0006 : Bully For Me. (5/1/14)

Bullfinch

Bullfinch

Bullfinch

Pied Wagtail

Having only the morning to squeeze in the search for a few more year ticks today and the limited public transport on a Sunday meant a return to my "patch" at Riverside Nature Park, here in Dundee. There was a slim chance of picking up a few ticks but I would need plenty of luck to do so. So, once again, more in hope than real expectation I headed out at about 0900. I needed to be in town for around 0925, or so I thought (turned out the bus actually leaves at 0920 - luckily I made it).

Managed to see 12 species while walking into town, which was a decent return. Blackbird, Black Headed Gull, Blue Tit, Carrion Crow, Collared Dove, Herring Gull, House Sparrow, Pink Footed Goose, Feral Pigeon, Sparrowhawk, Starling and Woodpigeon. Of these the Sparrowhawk was a lucky catch, as I happened to glance up just in time to see the low morning sun casting a warm glow on the underside of the bird as a Carrion Crow harassed it, as I walked down Victoria Road. The geese flew northwards as I reached the McManus Galleries in the city centre, their calling drawing my eyes upwards. It is amazing how much birding I do by ear these days. In some ways, hearing is the main sense used in my birding, possibly even moreso than sight.

The weather was crisp and cold with no wind, and the ground was very slippy with a thin sheen of ice coating the paths and roads making the journey into town a slightly trickier proposition than normal, but I made it in good time. The bus out to the nature park sped along the Perth Road, meaning I actually arrived earlier than I thought was going to be the case, giving me a bit more time to play with.

The first bird seen was a Carrion Crow perched on the fence as I crossed the road. In the trees by the entrance I thought initially I had a Redpoll, but when I managed a better view, it turned out to be a Siskin, one of a small flock feeding in the treetops. A Herring Gull drifted over. A Blackbird sat in the first patch of bushes and I heard the first Redwing of the day. I spotted it perched on a branch eyeing me warily. It flew off suddenly, a male Chaffinch immediately taking over its perch. A Buzzard flew over the flooded field drawing the half-hearted attentions of a Carrion Crow. I walked back along the edge of the back of Buzzard Wood but there was no sign of any Woodcocks.

I then picked up a few Long Tailed Tits in the trees having a little bit of a dispute. The corner path puddle had grown in size since New Year's Day and had frozen over too. I broke a few sections of ice around the edge to give the birds the opportunity of a drink. I then decided to walk through the long grass up the side of the flooded area. A few Greenfinches were in the hedge. As I reached the fenceline by the road, I spotted the strong pink belly of a cracking male Bullfinch. One of three as it turned out feeding on the seedheads on the withered stalks of a plant of which there was plenty. Botany not being a strongpoint of mine, I have no idea what they were, but the Bullfinches were enjoying them. The low sun was illuminating the birds well and I managed a few nice shots before the birds moved on a bit further.

Back down to Buzzard Wood again, where Robin and Wren were added, and a few more Redwings flew into the trees. Crossing the path and into the long grass on the other side, I searched for Snipe and Jack Snipe along the fringes of the large flooded area, but just as with the Woodcock, the area was bereft of the sought after species. A Pied Wagtail ran around on the ice and a little further round towards the car park I had my second and longer encounter with the Bullfinch group. Again I managed a sequence of photos as they fed quite unconcerned a few feet in front of me. Strangely, as has been the case mostly with my recent plentiful sightings of this species the 4 birds were all males. I suspect that they could be "Northern" Bullfinches and there has perhaps been an influx from Scandinavia of them, as usually Bullfinch encounters are few and far between for me.

In the trees behind the car park, I again found Redwing and a Song Thrush and a couple of Blue Tits. I wandered up through the car park and round towards the bay. The tide was well out, but Teal were in the burn in small groups and Oystercatcher, Curlew and Redshanks were picked out by binocular, as well as 2 Shelduck. Four species of gull - Herring, Black Headed, Common and Great Black Backed were also dotted around, with Carrion Crows and a Grey Heron was by the end of the pipe. A few Mallards were seen distantly out by the river.

As I watched, I heard the Teal calling increase in intensity and spotted the reason. My first Peregrine of the year flew down over the bay, drawing some of the crows skywards to attempt to see it off. A few quick manouevres and the Peregrine left them behind as it powered on towards Kingoodie. Next up my attention was drawn to another agitated Carrion Crow swooping down repeatedly over by the Lochan field. The target of its ire was a Buzzard that paid it no heed as it repeatedly and noisily swooped past. It eventually took off and more Carrion Crows joined the chase, as it disappeared out over the trees towards Invergowrie. I followed the fenceline along towards the hide as I walked parallel to the burn. As I reached the end of the raised banking by the two trees, a group of small birds flew up and around. I struggled to see what they were but thankfully they landed in the bushes across the fence where I managed to see that they were in fact my first Reed Buntings of the year. It then started raining lightly, so the waterproof cover for the camera made an appearance.

