I submitted a report yesterday,accompanied by photos of It.
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Birds fae Torry (27 Viewers)
- Thread starter Andrew Whitehouse
- Start date
Back in Torry today, having missed some good birds over the last week or so. I had a look around the headland this evening, in a brisk SW breeze. 51 Goosanders were in the harbour. Two Greenshanks flew through, seemingly heading up the river. The sea was fairly quiet. The best of it was a Bonxie going south, a Manx Shearwater and 57 Arctic Terns. Three Dunlin went south and a Whimbrel north. A Wheatear was around the foghorn. I was wondering if any Swifts would be still be around, having seen none around during the day. 14 were gathered at dusk, so some are still in the area. 43 House Martins were also around.
I had a look around the headland this evening, in showery conditions with a variable wind. Given that a few things had turned up along the coast today, I was hopeful there might be something notable around. Things were quiet though and the only obvious migrants was an arrival of Red Admiral butterflies. Waders included two Knot and a Dunlin. The sea was quiet, although good numbers of terns were moving. An Arctic Skua came in quite close and a Bonxie was seen quartering the sea from Greyhope Bay. Seven Manx Shearwaters went north.
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I only got our around the headland fairly late in the evening. Waders included a Knot, a Common Sandpiper and a Purple Sandpiper. Offshore was pretty quiet but there was an Arctic Skua, two Manx Shearwaters and a Bonxie, which was rather incriminatingly sat on the sea next to a dead auk. Of most note was a patch year tick in the shape of two Shelducks going south. Two Stonechats were along the south bank.
Having done three big days in mid-May, I've thought for a while that I could potentially beat my record total of 81 species in late summer, when most of the summer visitors are still around and there's more potential for migrants, waders and seabirds. So today, I had my first try at beating it. I was out the house by around 5.45 and started off at St Fittick's. A useful thing I learned is that it's probably not worth bothering with at dawn at this time of year, as nothing much was singing and very few birds were active. I did get Goldcrest on the list though.
I headed off round the headland, where I spent the next few hours, mostly moving between the foghorn, Greyhope Bay and the Battery. Two Stonechats were again seen on the south side of the golf course. Seawatching was fairly slow, although I did get two Puffins, a juvenile Black Guillemot, a few Common Scoters and a flock of seven Teal. Four Harbour Porpoises surfaced in the calm waters. Waders were also pretty ordinary, with three Knot and four Dunlin the best of it. Otherwise, there was a steady accumulation of birds, with highlights being a Peregrine picked out on a city centre building and two Swifts over Torry. A flock of 12 Tree Sparrows briefly landed in the bushes at the Battery, a Wheatear was in Greyhope Bay and a Siskin was heard calling as it flew over.
I spent that late morning looking carefully looking around St Fittick's, trying to dig out the passerines that were no doubt lurking there. A pleasing surprise was a Pied Flycatcher, which appeared in the trees at the northeast end of the park. Otherwise, I was able to find potentially tricky birds like Long-tailed Tit, Coal Tit and Bullfinch. A Stock Dove flew over Tullos Hill. It was also lively for butterflies, including very large numbers of Red Admirals and a few Speckled Woods. The latter species seems well established here these days. I also saw my first Odonata of the year, with an Emerald Damselfly and a Common Darter. I walked over to the River Dee early in the afternoon, but Buzzard was the only notable addition there. Several Guillemots were along the river, right up to the railway bridge.
I had a rest through the middle of the afternoon with the total on 72 species. There were plenty of possible things to look for but I reckoned the best bet was to go to the foghorn to seawatch. A pair of Collared Doves on Victoria Road and a Whitethroat at the Battery took the total to 74. Seawatching in the calm conditions and light onshore winds was quite good, although the light was sometimes awkward. Three Arctic Skuas and a Bonxie took me up to 76. A Ruff flew south with other waders to make it 77. Two Sooty Shearwaters went north, with one fairly close in, and a Whimbrel went south. That was 79 and species number 80 came with a line of 35 Canada Geese heading north over the sea. That was about it though, so one short of the record.
I think it should be easy enough to get well over 80 in late summer, particularly if it's a good day for migration. I suspect the total could be beaten at any time between late July and mid-September, so there's a fairly long window of opportunity too.
