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| Goldcrest |
Although I had posted my "Review of 2022" blog-post(s) on Friday evening, Saturday was the final day of the year. The weather forecast was reasonable enough so I knew I had to squeeze in some final birding for 2022. Having not been to Riverside Nature Park very often recently, I decided I should probably head in that direction for a bit of a 'recce' to see what a visit in the next few days might conjure up for my forthcoming 'Dundee145' list. I wasn't expecting anything unusual but there is always the chance of something turning up. Could I get my Dundee140 list up to 143 on Hogmanay?
I took a different route from normal as I had to pop into the bank on the way out to the Nature Park. Feral Pigeon, Herring Gull, Blackbird, Starling, Magpie, Carrion Crow, Collared Dove, Robin and Chaffinch made for a productive start followed soon after by the first Long Tailed Tits of the day then Dunnock and Blue Tit as I wandered down Dens Road and Victoria Road. A Grey Wagtail flew over near The Howff with another seen at the Westport. A Wren was heard at the Willison Street car park. I cut down through the University adding a couple of Fieldfares and a Siskin. At Seabraes the first Woodpigeon of the morning was seen in the trees while a Rabbit ran off below. A Greenfinch flew over and House Sparrows were heard by the railway line. There were a number of Redwings by the car park at the foot of Roseangle.
I crossed the road near the railbridge to have a look at the Tay. Although it was flat calm I only managed to find a Cormorant and a Black Headed Gull. A Common Gull flew over the road and out over the river while another was perched on a post above a bin just beyond the restaurant. A Pied Wagtail scurried around at the foot of the same pole. I added Coal Tit, Goldcrest, Great Tit and a Great Spotted Woodpecker as I continued on along to the park. I reached the park at 1035. When I'd left the house I'd been feeling ok, but by the time I reached the park I was feeling a bit 'not quite right'. I contemplated turning round and heading home but decided to have a quick once around the park first, in the hope that the birds would keep my mind off feeling a bit rough.
Blackbird, Blue Tit, Carrion Crow, Greenfinch, Great Tit, Robin, Wren, Magpie, Fieldfare, Yellowhammer, Goldfinch, Black Headed Gull, Herring Gull, Redwing, Feral Pigeon and Woodpigeon were all found as I checked the eastern end of the park for Snipe and Woodcock. I drew a blank on both of those species though. The grassy area behind the car park was looking decidedly wet and looked much more promising for Snipe. Other than 2 Carrion Crows there was only a Redshank to be found despite using the thermal imager and taking my time to check as much of that area as I could. I headed round past the hill to check the bay next. A Grey Heron could be seen near the railway line, while Mallard and Teal were numerous on the water. A small flock of Starlings flew over and a flock of Curlew dropped in to join the other waders on the exposed mud.
On the pipe I spotted a pair of Great Black Backed Gulls before I wandered round to the hide for a look from there. A Siskin called as I wandered down to the hide. There was a Cormorant on the pipe in front of the hide while a couple of hundred Oystercatchers on the mud were a bit of a surprise as normally there are only a few of these birds dotted around. It has been a long time since I've seen such numbers together in the bay, though I do often see several flocks of 20 or so flying down the river around high tide. There were a decent number of Redshanks and Dunlin on the mud with the Oystercatchers and Curlews. I was joined by 2 ladies - Danielle and Catriona and we chatted for quite a while about the birds we could see and hear as well as what else can be found around Dundee.
Catriona spotted a drake Goosander and I found a pair of Black Tailed Godwits and a Common Gull. A Bullfinch was heard in the trees behind us and a large flock of Long Tailed Tits swarmed through the trees around us. As the tide receded further we left the hide, the ladies continuing their walk westwards and I heading back into the park. I met an old work colleague further along the park with her very large (but friendly) dog and had a chat to her for a while. The Long Tailed Tits flitted through the hedge as we stood chatting, a Goldcrest showed in the bushes on the other side of the path as did a Chaffinch and a small group of Goldfinches. A Robin lurking close by seemed to be hoping that we had some food we were going to share with it.
I had a brief chat to another couple who asked about a bird they'd seen before I wandered round the path to have another look at the bay. My glasses kept steaming up when I tried to use my binoculars which was incredibly frustrating and made getting any sort of detail on almost any of the birds down in the bay practically impossible. A single goose, which photos showed to be a Greylag was seen distantly out on the river but I failed to find anything else of note, mostly due to the isuse with my glasses. I then headed along past the Lochan which was largely frozen and emoty of birds except a few Mallard and Teal. I did a quick once around of the trees on the hillside but there were no Woodcock hiding there either. Heading back down into the lower half of the park I added a Great Spotted Woodpecker heard calling in the trees towards the car park and had a very brief glimpse of a Peregrine heading in a north-easterly direction over the industrial units. A Pied Wagtail was heard before I found a Coal Tit in the trees near the eastern end wooden gate as I headed out of the park.
The long walk home via Balgay Hill proved rather fruitless with very few birds seen or heard anywhere along the route. A skein of Pink Footed Geese did overfly the Law as I reached Byron Street but those were the sole addition on the walk home. I ended the day having managed to see or hear a combined total of 44 species, of which 40 of these were at the Nature Park, and 29 outwith. The light was mostly rather flat and fairly gloomy for most of the time I was out so I didn't take too many photos. Although it wasn't the most exciting of birding days I did have some very nice conversations with a few folk, and although I was feeling a bit under the weather, those chats did make the day more enjoyable than it might have been.
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| Cormorant |
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| Goldcrest |
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| Redwing |
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| Redshank |
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| Redshank |
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| Goldfinch |
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Oystercatcher, Curlew, Redshank, Dunlin, Black Headed Gull, Cormorant, Herring Gull, Carrion Crow
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Great Black Backed Gull
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Great Tit
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Greylag Goose
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Dunlin, Black Tailed Godwit & Teal
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Grey Heron
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Birds (outwith Riverside Nature Park) - Blackbird, Black Headed Gull, Blue Tit, Carrion Crow, Chaffinch, Coal Tit, Collared Dove, Common Gull, Cormorant, Dunnock, Fieldfare, Goldcrest, Great Spotted Woodpecker, Great Tit, Greenfinch, Grey Wagtail, Herring Gull, House Sparrow, Long Tailed Tit, Magpie, Pied Wagtail, Pink Footed Goose, Redwing, Robin, Feral Pigeon, Siskin, Starling, Woodpigeon.
Mammals (outwith Riverside Nature Park) - Rabbit.
Birds (at Riverside Nature Park) - Blackbird, Black Headed Gull, Black Tailed Godwit, Blue Tit, Bullfinch, Carrion Crow, Chaffinch, Coal
Tit, Common Gull, Cormorant, Curlew, Dunlin, Dunnock, Fieldfare,
Goldcrest, Goldfinch, Goosander, Great Black Backed Gull, Great Spotted Woodpecker, Great Tit, Greenfinch, Grey
Heron, Greylag Goose, Herring Gull, Long Tailed Tit, Magpie, Mallard, Oystercatcher, Peregrine, Pied
Wagtail, Redshank, Redwing, Robin, Feral Pigeon, Siskin,
Starling, Teal, Woodpigeon, Wren, Yellowhammer.
