Having not made too many visits to my former local 'patch' at Riverside Nature Park this year, I decided it was about time I paid a visit. I'm not overly keen on visiting at weekends as the park tends to be busy with dog walkers and disturbance while trying to see, watch or photograph wildlife is commonplace. Still, arriving as early as possible can make a little difference. I didn't make it out of bed in time to get out early enough so I aimed to arrive in time to catch the incoming tide with the hope that perhaps there might be some waders on passage to see.
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| Sedge Warbler |
I left home at around 0950 and picked up a few of the usual suspects before I had got as far as the nearest bus stop. House Sparrows chirping from various points, Carrion Crow and Herring Gulls flying over, and Swifts whizzing around a bit higher. From the bus into town I added Feral Pigeon, Blackbird and Lesser Black Backed Gull and a Goldfinch sang from beside the bus stops in the High Street as I passed on my way to catch the bus out to the Nature Park.
Arriving at the park, I decided to walk the fence-line first and to enter the park at the Invergowrie Bay end. Carrion Crow and Woodpigeon were seen on the ground in the park, while House Martins hawked around for flying insects. A Buzzard circled high above. Herring Gulls glided over towards the bay and a Swift scythed its way through the sky above me. The Lochan was quiet except for a few Mallards. I checked the bay from the railway bridge, which gives a slightly better view than the hide. Feral Pigeons, Black Headed Gulls, Lapwings and Redshanks could all be seen, along with Jackdaws and a few Carrion Crows. I looked up to see a small group of Siskins overflying to the west. These were the first, but not the last to be seen with around 40 of these small birds apparently on the move. The vis-mig Yahoo group had mentioned that these birds and Crossbills were on the move around the UK, and further afield, so it was interesting to see that they were also passing over the park.
I scanned from the track down to the hide adding Lesser Black Backed Gull and Curlew to the list, along with more Herring Gulls of a variety of ages along the pipe. I was surprised to see two Kestrels hovering and hanging in the wind above the slope down to the bay a bit to the south. This is the first time I have seen two together and I suspect that at least one of them was a youngster, possibly being shown the ropes when it comes to hovering and hunting. With last year being quiet on the Kestrel front it was good to see them, and I even managed to record a short video clip.
The tide was still a bit further out than I had expected so I decided to hang around and watch the goings-on in the bay from then hide. A few Starlings overflew towards Invergowrie. The first Oystercatchers flew in and landed on the mud, and a singing Whitethroat showed briefly. After initially struggling to locate the bird I had good views of a Sedge Warbler singing from the bushes out in front of the hide. A Great Black Backed Gull joined its smaller cousins on the pipe. I decided that there wasn't going to be too much else to add from here so headed on into the main body of the park to see what I could find. Lesser Redpoll flew over as I walked along towards the Lochan. In addition to the Mallards here, there was also a pair of Shelducks and a pair of Woodpigeons. A Yellowhammer was in the bushes nearby. Goldfinch and Song Thrush were seen as I wandered further into the park.
I stopped to look for a singing Willow Warbler, eventually finding it and seeing from the photos that it had been ringed (most likely within the park by a local ringer). Surprisingly the first Blackbird was seen a little further on and seconds later I spotted a Coal Tit feeding in a conifer. Buzzard Wood gave me the first Chaffinch and Robin of the day and while watching a pair of Swallows fly by, I spotted a Sparrowhawk circling up a bit to the east. I managed to capture this on video. Dunnock and House Sparrow, both of which can prove elusive in the park, were both added ten minutes or so later. The Reed Bunting male sang from the same bush I had seen it in on a previous visit and out in the bay I added Grey Heron to the list.
I managed further views of Kestrel, Sparrowhawk and Buzzard as I made another circuit of the park, and succeeded in adding Stock Dove to the list, near the Lochan. Two adult and two juvenile Magpies were seen flying from the trees by the bottom of the hill at the eastern side to Buzzard Wood. Greenfinch was the final addition to the list with a single male seen in the bushes beyond the flooded area in front of Buzzard Wood where I suspect they may have bred this year. With the time now after 1400 I headed for the bus home.
Despite the time of year and time of day I had still somehow managed to
amass a list of 40 species. Nothing too exciting but a decent mixture.
Species seen (birds also seen outwith the park in italics)-
Blackbird, Black Headed Gull, Buzzard,
Carrion Crow, Chaffinch, Coal Tit, Curlew, Dunnock,
Goldfinch, Great Black Backed Gull, Greenfinch, Grey Heron,
Herring Gull, House Martin,
House Sparrow, Jackdaw, Kestrel, Lapwing,
Lesser Black Backed Gull, Lesser Redpoll, Magpie, Mallard, Oystercatcher, Redshank, Reed Bunting, Robin,
Feral Pigeon,
Sedge warbler, Shelduck, Siskin, Song Thrush, Sparrowhawk, Starling,
Stock Dove, Swallow, Swift, Whitethroat, Willow Warbler, Woodpigeon,
Yellowhammer.
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| Sedge Warbler |
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| Mallard |
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| Shelduck |
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| Shelduck |
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| Willow Warbler |
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| Chaffinch |
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| Nettle Tap moth |
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| Grey Heron |
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| Carrion Crow |
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| Sparrowhawk |
