The period since my last post has been a lot more interesting than I expected it to be. I've continued varying my route to and from work which did mean that I actually failed to see a Magpie on one of the 6 days covered in this post which was quite unusual. Gone are the days when a Magpie was a very rare sight in and around Dundee. Over and above that though there has been continued 'Autumn' movements (Siskins and Crossbills so far) and a couple of real surprises, neither of which I would have predicted as being remotely likely given the available habitat even allowing for a variety of routes to and from work.
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| Jay |
On Monday the 29th of June I only managed to see 21 species with more Siskins being on the move the best of the lot though a Long Tailed Tit family, a Goldcrest and a couple of House Martins were all reasonably decent sightings. The first 2 returning Black Headed Gulls of the "Autumn" were seen over Balgay Cemetery on the walk in to work on Tuesday the 30th, just seconds after noting a male Bullfinch calling from atop a conifer. Collared Dove, more Siskins as well as House Martins and a Swallow were seen that day too. The best, and most unexpected bird was seen on my walk home.
Having just left Victoria Park I was walking along Ancrum Road when I spotted a raptor gliding westwards more or less towards me. It appeared all dark and the single flap it made was very unlike a Buzzard and quite 'floppy'. The wings appeared longer and narrower than a Buzzard's and the closed tail was slim and relatively long. The overall shape was different to a Buzzard. Unfortunately, it disappeared behind the primary school before I got my small pair of binoculars out of my bag, and failed to reappear in view from the other side. A "female" type Marsh Harrier is my 95% certain ID for the bird (the much less likely Black Kite or Honey Buzzard make up the remaining 5%). It is provisionally on the list for the to/from work walk. A pretty good 26 species were seen in total that day.
Although Thursday the 2nd of July only produced 22 species the mix of species was again rather decent - Chiffchaff, Bullfinch (same one?), more Siskins, a pair of Stock Doves and House Martins yet again. A Green Veined White butterfly was also seen that afternoon. I've mostly been very lucky with the weather while walking to and from work. However Friday the 3rd of July was very wet and the heavy rain in both directions meant that birds were trickier to see than usual. I managed to see 16 species but was also able to add a 'heard only' record of another most unexpected species.
I'd turned down the offer of a lift into town from one of my colleagues and had chosen to get wet instead which to most folk would be stupidity. However, I was rewarded for 'braving' the rain when I stumbled upon a call I didn't really recognise. It took only seconds to work out what it was likely to be however. I took out my phone and recorded the call so I could check the sonogram later at home against those on Xeno-Canto website. I spent the next 15 minutes or so peering up through the tight web of thin branches in the dark interior of a large conifer. I scanned from outside the tree too, but despite my efforts I failed to see the bird, though I did succeed in getting very wet. Heavy rain on a gloomy grey day aren't the easiest conditions for peering upwards while wearing glasses.
At home later, I was able to confirm my suspicion. The bird was a young Long Eared Owl with its 'squeaky gate' call.
hhhttphttps://twitter.com/stonefaction/status/1279106840404639746?s=20s://twitter.com/stonefaction/status/1279106840404639746?s=20ttps://twitter.com/stonefaction/status/1279106840404639746?s=20ttps://twitter.com/stonefaction/status/1279106840404639746?s=20Not a bird I expected to find "in" Dundee, especially not on my way to work, and in daylight, let alone in late afternoon. I don't usually count 'heard-only' birds but as I was stood apparently directly below the calling bird at one point I think I can safely rule out the possibility of someone playing the call on their phone. I've also added the bird to my actual year-list despite normally requiring a view of the bird. Having not gone for the Quail at Kingoodie earlier this year I haven't actually had to decide whether or not to 'count' a heard-only bird on my year-list previously.
Monday the 6th of July provided another relatively good mix of 21 species. Great Spotted Woodpecker, more Siskins, Stock Dove, Swallow, House Martin and Buzzard were the highlights. I managed to see a total of 26 species on Tuesday the 7th. Once again it was a good mixture of birds although none were new for the commute list. The same singing Bullfinch, a Stock Dove and a single Jay were seen in Balgay Cemetery. Crossbills (3 & 1) were seen as I descended the Law with another heard near The Friary. A Great Spotted Woodpecker was another surprise near the Law Steps just below the allotments.
Yet more Siskins were seen in the afternoon (I'd only heard some in the morning), one of the local Peregrines was perched on Cox's Stack and a Sparrowhawk glided over Victoria Park. A Blackcap was heard across the park. Swallow and House Martin rounded off the list. A Red Admiral near the Dundee United Club shop was a first for this year's butterflies list. In total for the 6 days covered in this post I managed to see/hear a total of 40 species with the additions taking the total since March to 57 species (I suppose I should really add the Skylark and Whitethroat that were heard only a few weeks ago if I'm counting the LEO, so the total is 59 species now). The photos used in this post are all older photos.
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| Feral Pigeon |
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| Black Headed Gull |
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| Siskin |
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| Long Tailed Tit |
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| Oystercatcher |
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| Swallow |
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| Rabbit |
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| Stock Dove |
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| Collared Dove |
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| Buzzard |
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| Chaffinch |
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| Long Eared Owl |
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| House Martin |
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| Herring Gull |
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| Carrion Crow |
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| Swift |
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| House Sparrow |
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| Wren |
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| Greenfinch |
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| Blue Tit |
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| Blackcap |
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| Robin |
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| Grey Squirrel |
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| Great Spotted Woodpecker |
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| Peregrine |
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| Song Thrush |
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| Goldcrest |
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| Bullfinch |
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| Red Admiral |
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| Blackbird |
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| Goldfinch |
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| Green Veined White |
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| Magpie |
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| Jackdaw |
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| Lesser Black Backed Gull |
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| Marsh Harrier |
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| Starling |
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| Common Crossbill |
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| Chiffchaff |
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| Coal Tit |
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| Sparrowhawk |
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| Woodpigeon |
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| Dunnock |
https://twitter.com/stonefaction/status/1279106840404639746?s=20
Species seen/heard - Blackbird, Blackcap, Black Headed Gull, Blue Tit, Bullfinch, Buzzard, Carrion Crow, Chaffinch, Chiffchaff, Coal Tit, Collared Dove, Common Crossbill, Dunnock, Goldcrest, Goldfinch, Great Spotted Woodpecker, Greenfinch, Herring Gull, House Martin, House Sparrow, Jackdaw, Jay, Lesser Black Backed Gull, Long Eared Owl, Long Tailed Tit, Magpie, Marsh Harrier, Oystercatcher, Peregrine, Robin, Feral Pigeon, Siskin, Song Thrush, Sparrowhawk, Starling, Stock Dove, Swallow, Swift, Woodpigeon, Wren.
Butterflies seen - Green Veined White, Red Admiral.
Mammals seen - Grey Squirrel, Rabbit.
