0278 : Reedbed Ramble (24/4/16)

As the Tay reedbeds had been an option for the day before and with Grasshopper Warblers apparently trickling into the country, myself and Nat decided that a walk to see if we could find any Grasshopper Warblers (and maybe a bonus Bearded Tit or two) would be a worthwhile way to spend a Sunday. With a reasonable weather forecast at the very least we'd have a good few hours in the very welcome sunshine.

Tree Sparrow

Nat picked me up at 0830. It was cold but sunny as we set off for Errol. Blackbird, Herring Gull and Woodpigeon got the day's list started off with Feral Pigeon soon after. Carrion Crow was added as we left Dundee. Starlings, Oystercatcher and a few Herring Gulls were by a pool in a field near Grange. When we arrived in Errol there were a few House Sparrows chirping from the gardens and roofs while a Collared Dove flew up into a tree. We walked down Gas Brae adding Jackdaws to the list. The small community garden held a calling Yellowhammer as well as a few Blue Tits. In the field behind there were numerous Rooks picking around. From the trees near the corner we could hear Tree Sparrows calling loudly and we eventually had good views of one 'singing' in the sunshine. A small charm of goldfinches flew in as Swallows swooped low over the fields hawking for insects.

There were Chaffinches as well as Tree Sparrows in the mature Oak (if memory serves me well) trees further down the track. Nat spotted the first Skylark of the day as it climbed skywards. When we walked down past the house at the junction of the paths to the open area beyond, a Buzzard flew out across the reedbed away from us and a Roe Deer broke cover and hurtled across the grass and into the reeds on the other side. A Dunnock showed among the bushes, while from a small tree a pair of Linnets watched us warily. A party of Sand Martins raced away across the reeds and a couple of Lesser Redpolls called as they too overflew. Unfortunately there were no reeling Grasshopper Warblers, despite lots of listening and hoping.

A Great Spotted Wooodpecker was seen on the feeders in the garden of the house, while a Great Tit flew into the trees nearby. We headed up the path below the trees to walk along to the pools at Port Allen a bit to the west. There were plenty of birds calling though not all were easy to see. A wren sang loudly from a tangle of bushes and the first Robin of the day perched in a tree above.Higher in the branches was a Coal Tit picking around acrobatically, with another close by in another tree. A male Reed Bunting called from the lower reaches of another bush. Walking on we eventually managed to spot a Chiffchaff which had been calling loudly but which we struggled to find. Nay eventually picked it out among the branches.

I spotted a pair of Treecreepers, one dark and one paler, climbing up a tree trunk almost side by side and our first Willow Warbler of the day put in an appearance. The wood echoed to the sounds of birds with various warblers probably the loudest. Blackcap eluded us however, despite much searching, the birds seeming to know we were looking and moving further on ahead of us with only glimpses of what might have been the birds on offer. We reached the open area which becomes a nettle bed later in the Summer from where it is possible to look out on a huge expanse of reeds. I spotted a male Marsh Harrier quartering over the reeds well to the east though the bird was headed in our direction. Unfortunately before it got close enough for a reasonable photo it had turned back eastwards. A bird well out over the river wasn't the hoped for Osprey but was merely a Lesser Black Backed Gull.

Walking a short distance further west we reached the corner of the first pool. We could hear a Sedge Warbler calling loudly but at best all we could see were a glimpses of bits of bird through the reeds. We had planned to stand atop the banking that runs around the pool and watch for birds flying above the reeds, or perched on the tops. Instead we wandered along a bit, not intending to go very far. Out on the water were a number of Tufted Ducks, a few Mallards and around 10 or so Goldeneye. As we walked along the banking a bird suddenly flew out low across the water. A pale-ish blue back and wings - a male Sparrowhawk. It flew across to the other side before sweeping low along the edge and then up through the low branches on the opposite bank before briefly landing on a fallen tree. It took off again, cutting through the trees before sweeping upwards to land higher in a tall tree, out of view from where we stood.

There were a few Reed Buntings but nothing else in the reeds as far as we could see or hear, but we decided to see how far round we could get. Within the next few weeks the 'path' becomes too overgrown to get very far so we took the opportunity to explore. Out on the river we could see a number of Teal, as well as a Grey Heron and a Cormorant. A Curlew picked around in the mud and Nat spotted a drake Goosander. I found what I think was Otter spraint in a few places, at one point at the top of a 'slide' into the water. We eventually made it all the way round unhindered though the brambles at the end will soon be impassable I suspect.

