latter being a welcome new bird for my #2026Dundee150 list. Out to the east, I spotted a trio of Buzzards circling high in the sky along with a single Sparrowhawk just before Lainy arrived. A flock of Bar-tailed Godwits were seen along at Monifieth beach, with only a single bird at the burn mouth and a trio flying past low westwards close to where we were.
A Rook flew in and a passer-by stopped to ask whether a bird high out above the river was an Osprey - it was, one that we hadn't noticed, though we did get two at the same time much closer just before we called it a day. A few Sand Martins headed past and Lainy managed to pick out some distant Canada Geese at Barry Buddon. A trio of Teal stopped off in the burn for half an hour or so before continuing east along the river. Lesser Black-backed Gull and Jackdaw were added to the list before we headed in the direction of home. Lainy kindly gave me a lift up the road, which saved my shoulders and back though as she had to stop off in Linlathen I walked home from there via Caird Park. In Cairdie I managed to find a calling Willow Warbler and Great Spotted Woodpecker as well as a couple of mewing young Buzzards.
Chaffinch, Mallard, Moorhen and Grey Squirrel were seen around the ponds, before I stumbled upon a Kingfisher which promptly flew off as I raised the camera for a photo. I did then manage to sneak up on the bird and had a minute or two of relatively close views (and in slightly better light than the usual winter views to be had there). A Speckled Wood butterfly was spotted as I headed up towards the Kingsway and a Small White was seen at Mains Terrace though birds were in very short supply (bar a calling Chiffchaff). I finished the day's birding having managed to find 57 species of birds (including 1 new for my #2026Dundee150 list - in bold), 2 of butterflies and 4 of mammals. While not the most exciting day's birding, I did manage to get some decent photos of common species and also had an enjoyable chat with Lainy, just sat on a bench by the river for a couple of hours. Certainly beats being at work...
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| Linnet |
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| Curlew |
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| Grey Seal |
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| Grey Heron |
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| Sandwich Tern |
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| Gannet |
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| Guillemot |
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| Grey Heron |
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| Grey Heron |
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| Cormorant |
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| Bottlenose Dolphin |
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| Tree Pipit |
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| House Sparrow & Tree Sparrow |
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| Sandwich Tern |
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| Bottlenose Dolphin |
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| Black-headed Gull |
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| Arctic Tern |
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| Sparrowhawk & Buzzard |
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| Teal, Redshank, Herring Gull & Carrion Crow |
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| Osprey |
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| Moorhen |
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| Kingfisher |
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| Kingfisher |
Birds - Arctic Tern, Bar-tailed Godwit, Black-headed Gull, Blackbird, Blue Tit, Buzzard, Canada Goose, Carrion Crow, Chaffinch, Chiffchaff, Coal Tit, Common Gull, Common Ten, Cormorant, Curlew, Dunnock, Eider, Gannet, Goldfinch, Goosander, Great Black-backed Gull, Great Spotted Woodpecker, Greenfinch, Grey Heron, Grey Wagtail, Guillemot, Herring Gull, House Martin, House Sparrow, Jackdaw, Kingfisher, Lesser Black-backed Gull, Linnet, Long-tailed Tit, Magpie, Mallard, Meadow Pipit, Moorhen, Mute Swan, Osprey, Oystercatcher, Pied Wagtail, Redshank, Robin, Feral Pigeon, Rook, Sand Martin, Sandwich Tern, Sparrowhawk, Starling, Teal, Tree Pipit, Tree Sparrow, Turnstone, Willow Warbler, Woodpigeon, Wren.
Butterflies - Small White, Speckled Wood.
Mammals - Bottlenose Dolphin, Grey Seal, Grey Squirrel, Rabbit.
