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| Sparrowhawk |
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| Redshank |
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| Teal |
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| Grey Heron |
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| Peregrine |
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| Redwing |
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| Chaffinch |
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| Coal Tit |
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| Goldfinch |
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| Robin |
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| Sparrowhawk |
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| Mistle Thrush |
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| Song Thrush |
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| Blue Tit |
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| Buzzard |
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| Pink Footed Geese |
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| Yellowhammer |
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| Magpie |
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| Stock Dove |
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| Jackdaw |
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| Song Thrush |
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| Pied Wagtail |
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| Red Throated Diver |
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| Long Tailed Duck |
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| Cormorant (Sinensis race) |
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| Red Breasted Merganser |
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| Moorhen |
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| Tufted Duck |
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| Black Headed Gull & Herring Gull |
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| Herring Gull |
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| Herring Gull |
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| Common Gull |
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| Common Gull |
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| Black Headed Gull |
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| Goldcrest |
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| Goldcrest |
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| Great Tit |
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| Mallard |
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| Lesser Black Backed Gull |
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| Call Duck |
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| Black Headed Gull |
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| Woodpigeon |
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| Mute Swan |
Having not yet made it to Riverside Nature Park (my 'patch' for most of the past 3 years) this year yet and with a guided walk to lead there on the 21st of the month, I figured I really should pay it a visit to see what was around, and to also give me an idea of what I could realistically expect to be able to show anyone who turned up for the walk. With reasonable weather forecast I could also see what else I could find around the city once I had finished up at the park.
I was up early and out the door for just after 8am to walk into town to catch the bus out to the Nature Park. With it being a Sunday, buses were rather limited so early in the morning but as it was a reasonably decent morning I didn't mind the walk. A House Sparrow chirping loudly from the eaves of a roof was first on the list for the day. A Blackbird foraging in the bushes and the obligatory Herring Gull glided over.
A Dunnock sang from the recently cut back bushes on Dens Road, and a Song Thrush did likewise from the trees behind where the old Dens Metal building had been. Feral Pigeons overflew and a Woodpigeon perched atop a lamp-post. Further on, a Carrion Crow cawed loudly from a tenement roof. A Great Tit flitted around in the trees down Victoria Road and a Goldcrest sang from somewhere in a small-ish conifer, but I didn't have time to stop and look properly for it. A Goldfinch pair flew over as I passed the Wellgate.
There wasn't too much to be seen from the number 17 bus I caught until we passed Lochee Park, where a small flock of mostly Black Headed Gulls stood, with one or two Common Gulls amongst them on the football pitches. I got off the bus just before it reached Ninewells Hospitl to cut down through the housing scheme to the Technology Park and the Perth Road and then through the underpass to the western end of the park. An overflying Starling, a calling Blue Tit and a sleeping Woodpigeon were all seen before I reached the open grassy area at the Technology Park. A few Jackdaws headed over, and a skein of Pink Footed Geese flew northwards, possibly on return migration. Just before the underpass I heard Long Tailed Tits calling and stopped by the nursing home grounds just in time to catch the pair as they foraged in the bushes.
I detoured down to the burn in the hope of Kingfisher or Dipper but saw neither. Scanning over the bay from the railway bridge I could see that the tide was well out and there weren't many birds close in. Black Headed and Herring Gulls plus Redshanks and a single Oystercatcher along the burn outflow. I headed round to the hide, stopping to look for, and finding, a singing Song Thrush in the trees. A few Feral Pigeons flew in and a few Carrion Crows wandered around along the pipe.
A Starling overflew, and a Blue Tit called from the trees to my left. A Robin sang from nearby. I scanned across the mud out in front of the hide. A few Common Gulls, a pair of distant Shelducks, small groups of Mallards and a roosting Grey Heron over by the reedbed by the railway station at Invergowrie. A handful of Teal up to their bellies in the very wet mud moved forward in a line their bills in the mud as they searched for anything edible they could find. For some reason I looked up and overhead a male Sparrowhawk was circling. I got a few photos before I lost sight of it over the trees.
I headed out from the hide where a pair of Dunnocks flew along the hedge line towards the entrance to the park. I wanted to check the gulls bathing spot in the burn but as I crested the skyline at the top of the hill I was surprised to see the gulls all taking flight. I was certain that I wasn't the cause given how distant I still was. That meant it could only be a raptor. But where? Obviously somewhere where the birds had been able to see it. A quick scan above the bay and I found it. A bird with fast, steady driving wingbeats powering out towards Kingoodie. It had to be a Peregrine. It swung round so I got a distant view of its topside which confirmed my suspicions.
There were still a few birds in the bay on my side of the pipe. Among the handful of gulls remaining were two
Lesser Black Backed Gulls. My first of the year. A pair of Shelducks preened close by. Behind a rock a wader was also preening. A Bar Tailed Godwit. The only one I could see. A few Curlews called from further out but close to the pipe. I headed back up the hill to walk to the Lochan. A Skylark took to the air, its song ringing out across the park. I picked out the flickering wings against the sky as the bird headed upwards.
