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| Black-tailed Godwit |
While browsing the previous days photos from Riverside Nature Park during the evening, I spotted an overlooked White-rumped Sandpiper in a few of the photos of birds leaving the mud as the tide came in early in the afternoon. There had been rather a lot of Dunlin, and even more obvious birds (such as Sanderling or Curlew Sandpiper) can be difficult to pick out amongst a constantly moving and feeding throng of birds, or even in a roosting flock. Having not had a scope with me, it was easy to see how I had missed the bird. Having not actually seen it, despite it having flown through my eye-line, I couldn't count it for my #2026Dundee150 list. I would need to head back to Riverside Nature Park - with a scope this time, to try to refind the bird. As I had already planned to return for more vis-migging anyway, it would just mean that I would be carrying a bit more weight than the previous day and that Dunlin were likely to play a big part in the day's birding ahead...
I headed out at 0620 for the walk to the park. I left a bit earlier to allow myself a little extra time to get to the hill at the park for sunrise, due to the extra weight which would slow me down a bit. Robin, Carrion Crow, Jackdaw, Herring Gull, Magpie, Blackbird and Wren were all I managed to get on the list before I reached Balgay Hill, though this wasn't really a surprise given the pre-dawn gloom. A Fox was seen on the path ahead of me at Balgay Cemetery, while Bullfinch, Song Thrush, Dunnock and Woodpigeon were found as I continued through the site. Goldcrest was the final addition before I reached Riverside Nature Park just after 0725. The sky was rapidly lightening with sunrise fast approaching.
Robin, Wren, Blackbird, Herring Gull, Carrion Crow, Pheasant, Chiffchaff, Siskin, Woodpigeon, Magpie (chasing a low-flying Buzzard), Dunnock and Grey Wagtail were all noted as I headed for the hill-top. Down in the outer bay, Pink-footed Geese were once again very much in evidence and Redshank was easily picked out too on a very quick glimpse as I set up the scope and started the sound recorder running in preparation for at least some vis-migging, before switching my focus to poring through hundreds, if not thousands, of waders (mostly Dunlin). Pied (though possibly a White) Wagtail, Meadow Pipit and Chaffinch got the vis-migging underway. A bit of scanning across the bay and out across the mud added the day's first Dunlin and Black-tailed Godwits. Overhead, Jackdaw and a Sparrowhawk put in appearances. What were most likely local Goldfinches and Greenfinches were seen in flight before Little Egret, Lapwing, Oystercatcher, Teal, Grey Heron and Feral Pigeon made it onto the list.
Reed Bunting and Great Tit were next while a quick look at the gulls added both Common and Black-headed Gulls along with a few Curlews and Mallards. A typically loose flock of Tree Sparrows flew out over the bay before I got distracted by a trio of distant birds circling over the river to the southwest. With the tide well out, the river was mostly exposed mud, so it probably wasn't too unusual to see a raptor circling over the mud looking for prey amongst the countless feeding birds below. However, all three of the birds I had spotted with the scope, were not actively hunting. They were scavengers looking for an easy meal - an unexpected trio of Red Kites. I watched them circling for what felt like ages before they disappeared over the Perthshire countryside to the west. An unexpected bonus for the day and my first Dundee group of three of the species (with two together over the former Longhaugh Quarry area with Buzzards a few years ago, my previous best from within the city).
There had been some ongoing vis-mig while I was paying more attention to the Kites but it had been mostly more of the same. House Sparrows were heard at 0900 and a Goosander was picked out distantly on the river, as were a few Cormorants. The scope kept distracting me from the vis-migging and I found my focus wandering even moreso than usual, which wasn't particularly helpful, though Linnet, Mistle Thrush, Skylark, Song Thrush and Starling were all noted. The tide was coming in much quicker than expected meaning that the first scan-able flock of Dunlin were close enough to check properly around 1000. I headed down off the hill to get a closer look. Bar-tailed Godwit, Lesser Black-backed Gull and Curlew Sandpiper were also added. A few Blue Tits were in the bushes nearby. Small groups of birds were still passing overhead but a Rook was the only thing new.
