With a relaxation of the Covid regulations the previous day, I considered the possibilities for birding on Saturday. Although the option had existed to travel up to 5 miles into the adjoining region(s) previously, I had chosen to stay within Dundee city boundaries - except for a couple of very short distance (c.200m & c.400m) 5 minute crossings of the 'border', once at Invergowrie Bay & once at Clatto. With any walk requiring a return trip of at least similar length home limiting my options, it wasn't too much of an issue to stay within the city. However, I had checked out possibilities that were theoretically within walking distance.
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Raven
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One of these was a trip to the Sidlaws - the range of hills to the north of the city. I decided I would set off early on Saturday and see if I could catch up with Golden Plovers which Lainy McCormack had found in a field not far from Balkello Woods and maybe a few other species I'm unlikely to catch up with within the city. Needless to say, I slept in, but still managed to get out the door for around 0830. Although I had originally intended heading north from Downfield I changed my mind for a shorter distance to reach the 'countryside' with a possibility of Willow Warbler en route. Jackdaw, Herring Gull, Starling, Blue Tit, Lesser Black Backed Gull, Woodpigeon and House Sparrow got the day's list underway.
A Meadow Pipit overflew as I headed up Arklay Street. Blackbird, Robin and Common Gull were seen as I walked down Graham Street towards Caird Park. Chaffinch, Chiffchaff, Mallard, Coal Tit, Blackcap, 2 Great Spotted Woodpeckers, Wren, Song Thrush, Carrion Crow, Jay and Great Tit all made for a productive wander down through Caird Park on my way to my next stop at Trottick Ponds. Moorhen, Grey Heron and Mute Swan were noted and I had good views of a male Blackcap before I heard what I was looking for - a singing Willow Warbler. I took a few photos as it perched high in a tree near the burn before finding another few a bit further on along the path. A Reed Bunting was also seen nearby.
I crossed the Dighty Burn at the bottom of Emmock Road, into Angus. A Jay flew over and birds were plentiful in the roadside trees - Blue Tit, Great Tit, Dunnock, Wren and Blackbird then a single tree with a male Blackcap and a Bullfinch in, with Chiffchaff, Coal Tit, Woodpigeon and Yellowhammer all noted within the next few trees. The sun was shining and the sky was blue. It wasn't yet particularly warm but neither was it cold. It was quite pleasant and almost Spring-like. I added Jackdaw and Starling before finding a Fox sat sunning itself in a field behind a house. I took a few photos as the Fox watched me for about a minute before deciding to move off. The call of a Peacock from somewhere unseen caught my attention briefly.
Carrion Crow and Long Tailed Tit were seen as I neared the top of the hill. Movement in a roadside bush needed investigating and there was an unexpected year-tick - my second of the day - a Tree Sparrow. Chaffinch was added before the landscape opened up into a network of fields with the hills still a few miles on. Skylarks sang, Goldfinches perched on a roadside drystane dyke and a Willow Warbler sang from a small stand of trees. A Pheasant wandered across the far end of a field, a few Feral Pigeons passed overhead and a number of Meadow Pipits called as they flew over. A Lesser Black Backed Gull drifted by and a few Pied Wagtails were watched as they wandered round a field, with Skylarks and Meadow Pipits sharing the bare ground.
A pair of Linnets showed well as they landed on a fence across the road from me. I spotted a distant Buzzard and seconds later a Grey Heron in flight. Rooks and Jackdaws were numerous with some teaming up to harass a Buzzard and a bit further on, a male Sparrowhawk. Stock Dove, House Sparrow and a Small Tortoiseshell butterfly were added to the list as I wandered up a dirt track that I hoped would lead me onto the hill ahead of me. A Swallow swept around above some farm buildings. I spotted a pond I hadn't realised was there, with a Tufted Duck on it, and an Oystercatcher was photographed relatively close to the track. A second Sparrowhawk was seen being harassed by a crow high above the hills.
