The weather forecast deterred me from getting out on Saturday the 26th but I decided I should make some effort to get out birding on Sunday. Although the forecast was to be windy, it was also meant to be dry though there was also a weather warning in place for possible snow and ice. I decided that I should head for Riverside Nature Park to give me some indication as to whether east or westwards would be best for my 1st of January birding to start my 2021 list. Once again a later than planned exit from my bed meant a later start to my birding, though once again I was able to head out for 1000.
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Great Spotted Woodpecker
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Although I initially headed in the direction of Dundee Law the possibility of icy conditions meant I changed my route to one I'd never tried before which meant some unfamiliar streets were visited along the way. Although there were birds around none were particularly unusual with Goldcrest, the first of a number of Bullfinch sightings and a calling Sparrowhawk that I failed to locate around Blackness Road being the best of the first half of the walk. It was fairly standard fayre all the way to Riverside Drive where a few more Bullfinches and a flock of 10 or so Greenfinches, as well as a Mistle Thrush were seen in the trees between the road and railway line. A Song Thrush was seen foraging below a hedge at the airport. A Buzzard overflew spooking a Redwing from a tree by the railway line as I neared the Nature Park.
Bird-wise things were rather quiet at the park, though there were lots of people around, which made it trickier than normal to see any birds though I did have some degree of success - a couple of different Buzzards and more Bullfinches were noted, while the Lochan held Mute Swan, Mallard and Teal. A Siskin overflew as I headed for the hide to check the bay. I suspected that I would find the tide already in, and I did, though thankfully a few hundred Redshanks and Dunlin were using the stone banking down from the railway line as a roosting spot. Despite much searching I failed to find anything else amongst them. There were a few Mallard and more Teal across by the reeds, along with a single Snipe.
Out on the water were a few groups of gulls mostly Black Headed and Herring, but also a single Common Gull. A Grey Wagtail was heard but not seen. A Sparrowhawk flew through low and fast as I watched yet another male Bullfinch in bushes just up from the bay. I then found a Redwing and a single female Bullfinch in the trees in the 'bowl' just to the north of the picnic tables. Unfortunately they were both flushed by the very loud conversation of a group of walkers passing on the path behind them. A Stock Dove flew out over the bay heading westwards as did a Woodpigeon a few minutes later. I had set myself the target of 45 species but with so many walkers around it was looking increasingly unlikely.
Both Wren and Pied Wagtail were added to the "heard but not seen" group as I headed towards the exit. A Mistle Thrush was seen on wires by the road at the eastern end. A Rabbit which appeared to have Myxomatosis was seen tucked in below the brambles near the exit and a dead one showing the same signs of illness was found nearby. A further two live Rabbits and another corpse, all with eyes swollen shut were found as I headed out of the park. A Great Spotted Woodpecker called loudly from trees by the railway line near the park. I decided to head for Balgay Hill to see if I could add Jay or Nuthatch, though both were unlikely.
As things turned out, hardly any birds were seen there as just as with the Nature Park (where the car park had actually been full with a car waiting for one to leave so as to grab the space) there were lots of people out walking - with limited scope as to where to go for some exercise, and human contact (even if supposedly socially distanced) within the city limits it is inevitable that the options are likely to be busier than ever. I did stop to photograph a Grey Squirrel which led to a nice chat with 2 ladies about birding and the wildlife on the hill. I then found 2 male Bullfinches and a Redwing in trees not far from Mills Observatory, as well as a Common Gull down on the football pitches. I then headed for Dundee Law to see if the sunset was worth a photograph or two but got fed up waiting and headed for home instead having only managed to record 40 species of which 3 were heard only birds. Overall quite a disappointing day out though finding Bullfinches almost everywhere was quite unexpected.
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Buzzard
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Buzzard
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Buzzard
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Chaffinch
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Greenfinch
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Greenfinch
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Bullfinch
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Bullfinch
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Redshank
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Redshank & Dunlin
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Teal
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Carrion Crow
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Stock Dove
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Goldfinch
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Robin
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Cormorant
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Redwing
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Bullfinch
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Herring Gull
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Buzzard
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Mistle Thrush
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Song Thrush
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Dunnock
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Magpie
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Siskin & Greenfinch
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Blackbird
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Blackbird
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Rabbit
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Great Spotted Woodpecker
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Bullfinch
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Grey Squirrel
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Grey Squirrel
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Bullfinch
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Common Gull
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Species seen (
italics - heard only)- Blackbird, Black Headed Gull, Blue Tit, Bullfinch, Buzzard, Carrion Crow, Chaffinch,
Coal Tit, Common Gull, Cormorant, Dunlin, Dunnock, Goldcrest, Goldfinch, Great Spotted Woodpecker, Great Tit, Greenfinch,
Grey Wagtail, Herring Gull, House Sparrow, Jackdaw, Long Tailed Tit, Magpie, Mallard, Mistle Thrush, Mute Swan,
Pied Wagtail, Redshank, Redwing, Robin, Feral Pigeon, Siskin, Snipe, Song Thrush, Sparrowhawk, Starling, Stock Dove, Teal, Woodpigeon, Wren.
Mammals seen - Grey Squirrel, Rabbit.
