1245 : Going Around Again (17/4/24)

Pied Wagtail

The weather forecast for Wednesday the 17th of April was far better than the previous Wednesday which meant that it would actually be possible to get out birding with my birding buddy, Susan, who I've not seen since last year. I wasn't sure how much time we would have, so I decided to head out early down to Riverside Nature Park, and to meet Susan there at 0900, her preferred meeting time. My plan for the day was to roughly mirror the recent ADBC outing and to see how the 2 birding days compared - with better weather and tide times in our favour this time. I wanted to be at the Nature Park as early as I possibly could, but I fell back to sleep after the very early alarm went off.

I did still make it out for 0550, which was still around sunrise. The first birds on the day's list were fairly standard fayre - Starling, Feral Pigeon, Herring Gull, Blackbird, Lesser Black Backed Gull, Carrion Crow, House Sparrow and Woodpigeon. Singing Chaffinch and Song Thrush provided an aural backdrop as I crossed Dens Road. Blue Tit was noted on Canning Street with Magpie and Goldfinch in Harcourt Street. A detour up to the north side of the Law got me Collared Dove en route. Dunnock, Wren, Great Tit, Blackcap, a pair of drumming Great Spotted Woodpeckers, a pair of Jays and a singing Chiffchaff made the visit fairly worthwhile. I continued on to Balgay Hill where Siskin, Robin, Willow Warbler, Treecreeper, Stock Dove and Nuthatch were added to the morning's expanding list. Greenfinch and Coal Tit (plus a Rabbit) were the final species found before I reached the Nature Park around 0710.

The park visit got underway with a selection of species I'd already seen or heard on the walk down - Chiffchaff, Greenfinch, Woodpigeon, Blackbird, Carrion Crow, Chaffinch and Herring Gull. Oystercatcher was a new species for the day, though Dunnock, Wren, Robin and Blackcap were also already on the day's list. Both Rook and Jackdaw were soon noted and the walk round towards the bay added Song Thrush, Reed Bunting, Goldfinch and a Sparrowhawk. A Grey Heron flew over, as did a Common Gull a few minutes later. The first Skylark of the morning was picked out against the sky as it spiralled up singing over the hill. A quartet of Moorhens and the Mute Swan pair were noted at the Lochan. A Meadow Pipit overflew as I wandered on to check the bay.

Mallard, Magpie, Redshank, Teal, Black Headed Gull and Lesser Black Backed Gull were picked out as I scanned out over the bay as the rising tide covered some of the visible mud. I wandered on round the back of the hill finding a passing Sand Martin, hearing the 'invisible' Pheasant and noting Blue Tit and Willow Warbler before heading up to the top of the hill to try to scan from there. It was still relatively cold and although the wind was slightly lighter than of late, it wasn't great for attempting to find birds from the rather exposed spot. This didn't stop me from adding Siskin, Starling, Shelduck, Linnet, Black Tailed Godwit (a species Susan was hoping to see), Yellowhammer and a Cormorant. A few Dunlin flew in with a flock of Redshanks before I headed down to the car park to wait for Susan to arrive. There were a few Rabbits around including a youngster which gave me very close views under the Buddleias bordering the path. Great Tit was seen in the bushes at the car park and while waiting for Susan (who got slightly delayed in traffic at the bridge) I managed to get decent views of a Coal Tit and a pair of Stock Doves while a skein of Pink Footed Geese made it onto the list of species for the morning.

Once Susan arrived we headed round to try to get the Black Tailed Godwits for her year-list, only to find they weren't where I'd left them. Thankfully, they had moved a lot closer and we managed reasonably good views from the raised banking before getting better views round at the hide. We bumped into Keith as he too arrived at the hide, as we were watching Susan's first Osprey of the year over the bay being harassed by gulls and Oystercatchers. Despite plenty of scanning we failed to add anything else. However as we wandered back from the hide, I heard a Tree Pipit call from close by, and as we stopped to try to locate the source, a bird flew up from the lone Willow near the wooden gate not far from the path junctions. It called a couple more times as it gained height and flew off to the north. An unexpected bonus bird for both of us. A Pied Wagtail flew over as we wandered back to the car taking my total for the park visit to 50 species (including a Dundee150 tick - in bold). 

