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| Bullfinch |
Keith reported a Wheatear at the hill at Riverside Nature Park while I was at work on Monday the 21st of April, with at least 3 being seen later on the grass near the end of the runway at the airport a bit later. A White Stork had been seen over the weekend across several sites a bit to the south. I was undecided about trying for the Wheatear after work, but a message from Martin Scott to say the Stork had been seen heading east over Perth gave me a reason to give the Wheatear a go. If the White Stork was to overfly, I would have a 'lifer', though I figured this was probably rather unlikely. It wasn't entirely impossible though, and the Wheatear, if they were still around, would give me a new species for my #2025Dundee150 list. As things turned out, I was able to find a Wheatear at the airport but my attempts at taking photos using my phone hand-held to my binoculars were predictably laughable. A midweek visit to the Nature Park would give me the chance to get a better photo assuming they were still around, as well as maybe finding something else new for my #2025Dundee150 list...
It was a bit of a later start than usual, so things were a wee bit quieter as a result when I got outside. Herring Gull, House Sparrow and Rock Pigeon were in my street, but it was another 3 minutes before I added Starling. Goldfinch and Carrion Crow followed a minute later between the football grounds, then Woodpigeon, Chaffinch, Dunnock and Wren were found as I crossed Dens Road. Heading along Byron Street I was able to get Willow Warbler, Blackcap, Great Tit and Great Spotted Woodpecker. I had a short chat to an older lady waiting for a bus who wondered why I was looking up into a large tree opposite the bakery (the woodpecker). Magpie and Goldcrest were in the trees by the old water board buildings. A Grey Wagtail flew over as I headed down Loon's Road.
Chiffchaff was singing at the bottom of the street and a Blackbird was finally seen by the Lochee Bowling Club bowling green. Blue Tit, Coal Tit, Jay, Robin, Greenfinch and a flyover Meadow Pipit were noted as I made my way through Balgay Cemetery. I took a different route from either Glamis Road or Ninewells Avenue out of curiousity, though only Oystercatcher was found, meaning I'm unlikely to use that route in future. Jackdaw and Rook were the final finds before I reached the underpass across the road from the park. On the walk down I had messaged Lainy to see if she fancied joining me for a bit of birding if she was at a loose end. She had replied that she might join me later, once she'd taken care of a outstanding commitment.
My list for the park visit began with Chiffchaff, Blackbird, Carrion Crow, Great Tit, Herring Gull, Blue Tit, Magpie, Blackcap, Song Thrush, Greenfinch and Skylark as well as a few Rabbits, all around the eastern end. Heading a bit further in, I added Wren, Woodpigeon, Jackdaw, Robin and Goldfinch. Things were rather quiet at the lochan with only a sleeping Mallard seen. The sound of a 'singing' Sedge Warbler was very welcome by the end of the path along to the hide, in the same area as my first Whitethroat of the year. I spent a while trying to see the bird but settled for a 'heard only' record - knowing that soon enough I'll be seeing more showy individuals of the species at various places around the city. On the walk round to scan out over the bay, Bullfinch, Dunnock, Long Tailed Tit and Feral Pigeon were all spotted.
While things were not overly busy down in the bay, there were still some birds around - Redshank, Mute Swan, Teal, Shelduck, Cormorant, Lesser Black Backed Gull and Black Headed Gull. I had a chat to lady passing by who asked about my scope and while we were speaking a pair of Ringed Plover gave us a low flyover. A Curlew soon followed. An Osprey flew in for a spot of fishing and I was able to let the lady see the bird through the scope. A Common Sandpiper called from down in the bay. I was joined by Lainy and we had a wander to try for the Sedge Warbler and Whitethroat but both were rather elusive. We did however add Sparrowhawk, Stock Dove, Swallow, Reed Bunting, Buzzard and Rook before popping along for a look at the Lochan again.
