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| Blackbird |
I hadn't noted down the birds I'd seen on the way to work at lunchtime, but from memory they were Woodpigeon, Starling, Herring Gull and Carrion Crow. On the walk down to the park I did see a few more species than earlier. Chaffinch, Blackbird, Song Thrush and Robin were all in trees and on the grass by the path. A pair of Herring Gulls glided over and a Wren flitted around among some broken branches on the ground. A trio of House Sparrows flew into a hedge and a Robin stood on a fencepost as I passed. A Feral Pigeon flew over and a Carrion Crow rooted around where the grass had just been cut.
Reaching the Invergowrie bay end of the park I scanned from the bridge. The tide was well in and Herring Gulls and Lesser Black Backed Gulls mingled on the water. A pair of Shelducks were nearby. A Feral Pigeon perched on the bridge, and a Woodpigeon flew across the road and into the trees behind the nursing home. A Chaffinch flew out of the hedge by the park entrance as I headed down to the hide. A flock of Starlings and some Carrion Crows were in the field. Scanning from the hide I added a pair of Mute Swans and a few pairs of Mallards to the list.
A pair of Teal were over by the reeds and further out in the bay were a number of Black Headed Gulls and a couple of Common Gulls. A Cormorant flew past behind them downriver. I headed for the Lochan next, picking up Goldfinch, Yellowhammer and Jackdaw on the way. Things were quiet at the Lochan with a few Teal and a Herring Gull all there was to see. I heard a Pied Wagtail calling but failed to see it. Walking on a bit I added a Song Thrush to the list and a singing Willow Warbler. A Dunnock showed among the branches of a tree which was quite green already. A Blackcap male peered back at me from the same tree moments later.
A Swallow swept over and further round a pair of Robins looked set to mate by the path before they spotted me and flew back into the trees. A couple of male Blackbirds and another Song Thrush were feeding by the path as well. I cut up and over the hill following the path over the top, further north than the viewpoint. One Skylark took to the air from beyond the composting area, but the hill was quiet. A dog walker (and son) with an off the lead dog had passed that way as I'd entered the park, but it wasn't entirely certain if they were on the path or not - though I suspect not, given that I could see most of their legs. The only other dog walker I saw in the 'upper' end of the park also did not have his dog on a lead. Neither of the two dogs seen were wandering far from the owners, and seemed to be more or less under control. There was one lady using the area behind the car park to exercise her dog off the lead as intended and she put the dog on the lead to go back to the car park.
I eventually added Pied Wagtail to the list near Buzzard Wood. I heard but failed to see a Great Spotted Woodpecker. A Buzzard with some food in its talons was harassed by a couple of Carrion Crows over the fields. A pair of Oystercatchers flew in to land in the fields. A few Greenfinches were at the front edge of Buzzard Wood and a Snipe flushed as I wandered along the edge of the boggy area trying to confirm a Reed Bunting which flew in (it was). With the time approaching 1720 I headed for the exit. A small group of Linnets flew off across the grassy area near the gate, and a House Sparrow was feeding in the field along with a flock of Woodpigeons and another of Starlings. A pair of Carrion Crows were unworried by me passing them a matter of a few feet away towards the underpass at the railway line.
Nothing new was added on the way home and I ended the shortened birding 'outing' having seen 34 species (33 in the park and 1 outside the park not seen in the park - Wren). It has been quite some time since I last had the chance to bird the park at that time of day and the lack of dog walkers did seem to result in more birds on the ground around the path edges. The tide state meant that waders were notable by their absence, and there were a few other birds that I hoped I might see but didn't, but a worthwhile hour or so's birding.
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| Buzzard & Carrion Crows |
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| Buzzard & Carrion Crows |
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| Buzzard & Carrion Crows |
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| Oystercatcher |
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| Snipe |
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| Snipe |
Species seen in the park - Blackbird, Blackcap, Black Headed Gull, Buzzard, Carrion Crow, Chaffinch, Common Gull, Cormorant, Dunnock, Goldfinch, Greenfinch, Herring Gull, House Sparrow, Jackdaw, Lesser Black Backed Gull, Linnet, Mallard, Mute Swan, Oystercatcher, Pied Wagtail, Reed Bunting, Robin, Feral Pigeon, Shelduck, Skylark, Snipe, Song Thrush, Starling, Swallow, Teal, Willow Warbler, Woodpigeon, Yellowhammer.
Seen outwith - Blackbird, Carrion Crow, Chaffinch, Herring Gull, House Sparrow, Robin, Feral Pigeon, Song Thrush, Wren.