 |
| Whitethroat |
My Spring holidays from work usually consist of a half-week in April and a full week in May, but having found my run of half-weeks in Autumn to be quite a productive way of doing things, my original intention for 2024 was to take 3 half-weeks in a row, with the last of these being the week of the public holiday (meaning I would only use a single annual leave day to get 5 days off work - including the weekend). However, looking at the actual dates, and the fact that I wouldn't have a whole week off until late September, I changed my plan and decided on 8 days off from Wednesday the 1st of May until the following midweek. Having found Garden Warbler at Clatto on the 1st last year, this made some sort of sense. With my Dundee150 list sitting on 123 species, I was hoping to somehow manage to find another 7 species within my 8 days off to get me to a nice round 130, with more than 6 months remaining to get another 20. My expectations however were for something like 3 or maybe 4.
The option to go birding at Clatto on Wednesday was strong based on last year's success there on the same date, but I decided to wait until the following day to try there. Instead, I chose to visit Riverside Nature Park. Sedge Warbler was a possibility but I was hoping for a migrant wader passing through to increase my chances of getting the 7 species I was hoping for before returning to work again. The alarm was set for 'early' and I was ready and raring to go birding for 0605. Blackbird, House Sparrow, Herring Gull, Woodpigeon, Dunnock, Goldfinch and Starling got the day's list underway. A couple of surprise Common Gulls and an even more surprising Grey Squirrel were on the grass opposite Dens Park stadium. Carrion Crow, Feral Pigeon, Blue Tit, Greenfinch, Chaffinch and Collared Dove kept things ticking along nicely. Magpie, Willow Warbler and Chiffchaff were all noted on Byron Street while a singing Blackcap was added along with Robin, Great Tit and Wren as I 'cut the corner' around the northwest edges of the Law. A Goldcrest was in the trees on City Road. Balgay Hill provided Bullfinch, Coal Tit, Jackdaw, Nuthatch, Siskin, Stock Dove and Treecreeper. There were quite a few Rabbits around at the foot of the steps by the railway line at Riverside Avenue. I reached the Nature Park just before 0710.
The list for the park visit got underway with Blue Tit, Chiffchaff, Robin, Woodpigeon, Oystercatcher, Carrion Crow, Wren, Greenfinch, Dunnock, Meadow Pipit, Willow Warbler, Blackbird, Blackcap, Herring Gull, Song Thrush and multiple Rabbits all found near the eastern entrance. Heading up to the 'upper half' added Linnet, Skylark, Jackdaw and Magpie as well as a surprise Moorhen in a slightly wet ditch a bit to the east of the Lochan. The Mute Swan pair were in their usual place - one on the water, one on the nest but things were otherwise rather quiet. Leaving the Lochan, a pair of Stock Doves flew over and dropped down beyond the brow of the hill. As I neared the junction of the paths, I could hear the rushed and erratic sound of a 'singing' Sedge Warbler - my first of 2024. With a bit of effort I eventually managed to see the bird through gaps in the branches of the large bush it was singing from.
I found another couple of similarly shy Sedge Warblers elsewhere as the morning progressed. Both Yellowhammer and Whitethroat were spotted as I walked along to scan out from the hide. From there Lesser Black Backed Gull, a pair of unexpected Greylag Geese and some Shelducks were noted but things were otherwise unexpectedly quiet. A Moorhen was rather surprisingly seen down in the burn. Heading back into the main part of the park I noted Goldfinch before a couple of Sand Martins whizzed over. Although the weather forecast was meant to be sunny, it was a very grey and cold morning and I was slightly underdressed for the very un-May like weather. This didn't really make me feel like hanging around longer than needed but I kept looking to see if I could add anything else new to my Dundee150 list. A single Mallard flew over and further on a Pied Wagtail did likewise. A Buzzard was perched on the airport boundary fence as it often to be. Feral Pigeon and Reed Bunting were noted before the resident Pheasant called loudly from its usual area. A couple of Swallows zipped around above the recycling area and a Rook headed over towards the rookery at Ninewells.
Out in the bay, Goosander and Common Gull made it onto the list from my second visit of the morning to the hide. Long Tailed Tits flitted round out in front. I could hear House Sparrows down among the bushes between the hide and the burn outflow. I headed back into the park stopping to try to see a Goldcrest I could hear in the hedge on the way. A Redshank was heard from down in the bay, roosting out of sight below the bushes. A Great Tit called just before a Sparrowhawk swept through and a Grey Heron was the final addition to the list for the morning's visit to the park, just a minute later. This took the list to 48 at the park. Having noted most of the expected species in Balgay earlier in the day my route home failed to add anything other than Lesser Black Backed Gull. This did take the 'outwith the park' list to 31 species for a combined total of 55 (including 1 new for my Dundee150 list - in bold). Although, it wasn't a particularly warm morning's birding, it was a case of mission accomplished with my first 'new' bird of my Spring holiday week added, taking my Dundee150 list to 124.
 |
Song Thrush
|
 |
Blue Tit
|
 |
| Chiffchaff |
 |
Greylag Goose
|
 |
| Shelduck |
 |
| Wren |
 |
Reed Bunting
|
 |
| Oystercatcher |
 |
| Yellowhammer |
 |
| Jackdaw |
 |
| Swallow |
 |
Greylag Goose
|
 |
| Buzzard |
 |
| Blackcap |
 |
| Robin |
 |
| Skylark |
 |
| Moorhen |
 |
Lesser Black Backed Gull
|
 |
Grey Heron
|
 |
Song Thrush
|
 |
| Sparrowhawk |
 |
| Greenfinch |
 |
Song Thrush
|
 |
Stock Dove
|
Birds (outwith Riverside Nature Park) - Blackbird, Blackcap, Blue Tit, Bullfinch, Carrion Crow, Chaffinch,
Chiffchaff, Coal Tit, Collared Dove, Common Gull, Dunnock, Goldcrest, Goldfinch, Great Tit, Greenfinch, Herring Gull,
House Sparrow, Jackdaw, Lesser Black Backed Gull, Magpie, Nuthatch, Robin, Feral Pigeon, Siskin, Song Thrush, Starling, Stock
Dove, Treecreeper, Willow Warbler, Woodpigeon, Wren.
Mammals (outwith Riverside Nature Park) - Grey Squirrel, Rabbit.
Birds (at Riverside Nature Park) - Blackbird, Blackcap, Blue Tit,
Buzzard, Carrion Crow, Chaffinch, Chiffchaff, Common Gull, Dunnock, Goldcrest, Goldfinch, Goosander, Great Tit,
Greenfinch, Grey Heron, Greylag Goose, Herring Gull, House Sparrow, Jackdaw, Lesser
Black Backed Gull, Linnet, Long Tailed Tit, Magpie, Mallard, Meadow Pipit, Moorhen,
Mute Swan, Oystercatcher, Pheasant, Pied Wagtail, Redshank, Reed Bunting, Robin, Feral Pigeon, Rook, Sand Martin, Sedge Warbler, Shelduck, Skylark, Song
Thrush, Sparrowhawk, Stock Dove, Swallow, Whitethroat, Willow Warbler, Woodpigeon,
Wren, Yellowhammer.
Mammals (at Riverside Nature Park) - Rabbit.
