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| Jackdaw (monedula race) |
The 1st of April was one of those days where I was struggling to get motivated to get out somewhere but I didn't want to stay at home all day either. Given the date, there wasn't any real 'target' species to try for, and things were still rather quiet overall on the migration front. Ian Ford had seen a Short-eared Owl fly in the direction of Riverside Nature Park the day before,along the shoreline at Kingoodie, suggesting that there were birds on the move (and obviously there were still Meadow Pipits going over too). I eventually decided to wander out to Riverside Nature Park, though I really wasn't feeling particularly enthusiastic about it. But you never know...
House Sparrow, Herring Gull, Jackdaw, Blue Tit, Woodpigeon and Dunnock went on the list almost immediately. Magpie, Goldfinch, Carrion Crow, one of those overflying Meadow Pipits, Starling, Blackbird and Wren soon followed. I had rather half-heartedly decided to wander along the Miley just in case of an early Willow Warbler, so I had changed my normal route from home a little. A Grey Wagtail flew over Coldside Road as I headed for Hospital Street, where I decided to abandon the Miley plan. I would however check for Waxwings around Ancrum Road, which were marginally more likely.
Robin, Great Tit, Chaffinch and Chiffchaff were found near the bottom end of Loons Road. There was no sign of any Waxwings around Ancrum Road which wasn't particularly unexpected. A Pied Wagtail flew over Lochee Park football pitches and Balgay Cemetery got me just Goldcrest and Coal Tit. Long-tailed Tit and Greenfinch were both heard as I wandered down Glamis Road, by this time feeling even less enthused than I had been before leaving the house. I reached the eastern end of Riverside Nature Park at 1025 with very low expectations.
Blue Tit, Skylark, Carrion Crow, Meadow Pipit, Jackdaw, Oystercatcher and Pink-footed Geese made for a rather slow start to the park visit. One of the Jackdaws in the roadside fields had rather obvious pale neck collar marks visible. As this is a feature of a potential "Scandinavian" Jackdaw (of the race monedula) I tried to get as many photos as possible. Unfortunately the small flock of Jackdaws then flew further up the field with the lie of the land making the interesting bird impossible to see well. I continued my wanders with Pied Wagtail, Starling, some distant Shelducks in flight, Magpie, Chaffinch, Dunnock and Greenfinch being added to the list.
Pheasant, Herring Gull, Blackbird, Buzzard, Sparrowhawk, Wren, Woodpigeon, Feral Pigeon, Goldfinch, Coal Tit, Grey Heron and Chiffchaff, as well as a few Rabbits were noted as I checked more of the lower half of the park for something remotely interesting (other than the Jackdaw). Curlew, Great Tit and Long-tailed Tit were next onto the list for the park visit as I finally headed into the top half. A Lesser Black-backed Gull flew over and Moorhen and Teal were both in place at the Lochan. I finally reached the bay around 1145. Redshank, Dunlin, Knot, Black-tailed Godwit and Common Gull were picked out as the tide came in. From the hide I added bathing Rook and Stock Dove for the day.
Cormorant and Magpie both put in appearances before I decided to give up on any hope of any unusual waders or gulls being seen. I cut up across the hill and refound the collared Jackdaw. This time I managed to get closer and clearer views and some better photos too. I've seen Jackdaws with hints of pale feathering on the neck before but this particular bird was my first that looked like the 'real deal' for a Scandinavian-race bird. I headed out of the park having only managed a rather disappointing 43 species during my visit. The walk home only added a single species to the 'outwith the park' list too, with a Sparrowhawk seen over Balgay Cemetery, taking that list to 25 species and giving me a combined total for the day of just 46 species of birds and 1 of mammals. The Jackdaw was the obvious highlight, even if it is just a subspecies.
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| Pink-footed Goose |
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| Greenfinch |
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| Pheasant |
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| Buzzard |
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| Goldfinch |
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| Robin |
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| Coal Tit (possible European race) |
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| Grey Heron |
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| Curlew |
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| Chaffinch |
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| Jackdaw (monedula race) |
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| Blackbird |
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| Teal |
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| Jackdaw (monedula race on left) |
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| Jackdaw (monedula race on left) |
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| Jackdaw (monedula race) |
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| Knot |
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| Long-tailed Tit |
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| Long-tailed Tit |
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| Shelduck |
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| Redshank |
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| Grey Heron |
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| Rook & Jackdaw |
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| Stock Dove |
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| Black-tailed Godwit |
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| Grey Heron, Black-tailed Godwit & Redshank |
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| Moorhen |
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| Jackdaw & Curlew |
Birds (outwith Riverside Nature Park) - Blackbird, Blue Tit, Carrion Crow, Chaffinch,
Chiffchaff, Coal Tit, Dunnock, Goldcrest, Goldfinch, Great
Spotted Woodpecker, Great Tit, Greenfinch, Grey Wagtail, Herring Gull,
House Sparrow, Jackdaw, Long-tailed Tit, Magpie,
Meadow Pipit, Pied Wagtail, Robin, Sparrowhawk, Starling, Woodpigeon, Wren.
Birds
(at Riverside Nature Park) - Black-tailed Godwit, Blackbird,
Blue Tit, Buzzard, Carrion Crow, Chaffinch, Chiffchaff, Coal
Tit, Common Gull, Cormorant, Curlew, Dunlin, Dunnock, Goldfinch, Great
Tit,
Greenfinch, Grey Heron, Herring Gull, Jackdaw (& monedula race), Knot,
Lesser
Black-backed Gull, Long-tailed Tit, Magpie, Mallard, Meadow
Pipit, Moorhen,
Oystercatcher, Pheasant, Pied Wagtail, Pink-footed Goose, Redshank, Robin, Feral Pigeon, Rook, Shelduck, Skylark, Sparrowhawk, Starling,
Stock Dove, Teal, Woodpigeon, Wren.
Mammals (at Riverside Nature Park) - Rabbit.