I headed off round the headland, where I spent the next few hours, mostly moving between the foghorn, Greyhope Bay and the Battery. Two Stonechats were again seen on the south side of the golf course. Seawatching was fairly slow, although I did get two Puffins, a juvenile Black Guillemot, a few Common Scoters and a flock of seven Teal. Four Harbour Porpoises surfaced in the calm waters. Waders were also pretty ordinary, with three Knot and four Dunlin the best of it. Otherwise, there was a steady accumulation of birds, with highlights being a Peregrine picked out on a city centre building and two Swifts over Torry. A flock of 12 Tree Sparrows briefly landed in the bushes at the Battery, a Wheatear was in Greyhope Bay and a Siskin was heard calling as it flew over.
I spent that late morning looking carefully looking around St Fittick's, trying to dig out the passerines that were no doubt lurking there. A pleasing surprise was a Pied Flycatcher, which appeared in the trees at the northeast end of the park. Otherwise, I was able to find potentially tricky birds like Long-tailed Tit, Coal Tit and Bullfinch. A Stock Dove flew over Tullos Hill. It was also lively for butterflies, including very large numbers of Red Admirals and a few Speckled Woods. The latter species seems well established here these days. I also saw my first Odonata of the year, with an Emerald Damselfly and a Common Darter. I walked over to the River Dee early in the afternoon, but Buzzard was the only notable addition there. Several Guillemots were along the river, right up to the railway bridge.
I had a rest through the middle of the afternoon with the total on 72 species. There were plenty of possible things to look for but I reckoned the best bet was to go to the foghorn to seawatch. A pair of Collared Doves on Victoria Road and a Whitethroat at the Battery took the total to 74. Seawatching in the calm conditions and light onshore winds was quite good, although the light was sometimes awkward. Three Arctic Skuas and a Bonxie took me up to 76. A Ruff flew south with other waders to make it 77. Two Sooty Shearwaters went north, with one fairly close in, and a Whimbrel went south. That was 79 and species number 80 came with a line of 35 Canada Geese heading north over the sea. That was about it though, so one short of the record.
I think it should be easy enough to get well over 80 in late summer, particularly if it's a good day for migration. I suspect the total could be beaten at any time between late July and mid-September, so there's a fairly long window of opportunity too.
Today was quite a decent one, with some pleasant weather once the drizzly rain of the morning had abated. I went around the headland during the morning. Two Tree Sparrows were in the allotments and there were three Wheatears in Greyhope Bay. Waders included a Knot and two Dunlin but the best were a couple of Bar-tailed Godwits roosting among the Curlew - my first of the year. I had a good seawatch with four Sooty Shearwaters, 33 Manx Shearwaters, nine Bonxies, two Arctic Skuas, five Puffins, four Common Scoters and eight Teal.
The birds weren't the main feature, however. I noticed a large dolphin-like cetacean surface a few times at a reasonable distance - probably at least a mile out. It clear wasn't a Bottlenose Dolphin but it had a similar tall sickle-shaped dorsal fin. After further views I could also see that it had a blunt head without an obvious beak. This helped confirm my initial suspicions that this was a Risso's Dolphin. In fact, there were a few of them: at least four. This included two that kept close together - perhaps a mother and calf. When these came into better light and a bit closer, I could see the pale scarring typical of this species really well. They stayed around for probably an hour before gradually drifting northwards. My first record of this interesting species here.
I popped out again in the evening and managed another patch tick. Seabird passage was fairly light, although I had a Bonxie, two Arctic Skuas and six Manx Shearwaters. There were large numbers of terns feeding offshore, mainly Arctics, and while scanning through the flock I noticed a smaller, darker bird with them. A closer looked revealed it to be a juvenile Black Tern - a bird that's eluded me here many times over the years. It hung around for quite a while, picking lightly at the surface of the calm sea.
The birds weren't the main feature, however. I noticed a large dolphin-like cetacean surface a few times at a reasonable distance - probably at least a mile out. It clear wasn't a Bottlenose Dolphin but it had a similar tall sickle-shaped dorsal fin. After further views I could also see that it had a blunt head without an obvious beak. This helped confirm my initial suspicions that this was a Risso's Dolphin. In fact, there were a few of them: at least four. This included two that kept close together - perhaps a mother and calf. When these came into better light and a bit closer, I could see the pale scarring typical of this species really well. They stayed around for probably an hour before gradually drifting northwards. My first record of this interesting species here.