A Pied Wagtail flew up ahead of us, landing on the roof of one of the houses up from the burn.A singing Blackcap was finally found high up in the tree tops. A pair of Great Crested Grebes had appeared out on the water from wherever they had been hiding. We walked a little way along the edge of the second pool to an area where I've had Grasshopper Warbler a few years ago. Unfortunately it was rather quiet again with not even a Sedge Warbler (though there was a Chiffchaff and Blackcap). We headed back towards the trees to walk back to Errol. It was more of the same however, with similar species to those seen earlier though we did manage clearer views of the Sedge Warbler this time. Nat had missed the male Sparrowhawk so she was quite pleased to see a female circling up just as we were about to leave the 'nettlebed' viewpoint.

Walking back up Gas Brae we had a Meadow Pipit fly over calling as it went, and a Song Thrush was seen at the community garden. We had a spot of lunch in the car before deciding to head for Kingoodie and another spot nearby where I'd seen Grasshopper Warbler in the past. We added a pair of Magpies on the way and arriving at Kingoodie we parked at the western end of the village. Out in the bay were a number of gulls including Black Headed Gulls, and a few Teal plus a number of Redshanks. There were House Sparrows chirping loudly from the banking at the road with some perched on the fence at the top. We wandered along the road then under the railway and along a track, where a pair of Chaffinches mating was the only thing of note. Once again we drew a blank on Grasshopper Warblers, though a couple of Siskins dropped into a tall tree near where we were searching.

Coming back we found a pair of Long Tailed Tits in the trees by the railbridge. We watched a few Linnets and Goldfinches bathing in the small burn and a Wren on the track behind them. A Pied Wagtail perched on a small shed roof. With time increasingly against us and the tide almost fully in we made a very quick visit 20 minute to Riverside Nature Park barely scratching the surface, though we did manage to see 11 species in the short time, Stock Dove being the only new addition. The others being Carrion Crow, Blackbird, Swallow, Woodpigeon, Goldfinch, Mallard, Robin, Chaffinch, Herring Gull and Song Thrush.

Not the most successful of outings, but as the saying goes - you win some, you lose some (and it is still early for both Grasshopper Warbler and Bearded Tit anyway - plenty time to get both). 56 species seen in total and plenty fresh air. A few butterflies on the wing too - mostly Peacocks and Small Tortoiseshells.

Woodpigeon

Blue Tit

Yellowhammer

Great Spotted Woodpecker

Treecreeper

Wren

Sparrowhawk

Goldeneye

Blackcap

Sparrowhawk

Peacock butterfly

Swallow

Long Tailed Tit

Teal

Grey Heron

Black Headed Gull

Redshank

Pied Wagtail

Species seen (those also seen at Riverside Nature Park in italics, only at Riverside Nature Park in bold italics) - Blackbird, Blackcap, Black Headed Gull, Blue Tit, Buzzard, Carrion Crow, Chaffinch, Chiffchaff, Coal Tit, Collared Dove, Cormorant, Curlew, Dunnock, Goldeneye, Goldfinch, Goosander, Great Crested Grebe, Great Spotted Woodpecker, Great Tit, Grey Heron, Herring Gull, House Sparrow, Jackdaw, Lesser Black Backed Gull, Lesser Redpoll, Linnet, Long Tailed Tit, Magpie, Mallard, Marsh Harrier, Meadow Pipit, Oystercatcher, Pied Wagtail, Redshank, Reed Bunting, Robin, Feral Pigeon, Rook, Sand Martin, Sedge Warbler, Shelduck, Siskin, Skylark, Song Thrush, Sparrowhawk, Starling, Stock Dove, Swallow, Teal, Tree Sparrow, Treecreeper, Tufted Duck, Willow Warbler, Woodpigeon, Wren, Yellowhammer.

0277 : Riverside Roaming (23/4/16)

I was undecided where to go on Saturday morning, with Letham Pools, the Tay Reedbeds and Fife Ness area all options. As I couldn't make my mind up I ended up lying in bed much later than I had intended. This did however have the benefit of helping me decide where to go. I settled on a visit to Riverside Nature Park as I'm leading a guided walk at the park in early May (Saturday 7th from 0830 till around 1030) and a visit would allow me to get an idea what was around and where - though there is still time for more migrants to arrive. Ian Ford had seen Ringed Plover and Wheatear at the park during the week.

Willow Warbler

It was a bit windy so I wasn't certain how successful a visit I was likely to have. I had a contingency plan to catch a bus out to Errol to visit the reedbeds if things at the park were just too quiet. It was around 0930 when I left the house and birds seemed to be in short supply with only Herring Gull and Feral Pigeon seen before i caught a bus into town. I decided to cut through the Howff cemetery as it would give me a chance at a few extra species that walking down Reform Street almost certainly wouldn't. Woodpigeon, Blackbird, Goldfinch and Blue Tit seemed to vindicate my decision. From the bus out to the Nature Park I added just one more species - Carrion Crow. A Song Thrush was singing loudly from a tree near the railway line as I used the path from Perth Road to near the eastern entrance to the park.

