0895 : Vis-Mig Morning (7/10/21)

With rain forecast for much of the day on Thursday, my plan to get out birding each day of my latest holiday was looking like fizzling out almost right at the start. However, when I woke up in the morning and had a look at the weather, it appeared that there was a chance that I could squeeze in a spot of birding after all as rain was forecast to arrive between 1000 and 1100. I decided I would do something that I'd done a month before - I would head to the top of Dundee Law and watch to see if any migrant birds were passing through (this is known as vis-migging, an abbreviated form of 'visible migration'). There was a chance of rain arriving early and the skies didn't look too promising but after a very quick breakfast I headed out into the post-dawn gloom of a rather grey October morning.

Pink Footed Goose

Herring Gull, Feral Pigeon, Robin, House Sparrow, Woodpigeon, Starling, Blackbird, Carrion Crow, Magpie, Long Tailed Tit and Collared Dove got the list for the morning off to a steady start as I headed for the top of the Hilltown. Great Tit was the only addition before I made it to the slopes of the Law. Wren, Dunnock, Bullfinch and Chiffchaff were all seen or heard as I took up a position by the benches around the northeastern edge of the summit and got organised with camera and binoculars around my neck and my digital recorder set running to record the calls of passing birds - a way of double checking anything that might be particularly interesting or puzzling.

A Song Thrush gave me my first obvious migrant despite it seemingly heading in the worng direction. A Goldcrest was heard calling from the conifers in front of me. There were a few Chaffinches around but it was difficult to decide which were actual migrants and which were local birds from the hill. A Blue Tit appeared on the tall mast behind me. I had a quick look at Cox's Stack and found that the Perregrine was indeed in its usual position on the southwestern corner of the ledge near the top. An unidentified bird dropped into the trees on the front of the hill. A pair of Reed Buntings headed west on the north side of the hill. A mix of Chaffinches and Meadow Pipits were next. A Redwing was heard but not seen.

A couple of Mistle Thrushes and a Song Thrush dropped lower as they passed overhead before another unidentified bird passed over. A Coal Tit was the next addition as it flitted through the trees. A mixed group of Bullfinches and Chaffinches flew round the hill but were likely just local birds. Two groups of three Song Thrushes were noted next before a Sparrowhawk flew out southwards from the hill and circled back round to the north. Photos showed it to be a young bird. Another Song Thrush and another Meadow Pipit were next before I spotted a skein of (assumed) Pink Footed Geese moving east over the northwestern edges of the city. A much larger group was seen a few minutes later and from then on everytime I looked there seemed to be even more of these skeins moving. There were clearly thousands of these birds on the move from their roost to good feeding places in the stubble fields northeast of the city.

A Siskin was the next migrant to appear shortly after one was heard but not seen. To this point the overall movement was steady with something new passing every minute or two. Just before 0920 I heard a pipit-like call and got onto the bird quite quickly. It wasn't a pipit but I knew what it was very quickly - having been surprised a year and a day before at Riverside Nature Park by a bird making the same call. It was an unexpected Hawfinch. A year-tick for me and another bird for my Dundee 2021 list. Even more surprisingly the bird dropped down out of sight into the trees on the south slope of the hill. I decided not to go and search for it, instead I concentrated on the task at hand of noting what was passing through.

A young Peregrine flew eastwards at eye level about five minutes later before two more Meadow Pipits passed by heading northwards. Things noticeably quietened down though with only really the geese to the north on the move, though in large numbers. Somewhere to the north, an Oystercatcher could be heard calling. A Siskin was heard before 4 more Meadow Pipits arrived from the north. A few more Chaffinches passed by, appearing to be migrant birds as the clock edged towards 1000. Half a dozen Skylarks passed by going in the 'wrong' direction from west to east. Groups of four, three and two unidentified birds - which appeared to be thrushes were seen heading southwest between 1010 and 1020. A small flock of Goldfinches circled round above the trees. Another Siskin was noted before I decided to call it a day after two and a half hours of vis-migging.

A flock of Great Tits, Blue Tits and Long Tailed Tits were noted as I headed down the hill by the access road and a Grey Wagtail was a nice bonus bird in my street as I headed home from picking up my copy of Wildguides, "Europe's Birds" from the local post office. As expected it started raining not too long after I arrived home. Although the total number of species noted was only 32 (including a year-tick, in bold), of which a mere 8 or 9 were migrants, it was a very worthwhile exercise and one I hope to repeat at a few other points around the city to see if there is a favoured route for migrants across the city, though it may take a few years effort to get a definite conclusion.