We decided against a quick visit to Balgay Hill, and instead headed off to Broughty Ferry to see what we could find there. We arrived at the castle around 1030, quickly noting Eider though Rock Pipit took a bit more effort. We ended up having a quick look inside the Castle museum as Susan had never been there before. We then headed out to Balmossie where the tide state meant there wasn't a huge selection though we did still add Bar Tailed Godwit, Redshank, Knot, Oystercatcher, Wigeon, Jackdaw, Mute Swan, Turnstone, Mallard, Goosander and Dunlin as well as a Sparrowhawk hunting over the gardens to the north of the railway line. Our next destination was the Dighty Burn. A quick walk along the Sainsbury's section failed to add anything. The main section of the walk added Buzzard, Long Tailed Tit, Pied Wagtail, Reed Bunting, Bullfinch, Dipper, Grey Heron, another Pink Footed Goose skein and Grey Wagtail, as well as a couple of Roe Deer and a few Small Tortoiseshell butterflies sunning themselves while a Dark Edged Bee-Fly was spotted by Susan close to the butterflies. 

Unfortunately it began to rain as we returned to the car. I had suggested we head up to the Pitkerro Grove Cemetery to check the walk down to the crossroads for warblers. Susan was hoping to be headed homewards for around 1400, which meant that the heavy rain put paid to potentially adding anything new there. Susan dropped me off at Swannie Ponds, just as the sun reappeared. There was a pair of Sand Martins whizzing around overhead and I added Coot and Tufted Duck to the day's list at the ponds. I had a quick look at Spring Grove in Baxter Park before heading homewards having found a total of 57 species outwith the park, taking the combined total to 71. Had we had the extra time for a visit to Clatto and Templeton Woods we would likely have added another 3 or 4 species, at least, to take my total for the day to 75. It was a very worthwhile and enjoyable exercise being out birding with Susan, as always though it was over all too quickly. However provisional plans were put in place for a re-run sometime soon.

Sparrowhawk

Chaffinch

Rook

Blackcap

Rabbit

Shelduck

Meadow Pipit

Chaffinch

Coal Tit

Oystercatcher & Osprey

Lesser Black Backed Gull, Oystercatcher & Osprey

Redshank, Black Tailed Godwit (& Dunlin)

Pink Footed Goose

Eider

Eider

Carrion Crow & Buzzard

Grey Heron

Roe Deer

Magpie

Small Tortoiseshell

Dark Edged Bee-Fly

Dipper

Coot & Herring Gull

Moorhen

Tufted Duck

Sand Martin

Woodpigeon

Birds (outwith Riverside Nature Park) - Bar Tailed Godwit, Blackbird, Blackcap, Blue Tit, Bullfinch, Buzzard, Carrion Crow, Chaffinch, Chiffchaff, Coal Tit, Collared Dove, Coot, Dipper, Dunlin, Dunnock, Eider, Goldcrest, Goldfinch, Goosander, Great Spotted Woodpecker, Great Tit, Greenfinch, Grey Heron, Grey Wagtail, Herring Gull, House Sparrow, Jackdaw, Jay, Knot, Lesser Black Backed Gull, Long Tailed Tit, Magpie, Mallard, Moorhen, Mute Swan, Nuthatch, Oystercatcher, Pied Wagtail, Pink Footed Goose, Redshank, Reed Bunting, Robin, Feral Pigeon, Rock Pipit, Sand Martin, Siskin, Song Thrush, Sparrowhawk, Starling, Stock Dove, Treecreeper, Tufted Duck, Turnstone, Wigeon, Willow Warbler, Woodpigeon, Wren.

Butterflies (outwith Riverside Nature Park) - Small Tortoiseshell.

Mammals (outwith Riverside Nature Park) - Rabbit, Roe Deer.

Birds (at Riverside Nature Park) - Blackbird, Blackcap, Black Headed Gull, Black Tailed Godwit, Blue Tit, Carrion Crow, Chaffinch, Chiffchaff, Coal Tit, Common Gull, Cormorant, Dunlin, Dunnock, Goldfinch, Great Tit, Greenfinch, Grey Heron, Herring Gull, Jackdaw, Lesser Black Backed Gull, Linnet, Magpie, Mallard, Meadow Pipit, Moorhen, Mute Swan, Oystercatcher, Pheasant, Pied Wagtail, Pink Footed Goose, Redshank, Reed Bunting, Robin, Feral Pigeon, Rook, Shelduck, Siskin, Skylark, Song Thrush, Sparrowhawk, Starling, Stock Dove, Teal, Tree Pipit, Willow Warbler, Woodpigeon, Wren, Yellowhammer.

