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Bearded Tit
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With Keith having had 4 Bearded Tits still hanging around at Invergowrie station reedbed on Tuesday morning, my suspicion was that they would most likely have stayed put due to the strong winds throughout the rest of the day. If I was correct with that assumption, then I still had a chance to connect with the species on Wednesday. The forecast early in the morning was for rather calm conditions - the proverbial calm before the storm (one called Agnes was due to arrive from the southwest around mid-afternoon). Despite having already visited the Nature Park in 3 of the previous 4 days - twice in search of the elusive Bearded Tits, it was a no-brainer to get to the park in time for sunrise and to hopefully finally catch these wee birds before they departed for new territories elsewhere in the calmer conditions.
The alarm was set for an early start and I was out the door, feeling a bit more hopeful, but a lot more tired at 0600 on Wednesday morning. With sunrise around 0710 I had a little extra time factored in to my walk to the western end of the park. Robin, Blackbird and Carrion Crow were noted in the darkness before I had reached Tannadice stadium but it took another 20 minutes before I encountered my next bird which was a Herring Gull. Rather than take my usual route I had rather inexplicably chosen a much more convoluted route to the Perth Road which proved to be largely free of birds, with only Woodpigeon noted before I reached the Riverside Avenue stretch of my walk. This did add Chiffchaff and Goldcrest as well as a Rabbit before I finally made it to the eastern end of the park for 0707.
With my target species (hopefully) at the other end of the park, I didn't linger around the eastern end. Instead I hurried on through the park noting a few species on the way - Herring Gull, Robin, Great Tit, Woodpigeon, Carrion Crow, Wren, Chiffchaff, Blue Tit, Long Tailed Tit, Dunnock, Blackbird, Magpie and a Jay all in the lower half. A Goldcrest was heard in the upper half and a quick look at the Lochan added the usual trio of Mallard, Moorhen and Teal. A few Pink Footed Geese were seen flying out over the bay, with many more following as the morning went on. The final stretch of the walk to the hide added Bullfinch and a Black Headed Gull. I got the scope out once in position at the hide and looked out to see what the reedbed looked like when it isn't actually windy.
It didn't take too long, just 10 minutes, before I spotted a long tailed bird flying up from the reeds. It flew off to the north, a minute or so later, then a pair of similar looking birds did likewise, and a 4th soon followed. They weren't what I hoped they would be, as they appeared to be Pied Wagtails, most likely birds leaving their roost site. I heard a Grey Wagtail fly over from the direction of the burn. The next bird to fly up from the reeds looked a little different to the previous 4 but it dropped back into the reeds after a short flight upwards. Another 2 did the same thing and this time they looked a lot more 'orange' against the dark background of the trees beyond the reedbed - Bearded Tits, at the third attempt. I messaged Keith, who was on his way down to the park, and then Mark to let them know that the birds were still around and that I'd finally managed to see them.
I decided to head round for a closer look from the railway station. This would mean I would most likely be looking into the sun but after a few minutes at the station I decided to head round to the other end of the reedbed so the sun would be on the birds. From there I did manage a few brief views of the Beardies as well as a few Blue Tits and Great Tits. Other birds noted during my brief foray into Perthshire were Chaffinch, Great Tit, Wren, Magpie, Woodpigeon, Siskin, Meadow Pipit, Pink Footed Geese, Tree Sparrow and Long Tailed Tits. I tried again from the station. Keith messaged me from the hide to say he'd seen all 6 birds at the front of the reedbed. I replied that I was on my way back round. I got sidetracked by one of the elderly locals who wanted to moan about her neighbour stopping her from cutting down the bushes by the railway line. She also thinks the countryside is too untidy! We decided to agree to disagree on that one and I headed back round to the hide.
The Beardies proved to be very active over the course of the next hour or so, flying up to treetop height and circling round before dropping back down into the reeds. I even managed to get some photos from the hide, despite the distance, which showed the black moustachial markings on the males. I also managed to add Redshank, Dipper and Feral Pigeon to the park list for the morning. At one point the Beardies flew in our direction and I almost lost sight of them due to the branches hanging down in front of the hide, but thankfully, the birds turned back before they dropped back into the reeds. Once Keith headed for home, I walked back round to the bridge but then decided I would be better off continuing back round to the metal gate at the end of the row of houses for much closer views, given how active the birds seemed to be.
This second visit to Perthshire added Black Headed Gull, Blackbird, Carrion Crow, Chiffchaff, Goldfinch, Herring Gull, House Sparrow, Robin, Feral Pigeon, Skylark, Starling and Song Thrush. I spent the best part of the next 90 minutes photographing the birds as they repeatedly flew up, circled round and dropped back into the reeds. As I had previously only managed 2 very dodgy and distant photos of the species, and hadn't seen more than a couple of birds together, I made the best of the opportunity and even took some rather shaky video of the flock in flight. Eventually I was following the flock higher through the camera viewfinder and lost sight of 2 of the birds. The other 4 kept climbing higher. I tried to switch to binoculars but lost sight of the birds and they didn't seem to come back down. Nor was there any sign of the flock over the next 10 minute spell. I suspected that the 4 birds I'd watched had finally decided to move on and that I had been in the right place to have seen them go. Where the other 2 birds were I couldn't be sure.
