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=== 2005 (Angus & Dundee, 2005) ===
Very common and widespread resident breeder throughout virtually all the county with local numbers boosted by arrival of continental birds during late autumn.
Records indicate the common and widespread nature of the species in the area.
The highest count of the year was of 72 at Montrose Caravan Park on the 21st March (GMA).
Good numbers were frequently recorded from Forfar Loch with 37 counted there on 8th June.
Autumn migration was seen from the 18th to 26th October from Mains of Craigisla and Monifieth, in a south and westerly direction, with a maximum of nine >SW over Monifieth in an hour and a quarter on 26th October (CMcK).
Breeding:- Recorded from four Broughty Ferry gardens with the earliest fledglings seen on 23rd April (LY).
Other breeding records came from Montreathmont and Arbroath and at least three pairs bred at Loch of Kinnordy.
=== 2006 (Angus & Dundee, 2006) ===
Very common and widespread resident breeder throughout virtually all the county with local numbers boosted by arrival of continental birds during late autumn.
A male was recorded singing in Dundee, early in the year, on 7th January and the first record of nest building was in a Broughty Ferry garden on 14th March.
It is possible these early dates may be related to climate change.
The biggest counts of the year were all from Forfar Loch with 43 there on 31st January, 72 on 15th November and 156 on 13th December (DAC) when resident numbers were no doubt increased by the presence of migratory continental birds.
Breeding: In one Broughty Ferry garden, eggs from the first brood of the season were hatched by 22nd April with the second brood, of 3 young, hatched by 29th May and fledged by 8th June.
Other breeding records from Broughty Ferry gardens were of 2 young fledged on 5th June, 1 fledged on 11th June with a second brood of 4 young, from this pair, fledged on 11th July.
At least 3 pairs bred at Kinnordy reserve.
=== 2007 (Angus & Dundee, 2007) ===
Very common and widespread resident breeder throughout virtually all the county with local numbers boosted by arrival of continental birds during late autumn.
Just like last year the biggest counts were from the winter months when the resident population is increased by continental migrants.
The two biggest counts came from Forfar Loch with 81 there on 10th January (DAC, CS) and 73 there on 20th December.
Also similar to last year there was an early record of three males singing on 10th January at Arbroath (JA).
There were plenty of records from all over the area throughout the year that helped confirm the common and widespread status of the species.
One interesting record was of two females engaged in prolonged and serious fighting, probably over territory, in a Broughty Ferry garden on several occasions in March and April.
Breeding:- Breeding was reported from three Broughty Ferry gardens.
The first young were seen on 14th May in one garden, three juveniles were fledged on 25th June in another garden and three juveniles were seen on 24th July in the third garden.
=== 2008 (Angus & Dundee, 2008) ===
Very common and widespread resident breeder throughout virtually all the county with local numbers boosted by arrival of continental birds during late autumn.
In the late winter/early spring period there were some reasonable counts although not as big as in many years.
There were 13 at a fat ball in a Broughty Ferry garden on 10th January, 25 at Condor East on 16th January, 32 around Forfar loch on 21st March, 20 at Lunan bay on 25th March, 20 at Abbeythune, near Inverkeilor on 2nd April and 30 at Inverkeilor on 30th April.
In the breeding season the first confirmed record was of three fledged young at Stobsmuir Ponds on 16th April (JB).
One young bird was seen in a Broughty Ferry garden on 3rd May, two were in a nest on 18th May in Albert Street, Dundee, there were two fledglings in a Barnhill garden on 28th May, an adult was carrying food at Haughend, Glen Esk on 12th June and there were three singing males at Egno Moss and four at Kinnordy.
There were small numbers of visible migrants observed from the Lintrathen area with two >SE on 28th October, two >NE on 30th October and two >NE on 3rd November.
In the autumn/early winter period the largest counts were all at Forfar Loch with 46 on 11th November, 59 on 1st December (DAC) and 41 on 24th December.
There were also 15 at Old Montrose and Lurgies on 20th December.
=== 2009 (Angus & Dundee, 2009) ===
(Common Blackbird) Very common and widespread resident breeder throughout virtually all the county with local numbers boosted by arrival of continental birds during late autumn.
In the late winter period the highest counts were 26 At Forfar Loch on 5th January and 22 in the grounds of Carnoustie House on 23rd January.
In the early spring there was much nest-building activity in a Broughty Ferry garden on 22nd March with first nestlings there on 14th April (CS).
Breeding was more advanced at Arbroath Focus where a nest already held nestlings on 23rd March and a second brood of four nestlings on 18th May (MM).
There were 45 at Forfar Loch on 3rd April (AH).
The highest summer and early autumn counts came from Forfar Loch, with 28 on 6th June and 21 on 11th September (AH).
Later in the autumn and early winter high counts from Forfar Loch included 44 on 26th October and 51 on 23rd November (AH), but the highest count of the year was of c.60 birds along the South Esk at the Lurgies on 13th December (EB/HB).
On 8th December two males were in full song at Ninewells, Dundee (BL).
=== 2010 (Angus & Dundee, 2010) ===
Very common and widespread resident breeder throughout virtually all the county with local numbers boosted by arrival of continental birds during late autumn.
In the late winter period, the highest counts were of 18 feeding on apples in a Broughty Ferry garden on 4th January and, at Forfar Loch, 18 on 25th January, 25 on 6th March and 31 on 9th April, while at Monifieth there were 19 on both 8th and 23rd March.
Two adults were carrying nesting material in Arbroath on 12th March and a male with a beakful of worms on 27th March at RM Condor.
Further signs of breeding were noted during April - July with the last being at Craigmill Den on 13th July.
