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Riverside Nature Park, Dundee. (1 Viewer)

Stonefaction

Stuck in Dundee.....
Scotland
A few hours this morning with Delia Todd & Gander from these boards to start off the "Scottish Birdforum Bash".

46 species seen (plus Magpie & Redpoll heard only) - Blackbird, Black Headed Gull, Black Tailed Godwit, Blue Tit, Bullfinch, Buzzard, Carrion Crow, Chaffinch, Common Gull, Cormorant, Curlew, Curlew Sandpiper, Dunlin, Dunnock, Goldcrest, Goldfinch, Great Tit, Greenfinch, Grey Heron, Grey Wagtail, Herring Gull, House Sparrow, Jackdaw, Jack Snipe, Jay, Kingfisher, Long Tailed Tit, Mallard, Meadow Pipit, Mute Swan, Oystercatcher, Pink Footed Goose, Redshank, Redwing, Robin, Feral Pigeon, Siskin, Skylark, Snipe, Song Thrush, Starling, Stock Dove, Teal, Woodpigeon, Wren, Yellowhammer.
 

Stonefaction

Stuck in Dundee.....
Scotland
It has been a while since we added anything to the park list, but Ian Ford messaged me this morning to tell me he had found a new one for the park in Invergowrie Bay. A Rock Pipit.

138. Rock Pipit

Would be good to have a wee run of new birds to get us to 140. Maybe a Merlin and a Great Grey Shrike......(fingers crossed).
 

kawwauser

Well-known member
I have been in the park3 times in the last 2 days,first time I have done a fri/sat visit,i never realised there was that many dog walkers enjoying the park,my usual Monday visits are a lot quieter,the waders are roosting on the lochan and are arriving about 4.00-4.30,not the best lighting at that time unfortunately,early morning visits would be best for them,i was planning on getting pics of them making their way over from the bay but got sidetracked by the beautiful sunset,the dunlin numbers are over the 100 mark ,the kingfisher was calling/flying about at the hide,(maybe 2 birds?)buzzard wood was deserted both days,long tailed tits and bullfinches were right above my head at the lochan,the pinkfoot is still there,on Friday a low flying flock
of pinkfoots had to suddenly divert due to a plane taking off,this must happen a lot here,i seen a private jet taking off today,there is a bad outbreak of myxomatosis in the park just now,a big drop in the number of thrushes about compared to my Monday visits
 

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Gander

Well-known member
I have been in the park3 times in the last 2 days,first time I have done a fri/sat visit,i never realised there was that many dog walkers enjoying the park,my usual Monday visits are a lot quieter,

I've decided to avoid my local patch at weekends due to the dog walkers. There are definitely far fewer birds about than on week days. Also, I got bitten by one of the mutts yesterday, although fortunately it was just a trousers bite.
 

Stonefaction

Stuck in Dundee.....
Scotland
One of my 'pet hates' (pardon the pun!), is dogs off the lead (and even sometimes on) which either jump up on you with muddy feet, or growl/bark and sometimes lunge at you snarling, teeth bared (helps if they are on a lead at this point....thankfully the few times this has happened they have been - though a snarling Alsation inches from your face is rather disconcerting). 99 times out of 100 you don't even get the courtesy of an apology - usually any interaction points the blame in your direction - "oh, he doesn't like your cap/camera/monopod" (so that will be my fault you can't control your dog then?).

And then there's the oblivious ones, who are blethering to their pal/partner or looking at their phone while Fido is somewhere behind them, tearing through bushes, putting up roosting birds, actively chasing the birds or leaving their 'calling card' (which because it wasn't seen, isn't picked up).

That is all just outside the breeding season. Quite a few things more to add during. Sadly the few responsible dog owners with well trained/well behaved dogs seem to be in an ever-shrinking minority.

Did you get any apology from the owner, Paul?
 

Gander

Well-known member
Did you get any apology from the owner, Paul?

Never heard it if she did. She did try to half heartedly shoo the dog away, while her male companion just sat on a bench and watched. The second time it went for me, I without speaking, made it very clear that there was potential for the dog to be place kicked into the Forth. At this point she got a hold of it.

