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| Chiffchaff |
Following on from Sunday's trip to Broughty Ferry in search of Kittiwake, I decided to visit Riverside Nature Park again on Wednesday the 23rd of July. The numbers and variety of waders present are starting to increase again, and there is always a chance that something interesting might drop in - though it feels like, (more often than not), these sorts of visitors tend to arrive (and often depart again) when I'm stuck at work. Despite my original plan to get up nice and early and get out the door just as quickly, it was almost 0925 before I actually headed out.
A Dark Arches moth was an unusual way to start the day, and I even managed to get some nice close-ups with my phone. Bird-wise, things kicked off with Herring Gull, House Sparrow, Goldfinch, Swift, Lesser Black-backed Gull, Blue Tit, Blackbird, Woodpigeon, Feral Pigeon and Wren over the course of the first 5 minutes or so outside. Another short burst of sightings added Carrion Crow, Magpie, Starling and House Martin as I headed up Kinghorne Road. Long-tailed Tits were active in Dudhope Park and a Pied Wagtail was seen as I headed down Annfield Road. Oystercatcher was noted at Magdalen Green as were Dunnock and Greenfinch. My final additions before I reached Riverside Nature Park were Stock Dove, Swallow and the day's first butterfly - a Green-veined White.
Woodpigeon, Goldfinch, Herring Gull, a couple of Swallows, a Large White butterfly, Greenfinch, Bullfinch and Blue Tit were noted around the eastern end of the park. Continuing my wanders added Meadow Brown butterflies, Carrion Crow, Chiffchaff, Chaffinch, Swift, Wren and Magpie though progress was relatively slow - likely as a result of my later than normal arrival time at the park. Dunnock, Oystercatcher, Blackbird, Long-tailed Tit and Lesser Black-backed Gull were all found on my way to the Lochan where Moorhen was the only new find, though visibilty is now extremely limited. Jackdaw and Whitethroat were spotted as I headed round to check the bay.
There were plenty of Black-headed Gulls around once again, as well as decent numbers of Common Sandpipers. A Crossbill overflew as I continued scanning through the birds down in the bay. Redshank, Mallard, a Black-tailed Godwit, Curlew, Dunlin, Sandwich Tern, Common Gull and distant Grey Heron, a couple of Little Egrets and a single Mute Swan were all noted while a Blackcap called from much closer, from within the bushes in front of me, and a Pheasant loudly called from behind the buddleia hedge. More searching added Cormorant, a single summer plumaged Knot, a few Lapwings and some distant Goosanders off the island. The day's first Buzzard put in an appearance shortly before noon. Not unexpectedly, it got harder to add anything new to the list but I did manage to get Feral Pigeon, Osprey and Sparrowhawk. I had a brief chat to a couple of birders from Texas, Lori and Andy, who were pleased to see the Osprey.
With a fair bit of warmth in the air by this time, more and more insects were appearing. Red Admiral, Small White and Green-veined White butterflies were all found and a moth flitting around amongst the vegetation at 'the bowl' settled long enough for me to ID it as a worn Shaded Broad-bar. A Great Black-backed Gull called as it overflew in the direction of the bay. House Sparrows were heard down amongst the bushes overlooking the bay - not a common bird at the park though summer is probably the best time to find them there. Coal Tit, Stock Dove and Linnet provided a final trio of bird species before I called it a day at the park. A Comma butterfly was my final butterfly species seen within the park. My totals at the park were a nice round 50 species of birds, 6 of butterflies and 1 of moths.
Walking back along Riverside Avenue added a few butterflies for the 'outwith the park' list - Meadow Brown, Small White and an unexpected Small Copper. I headed up to Balgay to see what I could find there. Siskins were heard at the cemetery. The young Sparrowhawks were very vocal on the south side of the hill, and with a bit of searching I managed reasonable views of a couple of them. Red Admiral, Speckled Wood and Purple Hairstreak butterflies were seen before I finally called it a day around 1700. The walk home failed to add anything else but I've certainly had worse days out. My final combined totals were 54 species of birds (23 outwith RNP and 50 at RNP), 9 of butterflies (7 outwith RNP and 6 at RNP) and 2 species of moths (1 outwith RNP and 1 at RNP).
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| Dark Arches |
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| Bullfinch |
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| Jackdaw |
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| Whitethroat |
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| Knot & Redshank |
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| Redshank, Dunlin & Knot |
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| Common Gull |
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| Sparrowhawk |
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| Curlew |
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| Shaded Broad-bar |
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| Osprey |
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| Osprey |
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| Buzzard |
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| Chiffchaff |
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| Swallow |
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| Small White |
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| Small Copper |
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| Sparrowhawk |
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| Red Admiral |
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| Speckled Wood |
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| Speckled Wood |
Birds (outwith Riverside Nature Park) - Blackbird, Blue Tit, Carrion
Crow, Dunnock, Goldfinch, Greenfinch,
Herring Gull, House Martin, House Sparrow, Lesser Black-backed
Gull, LOng-tailed Tit, Magpie, Oystercatcher, Pied Wagtail, Feral Pigeon, Siskin, Sparrowhawk, Starling, Swallow,
Swift, Woodpigeon, Wren.
Butterflies (outwith Riverside Nature Park) - Green-veined White, Meadow Brown, Purple Hairstreak, Red Admiral, Small Copper, Small White, Speckled Wood.
Moths (outwith Riverside Nature Park) - Dark Arches.
Birds (at Riverside Nature Park) - Black-headed Gull, Black-tailed Godwit, Blackbird,
Blackcap, Blue Tit, Bullfinch, Buzzard, Carrion Crow, Chaffinch, Chiffchaff, Coal Tit, Common Gull, Common Sandpiper, Cormorant, Crossbill, Curlew, Dunlin, Dunnock, Goldfinch, Goosander, Great Black-backed Gull, Greenfinch, Grey Heron, Herring Gull, House Sparrow, Jackdaw, Knot, Lapwing, Lesser Black-backed Gull, Linnet, Little Egret, Long-tailed Tit, Magpie,
Mallard, Moorhen, Mute Swan, Osprey, Oystercatcher,
Pheasant, Redshank, Reed Bunting, Feral Pigeon, Sandwich Tern, Sparrowhawk, Stock Dove, Swallow, Swift, Whitethroat, Woodpigeon, Wren.
Butterflies
(at Riverside Nature Park) - Comma, Green-veined White, Large White,
Meadow Brown, Red Admiral, Small White.
Moths (at Riverside Nature Park) - Shaded Broad-bar.
