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Little Egret
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Following on from Sunday's rather underwhelming birding I decided to head for Riverside Nature Park on Monday the 14th of October. An early start failed to materialise (again) and the prospects of only arriving at the park around 1100 didn't fill me with optimism for a decent day's birding. Usually, an earlier start brings more activity with that activity then tailing off significantly as the day progresses. Staying at home wasn't an option given how poor the Autumn birding had been so far, as I wanted to try to add something new to my Dundee150 list to take me closer to my target of 150 species from within Dundee this year. With very little apparent migrants on the move not just in Dundee but across the country (bar the northern isles etc), I really needed some decent luck to come my way....with birds in tow.
I headed out at 0950 for the walk to the park. Robin, Feral Pigeon, Carrion Crow and Herring Gull made for a fairly typical mid-morning start. Woodpigeon, Goldfinch, Starling, Blue Tit, House Sparrow and Grey Wagtail were next as I wandered up past the football stadiums. Wren, Magpie and Dunnock at Canning Street were followed by Jackdaw, Chaffinch and Jay on Loons Road while a skein of Pink Footed Geese overflew. As I crossed Logie Street, there were Long Tailed Tits calling from the trees by the advertising billboards next to the shops. Great Tit and Coal Tit were found near the entrance to the football pitches. The only addition in Balgay Cemtery was Goldcrest. Cutting through Ninewells Arboretum got me Bullfinch and Blackbird. As I neared the western end of the park, a Black Headed Gull was seen in flight.
I reached the park at 1100. Woodpigeon, Grey Wagtail, Carrion Crow and a hovering Kingfisher down on the burn outflow got things underway there. Redshank, Black Tailed Godwit, Black Headed Gull, Mallard, Teal, Dunlin, Herring Gull, Great Black Backed Gull, Cormorant, Curlew and Bar Tailed Godwit were all noted down in the bay and the first Magpie of the visit dropped into the trees nearby. Feral Pigeons landed down on the pipe while Robin, Dunnock and Blackbird were in the bushes by the hide and a few Starlings overflew. A Grey Heron flew in and displaced a few of the waders and the first Oystercatchers of the day were picked out amongst the other waders. I wandered along into the main part of the park. Goldfinch, Greenfinch, Reed Bunting, Wren, Chaffinch and Long Tailed Tits were found on the walk along to the Lochan.
There were a few Skylarks singing above the hill - migrants taking a breather rather than the local summer breeders. Once again at the Lochan, Snipe showed well, while Little Grebe and Moorhen were also found. I spent a while at the Lochan before heading back along to the hide where the tide was now most of the way in. Siskins were in the trees by the hide and down by the pipe I found a Greenshank sleeping in among what was left of the Redshank flock, with most having departed to their high tide roost spots already. Heading back along the path from the hide got me Blue Tit and Great Tit. As I scanned out over the bay from the raised embankment again, a Buzzard drifted past, upsetting some of the roosting waders down below. Scanning out over the river added Goosander and Common Gull.
I wandered round to check the trees and bushes at the 'bowl'. A Sparrowhawk flew in and landed in the tree halfway up the slope. I was able to get a few photos before the big female bird flew off again. Both Yellowhammer and a slightly unexpected (Lesser) Redpoll were seen in the bushes behind the newt pool, along with Greenfinch, Goldfinch and Blue Tit. A few Linnets passed overhead, as did a couple of Pied Wagtails. I wandered round and checked the bushes up from the car park which proved surprisingly productive. I struggled to get clear shots of either Chiffchaff or Blackcap which I found feeding in the trees. There were plenty of dog walkers around, with what seemed like an almost constant stream making their way past me as I tried to get a clear photo of the feeding migrants, only for the birds to disappear back into cover as they passed.
I headed back round to the Lochan via the top of the hill, having glimpsed an Egret in flight beyond the trees. I ran up the hill but couldn't see the bird out to the west (the direction the bird had been flying when glimpsed). I surmised that it might have dropped into the Lochan. I hadn't had a good enough view to tell which Egret species it was, so I hurried down the slope to check the Lochan. I found the bird there, at the western end. It was a Little Egret - the first one I've seen at the Lochan. It wandered along towards the roosting Teal (and a sleeping duck that gave Shoveler 'vibes' but turned out just to be a rather reddish Teal). A slightly unexpected Wigeon was also on the water there. I spent quite a while photographing the Little Egret, Snipe and Wigeon in the sunshine. A Common Darter dragonfly was seen over the water.