I popped out again in the evening and managed another patch tick. Seabird passage was fairly light, although I had a Bonxie, two Arctic Skuas and six Manx Shearwaters. There were large numbers of terns feeding offshore, mainly Arctics, and while scanning through the flock I noticed a smaller, darker bird with them. A closer looked revealed it to be a juvenile Black Tern - a bird that's eluded me here many times over the years. It hung around for quite a while, picking lightly at the surface of the calm sea.
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I headed around the headland this evening, in beautiful calm conditions. A Knot and three Dunlin were among the waders. Offshore there wasn't a huge amount moving but there were lots of birds on the water or feeding. This included a juvenile Black Guillemot and a juvenile Little Gull. Quite a few of the 28 Manx Shearwaters were feeding as well. Other birds included a Bonxie, an Arctic Skua and 102 Arctic Terns. A single Swift was over Torry at dusk.
Cucurrucucu
Cucurrucucu
I recorded a bird call I didn't know in July. BirdNet told me it was a flycatcher but, since nobody else was mentioning one, I assumed it wasn't likely.
Did see a large red
and common bluetail damsel 
on opposite sides of the concrete bridge in June. Haven't seen any Odonata since.
Stonefaction
Dundee Birding....(target 150 in 2025).
The Merlin app (very similar to BirdNet - both Cornell University developed but apparently by different teams) regularly 'identifies' Spotted Flycatcher for a few species, which can be annoying in places where there is a chance of finding one. One of the main culprits is juvenile Wren calls, of which there can be lots sometimes. Just last week, Merlin said there was a SpotFly but we could hear juvenile Wrens. As it turned out, there was an actual (though silent) Spotted Flycatcher in the same area.
Back in Torry after a week away and things seem a bit more autumnal. As I went around the headland in cool, cloudy conditions this evening, a flock of 19 Pink-footed Geese flew over. There was a duck adjacent to them that looked interesting but I wasn't able to get anything on it. A juvenile Peregrine rattled through Greyhope Bay, upsetting the waders on the breakwater. The seawatching was a bit underwhelming, although it did feature two Bonxies, an Arctic Skua, eight Arctic Terns and 14 Manx Shearwaters.
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Fairly profoundly quiet around the headland this evening, with very few birds about. Two Dunlin and a Manx Shearwater was really all I could manage. I had some nice views of a couple of foxes, although sadly there was another that looked like it had been hit by a car near the Battery.
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Another quiet evening here. Six juvenile Knot were in Greyhope Bay. Offshore, an Arctic Skua briefly appeared and a couple of Manx Shearwaters went north. It's striking how few birds are around at the moment around the harbour and out to sea. Normally, at this time of the year, there are thousands of Kittiwakes and gulls but the numbers are remarkably low at the moment, even of Herring Gulls. I would guess there are only 10% of the normal numbers of early September. Guillemots are around but I'm not hearing any young birds begging for food anymore. I suspect they're no longer with us.
It was remarkably hot today in Torry, with temperatures up to 26 degrees for much of the day. There seemed to be more gulls around the harbour than there have been, although the numbers are still fairly low. A Peregrine was seen flying over the city. Waders included a Knot and three Dunlin. Three Sanderling flew south. Two Tree Sparrows went south over the allotments. The sea was generally quiet but there was some duck passage, with three Wigeon (which strangely went south before returning north ten minutes later), eight Teal and 18 Common Scoter. A close Bonxie was the only seabird of any note.
Another fairly low key day, in warm and fairly calm conditions, although not quite as hot as yesterday. There was a bit of duck passage again, with a Wigeon, 14 Teal and four Common Scoter. Not too much else was offshore, aside from a Manx Shearwater and two Harbour Porpoises. At least one Tree Sparrow and a Wheatear were around Walker Park. Four Dunlin were the best of the waders. I had a look around St Fittick's but it was quiet. Two Stock Doves flew over.
