It would run a short distance, stop to take a look around and then run off again in a slightly different direction
Sounds flirtatious.
CityCyclingEdinburgh Forum » Leisure
Wildlife highlight of the day
(7166 posts)-
Posted 5 years ago #
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@IWRATS indeed? After it disappeared into the darkness there was much rustling of leaves and jumping sounds, which made me wonder if it was just having fun playing. Either that, or maybe something that had previously been in the leaves was no longer successfully hiding...
Posted 5 years ago # -
Well that's how I flirt. If I remember correctly.
Posted 5 years ago # -
3 pheasant, one buzzard, one yellow wagtail, many geese, two crows, two jackdaws three swans being very very noisy towards some wildfowl up at The Black Springs.
Posted 5 years ago # -
@gembo what's the water level like?
Posted 5 years ago # -
@fimm, low
Harlaw maybe the lowest I have seen. Black springs mostly reeds. Thriepmuir still has its beach.
Posted 5 years ago # -
But torphin and torduff levels normal.
I was round that way today and how truly glorious it is. I will post in separate ride route.
Round the back of the Farm before torduff hill a lovely wheatear landed on drystane wall at eye level. A sonsie wee bird.
Two silent swans tolerating two cormorants at torphin.
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Constant overnight geese, with another large marshalling thereof in the morning. Buzzard in the afternoon.
Posted 5 years ago # -
Eleven pheasants on 88km route today around Edinburgh, west Lothian, north Lanarkshire and Falkirk. 1200 metres of it climbing.
Seven near start in one field at Glenbrook. Three in a field off A70. Had to wait until near Linlithgow for the 11th.
None of this was planned. I was going to the Covenanter's grave but my hillwalking pal unwell. So went out for trip to Apple Pie. Just after the tenth pheasant the fietsclub Balerno massive came by. The rest is history. Rather dry coconut cake in cafe in Linlithgow. But great Americano with the extra shot. You know that is three shots they enquired. you bet your sweet bippy I do.
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Friend of mine tried to do morning pre-work Thriepmuir swim on Tuesday (yes, sickening.) Complained that it was exceedingly unpleasant due to very low level. Punishment for being a tryhard I think.
Posted 5 years ago # -
Small plump bird with dark feathers and white breast (RSPB identifier suggests a Dipper?) in burn between Glencorse and Loganlea reservoirs this morning.
Posted 5 years ago # -
Yes thriepmuir very low and Harlaw too. Whereas torduff and torphin at normal levels.
Dippers are fab wee birds. WoL has a fair few. They work hard for their dinner
Posted 5 years ago # -
All the regular outdoor swimmers I know have abandoned Threipmuir as a place to swim this year - there simply wasn't enough water in it.
Posted 5 years ago # -
We often see dippers in the Hermitage on the Braid Burn. There's one that's so used to people, kids and dogs that, no matter what's going past on the path it just carries on bobbing on its rock and occasionally popping in to the water to hunt for juicy invertebrates. They're amazing to watch if the water's clear enough and not too turbulent: they "fly" underwater using their wings for propulsion, and can even walk about on the bottom by some magic buoyancy control mechanism known only to dippers.
Also frequently spotted on the North Esk below Penicuik House and in Roslin Glen, and on the Glencorse Burn at Flotterstone.
The waymarks along the path which follows the disused Caledonian railway line westwards from Peebles are marked with images of dippers.
Delightful little birds, it always gives us a kick to spot one.
Posted 5 years ago # -
Dippers are great! Can also be seen on the Water of Leith in the Dean village
Posted 5 years ago # -
OMG yes, how could I forget that! The first flat I had in Edinburgh was right next to the WoL, we used to stroll out along the WoL path of an evening to say hello to the local dipper. (Dare I say it's actually one of the reasons I bought that flat? I spotted a dipper as I was walking back in to town along the WoL after the viewing flat and I knew just had to live there...)
We saw a kingfisher one Christmas day on the stretch of the WoL at the bottom of the steps to Magdala Crescent. Halcyon days (literally, according to Ovid and Hyginus).
Posted 5 years ago # -
Swans flying overhead as I headed into Livingston from Mid Calder this morning.
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Posted 5 years ago # -
So, fake news then -
https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-scotland-glasgow-west-45914506
Posted 5 years ago # -
@chdot aww :(
Posted 5 years ago # -
Dougal - this is very small and this is far awAy but despite this, @chdot's photo is looking very very like a small black cat up the field.
Posted 5 years ago # -
Sparrowhawk trying to execute prospecting flight over Craigmillar Hill but getting blown about like a butterfly in a hurricane.
Posted 5 years ago # -
A badger walking bold as you like along the Pinkhill path.
First time I’ve ever seen a live one in the flesh.
Posted 5 years ago # -
Two loose flocks of what I think might have been redwing flying by our house earlier today. Definitely weren't starlings and the flight pattern looked rather blackbird/thrush like. Didn't have time to get the binos on them unfortunately. Some species of Turdidae on migration from continental Europe would be my (hopeful) guess.
Posted 5 years ago # -
@ejstubbs
That would be redwings. They're really quite petite. The breeding pair I spotted in Glen E last year were back again this summer. Lovely birds.
Posted 5 years ago # -
@stickman, that's really cool, I've only ever seen roadkill. The Kirkliston to Dalmeny path is another cycle path where sightings have been recorded.
My most recent spot is a pair of bambi style deer running across the road in the Dalgety Bay version of the Bridges. Snuck off down a side alley to play in someone's back garden.
Also saw a seal when running home from Aberdour after leaving my bike to get fixed.
Posted 5 years ago # -
Good long view of a kestrel near Leadburn.
Lots of buzzards between Mayfield and Humbie the other day. Four in one spot, pairs and individuals in other places.
Two badgers once had a fight in my parents' garden. They made an unearthly racket. "Screaming" doesn't quite capture it.
Posted 5 years ago # -
Two ravens gliding overhead as we worked our way up from Muilieputchie to the top of Allermuir Hill. Seemed to be starting to get to grips with some easy aerobatics - possibly this year's youngsters gearing up for display flights early in the new year?
Later in the walk saw another group of three. Glad to see that the illegal and destructive actions of the 12-bore fraternity had not succeeded in denuding our local hills of these lovely birds.
Finally, another flock of redwing over the plantations below Todhole Knowe as we followed the track from the Green Craig Cistern across to Swanston Farm (a route which I am ashamed to say I had never previously taken, but will do from now on in preference to the path from the Dreghorn slip road that hugs the noisy bypass).
Posted 5 years ago # -
@ejstubbs- we went up Caerketton Hill- great visibility up that way and a parapenter who looked like he'd picked a great day. Didn't notice much in the way of birdlife, but there was a big herd of Highlan coos.
Posted 5 years ago #
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