By my reckoning I have only another 8 potential birding days left in 2020. However, the chances of being able to get out on all of those days are probably rather slim. Adding something new for my year-list is also rather unlikely. The best I'm likely to manage is adding a few species to my Dundee list. I bought a thermal imaging 'scope' last week, after reading about someone using one to find, and not disturb, Jack Snipe. My first proper use of it on Thursday (following a daylight trial last Wednesday in Caird Park) resulted in me stumbling upon a calling
Tawny Owl at the Law at 0700 in the morning, and I was able to find the bird - a year-tick for me (and my first Dundee Tawny Owl in a long time). Since then, using the scope on my walk to/from work I've managed to see another Fox, as well as a Wood Mouse. This Wednesday, having waited in for a bird book delivery, I decided to try Riverside Nature Park in the hope that recent rain might mean that there would be a chance of hunting for Snipe in the 'boggy area'.
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Woodcock
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I headed out around 1120 for the hour and a bit walk to the park. I decided to go via Victoria Road and Bell Street then out towards the airport from there. A flock of Long Tailed Tits were seen and heard on Dens Road opposite the foot of Arklay Street. There wasn't much added on the walk into town, and a chance to check the Howff was squandered by a wrong turn. I decided to cut through the University campus to Perth Road. I spotted a trio of birds at the top of a large tree near the Library, with one of the 3 performing a short fly-catching foray. Waxwings seemed the likeliest, but the species have been surprisingly scarce this winter so far. A quick stop to take out the binoculars and camera from my back-pack confirmed that 2 of the birds were indeed Waxwings, and the third a Blackbird. I took a few photos and continued on.
I decided to head down to the path that runs alongside the railway. A small flock of Redwings were seen here and a Grey Wagtail overflew as I headed along by Magdalen Green. A Pied Wagtail was seen a bit further on too, and a flock of Siskins were spotted over Riverside Drive near the University playing fields. Nothing else was added before I reached the Nature Park. A flock of Long Tailed Tits were heard just inside the park. Unfortunately a dog walker with 3 dogs decided to cut across the boggy area - meaning I was very unlikely to find any Snipe or anything else there.
A few Greenfinches, a Blue Tit, a number of Blackbirds and a Goldcrest were all seen before a Great Spotted Woodpecker flew over. I headed round the side of Buzzard Wood and checked the boggy area but as expected there was nothing to be found. A Buzzard flew over, and a minute or so later a Sparrowhawk dived in behind the trees that border the airport. A large flock of Jackdaws were seen over towards the hill and I decided to head there instead of my intended check along the rear of the trees behind the car park and those that separate the lower and upper parts of the park, as the dog walker had moved onto there next.
I found a flock of Redwings in the trees as I headed towards the Lochan, using the thermal imaging scope, as well as more Rabbits tucked in below the trees. I decided to check along the hill side of the trees - there was a slim chance of perhaps finding a Woodcock, as it appears to be a decent winter for those around the country. However, a few more Rabbits and Blackbirds were all that I could find. Something made me turn around near the gap in the two patches of trees, and I realised that a
Woodcock had spotted me and was flying away at speed towards the lower half of the park. I rattled off a few photos then watched the bird circle round a few times before losing sight of it behind the trees. A welcome surprise, and a year-tick.
The Lochan was relatively quiet with a pair of Mute Swans, a handful of Mallard and a few sleeping Teal. A Pied Wagtail flew past as I headed for the bay. Unfortunately, I had misjudged the tides again, with the result there were no waders seen from the rather muddy hide. A large flock of Teal were on the water over by the reedbed, and a number of Black Headed and Herring Gulls were seen on the water. A Grey Wagtail was heard but not seen, as was a Wren. By now it was just after 1400, and the light was already beginning to go. A walk round to the picnic tables added a distant drake Red Breasted Merganser on the river, and some high flying Pink Footed Geese headed over southbound.
The battery on the thermal imaging scope wasn't enjoying the cold and I had to curtail my almost constant usage of it. More Geese arrived over the river as I neared the car park. I could see a few larger birds in the trees but not well enough to make out what they were from their heat signature alone. I suspect they were most likely Magpies or Carrion Crows as there were enough of both around when I reached the rear of the car park. The Great Spotted Woodpecker and Buzzard both showed again, and a Siskin overflew as I headed for the exit and the long walk home. More Pink Footed Geese were heard on the way home but nothing else was added to the 34 species noted in total. An unexpectedly decent few hours birding with the Waxwings and the Woodcock being the main highlights, the latter giving me my second year-tick in a week.
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Waxwing
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Grey Wagtail
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Buzzard
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Sparrowhawk
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Sparrowhawk
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Goldfinch
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Woodcock
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Woodcock
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Woodcock
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Woodcock
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Woodcock
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Magpie
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Teal
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Mute Swan
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Teal & Black Headed Gull
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Teal & Black Headed Gull
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Teal
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Herring Gull
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Red Breasted Merganser
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Pink Footed Goose
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Magpie
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Rabbit
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Species seen - Blackbird, Black Headed Gull,
Blue Tit", Buzzard, Carrion Crow,
Chaffinch*,
Dunnock*, Goldcrest, Goldfinch, Great Spotted Woodpecker, Greenfinch, Grey Wagtail, Herring Gull,
House Sparrow", Jackdaw,
Jay, Long Tailed Tit, Magpie, Mallard, Mute Swan, Pied Wagtail, Pink Footed Goose, Red Breasted Merganser, Redwing, Robin, Feral Pigeon, Siskin, Song Thrush, Sparrowhawk, Teal,
Waxwing",
Woodcock^, Woodpigeon, Wren.
Mammals - Rabbit.
* - heard only -
italics
^ - Year tick -
BOLD
" - Outside the park only -
underlined