While on the bus I had contemplated how many species I might realistically see at this time of year if I took my time and looked properly at everything. I knew 40 was possible, but I suspected that given the time of year, 50 might also be reachable. I posted on Facebook the target number for myself (though with the proviso that as it was windy 40 might be more realistic). I decided I would take make my time and not rush anywhere. A Carrion Crow got my list for the park started. A few Starlings glided into the trees and a Pied Wagtail scurried around on the grass. Goldfinches were next, with a few calling from the trees just ahead of me. A Blackbird hopped out from the undergrowth and a Herring Gull glided over.

A few Feral Pigeons flew over just to the north of the park. A pair of Swallows swept low across the grassy area to the east of Buzzard Wood. A Woodpigeon flew into the trees. A pair of Robins showed together in the same bush - obviously a breeding pair. In the trees above them a Chaffinch male sang briefly. A Willow Warbler sang from the corner of Buzzard Wood. I walked a little along the path behind the wood. Ahead of me on the grass I could see a Carrion Crow engrossed in whatever it was eating. Feathers strewn around showed that it was a bird. I managed to get relatively close before the Crow flew off. I had a look at the remains and collected a few of the primary wing feathers. Examining them later at home it appears the victim was a Song Thrush. Unusually, a pair of Rooks overflew towards the compost area.

A male Yellowhammer called from the hedge and a Dunnock pecked around below. A pair of Blue Tits chased each other from the hedge dividing the fields where the Highland Cattle usually are. Wandering around the outside of Buzzard Wood, a pair of Oystercatchers swept over low calling loudly. A Lesser Black Backed Gull passed over heading north. Although there was almost always a bird in sight, it was around 20 minutes before I added another species to the list - a fly-over Stock Dove. Slightly more unexpected was a Collared Dove which flew rapidly from the far end of the wood in the direction of the Lochan. A small group of Sand Martins were next to pass over the park, while a few pairs of Mallards wandered around in the muddy water in front of Buzzard Wood. 

Buzzard Wood itself seemed rather quiet with only a few Chaffinches showing among the tangle of branches. A Siskin male dropped in, and a few more Goldfinches were in the trees at the corner. A skein of Pink Footed Geese were another unexpected sighting, first looking like they were flying north before changing direction and being swept eastwards by the wind  following the line of the river. A live Song Thrush appeared on the path while a male Reed Bunting paused for a few seconds in the small trees behind the fence. I'd already been in the park for around 90 minutes and hadn't yet progressed beyond Buzzard Wood. I heard a calling Greenfinch from the bushes beyond the flooded area and after a bit of searching spotted the very green male in the lower branches of the bushes.

I heard a vaguely familiar call that I wasn't 100% sure about and decided to try and investigate. Wandering around I was pleased to see that my best guess was accurate. It was a returning Lesser Whitethroat - a park specialty. I took a few photos then left the bird in peace, something that was to be in short supply when the bird was discovered by other birders the following weekend resulting in most of the year-listers in Angus who 'need' Lesser Whitethroat turning up for a few photos or just a look. Unfortunately if the bird isn't showing well there are methods which shouldn't be used during the breeding season that are sometimes pressed into service. The bird's welfare comes first, hence the reason I decided not to put out word of the bird on the local grapevine this year, as the park is the only known local breeding site in Angus.

Lesser Whitethroat

Lesser Whitethroat

Lesser Whitethroat

A Meadow Pipit flew past and a minute later a Common Gull glided by. A trio of Lesser Redpolls flew into the tops of the trees but didn't settle long enough for a photo before they were off again. I eventually ventured into the top half of the park after around two and a half hours. A male Blackcap was singing in the trees at the top of the short slope, while a Skylark took to the air above the hill. I wandered slowly towards the Lochan adding a few flyover Jackdaws. A Mute Swan was on the Lochan while a few Mallards slept around the edges.

Though the tide was actually on its way in, it was still far enough out to be able to scan across the bay and pick out the birds on the mud. There were Black Headed Gulls in surprisingly large numbers given the time of year. A few Shelducks and Curlew were dotted about while there were larger numbers of Redshank. From further round to the south I found the first Teal pair of the day and a Common Sandpiper was on the mud just down from the bench at the southwest corner of the park. I spotted a small group of 4 Black Tailed Godwits across the bay among the Redshanks. Off Kingoodie, the rock out in the river that the Cormorants roost on had enough Cormorants on it for the birds to be visible despite the distance.

