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| Wren |
With overnight rain forecast into the early morning, it felt like there was a decent chance of migrating birds choosing to shelter from the rain, then feed up and continue on their way, once the rain stopped. With this in mind I decided that my best chance of finding any of these downed migrants was most likely to be down at Riverside Nature Park. As the rain was forecast to stop around 0930-1000, I would try to get to the park in time for this happening. This would hopefully increase my chances of finding something good. At least, that was the theory...
I headed out into the rather grey and drizzly morning just after 0850, a little later than I had intended. Feral Pigeon and Robin then Herring Gull, Carrion Crow and Blue Tit got things started. Starling, Woodpigeon, House Sparrow, Magpie and Long-tailed Tit were added as I took a less 'birdy' route via Dudhope Park in the direction of my destination for the morning. Grey Wagtail was noted at Rosefield Street with a Black-headed Gull at Shaftesbury Road. Wren and then a Jay, by the side of the road opposite the park entrance, rounded off the list for the walk to the park. I arrived there just before 1000. It was however still raining, not too heavily thankfully, but neither was it showing any likelihood of stopping anytime soon.
Long-tailed Tit, Robin, Great Tit, Blackbird, Wren, Herring Gull, Chiffchaff, Carrion Crow, Starling and an unexpected Roe Deer were found as I searched amongst the tree plantation at the eastern end. Magpie, Jackdaw, Woodpigeon, Great Spotted Woodpecker and Blue Tit soon followed before I reached the car park where a Dunnock was spotted. Goldfinches were in the trees along the Buddleia alleyway but there appeared to be no obvious migrants there either. Round at the bay, Curlew, Redshank and Mallard were picked out and a look in 'the bowl' added a Blackcap and a few overflying Skylarks and Feral Pigeons. At last some migrants, even if they were of the expected species rather than the hoped for sorts. Greenfinch was next onto the list before what were surprisingly the first Pink-footed Geese flew overhead the park.
It was still raining at noon. A Grey Wagtail overflew. Back round at the bay Dunlin and Grey Heron were noted and a Meadow Pipit headed for Invergowrie. Chaffinch was seen and the day's first Common Gull was down in the bay. Eventually the rain decided to stop and the sun even put in an appearance, which meant I went from being too cold - the rain having soaked through my jacket, to now being too warm, as a result of having dressed for the colder part of the day (and the rain). Black-headed Gull, a Small White butterfly, Pied Wagtail, Buzzard, Sparrowhawk (which rather rapidly turned the tables on the Carrion Crow which had flown up to harass it to the north of the park), Rook, Willow Warbler and Reed Bunting joined the other birds on the list as I made my way along to the hide. A Stock Dove was the only thing new for the day seen from there.
I eventually added Moorhen at the Lochan and Teal down in the bay. A Kestrel put in an appearance at 1350 just before I found an unexpected Common Darter dragonfly at the Buddleia alley, which isn't a usual spot for them. As I headed for the exit just after 1400, I found my second butterfly of the day with a Red Admiral. The total for the park visit was a slightly disappointing 42 species of birds, 2 of butterflies, 1 of dragonflies and 1 mammal species. The walk home along to Magdalen Green got me another Red Admiral, Sparrowhawk, Pied Wagtail, Goldcrest and Goldfinch. More Pink-footed Geese overflew as I reached my street just after 1530, taking the 'outwith the park' list to a rather underwhelming 19 species of birds and a single species of butterfly. The combined totals for the day were 45 species of birds, 2 of butterflies, 1 of dragonflies and 1 of mammals. It was a relatively disappointing day where the weather failed to deliver the hoped for migrant 'fall', once again.
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| Chiffchaff |
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| Chiffchaff |
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| Blue Tit |
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| Chiffchaff |
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| Goldfinch |
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| Redshank |
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| Redshank & Dunlin |
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| Herring Gull |
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| Skylark |
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| Skylark |
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| Lapwing |
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| Sparrowhawk & Carrion Crow |
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| Sparrowhawk & Carrion Crow |
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| Sparrowhawk & Carrion Crow |
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| Pink-footed Goose |
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| Rook |
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| Lapwing |
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| Kestrel |
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| Pink-footed Goose |
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| Sparrowhawk |
Birds (outwith Riverside Nature Park) - Black-headed Gull, Blue Tit, Carrion Crow, Goldcrest, Goldfinch, Grey Wagtail, Herring Gull, House Sparrow, Jay, Long-tailed Tit, Magpie, Pied Wagtail, Pink-footed Goose, Robin, Feral Pigeon, Sparrowhawk, Starling, Woodpigeon, Wren.
Butterflies (outwith Riverside Nature Park) - Red Admiral.
Birds (at Riverside Nature Park) - Black-headed Gull, Blackbird, Blackcap, Blue Tit, Buzzard, Carrion Crow, Chaffinch, Chiffchaff, Common Gull, Curlew, Dunlin, Dunnock, Goldfinch, Great Spotted Woodpecker, Great Tit, Greenfinch, Grey Heron, Grey Wagtail, Herring Gull, Jackdaw, Kestrel, Long-tailed Tit, Magpie, Mallard, Meadow Pipit, Moorhen, Pied Wagtail, Pink-footed Goose, Redshank, Reed Bunting, Robin, Feral Pigeon, Rook, Skylark, Song Thrush, Sparrowhawk, Starling, Stock Dove, Teal, Willow Warbler, Woodpigeon, Wren.
Butterflies (at Riverside Nature Park) - Red Admiral, Small White.
Dragonflies (at Riverside Nature Park) - Roe Deer.
