With better weather on Boxing Day than Christmas Day's rain, I decided I really should attempt to do a spot of birding. However, with public transport being a bit hard to work out whether buses are running or not (even when you have the info on the bus company's website and the bus still doesn't show up) I decided to stay local. However, rather than go east via Swannie Ponds and Eastern Cemetery towards Broughty Ferry, I decided I should give Riverside Nature Park a visit, though I went with low expectations.
 |
| Teal |
I headed out around 1310 and almost immediately spotted a Blackbird, House Sparrow and Woodpigeon in and around a small bush across the road. Herring Gull and Carrion Crow in flight were seen as I waited for the bus into town. Feral Pigeon was the final addition before the bus arrived though a Blue Tit and a Robin were both heard but neither was seen. Nothing was added as I passed through the City Centre to catch the late running bus out towards the park.
A pair of Carrion Crows were in the field by the road and a single Mistle Thrush was on the grassy area to the east of Buzzard Wood. The trees and bushes were rather quiet with hardly any birds around which didn't bode well. A Black Headed Gull flew past as I headed towards the flooded area where a Grey Heron lifted from the side of the bushes. I walked slowly around the edges hoping to glimpse a Jack Snipe bobbing up and down, but again things seemed quiet. At one point I turned my back away from the swampy area and immediately heard a Snipe alarm call. Turning back I saw the bird disappear up and over the hedge and over towards the airport.
A Chaffinch flew over and a Robin appeared on a fence post at Buzzard Wood. A Magpie was heard calling and I thought I could hear the faint calls of a Bullfinch but drew a blank on both species. A pair of Herring Gulls glided over. I cut up through the car park where again the bushes and trees were very quiet, except for a perched Carrion Crow. Following the path round towards the Lochan I added a Blackbird and heard a Blue Tit in the hedge. At the Lochan, a pair of Mallards slept while opposite around 30 Teal mostly roosted.
Scanning out to the east I picked up a distant Buzzard circling somewhere towards the Botanic Gardens and a pair of Sparrowhawks, possibly displaying. A Pied Wagtail landed by another small pool in the field to the west of the Lochan and closer to the road. A skein of around 30 Pink Footed Geese headed over westwards following the river. A charm of Goldfinches flew over as I neared the hide but things were very quiet in the bay with low tide having passed just a short time earlier. There were some Herring Gulls and a Common Gull in the burn at the bend where they bathe and roost. A few Feral Pigeons circled round and there were a few Redshanks on the mud over towards the reedbed at the railway station.
With the sun in my eyes it was difficult to find anything other than Redshanks, a few Dunlin and some Black Headed Gulls out in the bay from round near the picnic benches. Dunnocks were heard round towards the short path up the hill but not seen. A Magpie landed on the telegraph pole nearest the car park as I headed through. A Woodpigeon landed in the trees beside the recycling bins. A Great Spotted Woodpecker flew to Buzzard Wood as I searched for Woodcock in below the trees behind the car park, finding only a male Blackbird. A Redwing flew over towards the houses and a few Starlings were seen perched on the airport navigation tower. Another check of the flooded area drew a blank on Snipe or Jack Snipe but did produce a single Wren, before I headed for the bus home.
Not the most inspiring of afternoon birding but fresh air and sunshine can be in short supply at this time of year, which made it worthwhile, even if the 27 species seen in total was a rather low amount of species.
 |
| Mistle Thrush |
 |
| Mistle Thrush |
 |
| Snipe |
 |
| Teal |
 |
| Pink Footed Geese |
 |
| Dunlin |
 |
| Herring Gull & Common Gull |
 |
| Black Headed Gull |
 |
| Carrion Crow |
 |
| Magpie |
 |
| Great Spotted Woodpecker |
 |
| Woodpigeon |
 |
| Black Headed Gull |
 |
| Redwing |
 |
| Magpie |
Species seen outwith park - Blackbird, Carrion Crow, Herring Gull, House Sparrow, Feral Pigeon, Woodpigeon.
Species seen in the park - Blackbird, Black Headed Gull, Buzzard, Carrion Crow, Chaffinch, Common Gull, Dunlin, Goldfinch, Great Spotted Woodpecker, Grey Heron, Herring Gull, Magpie, Mallard, Mistle Thrush, Pied Wagtail, Pink Footed Goose, Redshank, Redwing, Robin, Feral Pigeon, Snipe, Sparrowhawk, Starling, Teal, Woodpigeon, Wren.
Heard only - Blue Tit, Dunnock