I headed back round to the park, having taken quite a lot of photos (against the light) of the Beardies. I added Jackdaw and Great Black Backed Gull from the hide while watching to see if there was any further sign of activity from the reedbed but saw none. With rain forecast around 1500, I wanted to be on my way home around 1330 to ensure I stayed dry, so I figured I should probably see what else I could find in the remaining time. It turned out there were still some migrants overflying the park with Siskin, Skylark and Meadow Pipit seen heading out over the bay. In addition, possible migrants - Chaffinch, Song Thrush and Reed Bunting were all noted from the hill. The local Goldfinch flock milled around and a few Starlings headed over from the direction of the airport where a larger group could be seen near the fire training rig.
A Goosander was seen in the outer bay and a Grey Heron flew in towards the burn. Scanning out over the river, I picked up the Great Crested Grebe just taking flight but failed to refind it with the camera when I attempted to switch. There was also a probable auk that I couldn't quite get a decent view of. A female (or young) Goldeneye swam into the bay and a Cormorant was seen drying its wings while standing on the pipe. A small flock of Mistle Thrushes overflew and a Linnet dropped into the composting site. A couple of Greenfinches were added to the growing group of finch species noted that morning. A Lesser Black Backed Gull was seen on the pipe next to the Great Black Backed I'd seen earlier. A few Bar Tailed Godwits flew out from the bay in company with a flock of Curlews. A Buzzard was heard calling to the north and I eventually managed to see it.
I headed back to the hide as the area of mud shrank further around noon. Dunlin, Lapwing, Common Gull and Curlew Sandpiper were all noted as I scanned through the waders and gulls. House Sparrows and a Red Admiral were noted closer to the hide. As the wader flock was squeezed closer and closer to the pipe and railway embankment by the rising tide I was able to add Knot, Black Tailed Godwit and Ruff as well as the local Kingfisher. An Oystercatcher was finally spotted among the other waders. I wandered back through the park adding a sub-singing Willow Warbler at the Lochan and noting Rook, Blackcap and Stock Dove before I decided to head for home having managed to get a total of 62 species at the park and 24 species during my visits across the 'border' into Perthshire.
Feral Pigeon and Chaffinch were seen as I headed back along Ninewells Avenue and a Coal Tit was in trees opposite the Invercarse Hotel. As the sky was looking increasingly like the rain might arrive ahead of schedule I decided to catch a bus back into 'the town'. Thankfully it wasn't too busy though it was easily the busiest bus I've been on since lockdown back in 2020 with around a dozen passengers at any one time, thankfully mostly nearer the front of the bus. I walked up from the city centre spotting a Grey Wagtail at the beginning of Victoria Road and a Red Admiral nearer the other end. Blue Tit and Magpie were late additions to the list on Dens Road and I made it home, still dry, having noted 14 species outwith Dundee. My combined total for the day's birding was 64 species, including 1 very important year, park and Dundee145 tick (in bold). All in all, a very good morning's work.
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| Dunnock |
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| Starling |
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Pink Footed Goose
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Bearded Tit
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Bearded Tit
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Bearded Tit
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Bearded Tit & Hering Gull
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Bearded Tit
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Bearded Tit
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Bearded Tit
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Meadow Pipit
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Reed Bunting
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| Goldfinch |
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Bar Tailed Godwit & Curlew
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Redshank, Dunlin & Knot
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Kingfisher & Goosander
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Dunlin & Curlew Sandpiper
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| Dunlin |
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Ruff, Dunlin & Redshank
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Grey Heron
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| Woodpigeon |
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| Buzzard |
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| Rook |
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Song Thrush
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Stock Dove
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Birds (outwith Riverside Nature Park - Dundee) - Blackbird, Blue Tit, Carrion Crow, Chaffinch, Chiffchaff, Coal Tit, Goldcrest, Grey Wagtail, Herring Gull, Magpie, Robin, Feral Pigeon, Woodpigeon, Wren.
Birds (outwith Riverside Nature Park - Perthshire) - Bearded Tit, Blackbird, Black Headed Gull, Blue Tit, Carrion Crow, Chaffinch, Chiffchaff, Goldfinch, Great Tit, Herring Gull, House Sparrow, Long Tailed Tit, Magpie, Meadow Pipit, Pink Footed Goose, Robin, Feral Pigeon, Siskin, Skylark, Song Thrush, Starling, Tree Sparrow, Woodpigeon, Wren.
Birds (at Riverside Nature Park) - Bar Tailed Godwit, Bearded Tit, Blackbird, Blackcap, Black Headed Gull, Black tailed Godwit, Blue Tit, Bullfinch, Buzzard, Carrion Crow, Chaffinch, Chiffchaff, Common Gull, Cormorant, Curlew, Curlew Sandpiper, Dipper, Dunlin, Dunnock, Goldcrest, Goldeneye, Goldfinch, Goosander, Great Black Backed Gull, Great Crested Grebe, Great Tit, Greenfinch, Grey Heron, Grey Wagtail, Herring Gull, House Sparrow, Jackdaw, Jay, Kingfisher, Knot, Lapwing, Lesser Black Backed Gull, Linnet, Long Tailed Tit, Magpie, Mallard, Meadow Pipit, Mistle Thrush, Moorhen, Oystercatcher, Pied Wagtail, Pink Footed Goose, Redshank, Reed Bunting, Robin, Feral Pigeon, Rook, Ruff, Siskin, Skylark, Song Thrush, Starling, Stock Dove, Teal, Willow Warbler, Woodpigeon, Wren.
Butterflies (at Riverside Nature Park) - Red Admiral.
