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| Buzzard |
My intentions for Sunday were to head out to Riverside Nature Park via the Law. I was hoping to catch a few passing Whooper Swans on their way back north and maybe a Wheatear or Sand Martin once I got there. However, Saturday's exertions were weighing heavy on my legs and I was struggling to motivate myself to even get out and about. The weather forecast was relatively decent so I eventually persuaded myself to get out and about, with the Law my first destination. It was almost 1115 by the time I actually headed out, which was a bit too late for much chance of Whooper Swans but I figured there was a decent chance of some raptors from the top of the hill.
Herring Gull, Blue Tit, Carrion Crow, House Sparrow, Collared Dove, Feral Pigeon, Goldfinch and a pair of Lesser Black Backed Gulls made for a relatively short list as I headed for the Law. A singing Dunnock was noted before I plodded up the final set of steps. As I reached the top, I heard a yell of "Buzzard!" and sure enough there was a Buzzard hanging in the wind near the mast. The shout had come from a small boy of maybe 7 or 8 years old and he and a small group of other small boys rushed towards the mast, passing me, for a better look at the bird. The mother of (at least) one of the boys noticed my surprise and explained that they loved nature. I said it was great to see kids so enthusiastic (and knowledgeable) about the wildlife that was around.
A Sparrowhawk also put in a brief appearance and I poined it out to the kids and parents. There were a few more Buzzards and a Sparrowhawk seen distantly out over Balgay Hill. A Magpie showed in one of the trees by the road up the hill and a distant skein of geese were seen well out to the west. A rather unexpected snow shower provided an unseasonal interlude (British Summer Time had officially begun around 12 hours previously). Goldfinch, Herring Gull, Carrion Crow and Bullfinch all helped to fill in the time for the next 90 minutes before I decided to pop over to Balgay Hill. I would check on the Nuthatch nest sites and maybe get a few photos of some of the smaller birds around the hill. If nothing else I would add a few more species to the list for the day. With a bit of luck, I might run into a Crossbill or something good to give me my 100th species in Dundee this year, so far.
As expected, there were plenty of smaller birds around at Balgay with Goldcrest, Great Tit, Robin, Coal Tit and Long Tailed Tit all found relatively easily as well as Blackbird, Wren, Goldfinch, Chaffinch and Buzzard. I managed to find a pair of Jays in a fallen tree in the cemetery and a pair of courting Stock Doves in what I call the 'Stock Dove' tree. A Nuthatch was heard calling from the south side of the hill at the back of Royal Victoria Hospital - a regular spot for hearing them, but I failed to find it. I had better luck at a different part of the hill and managed some close views as I stood still and watched the bird foraging and checking out prosepective nest holes.
I had a short chat to the elderly gentleman who feeds the birds and his daughter, with both also less than impressed with the council's tree planting endeavours, and for similar reasons to my own. Other than "yeah...it is good that they are planting some trees....but...", I've yet to hear anyone have anything positive to say about what has been done at Clatto, Riverside Nature Park and Balgay. I heard a Great Spotted Woodpecker calling near where I was watching the Nuthatch but also failed to see it. I finally decided to head for home around 1615. I took a less steep route home past the Law to save my weary legs a little, adding Greenfinch on Albany Terrace and an unexpected Peregrine 2 minutes later which took my total number of species for the day to just 30 species. On the plus side I did get some relatively decent photos and plenty of fresh air even without adding species number 100 for my Dundee145 list.
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| Buzzard |
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| Sparrowhawk |
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| Buzzard |
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| Buzzard |
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| Buzzard |
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| Buzzard |
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| Buzzard |
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| Buzzard |
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| Sparrowhawk |
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| Sparrowhawk |
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| Sparrowhawk |
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Stock Dove
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| Jay |
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| Jay |
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Long Tailed Tit
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Carrion Crow
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| Nuthatch |
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Grey Squirrel
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Grey Squirrel
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| Treecreeper |
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| Nuthatch |
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| Nuthatch |
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| Nuthatch |
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| Woodpigeon |
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| Bullfinch |
Birds - Blue Tit, Bullfinch, Buzzard, Carrion Crow, Chaffinch, Chiffchaff, Coal Tit, Collared Dove, Dunnock, Goldcrest, Goldfinch, Great Spotted Woodpecker, Great Tit, Greenfinch, Herring Gull, House Sparrow, Jay, Lesser Black Backed Gull, Long Tailed Tit, Magpie, Meadow Pipit, Nuthatch, Peregrine, Pink Footed Goose, Robin, Feral Pigeon, Sparrowhawk, Starling, Stock Dove, Woodpigeon.
