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| Black-tailed Godwit |
As I was heading to Campy Growers on Saturday the 11th of July, I got a message from someone I'd spoken to at the top of the Law last year (Connor), asking for some ideas for good local birding places as his Grandad was planning on coming over from Northern Ireland and wanted to squeeze in some birding during his visit. I replied with a few suggestions and then discovered that he was actually planning on coming over that weekend. On Sunday morning I decided to get out for some birding, though with no real plan, I decided to have a rather aimless wander - one of those 'see where I end up' sort of day's birding. It was just after 1030 when I headed out the door.
Herring Gull, Jackdaw, Starling, Feral Pigeon, House Sparrow, Pied Wagtail, Magpie and Woodpigeon made for a rather typical start to the day's birding. I decided to take a look at the Law adding Lesser Black-backed Gull, Blue Tit and Swift as I headed for the hill. A quick look at the bushes got me Green-veined White butterfly and a few Common Bluebottles, as well as Robin, Blackbird and Blackcap. Round the corner by the allotments a Zebra Spider (Salticus scenicus) was seen along with Common Greenbottle. Overhead House Martin was noted, while Chiffchaff and Song Thrush were in the trees. Buff-tailed and Common Carder bumblebees were seen and the day's first Sparrowhawk was noted. Small Tortoiseshell, Small White and Meadow Brown butterflies were found before I moved on again.
Goldfinch was spotted on the way to Balgay Hill where I found Buzzard, Goldcrest and Carrion Crow. I routed through Ninewells Arboretum where Greenfinch and a trio of butterfly species were all found - Peacock, Speckled Wood and Red Admiral. A Black-headed Gull was the final addition before I reached Riverside Nature Park. A Chiffchaff was first onto the park list for the day, 3 hours after leaving the house, largely due to photographing insects en route. House Martin, Herring Gull, a flock of 27 Black-tailed Godwits seen overhead and a Red Admiral butterfly were all noted as I headed round to the hide. I found a trio of folk there, with a scope set up. I asked if they'd seen anything and the reply came back in a strong Northern Irish accent. This turned out to be Connor's Grandad and a couple of other family members.
We chatted about birds, adding Lesser Black-backed Gull, Common Gull and Stock Dove from the hide, before having a very slow wander back to the car park via the Lochan and the picnic tables. Meadow Brown butterflies were very much in evidence. Blackbird and a Lapwing (which I suspect was the one that frequented the pool in 2024 despite having no feet) were at the Lochan and a Whitethroat was seen nearby. Round at the bay we added Curlew, Oystercatcher and Common Sandpiper. Swallow and Swift passed overhead and some distant Goosander were picked out on the river. Goldfinch, Blackcap and Carrion Crow were noted as we slowly made our way round to the car park where Connor was going to pick them up. A few Ringlet butterflies were seen before Connor turned up and we said our cheerios. (The unidentified large black & white bird seen in flight before I arrived was a Carrion Crow with a lot of white on the wings). I had been hoping to find some 6-spot Burnet moths but it was a bit windier than was ideal. I decided to make another circuit of the upper half of the park.
A few Rabbits, a Small Tortoiseshell butterfly, a couple of Skylarks, a Buzzard, Chaffinch, Cormorant, Great Tit, Greenfinch, Magpie, Pheasant, Reed Bunting, Feral Pigeon, Song Thrush, Sparrowhawk, Woodpigeon and Wren made for a relatively busy walk round. As I checked the receding tide at the bay, I spotted a wader in flight low over the mud which turned out to be a Greenshank, a new bird for my #2026Dundee150 list. Redshank and Mallard were also new for the day. I finally managed to find a couple of 6-spot Burnet moths then on the walk back round to the car park, chanced upon a rather fresh looking Comma butterfly. Small White and Painted Lady were also found before I left the park for the walk home, stopping briefly to look at some leaf mine damage on a small Horse Chestnut tree on Riverside Avenue, where the culprit species dropped in as I was looking, allowing me to get a few photos despite the wind. I ended the day's birding with a total of 44 species of birds (one new for my #2026Dundee150 list in bold), 2 of bumblebees, 10 of butterflies, 2 of Blowflies, 1 of mammals, 1 of moths and 1 of spiders, though I didn't take too many bird photos.
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| Sparrowhawk |
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| Black-tailed Godwit |
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| Lapwing |
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| Curlew |
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| Lapwing |
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| Curlew |
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| Curlew |
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| Buzzard |
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| Buzzard |
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| 6-spot Burnet Moth |
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| 6-spot Burnet Moth |
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| Horse Chestnut Leaf Miner Moth |
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| Green-veined White |
Birds (outwith Riverside Nature Park) - Black-headed Gull, Blackbird, Blackcap, Blue Tit, Buzzard, Carrion Crow, Chiffchaff, Goldcrest, Goldfinch, Greenfinch, Herring Gull, House Sparrow, Jackdaw, Lesser Black-backed Gull, Magpie, Pied Wagtail, Robin, Feral Pigeon, Song Thrush, Sparrowhawk, Starling, Swift, Woodpigeon.
Birds (at Riverside Nature Park) - Black-tailed Godwit, Blackbird, Blackcap, Buzzard, Carrion Crow, Chaffinch, Chiffchaff, Common Gull, Common Sandpiper, Cormorant, Curlew, Goldfinch, Goosander, Great Tit, Greenfinch, Herring Gull, House Martin, Lapwing, Lesser Black-backed Gull, Magpie, Mallard, Oystercatcher, Pheasant, Redshank, Reed Bunting, Feral Pigeon, Skylark, Song Thrush, Sparrowhawk, Stock Dove, Swallow, Swift, Whitethroat, Woodpigeon, Wren.
(Insect species (and spiders) will appear on my Insects etc blog post).
