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| Swallow |
For my Saturday birding on April the 25th I decided on an early start and a search for Grasshopper Warbler and Sedge Warbler, although I suspected I might still be a few days too early. However, not for the first (or last) time, I couldn't persuade myself to get out of bed, quite as early as I had intended. By the time I got organised it was just slightly after 0800. With Grasshopper Warbler, it is a case of the earlier (or later) in the day the better, for hearing them 'reeling'. However, I decided to still give it a go, as I have had some success hearing and seeing them later in the morning in previous years.
Woodpigeon, House Sparrow, Herring Gull, Carrion Crow, Magpie, Chaffinch, Blue Tit, Blackbird, Jackdaw, Feral Pigeon and Starling made for a busy, if unspectacular, start to the day's list. Things slowed down a bit after that with Goldfinch, Coal Tit, Great Tit, Dunnock and Song Thrush noted before I reached Swannie Ponds. Things were relatively quiet there with Coot, Mute Swan, Mallard, Tufted Duck and Grey Heron but practically no gulls. However, there were plenty of hirundines - mostly Sand Martins and a few Swallows, zipping around low over the ponds and I got a bit distracted by them and spent a bit longer around the ponds trying to photograph them, given the very close views. A House Martin shot passed me very close to add to the mix of birds.
Siskin, Willow Warbler, Robin Grey Wagtail, Blackcap and Greenfinch were added before I left the ponds to head up towards the northern extremities of Fintry. Unfortunately, with much less available habitat there these days due to a mixture of 'development' and what appears to be yet another extremely over-zealous farmer along the northern fringes of the city, birds were in much shorter supply than in previous years. Whitethroat, Pheasant, Skylark, Linnet, Rook, Yellowhammer and Wren were noted though numbers of each were very low, as well as a few Roe Deer. Flyover Redpoll, Jay and an unexpected Fieldfare were all welcome adds. An Oystercatcher was heard but not seen. A young Buzzard showed rather nicely.
With what appears to have been weedkiller sprayed on practically all the vegetation in the pylon field the Grey Partridges which have previously had the necessary cover available to them were much easier to see, with around 6 noted, all looking rather 'lost' out in the open. Long-tailed Tit, Reed Bunting and Stonechat were added before I called it a day there. Unsurprisingly there was no sign of any Grasshopper Warblers or even Sedge Warblers, which was disappointing. I had considered heading down to the Dighty Burn to walk out eastwards but as it was already around 1040, the likelihood of encountering a reeling Grasshopper Warbler was much diminished.
Instead, I decided to cross the dual carriageway and head in the direction of Trottick Ponds. I decided to do a spot of exploring which while not adding any birds did at least give me an idea of areas where I might be able to find birds at some point. A Curlew, Chiffchaff, Bullfinch and a Mistle Thrush were heard as I explored a track along the rear of the houses. A Fox sat in a field edge allowed me a relatively close approach (via cover) and a few photos. My only new additions at Trottick Ponds were a Stock Dove and a couple of Moorhens and despite considering continuing on up to Clatto, I instead chose to head for home. The weather was however improving and as I sat at home, the sky gradually cleared. With relatively light winds, I wondered about the possibility of finding a few butterflies at the Law.
I headed out around 1330 and ended up having a very successful afternoon searching for butterflies (and other insects), mostly along a track at the top side of the western side allotments. Orange Tips were numerous, as were Small Tortoiseshells. There were a few Small Whites, Green-veined Whites and Peacocks around, all of which I had already seen this year. Red Admiral, Holly Blue and Comma however were all new for the year for me. I wondered about the possibility of Speckled Woods and went searching along the wooded path further up the hill. A Red Admiral flying over some brambles drew some attention from an overlooked Speckled Wood and I had my 9th species of butterfly for the afternoon.
With my focus very much downwards, bird sightings were relatively few though both Goldcrest and Sparrowhawk were new for the day's list. I found a Pine Ladybird on the same tree where I had found 7 previously and also saw a few Dark-edged Bee-flies. A visit to the top of the hill produced another couple of birds - Lesser Black-backed Gull and a calling Great Spotted Woodpecker. The walk home then added Pied Wagtail which took my total for the day to a fairly decent 58 species even if there was nothing new for my #2026Dundee150 list included. The main success had been with the butterflies with 4 new ones for the year - Red Admiral, Holly Blue, Comma and Speckled Wood. Multiple photo opportunities throughout the day were largely taken advantage of. All in all, a surprisingly decent day out.
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| Sand Martin |
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| House Martin |
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| Mute Swan |
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| Roe Deer |
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| Fieldfare |
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| Linnet |
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| Chiffchaff |
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| Redpoll |
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| Rook |
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| Grey Partridge |
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| Reed Bunting |
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| Stonechat |
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| Buzzard |
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| Buzzard |
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| Fox |
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| Orange Tip (male) |
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| Small Tortoiseshell |
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| Orange Tip (female) |
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| Small White |
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| Green-veined White |
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| Peacock |
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| Holly Blue |
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| Sparrowhawk |
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| Speckled Wood |
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| Red Admiral |
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| Comma |
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| Dark-edged Bee-fly |
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| 7-spot Ladybird |
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| Pine Ladybird |
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| Long-tailed Tit |
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| Lesser Black-backed Gull |
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| Nursery Web Spider |
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| Dark-edged Bee-fly |
Birds - Blackbird, Blackcap, Blue Tit, Bullfinch, Buzzard, Carrion Crow, Chaffinch, Chiffchaff, Coal Tit, Common Gull, Coot, Curlew, Dunnock, Fieldfare, Goldcrest, Goldfinch, Great Spotted Woodpecker, Great Tit, Greenfinch, Grey Heron, Grey Partridge, Grey Wagtail, Herring Gull, House Martin, House Sparrow, Jackdaw, Jay, Lesser Black-backed Gull, Linnet, Long-tailed Tit, Magpie, Mallard, Mistle Thrush, Moorhen, Mute Swan, Oystercatcher, Pheasant, Pied Wagtail, Reed Bunting, Robin, Feral Pigeon, Rook, Sand Martin, Siskin, Skylark, Song Thrush, Sparrowhawk, Starling, Stock Dove, Stonechat, Swallow, Tufted Duck, Whitethroat, Willow Warbler, Woodpigeon, Wren, Yellowhammer.
Butterflies - Comma, Green-veined White, Holly Blue, Orange Tip, Peacock, Red Admiral, Small Tortoiseshell, Small White, Speckled Wood.
Ladybirds - 7-spot Ladybird, Pine Ladybird.
Mammals - Fox, Roe Deer.
Other insects etc - Dark-edged Bee-fly, Nursery Web Spider.
