Stonefaction
Dundee Birding....(target 150 in 2024).
1st January
Well, 2011 ended on 195, so can I match that this year, or top the 2010 total of 205? Time will tell.
Decided to walk more or less the same route I did last January 1st to see if I could get around 40 species (39 last year) from my flat in Dundee to Broughty Ferry and back.
When I opened the curtains this morning there were a few Herring Gulls flying around, so bird number 1 was a Herring Gull. When I left the house there were still a few hanging on the strong winds above the streets. A few Starlings flew over, and a few Carrion Crows were perched atop the chimney pots. A small group of Feral Pigeons landed in a garden with feeders out front and were joined by some noisy House Sparrows. Black Headed Gulls joined the high flying Herring Gulls.
Took a detour off my route of last year to try and see Magpie where I saw them a month or so ago, but there was no sign of them. Did manage a few Blackbirds, a couple of Collared Doves, a Dunnock, and a Blue Tit there, so not a wasted detour by any means.
Next stop was Swannie Ponds where the usual gulls and waterbird mix included Mallard, Tufted Duck, Mute Swan and Common Gull. No sign of Moorhen though.
Next stop was Baxter Park where the only thing of note was a rather vocal Goldfinch. Leaving the park by the eastern exit, I caught sight of a raptor to the south. A Peregrine. Cut through Eastern Cemetery which is usually good for Mistle Thrush, Coal Tit and Buzzard but there was very little of anything around. Continuing towards Broughty Ferry, a Pied Wagtail landed on the road beside me at the bottom of Craigie Drive.
The road into the Stannergate was closed, so the chance of getting Linnets by the docks was off the agenda. Had a nice Sparrowhawk there last year too. Joining the path along the Grassy Beach, an Oystercatcher was spotted, and a Cormorant was perched on a rock out on the river drying its wings. The usual suspects were feeding along the shore. Redshank, Turnstone and Curlew. A drake Red Breasted Merganser was seen well out on the river.
No sign of Rock Pipit at Broughty Ferry harbour, so continued eastwards along the esplanade. A small group of Bar Tailed Godwits were on the shore unperturbed by the walkers on the sands, as was a single Great Black Backed Gull.
Popped into the small local Nature Reserve to try and add a few of the smaller passerines to the list. Heard a Wren, but didn't manage to see it. Did however manage to add Robin, Woodpigeon, Chaffinch, Greenfinch and Great Tit.
Back out onto the beach and could see a few waders out on near the water's edge feeding with the Oystercatchers, so made my way slowly out towards them. A single Sanderling was noticable at the water's edge, and a Dunlin or three were a bit further in. A couple of Ringed Plovers added to the small waders, and offshore a few small groups of Eider could be seen among the waves.
Turned for home and finally found a Rock Pipit feeding on the seaweed and debris in Broughty Ferry Harbour. An adult Peregrine flew over very low allowing me to get a series of photos. Unfortunately, the camera was still set for the Rock Pipit which had been in a rather dark area, so the slower shutter speed resulted in a lot of blurred shots. Disappointed as the bird showed well for around 20 secs.
A dead and rather fresh looking Greylag Goose was washed up on the shore at the Douglas Terrace end of the Grassy Beach. Hadn't seen it on the way out, so I think it must have came in on the tide. A Great Black Backed Gull was feeding on another unidentified bird corpse further along (possibly a Shag).
Followed the same route home but didn't add anything in the fading light until I got back to Swannie Ponds where the characteristic bobbing head of a Moorhen caught my eye as it swam towards the island.
Still no Magpies at Lammerton Terrace, but a small group of roosting thrushes in the tops of the trees turned out to be Fieldfares and a solitary Redwing. No Kestrel on a lamp post like last year, and no overflying Geese, so 38 species was the total for the day.
1. Herring Gull
2. Starling
3. Carrion Crow
4. Feral Pigeon
5. House Sparrow
6. Black Headed Gull
7. Blackbird
8. Collared Dove
9. Dunnock
10. Blue Tit
11. Common Gull
12. Mute Swan
13. Mallard
14. Tufted Duck
15. Goldfinch
16. Peregrine
17. Pied Wagtail
18. Oystercatcher
19. Cormorant
20. Redshank
21. Turnstone
22. Curlew
23. Red Breasted Merganser
24. Bar Tailed Godwit
25. Great Black Backed Gull
26. Robin
27. Woodpigeon
28. Chaffinch
29. Greenfinch
30. Great Tit
31. Dunlin
32. Ringed Plover
33. Sanderling
34. Eider
35. Rock Pipit
36. Moorhen
37. Redwing
38. Fieldfare
Well, 2011 ended on 195, so can I match that this year, or top the 2010 total of 205? Time will tell.
