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| Buzzard |
Having failed to catch up with either Greenshank or Sanderling in midweek at Riverside Nature Park, word of a third species of wader that I still 'needed' for my #2025Dundee150 list - a Golden Plover this time (found on Friday the 1st of August by Keith), meant that rather than heading for Broughty Ferry in search of terns, skuas and waders as I had hoped to do, a quick return visit to Riverside Nature Park was on the cards for my first birding outing in August. I would have to hope that at least 1, and hopefully all 3, species of waders that I still needed would be lingering down in Invergowrie Bay (and easy to see). I wasn't too optimistic given that sometimes, birds drop in for a quick bite to eat and then head off again shortly after. Those that linger longer seem to be in the minority, though it can, and does, sometimes happen.
To maximise my chances I decided on an early start, with the alarm set for around 0500. I did somehow manage to get out of my bed, rather than roll over and go back to sleep as is often the case. I got organised and headed out just after 0600. Feral Pigeon, Carrion Crow, Herring Gull and the soon to depart Swifts made for a fairly typical start to proceedings. Lesser Black-backed Gull, House Sparrow, Starling, Woodpigeon, Magpie and Jackdaw were all seen as I wandered up Tannadice Street towards Dens Park. Dunnock and Blue Tit were around the Dens Road/Canning Street area. Things were relatively quiet as I headed along Byron Street, but the rather obvious 'prukking' sound of a Raven caught my attention, from somewhere around the Law. I detoured up onto Law Crescent and waited for the bird to call again, so I could work out where I needed to be. Typically, the bird went quiet for a few minutes, but I continued in the direction of where I thought the sound had been coming from, somewhere around the northwest 'corner' area. As I headed round past the western side allotments, the bird started calling again, and I was able to easily pick the bird out, perched in the top of a tree with a Magpie seemingly keeping a close watch on it. I took a few photos and some video before continuing on again.
Not a bad way to start the day's birding, and hopefully a good omen - though with Ravens, 'its complicated' as to whether they do actually signify good or bad fortune. I would have to hope that I'd get a share of the good fortune, rather than the bad. I added Robin, Wren and Chiffchaff around the Lawside Terrace area. A single Black-headed Gull was seen as I walked along Pentland Avenue, as were Bullfinch and Goldcrest. At Balgay Hill, the young Sparrowhawks were being very vocal and actively flying out from the trees once again. Coal Tit, Treecreeper, Siskin, Long-tailed Tit, Great Tit and Grey Squirrel were in Balgay Cemetery. I cut down Hazel Avenue adding a Great Spotted Woodpecker, and a mewing Buzzard there, as well as a Greenfinch. Goldfinch was my final addition before I wandered through the underpass to cross the road at the eastern end of Riverside Nature Park around 0710. Expectations for the park were relatively low, though my mood was slightly more optimistic than it had been, thanks to the surprise Raven encounter.
I entered the eastern end of the park shortly before 0710 and soon had a reasonable sized list of species in a short period of time - Magpie, Blackbird, Chiffchaff, Robin, Blue Tit, Song Thrush, Carrion Crow, Wren, Greenfinch, Feral Pigeon and Woodpigeon all within the first 3 minutes, as well as a few Rabbits. A Herring Gull overflew as I made my way along to the Lochan where unsurprisingly I found a couple of Moorhens. A Great Black-backed Gull flew out from the bay as I neared the hide. Once I'd set up my scope I started to scan through the birds down in front of the hide - Redshank, Lapwing, Dunlin, Lesser Black-backed Gull, Black-headed Gull, Common Gull and Sandwich Tern. The trees and bushes round about added Long-tailed Tit, Blackcap and Bullfinch before a Kingfisher showed for a few seconds on a rock in the burn but vanished as I raised the camera for a photo. There were a couple of Mallards roosting on the bank in the same general area.
More scanning eventually turned up a roosting summer plumaged Knot and a Sparrowhawk flew over the bay towards its nest beyond the railway station. As the tide receded further more birds began to arrive including Curlew. A Grey Wagtail flew past as I headed round to the raised banking for a different angle on the bay. Whitethroat and Swallow joined the other species already on the list on the way. The lone Mute Swan was seen well out on the river, off Kingoodie. A few butterflies flitted around beside me - Green-veined White, Meadow Brown and Small White. I could hear a House Sparrow chirping from deep within the bushes further down towards the water. More scanning brought Oystercatcher, Grey Heron and Cormorant. I had already been at the park for 2 hours but I continued to scan through the birds in the bay while Siskin, Stock Dove, Pied Wagtail and Swift were seen (or heard) in flight.
The first of the day's Ospreys put in an appearance just after 0930, and over the course of the morning, I was treated to around 7 or 8 visits by the species, including 2 in sight at the same time, more than once and even 3 in view together once. I had a look at 'the bowl' for butterflies where Red Admiral and Peacock distracted me for a few seconds before a calling Tree Pipit flew over. I wandered back to the hide again which got me a Speckled Wood butterfly. Jackdaw and Goldfinch were seen on my return visit to the hide as were a small flock of Canada Geese spotted flying out of the bay and out of sight. A Great Tit was in the bushes to the right of the hide. Back round at the picnic tables area, a Pheasant was noted. Around 1130, a House Martin headed out across the bay and surprisingly a couple of Skylarks followed suit, given the species has been noticeably absent on recent visits.
