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Long Tailed Tit
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The original provisional plan for Saturday the 9th was to meet up with Steph for some birding but she was unable to make it, so I decided to head for Riverside Nature Park to look for Curlew Sandpiper (which usually shows up around this time of Autumn - though numbers can vary from a single bird up to double figures, as can the length of time they linger in the bay). It was to be another very warm day and I was feeling the cumulative effects of having been out in it over the previous 3 days, so my enthusiasm wasn't quite what it could have been. However, I had somehow managed to get out of my bed relatively early and was able to get out the door for 0645.
House Sparrow, Feral Pigeon and a Grey Wagtail fired the starting gun on the morning's birding, followed quickly by Woodpigeon, Herring Gull, Meadow Pipit, Blackbird, Starling, Jackdaw, Robin, Carrion Crow and Magpie. Blue Tit was noted on Canning Street and I routed up through the trees along the back of the Law once again which added Chaffinch, Dunnock, Goldcrest, Great Tit and a calling Sparrowhawk. Between the Law and Balgay Park the only addition was Goldfinch. Chiffchaff and Blackcap were still being rather vocal as I entered Balgay Park where Coal Tit, Long Tailed Tit, Pied Wagtail and Wren were also found.
Once again, I headed for Perth Road via my new route which gave me Collared Dove and Bullfinch plus the first flyover Siskins of the day. Heading along Riverside Avenue a Jay flew out from the trees and across towards the railway line. 29 species for the walk to the park was a rather good total, though the selection of migrants noted probably boosted that figure a bit. I reached the park entrance at 0755. Robin, Herring Gull, Stock Dove, Woodpigeon, Grey Heron, Siskin, Chaffinch, Magpie, Carrion Crow, Coal Tit, Blue Tit and Swallow made for a busy first minute in the park. Moving location slightly further in to the park added Blackbird, Great Tit, Dunnock, Chiffchaff and Song Thrush. Things got a bit quieter after that initial rush of species.
A Blackcap was noted before I headed into the top half of the park where Feral Pigeon, Greenfinch, Grey Wagtail and Goldfinch were next onto the list. The 3 main regulars at the Lochan - Teal, Mallard and Moorhen were easily seen there, for a change. Moving on again, Starling, Meadow Pipit and Lesser Redpoll all flew over. Whitethroat and Reed Bunting were in the bushes. I bumped into Keith and we checked the bay from the banking next. Lesser Black Backed Gull, Black Headed Gull, Great Black Backed Gull (and Herring Gull), Dunlin, Redshank, Lapwing, Bar Tailed Godwit, Turnstone, Sandwich Tern, Wren and migrating Tree Pipit all being noted. A few House Martins passed overhead before we headed round for a look from the hide.
Jackdaw, Rook and Long Tailed Tit were added there and Keith picked out a trio of Snipe in with the gull roost around the rocks across the far side of the bay. The Kingfisher put in a very brief appearance down at the burn. Keith had to head off but with the tide not being a particularly large one, I decided to stay at the hide and scanned through the waders repeatedly, checking every bird as thouroughly as possible with my relatively limited small scope. This did eventually turn up a couple of Ruff but there was no sign of anything resembling a Curlew Sandpiper (or anything else unusual). It was getting rather hot by this point and I was still feeling a bit drained so I headed homewards rather than spend any more time at the park. I added House Martin and Lesser Black Backed Gull on the way home taking the 'outwith RNP' list to 31 species. Combined with 50 at the park that gave a combined total of 56 species for the morning. A decent enough morning's birding, though I didn't take too many photos.
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Grey Heron
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| Chiffchaff |
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Grey Wagtail
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| Goldfinch |
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| Swallow |
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Stock Dove
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Stock Dove
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| Starling |
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Lesser Redpoll
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Lesser Redpoll
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Bar Tailed Godwit & Dunlin
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Herring Gull
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| Curlew |
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Dunlin & Redshank
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Dunlin & Redshank
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Dunlin & Redshank
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Ruff, Dunlin & Redshank
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Ruff, Dunlin & Redshank
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Stock Dove
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Common Darter
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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 Tit, Grey Wagtail, Herring Gull, House Martin, House Sparrow, Jackdaw, Jay, Lesser Black Backed Gull, Long Tailed Tit, Magpie, Meadow Pipit, Pied Wagtail, Robin, Feral Pigeon, Siskin, Sparrowhawk, Starling, Woodpigeon, Wren.
Birds (at Riverside Nature Park) - Bar Tailed Godwit, Blackbird, Blackcap, Black Headed Gull, Blue Tit,
Bullfinch, Carrion Crow, Chaffinch, Chiffchaff, Coal Tit, Curlew, Dunlin,
Dunnock, Goldfinch, Great Black Backed Gull, Great Tit, Greenfinch, Grey Heron, Grey Wagtail, Herring Gull,
House Martin, Jackdaw, Kingfisher, Lapwing, Lesser Black Backed Gull,
Lesser Redpoll, Long Tailed Tit, Magpie, Mallard, Meadow Pipit, Moorhen, Redshank, Reed Bunting, Robin, Feral
Pigeon, Rook, Ruff, Sandwich Tern, Siskin, Snipe, Song Thrush, Starling, Stock Dove, Swallow, Teal, Tree Pipit, Turnstone, Whitethroat, Woodpigeon, Wren.
Butterflies (at Riverside Nature Park) - Red Admiral, Small White.
Dragonflies (at Riverside Nature Park) - Common Darter.
