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Saker Falcon (escape)
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Despite Saturday's visit to Broughty Ferry being rather underwhelming I wanted to get out again on Sunday. I decided that I should try Riverside Nature Park as my visits this winter have been relatively few and far between (which is often the case in winter usually due to a combination of factors). The weather forecast was a bit calmer than the previous day's windy conditions which was a big plus. I got up early and was organised and ready to head out just after sunrise.
Herring Gull, Feral Pigeon, Woodpigeon, Robin, House Sparrow, Blackbird, Starling, Jackdaw, Black Headed Gull, Carrion Crow and Goldfinch made for a steady flow of species over the first 5 minutes of my day's birding as I headed up past the football stadiums. Blue Tit, Magpie and Great Tit were noted on Canning Street. Chaffinch was heard on Byron Street with Dunnock added near Byron Crescent. I spotted a bright white shape on the corner of Cox's Stack, as I neared the end of Byron Street, which I was certain would be the escaped Saker Falcon. I wandered along Balfield Road to have a look. It was indeed the former falconer's bird and as I took a few photos it took flight and headed off to the north. A small mixed flock of Fieldfares and Redwings were in the trees at the southern end of The Miley.
Balgay Cemetery produced Nuthatch, Coal Tit, Stock Dove, Bullfinch and Jay. As I headed down Glamis Road I found Greenfinch and Long Tailed Tits near the railway linea few minutes further on. The Long Tailed Tits' alarm calls alerted me to the presence of a Sparrowhawk which swooped low over the houses on the north side of the tracks. I reached the eastern end of Riverside Nature Park at 0940. A couple of Blue Tits, a few Redwings and a Chaffinch were in the trees by the road into the park, and a couple of Jackdaws flew over. A bird on the telegraph pole by the southeastern corner turned out to be a Mistle Thrush. Herring Gull, Magpie and Carrion Crow were all seen flying over while a Great Tit was heard calling from Buzzard Wood.
The first of quite a few Bullfinches dotted around were seen just before 1000. A Wren was heard making its customary racket beyond the car park as I headed round to check the bay. Woodpigeon, Blackbird, Robin, Song Thrush and Feral Pigeon were all seen before I got to the western edges of the park. Down in the bay I picked out Curlew, Oystercatcher, Grey Heron, Cormorant, Mallard, Teal, Redshank, Bar Tailed Godwit, Dunlin, Black Headed Gull, a single Black Tailed Godwit, Common Gull, and a flock of distant Greylag Geese across towards the Invergowrie side of the bay as I scanned out over the exposed mud. Goldfinches were in the bushes behind me. A single Skylark was heard briefly over the hill but went unseen. A Greenfinch was also heard around 10 minutes later.
I spotted a Turnstone flying across the bay towards the area in front of the hide before a Buzzard was picked out above the trees behind Ninewells Hospital. I wandered round to the hide to scan from there as the incoming tide pushed birds further in towards the railway line. I refound the Turnstone, along with 4 others and a couple of Knot (which were new for my #2025Dundee150 list) were in with the Redshanks and Dunlin which seemed to make up the bulk of the wader flocks in the bay. There were Long Tailed Tits in the bushes around the hide. A Pink Footed Goose was heard overflying but went unseen due to the limited view of the sky above me. There were a few Siskins in the trees on the north side of the hide. Something disturned all the waders down by the railway line, as well as a male Pheasant which had been hidden in below the bushes just to the right of the hide. My final addition at the park was a mammal, in the shape of a Rabbit.
Heading homewards I noted a Pied Wagtail over Riverside Drive near the Botanic Gardens, and a Goldcrest was in the conifers surrounding a garden to the north. A Great Spotted Woodpecker was seen in Balgay Cemetery and another Nuthatch was heard. Despite much wandering around the hill, to avoid running into the football crowds leaving Tannadice after the Dundee United vs Rangers match, I failed to find anything else new for the 'outwith the park' list. I then headed up to the Law where a couple of Buzzards were seen before I reached the top but things were otherwise very quiet. These took my total for outwith the park to 30 species, and coupled with 39 at Riverside Nature Park they gave me a combined total of 51 species for the day (including 1 new species for my #2025Dundee150 list - in bold). While not a classic day's birding, the 'new' Dundee150 species made it a worthwhile day out.
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Saker Falcon (escape)
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Long Tailed Tit
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Mistle Thrush
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| Bullfinch |
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| Oystercatcher |
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Grey Heron
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Curlew & Bar Tailed Godwit
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| Oystercatcher |
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Bar Tailed Godwit
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| Bullfinch |
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| Bullfinch |
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| Curlew |
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Dunlin, Redshank & Knot
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Dunlin, Redshank & Knot
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Knot & Redshank
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Greylag Goose
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Knot, Dunlin & Redshank
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Greylag Goose
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Greylag Goose
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Turnstone & Redshank
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| Robin |
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Great Tit
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| Greenfinch |
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| Chaffinch |
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| Redwing |
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Great Spotted Woodpecker
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Birds (outwith Riverside Nature Park) - Black Headed Gull, Blackbird, Blue Tit, Bullfinch, Buzzard, Carrion Crow, Chaffinch, Coal Tit, Dunnock, Fieldfare, Goldcrest, Goldfinch, Great Spotted Woodpecker, Great Tit, Greenfinch, Herring Gull, House Sparrow, Jackdaw, Jay, Long Tailed Tit, Magpie, Nuthatch, Pied Wagtail, Redwing, Robin, Feral Pigeon, Sparrowhawk, Starling, Stock Dove, Woodpigeon.
Birds (at Riverside Nature Park) - Bar Tailed Godwit, Black Headed Gull, Black Tailed Godwit, Blackbird, Blue Tit, Bullfinch, Buzzard, Carrion Crow, Chaffinch, Common Gull, Cormorant, Curlew, Dunlin, Goldfinch, Great Tit, Greenfinch, Grey Heron, Greylag Goose, Herring Gull, Jackdaw, Knot, Long Tailed Tit, Magpie, Mallard, Mistle Thrush, Oystercatcher, Pheasant, Pink Footed Goose, Redshank, Redwing, Robin, Feral Pigeon, Siskin, Skylark, Song Thrush, Teal, Turnstone, Woodpigeon, Wren.
Mammals (at Riverside Nature Park) - Rabbit.
