Since my last blog-post the greenery on the trees has thickened a lot and the breeding season has advanced further, meaning less birds announcing their presence with a burst of song, and among those that still are a lot of them are now hidden among the branches on the trees. On my walk to work in the mornings I am unable to spend too much time attempting to see these hidden birds, so the numbers of species actually being seen has started to fall noticeably with less than 20 species now the 'new normal' to borrow a phrase.
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| Woodpigeon |
The weekend of the 25th and 26th of April was rather quiet during my 1 hour watches from my living room window. A pair of Collared Doves was the closest thing to a highlight among the 14 species noted on both days. Monday the 27th gave me all 3 of the now regular warblers I'd expect along my route with Chiffchaff, Willow Warbler and Blackcap. In addition, a pair of Swallows zipped over Balgay Hill. Tuesday the 28th threw up a trio of 'decent' birds, though none of them were 'firsts' - a single Meadow Pipit heading north, a Great Spotted Woodpecker flying into a tree at Balgay Park though my attempts to get a photo were hampered by a large persistent barking dog that took exception to me stopping near its route around the park. The owner's half-hearted attempts to get it to leave me alone made zero difference to its endeavours and I chose to move on.
A Stock Dove over the trees near Mills Observatory was the third highlight that morning. Blackcap annd Chiffchaff were also seen that day among the 24 species spotted and I had distant views of the extensive damage to the Tay reedbeds caused by a large fire the day before. Wednesday's window watch only produced 11 species with Collared Dove again the closest thing to a highlight. Blackcap and Willow Warbler were once again the highlights on Thursday. Friday May the 1st however did bring a surprise new addition (number 50) to the 'commute list' with a Shelduck photographed as it flew over Balgay Hill heading towards Invergowrie bay. Not a bird I was expecting. The 2
House Martins seen over the south end of The Miley in the afternoon were a more expected addition, taking the 'commute list' to 51 species, as well as being a year-tick.
Saturday's watch from the window was abandoned after just 30 rather unproductive minutes and Sunday produced only the view of a Magpie attempting to raid a Starling's nest that I had been watching the progress of from afar. A Jackdaw looked on intently as the raid progressed. I wasn't able to tell whether the raid was successful or repelled by a Starling on the nest.* There are a number of other nest sites I can see birds flying to and from regularly - including a pair of Magpies in a conifer. Monday the 4th of May produced a short list of just 18 species with Blackcap and Chiffchaff the best. Tuesday the 5th had a surprise up its sleeve with a pair of Linnets on Ninewells Avenue at Almond Place. A Buzzard was seen high above Balgay Hill in the afternoon. My first
Swifts of the year were seen distantly on Wednesday the 6th, the first day of a week and a half's holiday from work.
A total of 37 species seen over the period of roughly a week and a half highlighted above, including a trio of new additions to the commute list including a year-tick (in bold). All photos taken during the same period.
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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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| Stock Dove |
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| Tay reedbeds after devestating fire |
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| Oystercatcher |
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| Woodpigeon |
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| Dunnock |
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Blackcap
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| Rabbit |
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| Rabbit |
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| Wren |
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| Song Thrush |
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| Blackbird |
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| Carrion Crow |
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| Woodpigeon |
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| Shelduck |
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| Blue Tit |
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| Chaffinch |
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| Blackbird |
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| Chaffinch |
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| House Sparrow |
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| Oystercatcher |
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| Oystercatcher |
Species seen - Blackbird, Blackcap, Blue Tit, Buzzard, Carrion Crow, Chaffinch, Chiffchaff, Collared Dove, Dunnock, Goldcrest, Goldfinch, Great Spotted Woodpecker, Great Tit, Greenfinch, Herring Gull,
House Martin, House Sparrow, Jackdaw, Lesser Black Backed Gull, Linnet, Long Tailed Tit, Magpie, Meadow Pipit, Oystercatcher, Pied Wagtail, Robin, Feral Pigeon, Shelduck, Song Thrush, Sparrowhawk, Starling, Stock Dove, Swallow,
Swift, Willow Warbler, Woodpigeon, Wren.
Mammals seen - Grey Squirrel, Rabbit.
* While editing this blog-post I happened to look out the window just as a Starling flew into the nest site and out again a few seconds after.