Chaffinch

Reed Bunting

Chaffinch

Mistle Thrush

Mistle Thrush

Blue Tit

Bullfinch

Coal Tit

Herring Gull

Sparrowhawk

Song Thrush

Pink Footed Goose

Meadow Pipit

Pink Footed Goose

Pink Footed Goose

Hawfinch

Hawfinch

Peregrine

Peregrine

Bullfinch

Meadow Pipit

Pink Footed Goose

Pink Footed Goose

Chaffinch

Bullfinch

Birds - Blackbird, Blue Tit, Bullfinch, Carrion Crow, Chaffinch, Chiffchaff, Coal Tit, Collared Dove, Dunnock, Goldcrest, Goldfinch, Great Tit, Grey Wagtail, Hawfinch, Herring Gull, House Sparrow, Long Tailed Tit, Magpie, Meadow Pipit, Oystercatcher, Peregrine, Pink Foooted Goose, Redwing, Reed Bunting, Robin, Feral Pigeon, Siskin, Song Thrush, Starling, Woodpigeon, Wren.

0894 : Turned Out Nice Again (6/10/21)

Having not really used my recent run of holidays to maximise my birding as I had intended, I decided that for my latest batch I would try to get out somewhere to do some birding every single day (unless it was raining the entire time). With great intentions the alarm was set for an early start on Wednesday but I went back to sleep again. However I did decide that I would still head for Riverside Nature Park via a quick look at Ninewells Community Garden where Nuthatch have been visiting the feeders recently. Although it would be a later start, high tide was around 1540, though as it was a large tide I knew I would have to be at the park for around 1330 just to be sure.

Stock Dove

I headed out around 1140 and found things unusually quiet. It took a few minutes to even get Herring Gull on the list and almost another 5 minutes before anything else was added. This didn't particularly bode well. Blue Tit, Magpie, Woodpigeon, Robin and some high flying heard only Skylarks were added as I walked between the two local football stadiums. Blackbird and Jackdaw were next. House Sparrows and a skein of Pink Footed Geese were noted as I walked up Canning Street. Feral Pigeon was added on Byron Street.

I decided to change my route a bit though it didn't actually make much difference as I cut across the northwest slopes of the Law only managing to hear a Wren on the way. Balgay Hill proved a bit more productive with Goldcrest, Chaffinch, Goldfinch, Jay and Carrion Crow there. I had decided as I was going to be passing by anyway, that I would pop into the Ninewells Community Garden to try to see one of the two Nuthatches which have been visiting their feeders recently.

It turned out that there was a crafts group meet about to start at 1300 so I said I'd keep out of the way and as I wasn't planning on staying too long anyway I'd most likely be gone by the time they started. However, at least two very active Wood Mice proved really distracting, and also quite tricky to photograph as they tended to be mostly in areas of shadow. Although the feeders did bring in a few birds they were almost empty so not as busy as they might have been. While talking to one of the women there she mentioned they had possibly had as many as three Nuthatches together around the feeders, though definitely two. I did note Great Tit, Dunnock, Robin, Blue Tit, Coal Tit and Chaffinch but no Nuthatch. A Buzzard was seen circling to the south and a Pied Wagtail was heard flying past. A Red Admiral butterfly was also seen before I moved on again.

Having spent longer than intended at Ninewells I knew I would be cutting things rather fine for catching the waders as the tide came in at Invergowrie Bay. A skein of Pink Footed Geese which overflew me as I headed down past the WL Gore building also contained a Barnacle Goose (a Dundee 2021 year-tick). A party of Long Tailed Tits were heard in the trees bordering the Technology Park but I decided against spending time trying to see them. It was around 1340 by the time I reached the bridge overlooking the bay and I decided to have a quick look from there as the view from the hide in the park is very restricted.

It was just as well I did, noting Redshanks, Dunlin, Herring Gull and a Goosander as by the time it took me to walk round to the hide the majority of waders had disappeared off to their high tide roost leaving only a few Redshanks and Black Tailed Godwits but not much else. This was disappointing as I was hoping to check through the flocks for more interesting birds - especially Little Stint, which I'm still hoping to get on my Dundee 2021 list. From the hide I did however manage to get Jackdaw, Feral Pigeon, Black Headed Gull, Common Gull, Woodpigeon, Wren, Teal and Blackbird. A young Sparrowhawk flew low along the length of the railway embankment before disappearing out of sight behind the trees to the north of the hide.

A Pied Wagtail flew over as I wandered along the path towards the main body of the park, adding a few Robins in the hedge as well as a Song Thrush. I spotted another birder coming towards me. It turned out to be Graham Ramsay who had noticed the 2nd Spotted Redshank in the bay earlier in the year and I told him what was around (and not) from the hide. He decided he would have a look anyway but added that we'd likely run into each other later. I scanned out across the bay adding a Lesser Black Backed Gull and 2 Great Black Backed Gulls among a group of Herring Gulls and also an overflying Stock Dove.

As I continued on to the banking next to the bushes at the picnic tables I heard a call that didn't sound particularly familiar but which I thought might be a Red Throated Diver. As I stopped to scan I picked up a bird in flight gaining a bit of height as if it had just taken off from the water. It was indeed a Red Throated Diver, a new bird (number 151) for the park list - and on the  first anniversary of my last new park find (Hawfinch). It turned westwards out of the bay and flew off upriver. Graham joined me a few minutes later and I told him what he'd just missed.
 