The area in front of the hide was very quiet with only a Robin in the bushes showing itself. The burn outflow was empty of birds, probably as a result of the Buzzard overflying a few minutes earlier. Walking back along towards the Lochan, I managed to see a couple of Yellowhammers. At the Lochan itself a single Mute Swan swam around in the half of the Lochan without ice on it, and actually swimming towards me as if it was expecting to be fed. Neither of the regular pair here has ever done this to me before, so it may be a visiting bird rather than one of the regulars. Further on, a few Chaffinches were in the bushes near where the Lesser Whitethroats were regularly seen in summer. A large dog took exception to me here, loudly barking for 5 minutes and ignoring the shouts of the owner who was walking ahead of it. That will be another of those "under close control" dogs that the park is full of.....

Overhead, a steady drip of small groups and single Woodpigeons had flown over throughout the morning and a Starling did likewise heading in the direction of the airport. Once or twice Feral Pigeons made a wee change from the Woodies but there was no sign of any hoped for Stock Doves. I headed back to the flooded field behind the car park where the Pied Wagtail was still scurrying around on the ice. Flying up from the long grass were 8 Meadow Pipits that seemed very wary of my presence so I wandered on again towards the car park wood. A small group of 4 Redwings and a Greenfinch were perched in the tree tops of Buzzard Wood. Further in a group of Carrion Crows did likewise. The male Kestrel was perched on the top of a tree by the car park but flew over the flooded field, putting up the Meadow Pipit flock again as it did so.

Back over by Buzzard Wood I added Great Tit to the list for the day and a single Long Tailed Tit was drying off after a bath. Two Oystercatchers flew over in the direction of the river and a couple of Dunnocks chased each other round. I then walked back up into the car park which was empty again, and spotted the Kestrel perched on a tree a short distance on the other side. I tried to get closer using the information side to mask my approach, but a dog walker showed up in a car as I closed the distance. Before I reached the sign, the bird had decided it didn't like the approach of any humans or dogs and shot off into a tree behind the car park. It stayed there for less than 5 seconds before it was off again. 

With the dog walker heading away on my planned route I headed back towards Buzzard Wood. The Kestrel was hovering over the grassland in front towards the road but flew off towards the airport as I rounded the corner from the car park. I managed a few distant shots of Redwings feeding down by the frozen puddle at Buzzard wood before it was time to head for the bus home at 12 o'clock.

Managed 35 species at the park ( 2 new ones for year in bold) -
Blackbird, Black Headed Gull, Blue Tit, Bullfinch, Buzzard, Carrion Crow, Chaffinch, Common Gull, Curlew, Dunnock, Great Black backed Gull, Great Tit, Greenfinch, Grey Heron, Herring Gull, Kestrel, Long Tailed Tit, Mallard, Meadow Pipit, Mute Swan, Oystercatcher, Peregrine, Pied Wagtail, Redshank, Reed Bunting,  Feral Pigeon, Robin, Shelduck, Siskin, Song Thrush, Starling, Teal, Wren, Yellowhammer.

The 12 species seen en route to the park were -
Blackbird, Black Headed Gull, Blue Tit, Carrion Crow, Collared Dove, Herring Gull, House Sparrow, Pink Footed Goose, Feral Pigeon, Sparrowhawk, Starling, Woodpigeon.

A total of 39 species for the day. Year list now at 91 species in 5 days, which is 3 ahead of last year.

0005 : The Game. (4/1/14)

Greylags

Greylags

Fieldfare, Mistle Thrush and Starling

Out at 0825 on a cold grey morning to meet Jacqui Herrington for a morning outing to Loch of Kinnordy in the hope of adding some more birds to my growing yearlist. Not too much around en route to meeting Jacqui - a Blackbird, a few Herring Gulls and a Carrion Crow. A large flock of Woodpigeons overflew the dual carriageway as we headed north out of Dundee.

We decided to take the back roads to Kinnordy in the hope of seeing more birds than were likely on the faster route up the dual carriageway. Before we'd gone too far we picked up a Buzzard perched on a telegraph pole and the first new bird added was a Pheasant near Glamis. In fields near Kirriemuir we saw Common and Black Headed Gulls, and in one of the fields next to Kinnordy a small gaggle of Greylags and a single Pink Footed Goose eyed the car suspiciously as we stopped to check them out.

The car park was already almost full despite our relatively early arrival. The trees and feeders outside the Gullery hide were surprisingly quiet. We asked in the hide if we'd missed anything and discovered a Water Rail had flown past a short time before. The Barn Owl had also been seen showing in the entrance hole to the box on the 'lone pine' and within a few minutes it became the second addition of the day to my yearlist. Not having too much luck with Owls most years, it is always good to get one early in the year.