Carrion Crows and Jackdaws picked around in the field near the Lochan. A few Mallards and some Teal were the only birds actually at the Lochan, so I didn't linger. Instead I headed up the hill to check the small copse of trees. Chaffinches were the main interest but I heard and then spotted a Redwing a bit further down the hill, perched near the top of one of the trees. It spotted me too and flew off towards the houses across the road. Small groups of Woodpigeons kept catching my eye as they passed above the park.
I walked round in the direction of the car park, spotting a calling Coal Tit in the top of a tree which posed rather nicely for me in the sunshine. Next a small charm of Goldfinches flew over, one landing a little further over in another tree, again showing well against the blue sky. A Robin showed well as it sang from its perch in the hedge. The first Stock Dove of the day flew over, a fairly regular bird in the park, and one whose numbers are either increasing, or my ability to spot them is. Another Skylark sang from high above though I spotted it quite quickly. The trees and bushes by the car park were rather quiet so I decided to check the flooded area in front of Buzzard Wood for Snipe.
As I wandered in through the scrubby vegetation avoiding the wetter areas at first I glanced over to the trees on the other side of the road and saw a thin upright shape. Checking with the binoculars confirmed my thoughts that it would be a Sparrowhawk. A female this time. She stared at me with her piercing yellow eyes before deciding to fly off through the trees towards the airport. Long Tailed Tits flitted through the hedgerow which bordered the flooded area and a Pied Wagtail overflew. I slowly picked my way through the longer vegetation, watching the ground in front of me, in the hope that I would spot a Jack Snipe before it spotted me. Unfortunately, the only Snipe I saw were the two that erupted from a puddle near the hedgerow before I got close enough to see them. I missed out on photos as they stayed below the tree line until they neared the car park when they rose higher and didappeared off towards the bay.
A Carrion Crow flew over with what looked like an orange piece of plastic in its beak. I've no idea why it was carrying it, or even what it was. A Mistle Thrush flew past from Buzzard Wood towards the car park, and a Song Thrush did likewise a minute later allowing me photos that show the similarities and differences between the two species in flight. A Buzzard flew low over the trees at Buzzard Wood appropriately enough, without the small group of Carrion Crows perched in the trees paying it any attention. A single Magpie flew in and landed in the trees at the edge of the wood. More Woodpigeons, a Wren, a Great Tit and a rather showy Song Thrush on the path added to the list for the morning.
A skein of Pink Footed Geese flew northwards silently up and over the hospital. A pair of Magpies were feeding on the hill but flew into the trees when they spotted me. I headed back round to the bay but there was only the same mix of gulls, ducks and waders as before. Another pass of the Lochan produced similar birds to previously as well, the Jackdaws and Carrion Crows picking through the Highland Cow dung for anything edible they could find. Another few Blue Tits and Chaffinches flew into Buzzard Wood as I wandered round to check the eastern end of the park. A male Pied Wagtail scurried around, coming closer, as I knelt on the ground taking a few photos. A couple with a large dog approached, the dog off the lead. It stopped behind me until the couple got closer, at which point it ran past me and flushed the Wagtail. I wasn't impressed.
A Buzzard drifted over slowly, which appeared to be the rather dark bird seen in previous years, before it was joined by a second bird and the two of them headed on over to the west after circling overhead briefly. A short while later another skein of Pink Footed Geese winged their way north, once again silently. A Lesser Black Backed Gull glided over from the direction of the bay. I picked up a Yellowhammer perched in the top of a small tree by hearing it singing. Although it was quite distant, it was still rather obvious. I had another sighting of the Magpie pair, and closer views of a couple of Stock Doves in flight near the Lochan again. It was more of the same as I made another circuit of the park, with Skylark, Stock Dove, Teal, Mallard, Jackdaw and Carrion Crow, Song Thrush and another Yellowhammer before I headed back for another check for Jack Snipe at the small flooded area.
Once again, despite criss-crossing the area I found no Jack Snipe, or any further Snipe. A par of Greenfinches and a Chaffinch were in the hedgerow though. The Pied Wagtail pair passed overhead, and I had reasonable views if one of the Magpies again. It looks like they are now park residents, which may not bode well for some of our breeding birds. I decided that having recorded 40 species in the park, I probably wasn't going to add anything else so I headed for the exit, stopping this time for a pair of Pied Wagtails in the same place the male had been earlier. I settled down to let the birds come closer, and they scurried around in front of me, edging closer and closer as I snapped away. Until another dog walker arrived on the scene and their dog ran right across in front of me putting the birds up, and away again. Hopefully the signs about keeping dogs under control during the breeding season will be up soon (not that many pay them any attention - except the responsible ones whose dogs are actually always under control anyway, but one can hope).
