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| Osprey |
As Keith had managed to get a Common Sandpiper at Riverside Nature Park on Tuesday the 7th of April, I decided that was where I would be going (though had been more or less my plan anyway) on the 8th. Other possibilities included Osprey, Wheatear, Willow Warbler and maybe even something unexpected. During migration times you just never quite know what might turn up and even here in Dundee there have been quite a few really unexpected birds over the past few years. I had originally planned on an early start but had managed to sleep in a bit (what's new?) but was still out the door for 0650 which meant it would likely be 0800 before I reached the Nature Park.
Chaffinch, House Sparrow, Herring Gull, Carrion Crow, Woodpigeon, Dunnock, Starling, Lesser Black-backed Gull, Blue Tit, Goldfinch, Feral Pigeon, Magpie, Blackbird and Wren made for a fairly typical haul as I headed up past the football stadiums and down to Dens Road. Byron Street added Chiffchaff, Great Spotted Woodpecker and Jackdaw with a Sparrowhawk being noted a little further on, just as a Meadow Pipit passed overhead (thankfully, safely). Great Tit, Goldcrest and Robin were all noted near Logie Street. Continuing on up to Balgay Cemetery I was able to get a calling Nuthatch and my first 'Spring' Blackcap singing near the footbridge between the two halves of the hill.
Coal Tit, Oystercatcher, Song Thrush and Treecreeper were also found around the Balgay Cemetery area. I added Greenfinch on the walk down Glamis Road. I reached the eastern entrance to the Nature Park just after 0750, slightly ahead of my estimated time of arrival. Chiffchaff was first onto the list for the park visit, followed soon after by Blue Tit, Carrion Crow, Chaffinch, Dunnock, Goldcrest, Great Tit, Greenfinch, Magpie, Blackbird, Pheasant, Robin, Woodpigeon and Wren. The day's first Skylarks were heard singing over the hill. I bumped into Keith as a trio of Black-headed Gulls passed overhead. There were a few Rabbits around and Mallard was noted at the Lochan along with Moorhen, while a Meadow Pipit headed northwards.
Lesser Black-backed Gull and Reed Bunting were next onto the list as we made our way to the hide to check the waders from there. Dunlin, Knot, Redshank, Oystercatcher and Black-tailed Godwit made for a relatively typical mix of wader species for the time of year. In addition, Shelduck, Common Gull, Teal and Goosander were all seen before we wandered round to the raised embankment to get a better view out across the bay. It didn't take very long until my first Osprey of 2026 showed up. With very still and grey conditions I was able to get an unexpectedly good photo of the Osprey just a split second before hitting the water, talons extended. It appears there is about a centimetre between the talon tips and the reflection of the bird, and I doubt I will get a better osprey photo this summer.
More scanning picked up a pair of Red-breasted Mergansers out on the river and an even more distant pair of Sandwich Terns being harassed by gulls. Curlew and Cormorant were next and the first few Sand Martins swept past us and out across the bay towards Invergowrie. A small flock of Goldfinches flew past before we ventured up to the top of the hill. From there we were able to check the grass at the end of the runway where my first Wheatear of 2026 was spotted. An unexpected Little Egret flew upriver. Grey Heron, Starling, Pied Wagtail and Bar-tailed Godwit were also seen from the viewpoint. More wandering added Blackcap, Herring Gull, Jackdaw, Linnet, Long-tailed Tit and Feral Pigeon. Back round at the bay, I was slightly surprised to catch a Ringed Plover which flew up out of the bay. Great Black-backed Gull, Grey Seal and Common Seal made it onto the list though things went a bit quiet for the next hour.
A single Sandwich Tern dropped into the bay for a few minutes. Stock Dove and Song Thrush were found around 1145 and as I headed for the exit around 30 minutes or so later I added Sparrowhawk, Buzzard and Rook which took the list for the park visit to 57 species which is pretty decent for early April. I wandered up through Ninewells Arboretum then on to Balgay Hill. Grey Squirrel and a Small Tortoiseshell butterfly were the only new finds at Balgay. A Peacock butterfly on the pavement near the foot of Tullideph Road rounded off the day's sightings taking my 'outwith the park' list to 29 species of birds, 2 of butterflies and 1 of mammals, for a combined total of 62 species of birds (2 new for my #2026Dundee150 list in bold), 2 of butterflies and 4 of mammals.
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| Black-headed Gull |
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| Osprey |
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| Osprey |
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| Osprey |
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| Osprey |
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| Red-breasted Merganser |
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| Wheatear |
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| Little Egret |
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| Bar-tailed Godwit |
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| Dunlin |
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| Sandwich Tern & Redshank |
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| Ringed Plover |
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| Cormorant |
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| Meadow Pipit |
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| Pink-footed Goose |
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| Great Black-backed Gull |
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| Robin |
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| Knot & Redshank |
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| Jackdaw |
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| Sand Martin |
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| Pheasant |
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| Skylark |
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| Oystercatcher (1 legged?) |
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| Buzzard |
Birds (outwith Riverside Nature Park) - Blackbird, Blackcap, Blue Tit, Carrion Crow, Chaffinch,
Chiffchaff, Coal Tit, Dunnock, Goldcrest, Goldfinch, Great
Spotted Woodpecker, Great Tit, Greenfinch, Herring Gull,
House Sparrow, Jackdaw, Lesser Black-backed Gull, Magpie,
Meadow Pipit, Nuthatch, Oystercatcher, Robin, Feral Pigeon, Song Thrush, Sparrowhawk, Starling, Treecreeper, Woodpigeon, Wren.
Butterflies (outwith Riverside Nature Park) - Peacock, Small Tortoiseshell.
Mammals (outwith Riverside Nature Park) - Grey Squirrel.
Birds
(at Riverside Nature Park) - Bar-tailed Godwit, Black-headed Gull, Black-tailed Godwit, Blackbird, Blackcap, Blue Tit, Buzzard, Carrion Crow, Chaffinch, Chiffchaff, Common Gull, Cormorant, Curlew, Dunlin, Dunnock, Goldcrest, Goldfinch, Goosander, Great Black-backed Gull, Great
Tit,
Greenfinch, Grey Heron, Herring Gull, Jackdaw,
Knot,
Lesser
Black-backed Gull, Linnet, Little Egret, Long-tailed Tit, Magpie, Mallard, Meadow
Pipit, Moorhen, Osprey, Oystercatcher, Pheasant, Pied Wagtail, Pink-footed Goose, Red-breasted Merganser, Redshank, Reed Bunting, Ringed PLover, Robin, Feral Pigeon, Rook, Sand Martin, Sandwich Tern, Shelduck, Skylark, Song Thrush, Sparrowhawk, Starling,
Stock Dove, Teal, Wheatear, Woodpigeon, Wren.
Mammals (at Riverside Nature Park) - Common Seal, Grey Seal, Rabbit.
