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| Whitethroat |
Having gone eastwards on Thursday to Balmossie and had a relatively successful day having added a new butterfly species to the city's records, I decided that I would head up to the top of the Law early on Friday morning around sunrise at 0530 to try and catch some vis-mig movements. I would see how things panned out as the morning progressed and maybe head for the Dighty Burn or Clatto Reservoir afterwards. Alternatively, if things were very good I would stay at the top of the hill for a large chunk of the day and just see what flew over. As I was a bit later in getting to my bed than I should have been, it was a bit of a struggle to get up when the alarm went off at 0400, but I made it out the door for around 0515 and headed for the Law as planned.
There was plenty of early morning activity on the walk up to the hill though nothing too exciting was noted. Bullfinch was added near the hill itself. The best thing about such an early start is just how peaceful it is with hardly anyone else around. There were birds singing around the hill, including Willow Warbler, Goldcrest and Chiffchaff. However, there did not appear to be much, if any, migration movements happening. Around 0550 a single Meadow Pipit went north. It was colder than expected and with nothing much happening I decided I might as well head elsewhere. I decided that Riverside Nature Park was as good a destination as any. Blackcap, Collared Dove, Song Thrush and Peregrine were all noted on the walk to Balgay Hill where Nuthatch, Great Spotted Woodpecker, Stock Dove and Sparrowhawk were found. I headed down through Ninewells Arboretum where Oystercatcher, Jay and Long Tailed Tits were the highlights.
I reached the park around 0715. I checked the bay first where Mute Swan, Redshank, Black Tailed Godwit and Lesser Black Backed Gulls were spotted. A Buzzard landed in its usual spot in a tree near the bridge accompanied by a couple of the local Carrion Crows. Chiffchaff, Willow Warbler, Yellowhammer and Linnet provided the soundtrack to my walk further into the park, with Wren, Song Thrush, Great Tit and Skylark all joining in along the way. Scanning the bay from further round I added Shelduck (10 in total) as well as Black Headed Gull before wandering round to check the Lochan. Stock Dove and Moorhen were new for the list there and a Reed Bunting sang from the hedge above. More wandering added Bullfinch, Goldcrest, Greenfinch, Pied Wagtail and Blue Tit between the Lochan and the car park area.
I decided to head for the hill top and as I was walking along the stretch between the buddleia bushes and the recycling area I noticed a relatively large, slim looking bird with a long-ish tail in flight. The flight style was very distinctive too. It only took a second to realise I was looking at a harrier species. I rattled off a number of photos as it flew north towards Ninewells. Though none of the photos were particularly good it was clear that the bird was a
Marsh Harrier - a new bird (106) for my Dundee 140 list, as well as my 'patch list' which covers all the birds I've seen at the park since it opened in 2011. The bird itself wasn't new for the park list with Ian Ford having seen one back in 2013 on the same day as a Red Backed Shrike was found by Charles Rough and a second bird just a few weeks ago, hunting along the edge of the bay.
Bouyed by the Harrier sighting I scanned the bay again which gave me Teal, Common Gull and a Peregrine which landed on the pipe but which wasn't anywhere to be seen when I looked again just seconds later. Grey Seal were much further out across the river and a Grey Heron was added. I picked up what I was sure was an Osprey heading upriver with what appeared to be a large gull in pursuit. It wasn't though, it was a second Osprey behind and above the first bird as they headed up the Tay in the direction of Errol together. A little later another Osprey appeared well out over the river but before it had a chance to do some fishing the local gulls took exception and chased it eastwards. I watched it from my seat at the top of the hill as it slowly moved inland, gaining height over the city somewhere around Balgay Hill. I messaged Keith to let him know it was likely to be visible from his house but he wasn't at home.
Cormorant and Curlew rounded off the bird list for the park before I added a trio of butterfly species - Peacock, Small Tortoiseshell and both male and female Orange Tip. I decided to call it a day at the park around 1300 and headed homewards via Balgay Hill again. An Orange Tip butterfly, a Siskin and a Small Tortoiseshell butterfly were the only sightings of note between the park and home however. I had managed a total of 57 species with 49 at the park being quite a decent amount (especially the year-tick - in bold) and 36 outwith. I had also noted 3 species of butterfly and 3 of mammals. The only minor disappointment for the day had been the vis-migging, or lack of. Had I stayed at the Law I likely would not have seen the Marsh Harrier or the 2 Ospreys together, though the single Osprey over the city may well have given me a fly-by.
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| Yellowhammer |
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Black Tailed Godwit
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Stock Dove
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Pied Wagtail
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| Wren |
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Marsh Harrier
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| Peregrine |
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| Bullfinch |
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| Osprey |
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| Linnet |
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| Skylark |
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| Peacock |
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| Shelduck |
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Song Thrush
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| Jackdaw |
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| Jay |
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Stock Dove
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Buzzard & Carrion Crow
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Birds (outwith Riverside Nature Park) - Blackbird, Blackcap, Blue Tit, Bullfinch, Carrion Crow, Chaffinch, Chiffchaff, Coal Tit, Collared Dove, Dunnock, Goldcrest, Goldfinch, Great Spotted Woodpecker, Great Tit, Greenfinch, Herring Gull, House Sparrow, Jackdaw, Jay, Lesser Black Backed Gull, Long Tailed Tit, Magpie, Meadow Pipit, Nuthatch, Oystercatcher, Peregrine, Robin, Feral Pigeon, Siskin, Song Thrush, Sparrowhawk, Starling, Stock Dove, Willow Warbler, Woodpigeon, Wren.
Butterflies (outside Riverside Nature Park) - Orange Tip, Small Tortoiseshell.
Mammals (outwith Riverside Nature Park) - Grey Squirrel.
Birds (at Riverside Nature Park) - Blackbird, Blackcap, Black Headed Gull, Black Tailed Godwit, Blue Tit, Bullfinch, Buzzard, Carrion Crow, Chaffinch, Chiffchaff, Common Gull, Cormorant, Curlew, Dunnock, Goldcrest, Goldfinch, Great Tit, Greenfinch, Grey Heron, Herring Gull, Jackdaw, Lesser Black Backed Gull, Linnet, Long Tailed Tit, Magpie, Mallard,
Marsh Harrier, Meadow Pipit, Moorhen, Mute Swan, Osprey, Oystercatcher, Peregrine, Pied Wagtail, Redshank, Reed Bunting, Robin, Feral Pigeon, Shelduck, Skylark, Song Thrush, Starling, Stock Dove, Teal, Whitethroat, Willow Warbler, Woodpigeon, Wren, Yellowhammer.
Butterflies (at Riverside Nature Park) - Orange Tip, Peacock, Small Tortoiseshell.
Mammals (at Riverside Nature Park) - Grey Seal, Rabbit.
