I was a bit undecided where to go for my early morning walk on Friday. In fact I had actually turned off the alarm and gone back to sleep. However, I woke up not long after 0500 and decided I probably should go somewhere. I decided to visit Dundee's 2 hills and see what I could find with some time to search rather than my usual 'in passing' on my way to work. Although I wasn't overly hopeful of turning up something unusual, there is always a chance at this time of year of stumbling upon something good in less expected places.
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| Willow Warbler |
I headed out before 0530. Despite being around an hour earlier than I normally am the birds were mostly the same species in mostly the same places - Blackbird, Feral Pigeon, Herring Gull, Woodpigeon, House Sparrow, Starling, Lesser Black Backed Gull, Magpie, Goldfinch and Carrion Crow all being noted. I also realised I was overdressed as it was warmer than expected. As it was only likely to get warmer as the morning progressed I decided I would concentrate my efforts on only 1 of the 2 planned hills. Reaching the lower slope of Dundee Law I took the camera and binoculars out of the bag and began exploring.
Dunnock and Blue Tit were first to be found and there seemed to be Rabbits everywhere. I finally managed to see one of the Blackcaps I could hear singing, though a nearby Willow Warbler proved to be much easier to see, as it sang from the very top of a small tree. A bit more searching added Chiffchaff, Great Tit, Robin and Song Thrush as well as plenty more Rabbits. I doubled back a little and got more photos of the Willow Warbler before I encountered a shifty-looking character. I decided to cut short my searching and retreat somewhere more public and headed down off the hill.
I cut along a number of previously unexplored (by me) back-streets on my way back home adding Chaffinch, Wren and a Swallow to the relatively short list for the morning's efforts. Not the most productive of walks but it does mean that I can rule Dundee Law out for future exercise trips if I'm hoping to add anything new. I suspect it could be good on a September morning for a spot of vis-mig, especially if it was a misty morning with the hill-top sitting above the mist, but late Spring/early Summer, not quite so much.
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| Magpie |
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| Willow Warbler |
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| Willow Warbler |
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| Rabbit |
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| Carrion Crow |
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| Firth of Tay |
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| Woodpigeon |
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| Rabbit |
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| Blue Tit |
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| Rabbit |
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| Rabbit |
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| Rabbit |
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| Blackbird |
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| Rabbit |
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| Robin |
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| Song Thrush |
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| Woodpigeon |
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| Starling |
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| Song Thrush |
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| Herring Gull |
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| Willow Warbler |
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| Carrion Crow & Magpie |
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| Dunnock |
Species seen - Blackbird, Blackcap, Blue Tit, Carrion Crow, Chaffinch, Chiffchaff, Dunnock, Goldfinch, Great Tit, Herring Gull, House Sparrow, Jackdaw, Lesser Black Backed Gull, Magpie, Robin, Feral Pigeon, Song Thrush, Starling, Swallow, Willow Warbler, Woodpigeon, Wren.
Mammals seen - Rabbit.
P.S. A Common Gull and the small group of local Swifts were seen later in the morning from home.
