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| Shelduck |
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| Shelduck |
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| Carrion Crow & Buzzard |
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| Chaffinch |
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| Buzzard with prey |
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| Reed Bunting |
After a very busy and rather frustrating week at work I struggled to get motivated to go anywhere, but with a guided walk to lead coming up this weekend, I figured I should really see if there was anything interesting around at Riverside Nature Park.
I caught the bus down into town around 1130, Blackbird, Herring Gull, Woodpigeon and Carrion Crow being seen while I waited. Caught a bus out to the park and decided to walk along the path outside the fence and enter the park from the Invergowrie end. First bird on the list was Jackdaw, two flapping furiously over and into the park. A little further on a pair of Chaffinches flew into the hedge that crosses the horse fields, and a Song Thrush hopped around searching for food near the large tree trunk in the field.
Carrion Crow was next and a Blackbird flew off noisily as I approached. A few Herring Gulls glided over. A lone Starling flew over as I neared the Lochan and three Oystercatchers announced their presence loudly off towards the bay. The Lochan was very quiet with only the unexpected sight of a pair of Shelducks swimming around on the water. A Woodpigeon was in the field but there was very little else to see.
Entering the park at the western end I headed down to scan the bay. Unfortunately I had mistimed the tides again, and the water was right in, meaning that there were no waders to be seen. There were gulls though - a few Common, around a dozen Black Headed surprisingly, and Herring and Lesser Black Backeds as usual. A few Mallards roosted on the shore near the burn outflow.
I walked along the hedge line towards the Lochan, hoping for a better view of the Shelducks. One or two Carrion Crows flew off from the field. Three Swallows darted over westwards. The Shelducks appeared to consider flying off as I watched but settled on swimming nearer the road side of the Lochan instead. After taking a few photos I continued on. A Buzzard flew over low pursued by three of the local Carrion Crows, but the trees blocked the best potential photo opportunities. A Blackcap appeared very briefly on an exposed tree branch but disappeared back into the thicker cover when it spotted me. I could hear a Willow Warbler singing but it was proving very elusive but it eventually made its way into the top branches of a budding tree allowing me to get it on the day list.
I wandered on towards the car park and the lower half of the park. A Feral Pigeon flew over and a small group of Goldfinches dropped into the trees behind the recycling bins. A Long Tailed Tit foraged in the trees behind the car park, its call making it easier to find than had it been silent. I walked around towards the bay, a Dunnock popping out from below a bush before diving back in again seconds later as I neared. A Skylark lifted from among the grass on the hill, heading upwards singing all the way. The outer bay was empty of birds so I headed back to check out the low fields. There was only the usual supects around though, Blackbirds and Woodpigeons with a few Feral Pigeons and Herring Gulls going over.
My next find was a Wren skulking low down in a bush, and as I crossed the field which is usually rather wet I could hear a Yellowhammer calling. A bright yellow bird giving loud clues to its location isn't usually too hard to see, and this one was no exception. Buzzard Wood was rather quiet with only a few Chaffinches flitting around. I searched the boggy area in front in case of Snipe but there were none to see. A male Reed Bunting perched out on a branch allowed me a few photos. After less than an hour and a half in the park I decided to head for home with just 26 species on the list and no sign of a hoped for Lesser Whitethroat, or even a Common to add to my yearlist.
Species seen - Blackbird, Blackcap, Black Headed Gull, Buzzard, Carrion Crow, Chaffinch, Common Gull, Dunnock, Goldfinch, Herring Gull, Jackdaw, Lesser Black Backed Gull, Long Tailed Tit, Mallard, Oystercatcher, Reed Bunting, Feral Pigeon, Shelduck, Skylark, Song Thrush, Starling, Swallow, Willow Warbler, Woodpigeon, Wren, Yellowhammer.