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Sparrowhawk & Saker Falcon (escape)
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My intention for Saturday had been to get up early and walk down to Riverside Nature Park. Having already visited on Wednesday and Thursday I changed my mind and stayed in bed a bit longer instead (not for the first time, nor the last time). I wasn't feeling particularly energetic when I did get up, so instead of heading for Clatto in the hope of Sand Martins or along the Dighty (for the same species, and maybe a Wheatear, Blackcap or Willow Warbler), I settled on the much closer option of spending some time at the top of the Law, in the hope of seeing some passing migrants from there, and perhaps some displaying raptors in the forecast sunshine. Although it is still relatively early in the normal timeline of Spring arrivals there had been a few additional species turning up elsewhere in Scotland, so I was hoping for something other than just Chiffchaff and Meadow Pipit.
It was 0815 when I headed out for the relatively short walk to the top of the hill. Blue Tit, Feral Pigeon, House Sparrow, Herring Gull, Lesser Black Backed Gull, Carrion Crow and Magpie made for a fairly hectic first minute outside. The first of the morning's migrants passed overhead as I walked up past the allotments - a couple of Meadow Pipits and a few Siskins. Woodpigeon, Jackdaw, Blackbird, Goldfinch, Dunnock, Starling and Great Tit were all added on the way with a Chiffchaff heard singing as I reached the top of the steps. I was quite surprised to find no-one there, though that situation wasn't to last very long. The first of around 40 individual Meadow Pipits overflights (some seen, some heard only) passed by before I looked up to see a Sparrowhawk displaying.
A Coal Tit was heard from the trees on the east side of the hill and a Stock Dove headed over southwards. More Meadow Pipits and a few very vocal Lesser Black Backed Gulls were noted. Just after 0900 I noticed what I initially thought were a pair of Sparrowhawks, but which turned out to be the escaped Saker Falcon being harassed by a Sparrowhawk - a bit of a mis-match. Chaffinch and Bullfinch were noted from the north side of the hill. I thought I heard a Crossbill calling and I was happy to see I was correct as a family group of the birds dropped into the trees on the east side opposite where I was standing. I grabbed a few photos before getting much closer views. The Saker Falcon reappeared overhead for a few minutes and a Great Spotted Woodpecker was heard calling from somewhere out of sight beyond the trees.
The first Buzzard of the morning was seen out to the west and around 100 Pink Footed Geese headed northwards. A pair of Crossbills flew round the hill before a pair of Buzzards circled up above Balgay Hill. Another Buzzard drifted overhead towards Balgay as I watched the distant pair. A trio of Sparrowhawks could be seen circling up to the northeast. What were likely 2 of these 3 were seen out to the east shortly afterwards. A single Sparrowhawk displayed overhead just after 1000. A couple of Sparrowhawks were then seen above Balgay. A pair of Greylag Geese headed west - though I only spotted them after they had passed to the north of the hill. There had been a steady passage of Meadow Pipits but little else in the way of migrants. Oystercatchers were heard calling from somewhere down by Arnold Clark's car showroom - where I often hear the birds on my walk to work. A Goldcrest was heard singing nearby.
A couple of Common Gulls headed over northwards and around 20 Pink Footed Geese were seen out to the north. A single Sparrowhawk tussled with a Carrion Crow just after 1100 and half a dozen Pink Footed Geese headed east downriver. A pair of Siskins flew over while Robin and Wren were heard from the hillsides. The Crossbills flew in again from the west though their calls were almost completely drowned out by a horde of university students who were congregated round the bench to the west of the trig point, guffawing and talking loudly, while an older ex-Dundee Uni student (as he said to whoever he was talking to) wandered round talking into a mobile phone that he probably didn't need, given that he could be heard over the noise from the student horde. Thankfully, both finally headed off elsewhere and more normal levels of conversation could be heard instead, and it was much easier to pick out bird calls and songs once again.
A Black Headed Gull was picked out in flight to the west and another Buzzard was seen passing to the north. A butterfly flitted past but too quickly to get any sort of an ID. A Buzzard to the east and a Sparrowhawk to the south kept things ticking over before a pair of Buzzards were seen over Balgay Hill again. The local Kestrel finally put in an appearance at noon though it didn't hang around for long, though I did manage to grab a few photos. Another Buzzard passed overhead before I finally called it a day after 3.5 hours at the top of the hill. The walk home added a Pied Wagtail to the relatively short list for the day's birding of 35 species, with the Crossbills being the main highlight (although close views of the Saker Falcon in good light was also welcome, even if it doesn't actually 'count').
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| Sparrowhawk |
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Sparrowhawk & Saker Falcon (escape)
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Saker Falcon (escape)
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Saker Falcon (escape)
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Saker falcon (escape)
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| Crossbill |
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| Crossbill |
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| Crossbill |
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Lesser Black Backed Gull
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| Crossbill |
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| Jackdaw |
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Greylag Goose
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| Sparrowhawk |
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| Sparrowhawk |
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| Sparrowhawk |
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Common Gull
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| Magpie |
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| Crossbill |
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| Crossbill |
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| Crossbill |
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| Buzzard |
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| Buzzard |
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| Kestrel |
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| Kestrel |
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| Kestrel |
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| Kestrel |
Birds - Blackbird, Black Headed Gull, Blue Tit, Bullfinch, Buzzard, Carrion Crow, Chaffinch, Chiffchaff, Coal Tit, Common Gull, Crossbill, Dunnock, Goldcrest, Goldfinch, Great Spotted Woodpecker, Great Tit, Greylag Goose, Herring Gull, House Sparrow, Jackdaw, Kestrel, Lesser Black Backed Gull, Magpie, Meadow Pipit, Oystercatcher, Pied Wagtail, Pink Footed Goose, Robin, Feral Pigeon, [Saker Falcon], Siskin, Sparrowhawk, Starling, Stock Dove, Woodpigeon, Wren.