Bullfinch and Song Thrush were added to the day's list as I had a look at the bay again. A Grey Seal was seen swimming around in the bay, surfacing now and then, though by this time the sun's position was causing rather contrasty photos. With the tide starting to recede again, I had another visit to the hide where I was surprised to find the Lochan Lapwing (with no feet) alongside another Lapwing. Another new bird for the day. I ended up back at the Lochan where one of the Snipe seemed very barred on the flanks. Unfortunately, I couldn't remember what else a Great Snipe looked like - only that the flanks were almost wholly barred. As it turned out, Wilson's Snipe looked a slightly better 'fit' than Great Snipe but I think it was actually just one of this year's Common Snipe youngsters. I was joined by Charles Rough (though it took me a few minutes to realise that was who it was - in my defence, I've only actually met him a couple of times since the park opened - with most interaction being via messages on BirdForum) and we chatted for a while, while the birds out in front of us did their thing.
I finally called it a day around 1720. A Mistle Thrush had been heard while photographing the Snipe and a Stock Dove had dropped in very briefly. A total of 56 species at the park felt like quite a high total for the time of year. The later than usual walk home was relatively bird-free though a Mistle Thrush on Byron Street was a surprise. Another unexpected sighting was a(n assumed) Pipistrelle Bat seen flying out from the 'Provie Road end' stand at Dens Park. The Mistle Thrush was species number 25 outwith the park which gave me a combined total of 60 species of bird for the day, as well as 1 of dragonfly and 2 of mammals. The photo opportunities were relatively decent overall, and the mix of species was also fairly good, making for an enjoyable day's birding, though it was disappointing to once again fail to find anything 'new' for my #Dundee150 list.
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Grey Heron
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| Robin |
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Reed Bunting
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| Greenshank |
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| Buzzard |
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(Lesser) Redpoll
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| Yellowhammer |
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| Sparrowhawk |
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| Robin |
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| Goldfinch |
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Little Egret
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| Teal |
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| Cormorant |
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Blue Tit
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Black Tailed Godwit
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| Lapwing |
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Long Tailed Tit
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| Snipe |
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Little Grebe
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| Snipe |
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| Snipe |
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| Wigeon |
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Stock Dove
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Snipe
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Birds (outwith Riverside Nature Park) - Black Headed Gull, Blackbird, Blue Tit, Bullfinch, Carrion
Crow, Chaffinch, Coal Tit, Dunnock, Goldcrest, Goldfinch, Great Tit, Grey Wagtail, Herring Gull, House
Sparrow, Jackdaw, Jay, Long Tailed Tit, Magpie, Mistle Thrush, Pink Footed Goose, Robin, Feral Pigeon, Starling,
Woodpigeon, Wren.
Mammals (outwith Riverside Nature Park) - Pipistrelle Bat.
Birds
(at Riverside Nature Park) - Bar Tailed Godwit, Black Headed Gull,
Black Tailed Godwit, Blackbird, Blackcap, Blue Tit, Bullfinch, Buzzard, Carrion
Crow,
Chaffinch, Chiffchaff, Common Gull, Cormorant, Curlew,
Dunlin, Dunnock, Goldfinch, Goosander, Great Black Backed Gull, Great
Tit, Greenfinch, Greenshank, Grey Heron, Grey Wagtail, Herring Gull, Jackdaw, Kingfisher, Lapwing, Linnet, Little Egret, Little Grebe, Long
Tailed Tit, Magpie, Mallard, Mistle Thrush, Moorhen, Oystercatcher, Pied Wagtail, Pink Footed Goose,
Redshank, (Lesser) Redpoll, Reed Bunting, Robin, Feral Pigeon, Siskin, Skylark, Snipe, Song
Thrush, Sparrowhawk, Starling, Stock Dove, Teal, Wigeon, Woodpigeon, Wren, Yellowhammer.
Dragonflies (at Riverside Nature Park) - Common Darter.
Mammals (at Riverside Nature Park) - Grey Seal.
