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| Chiffchaff |
Having had a pleasant surprise on the last day of September with my second Clouded Yellow butterfly sighting, (and a photo this time too), I was hoping that I might get October off to a good start with a visit to Riverside Nature Park. There were no real target species, but I was hoping that I might find some migrant passing through, brought down by the overnight rain. Although most of the wader species have been seen at least down in the bay this year, smaller migrant passerine species have mostly been a bit harder to come by. A lie-in and some early morning rain meant that it was around 0950 before I was ready to head out, in the hope that the morning's rain was over.
Robin, Great Tit, Carrion Crow, Feral Pigeon, Herring Gull, Woodpigeon, House Sparrow and Starling got things started in relatively busy fashion. Pied Wagtail, Jackdaw, Blue Tit, Magpie, Goldcrest, Chiffchaff and Coal Tit were added on the walk between Dens Park stadium and Lochee Park. Black-headed Gulls and Common Gulls were on the football pitches there. It then began to rain quite heavily and I ended up having to shelter below a large conifer in the cemetery. I did add Siskin while I waited for the rain to stop. Once it abated a little I continued on again, only to have to take shelter again under another tree. More sheltering on Ninewells Avenue followed after the rain appeared to have stopped again. I finally added Wren, Dunnock and Long-tailed Tits at the Technology Park.
I eventually reached the western end of the nature park at 1125. Robin and Woodpigeon were noted before I headed down to check the bay from the hide. Mallard, Herring Gull, Goosander, Black-headed Gull, Curlew, Redshank, Black-tailed Godwit, Dunlin, Knot, Grey Heron, Lapwing and Little Egret were all seen from there. Mark showed up and after a bit of a chat we headed off into the park proper. Feral Pigeon and Moorhen were seen from the Lochan. Chiffchaff, Wren and a surprise Raven were found as we headed round towards the car park. A Mistle Thrush flew over at the car park as Mark headed off homewards. I added Jackdaw, Starling, Magpie, Goldfinch and Pied Wagtail on my way back round to the bay.
Oystercatcher and Cormorant joined the other species on the list as I checked the birds down in the bay and out on the river. Skylark, Meadow Pipit and Blackbird were spotted, and a single Lesser Black-backed Gull flew out over the river. Carrion Crow, Siskin, Song Thrush, Long-tailed Tit and a few Bar-tailed Godwits kept the momentum going. Chaffinch, Rook, Great Tit, Greenfinch, Blue Tit and Bullfinch were picked up as I scanned through the birds down in the bay. The day's first Teal were seen on the mud and a skein of Pink-footed Geese flew over from the north. More wandering added a few Rabbits, Stock Dove, Dunnock and Grey Wagtail. A Small White butterfly was slightly unexpected. A pair of Ravens were seen flying up to Ninewells Arboretum before returning around 20 minutes later, rolling onto their backs in flight then back upright, 'prukking' loudly as they did so.
Buzzard and Sparrowhawk were both seen, albeit distantly, as I continued trying to find a new bird for my #2025Dundee150 list. The best I managed was a Blackcap. As I wandered through the lower half of the park, I heard the Ravens again and headed for the southeastern corner of the park where their calls seemed to be emanating from. Through the bushes along the fenceline I spotted a Raven perched on the airport fence but while trying to get focus for a photo, the bird spotted me and flew off across the airport. I added Pheasant to take the list for the park to 51 species before trying to get some photos of the Ravens as they wandered around on the grass at the airport. Rook, Jackdaw and Magpie were also on the airport grass beyond the runway.
I eventually called it quits at the park and headed homewards. A Sparrowhawk was seen from the steps up to Riverside Drive and a Grey Heron overflew. A Lesser Black-backed Gull circled round over the road as I headed up past the Botanic Gardens. Stock Dove and Song Thrush were noted at Balgay Hill and a pair of Buzzards were seen over Byron Street taking my total to 27 for the 'outwith the park' section of the day's birding. The combined total for the day's efforts were 55 species of birds plus 1 of butterflies and 1 of mammals. All in all, it was a relatively low-key start to October.
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| Redshank, Black-tailed Godwit & Dunlin |
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| Little Egret |
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| Starling |
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| Blackbird |
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| Rook |
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| Skylark |
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| Oystercatcher & Curlew |
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| Chiffchaff |
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| Chaffinch |
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| Chiffchaff |
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| Blue Tit |
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| Dunlin & Knot |
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| Raven |
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| Raven |
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| Long-tailed Tit |
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| Robin |
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| Pink-footed Goose |
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| Lesser Black-backed Gull |
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| Black-headed Gull |
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| Dunnock |
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| Greenfinch |
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| Small White |
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| Chiffchaff |
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| Chiffchaff |
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| Stock Dove |
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| Raven |
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| Raven & Jackdaw |
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| Grey Heron |
Birds - (outwith Riverside Nature Park) - Black-headed Gull, Blue
Tit,
Buzzard, Carrion Crow, Chiffchaff, Coal Tit, Common Gull, Dunnock, Goldcrest, Great Tit, Grey Heron, Herring
Gull, House Sparrow, Jackdaw, Lesser Black-backed
Gull, Long-tailed Tit, Magpie, Pied Wagtail, Robin, Feral
Pigeon, Siskin, Song Thrush, Sparrowhawk, Starling, Stock Dove, Woodpigeon, Wren.
Birds
(at Riverside Nature Park) - Bar-tailed Godwit, Black-headed Gull,
Black-tailed Godwit, Blackbird, Blackcap, Blue Tit, Bullfinch, Buzzard,
Carrion Crow, Chaffinch, Chiffchaff, Cormorant,
Curlew, Dunlin, Dunnock, Goldfinch, Goosander, Great Tit,
Greenfinch, Grey Heron, Grey Wagtail, Herring Gull, Jackdaw, Knot, Lapwing, Lesser Black-backed
Gull, Little Egret, Long-tailed
Tit,
Magpie, Mallard, Meadow
Pipit, Mistle Thrush, Moorhen, Oystercatcher, Pheasant, Pied Wagtail, Pink-footed Goose, Raven, Redshank, Robin, Feral
Pigeon, Rook, Siskin, Skylark, Song Thrush, Sparrowhawk, Starling, Stock Dove, Teal, Woodpigeon, Wren.
Butterflies (at Riverside Nature Park) - Small White.
Mammals - Rabbit.