After some more scanning which gave us Curlew (a few hundred birds in several flocks), a Bar Tailed Godwit (in one of the Curlew flocks), Cormorant, Lapwing, Mallard and also a Buzzard which glided over and a flock of Goldfinches around the Buddleia bushes, we decided to see what else we could find and had a bit of a wander. A skein of Pink Footed Geese passed over, heading northwards. We then spent some time watching the area of bushes just west of the car park which although quieter than last week proved quite busy again, giving us Magpie, Bullfinch, Chaffinch, Blue Tit, Blackbird and a welcome, if rather brief, Jay.

We decided to check the lower half of the park next. This was also quite decent with at least two Chiffchaffs, a family group of Long Tailed Tits, Great Tit and Dunnock noted at the western end of Buzzard Wood. A male Sparrowhawk and a flock of Starlings were seen over the eastern end of the park a few minutes later. As I'd not yet had a look at the Lochan I suggested we do another loop of the top half next. Moorhen was added at the Lochan and 2 Stock Doves dropped in for a very quick drink before they flew off again. There were a handful of Teal there also. Wandering round by the bay again, having decided there was little point in checking the hide again as the tide hadn't subsided very much, a Grey Wagtail flew over.

After spotting a Rabbit, we were chatting as we headed down through the Buddleia 'tunnel' towards the car park when a bird called that I couldn't quite place though I knew it was something I didn't hear too often. We stopped and peered into the bush which thankfully was one of the more open ones where we could look into the low canopy. There was a Robin, a Blue Tit and a Chaffinch visible and a fourth bird which thankfully didn't seem too phased by having us both stood peering up at it. It turned round and the identity was revealed - a Brambling. Graham had been saying he hadn't seen one for at least 3 years as we were chatting earlier in the afternoon, so we were both quite pleased to having found one. A year-tick for me and yet another addition to my Dundee 2021 list. A Great Spotted Woodpecker was heard as we made it to the car park.

Graham offered to drop me off somewhere (thanks again!) when we finally called it a day at around 1720. I'd noted 24 species outwith the park and 44 at the park for a combined total of 49 species (year-tick in bold). Despite the late start and missing out on what was in the wader flocks it ended up being a very good afternoon's birding with three relatively unexpected birds and plenty other activity to keep our attention.

Wood Mouse

Wood Mouse

Wood Mouse

Great Tit

Buzzard

Pink Footed Goose & Barnacle Goose

Goosander

Black Tailed Godwit

Sparrowhawk

Feral Pigeon & Redshank

Pink Footed Goose

Red Throated Diver

Red Throated Diver

Black Tailed Godwit

Buzzard

Black Headed Gull

Herring Gull & Great Black Backed Gull

Curlew

Teal

Curlew & Bar Tailed Godwit

Teal

Lapwing

Redshank

Pink Footed Goose

Carrion Crow

Bullfinch

Goldfinch

Chaffinch

Bullfinch

Magpie

Chiffchaff

Chiffchaff

Chiffchaff

Chiffchaff

Sparrowhawk

Sparrowhawk & Starling

Starling

Sparrowhawk

Great Tit

Moorhen

Teal

Stock Dove

Pink Footed Goose

Brambling

Brambling

Brambling

Birds (outwith Riverside Nature Park) - Barnacle Goose, Blackbird, Blue Tit, Buzzard, Carrion Crow, Chaffinch, Coal Tit, Dunnock, Goldcrest, Goldfinch, Great Tit, Herring Gull, House Sparrow, Jackdaw, Jay, Long Tailed Tit, Magpie, Pied Wagtail, Pink Footed Goose, Robin, Feral Pigeon, Skylark, Woodpigeon, Wren.

Butterflies (outwith park) - Red Admiral.

Mammals (outwith park) - Wood Mouse.

Birds (at Riverside Nature Park) - Bar Tailed Godwit, Blackbird, Black Headed Gull, Black Tailed Godwit, Blue Tit, Brambling, Bullfinch, Buzzard, Carrion Crow, Chaffinch, Chiffchaff, Common Gull, Cormorant, Curlew, Dunlin, Dunnock, Goldfinch, Goosander, Great Black Backed Gull, Great Spotted Woodpecker, Great Tit, Grey Wagtail, Herring Gull, Jackdaw, Jay, Lapwing, Lesser Black Backed Gull, Long Tailed Tit, Magpie, Mallard, Moorhen, Pied Wagtail, Pink Footed Goose, Redshank, Red Throated Diver, Robin, Feral Pigeon, Song Thrush, Sparrowhawk, Starling, Stock Dove, Teal, Woodpigeon, Wren. 

Butterflies (at park) - Probable Red Admiral.

Mammals (at park) - Rabbit.