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Long Tailed Tit
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I'm now into my 'Autumn migration' holidays from work - 7 weeks in a row of only working 2 days which means that I then have 5 days available to get out birding, in the hope of catching up with some of the less common Autumn migrant species as they pass over, or through, Dundee. 2023 has been pretty decent already for migrants with the late May/early June duo of Red Backed Shrike and Blyth's Reed Warbler, as well as a Snow Bunting and 2 Cuckoos found by Keith, not to mention a selection of less common waders as well. Tree Pipits and Meadow Pipits have already been noted on my walks to work so the potential is definitely there for a 'good' (or even better) Autumn. Here's hoping...
For the final day of August I decided I would head to Riverside Nature Park in the hope of topping the previous week's record haul of 66 species. The plan was to get to the Nature Park for sunrise (around 0600), check the bay for waders, check the 'hotspots' for migrants and then do a spot of 'vis-migging' from the top of the hill. Once all that was completed I would treat the visit as just like any otherr and see what else I could find while wandering around. I headed out at 0455 into the stillness of that time of day/night. A Robin was heard very early on, but unusually the Herring Gulls took another 5 minutes or so before they woke up. Carrion Crow and Blackbird also joined the party before I reached Balgay Hill where Woodpigeon was added. Ninewells gave me Tawny Owl calling from beyond the nurses residences, then Jackdaw, Rook and Wren at the Arboretum. A Mallard could be heard quacking loudly as I neared the underpass at the Invergowrie end of the park.
I scanned first from the bridge over the railway which proved relatively productive with a list comprising of Herring Gull, Robin, Mallard, Sandwich Tern, Grey Heron, Great Black Backed Gull, Redshank, Lesser Black Backed Gull, Black Headed Gull, Common Gull, Carrion Crow and Jackdaw before I wandered round to check from the hide. Curlew, Lapwing, Kingfisher, Grey Wagtail, Wren, Woodpigeon, Oystercatcher, Teal, Feral Pigeon, Goldcrest, Magpie, Pied Wagtail, Ruff, Meadow Pipit, Great Tit and Blue Tit continued the decent start to the day's list for the park. I headed along the track into the park 'proper' noting Rabbit, Bullfinch, Goldfinch and Blackcap. A quick look at the Lochan first added Moorhen and a Swift. A Cormorant flew upriver as I headed for the top of the hill looking forward to seeing what else was passing over the top.
Tree Pipit, Meadow Pipit, Chaffinch, House Martin, Grey Wagtail, Sand Martin and Swallow were the obvious migrants noted while Greenfinch, Linnet, Mute Swan, a Jay, a pair of Stock Doves, Bar Tailed Godwit, Blackbird, Osprey and Dunnock were all added while I was sat atop the hill. Reed Bunting and Collared Dove were then noted along with a small flock of Starlings which flew towards the airport as I wandered round to have a look at the bay again now that the tide had receded a lot further. A trio of Turnstones were a bit of a surprise down in the burn channel. A flock of Tree Sparrows flew past and a Common Sandpiper called from down in the bay. Whitethroat and Song Thrush were spotted in the trees and bushes in that area before I headed round the park to see what else I could find.
As the temperature warmed up butterflies had begun to appear with Red Admiral, Peacock, a rather scrappy looking Meadow Brown and Small White all added. A few Common Darter dragonflies were also spotted. The warmer weather also tempted out Buzzard and Sparrowhawk, both a bit to the north towards Ninewells. A Chiffchaff and a flock of Long Tailed Tits were found in the hedge splitting the two halves of the park. A Yellowhammer flew over but it was proving tricky to add new species to the list, despite lots of effort. There was still plenty to be seen but despite spending until after 1430 at the park (more than 8.5 hours in all), I only managed to (eventually) add Dunlin to the list between 1010 and 1515 taking the total for the park list to 64, which is still a very good total (the 2nd highest).
I headed for home feeling rather tired but managed to find Chaffinch, Sparrowhawk, Coal Tit, Bullfinch, Blue Tit, Chiffchaff, Long Tailed Tit, Great Tit, Goldcrest, Magpie, Feral Pigeon, Starling, House Sparrow and Grey Wagtail, as well as Red Admiral and Small White butterflies on the way. The early start had meant that most of those were not yet 'up' at that time and I was able to add most as I passed through Balgay Park. The combined total number of species for the day was 68 made up of 64 at the park and 24 outwith. Despite the slight disappointment at not beating the previous week's total and being absolutely exhausted when I got home it had been a decent day out.
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| Jay |
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| Goldfinch |
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| Osprey |
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| Swallow |
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| Greenfinch |
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Reed Bunting
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Collared Dove
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Turnstone, Redshank & Black Headed Gull
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Mute Swan
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| Wren |
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| Bullfinch |
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| Sparrowhawk |
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| Jay |
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| Buzzard |
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Redshank & Ruff
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Small White
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Bumblebee sp.
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Bumblebee sp.
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Red Admiral
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Common Darter
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| Teal |
Birds (outwith Riverside Nature Park) - Blackbird, Blue Tit, Bullfinch, Carrion Crow, Chaffinch, Chiffchaff, Coal Tit, Goldcrest, Great Tit, Grey Wagtail, Herring Gull, House Sparrow, Jackdaw, Long Tailed Tit, Magpie, Mallard, Robin, Feral Pigeon, Rook, Sparrowhawk, Starling, Tawny Owl, Woodpigeon, Wren.
Butterflies (outwith Riverside Nature Park) - Red Admiral, Small White.
Birds (at Riverside Nature Park) - Bar Tailed Godwit, Blackbird, Blackcap, Black Headed Gull, Blue Tit, Bullfinch, Buzzard, Carrion Crow, Chaffinch, Chiffchaff, Collared Dove, Common Gull, Common Sandpiper, Cormorant, Curlew, Dunlin, Dunnock, Goldcrest, Goldfinch, Great Black Backed Gull, Great Spotted Woodpecker, Great Tit, Greenfinch, Grey Wagtail, Herring Gull, House Martin, Jackdaw, Jay, Kingfisher, Lapwing, Lesser Black Backed Gull, Linnet, Long Tailed Tit, Magpie, Mallard, Meadow Pipit, Moorhen, Mute Swan, Osprey, Oystercatcher, Pied Wagtail, Redshank, Reed Bunting, Robin, Feral Pigeon, Ruff, Sand Martin, Sandwich Tern, Siskin, Song Thrush, Sparrowhawk, Starling, Stock Dove, Swallow, Swift, Teal, Tree Pipit, Tree Sparrow, Turnstone, Whitethroat, Woodpigeon, Wren, Yellowhammer.
Butterflies (at Riverside Nature Park) - Meadow Brown, Peacock, Red Admiral, Small White.
Dragonflies (at Riverside Nature Park) - Common Darter.
Mammals (at Riverside Nature Park) - Rabbit.