Mammals (at Riverside Nature Park) - Rabbit.

1244 : Anti-Clockwise (14/4/24)

Turnstone

Having had a successful Saturday's birding I decided to head in the opposite direction on Sunday. I planned an early start to hopefully be able to intercept incoming migrants crossing the Tay before the dog walkers took over the beaches. Wheatear was my main target, although it was relatively unlikely, but as I know only too well if I don't try, I definitely won't find one. I would wander out to Balmossie to check the gull roost and anything out on the river before heading back inland to Clearwater Park then head home along the Dighty Burn before the forecast heavy rain showers were due to arrive. With a bit of luck I would add something new to the Dundee150 list and manage to stay dry too...

It was around 0610 when I stepped outside and found Starling, Blackbird, House Sparrow, a surprise Greenfinch, Feral Pigeon, Herring Gull and Goldfinch almost immediately. Jackdaw and Carrion Crow were next and a Meadow Pipit was heard calling from somewhere overhead but went through unseen. I had decided to head for the Docks Way cycle path rather than visit either Swannie Ponds or Baxter Park. Dunnock was noted on Arbroath Road with Lesser Black Backed Gull a minute later. The first Magpie of the day was on Baffin Street with a Collared Dove and a Woodpigeon when I reached South Baffin Street. A Chiffchaff was heard singing from a small tree. 

A Grey Wagtail flew over as I continued on down Market Street to East Dock Street where an Oystercatcher rather noisily appeared from the direction of the docks. A Song Thrush called from the other side of the railway line. The walk out along the cycle path added Robin, Chaffinch, Blackcap and some high flying Black Headed Gulls. The usual Rabbits were in their usual spots when I reached the Stannergate. By the small car park there I noted a few Linnets in the bushes and a small number of Eider offshore. The first of the day's Turnstones were on the grass by the sailing club building and I managed to grab some photos involving a worm which definitely didn't survive its encounter with this particular small group of waders.

I happened to look up just as a small group of 5 silent goose shaped birds passed overhead flying to the west. These turned out to be Shelduck and I watched them land beyond the fence at the end of the harbour. A few more Black Headed Gulls and then the first Common Gulls were next on the list. I almost missed a pair of Ringed Plover in their (semi-)usual spot among the pebbles near one of the ramps a little further on. Redshank and Cormorant were noted as I continued on towards the castle. A Rock Pipit was heard at Beach Crescent and a Red Throated Diver was seen flying upriver over towards the Tayport side of the river. A Grey Heron flew over the playpark, though heading in the opposite direction of the Sparrowhawk which showed up 30 seconds later, drawing a response from a pair of Pied Wagtails as well as a few Starlings.

I wandered round to sit on the rocks behind the castle as the tide receded. A distant flock of Teal were the only new addition from there, though there appeared to be plenty of gulls moving, especially Common Gulls. Despite it still being pre-0900, the shoreline was already quite busy with both swimmers and walkers, as well as numerous dogs. I continued on east towards Balmossie. Thankfully, things were still relatively quiet towards that end of the Esplanade compared to the Castle end. I was able to add Bar Tailed Godwits, Wigeon, Curlew, Red Breasted Merganser, Dunlin and a lone Mute Swan around the Dighty Burn outflow and nearby.

By around 1000 I decided it was time to head inland and I headed up South Balmossie Street to North Balmossie Street and onwards to Balgillo Road. I accidentally spooked a couple of Grey Herons from the heronry by the burn but otherwise there wasn't too much of interest between Balmossie and Clearwater Park. I did find a few Long Tailed Tits in the bushes down by the A92. There were Rooks in the trees behind the houses at Strathtyre Avenue. A Buzzard circled to the north and a Sparrowhawk overflew as I passed the rookery. A Willow Warbler sang from the trees overlooking the Dighty Burn. I crossed the Linlathen bridge stopping briefly when I noticed a Roe Deer a little off to the east. A pair of Pheasants wandered past the deer and I continued on up the hill towards the Stables, stopping to photograph a Peacock butterfly by the path on the walk up.