Out on the Loch there were a few Mallards, Tufted Duck, Teal and Goldeneye. A lone Pink Footed Goose swam past in the company of a large white "farmyard" Goose. My 3rd addition was Whooper Swan, a number of which were dotted around the edges of the Loch. One or two Mute Swans were also visible. To the left of the hide in among the flooded area of the reedbed were a number of Wigeon, Greylags and Teal. Birds came and went to this area and fed noisily throughout the morning. A Moorhen swam out to an area of vegetation. Sometimes a reed would quiver and binoculars were raised in the hope of seeing a Bearded Tit or two, but it was the waterfowl feeding around the bottoms that was causing the movement.

New bird number 4 was a nice glowing drake Goosander which splashed down opposite the hide, and number 5 was a drake Gadwall. Neither unexpected but both very welcome all the same. We were hoping that the drake Smew and/or the Bittern would show but neither did. A distant brown bird flying low over the reedbeds turned out to be just a Buzzard and a Sparrowhawk shot past close to the hide windows. Pheasants and Rooks were feeding in the fields and sometimes they could be heard above the noise of the nearer birds around the Loch. A couple of Herring Gulls drifted over. We debated heading along to the east hide but Darell Berthon had a better suggestion. Popping up to Backwater Dam and Reekie Linn. So off we went in a two car convoy, stopping briefly to check out a small flock of birds in the trees by the edge of the Loch which turned out to be the first Goldfinches of the day.

Near Peel Farm B&B Darell stopped his car and there in the field was a small covey of Grey Partridges which only flew off when we drove off again. A Rook was on a telegraph pole doing a very good Buzzard impression. Only when it lifted its head and showed its beak was the illusion broken.

Reaching Backwater Reservoir a Cormorant was on the structure in the water. Unfortunately there was no sign of any Crossbills or any Grouse. A Landrover hurried us on faster than we had planned. At the car park we scanned the water, spying 3 Mute Swans and a small group of Mallards. 2 distant pale shapes proved tricky to decipher, but turned out to be a rear end view of two juvenile Mute Swans feeding with their necks in the water. A Buzzard mewed distantly behind the forest, but within the minute had shown as it flew down towards the reservoir. A Raven "prukked" a couple of times but despite much scanning likely perches we failed to find it. I did spot 3 gamebirds in a sheep field, which were identified from a quick photo as Red Legged Partridges. New bird number 7 for the day. As we left the car park to drive further on in the hope of finding the Raven we had heard, I spotted the ripples of a bird which had just submerged. We decided to check again on the way back.

Down by the farm only a few Carrion Crows were seen but as we turned a bird was spotted atop a Larch. It was a scruffy looking small raptor. Merlin was hoped for but the few ID photos were quite inconclusive until I looked at home on the PC. It turned out be a juvenile Kestrel. Nearing the car park we stopped to check the edge of the reservoir for the diving bird. Jacqui picked it up, an unexpected Little Grebe - the first I'd seen at that location which sometimes freezes over at this time of year. Another Kestrel, a male, hovered by the side of the road and another few Mallards out on the water were seen. Further on, Jacqui spotted a couple of birds perched in the treetops which were Mistle Thrushes. We then spotted more birds on the wires opposite the trees, which were a mixed flock of more Mistle Thrushes, Fieldfares and a couple of Starlings. More lifted from the trees further on and the whole lot milled around in the air above the cars before settling back on the wires. Before we moved off again, Jacqui found a male Bullfinch a bit further on. There seems to be lots of Bullfinches around all over the place just now. Perhaps an influx of "northern" types? A small group of 4 Chaffinches flew ahead of us for a short distance.

Jacqui had to be back home for around 1pm, so we headed down the back roads via Reekie Linn to Dundee. The river at Reekie Linn was flowing fast owing to the amount of recent rain and there were few perches for Dippers. I scanned any likely spots before pointing out a white patch in an area of shadow on a rock further downstream which looked like a possible. As we looked through the binoculars, a Dipper flew through our collective view calling as it did so, before landing on the far bank. Bird number 8.

Very little was seen on the way down the road from there, except Carrion Crows and Mute Swans feeding around the flooded fields by the Isla at Coupar Angus and a few Pheasants by the roadsides. When we reached Birkhill a Woodpigeon and a Collared Dove shared adjacent chimneys on a house by the roadside. The rain was persistent so I decided not to be dropped off at Riverside Nature Park, and in town I added a couple of Feral Pigeons behind the Caird Hall to the morning's tally before heading for the bus home.

36 species seen - (8 new in bold).
Barn Owl, Blackbird, Black Headed Gull, Bullfinch, Buzzard, Carrion Crow, Chaffinch, Collared Dove, Common Gull, Cormorant, Dipper, Fieldfare, Gadwall, Goldeneye, Goldfinch, Goosander, Grey Partridge, Greylag Goose, Herring Gull, Kestrel, Little Grebe, Mallard, Mistle Thrush, Moorhen, Mute Swan, Pheasant, Pink Footed Goose, Red Legged Partridge, Rook, Sparrowhawk, Starling, Teal, Tufted Duck, Whooper Swan, Wigeon, Woodpigeon.