More checking at the 'bowl' produced a Comma and Large White butterflies and a Buzzard was seen circling to the north. The tide seemed to be taking its time to go back out again but I passed the time seeing what new arrivals I could find. Black-tailed Godwit turned up around 1155 and 20 minutes later, I stumbled upon a Greenshank which had seemingly appeared from nowhere with a small flock of Redshanks. Success! A new bird for my #2025Dundee150 list, although where it had been on Wednesday was a mystery (assuming it had been the same previously reported individual). A few Common Sandpipers showed up, picking around on the remaining mud. Chaffinch and Linnet were my final additions at the park for the day's visit. Not a bad haul. I spooked a Jay as I headed up towards Ninewells Community Garden via a 'cutty' that I had only recently found out existed. Green-Veined White, Red Admiral and Speckled Wood butterflies were noted behind the hospital. I continued on to Balgay Hill again, albeit rather slowly as it was very warm and sunny by this time and I'd had an early start.
Much searching around at the hill found both Large and Small White butterflies. While checking the Elms at the eastern end of the Planet Trail I had brief views of a Holly Blue flitting around low above the path, a better view of a Small Copper in the vegetation to the north of the path and disapppointingly brief views of a Purple Hairstreak which flew from the Elm up to the large Oak behind. The Sparrowhawk youngsters were very vocal once again, as were a couple of young Buzzards on the north-eastern fringes which made them easy to track down, though getting a decent uninterrupted view proved much trickier. Eventually I called it a day at the hill and headed homewards having managed to find a combined total of 64 species of birds (including a new addition for the #2025Dundee150 list - in bold), as well as 11 species of butterflies and 2 of mammals. 32 species of birds, 8 species of butterflies and 1 of mammals were found outwith the Nature Park, while 56 species of birds, 8 of butterflies and 1 of mammals were found at the Nature Park. A long day but overall a relatively prductive one, with the Greenshank taking my #2025Dundee150 list to 133.
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| Raven |
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| Long-tailed Tit |
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| Knot, Redshank, Black-headed Gull, Dunlin |
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| Black-headed Gull & Sandwich Tern |
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| Blackcap |
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| Lapwing, Redshank, Common Gull & Black-headed Gull |
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| Black-headed Gull & Lapwing |
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| Goldfinch |
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| SSwift |
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| Grey Heron |
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| Swallow |
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| Great Black-backed Gull |
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| Herring Gull, Jackdaw & Carrion Crow |
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| Osprey |
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| Osprey |
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| Greenshank |
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| Curlew |
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| Meadow Brown |
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| Peacock |
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| Chiffchaff |
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| Speckled Wood |
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| Small Copper |
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| Sparrowhawk |
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| Sparrowhawk |
Birds (outwith Riverside Nature Park) - Black-headed Gull, Blue Tit, Bullfinch, Buzzard, Carrion
Crow, Chiffchaff, Coal Tit, Dunnock, Goldcrest, Goldfinch, Great Spotted Woodpecker, Great Tit, Greenfinch, Herring Gull, House Martin, House Sparrow, Jackdaw, Jay, Lesser Black-backed
Gull, Long-tailed Tit, Magpie, Oystercatcher, Raven, Robin, Feral Pigeon, Siskin, Sparrowhawk, Starling, Swift, Treecreeper, Woodpigeon, Wren.
Butterflies (outwith Riverside Nature
Park) - Green-veined White, Holly Blue, Large White, Purple Hairstreak, Red
Admiral, Small Copper, Small White, Speckled Wood.
Mammals (outwith Riverside Nature Park) - Grey Squirrel.
Birds
(at Riverside Nature Park) - Black-headed Gull, Black-tailed Godwit,
Blackbird, Blackcap, Blue Tit, Bullfinch, Buzzard, Canada Goose, Carrion Crow, Chaffinch,
Chiffchaff, Common Gull, Common Sandpiper, Cormorant, Curlew,
Dunlin, Goldfinch, Great
Black-backed Gull, Great Tit, Greenfinch, Greenshank, Grey
Heron, Grey Wagtail, Herring Gull, House Martin, House Sparrow, Jackdaw, Kingfisher, Knot, Lapwing, Lesser Black-backed Gull,
Linnet, Long-tailed Tit, Magpie,
Mallard, Moorhen, Mute Swan, Osprey, Oystercatcher,
Pheasant, Pied Wagtail, Redshank, Robin, Feral Pigeon, Sandwich Tern, Siskin, Skylark, Song Thrush, Sparrowhawk, Stock Dove, Swallow, Swift, Tree Pipit, Whitethroat, Woodpigeon, Wren.
Butterflies
(at Riverside Nature Park) - Comma, Green-veined White, Large White,
Meadow Brown, Peacock, Red Admiral, Small White, Speckled Wood.
Mammals (at Riverside Nature Park) - Rabbit.
