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| Carrion Crow |
Following on from the Big Dundee Half Day's exertions, I had almost zero energy, but being off work on holiday, I was still determined to get out and do some birding. The options that didn't require a lot of walking were rather few, so I decided to head to the top of the Law - it isn't too far away (pretty much a mile), and once there, you can stand/sit about and just wait and see what is around. Although there was an outside chance of a passing migrant, my expectations were very low, with the odd raptor being about the limits of my hopes. Having had a bit of a lie-in, it was 0845 before I was organised and ready to head out.
House Sparrow, Feral Pigeon, Herring Gull, Blackbird, Jackdaw, Magpie, Carrion Crow, Woodpigeon, Dunnock, Blue Tit, Lesser Black-backed Gull, Robin, Goldfinch and Chaffinch were all noted as took a rather zig-zag route towards the hill. Willow Warbler and Chiffchaff were in the trees at the bottom end of Law Road. Goldcrest, Wren, Swallow, Great Tit and Blackcap were added as I headed on up the hill. It was 0920 before I made it to the top of the Law and was all set to see what I could spot. A Sparrowhawk being harassed by a gull got things underway and a low-ish fly-by from a Sparrowhawk gave some hope that it might be a decent enough day. The weather was calm and sunny, unlike just 24 hours earlier.
Siskin was heard before I picked up a Buzzard tangling with a Carrion Crow out to the west at 0933. Things proved to be rather slow, despite the weather, but another Crow vs Buzzard confrontation at 1025 livened things up a little. Redpoll, Coal Tit and Great Spotted Woodpecker were both heard just after 1100. The day's first House Martins were seen out to the east at 1115. A Kestrel was picked up to the west of the hill at 1132. With not much happening on the birds front, I decided to see if I could find any butterfly activity at the top of the hill. There were a few Small Tortoiseshells chasing each other in front of the southside wall. Orange Tip and Red Admiral put in brief appearances before the day's main highlight.
I was fairly convinced that I had seen a Wall Brown butterfly fleetingly, by the front wall but it had flown off before I got a definitive ID. Another Buzzard tussling with a Carrion Crow distracted me from the possibility, just before noon. Around 1215 I managed to get a clear view of a Wall butterfly, with one resting between bouts of chasing Small Tortoiseshells along the front wall area. Another Buzzard/Carrion Crow battle took place just before 1245. A trio of Buzzards appeared overhead, drifting slowly eastwards, and a single Buzzard was seen to the south at 1305. A small group of 4 Jays flew through the conifers at the back of the hill, before I called it a day and headed for home. My total for the day was just 30 species of birds, plus 4 of butterflies, with the Wall being my 10th species of butterfly for Dundee in 2026, all of which have been seen at the Law.
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| Blackcap |
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| Sparrowhawk |
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| Sparrowhawk |
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| Sparrowhawk |
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| Jackdaw |
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| Carrion Crow |
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| Kestrel |
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| Buzzard & Carrion Crow |
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| Small Tortoiseshell |
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| Wall |
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| Wall |
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| Wall |
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| Wall |
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| Buzzard & Carrion Crow |
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| Buzzard |
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| Red Admiral |
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| Red Admiral |
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| Magpie |
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| Buzzard |
Birds - Blackbird, Blackcap, Blue Tit, Buzzard, Carrion Crow, Chaffinch, Chiffchaff, Coal Tit, Dunnock, Goldcrest, Goldfinch, Great Spotted Woodpecker, Great Tit, Herring Gull, House Martin, House Sparrow, Jackdaw, Jay, Kestrel, Lesser Black-backed Gull, Magpie, Redpoll, Robin, Feral Pigeon, Siskin, Sparrowhawk, Swallow, Willow Warbler, Woodpigeon, Wren.
Butterflies - Orange Tip, Red Admiral, Small Tortoiseshell, Wall.
