With relatively decent weather forecast and despite the amount of snow still on the ground, I planned to get up early on Saturday and head out before sunrise. Riverside Nature Park was to be my destination with Woodcock my main target for the trip. However, not for the first, or last, time I stayed in bed. Despite the later than intended start I did make it out around 1225 with the intention of heading to the park in time to catch the high tide roost forming in Invergowrie bay. There was still a slight chance of finding a Woodcock but I was less confident than had I made the early start.
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| Redwing |
Despite the snow I was able to find a decent selection of common species as I headed first in the general direction of Dundee Law. As I wandered downhill from the Law on Campbell Street I heard a Bullfinch calling from above me. I stopped and found a trio of males eating the fresh buds on a tree overhanging the pavement. I decided to dig out the camera for a few photos, just as the sun went behind a cloud. I headed for Balgay Park next but was delayed by a small flock of Redwings foraging in below the bushes and trees at the western end of Pentland Avenue where I had seen some on my walk home the previous day. I had some very close views of this usually wary species as they foraged in the few clear areas, among the leaf litter, and I cleared away some snow to allow the birds to forage once I'd gone.
By now I was behind schedule for catching the high tide roost and I was delayed further by another pair of very 'tame' Redwings not too far into the park. I was able to get within a few feet of this pair adding considerably to my growing collection of Redwing photos. Moving on again I stopped to photograph a male Goldcrest feeding around the base of a large tree. Siskin, Greenfinch and Fieldfare as well as more Redwings, Goldcrest and Bullfinches were added before I eventually reached the snow bound park around 1435, a bit later than intended.
A pair of Buzzards were noted as I headed into the park which not unexpectedly seemed rather quiet. A Redwing flew over as I searched for Long Tailed Tits at Buzzard Wood. A rather forlorn search for Snipe proved fruitless though an unexpected Lapwing gave me a year-tick as it flew over from the direction of the airport. Magpies and Carrion Crows were rather obvious around the park but I did still manage to find a few of the regular small birds. The search for Woodcock was a waste of time as there were people using the hill to sledge on, past the area where I found a Woodcock in December. A Fieldfare flew over as I walked towards the bay, stopping briefly to chat to the German birder/photographer I spoke to previously at the park.
As I reached the path down to the hide a small flock of Siskins flew in and landed in the tree in front of me, though they moved on again after a few seconds. As expected the tide was in though there was a Cormorant, a few Mallards, a number of Redshanks and a smaller number of Dunlin all visible from the hide. I scanned through the gulls in the bay, finding an unexpected Lesser Black Backed Gull but nothing else of note. I walked round to the burn in the hope that there might be a Woodcock among the brambles there but drew a blank.
As I searched the scrubby area, a pair of Goosander flew over before I heard a small flock of Geese drop in to the bay. My view was obscured by trees but surprisingly they turned out to be another year-tick in the shape of Greylag Geese. There were 5 Shelduck in the bay and a small number of Teal. By now the light was beginning to go but I wandered up the hill for a quick scan over the airport anyway. I spotted my fourth unexpected year-tick of the day from there, a male Pheasant wandering through the recycling area. I headed for the exit around 1630.
I stopped to watch a Magpie foraging on a snow-free patch of ground across the main road, before realising there was also a Pied Wagtail, a pair of Mistle Thrushes and a Fieldfare, as well as a Woodpigeon and a Redwing there. The failing light and an unexpected snow shower which continued most of my way home meant I failed to add anything else to the 41 species seen. Given that I managed to add an unexpected 4 year-ticks (in bold) as well as taking a large amount of Redwing photos it was definitely a better than expected afternoon's birding in less than ideal conditions.
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Bullfinch
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Bullfinch
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Bullfinch
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Redwing
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Redwing
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Chaffinch
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Redwing
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Redwing
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Redwing
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Redwing
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Redwing
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Redwing
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Redwing
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Redwing
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Coal Tit
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Redwing
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Redwing
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Redwing
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Redwing
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Redwing
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Redwing
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Redwing
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Redwing
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Redwing
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Redwing
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Redwing
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Redwing
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Goldcrest
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Goldcrest
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Greenfinch
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Goldcrest
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Goldcrest
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Goldcrest
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Carrion Crow
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Lapwing
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Buzzard
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Buzzard
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Carrion Crow
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Black Headed Gull
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Siskin
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Cormorant, Mallard, Dunlin & Redshank
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Redshank & Dunlin
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Blue Tit
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Goosander
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Common Gull
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Robin
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Robin
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Woodpigeon
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Lesser Black Backed Gull & Herring Gull
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Greylag Goose & Mallard
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Feral Pigeon
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Starling
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Shelduck
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Teal
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Pheasant
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Blackbird
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Magpie
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Mistle Thrush
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Fieldfare
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Mistle Thrush
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Fieldfare
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Species noted - Blackbird, Black Headed Gull, Blue Tit, Bullfinch,
Buzzard, Carrion Crow, Chaffinch, Coal Tit, Common Gull, Cormorant,
Dunlin, Dunnock, Fieldfare, Goldcrest, Goldfinch, Goosander, Great Tit,
Greenfinch, Grey Heron,
Greylag Goose, Herring Gull, House Sparrow, Jackdaw,
Lapwing, Lesser Black Backed Gull, Long Tailed Tit, Magpie, Mallard, Mistle Thrush,
Pheasant, Pied Wagtail, Redshank, Redwing, Robin, Feral Pigeon, Shelduck, Siskin, Starling, Teal, Woodpigeon, Wren.
Mammals seen - Rabbit.