Decided to walk more or less the same route I did last January 1st to see if I could get around 40 species (39 last year) from my flat in Dundee to Broughty Ferry and back.
When I opened the curtains this morning there were a few Herring Gulls flying around, so bird number 1 was a Herring Gull. When I left the house there were still a few hanging on the strong winds above the streets. A few Starlings flew over, and a few Carrion Crows were perched atop the chimney pots. A small group of Feral Pigeons landed in a garden with feeders out front and were joined by some noisy House Sparrows. Black Headed Gulls joined the high flying Herring Gulls.
Took a detour off my route of last year to try and see Magpie where I saw them a month or so ago, but there was no sign of them. Did manage a few Blackbirds, a couple of Collared Doves, a Dunnock, and a Blue Tit there, so not a wasted detour by any means.
Next stop was Swannie Ponds where the usual gulls and waterbird mix included Mallard, Tufted Duck, Mute Swan and Common Gull. No sign of Moorhen though.
Next stop was Baxter Park where the only thing of note was a rather vocal Goldfinch. Leaving the park by the eastern exit, I caught sight of a raptor to the south. A Peregrine. Cut through Eastern Cemetery which is usually good for Mistle Thrush, Coal Tit and Buzzard but there was very little of anything around. Continuing towards Broughty Ferry, a Pied Wagtail landed on the road beside me at the bottom of Craigie Drive.
The road into the Stannergate was closed, so the chance of getting Linnets by the docks was off the agenda. Had a nice Sparrowhawk there last year too. Joining the path along the Grassy Beach, an Oystercatcher was spotted, and a Cormorant was perched on a rock out on the river drying its wings. The usual suspects were feeding along the shore. Redshank, Turnstone and Curlew. A drake Red Breasted Merganser was seen well out on the river.
No sign of Rock Pipit at Broughty Ferry harbour, so continued eastwards along the esplanade. A small group of Bar Tailed Godwits were on the shore unperturbed by the walkers on the sands, as was a single Great Black Backed Gull.
Popped into the small local Nature Reserve to try and add a few of the smaller passerines to the list. Heard a Wren, but didn't manage to see it. Did however manage to add Robin, Woodpigeon, Chaffinch, Greenfinch and Great Tit.
Back out onto the beach and could see a few waders out on near the water's edge feeding with the Oystercatchers, so made my way slowly out towards them. A single Sanderling was noticable at the water's edge, and a Dunlin or three were a bit further in. A couple of Ringed Plovers added to the small waders, and offshore a few small groups of Eider could be seen among the waves.
Turned for home and finally found a Rock Pipit feeding on the seaweed and debris in Broughty Ferry Harbour. An adult Peregrine flew over very low allowing me to get a series of photos. Unfortunately, the camera was still set for the Rock Pipit which had been in a rather dark area, so the slower shutter speed resulted in a lot of blurred shots. Disappointed as the bird showed well for around 20 secs.
A dead and rather fresh looking Greylag Goose was washed up on the shore at the Douglas Terrace end of the Grassy Beach. Hadn't seen it on the way out, so I think it must have came in on the tide. A Great Black Backed Gull was feeding on another unidentified bird corpse further along (possibly a Shag).
Followed the same route home but didn't add anything in the fading light until I got back to Swannie Ponds where the characteristic bobbing head of a Moorhen caught my eye as it swam towards the island.
Still no Magpies at Lammerton Terrace, but a small group of roosting thrushes in the tops of the trees turned out to be Fieldfares and a solitary Redwing. No Kestrel on a lamp post like last year, and no overflying Geese, so 38 species was the total for the day.
1. Herring Gull
2. Starling
3. Carrion Crow
4. Feral Pigeon
5. House Sparrow
6. Black Headed Gull
7. Blackbird
8. Collared Dove
9. Dunnock
10. Blue Tit
11. Common Gull
12. Mute Swan
13. Mallard
14. Tufted Duck
15. Goldfinch
16. Peregrine
17. Pied Wagtail
18. Oystercatcher
19. Cormorant
20. Redshank
21. Turnstone
22. Curlew
23. Red Breasted Merganser
24. Bar Tailed Godwit
25. Great Black Backed Gull
26. Robin
27. Woodpigeon
28. Chaffinch
29. Greenfinch
30. Great Tit
31. Dunlin
32. Ringed Plover
33. Sanderling
34. Eider
35. Rock Pipit
36. Moorhen
37. Redwing
38. Fieldfare
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