A Pied Wagtail passed over as I headed up to wait for a bus back into town. I could hear House Sparrows chirping from the nearby gardens and a Robin briefly appeared on the garden wall next to the bus stop. I decided once I reached the city centre that I would head straight for City Quay to see what I could find there. Just as I reached the quay itself, the first shower of rain I had seen all day began. A Mallard drake was in the water in front of the Apex Hotel. With the rain coming down heavier than forecast I headed for the clock tower flats end of the quay from where I could see a large part of the area while staying under cover, sheltered by the overhanging roof. Herring Gulls and Feral Pigeons were the only birds seen though.
The rain eased off a bit so instead of heading across the footbridge I decided to scan the outer quay area from the road that runs along behind the Sea Cadets buildings. Unfortunately this means that part of the area is hidden because of an inaccessible area of dock. The Little Grebes seem to favour this area, so it was unlikely I would see the species here. The Red Throated Diver was there though, preening. A young Blackbird landed just the other side of the fence from me just as the rain came back on again. I sheltered as best as I could by the wooden fence around the brick sheds at the western end of the outer quay. Another bird surfaced. A Long Tailed Duck, quite possibly the same bird seen a few weeks ago. A Cormorant nearer the opposite side of the water surfaced long enough to grab a photo which seemed to hint at the bird possible being a Sinensis race bird, the European subspecies. As I was considering moving on, I caught sight of yet another bird out on the water. This time it was a drake Red Breasted Merganser. Not a bad wee haul for such a brief visit.
I headed out of the dock area over the railway footbridge and across the busy main road to walk uphill to Baxter Park. As I crossed Broughty Ferry Road I heard the loud 'piping' of an Oystercatcher and turned to see one flying over the Museum of Transport building, with a few gulls in attendance. Heading up through the houses and through the park itself, birds were in very short supply with only a Robin and a few Woodpigeons noted. I had to stop to take off my jersey as with the afternoon sun shining once again, I discovered I was a bit too over-dressed, with too many layers on.
I reached Swannie Ponds at about 1330 and wasn't too surprised to see the usual suspects out on the water and standing around on the path around the ponds. Mallards, Tufted Ducks, a Moorhen, Black Headed Gulls, Herring Gulls, a Mute Swan and a few Common Gulls. There were a few interesting looking (but probably just) Herring Gulls and I concentrated on getting photos of those, especially in flight showing the upper wing pattern. I also looked for ringed birds as I always do now. I eventually spotted JN69 and J4U2, the two Norwegian Black Headed Gulls and another bird with just one metal leg ring which I didn't manage to read off as it was to far away and was disturbed by a family before I could get closer. At least two Lesser Black Backed Gulls appeared on the water. With the sun disappearing behind the clouds from time to time and the wind picking up, I discovered that the jersey I had removed earlier needed to go back on again.
I could hear a Goldcrest singing at various times, but it sounded like it was coming from the island and it was impossible to see from the path. However, later on I heard it on my side of the water and discovered a single bird foraging in the trees near where I was standing. Despite the rather variable lighting conditions I succeeded in getting some of my very best Goldcrest photos as the bird came within touching distance as it fed quite unconcerned in front of me for about 20 minutes or so. A male Great Tit chased off a second bird and a pair of Dunnocks and a male Blackbird popped out onto the path to feed for a short while.
The 'Call Duck' which my pal, Steph had discovered the previous weekend appeared in the company of three drake Mallards and a female. It proceeded to display to the duck, as did the other males, one in particular getting quite aggressive with its competitors but the Call Duck stayed with the group as they swam on. I spotted a pair of Woodpigeons perched rather close together in one of the sycamores. I suspected that they were an actual 'pair' and so it proved with a spot of courtship feeding (which looks a bit like the birds are kissing) followed by mating. Spring is obviously here.
With the temperature seemingly dropping once again and not much else happening, I decided to head for home. With 50 species (1 year-tick in bold)seen and some rather nice photos taken it had been a worthwhile day out again.
Species seen - Bar Tailed Godwit, Blackbird, Black Headed Gull, Blue Tit, Buzzard, Carrion Crow, Chaffinch, Coal Tit, Common Gull, Cormorant, Curlew, Dunnock, Goldcrest, Goldfinch, Great Tit, Greenfinch, Grey Heron, Herring Gull, House Sparrow, Jackdaw,
Lesser Black Backed Gull, Long Tailed Duck, Long Tailed Tit, Magpie, Mallard, Mistle Thrush, Moorhen, Mute Swan, ystercatcher, Peregrine, Pied Wagtail, Pink Footed Goose, Red Breasted Merganser, Redshank, Red Throated Diver, Redwing, Robin, Feral Pigeon, Shelduck, Skylark, Snipe, Song Thrush, Sparrowhawk, Starling, Stock Dove, Teal, Tufted Duck, Woodpigeon, Wren, Yellowhammer.