It has been a few weeks since I last posted an update on what I've been seeing during my walks to and from work, and what I've seen from home on those days when I don't have to walk to work. There have been some subtle changes to what I've been seeing with none of the winter visitors (Geese, Whooper Swans, Redwings etc) still around, but an increasing number of summer migrants beginning to show themselves. There is also an increasing amount of greenery appearing on the trees which isn't making it easy to see some of the species I was seeing without too much trouble just a few weeks ago. There was also a rather large surprise as I left work early on Friday past, but more of that later.....
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| Buzzard |
Watching from home on Saturday 11th April the highlights were a few Siskins and Meadow Pipits passing overhead. Sunday the 12th saw more Meadow Pipits arriving for their summer stay in the glens and one of the local Grey Wagtails. Monday the 13th's commute only mustered 19 species with Long Tailed Tit the best of the rather paltry haul. Things did pick up slightly on the 14th with Chiffchaff, Peregrine and Goldcrest all noted. More Meadow Pipits, a Sparrowhawk and my first Small Tortoiseshell butterflies of 2020 were spotted from my window on Wednesday the 15th.
Thursday the 16th added a new bird to my year-list with a
Blackcap seen in Balgay Cemetery. Chiffchaff, Jay, Meadow Pipit, Song Thrush and Sparrowhawk filled out a better than average day's haul. Both Grey Squirrel and Rabbit were also seen. Friday the 17th also gave me another year-tick with my first 2
Willow Warblers seen at Dundee Law singing away in the trees as I wandered past. I had taken a camera with me so did manage a couple of record shots. Bullfinch and Treecreeper were the best of the rest that day. There were very slim pickings on the 18th at home, so much so that I deleted the very short list I had begun. However, later in the day I happened to look out the window just as a Buzzard flew up my street. I managed to get a few grabbed photos of that one too. Given the nearest (known) Buzzard habitat is around 3/4 mile away I wonder where the bird had been/was going (Caird Park?).
Sunday the 19th's only highlight was a Grey Wagtail from my living room window. Monday the 20th's list contained Blackcap, Goldcrest and Long Tailed Tit but was otherwise rather standard fayre. Tuesday, the 21st saw the re-emergence of Collared Dove after a few weeks where I had failed to see any. In addition, Bullfinch, Buzzard, Chiffchaff, Grey Wagtail and a Small Tortoiseshell butterfly were decent enough sightings. Wednesday's hour from my window only mustered a Grey Wagtail just before I gave up, to take the list to a mere dozen species. On Thursday the 23rd I decided to take a DSLR with me and got a few record shots of a few species. Blackcap, Collared Dove and Jay were the best of the bunch seen though not all were photographed.
Friday the 24th's walk to work was better than normal with a very decent haul of 25 species seen. Blackcap, Collared Dove, Goldcrest and Willow Warbler were the highlights until just before I had almost reached my work when a
Swallow, my first of the year, flew over. That wasn't the best bird of the day though. That came later. We got away an hour early so it was just after 1500 when I was heading for home that there was a sudden commotion ahead of me and a stream of birds appeared just above the trees ahead of me.
Herring Gulls and Carrion Crows mostly were all mobbing a rather large brown raptor. Not a Buzzard as would be expected. A 2nd year White Tailed Eagle! Despite having the DSLR in my bag I attempted, and failed to get a record of the bird with my phone. The light was superb, the bird was really low and the crowd circled round causing almost everyone walking along the path behind me to stop and watch the spectacle. I then tried and failed to get the DSLR out of my bag for a photo or two, but by the time I managed, peace had returned as the birds had disappeared out of sight over another lot of trees. It was so frustrating to not have gone for the camera first but I can still see the bird clearly in my mind. It was quite a relatively pale looking youngster with a good smattering of pale feathers visible against the slightly orange-y tinged brown feathering.
A Pied Wagtail was a relatively uncommon bird later in my slightly distracted walk home after the Eagle sighting. Saturday's watch from the window only managed to serve up a Wren and a trio of Robins, while Sunday's highlight was a pair of Collared Doves perched on a nearby chimney. All in all, I can't really complain with my recent haul of sightings in what is mostly rather unpromising habitat. 3 year-ticks (in bold) and my 2nd (different) White Tailed Eagle over Dundee this Spring. The photos illustrating this post are either from my window, or taken on my walks during the period covered. No White Tailed Eagle pics though....
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| Jackdaw |
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| Jackdaw |
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| Herring Gull |
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| Woodpigeon |
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| Starling |
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| Herring Gull |
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| Herring Gull |
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| Herring Gull |
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| Herring Gull |
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| Herring Gull |
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| Feral Pigeon |
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| Sparrowhawk |
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| Sparrowhawk |
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| Sparrowhawk |
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| Jackdaw |
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| Jackdaw |
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| Jackdaw |
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Goldfinch
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| Willow Warbler |
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| Willow Warbler |
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| Rabbit |
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| Rabbit |
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| Chiffchaff |
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| Buzzard |
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Buzzard
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| Magpie |
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| Buzzard |
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Buzzard
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| Wren |
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| Wren |
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| Song Thrush |
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| Great Tit |
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| Great Tit |
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| Rabbit |
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| Robin |
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| Blackcap |
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| Blackcap |
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| Grey Squirrel |
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| Grey Squirrel |
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| Grey Squirrel |
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| Grey Squirrel |
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| Woodpigeon |
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| Carrion Crow |
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| Herring Gull |
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| Greenfinch |
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| Greenfinch |
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| Blue Tit |
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| Blue Tit |
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| Chaffinch |
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| Dunnock & Blackbird |
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| Wren |
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| Wren |
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| Blackcap |
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| Magpie |
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| Carrion Crow |
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| Magpie |
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| Carrion Crow |
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| Lesser Black Backed Gull |
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| Lesser Black Backed Gull |
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| Herring Gull |
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| Herring Gull |
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| Herring Gull |
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| Starling |
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| Dunnock |
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| Carrion Crow |
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| Woodpigeon |
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| Woodpigeon |
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| Woodpigeon |
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| Woodpigeon |
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| Collared Dove |
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| Collared Dove |
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Collared Dove & Starling
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39 Species seen - Blackbird,
Blackcap, Blue Tit, Bullfinch, Buzzard, Carrion Crow, Chaffinch, Chiffchaff, Coal Tit, Collared Dove, Dunnock, Goldcrest, Goldfinch, Great Tit, Greenfinch, Grey Wagtail, Herring Gull, House Sparrow, Jackdaw, Jay, Lesser Black Backed Gull, Long Tailed Tit, Magpie, Meadow Pipit, Oystercatcher, Peregrine, Pied Wagtail, Robin, Feral Pigeon, Song Thrush, Sparrowhawk, Starling,
Swallow, Treecreeper, White Tailed Eagle,
Willow Warbler, Woodpigeon, Wren.
Butterflies - Peacock, Small Tortoiseshell.
Mammals - Grey Squirrel, Rabbit.
