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| Nuthatch |
With Spring migration underway but still feeling rather slow I decided to head for Riverside Nature Park in search of Whitethroat on Saturday the 27th of April. I wasn't overly confident that I would find any, but as there had been sightings elsewhere in Scotland the previous day, I knew there was at least a chance. The weather forecast was sunny and dry, so I decided on a relatively early start, though as is often the case I was a bit later than planned in getting out of my bed. However, I was still organised and ready to head out the door for 0730.
Blackbird, Herring Gull and Woodpigeon were noted as soon as I stepped outside, with Lesser Black Backed Gull and Feral Pigeon added in the next street. Magpie, Carrion Crow and House Sparrow soon followed as I wandered up past the football stadiums. Pied Wagtail and an unexpected Swallow were next and both Starling and Dunnock soon joined the others on the day's list as I passed Dens Park. Blue Tit on Canning Street and Chaffinch and Goldfinch on Harcourt Street kept things ticking along. A Blackcap was heard singing as I passed Clepington Antiques. Further along Byron Street, a Long Tailed Tit was found in the trees by the Lawton Road junction.
Balgay Cemetery provided a few more species - Chiffchaff, Robin, Great Tit, Goldcrest, Greenfinch and Bullfinch. I routed down through Ninewells Hospital grounds where the resident Rooks were obvious as they called loudly from their rookery in the tops of the trees around the eastern end of the Arboretum. As I continued on along the path behind the Carseview Centre, Jackdaw, Song Thrush, Stock Dove and Siskin and an unexpected flyover Sand Martin were my final additions to the 'outwith the park' list before reaching Riverside Nature Park. I had a quick look into the bay, spotting Oystercatcher, Herring Gull, Lesser Black Backed Gull, Great Black Backed Gull, Dunlin and Redshank.
From the hide I was able to get Blackcap, Jackdaw, Blackbird, Carrion Crow, Chiffchaff, Dunnock, Woodpigeon and Goldfinch before setting off for the main part of the park. A Yellowhammer was in the bushes on the walk from the hide. The first Skylark of the day was singing from high above the hill, the song carrying quite a distance, as it is intended to do. A Willow Warbler was in the lone Willow tree where one was regular in 2023. An Osprey appeared over the bay, though there was no fishing attempt made and the bird drifted off again. A burst of rather scratchy song came from the bushes near the picnic tables and it didn't take much searching to catch a glimpse of my first Whitethroat of the year (number 123 for my Dundee150 list).
Down in the bay, there were still some Teal around and Shelduck, Black Headed Gull and Common Gull were also visible. A Pied Wagtail flew over from the direction of Invergowrie while a Meadow Pipit went in the opposite direction. I wandered up to the top of the hill and scanning from there saw Mallard, another Osprey (with fish), Chaffinch, Feral Pigeon, Swallow and Wren all added to the list for the park visit. The now apparently resident Pheasant called from its usual area beyond the fence before a pair of Stock Dove flew over. A slow walk round towards the Lochan added Blue Tit, Greenfinch, Linnet and Siskin. A Buzzard was seen distantly to the north.
At the Lochan, a Robin and a Song Thrush were in the hedge while out on the water were a couple of Moorhen and the breeding Mute Swan pair. A Wren posed nicely on the wooden gate at the car park. I did a bit more wandering which meant encountering seemingly countless dogs 'off the lead', despite the numerous signs. I always find this frustrating and decided to head for home, having succeeded in finding my target species for the day. I left the park around 1045, with a few Rabbits in the sapling filled field at the eastern end. I finished the visit to the park with a total of 42 species, of which 1 (in bold) was new for my Dundee150 list.
On the slow walk home I popped in to have a look around at Balgay Hill. Buzzard, Treecreeper, Sparrowhawk, Nuthatch and Jay were all noted there. A Long Tailed Tit was photographed collecting feathers for its nest, some of which were a little awkward to carry while flying for such a little bird. A Nuthatch landed on a tree right in front of me a little later, though it was a bit too close to keep in the frame and in focus, at times, though I did still manage a few nice close-up photos. I got home around 1240 having found a total of 34 species outwith the park, for a combined list for the day of 54 species, which was probably slightly better than expected.
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| Blackcap |
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| Osprey |
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| Shelduck |
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| Whitethroat |
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| Yellowhammer |
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| Osprey |
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| Moorhen |
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| Robin |
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| Blackcap |
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| Blackbird |
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| Chiffchaff |
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| Teal |
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| Buzzard |
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| Wren |
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| Treecreeper |
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| Sparrowhawk |
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Long Tailed Tit
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Stock Dove
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Blue Tit
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| Nuthatch |
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| Nuthatch |
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Great Tit
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| Nuthatch |
Birds (outwith Riverside Nature Park) - Blackbird, Blackcap, Blue Tit, Bullfinch, Buzzard, Carrion Crow, Chaffinch,
Chiffchaff, Dunnock, Goldcrest, Goldfinch, Great Tit, Greenfinch, Herring Gull,
House Sparrow, Jackdaw, Jay, Lesser Black Backed Gull, Long Tailed Tit,
Magpie, Nuthatch, Pied Wagtail, Robin, Feral Pigeon, Rook, Sand Martin, Siskin, Song Thrush, Sparrowhawk, Starling, Stock
Dove, Swallow, Treecreeper, Woodpigeon.
Birds (at Riverside Nature Park) - Blackbird, Blackcap, Black Headed Gull, Blue Tit,
Buzzard, Carrion Crow, Chaffinch, Chiffchaff, Common Gull, Dunlin, Dunnock, Goldfinch, Great Black Backed Gull,
Greenfinch, Herring Gull, Jackdaw, Lesser
Black Backed Gull, Linnet, Magpie, Mallard, Meadow Pipit, Moorhen,
Mute Swan, Osprey, Oystercatcher, Pheasant, Pied Wagtail, Redshank, Robin, Feral Pigeon, Shelduck, Siskin, Skylark, Song
Thrush, Stock Dove, Swallow, Teal, Whitethroat, Willow Warbler, Woodpigeon,
Wren, Yellowhammer.
Mammals (at Riverside Nature Park) - Rabbit.