Moorhen and a Little Grebe were both visible on the water, though the vegetation levels around the edges are making things a bit trickier (as they are elsewhere - especially in front of the hide, and views down into the bay) year on year. We wandered back round for another look at the bay where Oystercatcher was seen. Lainy wandered off to make use of the 'facilities' but had only gone a short distance when I happened to turn round and spotted an unexpected bird gliding over the bay - a Fulmar! Only the second ever sighting at the park, and a new bird for my #2025Dundee150 list. I shouted to Lainy who as it happened had a slightly better angle on the bird than I did (bushes blocked my view after a few seconds). More scanning found a pair of Tufted Ducks out on the river, and one of the now resident Pheasants was added to the list. Common Gull, Dunlin, Chaffinch and Meadow Pipit gave us a few more species over the next half an hour or so.
The sunshine brought out the butterflies - Orange Tip, Small Tortoiseshell and Green Veined White. Around 1440, there was some obvious disturbance of the birds down in the bay and a bit of quick searching found the culprit - a Peregrine. Despite much scanning and just standing around in the rather pleasant Spring conditions our only addition over the course of the next hour was a Grey Heron. We decided to check the airport grass to see if any of the Wheatears that had been seen earlier in the week were still around. They were, with 4 individuals still roaming around, as well as a Mistle Thrush. Before we finally called it a day (and Lainy gave me a welcome lift home) we added Starling, Pied Wagtail and Sand Martin, taking my total at the park to 58 species (including 2 new for my #2025Dundee150 list - in bold) and a combined total for the day of 64 species of birds, 3 of butterflies and 1 mammal. All in all an enjoyable day's birding.
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| Wren |
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| Bullfinch |
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| Mute Swan & Shelduck |
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| Shelduck |
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| Osprey & Jackdaw |
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| Herring Gull & Osprey |
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| Sparrowhawk |
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| Sparrowhawk & Carrion Crow |
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| Little Grebe |
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| Fulmar |
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| Fulmar |
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| Osprey |
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| Osprey |
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| Carrion Crow & Peregrine |
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| Blackcap |
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| Rook |
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| Common Sandpiper |
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| Wheatear |
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| Oystercatcher & Rabbit |
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| Wheatear |
Birds (outwith Riverside Nature Park) - Blackbird, Blackcap, Blue Tit, Carrion Crow,
Chaffinch, Chiffchaff, Coal Tit, Dunnock, Goldcrest, Goldfinch,
Great Spotted Woodpecker, Great Tit, Greenfinch, Grey Wagtail, Herring Gull, House
Sparrow, Jackdaw, Jay, Magpie,
Meadow Pipit, Oystercatcher, Robin, Feral Pigeon, Rook, Starling,
Willow Warbler, Woodpigeon, Wren.
Birds (at Riverside Nature Park) - Black Headed Gull, Blackbird, Blackcap, Blue Tit, Bullfinch, Buzzard, Carrion Crow,
Chaffinch, Chiffchaff, Coal Tit, Common Gull, Common Sandpiper, Cormorant,
Curlew, Dunlin, Dunnock, Fulmar, Goldfinch,
Great Tit, Greenfinch, Grey Heron, Herring Gull, Jackdaw, Lesser
Black Backed Gull, Little Grebe, Long Tailed Tit, Magpie,
Mallard, Meadow Pipit, Mistle Thrush, Moorhen, Mute Swan, Osprey, Oystercatcher, Peregrine, Pheasant, Pied
Wagtail, Redshank, Reed
Bunting, Ringed Plover, Robin, Feral Pigeon, Rook, Sand Martin, Sedge Warbler, Shelduck, Skylark, Song
Thrush, Sparrowhawk, Starling,
Stock Dove, Swallow, Teal, Whitethroat, Woodpigeon, Wren.
Butterflies (at Riverside Nature Park) - Green Veined White, Orange Tip, Small Tortoiseshell.
Mammals (at Riverside Nature Park) - Rabbit.
