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| Greenfinch |
On Wednesday the 7th of May, I decided to revisit Riverside Nature Park, again with an early start. The early start served a dual purpose. I needed to be able to get out my bed very early the following day, as Lainy and I had planned a Big Dundee (Half-) Day - seeing how many species we could find within Dundee in 12 hours, between 0600 and 1800. Also, getting to the Nature Park before the majority of dog walkers does tend to be more productive than a later start. Visiting the park would provide an idea of what we might be able to expect on our visit the following day. Having visited most of the rest of the city's main wildlife areas over the preceding days, I had built up a decent idea of a route and the likely species we could expect, and the Nature Park visit would hopefully add a few more.
I headed out at just before 0545, which meant it would likely be around 0700 by the time I reached the park. Starling, Herring Gull, House Sparrow, Robin, Goldfinch, Jackdaw, Blackbird and Dunnock were noted on the walk up past Tannadice. Between the stadiums, Common Gull and Blue Tit were seen, with Woodpigeon, Feral Pigeon, Carrion Crow, Magpie and Wren added as I passed Dens Park. I decided to route up past the Law which got me Lesser Black Backed Gull, Blackcap, Willow Warbler, Chaffinch, Chiffchaff, Bullfinch and Song Thrush. A Grey Squirrel was seen as I headed down the Dudhope Gardens Steps, having decided to take a slightly different route to the park than normal. I found Collared Dove on Seymour Avenue then Rabbits and Whitethroat at the western end of Magdalen Green.
Oystercatchers were on the football pitches across the other side of Riverside Drive and a Greenfinch was in the trees by the University playing fields. A Skylark ascended skywards as I passed the airport, a Goldcrest sang in the roadside trees by the Amazon warehouse and a trio of Mallards - 2 drakes and a duck, flew in towards the Nature Park from north of the railway line as I neared the eastern entrance path. It didn't take long to start building a decent length list once I reached the Nature Park with a steady stream of species over the course of the first 30 minutes. Willow Warbler, Herring Gull, Blackbird, Blue Tit, Wren, Magpie, Chaffinch, Carrion Crow, Woodpigeon, Robin and Whitethroat provided the initial burst as I entered the park. Goldfinch, Bullfinch, Great Tit and Starling (as well as a few Rabbits) soon followed as I continued westwards.
Stock Dove, Song Thrush and a Buzzard being harassed by a Magpie and a Carrion Crow, resulting in it dropping its partially eaten prey, were seen as I neared the halfway brae where a Dunnock was perched on the fence and a Lesser Black Backed Gull overflew. Feral Pigeon and Greenfinch were found as I crossed into the 'top half' of the park. Swift, Jackdaw and Oystercatcher gave me a few more species on the stretch of path along to check the Lochan. A few Moorhens were the only birds on the water. The walk round to check the bay at the hide got me Sedge Warbler, Blackcap and Skylark. The vegetation in front of the hide has almost completely blocked the view but I was just able to see Mute Swan and Rook between the soon to be completely covered gaps. A Chiffchaff was in the trees just to the north of the hide. I headed round to get a better view of the bay from the raised embankment, though even there the vegetation is also reducing the view of the water below, including much of the course of the burn outflow.
Scanning with the scope from the embankment got me Cormorant, Shelduck, (a flock of 25) Goosander, Mallard, Common Gull, Black Headed Gull, Red Breasted Merganser, Osprey, Grey Heron and Curlew. A Yellowhammer dropped into the Buddleia bushes behind me and one of the vocal Pheasants was seen and heard calling loudly realtively nearby. Just before 0900, I spotted a goose across the bay and was pleased to see it was a Canada Goose - my first from within Dundee this year and my 123rd species for the city in 2025. I eventually managed to add a few distant Greylag Geese. I decided to head up to the top of the hill to see what I could spot from the raised viewpoint it offers. Swallow was noted on the way, and a Meadow Pipit overflew low as I got settled at the top.
Sandwich Tern and Reed Bunting were the only further additions from the top despite much scanning. I had a wander round the top half of the park to seee what else I could find. There were a few butterflies on the wing by this time and I found Small White, Orange Tip, Green Veined White and Small Tortoiseshell over the course of the next 40 minutes. My final addition at the park was Long Tailed Tit, taking my haul at the park for the morning to 51 species of birds, 4 of butterflies and 1 of mammals, which was reasonable though the relative dearth of waders didn't appear to bode well for the next day's efforts. The walk home added Buzzard and Swallow near the Botanic Gardens, a Stock Dove at Balgay and a Grey Wagtail at Harcourt Street for a combined day total of 55 species of birds, 4 of butterflies and 2 of mammals.
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| Bullfinch |
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| Carrion Crow & Buzzard |
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| Song Thrush |
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| Rabbit |
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| Mute Swan & Rook |
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| Pheasant |
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| Whitethroat |
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| Curlew |
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| Oystercatcher |
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| Canada Goose |
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| Rook |
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| Shelduck |
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| Swallow |
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| Meadow Pipit |
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| Sandwich Tern |
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| Skylark |
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| Skylark |
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| Orange Tip |
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| Green Veined White |
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| Green Veined White |
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| Osprey |
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| Whitethroat |
Birds (outwith Riverside Nature Park) - Blackbird, Blackcap, Blue Tit, Bullfinch, Buzzard, Carrion Crow,
Chaffinch, Chiffchaff, Collared Dove, Dunnock, Goldcrest, Goldfinch, Greenfinch, Grey Wagtail, Herring Gull, House Sparrow, Jackdaw, Lesser Black Backed Gull,
Magpie, Mallard, Oystercatcher, Robin, Feral Pigeon, Skylark, Song Thrush, Starling, Stock Dove, Swallow, Whitethroat, Willow Warbler, Woodpigeon, Wren.
Mammals (outwith Riverside Nature Park) - Grey Squirrel, Rabbit.
Birds
(at Riverside Nature Park) - Black Headed Gull, Blackbird, Blackcap, Blue Tit, Bullfinch, Buzzard, Canada Goose, Carrion Crow,
Chaffinch, Chiffchaff, Common Gull, Cormorant, Curlew,
Dunnock, Goldfinch, Goosander, Great
Tit, Greenfinch, Grey Heron, Greylag Goose, Herring Gull, Jackdaw, Lesser Black
Backed Gull,
Long Tailed Tit, Magpie, Mallard, Meadow Pipit, Moorhen, Mute
Swan, Osprey, Oystercatcher, Pheasant, Red Breasted Merganser, Reed Bunting, Robin, Feral Pigeon,
Rook, Sandwich Tern, Sedge Warbler, Shelduck, Skylark, Song Thrush,
Starling, Stock Dove, Swallow, Swift, Whitethroat, Willow Warbler, Woodpigeon,
Wren, Yellowhammer.
Butterflies (at Riverside Nature Park) - Green Veined White, Orange Tip, Small Tortoiseshell, Small White.
Mammals (at Riverside Nature Park) - Rabbit.