A Grey Squirrel was seen in the trees by the Stables and Skylarks could be heard singing above the field to the west of the track. Great Tit and Stock Dove were both noted before I reached the 'crossroads' and a Yellowhammer made it on to the list across the other side of the 'crossroads'. A Kestrel overflew me as I wandered back down the track again, having heard Blackcap, Willow Warbler and Chiffchaff near the Cemetery. Another Sparrowhawk was seen circling high above as I headed along to the Murroes Burn. A Swallow could be seen rather distantly zipping around low over the fields to the south. I wandered through the trees which backed onto West Pitkerro Industrial Estate where a pair of Jays eluded my camera's focus.

At the end of Barlow Avenue I stopped for a minute or two, just in time to see a skein of Pink Footed Geese overflying from the south. I had to hurriedly change the battery of my camera at this point, though I did manage a few photos just before the birds disappeared over the trees I had just walked through minutes before. There was a small flock of Meadow Pipits in the field bordered by the Dighty and Murroes Burn, as well a couple of Skylarks, a few Oystercatchers, some Rooks and Jackdaws and what was likely the same Swallow I'd noticed earlier. I had a short chat to a dog walker before moving on again. It was around mid-day by this time and the sky was beginning to look rather threatening. Other than a few conifers the chances of finding anything like reasonable shelter from what appeared to be impending rain seemed rather slim.

I crossed the main road. A pair of Bullfinches flew across the burn and the Kingfisher swept past me at high speed heading downstream. Things were relatively quiet along the burn, though Wren, Goldcrest and Siskin were all spotted. A single Dipper was glimpsed by the small weir by the 'halfway bridge'. I had a short chat with a local a bit further on, who told me about a group of 4 Foxes he'd watched in the same area while he was actually stood in the burn. I continued on past Drumgeith Park where a couple more Buzzards were seen soaring. A Kestrel hovered high above the new houses at the foot of Longhaugh Brae. The grey cloud of earlier had given way (slightly) to a bit of blue sky but not for long. There was a brief shower as I walked up Pitkerro Road towards the Kingsway. I made a quick stop at Swannie Ponds which added Mallard, Coot, Moorhen and Tufted Duck to the list for the day, taking the total to a very decent 67 species. I suspect the same route in a week or 2 might add as many as 10 more species to the total, and I will probably give it a go early next month. Although I failed to add Wheatear or anything else to my Dundee150 list it was a worthwhile effort making the 15 mile round trip.

Linnet

Shelduck

Ringed Plover

Turnstone

Redshank

Magpie

Eider

Rock Pipit

Cormorant

Rock Pipit

Bar Tailed Godwit

Meadow Pipit

Collared Dove

Roe Deer

Robin

Kestrel

Woodpigeon & Pheasant

Stock Dove

Sparrowhawk

Pink Footed Goose

Herring Gull

Swallow

Skylark

Blue Tit

Buzzard

Jay

Mute Swan

Tufted Duck

Birds - Bar Tailed Godwit, Blackbird, Blackcap, Black Headed Gull, Blue Tit, Bullfinch, Buzzard, Carrion Crow, Chaffinch, Chiffchaff, Collared Dove, Common Gull, Coot, Cormorant, Curlew, Dipper, Dunlin, Dunnock, Eider, Goldcrest, Goldfinch, Great Tit, Greenfinch, Grey Heron, Grey Wagtail, Herring Gull, House Sparrow, Jackdaw, Jay, Kestrel, Kingfisher, Lesser Black Backed Gull, Linnet, Long Tailed Tit, Magpie, Mallard, Meadow Pipit, Moorhen, Mute Swan, Oystercatcher, Pheasant, Pied Wagtail, Pink Footed Goose, Red Breasted Merganser, Redshank, Red Throated Diver, Ringed Plover, Robin, Feral Pigeon, Rock Pipit, Rook, Shelduck, Siskin, Skylark, Song Thrush, Sparrowhawk, Starling, Stock Dove, Swallow, Teal, Tufted Duck, Turnstone, Wigeon, Willow Warbler, Woodpigeon, Wren, Yellowhammer.

Butterflies - Peacock.

Mammals - Grey Squirrel, Rabbit, Roe Deer.