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| Willow Warbler |
While I was at work on Thursday the 13th of August word came through that Keith had found a Spotted Flycatcher at Riverside Nature Park. A bit later, Lainy messaged me to say she was at the Law, looking for Spotted Flycatchers (as Clatto was busy with kids). Shortly after that, she messaged again to say she'd managed to find 3 'Spotflies' around the southwestern part of the hill. At lunchtime, I headed out to check the wooded area behind my work but wasn't surprised to draw a blank. On my walk home, I checked the Law but again drew a blank. I figured the birds had likely moved on at some point during the day, and if they hadn't, calm conditions forecast overnight meant it was highly likely they wouldn't be there on Friday morning - the first day of my Autumn migration holidays.
I got up early and headed out shortly after 0705 for the walk to the Law. It had been raining slightly while I had been getting organised and there was a chance of more to follow. However as it was already rather warm, I was dressed for it staying dry and warm. I would just have to hope that it wouldn't rain again. Feral Pigeon, Herring Gull, Blue Tit, Dunnock, House Sparrow, Carrion Crow, Pied Wagtail, Lesser Black-backed Gull, Woodpigeon and Starling were soon on the list for the day. House Martin and Magpie were added as I wandered along Kinghorne Road, having decided to take the least strenuous option to get to where Lainy had seen the Spotted Flycatchers the day before. A small group of 4 Tree Pipits overflew westwards before I headed up the steps at the far end of the allotments.
Things were rather quiet and even with my thermal imager there didn't appear to be many birds around. Coal Tit, Great Spotted Woodpecker, Wren, Willow Warbler, Robin, an overflying Sparrowhawk, Bullfinch, Swift and Swallow, as well as a Grey Squirrel were all seen before I headed up to the top of the hill to see if I could find anything else up there. The only other person up there when I got there stopped to chat about camera gear. While we were chatting I was also watching to see if there were any birds or butterflies around. Speckled Wood, Painted Lady and Wall butterflies were all seen. I happened to look at the trees to the east and saw a small bird perched atop one. My suspicion was that it was a Spotted Flycatcher and a quick check confirmed that I had my hoped for #2026Dundee150 tick.
The bird then vanished but a few minutes later flew off westwards, allowing me to grab a few fairly ropey flight shots, rather than the usual fly-catching flight shots. Another couple of Tree Pipits passed by as did a few House Martins, Swallows and a pair of Sand Martins. I headed down the east side steps to see what was upsetting the Magpies. A flock of around 20 were surrounding a Carrion Crow perched on a bench for some reason. I wandered down to the road where I now found the trees alive with a variety of birds. Goldcrest, Treecreeper and Chaffinch were all new for the day. In addition, Common Carder Bee and Buff-tailed Bumblebee were spotted. There were also a few Marmalade Hoverflies about. Long-tailed Tits, Chiffchaff, Blackcap, Blackbird and Great Tit were all seen amongst the slow moving feeding flock as I followed their progress through the trees.
A Black-headed Gull headed over southwards. The sun came out around noon and a Holly Blue butterfly was noted. With the feeding flock eventually disappearing I concentrated on insects for a while, though they were in rather short supply - probably due to the heat, and strengthening wind. I did still manage to get Large White, Red-tailed Bumblebee, Red Soldier Beetle, Bluebottle and Greenbottle as well as Field Grasshopper. Red Admiral and Green-veined White were added before I finally called it a day and headed homewards around 1530, having watched 2 Speckled Woods, 2 Large Whites and 2 Holly Blues down from the allotments. My totals for the day were 33 species of birds (1 new - in bold), 4 of bees, 1 of Soldier Beetles, 7 of butterflies, 1 grasshopper, 3 of hoverflies and 1 mammal species.
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| Willow Warbler |
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| Tree Pipit |
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| Sparrowhawk |
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| Sparrowhawk |
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| Spotted Flycatcher |
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| Spotted Flycatcher |
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| Spotted Flycatcher |
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| Magpie & Carrion Crow |
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| Coal Tit |
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| Blackbird |
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| Great Tit |
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| Blue Tit |
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| Willow Warbler |
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| Robin |
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| Treecreeper |
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| Blackcap |
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| Dunnock |
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| Coal Tit |
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| Willow Warbler |
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| Chaffinch |
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| Wall |
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| House Martin |
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| Robin |
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| Willow Warbler |
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| Willow Warbler |
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| Chiffchaff |
Birds - Black-headed Gull, Blackbird, Blackcap, Blue Tit, Bullfinch, Carrion Crow, Chaffinch, Chiffchaff, Coal Tit, Dunnock, Goldcrest, Great Spotted Woodpecker, Great Tit, Herring Gull, House Martin, House Sparrow, Lesser Black-backed Gull, Long-tailed Tit, Magpie, Pied Wagtail, Robin, Feral Pigeon, Sand Martin, Sparrowhawk, Spotted Flycatcher, Starling, Swallow, Swift, Tree Pipit, Treecreeper, Willow Warbler, Woodpigeon, Wren.
Bees - Buff-tailed Bumblebee, Common Carder Bee, Orange-legged Furrow Bee, Red-tailed Bumblebee.
Soldier Beetles - Common Red Soldier Beetle.
Butterflies - Green-veined White, Holly Blue, Large White, Painted Lady, Red Admiral, Speckled Wood, Wall.
Blowflies - Common Bluebottle, Common Greenbottle.
Grasshoppers - Field Grasshopper.
Hoverflies - Episyrphus balteatus, Syrphus ribesii/torvus, Xylota segnis.
Mammals - Grey Squirrel.
