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| Kestrel |
The weather forecast for Sunday the 16th of March looked to be potentially decent for raptors displaying. Although I had managed to see a few raptors the previous day, it had still felt slightly underwhelming. It had also been quite a long walk and although I was keen to get out birding, I didn't particularly feel like walking too far if I could help it. So as is often the case, I settled on somewhere a bit closer - another trip to the top of the Law. There was a slight chance of picking up a passing migrant, maybe an early Osprey or a Sand Martin, or maybe another goose species heading back northwards after spending the winter in Scotland, or further south.
I headed out just after 0925. It didn't quite feel as warm as it was supposed to, but I hoped it would warm up as the morning progressed. With only light winds forecast, the wind chill would hopefully be minimal. A calling Blue Tit was first onto the day's list as soon as I stepped outside. Herring Gull, House Sparrow, Carrion Crow and Magpie quickly followed. Heading up past Tannadice where preparations for the afternoon's local derby were well under way I noted Magpie, Feral Pigeon, Dunnock, Goldfinch, Starling and Lesser Black Backed Gull. Chaffinch was added on Dens Road.
I found the day's first Woodpigeons on Harcourt Street and a Blackbird between Mortimer Street and Leng Street. A Sparrowhawk headed over as I started the climb up Law Road and a Grey Wagtail went the other way. A Wren was singing from the allotments and a Chiffchaff was doing likewise a little bit further on. A Coal Tit was in the bushes by the steps up the hill. I reached the top of the hill at 0950 and got organised. Things were rather quiet except for some of the smaller birds being quite vocal in the trees and bushes on the hill sides. A Lesser Black Backed Gull was seen out to the west and a very distant Pink Footed Geese (most likely) skein headed northwards a bit further out at 1005.
Another 50 or so geese were seen following the same route a little over 5 minutes later and the young Buzzard from my previous visit dropped into a conifer on the west side of the hill, but didn't stay as long this time, and unfortunately wasn't in quite as prominent a position for photos. More geese headed over much closer to the hill, allowing me to confirm that these ones were definitely Pink Footed Geese. A Sparrowhawk was seen to the south of the hill briefly. At 1025 the local Kestrel finally put in an appearance and headed off southwards towards the city centre before landing on the top of the chimney by the West Marketgait circle (as we call 'roundabouts' here in Dundee). Long Tailed Tits were heard before a Magpie flew in from the west and just kept going out to the east. At 1045 there was another Sparrowhawk sighting out to the northeast. Around 10 minutes later a large skein of a few hundred geese headed west over Fife. A Sparrowhawk was seen circling up to the southwest.
It was a bit colder than I had expected it to be (and dressed for) and by this time it was starting to become an issue. A Buzzard was being mobbed by gulls to the south around 10 minutes later. A Goldcrest could be heard in the trees at the front of the hill. The Kestrel reappeared and did a spot of hunting around the hill at 1115. Bullfinches were in the trees on the west side of the hill. A skein of around 20 Pink Footed Geese headed over and 2 Stock Doves did likewise. The Kestrel tussled with a pair of Jackdaws and a few gulls at 1125. A Song Thrush was heard singing at around 1140. Yet another skein of Pinkies (22 this time) headed northwards over the hill itself just after 1150 and my final sighting from the top of the hill before calling it a day was another Sparrowhawk at 1155. Siskin and Greenfinch on the walk home took my total for the day to 29 species, which could've been better and could've been worse. I didn't take very many photos so there is more repetition of species in the selection below, than usual.
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| Buzzard |
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| Pink Footed Goose |
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| Pink Footed Goose |
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| Pink Footed Goose |
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| Sparrowhawk |
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| Magpie |
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| Sparrowhawk |
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| Kestrel |
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| Kestrel |
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| Kestrel |
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| Kestrel |
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| Stock Dove |
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| Kestrel |
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| Kestrel & Jackdaw |
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| Herring Gull & Kestrel |
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| Kestrel |
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| Kestrel |
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| Kestrel |
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| Kestrel |
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| Pink Footed Goose |
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| Sparrowhawk |
Birds - Blackbird, Blue Tit, Bullfinch, Buzzard, Carrion Crow, Chaffinch, Chiffchaff, Coal Tit, Dunnock, Goldcrest, Goldfinch, Greenfinch, Grey Wagtail, Herring Gull, House Sparrow, Jackdaw, Kestrel, Lesser Black Backed Gull, Long Tailed Tit, Magpie, Pink Fotted Goose, Feral Pigeon, Siskin, Song Thrush, Sparrowhawk, Starling, Stock Dove, Woodpigeon, Wren.