In this case, the dog was just an ankle snapper, but there seems to be a lot of bull terrier types walked in that area. a few have taken an "interest" in me in the past, but thankfully, no more than an interest. As you say, the owners don't take any responsibility.

Over the last few months, I have walked many miles on the Fife Coastal Path. There are some fantastic walks there, but the one big negative for me has been the amount of dog mess in certain places. And what really gets my goat are the ones who bag it, then leave the bag lying there. Who do they think is going to pick it up? The poo Fairies? Anyway, rant over.
 

Stonefaction

Stuck in Dundee.....
Scotland
I don't actually dislike dogs - I had dogs when I was growing up and they were trained/on a lead when appropriate, but the more birding I do, the less tolerance I have for irresponsible dog owners....and as time goes on, the more irresponsible dog owners I seem to run into. For a supposed nation of "animal lovers" it appears that 'love' only goes as far as Fido/Tiddles and Fido/Tiddles should be able to do what they want/where they want/when they want, and don't dare try to tell those owners any different as a mouthful of abuse is usually the best outcome you can hope for. Rant over for me too....
 

kawwauser

Well-known member
when I was in the park yesterday someone was going around talking to the dog owners,he had binoculars on and was carrying cable ties,he was also checking to see if the hedgerows were overhanging the paths
 

Stonefaction

Stuck in Dundee.....
Scotland
I suspect that will either have been Ian Ford, chairman of the Friends of Riverside Nature Park group, or another of the committee members, Graham.
 

kawwauser

Well-known member
sounds like it was somebody else,while at the hide I talked to another birder(tide was well out)and there was not a lot on show,i told him about the kingfisher and he said he would love to see one,after he left I checked the area behind the tunnel,not a bird in sight and only dunnocks and robins calling,i went back to the hide and the kingfisher started showing ,maybe should have told him about the clatto mural
 

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Stonefaction

Stuck in Dundee.....
Scotland
Following on from an article I wrote about the park for the latest issue of the ADBC newsletter I have received word via Jon Cook, the local recorder, of a sighting on 1st October from the car park at RNP of a flyover Raven (heard also). The bird was seen by Keith Edwards. A very nice addition taking us to 139.

139. Raven
 

Gander

Well-known member
Just had a very enjoyable read through this thread. Great photos also.

I predict 140 before Christmas with a Sanderling.:t:
 

kawwauser

Well-known member
Your article on the newsletter makes a great read Barry , I often backtrack through the thread to see what to expect in the different months
 

Stonefaction

Stuck in Dundee.....
Scotland
Popped in for an hour or so to try and top up my January 1st list today and managed to see a quite respectable 33 species - including 7 Snipe, 1 Jack Snipe (photos attached) and at least 6 Waxwings, 4 Fieldfares, 1 Redwing, 1 Mistle Thrush, 4 Black Tailed Godwits and a Grey Wagtail. Not a bad wee haul.

Species seen (taking my day total to 64) - Blackbird, Black Headed Gull, Black Tailed Godwit (4), Buzzard (2), Carrion Crow, Chaffinch, Common Gull, Cormorant (1), Dunlin, Dunnock, Fieldfare (4), Goldfinch (10+), Greenfinch, Grey Heron (3), Grey Wagtail(1), Herring Gull, Jack Snipe(1), Jackdaw, Magpie, Mallard, Mistle Thrush (1), Oystercatcher, Pink Footed Goose, Redshank, Redwing(1), Robin, Feral Pigeon, Skylark (1), Snipe(7), Stock Dove (3), Teal, Waxwing (6), Wren.
 

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delia todd

If I said the wrong thing it was a Senior Moment
Staff member
Opus Editor
Supporter
Scotland
That's a good all-round list to get Barry.

Happy New Year to you laddie.
 

Stonefaction

Stuck in Dundee.....
Scotland
Thanks, Delia. Happy New Year to you too. There was a bit of a shortage of smaller birds in general (no tit species seen at all, no Bullfinches, no Reed Buntings or Yellowhammers).
 

delia todd

If I said the wrong thing it was a Senior Moment
Staff member
Opus Editor
Supporter
Scotland
..... some birds know how to hide even from you, it seems, Barry;)
 

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