A Reed Bunting was seen before my third year-tick of the day appeared over the crest of the hill - a Raven. Chiffchaffs, Willow Warblers and a Robin were in the trees as I trapsed up the hill, which wasn't the one I was hoping it would be. There were quite a few other walkers around which meant there weren't as many birds as there might have been, had I made my early start as planned. A Kestrel was watched as I neared the top and heading down the back of the hill a bit I found the first of 2 Stonechats. Unfortunately the amount of walkers and the distance I'd already walked meant I didn't take the chance to explore a bit further beyond the hill, especially a wooded area on the next hill. Next time, with a better idea of the lay of the land, I will.
I headed down the hill again, pausing on a bench for a bite to eat, with a view over to Fife and beyond being slightly spoilt by haze, while 2 Buzzards circled over me. I paused briefly to watch a small flock of Bullfinches as I walked back to the car park area before leaving the woods at around 1215. A Peacock butterfly was seen in flight as I waited by the road to let some cars pass. A Lapwing was in the grassy field by the pond I'd seen earlier, while 2 Canada Geese loitered around the pond itself. Rather than retrace my steps back to Dundee I chose to head for Bridgefoot instead. Although there were birds around the only addition to the Angus part of the list for the day was a Song Thrush. There seemed to be plenty of Buzzards making the most of the sunshine to do some soaring in pairs.
I scanned through a field of gulls on the walk back - Herring Gulls, Lesser Black Backed Gulls and Common Gulls. There were also a number of Pied Wagtails and Meadow Pipits in the same field. I reached Bridgefoot where a pair of Mallards flew over the bridge before splashing down onto the Dighty again. I chose to head along the road towards Strathmartine, stopping to photograph a male Blackcap on the way. I made it back to Dundee around 1400. A Sparrowhawk and a few Buzzards were seen as I wandered down Harestane Road. A Siskin was heard as I neared Trottick. A Pheasant was heard to the north of the ponds.
Magpie, Greenfinch, Goldfinch, a Black Headed Gull, and Grey Wagtail were all seen or heard as I grew ever wearier and made my way back along the Dighty Burn and up through Caird Park and finally homewards. A Bee-fly was seen on a Dandelion near the junction at the bottom of Caird Park but it flew off as I bent down to try to photograph it with my phone. I walked a little over 16 miles, and reached the top of a 1300 foot hill. In all I managed to record a total of 55 species, of which 3 were new for the year (in bold), as well as 2 of butterfly and 1 mammal. An enjoyable and quite productive escape from Dundee for the day.
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Great Spotted Woodpecker
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Great Spotted Woodpecker
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Willow Warbler
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Blackcap
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Bullfinch
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Yellowhammer
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Fox
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Fox
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Tree Sparrow
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Linnet
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Linnet
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Carrion Crow
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Buzzard
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Buzzard & Rook
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Pied Wagtail
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Rook & Jackdaw
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Carrion Crow & Sparrowhawk
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Sparrowhawk
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Starling
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Oystercatcher
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Swallow
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Sparrowhawk
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Raven
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Chaffinch
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Kestrel
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Buzzard
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Stonechat
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Raven
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Bullfinch
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Lapwing & Canada Goose
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Pied Wagtail
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Buzzard
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Common Gull
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Herring Gull & Lesser Black Backed Gull
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Meadow Pipit
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Buzzard
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Blackcap
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Blackcap
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Birds - Blackbird, Blackcap, Black Headed Gull, Blue Tit, Bullfinch, Buzzard, Canada Goose, Carrion Crow, Chaffinch, Coal Tit, Common Gull, Dunnock, Goldfinch, Great Spotted Woodpecker, Great Tit, Greenfinch, Grey Heron, Grey Wagtail, Herring Gull, House Sparrow, Jackdaw, Jay, Kestrel, Lapwing, Lesser Black Backed Gull, Linnet, Long Tailed Tit, Magpie, Mallard, Meadow Pipit, Moorhen, Mute Swan, Oystercatcher, Pheasant, Pied Wagtail,
Raven, Reed Bunting, Robin, Feral Pigeon, Rook, Siskin, Skylark, Song Thrush, Sparrowhawk, Starling, Stock Dove, Stonechat, Swallow,
Tree Sparrow, Tufted Duck,
Willow Warbler, Woodpigeon, Wren, Yellowhammer.
Butterflies - Peacock, Small Tortoiseshell.
Mammals - Fox.