As the tide moved in further, I was able to get Knot, Great Black-backed Gull and (heard only) Grey Plover as I checked through the other waders over and over again. There were sometimes birds that looked promising for the White-rumped Sandpiper but they invariably turned out to be Dunlin. I did find a Ruff shortly before 1200. I was joined by Keith around this time at the hide though despite his scope having extra reach we failed to rustle up the hoped for American wader. We were joined by another Dundee birder (whose name has been misplaced amongst the details of October's birding - sorry!) and once the tide came in, I ended up slowly wandering round the upper parts of the park with him rather than just heading home. This made checking through the waders on the receding tide a possibility though I knew the light would be a problem. However, having failed to find the White-rumped Sandpiper earlier, it made sense to at least try again, though I did not think I stood any chance of success.
Long-tailed Tit and a Small White butterfly were found on the slow wander before I managed to see a Moorhen at the Lochan, on my way back to the hide. A Stock Dove overflew. I was joined at the hide by two Birmingham area birders on their way to catch the ferry to Shetland from Aberdeen, who were hoping to see the White-rumped Sandpiper too. Unfortunately, the Dunlin were very slow in returning and even those few that did, flew off quickly having been spooked by something unseen. The Shetland-bound birders headed off just before 1600. I waited and waited for the Dunlin numbers to build as the tide receded, but eventually had to head round to the picnic tables to scan from there. Just as a larger flock of Dunlin arrived, a hunting Peregrine sent them out of the bay once again. It was clear that I was going to be out of luck so I finally called it a day just shy of 10 hours after I'd arrived at the park.
The long walk homewards was not unexpectedly a rather weary one. A Jay flew over Riverside Avenue as I traipsed along the road. Coal Tit and Grey Squirrel were at Balgay Hill and a skein of Pink-footed Geese headed back towards the river. My final addition was Starling, shortly before I reached home, more or less 12 hours after having set off for the park. My totals for the day were 63 species of birds (59 at Riverside Nature Park, 16 outwith), 1 butterfly species (at RNP) and 2 mammals. Overall it was a long, rather tiring and ultimately frustrating day's birding. What was probably the same White-rumped Sandpiper was seen briefly on the beach at Broughty Ferry the following morning. Dan Pointon tried to re-find it at the park that day but also drew a blank. Most definitely one that got away (and one I'm looking increasingly likely to rue missing out on, when the end of the year arrives).
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| Reed Bunting |
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| Pink-footed Goose |
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| Pink-footed Goose |
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| Red Kite |
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| Red Kite |
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| Greenfinch |
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| Greenfinch |
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| Chaffinch |
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| Starling |
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| Dunlin |
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| Pink-footed Goose |
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| Rook |
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| Lapwing, Dunlin & Teal |
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| Redshank, Dunlin, Lapwing & Teal |
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| Ruff, Redshank & Mallard |
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| Buzzard |
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| Buzzard |
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| Sparrowhawk |
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| Goosander |
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| Common Gull |
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| Dunlin & Cormorant |
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| Oystercatcher |
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| Black-tailed Godwit |
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| Black-tailed Godwit |
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| Dunlin |
Birds (outwith Riverside Nature Park) - Blackbird, Bullfinch, Carrion Crow, Coal Tit, Dunnock, Goldcrest, Hering Gull, Jackdaw, Jay, Magpie, Pink-footed Goose, Robin, Song Thrush, Starling, Woodpigeon, Wren.
Mammals (outwith Riverside Nature Park) - Fox, Grey Squirrel.
Birds (at Riverside Nature Park) - Bar-tailed Godwit, Black-headed Gull, Black-tailed Godwit, Blackbird, Blue Tit, Buzzard, Carrion Crow, Chaffinch, Chiffchaff, Common Gull, Cormorant, Curlew, Curlew Sandpiper, Dunlin, Dunnock, Goldfinch, Goosander, Great Black-backed Gull, Great Tit, Greenfinch, Grey Heron, Grey Plover, Grey Wagtail, Herring Gull, House Sparrow, Jackdaw, Knot, Lapwing, Lesser Black-backed Gull, Linnet, Little Egret, Long-tailed Tit, Magpie, Mallard, Meadow Pipit, Mistle Thrush, Moorhen, Oystercatcher, Peregrine, Pheasant, Pied Wagtail, Pink-footed Goose, Red Kite, Redshank, Reed Bunting, Robin, Feral Pigeon, Rook, Ruff, Siskin, Skylark, Song Thrush, Sparrowhawk, Starling, Stock Dove, Teal, Tree Sparrow, Woodpigeon, Wren.
Butterflies (at Riverside Nature Park) - Small White.
