CityCyclingEdinburgh Forum » Leisure

Wildlife highlight of the day

(7166 posts)

  1. unhurt
    Member

    That reminds me - spotted one of those on a tree on MMW after PY on Friday.

    Posted 6 years ago #
  2. gembo
    Member

    The cormorant on canal towpath yesterday was sunning its panache - such was the majesty of its plume I would say a argali Cormorant

    Posted 6 years ago #
  3. chdot
    Admin

    The company said the average tree had between 10 and 50,000 leaves, any or all of which could fall on the line.

    https://www.theguardian.com/business/2018/apr/29/millions-of-trees-at-risk-in-secretive-network-rail-felling-programme

    Posted 6 years ago #
  4. gembo
    Member

    Fink I spotted a swift just there from attic window

    Posted 6 years ago #
  5. I were right about that saddle
    Member

    @gembo

    Given the paucity of swallows I must urge caution on the swift spot. Would you be terribly upset if I delayed the prize haiku, even though the attic location makes for excellent material?

    Posted 6 years ago #
  6. gembo
    Member

    @IWRATS - you are correct to urge caution - the bird was on its todd, quite high up no discernible swallow tail nor any swooping but i was not convinced hence use of the word Fink.

    did consult manuals etc.

    Posted 6 years ago #
  7. jdanielp
    Member

    My colleague reports
    Fluffy ducklings on The Loch
    I'll look tomorrow

    Posted 6 years ago #
  8. unhurt
    Member

    Off to the park to see if I can find any balls o duck fluff myself & check on the status of the swan eggs. (She was only sat on three the other week - since only one of last year's nine eggs made it to swan-hood maybe she's feeling a bit uncommitted to the whole process?)

    @gembo, @Iwrats swallows have been seen in Orkney for at least a week or two...

    Posted 6 years ago #
  9. unhurt
    Member

    Swan fast asleep but a coot sitting on five or six hungry little red and orange hairdo'd chicks. (The heron is watching though...)

    Posted 6 years ago #
  10. gembo
    Member

    Saw the solitary soaring bird from attic, is quite small, tail still not long but I think swallow. Must be wondering where its pals are

    Also spotted ground frost for folk to wash their faces in. Happy 1st May

    Posted 6 years ago #
  11. I were right about that saddle
    Member

    Liking chateau gembo's Ceremony of the Attic Swiftwatch and subtle evocation of May Day.

    I have taken the day off work and will parade down Gilmerton Road with all the other Programmer/Analyst/Change Managers.

    Posted 6 years ago #
  12. wingpig
    Member

    Bit of an eggshell outside the back door. Presumably belongs to the pigeon nesting in the bay tree.

    Posted 6 years ago #
  13. unhurt
    Member

  14. I were right about that saddle
    Member

    @unhurt

    Perhaps this is what @gembo spotted from his attic in the far, distant north?

    Posted 6 years ago #
  15. jdanielp
    Member

    Four ducklings with their mother on The Loch at Heriot-Watt and a swan on the nest on the island as I walked to lunch. As I walked back from lunch, the swan was swimming around the island (behaviour which my colleague had also spotted earlier today); this doesn't seem like a positive sign. Also, as I was passing some foliage near the Student Union building, a rabbit AND a mouse came scurrying out of the nearest bush to me and scurried along the path before disappearing into separate bushes further along... Perhaps they had startled one another before being startled by me?

    Posted 6 years ago #
  16. unhurt
    Member

    Bird seed stand-off on my patch of astroturf between a slightly scaffy but determined grey squirrel and a mahoosive lesser black backed gull.

    Posted 6 years ago #
  17. paulmilne
    Member

    Roe deer running full tilt across the woodland path this morning on walk to Dunbar station.

    Posted 6 years ago #
  18. jdanielp
    Member

    Two ladies attempting to feed a couple of eager looking goosanders at Wester Hailes, but seagulls kept swooping in to steal the bread before they could reach it. I then spotted The Kingsknowe Rat investigating the towpath next to the railway bridge.

    Posted 6 years ago #
  19. Rosie
    Member

    3 spiders in the bathroom. Not worth noting except that my arachnophobe flatmate calls for me to deal with them. She is a thoroughly excellent flatmate in every way except for her plaintive cries of spider fear interrupting my chill out sessions.

    Posted 6 years ago #
  20. I were right about that saddle
    Member

    @jdanielp

    Long live the Kingsknowe Rat! Why did the ladies feed the goosanders but not the rat?

    Posted 6 years ago #
  21. jdanielp
    Member

    @IWRATS they weren't in the vicinity of The Kingsknowe Rat so maybe even aren't aware of its existence?! They were mostly just feeding the seagulls in any case. I'm not as sure why The Kingsknowe Rat wasn't making more effort to claim its share when free food was being made available though.

    Posted 6 years ago #
  22. I were right about that saddle
    Member

    In truth I am finishing breakfast and actually laughing out loud that we have created the Kingsknowe Rat.

    I wonder if Kirkpatrick Macmillan foresaw that his invention would lead to the conception of an urban ur-rat by a group of its future users?

    Posted 6 years ago #
  23. sallyhinch
    Member

    @Gembo could maybe be a house martin? The wings are the key with swifts, that and the screaming.

    Posted 5 years ago #
  24. unhurt
    Member

    Hares, lambs, larks, peewits, etc. Benefits of an extended commute (including Harlaw over to Glencorse without falling off! Exciting!) Also spotted a couple of wild(ly fit looking) cyclo-cross types.

    Posted 5 years ago #
  25. unhurt
    Member

    The wings are the key with swifts

    Disturbing implication that I've been imagining wings on all other birds up till now.

    Posted 5 years ago #
  26. wingpig
    Member

    The peewit is the key with peewits.

    Posted 5 years ago #
  27. I were right about that saddle
    Member

    Be aware all that CCE Swiftwatch™ starts today for it is the 4th of May.

    As ever haiku for the first spot with context unless it's @Rosie in which case it shall be a palinode in the form of a sonnet.

    Posted 5 years ago #
  28. Frenchy
    Member

    Right folks, no posting before @Rosie if you see a swift.

    Posted 5 years ago #
  29. Rosie
    Member

    Saw two swifts/swallows/house martins over Gilmore Place today. Forked tailed things anyway. Couldn't hear their calls.

    Posted 5 years ago #
  30. I were right about that saddle
    Member

    Lovely pair of wheatears on Braid Hill.

    CCE Swiftwatch™ status: negatory.

    Posted 5 years ago #

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