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| Sparrowhawk |
On my way to work on Tuesday the 17th of March I heard my first obvious migrant Meadow Pipit of 2026 passing overhead. With a dentist appointment arranged for mid-afternoon, I didn't want to go too far on Wednesday morning. Given a decent enough weather forecast there was a chance of displaying raptors, or possibly birds on the move like an early Osprey or a wandering Red Kite. There was also a slight chance of a butterfly or two. As a result I chose to head up to the top of the Law for some relatively low effort birding instead of trying somewhere further afield.
I was out the door for just before 0725. House Sparrow, Herring Gull, Oystercatcher, Lesser Black-backed Gull, Carrion Crow, Dunnock, Woodpigeon, Blackbird and Feral Pigeon made for a relatively bird-filled first couple of minutes outside. Magpie, Blue Tit, Great Tit, Wren, Chaffinch and Goldfinch continued the relatively steady flow of birds. There was a slight lull until a Great Spotted Woodpecker was seen flying into a tree by Law Road. A Song Thrush was heard belting out tunes and a Mistle Thrush flew over. A Chiffchaff was singing by the steps up to the top of the hill.
Things started off relatively quietly at the top, though as there was little wind and the sun was out, it was fairly pleasant. A Goldcrest was heard singing from the trees on the east side.The day's first Meadow Pipit (of around 50 or so in total) flew past at 0804. A Great Spotted Woodpecker was heard before another Meadow Pipit flew past heading northwest. I picked out a very distant flock of Whooper Swans (confirmed by Ian Ford at Riverside Nature Park) down on the sandbanks near Invergowrie Bay and the airport. A Pied Wagtail was heard but not seen. There was another lull before Bullfinch was added and the calling Great Spotted Woodpecker was heard once again.
A few more Meadow Pipits headed over before a Skylark was seen singing over the hilltop as it flew in a northwesterly direction. A Sparrowhawk showed up out to the south at 0855. More Meadow Pipits and another Skylark headed over and there were a few more sightings of Sparrowhawk. A small group of 4 Crossbills headed low past the hill northwards, though appeared to drop into the trees round the back of the hill. A distant skein of Pink-footed Geese added another species for the morning, and there was another run of Meadow Pipits. A Kestrel was seen flying towards Cox's Stack where it landed very briefly at the top before flying off again.
Another heard only Pied Wagtail, Siskin, Long-tailed Tits and more Meadow Pipits kept things going as the clock ticked towards 1000. A smaller skein of 5 Pinkies made their way northeast on the hour. A lone Greylag was picked up distantly before flying west following the line of the river past the hill. The passage of Meadow Pipits continued with a few pairs as well as singles seen. A Grey Wagtail called as it went north. A Buzzard was seen out to the southwest, most likely a bird from Balgay Hill. Another 2 Crossbills were seen at 1100 and a Sparrowhawk soared overhead a few minutes later before being joined by another. Both birds then drifted off southwest.
Another couple of Sparrowhawk sightings were made over the course of the next 20 minutes, likely involving the same birds, though possibly not, given the prevalence of the species within the city. The trickle of Mipits continued and a few larger skeins of Pinkfeet were noted. A Sparrowhawk tussled with a Herring Gull around 1145 and a Rook was seen. I eventually called it a day around 1220 folowing yet more Meadow Pipits and headed homewards after 4 and a half hours at the top of the hill. A Greenfinch was the only addition on the walk home taking my total to 36 species for the morning's birding. No butterflies however, though Lainy messaged to say she'd had her first couple of sightings on her patch - Peacocks. Surely only a matter of time before I saw my first butterfly of the year...
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| Blue Tit |
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| Whooper Swan |
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| Woodpigeon |
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| Meadow Pipit |
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| Sparrowhawk |
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| Skylark |
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| Crossbill |
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| Crossbill |
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| Meadow Pipit |
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| Kestrel |
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| Pink-footed Goose |
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| Greylag Goose |
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| Buzzard |
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| Meadow Pipit |
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| Hoverfly sp. |
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| Sparrowhawk |
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| Sparrowhawk |
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| Sparrowhawk |
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| Sparrowhawk |
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| Rook |
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| Pink-footed Goose |
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| Bumblebee sp. |
Birds - Blackbird, Blue Tit, Bullfinch, Carrion Crow, Chaffinch, Chiffchaff, Coal Tit, Crossbill, Dunnock, Goldcrest, Goldfinch, Great Spotted Woodpecker,Great Tit, Greenfinch, Grey Wagtail, Greylag Goose, Herring Gull, House Sparrow, Kestrel, Lesser Black-backed Gull, Long-tailed Tit, Magpie, Meadow Pipit, Mistle Thrush, Oystercatcher, Pied Wagtail, Pink-footed Goose, Feral Pigeon, Rook, Siskin, Skylark, Song Thrush, Sparrowhawk, Whooper Swan, Woodpigeon, Wren.
