As Autumn progresses, so the variety of species being seen (and heard) on my walk to and from work is changing. Robins are singing everywhere, though not always visible while they do so. The Pink Footed Geese are beginning to arrive and the birds moving through are also increasing in variety, with Siskin and Meadow Pipit still appearing in good numbers but also Lesser Redpoll, Pied and Grey Wagtails numbers increasing while Swallows and House Martins dwindle away. The gull numbers at the football pitches are increasing, though I've yet to find a Mediterranean Gull amongst them - plenty time yet.
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Robin
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The week covered in this post had a bit of everything with both summer and winter migrant birds noted. On Monday the 14th of September I recorded a total of 25 species with Lesser Redpoll probably the highlight. Swallows and House Martins were seen as was a very high flying skein of Pink Footed Geese. Meadow Pipits and Siskins were also still passing through and Common Gull and Black Headed Gulls numbers were increasing on the football pitches. Things seemed much quieter on Tuesday the 15th with only 16 species on the list for the day. A Jay over Ninewells Avenue was probably the best with Pied Wagtail and Meadow Pipits the only migrants.
Things picked up a bit on Thursday the 17th with a total of 24 species, though some were heard only with a calling Nuthatch in Balgay Park the best of those. A low flying Jay over Byron Street in the afternoon from the direction of the Law was interesting and unexpected (possibly a migrant/dispersing young bird). Best of the rest for Thursday were Bullfinch, Buzzard, Meadow Pipit, Pink Footed Geese, Siskins, Song Thrush and Sparrowhawk.
A singing Chiffchaff at the Law was slightly unexpected on Friday the 18th among the 24 species for the day. The Nuthatch was calling once again in Balgay and I even managed to see it, perched high up in a tall tree., by the junction of the 3 tracks on the south side of the hill behind Royal Victoria Hospital. Migrants seemed to be much in evidence with 7 Lesser Redpolls, a Grey Wagtail, lots more Meadow Pipits (a constant stream on my way to the Law) and a Pied Wagtail all passing over. Bullfinch, Song Thrush and a Sparrowhawk were the best of the rest, taking the total number of species seen this week to 35 species.
The Nuthatch being a bit more vocal is welcome as it would normally be a bird that is easy to overlook as the trunks of trees rarely get any attention while there is still plenty of foliage around. It will be interesting to try and ascertain how many Nuthatches are around as the trees lose their leaves - though my opportunities to do so will be hampered by dwindling daylight available to me. All photos here are older ones.
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Magpie
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Carrion Crow
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Bullfinch
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Sparrowhawk
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Pied Wagtail
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Herring Gull
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Blackbird
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Woodpigeon
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Rabbit
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Common Gull
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Black Headed Gull
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Grey Wagtail
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Buzzard
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Species seen - Blackbird, Black Headed Gull, Blue Tit, Bullfinch,
Buzzard, Carrion Crow, Chaffinch, Chiffchaff, Coal Tit, Common Gull,
Dunnock, Goldfinch, Great Tit, Grey Wagtail, Herring Gull, House Martin,
House Sparrow, Jackdaw, Jay, Lesser Black Backed Gull, Lesser Redpoll,
Magpie, Meadow Pipit, Nuthatch, Pied Wagtail, Pink Footed Goose, Robin,
Feral Pigeon, Siskin, Song Thrush, Sparrowhawk, Starling, Swallow,
Woodpigeon, Wren.
Mammals seen - Grey Squirrel, Rabbit.
