The second half of June is usually rather a quiet time for me birding-wise with singing birds going quiet and migration drying up for the "Spring" movements, though the number of fledglings around rises then falls back again as some of them get picked off by predators. Normally my interest turns to insects for a short spell till things start to pick up a bit. However, the walk to work has meant that I'm still paying attention to the birds, even if only for a couple of hours a day. As most grassy areas and hedges are being cut back - despite the still ongoing breeding season, insects have been noticeably absent which is both disappointing and rather worrying given that I've seen reports from elsewhere saying the number of insects being seen is well down on what has been the recent normal (which is far below the historical normal).
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| Buzzard |
Monday the 15th of June wasn't particularly productive with a Stock Dove in a bare tree in Balgay Cemetery the best of the 20 species noted. Tuesday the 16th proved to be a good bit better, but also frustrating. The morning produced Bullfinch, Jay and a Lesser Redpoll (where I had been expecting one). After work, I decided on a different route into town, routing via Dundee Airport in the hope of adding Skylark to the commute list. A Whitethroat was heard singing but not seem and at least 3 Skylarks were heard above the airport but bright sunshine and blue skies made them impossible to pick out against the sky. House Martin and Swallow were rather poor compensation taking the total to 24 species for the day.
On Thursday the 18th the walk to work was again rather quiet but the walk home was better with a trio of raptors seen - Peregrine at Cox's Stack, Buzzard at Balgay Hill gliding northwards and a Sparrowhawk seen near home upsetting the local Starlings - no Rosy Starling picked out among them though. Despite the raptors the day total was only 21. The Peregrine was again seen in flight on the 19th at roughly the same time as it returned to the Stack, calling as it swooped up to its usual spot. A Siskin in the morning was another relatively unusual sighting.
Monday the 22th was one of the best days I've had species-wise during the past few months with surprising numbers of Siskins (at least 10 in 2 groups of 6 and 4, and another silent group which may or may not have been the same species, plus numerous unseen calling birds) apparently on the move as well as a pair of Crossbills. Reports from elsewhere suggested that they were a tiny part of a much larger movement of both species. In addition I was able to see Chiffchaff, House Martin, a pair of tussling Sparrowhawk (a male and a female) and Swallow taking the total to 27 species for the day. Unsurprisingly Tuesday the 23rd was back to more like normal with no Siskins or Crossbills seen or heard. Great Spotted Woodpecker, House Martin and Swallow were the day's highlights among the 21 species noted.
The Peregrine perched on the corner of Cox's Stack ledge was the best sighting on Thursday the 25th, with another Siskin also seen. House Martins and Swifts milled around catching insects above the trees on Balgay Hill as I headed home later. Friday the 26th started sunny and Great Spotted Woodpecker, Swallow, House Martin and the Peregrine were the highlights. A heavy rain shower made for a wet walk home (compunded by just wearing a t-shirt which got wet through within a few minutes and managing to pull a muscle in my calf by attempting to run uphill without having done any running for months), though typically the sun came out again around 100 metres from home.
All in all a rather mixed bag over the past 2 weeks though the Siskin and Crossbill movements, the regular sightings of the Peregrine and a Lesser Redpoll in the area I had been expecting to finally see one, were all good to get. Jay, Great Spotted Woodpecker, Bullfinch and Sparrowhawks were also highlights of sorts. Blackcap was heard singing a few times, and Song Thrushes seemed to be more visible than usual. I've still to catch a Sand Martin or an Osprey overhead and I might try for Skylark again soon, otherwise I expect things will get even quieter for the next few weeks, at least before Autumn movements change the feel of the walk again. (Photos used are all older photos).
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| Goldfinch |
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| Carrion Crow |
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| Woodpigeon |
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| Chaffinch |
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| Jay |
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| Sparrowhawk |
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| Blackbird |
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| House Sparrow |
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| Starling |
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| Song Thrush |
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| Oystercatcher |
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| Robin |
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| Stock Dove |
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| Peregrine |
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| Herring Gull |
37 species seen - Blackbird, Blue Tit, Bullfinch, Buzzard, Carrion Crow, Chaffinch, Chiffchaff, Coal Tit, Common Crossbill, Dunnock, Goldcrest, Goldfinch, Great Spotted Woodpecker, Great Tit, Greenfinch, Herring Gull, House Martin, House Sparrow, Jackdaw, Jay, Lesser Black Backed Gull, Lesser Redpoll, Long Tailed Tit, Magpie, Oystercatcher, Peregrine, Robin, Feral Pigeon, Siskin, Song Thrush, Sparrowhawk, Starling, Stock Dove, Swallow, Swift, Woodpigeon, Wren.
Mammals seen - Rabbit.