In the autumn/early winter, 10 were at Glaxo, Montrose on 3rd October but the highest counts of 33 and 63 were at Forfar Loch on 26th October and 16th November (AH).
=== 2011 (Angus & Dundee, 2011) ===
Very common and widespread resident breeder throughout virtually all the county with local numbers boosted by arrival of continental birds during late autumn.
The four highest counts in the late winter period were all lower than in 2010 (10-16 cf 18-31).
There were 11 at Barry on 3rd January, 10 at Riverside Drive, Dundee, on 4th February and, at Forfar Loch, 12 on 18th January and 16 on 8th February.
There were repeated trips to a nest at Albert Street, Dundee, on 7th April (cf signs of nesting on 12th March in 2010) and the first fledgling was noted in Broughty Ferry on 29th April.
Breeding was noted in various places during the period April to July when the last fledgling noted was at Mill of Brighty, Gagie, on 25th.
The highest summer count of 40 was at Forfar Loch on 20th June.
The highest autumn/early winter counts were 37 (27 males and 10 females) at Arbroath on 26th October, 23 at Powmouth on 20th November and 20 at Braidston Mill, Airlie, on 19th December.
The increase in numbers at Forfar Loch from 21 on 29th November to 58 on 9th December (AGH) suggests an influx of migrants.
=== 2012 (Angus & Dundee, 2012) ===
Very common and widespread resident breeder throughout virtually all the county with local numbers boosted by arrival of continental birds during late autumn.
Recorded in every month between 1st January (GBa) and 29th December (MAR), 369 records were received.
In the first/late winter period birds were recorded at many lowland sites with the highest counts coming from Forfar Loch with 12 on 23rd January and 33 on 5th April (both AGH).
Another notable observation was of 10 in a cattle shed at Mid Derry, Glen Isla on 20th February (CMcK).
Birds were recorded visiting a probable nest site in Dundee on 27th March (JB) and two day old young were seen in a nest in Carnoustie on 6th April.
The first fledged young of the year were noted at Wellbank on 1st May (BL).
Good spring and summer counts included 19 at Powmouth on 3rd May (GBa) and 17 at Forfar Loch on 12th May with 32 there on 7th June (both AGH).
As usual numbers were higher in the latter half of the year with 16 at Powmouth on 7th October (GBa), 41 at Forfar Loch on 10th Oct (AG), 23 at Powmouth on 27th Oct (AGH) and 40 at Craigie on 9th December (DR).
=== 2013 (Angus & Dundee, 2013) ===
Very common and widespread resident breeder throughout virtually all the county with local numbers boosted by arrival of continental birds during late autumn.
Recorded throughout the year.
Highest counts in the first four months were 16 at both Montrose Basin on 7th April ( MBSWT ) and St Vigeans on 8th (AS) and 15 at Forfar Loch on 23rd (AGH).
First noted singing was at Kinnaber on 9th April (MMo).
A nest with eggs was near Monifieth High School on 10th and Carnoustie High on 11th (JH).
The first fledged young of the year was one at Montrose on 28th (SB).
The highest summer count was 16 at Forfar on 11th July (AGH).
In the autumn/early winter period counts were slightly lower than in recent years with 25 at Eassie on 21st October, 20 at Roundyhill on 5th November and, at Forfar Loch, 30 on 22nd November reduced to 20 by 28th December.
=== 2014 (Angus & Dundee, 2014) ===
Very common and widespread resident breeder throughout virtually all the county with local numbers boosted by arrival of continental birds during late autumn.
Present all year.
Highest late winter counts were 30+ at Forfar Loch on 3rd January (AG), 20 at Craigmill Den on 11th February (JAC) and 35 at Forfar Loch on 6th March (AGH).
Singing noted at Monikie on 23rd March.
A series of observations noted nest building in Dundee on 28th March, young in the nest on 24th April and fledged young on 11th May (JB).
One fledgling was seen at Kinloch Park, Dundee, on 9th August (DLe).
The highest spring/summer counts were at Forfar Loch with 32 on 29th May and 26 on 13th June (AGH).
There were 15 migrants in West Park, Montrose, on 20th September (SB).
Autumn/early winter counts included 23 at Forfar Loch on 22nd October and 35 at Lunan Bay on 31st, 20 at Roundyhill on 20th November and, at Forfar Loch, 36 on 21st November and 29 on 13th December.
=== 2015 (Angus & Dundee, 2015) ===
Very common and widespread resident breeder throughout virtually all the county with local numbers boosted by arrival of continental birds during late autumn.
Recorded throughout the year.
Highest counts for first four months include 12 in Arbroath on 5th January, 11 at Elliot on the 8th, 18 at Kingennie on 16th and 19 at Forfar Loch on 16th.
Forfar Loch had 13 on 10th February, 17 on 10th March and 12 on 13th April (AGH).
Riverside Nature Park had 15 on 8th April.
The first song was heard on 11th February near Monifieth High School and then not until 8th March at Balgavies Loch.
Nest building was observed in a Barnhill B/F garden on 9th March with this nest occupied on 18th March and held young on 8th April (JAC).
Nest building seen in a Monifieth garden on 22nd March.
First fledged young at Loch of Kinnordy on 6th May (AG).
Feeding of young was observed until the first week of July, at Crombie CP on 3rd and Johnston Avenue, Dundee on 4th.
Highest summer count was 13 at Forfar Loch on 27th June (AGH).
Numbers remained low until 28th October when 32 were at Auchmithie (GMS), suggesting the arrival of continental migrants.
Forfar Loch had 25 on 11th November and 31 on 23rd December.
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