I went out around the headland late afternoon today and the calm weather soon gave way to a heavy downpour. Not much was happening at sea, apart from six Common Scoters and a Manx Shearwater. Two Wheatears were on the rocks in Greyhope Bay. On my way home over the top of the ridge I met with some substantial reward for my soaking, when a small wader came over from the north. I suspected a Dunlin initially but then it gave a different, lower-pitched, slightly rippling call and showed a white rump as it flew south: a Curlew Sandpiper and only my second ever here.
The temperature has certainly dropped since the weekend - just 13 degrees here today, and a cold wind off the sea. I went round the headland late afternoon. Waders included three Knot, two Sanderling and a Dunlin. The main attraction was seawatching, although it was pretty slow at first. The only things initially moving were Red-throated Divers, with 21 heading south. After 5pm, things picked up a bit. 13 Sooty Shearwaters went north, although most were fairly distant. Other birds moving included 31 Manx Shearwaters, one Bonxie, five Arctic Skuas, four Puffins, 12 Common Scoters, four Arctic Terns and ten Common Terns. The highlight was a group of three Pale-bellied Brent Geese - my first of the year.
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Popped out late afternoon in slightly gloomy conditions with a light onshore wind. I had some hopes but it was pretty quiet. Offshore, there were four Arctic Skuas but little else except for 12 Teal, two Common Scoters, three Arctic Terns, and six Red-throated Divers. A Knot was in Greyhope Bay.
It was fairly chilly again today with a northerly wind. I spent quite a bit of time seawatching but wasn't too successful. The morning produced a bit of duck passage with 27 Teal, a Wigeon and nine Common Scoter. A distant Snipe over Tullos Hill was my first of the autumn.
The afternoon was a little better but still quiet. Waders included a Sanderling, two Knot, and a Purple Sandpiper. Offshore, a distant Sooty Shearwater was the best of it. Also moving were two Arctic Skuas, four Manx Shearwaters, two Arctic Terns, six Wigeon, a Teal and two Common Scoters.
The afternoon was a little better but still quiet. Waders included a Sanderling, two Knot, and a Purple Sandpiper. Offshore, a distant Sooty Shearwater was the best of it. Also moving were two Arctic Skuas, four Manx Shearwaters, two Arctic Terns, six Wigeon, a Teal and two Common Scoters.
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Today the seawatching was a bit better, and I was in place for over five hours. The weather was sunny and calm in the morning (with difficult light) but then switched fairly abruptly to cloudy with a moderate SE breeze and rougher conditions. There was a bit of duck movement, mainly in the morning. Totals were 27 Wigeon, 43 Teal, 17 Common Scoter and two Red-breasted Mergansers. The best birds were almost a patch tick when I saw two Storm Petrels in fairly quick succession, late morning. They were both going north about a kilometre out. The calm conditions certainly helped to pick them out and follow them. The only time I've seen them previously here was when they were being ringed. Also in the morning, a group of four Little Gulls (three juveniles and an adult) went north.
Passage was good during the early afternoon. Numbers included 11 Sooty Shearwaters, 174 Manx Shearwaters, 11 Arctic Skuas, three Bonxies, four Brent Geese, 19 Red-throated Divers, ten Arctic Terns, two Sandwich Terns and 12 Common Terns. Skuas were tricky with several evading positive ID. I suspect at least two were Long-tailed Skuas. A very distant bird in the morning may have been a Pom. Also worth mentioning a substantial Gannet passage, the majority of which were juveniles. They've obviously bred very successfully this year.
Not much else was seen, although there were two Purple Sandpipers and two Dunlin. 15 Grey Seals, most of them hauled out and singing on the rocks below the foghorn, was a very high count.
Passage was good during the early afternoon. Numbers included 11 Sooty Shearwaters, 174 Manx Shearwaters, 11 Arctic Skuas, three Bonxies, four Brent Geese, 19 Red-throated Divers, ten Arctic Terns, two Sandwich Terns and 12 Common Terns. Skuas were tricky with several evading positive ID. I suspect at least two were Long-tailed Skuas. A very distant bird in the morning may have been a Pom. Also worth mentioning a substantial Gannet passage, the majority of which were juveniles. They've obviously bred very successfully this year.
Not much else was seen, although there were two Purple Sandpipers and two Dunlin. 15 Grey Seals, most of them hauled out and singing on the rocks below the foghorn, was a very high count.