I headed round towards the car park via the top of the hill and once again popped in to check out the Lochan, but there was nothing to add. However when I walked back out onto the path, above me were a pair of Buzzards relatively low in the sky. They circled around before returning towards Ninewells. Another addition to the day list. When I once again reached the hide I found the tide a bit closer in and more of the birds being pushed closer in. In addition to the 4 Black Tailed Godwits found earlier I realised that there were also a group of 6 Bar Tailed Godwits and another of 3. It isn't too often that both species are found on the same bit of coast with the Bar Taileds usually further out on the sea coast whereas the Black Taileds are the more likely to be seen further upriver or sometimes "inland" at Kinnordy or Letham Pools etc.

A young Great Black Backed Gull loitered among the gull flock but despite more searching I couldn't add any other waders or gulls to the list. I headed back into the park and bumped into Friends of Riverside Nature Park committee member Graham Cross and I stopped for a chat. As we did so a male Kestrel caught my eye as it glided over us and a rapid grab shot proved far better than my Merlin of a few days previously. We then heard a calling Great Spotted Woodpecker from the trees and another behind us. We were then fortunate enough to see both birds in flight.

I had a wander along to the hide with Graham, who was handing out copies of the new park regulations to dog walkers. I had spoken to a few during the day about the signs that at least two-thirds seemed to either be ignoring or somehow managed to miss. The responses ranged from very apologetic and understanding - a very nice lady who was visiting the park for the first time who chatted about the birds, to the rather rude - an older lady with 2 walking poles and a small child as well as 2 dogs, all of which were roaming through bushes and well ahead/behind of where she was. She didn't have a lead with her and made no effort to see what her dogs were doing - one seemed to be exploring the compost area, and she wasn't interested in whether or not they were fouling the park. Another man who I didn't get the chance to talk to, with 2 black labs (Dougal and Hamish, I think he called them) wandered over the hill with the dogs running around and he completely ignored one doing its business off to one side of where he was. The council dog wardens could raise a small fortune in fines at the park any day of the week, and doubly so at the weekends.

Myself and Graham haeded along to the hide where the Black Tailed Godwits could still be seen stood by the waters edge. A Long Tailed Tit foraged around in the trees off to the side. We had a short chat to a family with a dog on a lead about the park and what could be seen before heading back along the path to the fork where I left Graham to go back to refill the feeders while I headed round the hill and back through the car park. A pair of Magpies were in the trees across the road but they flew back down onto the airfield out of sight. Checking the total for the visit I realised I had actually reached the target figure of 50 species although it had taken 7 hours to do so. There were a few species that could be expected but weren't seen and it was surprise to only see a single Blackcap. I headed for home adding a Magpie and House Sparrow when I got off the bus near home.

An enjoyable day's birding in reasonably warm sunshine, with only the more irresponsible/ignorant dog owners bringing any negativity to the day. 50 species seen in the park and 10 outside (only House Sparrow wasn't seen in the park of those 10), giving 51 in total

Rabbit

Chaffinch

Carrion Crow

Lesser Black Backed Gull

Siskin

Pink Footed Geese

Reed Bunting

Greenfinch

Yellowhammer

Chaffinch

Common Sandpiper

Stock Dove

Mute Swan

Carrion Crow

Buzzard

Starling

Bar Tailed Godwits

Bar Tailed Godwits

Curlew & Lesser Black Backed Gull

Redshank & Bar Tailed Godwits

Great Black Backed Gull & Herring Gull

Black Tailed Godwits

Oystercatcher

Kestrel

Black Tailed Godwits

Song Thrush

Blackbird

Magpie

Robin

Pied Wagtail

Species seen in the park (birds seen both in and outside of the park in italics, year-tick in bold). - Bar Tailed Godwit, Blackbird, Blackcap, Black Headed Gull, Black Tailed Godwit, Blue Tit, Buzzard, Carrion Crow, Chaffinch, Collared Dove, Common Gull, Common Sandpiper, Cormorant, Curlew, Dunnock, Goldfinch, Great Black Backed Gull, Great Spotted Woodpecker, Greenfinch, Herring Gull, Jackdaw, Kestrel, Lesser Black Backed Gull, Lesser Redpoll, Lesser Whitethroat, Long Tailed Tit, Magpie, Mallard, Meadow Pipit, Mute Swan, Oystercatcher, Pied Wagtail, Pink Footed Goose, Redshank, Reed Bunting, Robin, Feral Pigeon, Rook, Sand Martin, Shelduck, Siskin, Skylark, Song Thrush, Starling, Stock Dove, Swallow, Teal, Willow Warbler, Woodpigeon, Yellowhammer.

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